Bob Wallace (test driver)

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Bob Wallace (1938 – 19 September 2013) was a New Zealander test driver, automotive engineer and mechanic, best known for his role in developing early Lamborghini road cars.

Early life

Wallace was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1938.[1]

Wallace moved to Italy at the age of 21 and worked as a mechanic for several racing teams, including Scuderia Ferrari, Scuderia Serenissima and Camoradi USA.[2]

Work at Lamborghini

Following the 1963 racing season, Wallace was hired by Lamborghini at the then-new factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese. Initially, his role was to assist in production of the 350GT as a mechanic and, in his words, "trouble-shooter."[3] He was soon recognized at the factory as talented in vehicle evaluation and subsequently became the chief test driver for Lamborghini, a position which included duties as a road development engineer.[4]

In 1965, Wallace worked with Gianpaolo Dallara and Dallara's then-assistant Paolo Stanzani to develop the Lamborghini Miura. He conducted extensive road testing of Miura prototype and production cars, informing the development of Miura S and SV versions.[5][6] He also participated in development of the 400GT, Islero, Urraco, Jarama, Espada, and most extensively, the Countach, including road-testing of the LP500 prototype.[7]

Wallace created three lightweight high-performance versions of Lamborghini road cars during his time at the manufacturer. Despite Ferruccio Lamborghini's reluctance to become involved with racing, Wallace believed Lamborghini production models had great competition potential and built these modified versions on his own initiative as both proof of concept exercises and test mules. The first and most well-known of these specials was the Miura P400 Jota.[8] After creating the Jota, Wallace modified Jarama #10350 (known as the Jarama "Bob," RS, or Rally) with racing-oriented changes including a stiffened chassis, lighter body panels, modified aerodynamics, upgraded suspension, Miura wheels, and a reworked engine producing an estimated 380 bhp.[9][10][11] The final Wallace special was the Urraco "Bob" (also known as the Rally or Rallye), created from the third Urraco pre-production prototype. The car was lightened, stiffened, and provided with aerodynamic enhancements, a roll cage, six-speed transaxle and a special "quattrovalvole" 3.0 liter V8 engine producing 310 bhp. This was the only one of the three factory-built Wallace Lamborghinis to actually race, in a single outing at Misano Circuit.[12][13]

Wallace left Lamborghini in 1975, following Ferruccio Lamborghini's sale of the company in 1974.[14] Subsequently, Valentino Balboni took over as chief test driver.

Later life

Following his departure from Lamborghini, Wallace and his wife settled in Phoenix, Arizona. There he established an independent mechanic shop, Bob Wallace Cars, where he restored and maintained Ferrari and Lamborghini cars.[15]

Wallace died on September 19, 2013 at the age of 75.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Dron, Peter (1990), Lamborghini Countach: The Complete Story, The Crowood Press, ISBN 1852233613
  2. ^ Lyons, Pete (1988), The Complete Book of Lamborghini, Publications International, Ltd, p. 50, ISBN 0-517-66715-4 {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help); Unknown parameter |ignore-isbn-error= ignored (|isbn= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Lyons, Pete (1988), The Complete Book of Lamborghini, Publications International, Ltd, p. 50, ISBN 0-517-66715-4 {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help); Unknown parameter |ignore-isbn-error= ignored (|isbn= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Browning, Ken (First Quarter 1985), "Lamborghini - The Quest for Perfection", Automobile Quarterly, vol. 23, no. 1, p. 22
  5. ^ de la Rive Box, Rob; Crump, Richard (1974), History of Lamborghini, Transport Bookman Publications, pp. 22–24, ISBN 0851840108
  6. ^ Stefano Pasini, ed. (1984), Lamborghini: Catalogue Raisonné 1963-1984, Automobilia, pp. 31–37, ISBN 88-85058-41-8
  7. ^ de la Rive Box, Rob; Crump, Richard (1974), History of Lamborghini, Transport Bookman Publications, pp. 31–32, ISBN 0851840108
  8. ^ Lyons, Pete (1988), The Complete Book of Lamborghini, Publications International, Ltd, pp. 183–186, ISBN 0-517-66715-4 {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help); Unknown parameter |ignore-isbn-error= ignored (|isbn= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Lyons, Pete (1988), The Complete Book of Lamborghini, Publications International, Ltd, pp. 133–134, ISBN 0-517-66715-4 {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help); Unknown parameter |ignore-isbn-error= ignored (|isbn= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Jarama Registry, retrieved 28 Jan 2014
  11. ^ Lamborghini Jarama 'BOB', retrieved 28 Jan 2014
  12. ^ Lyons, Pete (1988), The Complete Book of Lamborghini, Publications International, Ltd, pp. 246–249, ISBN 0-517-66715-4 {{citation}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help); Unknown parameter |ignore-isbn-error= ignored (|isbn= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Smeyers, Mark (18 Nov 2005), Urraco Rallye - the STORY, LamboCARS.com, retrieved 28 Jan 2014
  14. ^ Browning, Ken (First Quarter 1985), "Lamborghini - The Quest for Perfection", Automobile Quarterly, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 22–23
  15. ^ "Bob Wallace Interview", Thoroughbred and Classic Car, no. 316, pp. 60–64, January 2000
  16. ^ Smeyers, Mark (23 Sept 2013), Famous Lamborghini test driver Bob Wallace passed away, lamboCARS.com, retrieved 28 Jan 2014 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)


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