A Wolf in Lamb’s Clothing
We met David Lamb on Twitter, where he impressed us with his over-the-top energy. Turns out he has quite the story. His dad opened a performance shop to keep his mom’s race cars running in tip-top shape and he took it over a few years ago. Today, he plays with Evos.
I’m curious about Group A. Did you build for rally or touring?
I am building the Evo for stage rallying and hillclimbs adhering to Group A regulations set by Motorsport Ireland.
Why did you go that route and why an Evo 4?
Honestly, because I had the 4 was a road car at the time. I’ve driven/raced/rallied and tested a lot of cars in my time and, to me, the Evo is one of the best cars for my driving style, plus I think it was the last of the really subtle Evos.
Are there any special constraints to that sort of competition which might surprise the average bloke?
Because the Evo is turbocharged, I’m restricted by regulations to a restrictor on the turbo inlet of 32 mm, about the dimater of a Lynx deodorant can, which really limits the amount of air into the system, in turn limiting power the engine can produce; approximately 360bhp or so depending on mapping and management system used.
What could you tell our readers about the team at AMR?
If I’m very honest, we’re a small family busness started by my dad (Eddie Lamb) in the late 70s to run and maintain my mom’s (Shelagh Lamb) rally cars and his own, along with some midget cars and his friends’ Road A competition cars, and it went from there. I took over in 2001, and the AMR of today was born specialising in Mitsubishi and Subaru, but can look after and cater for anything really, with a vast knowlaged of most cars used in competition today.
Why are you looking to GSR-swap the other Lancer?
Just to be different. The old body GLiX’s are becoming rare these day and it’s something I’ve never done before, plus it only cost me €400 and, when I’m finished with her, she’ll be a genuine sleeper – and we all love them!
Dude! Your dad started the company to maintain your MOM’S rally cars?
Mom rallied a few cars; Fiat 124 Sports, Opel Kadett gen 1, etc. She also raced midget cars, which were very popular back in the day – homemade, up to 1000cc-engined RWD racers that race on grass.
What did she drive? Any notable results?
She won several championships, nationally, in the midget cars ladies class, and regularly beat the men in their class. She also won the ladies class in the 1978/9 Circuit of Ireland, beating some big names in the process, in a Mazda 323. I’ve been around motorsports since I was six weeks old.
You kind remind me of Drew McPhee from Australia (we interviewed him last year). His dad was taking him to rallies like the Southern Cross to see big names like Timo Makinen and Andrew Cowan (Mr. Ralliart UK, if I’m not mistaken) back in the day. He grew up around rally cars too. That’s wicked.
You can catch up with David on Facebook, where he posts lots of pictures of mad automobiles and hot chicks, or on Twitter, where he’s always up to something. Additionally, David’s open to offers to travel and possibly do some professional wrench-turning.
Gearheads United
David probably knows all kinds of mad gearheads in Ireland, but how many Irish gearheads do YOU know? How do you think being a gearhead in Ireland compares to being a gearhead where YOU live? We’re trying to start a movement, here. Join us.
In the glovebox:
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Rushmi Mehta
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Kevin_clinto
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http://dr1665.com/ Brian Driggs
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Driftslut2010
