The prototype 63-66 race is on. I was looking at all the cars on grid and realized something about the new GT. They did an amazing job of capturing the looks of the original GT40 in the GT. Such an amazing job that it makes the old GT40 look like a brand new car next to the old streamlined and curvy but "period-looking" McLarens and Lolas and such.

Also, the TT race was fantastic fun to watch.

Also, my racecar finally has all 8 cage plates in it and now I just want to watch people drive their kaas for a while. I smell like a diesel-powered space heater.

Also, watching people wad up these cars makes me hurt.

 

I was watching that tonight too? Did you catch the coverage of the 1-hour race with the driver change in the first half of the show? They did the race with the GT40's in the second half. Anyone, in that first race, two gorgeous old Ferrari's (I believe they were) went banging door to door into a corner and bent them up - I gasped for air. Then there was the GT40 and the Lola T70 that tangled and got balled up at the end of the second race.

I realize these cars were made to be raced and all but daaaaaamn! I almost want to say put them in a heated, enclosed building and remove them only for concourses. I mean, they had two original Daytona Coupe Cobra's out there!

 

They are owned by millionares who rebuild them perfectly if there is even a scratch put on them, so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krbobcat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was watching that tonight too? Did you catch the coverage of the 1-hour race with the driver change in the first half of the show? They did the race with the GT40's in the second half. Anyone, in that first race, two gorgeous old Ferrari's (I believe they were) went banging door to door into a corner and bent them up - I gasped for air. Then there was the GT40 and the Lola T70 that tangled and got balled up at the end of the second race.

I realize these cars were made to be raced and all but daaaaaamn! I almost want to say put them in a heated, enclosed building and remove them only for concourses. I mean, they had two original Daytona Coupe Cobra's out there!</TD></TR></TABLE>

The only reason I watched the Goodwood Festival was because they were actually racing! Most of those vintage guys are like you and want them paraded around the track and then set up in a warehouse for a show or something like that. IMHO, it was some of the only vintage RACING I've seen in a while.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dohcbag &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

The only reason I watched the Goodwood Festival was because they were actually racing! Most of those vintage guys are like you and want them paraded around the track and then set up in a warehouse for a show or something like that. IMHO, it was some of the only vintage RACING I've seen in a while.</TD></TR></TABLE>


Anyone remember the "clubbing baby seals" comment Rahal made several years ago?

 

All I know is that the Lister Jaguar Knobbly is now on my race car wish list.
The good old days when the drivers were fat and the tires were skinny.

How many of you guys noticed how many of those cars were COMPLETELY period original? I'm referring to the fact that at least a 3rd of them had no rollover protection in them at all.
That race, in that form, would never happen in the US circa 2004.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How many of you guys noticed how many of those cars were COMPLETELY period original? I'm referring to the fact that at least a 3rd of them had no rollover protection in them at all.
That race, in that form, would never happen in the US circa 2004.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've noticed that. And I totally understand it. I wouldn't want to chop up or otherwise ruin a valuable piece of automotive history either.

 

i was at a VIR vintage race a few years ago where the featured marque was bugatti. tons of bugs there, a bently or two, and also a GP Alfa. there was an entire race group for these fast prewar guys...

none of them had any form of rollover protection. the top bugs and the Alfa (alfa was the fastest) were doing over 125 mph going into turn 1. tons of arm waving, shifting (outboard shifting!) sawing at the wheel, and lurid sliding would ensue as the drivers navigated the turns; the top group guys were definitely racing those cars.

looked awesome fun; but about 100x more dangerous than the kind of racing i do in my H1 car..... to those brave dudes!

todd

 

In the Good Wood and Monterey races, the issue of safety is left up to each of the drivers/owners.

As far as the appearance, some cars are over restored. I'm not saying all are but the paint jobs are the first thing you would notice in person. Secondly, some exhausts systems have been realigned in the rear.

Good Wood will have to be a must attend for me.