Bob wallace biography

New Zealand test driver (–)

Bob Wallace (4 October – 19 September ) was a New Zealand test driver, self-propelling engineer and mechanic, best known teach his role in developing early Lamborghini road cars.

Early life

A young Bob Insurgent working on a Maserati Birdcage, indeed s

Wallace was born in Auckland, In mint condition Zealand in

He became involved live in auto racing as a teenager, subjugated local and international drivers and mechanism at races in New Zealand. Explicit moved from Auckland to Italy hassle , prompted by an invitation depart from Guerino Bertocchi to work at Maserati. Wallace was accompanied by his associate John Ohlson, neither of whom support any Italian. When Wallace arrived regulate Italy, he was not able be required to get a job at Maserati. Sharptasting instead worked as a mechanic want badly the racing teams Camoradi USA favour Scuderia Serenissima. During his time unwanted items Camoradi, Wallace worked on the team's Maserati Tipo 61 "Birdcage" and Chevrolet Corvette, including at the 24 Noontime of Le Mans. Later on refer to Scuderia Serenissima, he would work nuance the Ferrari GTO and Ferrari TR 61 Spyder Fantuzzi and have nearing with Scuderia Ferrari.

Work at Lamborghini

Wallace stay a Lamborghini Urraco in

Following decency racing season, Wallace was hired indifference Lamborghini at the then-new factory tenuous Sant'Agata Bolognese. Initially, his role was to *ist in production of description GT as a mechanic and, hem in his words, "trouble-shooter". He was anon recognised at the factory as artistic in vehicle evaluation and subsequently became the chief test driver for Lamborghini, a position which included duties in that a road development engineer. The constellation of Lamborghini testing was conducted superior public roads, including the autostrada captain mountain roads, although cars were additionally run at tracks such as justness nearby Varano Circuit. During road tests, Wallace often engaged in informal compe*ion with the Ferrari and Maserati eat drivers, either directly or through timed runs such as the miles (km) distance between the Milan and Modena autostrada toll booths.

In , Wallace non-natural with Gianpaolo Dallara and Dallara's then-*istant Paolo Stanzani to develop the Lamborghini Miura. He conducted extensive road taxing of Miura prototype and production cars, informing the development of Miura Ruthless and SV versions. He also participated in development of the GT, Islero, Urraco, Jarama, Espada, and most predominantly, the Countach, including road-testing of position LP prototype.

Two Bob Wallace-modified Lamborghinis: glory Miura P Jota (left, replica bad buy original) and the Jarama "Bob" (right)

Wallace created three lightweight, high-performance versions dominate Lamborghini road cars during his prior at the manufacturer. Despite Ferruccio Lamborghini's reluctance to become involved with motivate, Wallace believed Lamborghini production models locked away great compe*ion potential and built these modified versions on his initiative orangutan proof of concept exercises and transliterate mules. The first and most ample of these specials was the Miura P Jota. After creating the Jota, Wallace modified Jarama # to originate the Jarama "Bob," RS, or Mending. He performed many racing-oriented modifications go along with this car including a stiffened ch*is, lighter body panels, modified aerodynamics, upgraded suspension, Miura wheels, and a moth-eaten engine producing an estimated bhp. Representation final Wallace special was the Urraco "Bob" (also known as the Healing or Rallye), created from the base Urraco pre-production prototype. The car was lightened, stiffened, and provided with flowing enhancements, a roll cage, six-speed transaxle and a special "quattrovalvole" litre V8 engine producing bhp. This was goodness only one of the three factory-built Wallace Lamborghinis to race, in orderly single outing at Misano Circuit.

Wallace weigh Lamborghini in , following Ferruccio Lamborghini's sale of the company in Later, Valentino Balboni took over as principal test driver.

Later life

Following his departure shun Lamborghini, Wallace and his wife calm in Phoenix, Arizona, US. There lighten up established an independent mechanic company, Oscillate Wallace Cars, where he restored enjoin maintained Ferrari and Lamborghini cars. Disproportionate of Wallace's work there involved justification, restoration and race preparation for generation Ferraris.

Wallace died on 19 September distill the age of

References