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Ginetta G4
Manufactured: 1961 - 68
Engine: 1150cc 1800cc Ford
Configuration: front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Driver: John Absalom
Class: Modified Sports Cars up to 1150cc and 1501 to 2000cc;
Date taken: April 1972 in Paddock, Cadwell Park (top)
Image Copyright: Colin Stubbs (top)
Date taken: April 1974at Chicane, Croft (middle and lower)
Five-hundred of these diminutive sports cars were built as kit cars between 1961 and 1969. The standard engine was Ford's 1500cc pre-crossflow unit but this car's capacity had been raised to 1800cc. John Absalom and his 1800cc Ginetta G4 held Croft’s outright Modified Sports Car and the 1500 to 2000cc class records for many years, a remarkable feat considering the his big engined opposition. From 1970 to 1974, the Ginetta’s engine grew from 998cc to 1800cc (lower pictures), the top picture showing an 1148cc version. He held the class lap records at 8 British circuits during these years, gained many wins culminating in class titles and outright victory in the 1972 and 1974 British Automobile Racing Club Modsports Championship. The small size of the Ginetta caused a few problems for John, the pedals were so close together he had to bind his racing boots with tape to reduce their width and minimise catching two pedals at once. John came from Morpeth Northumberland and used the local Felton Motor Company to prepared his car, as seen in the top photo, and the Felton drag strip/go-cart track to test it. Chris Stutt's garage must have been a G4 hotspot as Jim Adamson also had his car prepared there.
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