Dan and Karen Gallant started Gallant Racing Supplies, Inc. in the early 1970's from their Oakland, Ca. shop. With Dan as the Chassis builder and Karen handling the engine building and service, they quickly gained a reputation for providing a top quality racing service to their customers.
In 1979 Mark Pielsticker commisioned the Gallants to build him a monza racer to compete in the scca trans-am CAT.I division. The car made it's first appearance at the 1979 Laguna Seca T/A CAT.I race, but a bad crash saw to it's end. A second chassis was constructed for the new single-class 1980 T/A season.
1980 would see the Gallant monza become a fierce competitor in the hands of Mark Pielsticker as he would score a victory at portland, as well as several top ten results to record a fifth place finish in the T/A season ending points championship. 1981 would see continued appearances in the T/A, as well as a Pacific Coast Runoffs GT1 Championship. Mark would continue to race the monza until 1982.
Six monza chassis total were built by Gallant, But only the first two for Mark Pielsticker were complete turn key cars. Chassis #003 was a roller for Ardi Oji. Whereabouts of the three other chassis are unknown at this time, but it is beleived some made their way to south america.
Triangulation is always important in chassis construction, and the Gallant monza demonstrates this idea well. It also has a unique quick release front radiator support, allowing the top front of the engine chassis and radiator to be removed quickly for fast engine changes.
#002 - Campaigned by Mark Pielsticker in SCCA T/A races from 1980-82 as the black #33 International Harvestor monza. Sold to Ron Harvit and raced in the south eastern scca region in GT1 from 1982-1989. Sold to Richard Stone in 1989 and raced in the southern california area with the scca. Richards achievements are 1991 San Diego Regional GT1 champ, 1992&93 SoPac Divisional National GT1 champ, 1993 eigth place points standings in the Toyota Super Production Series. Sold to Joe Schultz III in 1995. Currently in Super Prod setup for scca racing in So Cal.
#003
Purchased by Ardi Oji of northern california for his trans am/imsa effort in the early 1980's. Front suspension geometry was not right according to Ardi, so the front clip was cut off and replaced by a stock car products front clip. Ardi was sponsored by John Deer Tractors, so the car was painted john deer green with yellow wheels. In addition to trans am and imsa, car was also entered in select regional gt1 races. Car was sold to Richard Iskaderian (Brother of Ed, founder of Isky cams) in late 1980's but current whereabouts is unknown.
#004
#005
#006
