"Chocolate Chip Racing was conceived the same time we purchased the brown X 1/9. This car was modified with no bumpers, a rear deck lid with integrated spoiler and larger tires. It looked like a chocolate chip and that's what everyone called it. We were competing in Solo II, winning our class and often setting Fast Time of Day (FTD). Eventually, the car had a head change, dual downdraft Webers, high performance camshaft, CD ignition sway bars and a few other things. By 1978 we decided to go professional.

We looked around for what we would like to do and where the greatest opportunity lied. We wanted rapid results. I am not always sure I know why it turned out to be SCCA Pro Rally. The thought was we had a great basis in the X1/9, Pro Rally did not have a great deal of competition at this time compared to other levels of pro racing, and, we felt we could make a presence before the sport exploded on the American scene. Well, it seemed to make sense to me at the time.

Fiat was world champion in FIA World Rally at the time with everything from the Lancia Stratos to the Fiat 131 coupe. Abarth, the acquired performance division of Fiat had just developed a Rally version of the X1/9 using the larger twin-cam engine that was successful from the start. It was time to talk to Fiat of North America.

This is when we found-out that Fiat was not all that enamored with North America. The new car market wasn't kind to them and they really did not like the SCCA and NARRA's version of performance rally. Unlike FIA races, pace notes made by running the race route before competition was not allowed and most of the races were politely called car breakers . As far as Fiat was concerned this was rather Bush League and amateurish.

We were back at the local Fiat dealership, now owned by an entrepreneur by the name of Bill Dimond. Bill represented the new bread of Fiat dealerships and became interested in the project. Dimond Motors became the home of Chocolate Chip Racing. As far as we can tell it was the only X1/9 effort in Pro Rally. Our discussions with Fiat, in the form of representatives like Tony Ciminerra, resulted in enthusiasm but not a lot of support. We had all the parts and cars we needed, but not the Abarth Rally car or any of its specially developed parts. Development of the Rally X1/9 would be left to us.

We built a new home during this time. Included in the plans for the house was a racing shop. The racecar visited Fiat for maintenance, bodywork, standard parts and paint. All the development of the X1/9 with the single cam engine took place in Colgate, WI. Testing of the components were done at a family cottage located in the backwoods of Crandon, WI near the Canadian border.

I could chronicle suspension development ad infinitum. By the last racecar, the seventh I believe, we were using a great deal of circle track components with fabricated tubular trailing arms and A arms. The suspension was entirely adjustable in racing trim with hemispherical rod ends in place of bushings. The X ran in Open Class so there were no appreciable restrictions to what could be done to the car.

PBS components were used to increase displacement of the SOHC engine. Dual Weber 45 DCOE sidedraft carburetors fed an engine that could run all day and night at 9,000 RPMs. With everything on-board, the car weighed-in at 2,300 lbs.

The X was quick, especially on smoother courses. Because of geometry limitations, the car could not obtain all of the suspension travel necessary for some of the rougher stages. One competitor said it looked like a frog hoping down some of the roads in upper Michigan."

Return to Part 1: How it all began