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Bob Sharp's Datsun 2000 Roadster Campaigns, 1967-1969 B Y R O B B E D D I N G T O N |
Bob's campaign in the 2000 started as early as 1967 when, during the season, the Solex 2000 was launched, with SCCA sanction for competition in C Production. Bob, who had qualified his 1600 for the National Runoffs, was also invited to the C Production Runoffs, against competition wholly consisting of Porsches and Lotuses, except for Doc Foerster of Oklahoma, who was another early campaigner of the Datsun 2000 (Doc had come up through the Datsun 1500 and 1600 and was to be a rare campaigner of the 2000 in C Production for a number of years to come).
Against the Porsche competition, Bob reached a creditable 12th place in this, the year of his first National Championship, in his Datsun 1600. (Doc Foerster placed 9th)
For the 1968 season, the Datsun 2000 was still classified in C Production. Whilst still campaigning the 1600 in F Production, Bob had an excellent year in the 2000. Against the fierce competition of Bob Tullius (Triumph TR250), Franz Stone (Lotus), Chip Donnelly (Sunbeam Tiger) and Bruce Jennings (Porsche), Bob was to place 1st in the North-East Divisional Championship. However, further ARRC success at Riverside that year eluded Bob, who retired on the 14th lap in a race comprising no less than eight Solex Datsun 2000s. The best results in CP at the ARRC that year came from Jack Scoville, placed 6th, and Dan Parkinson, placed 7th.
For 1969, Bob campaigned the lightweight roadster, of which less than 10 were believed to have left Japan. From 1968 the roadster came with the SU set-up as standard, and this model was classified in the SCCA's D Production class. Most teams and drivers preferred this set up, believing DP to be more competitive for the 2000. Bob Sharp too switched his efforts to DP, and again came out victorious in the North-East Division. For the runoffs, his main competition was from other roadster campaigners, and the smart money was on Bob, or either of the BRE drivers, Frank Monise and John Morton, who had both qualified fastest. Bob qualified fourth behind Brian Fuerstenau in third, who he had beaten to the divisional title.
With the unexpected retirement of the two BRE drivers in the first two laps (with 'fried pistons'), Bob's odds of winning were increased dramatically. However, Jack Scoville, in the Vern Colvin prepared 2000, put paid to Bob's hopes of a second championship, leading from the second lap to the finish. Bob eventually placed fourth.
By 1969 Bob had hired the talents of Jim Fitzgerald, who was to run for the team in the SCCA's South East Division. Jim had started out in G Production driving a Morgan and he moved on to the Datsun 1500. In 1969, he started campaigning one of Bob Sharp's five salt damaged 2000 roadsters'. This car was to take him to the national DP title at the ARRC, Road Atlanta, in 1970.
It was not until 1971 when Bob again took a National Championship, having moved on to the Datsun 510 and 240Z. Consecutive National Championships followed with both models. During this period, in 1969, Bob took on a Nissan/Datsun franchise, projecting sales of just 200 units per year. Within ten years this figure had risen to a staggering 2000 units per annum.
BOB SHARP'S DATSUN 2000 RESULTS |
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YEAR |
DIVISIONAL STANDINGS | ARRC PLACING |
1967 (CP) | N/K |
12th |
1968 (CP) | 1st |
DNF, 14L |
1969 (DP) | 1st |
4th |
The rest of the Bob Sharp story, as both driver and team manager, is history. Suffice to say that the roadster, in all 1500, 1600 and 2000 guises, played a major part in helping Bob on his way to a successful partnership with Nissan that lasted over 35 years.
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