Santos Spadaro

Santo and the PBX debut at the 2023 Historics at Lime Rock Park. Photo by Sean Smith

By Sean Smith

Santo knew the PBX he purchased from Orrie Simko was tired and needed some love. So he stripped it down to a roller and sent it off to have any imperfections massaged out and a new coat of paint applied. Researching historical pictures, Santo found the little experimental car had gone through several color changes, but there was one that seemed to suit it best. Samples were looked at and a shade was chosen. The PBX is now resplendent in a bitchin shade of green.

The PBX and other H Mod racers at Lime Rock Park.

Story by Sean Smith

Santo Spadaro saw Orrie Simko in the PBX buzzing around the A and B paddocks at the 2021 Lime Rock Historics and asked if he could take it for a spin. Just driving it around the infield was a blast. Santo came back from his ride. He was interested. He loved the history, the car had Italian components that gave it extra interest, and Candy was a mechanic/racer similar to Santo. He was hooked. It was the perfect fit. This way, the PBX would stay in the VSCCA and be raced and not hidden away where no one would see it and get to appreciate it. For Orrie Simko and Jeb Ebbott, finding the PBX a new and understanding caretaker in Santo Spadaro was a privilege.

One of the first pictures taken of Candy and the unpainted PBX before it went racing. Credit Poole collection.

By Sean Smith

The PBX was also punching above its class. Some of its victories were against cars with twice the displacement. Candy was an excellent driver, but he was also a great tactician. He didn’t just arrive and drive. When he went to a track, he came with multiple differentials with ratios from 6.0 to 4.875. He would match them with multiple sets of wheels 12”, 13”, 14” right up to 15”, depending on the length and grade of the course. Candy also added a jack to the front springs, allowing him to dial more spring tension and dial it out as needed. The same went for the rear. The differential acted as an anti-roll bar, and depending on how he adjusted the radius arms and upper control arms, he could get more stiffness in the rear. That way, he could totally control the front and rear handling dynamic and make the car completely neutral.