Joel 'Magic' Johnson's 1987 IFMAR 2wd winning Ultima

[DanB4]

Hi All,

I'm proud to be working with Joel Johnson and many of my friends in the hobby (who'll all get credit as we go) to restore Joel's actual 1987 2wd IFMAR worlds winning Ultima to it's former glory. Yes, it is the actual real car.

I'll be recording the re-build here and on facebook in various groups- it'll be great to see it back in Joel's hands :) as it was to see Jamie with his 1990 Egress :thumbsup:

Lots more to come soon - Joel is just gathering up all he has remaining of the car (he tells me he still has the body thankfully, hopefully it is useable and using the original body will be a nice addition).

Some may know this car used a lot of aftermarket and option parts - once I know what is and isn't there I'll make a list and hope some of you can donate to this epic rebuild.

Thanks,

Dan

http://studio68.no/rc/ultima_joel_06.jpg

[Welshy40]

Jammy sod!!! Still will be great to see it before and after all your hard work.

[J77MYF]

Looking forward to seeing the build :thumbsup:

[daz75]

Do you do this for the love or get paid to do it?

[DanB4]

All for love.

[Peakey]

And he's got nothing else to do in the desert :lol:

[OptimaFan]

And he's got nothing else to do in the desert :lol:


Lol

And he can tell his wife that it's not his car he is working on.


Great project, will follow.

[Welshy40]

Lol

And he can tell his wife that it's not his car he is working on.


Great project, will follow.

:thumbsup:

[DanB4]

You're not wrong :)

This is what no tracks within a 2000 mile radius does to a guy haha :)

[j0pp3]

This is so Epic. I remember reading about Joel Johnson and his Ultima in an American car magazine as a kid. Kyosho was really proud back then :thumbsup:

[BORMAC]

Are you going with just the roller or full old Skool electrics too? Sadly all my Ultima parts went off to another home a bit over a year ago. I don't thinknid have anything that would suit this project.

Nice to see Joel get inspired if only a little.

[prp]

It's cool :)

[turbo scorpion]

How is this project going? Love to see pics of the setup.

[DanB4]

I'll post pics when it lands - Joel is a very busy guy! :D

[SlowOne]

Romsey 1987 - I was the race controller and it is my voice you can hear in the background.

I remember talking to Kris Moore before A3 as he and his team plotted what he needed to do to win. Kris is a great guy and he gave me the pleasure of driving his 8th Rallycross car at the 1996 IFMAR Worlds in Beaulieu.

To see Joel's car again, even if only in pictures, would bring back happy memories of a great week of racing at the old Romsey circuit.

[DanB4]

That's great! You were the race controller - superb!

Joel raced the car again at the Reedy race the following year so he tells me so it was changed a little from how he ran it at Romsey but we'll get it as it was when it left the track in '87 I'm sure.

Thankfully he has the body and wing still - they probably would have been a pain, especially decals. Having the original lexan makes it the 'real car' in my eyes.

[DanB4]

Last saw sunlight at the 1988 Reedy race.

Drum roll....

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/SDRCC/IMG_2221_zpsea3j2fuz.jpg[/URL]

[OptimaFan]

Nice! How about (much ;-) ) more and bigger pictures?

[Peakey]

Lifted from Facebook so they might not be the best quality

http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/p662/peakey29/C77C9920-94DE-4CC8-974B-37D037DC99C8.png_zpsshqgi0wh.jpeg (http://s1345.photobucket.com/user/peakey29/media/C77C9920-94DE-4CC8-974B-37D037DC99C8.png_zpsshqgi0wh.jpeg.html)
http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/p662/peakey29/50CC25AD-4889-431E-84C3-692B6E364004.png_zpsblrttukf.jpeg (http://s1345.photobucket.com/user/peakey29/media/50CC25AD-4889-431E-84C3-692B6E364004.png_zpsblrttukf.jpeg.html)
http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/p662/peakey29/37F2E5FB-5DEC-4674-8D82-C2F7B271DB00.png_zps1agauz2z.jpeg (http://s1345.photobucket.com/user/peakey29/media/37F2E5FB-5DEC-4674-8D82-C2F7B271DB00.png_zps1agauz2z.jpeg.html)
http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/p662/peakey29/4C936CF9-02FD-43A2-A214-0D666019C2FE.png_zpsg6biui9g.jpeg (http://s1345.photobucket.com/user/peakey29/media/4C936CF9-02FD-43A2-A214-0D666019C2FE.png_zpsg6biui9g.jpeg.html)

[DanB4]

A lot more pics don't worry.

I'll be starting on the project after holiday.

Joel is also sending me spares so we'll see what is usable.

Dan

:)

[Gayo]

FANTASTIC! What a legendary car!

Do you know what happened to the prototype 87 Worlds Optima Mid?

[DanB4]

Joel told me today that the Mid is long gone.

It seems the wing he found is from his 87 mid and not the winning Ultima.

[oldschoolrc]

Dan we are super exited at Old School RC and are here to help in anyway.

[Peakey]

Dan we are super exited at Old School RC and are here to help in anyway.

Welcome Mr Anderon :thumbsup:

[TM Ru22311]

I will be watching this also. I have a lot of interest as I would love to build a Tribute buggy for my collection. I have been gathering parts for awhile now. Welcome Dirk and please keep us updated Dan. :)

[jerzi]

Romsey 1987 - I was the race controller and it is my voice you can hear in the background.

I remember talking to Kris Moore before A3 as he and his team plotted what he needed to do to win. Kris is a great guy and he gave me the pleasure of driving his 8th Rallycross car at the 1996 IFMAR Worlds in Beaulieu.

To see Joel's car again, even if only in pictures, would bring back happy memories of a great week of racing at the old Romsey circuit.


I was also there on mechanic role.
I mechanic Julle Pedersen from Finland. He was in the semis.
The band who played in the buffet party was great. Queen cover band and the car museum was great. Have lots of pics from that race. And also video somewhere.
Jerzi

Ps i sure remember the horses on the middle of the road😆😆😆

[DanB4]

Now Dirk is here :) I'd like to point everyone to Old School RC on facebook, it's a great group and Dirk plus many other members (who will get credit as we go) are instrumental in supporting me with this legendary restoration!

Cheers!

[DanB4]

It arrived today ;)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/SDRCC/20150729_110210_zpsjfz5it47.jpg[/URL]

[Retro RC]

Holy engine heat sink batman 😎 can't wait to see this project underway

[OptimaFan]

Holy engine heat sink batman 😎 can't wait to see this project underway


Certainly following this one. Shell looks great still, hard to imagine it was even run with this shell. I guess when you spend most time in the lead, you don't have other cars hitting you, so you can finish a race unharmed. Unless you run into some people that are lapped... :D

[Gayo]

Dan, do you have any info on what oil and pistons he used? Springs look like Option House soft front and hard rear.
Just curious! :thumbsup:

[DanB4]

Hi All,

Please use this link for all rebuild updates, one stop shop for Joel Johnson's Ultima rebuild (easier than updating multiple forums/facebook groups):

http://www.studio68.no/rc/default.asp?id=84

Thanks to Tom for hosting my late night ramblings.

Thanks.

Dan :)

[Retro RC]

Part 2 is up 👍

[DanB4]

Once my big boxes arrive from the UK and USA, part 3 will be BIG :)

[DanB4]

The car is now finished and will be sent back to Joel shortly.

I've really enjoyed working with Joel, Dirk and all at OSRC, IconicRC and many other friends around the globe returning the car to as it left the track in 1987 when Joel won his 2wd world title.

The final write up is here:

http://www.studio68.no/rc/default.asp?id=86

Dan :)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/SDRCC/Joel%20Johnson%201987%20Ultima/2015-10-09%2016.24.27_zpsytrfm2fd.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/SDRCC/Joel%20Johnson%201987%20Ultima/20151009_164614_zpsxkbuobx2.jpghttp://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/SDRCC/Joel%20Johnson%201987%20Ultima/20151009_154504_zpsd3xijuwv.jpg

[Retro RC]

Really awesome dan nice job :thumbsup: must be a great feeling being able to complete such a rewarding restoration. Man I'd love to have some of your contacts...... Truly impressive

[gainsy]

Your the man Daniel :thumbsup: Great job
What's next then? ;)

[Welshy40]

Really nice, but thought the rear wheels were white?

[Retro RC]

Really nice, but thought the rear wheels were white?

Look back at page 1 it shows the yellow wheels on the rear of the worlds car

[DanB4]

White in qualifying (Car No 7) and yellow in finals (Car No 3).

[DanB4]

This is a screenshot right after he won - in technical inspection :)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/SDRCC/Joel%20Johnson%201987%20Ultima/Screenshot_2015-07-31-23-32-01_zpsavuamm9g.png

[Retro RC]

Once again dan nice job, just 1 thing......... Make sure you send him the right buggy:lol:

[DanB4]

Once again dan nice job, just 1 thing......... Make sure you send him the right buggy:lol:

I triple checked when sealing the box :p:thumbsup:

[Welshy40]

Ok thanks.

[Peakey]

I triple checked when sealing the box :p:thumbsup:

I don't believe you :lol:

[DanB4]

:)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/SDRCC/Joel%20Johnson%201987%20Ultima/FB_IMG_1446903672162_zpsdtzu3wks.jpg

[OptimaFan]

Cool pose, side by side this way.

[DanB4]

An 8 page review of the car and interview with Joel in the latest issue 20 of Velocity RC online magazine.
They put 1989 by mistake in the contents and on the article title page...oops ;)

http://www.vrcmag.com

http://www.vrcmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Contents_1.jpg
http://www.vrcmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Contents_2.jpg

[j0pp3]

8 page! Wow, great job mate :thumbsup:

[DanB4]

Cheers :) hopefully the car will be used for more articles and promo use soon ;)

[Welshy40]

Nice, really nice. 8 pages, blimey!!!! Still you did something a lot of us would have loved to have done, restored a car that won the worlds with original parts. Still im envious 8 pages, I only managed to be in 4 in Racer for my 91 RC10 Masami replica.

[DanB4]

Nice, really nice. 8 pages, blimey!!!! Still you did something a lot of us would have loved to have done, restored a car that won the worlds with original parts. Still im envious 8 pages, I only managed to be in 4 in Racer for my 91 RC10 Masami replica.

I enjoyed your article mate, especially the first 2 words! ;)

[1066 Racing]

Have you any links to the Jamie Booth Egress build? I used to run an Egress, would love to read about/see it?

[Welshy40]

I enjoyed your article mate, especially the first 2 words! ;)

:thumbsup: couldnt resist putting your name so had to do it :thumbsup: Shame I couldnt get all my cars in the picture like yours but maybe for the next article I will

[Peakey]

Have you any links to the Jamie Booth Egress build? I used to run an Egress, would love to read about/see it?

There is a search feature for this reason :rolleyes:

http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154754&highlight=Jamie+booth

[1066 Racing]

Thanks for that, great read!