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What Makes the Story of Rush so Compelling?

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“Their story is so remarkable that you could only do it if it was true, because people wouldn’t quite believe it.”

Ron Howard, Peter Morgan, Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl discuss the 1976 Formula 1 season, the story told by Rush, and talk about why it inspires them, and what makes it compelling.

“They were rilling to risk their lives, to attain this elite status. They paid a price for it, but they defined themselves.”

Their discussion is set to footage from the movie, which is stunning as always, and is an interesting watch.

What Makes the Story of Rush so Compelling? is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.


Photo of the day: Sparks at Spa

Nissan R31 Skyline: The Australian Industry Needs You Now

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Nissan Skyline R31

With a little help from the Nissan Pintara (a well-balanced family car with a drivers edge and an efficient, zippy four-cylinder motor) and Australian race teams identifying the potential of the Skyline as a replacement for their Bluebirds, the Australian Skyline turned out to be just what Australia needed.

It came at just the right time, offering something new and well-developed, as well as being backed by a strong market history and rapidly-developing motorsport prowess.

You can check out the secrets to its success in Nissan R31 Skyline: The Australian Industry Needs You Now over at the Shannons Club.

Via the Shannons Club

Image via the Shannons Club

Shannons Club

Nissan R31 Skyline: The Australian Industry Needs You Now is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Top 10 classic moments from the Belgian Grand Prix

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Jordan 1998

The Belgium Grand Prix, home of the “greatest racing circuit in the world” is a favourite on the Formula 1 calendar for both drivers and fans alike. Over the years we have seen some incredible battles, triumphs, and some monumental shunts. Here is a look back at ten memorable moments.

1998: Team orders as Damon Hill takes first win for Jordan

Damon Hill secures the first win for the hugely popular Jordan team after negotiating a team order deal from the cockpit. Damon Hill said ” I am going to put something to you here and I think you better listen to this. If we race, if we race, we could end up with nothing, so its up to Eddie. If we don’t race each other we have an opportunity to get a first and second, its your choice.” Eddie Jordan agreed with Damon and the team created history.

1998: Coulthard and Schumacher clash and Michael goes nuts in pit lane

Michael was leading easily in the rain soaked race when he came up on backmarker Coulthard , who lifted to let the German past, but due to the very poor visibility, Schumacher slammed straight into the back of the McLaren, tearing off the right-front wheel of the Ferrari. Once back in the pits Schumacher then charged down the pitlane and accused Coulthard of “trying to fucking kill me”

1998: Jacques Villeneuve huge crash at Eau Rouge

Jacques Villeneuve was involved in what he described as his “biggest crash in F1 so far” when he lost control of his car at 180 mph whilst attempting to take the big balls Eau Rouge flat.

1998: Huge start line pile up

Despite the heavy rain it was decided that the race would start at the scheduled time without a safety car. At the start Häkkinen led, but behind them, Coulthard suddenly emerged from the blinding spray at a right angle to the racing line,  hit the trackside wall and the McLaren rebounded directly into the path of the oncoming field, causing one of the biggest pile ups ever seen in Grand Prix racing.

1992: “Mystery Driver”" takes a leak during the grid walk

In this clip at (0:44 secs), one of the drivers can bee seen relieving himself on camera before the race.

1993: Alex Zanardi’s big crash

Alex Zanard has a monumental accident at Eau Rouge during Friday morning practice. The accident was allegedly caused by the Lotus’s active suspension system failing and Alex received severe bruising, concussion and a strained spinal nerve which kept him out of the cockpit for the rest of the season.

2000: Mika Häkkinen pulls off big move on Michael Schumacher

This move will go down in history as Mika keeps his boot in and passes both backmarker Zonta and Schumacher in a big balls move.

1966: Jackie Stewart has a big one that changes the way he thinks about racing

Jackie Stewart’s BRM P261 crashed into a telephone pole and then landed in a ditch at Masta Kink, leading to him being stuck upside down in his BRM, halfway up to his waist in fuel. It was 25 minutes before Jackie was removed from the car.

2011: Mark Webber puts one on Fernando Alonso at the entry to Eau Rouge

Red Bull racing driver Mark Webber commits to one of the bravest passing moves ever seen in Formula 1.

1991: Michael Schumacher makes his Formula 1 debut

The Jordan team dominated the headlines leading up to the Belgian Grand Prix. Regular driver Bertrand Gachot was in an English jail as a result of an altercation with a London taxi driver, so the team replaced him with a young German driver called Michael Schumacher. Michael qualified in 7th place on debut and lit a spark that would see him go on to be the most successful F1 driver in history.

2001: Lucian Burti has brain rattling shunt

Heading into Blanchimont, Eddie Irvine and Prost driver, Luciano Burti tangle. The young Brazilian barely washes off any speed before plowing head first into a tyre barrier. The sickening shunt leaves Burti with facial bruising and concussion that forces him out for the remainder of the season.

1967: Mike Parkes suffers Formula 1 career ending crash

British racer Mike Parkes’ Formula One career ended after he broke both legs in a horror  crash in 1967. The gritty racer returned to race sports cars in the 1970s in sports cars. Sadly Mile was killed in a road accident in 1977.

 

 

Top 10 classic moments from the Belgian Grand Prix is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Video: Peter Brock and the Beast

Video: 1970 Belgium Grand Prix highlights

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Pedro Rodriguez, BRM P153

The 1970 Belgian Grand Prix was the last Formula One race to be held on the original Spa circuit.

Pedro Rodríguez won in his V12 powered BRM P153 beating the new March of Chris Amon by just 1.1 seconds and with an incredible average speed of 149.94 mph (241.25 Km/h), then the highest average speed in the history of Formula 1, Jean-Pierre Beltoise got the third place in Matra.

Video: 1970 Belgium Grand Prix highlights is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Photo Gallery: 20 Isle of Man TT Classic race bikes

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Aermacchi Harley DavidsonThe Isle of Man TT Mountain Course will again be reverberating to the ear-splitting sound of Classic bikes as the inaugural Classic TT Races commences this weekend.

The eclectic mixture of machines on the course features some of the finest names in Motorcycling history including Aermacchi’s, AJS’s, BSA’s, Patons, Benellis, Velocettes, Matchless, Vincent, Enfields, and a smattering of Moto Guzzis alongside classic machines from the Japanese manufacturers, while a number of Nortons and a few Triumphs ensured that the high profile British manufacturers earlier machines were also represented.

Lets take a visual look back at 20 classic race bikes that helped create the Isle of Man legend.

Yamaha

Vincent

Triumph

Tohatsu

Suzuki

NSU

Norton

MV Agusta

Moto Paton

Matchless

Jawa

Honda

Honda TT

CZ

Cotton

BSA

BMW

Aermacchi

AJS

Images: Classic TT Facebook Page

Photo Gallery: 20 Isle of Man TT Classic race bikes is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Video: Tooned 50 – The Bruce McLaren Story


What does the Bathurst 1000 mean to you?

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It’s that time of year again! The “Great Race” is on again in little over a month and this promo clip called Our Mountain is a perfect way to build excitement. It’s a lovely piece with V8 Supercar fans sharing their feelings about what the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 means to them.

What does the Bathurst 1000 mean to you?

What does the Bathurst 1000 mean to you? is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Top 10 Competition car sales from Goodings Monterey

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1966 AAR Gurney-Weslake Eagle Mk 1

Gooding’s 9th annual Pebble Beach auction featured 127 cars, with the top result going to the 1957 Ferrari 250 GT 14-Louver Berlinetta that sold for $9,460,000. Check out some of the other interesting competitions cars that went to new owners.

1955 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione

1955 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione

  • One of the First 250 GT Competition Cars
  • Exceptionally Attractive Pinin Farina Coachwork
  • Delivered New to Legendary Racing Driver Alfonso de Portago
  • Estimate: $6,500,000 – $7,500,000
    SOLD: $7,150,000

1957 Ferrari 500 TRC

1957 Ferrari 500 TRC

  • One of Only 19 Examples Originally Produced
  • Among the Most Beautiful Racing Cars Ever Designed
  • 3rd in Class and 12th Overall in the 1957 Mille Miglia
  • Estimate: $1,500,000 – $2,300,000
    SOLD: $3,080,000

2002 Ferrari F2002

2002 Ferrari F2002

  • Driven by Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello to Three Grand Prix Wins
  • A Championship Car in a Constructor’s World Championship Season As Well As a Driver’s World Championship Season
  • Estimate: $2,200,000 – $2,600,000
    SOLD: $2,255,000

1966 AAR Gurney-Weslake Eagle Mk 1

1966 AAR Gurney-Weslake Eagle Mk 1

  • The Most Beautiful Formula 1 Car
  • One Of Only Four Eagle Mk is Built
  • Exotic Gurney-Weslake V-12
  • Campaigned in Seven World Championship Races
  • SOLD: $3,740,000

1961 Fiat-Abarth 1000 Bialbero GT Competition Coupe

  • Winner, 1962 Sebring 3-Hour Race for Cars Under 1.0 Liter
  • Star Period Drivers Include Bruce McLaren and Walt Hansgen
  • Estimate: $300,000 – $400,000
    SOLD: $302,500

1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS

1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS

  • The Ultimate Four-Cam, Four-Cylinder Porsche
  • Outstanding Spanish Racing History
  • Consistent Class and Overall Winner in Period
  • Estimate: $1,750,000 – $2,250,000
    SOLD: $1,595,000

1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 RSR

1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 RSR

  • Raced in Period by Al Holbert , Hurley Haywood and Peter Gregg, Amongst Others
  • A Four-Time 24 Hours of Daytona Entrant Including a 2nd Overall Finish in 1976
  • Estimate: $650,000 – $800,000
    SOLD: $742,500

1990 Ferrari F40 LM

1990 Ferrari F40 LM

  • An Important Piece of Ferrari Racing History
  • The Only Ecurie Pozzi Team Car in Private Hands
  • Driven by Hurley Haywood, Jacques Laffite, and Jean-Pierre Jabouille
  • Estimate: $2,000,000 – $2,500,000
    SOLD: $2,090,000

1967 Holman Moody Ford Honker II

1967 Holman Moody Ford Honker II

  • Holman Moody’s First Can-Am Car
  • Raced by Mario Andretti and Sponsored by Paul Newman
  • Estimate: $240,000 – $280,000
    SOLD: $200,000

1957 Ferrari 250 GT 14-Louver Berlinetta

1957 Ferrari 250 GT 14-Louver Berlinetta

  • An Important Competition Ferrari
  • The Ultimate Tour de France Variant
  • One of Only Nine Examples Built and Eight Remaining
  • Estimate: $9,000,000 – $11,000,000
    SOLD: $9,460,000

1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Competition Roadster

1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Competition Roadster

  • Ordered New by Ford Special Vehicle Division for Racing
  • A Desirably Optioned “Team Specification” Competition Roadster
  • Campaigned by Tom Payne at SCCA and USRRC Events
  • Estimate: $2,000,000 – $2,500,000 | Without Reserve
    SOLD: $1,485,000

1950 Crosley Gardner Special

1950 Crosley Gardner Special

  • One-of-a-Kind Period Race Car
  • Well-Documented Racing History
    Estimate: $40,000 – $55,000 | Without Reserve
    SOLD: $30,800

Images: Gooding & company

 

Top 10 Competition car sales from Goodings Monterey is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Report & Mega Gallery: The 2013 Silverstone Classic

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2013-silverstone-classic

By Graham Dalley

This event just gets bigger and better every year! This year’s record breaking offering, a feast of racing, socialising and music was an absolute monster of an event.

90,000 people soaked up the atmosphere over the weekend, up on last year’s attendance by some 6500, a new event record. 24 races spanning nine decades of motor racing attracted 1113 original and iconic, racing cars, another event record surpassing previous record set in 2011. The infield was crammed with over 8000 classic cars from 82 car enthusiasts and owners clubs! On Saturday the featured marque was Aston Martin, who as part of their centenary celebrations fielded 361 Aston Martins in a cavalcade spanning the history of the company.

Silverstone Classic Porsches

Sunday and it was the turn of the Porsche 911 to take centre stage, 2013 marking  the 911’s 50th birthday, the Porsche Club GB were aiming to have a track parade of 911, 911’s… the actual figure they got was 1208, a new world record. Son of Ferdinand Porsche, designer of the original 911 Mark Porsche together with five time Le Mans winner Derek Bell led the parade around the track.

Clearly moved by the experience Mark commented, “Of course the 911 means a great deal to me as it’s my father’s big design and it will always have a special place in my heart. It’s a family member over all the generations of the 911 series and I’m very proud to be here today to represent the Porsche family at this great event. I think that to have these 1200 cars on track is the attention that the 911 deserves for its 50th birthday. I can’t thank the Porsche Club GB enough for making this event possible.”

A beaming Derek Bell attributed Porsche’s success on the race track as a direct result of the phenomenal popularity of the 911, “It’s because of the 911 that Porsche had the financial resources to go racing and create the history of the 917, 956, 962 and all the wins that we had around the world with all my fabulous team-mates. Porsche did a heck of a lot for me so to be here in this parade driving around my home track Silverstone is a great honour.”

Event supporter BMW pulled all the stops out providing a fleet of Brand new Bimmer’s of varying shapes and sizes to ferry VIP’s and media to and fro. The ‘BMW wheel’, a forty meter tall big wheel could be seem from anywhere on the track and provided unrivalled views of the circuit. BMW owners could take some shade and refreshment in the air conditioned BMW pavilion which boasted a show of the latest models as well as some classic BMW cars by simply producing their car key, the whole area was surrounded by a sea of BMW’s of every shape and size.

On Saturday a couple of special guests came to enjoy the atmosphere, Sir Jackie Stewart OBE together with the Prince Edward, Duke of Kent were interested spectators for Saturdays Formula One race, The Duke presented the trophies on the winner’s podium. Also and I’m rather pleased to report, Murray Walker was also at Silverstone ‘on a day off’ and looking very well after his recent health scare.

The ‘Village green’ provided fans with an area to shop in the retail park, grab a bite to eat and browse automotive inspired art. The National motor museum Beaulieu put on a display of vintage cars and the Shuttleworth Trust fired up the engine on its World War One Sopwith Camel fighter plane a couple of times a day.

Silverstone Classic Action

On Track the action was fast and frenetic all weekend the 24 race program took a couple of hits due to the weather which on Saturday afternoon decided to mimic a monsoon with a down pour of biblical proportions which caused the red flagging of the pre 1966 grand Prix car race after four laps and the cancellation of the dusk Group C race, usually a highlight of the event, as the track was flooded in a couple of places!

This year’s races attracted several high profile professional drivers to enter the fray. Former F1 driver turn TV presenter and all round top bloke, Tiff Needell took to the track in a 1971 Lotus 69 Formula Ford, qualifying the car 10th in the new to the Classic this year, Balvenie Trophy for Historic Formula Fords races. In the first of the two races he brought the car home in 8th and in the second outing (race 14, Sunday) starting 8th he came home 7th. Star of both Formula Ford encounters however was Callum MacLeod who won both with well measured drives from the front.

Another former F1 driver, 1969 Le Mans winner and team owner the mercurial Jackie Oliver was on top form. He starred in the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy race, sharing the stunning ‘Gaillo FLY’ coloured Ferrari 250 SWB of Rohan Fernando, with Gary Pearson, to a 13 second win over Simon hadfield and Wolfgang Freidrichs Aston Martin Project 212, the Cottingham/Smith Jaguar E Type filled the final podium slot.

Silverstone Classic

Triple FIA World Touring Car Champion, Andy Priaulx took to the historic scene in Richard Soloman’s  Laranca Engineering prepared BMW 1800 Ti for the Sir John Whitmore Trophy for under 2 litre Touring Cars blast. With 51 cars taking the start, the Guersey man enjoyed a great battle with in his stint in the car taking the lead at the start and fending off a determined Jackie Oliver and former EVO magazine editor Richard Meaden before handing the BMW over to Soloman after 12 laps. The race was won by historic racing stars Leo Voyazides and Simon Hadfield in their Lotus Cortina Mk1 both of whom had busy weekends competing in several other races.

The British Touring Car Championship’s (BTCC) drivers both present and past had a few drivers out to play. Anthony Reid now an established historic’s competitor was out in several races. Reigning World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff had a ball in the Trans-Atlantic Trophy race, taking a highly entertaining class win in an Austin Mini Cooper S with a feisty drive against the American muscle cars and fellow mini drivers Nick Swift and Endaf Evans they did a passable version of the original ‘Italian Job’ chase scene weaving in and out of the faster Mustangs and Falcons only to get overwhelmed by them on the straights. Overall winners were the Voyazides/Hadfield Falcon.

The Super Touring Car Trophy saw Tim Harvey and Patrick Watts, veterans of the era and current pedaller Frank Wrathall out to play. In  typical touring car fashion the races were not without incident.  For the first race (Race 10)Watts qualified his superbly restored Peugeot 406 on the pole with Harvey putting his firebreathing Ford Sierra Cosworth on the second row with Wrathall putting his ex-James Thompson Vauxhall Cavalier GSI on row four.  At the start Harvey got a lightning get away and jumped the three in front for the lead with Watts in second and Neil Smith right behind in the S2000 spec Alfa 156. Copse on lap two and Watts lost the rear of the 406 and was nearly collected by Smith’s close following Alfa. The errant 406 slammed into the Armco on the inside doing enough damage to prevent Patrick coming out for the second race sadly. This handed second to Smith, the better handling Alfa took the lead with a classy move on Harvey at Village next time round and there he stayed with Harvey, Wrathall, Stewart Whyte in a Honda Accord and my media day chauffeur Craig Davies’ Sierra Cosworth 500 giving chase. Whyte got his accord inside Smith in to Brooklands on lap 7 but almost lost the lead running outside the track limits at Copse, robustly coming back on in front of the Alfa, in the ensuing scrap the inevitable contact was made in the braking area at club, it knocked the rear bumper skin of the Accord askew which started acting like an air brake! Smith bidded his time and got a run at the luridly handling Honda into Brooklands, it looked like the pair touched again as both cars pirouetted into the run off area and regained the track with Whyte still in the lead. However it wasn’t to be as the back of the Honda stepped out going into Becketts and Smith found himself back in front but being put under pressure by the hard charging Cavalier of Wrathall. The pair crossed the strip with just over 0.2 of a second between them.  Harvey was third with Craig Davies similar Sierra right behind him. However after a stewards enquiry Smith was excluded from the results for ‘causing an avoidable accident’ and demoted to the rear of the grid for the second race. This promoted Wrathall to the top step with the Cossie pair of Harvey and Davies second and third. In race 2 (race 20)with both Harvey, whose Cossie had suffered engine maladies towards the end of the previous day’s race and Watts not taking the start Wrathall was never headed for an untroubled run to the flag after some overnight tinkering with the Cavalier, second falling to Stewart Whyte’s repaired Accord with third going for the second time to Craig Davies and the Ex-Chris Hodgetts Sierra RS500 (I told ya that car was quick!) Smith charged through the field for a hard fought fifth behind Dave Jarman’s Ex- Matt Neale Team Dynamics Nissan Primera.

Silverstone Classic F1

There was never any doubt as to who was in charge for both the FIA Masters F1. Young Michael Lyons was on top form over the weekend, driving his RAM Williams FW07 to a brace of wins. An enthralling battle for the remaining podium positions developed between thethe ex-Tiff Needell Ensign MN180 driven beautifully by Simon Fish and ‘The Jam Baron’ Steve Hartley in his Arrows A4. It ended in tears at Becketts on the final tour when Hartley went for a gap which wasn’t there, pitching them both off and allowing Joaquin Folch, in the Bernie Ecclestone owned Brabham BT49C and Christophe d’Ansembourg in his Williams FW07C through for second and third. In the second F1 encounter, Lyons once again disappeared at the front with Folch an untroubled second and Hartley in third after a great drive from the back of the grid. It was a similar story in the Peter Gethin Trophy F5000 and F2 races, Lyons was unbeatable notching up two more wins in his Lola T400.

Silverstone Classic Mercedes

Group C, what can I say? There is something very special that stirs the imagination when these awesome Endurance cars hit the track. Sadly, we were robbed of the spectacle of the cars lights a blaze as the sun goes down Le Mans Saturday evening style, due to the torrential rain that hit Silverstone just after 5 PM local time but the organisers extended the Sunday race so the cars could really ‘stretch their legs’ as it were.  The undoubted star of the Group C race was Nicolas Minassian and his drive in the fabulous Jaguar XJR14 resplendent in its period Silk Cut colours, the Ross Brawn designed ex Brundle/Warwick car was the class of the field. Minassian put the car on pole and left all comers standing in a stunning display on Sunday afternoon, setting a new classic lap record of 1m 46.712 sec lap on the way to lapping all but second placed Gareth Evans glorious sounding Sauber C11, third was Steve Tandy in the Nissan R90CK

It was a weekend of many outstanding highlights, to start with, Formula Junior, it used to be a way in to Formula One back in the day and its not hard to see why.  The two FJ races were, as always, thrilling to watch. Seasoned campaigners John Milicevic, Sam Wilson, Andrew Hibberd and David Methley showed just how good Formula Junior is. Hibberd winning race one from Wilson and Milicevic and Methley after a titanic race long battle. Wilson taking the laurels in race two with a ‘comfortable’ two second margin to Hibberd, Milicevic and Methley. Father and Son team Grahame and Oliver Bryant in their gorgeous Lotus XV won out in a tactical race against with the Ward and Pearson Lister Knobbly and the quick Lister Costin of Smith and Ward in an entertaining Sir Stirling Moss Trophy race. The RAC Woodcote Trophy for Pre 1956 Sports cars was also an entertaining affair won by the simply beautiful Jaguar D Type of Gary and John Pearson after a race long duel between the C type of Young and Ward and the Cooper Jaguar of Smith and Young.

Silverstone Classic

The FIA Historic Masters race saw a huge grid of fifty 60’s and 70’s GT racers thunder on to the track headed by the Lola T70 Mk3b of Grant Tromans and Martin Stretton in pole with the Lola T70Mk3b of Hadfield and Voyazides filling the front row. Undoubted star of the show was the rare sight of a Porsche 917 which Carlos Monteverde and brought out to play which he would share with Gary Pearson. Paul Knapfield was also in the mix with the 917’s arch rival a Ferrari 512M which he’d qualified in a lowly and somewhat out of position 17th. With some great drivers and great cars on the grid the stage was set. Martin O’Connell made a good start and headed the pack opening  a gap in the early laps to Tromans. Pearson made steady progress with the 917 however the sight of a duel between it and the Ferrari of Knapfield was not to be as into Village on lap two Knapfield who had made his way from his 17th starting spot to 12th got a bit crossed up and was collected initially by the Lola T212  of Allen and Gathercole and in the ensuing melee was hit hard by the Lola T70 of Meins and Lilingston-Price, both cars eliminated on the spot , Shaun Lynn spun in avoidance but recovered. On Lap 6 Tromans retired the Lola from 2nd spot with suspension failure, Pearson found himself in second and clear of the developing scrap between last year’s winner Oliver Bryant and Leo Voyazides. The Greek racer handed the car over to Hadfield on lap 12 who got the bit between his teeth and reeled off a series of quick laps to cement the lead and the win, Second was Steve Tandy in his Lola T70 with Pearson following them home in third in the mighty 917.

In a weather interrupted an HGPCA pre 66 Grand Prix cars race on Saturday Jason Minshaw splashed his way to the win with his Brabham BT4 followed by Jonathon Hughes Cooper T53 and Peter Horsman’s Lotus 18/21, Minshaw won again on Sunday in a full length race followed home by Miles Griffiths in a Cooper T51 and Hughes’ Cooper T53.

Silverstone Classic

The re-named Froilian Gonzalez Trophy for Pre 1961 Grand Prix Cars were both great races, these evocative front engined single seaters always a crowd pleaser didn’t let down. Tony Wood stuck his Tec Mec Maserati 250F on pole for the first encounter (race 7) from the in period uncompetitive Scarab offy of Julian Bronson. Bronson has developed the car and it is now definitely a winner taking the chequered flag first in both races leaving the Maserati’s and Ferrari’s and the Lister Monzanapolis of Rod Jolley to fight it out for the podium places. The partnership of Simon Hadfield and Leo Voyazides triumphed in the Masters Historic Sports cars race hitting the front on Lap 13 in their well sorted Lola Mk3B for a convincing 33 second win after 22 laps.

Thus ended another magnificent Silverstone Classic, the 90000 strong crowd were treated to 23 fantastic races with some memorable dices with some of the most beautiful racing and road cars on track and in the paddocks and show grounds, coupled with a heady mix of Rock ‘n’ Roll, fairground attractions, shopping, dining, hospitality and art, this festival offers something different to say the Goodwood Revival or Festival of Speed which is no bad thing. In doing so it has cemented its place in the ‘must do’ motor racing events in the UK scene, long may it continue and may it break even more records in 2014.

Report & Mega Gallery: The 2013 Silverstone Classic is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Cheers! Sandy’s Can Cars are Unbe(er)lievable

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Sandy's Can Racers

It’s Saturday night. You’re surrounded by mates, good barbeque and beers. Great ideas flow like the golden liquid that’s rapidly making its way to your head.

And then all too suddenly, it’s Sunday morning and you’re surrounded by the wreckage of a glorious evening. Great ideas can no longer flow from your poor abused brain.

Sandy, of Sandy’s CanCars, however, seems to have an endless creative capacity, and could work miracles with that wreckage.

And his medium of choice for miracle working? Beer cans.

After careers making magic as a draughtsman, technology teacher, bass player and luthier, Sandy suffered an accident that left him unable to work the power tools that were so important in his life as a bass player and luthier. And that’s when he hit the cans.. in the best way possible!

His CanCars are awesome, and you can (should) check ‘em out in the pics below, and over at his site here.

Images via Sandy’s CanCars

Thanks to Victor WD for the tip

Sandy's Can Racers

Sandy's Can Racers

Sandy's Can Racers

Sandy's Can Racers

Sandy's Can Racers

Sandy's Can Racers

Sandy's Can Racers

Sandy's Can Racers

Cheers! Sandy’s Can Cars are Unbe(er)lievable is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Video: Brabham BT44 rolls at Laguna Seca

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Historic racer Dan Marvin was lucky to escape unhurt after flipping his Brabham BT44 at Laguna Seca’s infamous Corkscrew during the recent Monterey Historic Races.

Charlie Nearburg in the Williams, who helped Dan into the roll, gets out of the car to help his fellow racer and both of them walked away from the crash.

Video: Brabham BT44 rolls at Laguna Seca is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Nissan Skyline HR31 GTS-R: The Unsung Hero of Nissan’s First ATCC Victory

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Nissan HR31 GTS-R

Images thanks to www.autopics.com.au

As much as it pains me to say, racing’s not really about building the absolute fastest, most manic car on the grid. It’s about building the car that’s going to be leading the field a couple hours, or even days, after the starting gun goes off. And that’s what Nissan’s Skyline HR31 GTS-R was.

“The HR31 didn’t have the biggest horsepower, it didn’t have anything special really, but it was just incredibly consistent. Whatever we qualified at and whatever time the car would do on the first lap it would do on the last lap and that’s where the HR31 was a real hero act. When the other cars, particularly the Ford Sierras, started to destroy their rear tyres and fall away, our cars just kept hanging in there.” – Fred Gibson

Nissan HR31 GTS-R

Following on from the competitive DR30, the HR31 GTS-R launched in August of ’87 as a homologation special to qualify for Group A racing. It started to show promise in ’89, after a troubled ’88 season, with some considerable driving talent at the wheel in the form of Jim Richards, George Fury and Mark Skaife.

Then, finally, at a wild and wet race in Winton, George Fury would show us the full potential of the Skyline.

You can read the story of Nissan’s Skyline HR31 GTS-R and find out what made it the unsung hero of Nissan’s first ATCC victory over at the Shannons Club.

Via the Shannons Club

Images thanks to www.autopics.com.au

Shannons Club

Nissan Skyline HR31 GTS-R: The Unsung Hero of Nissan’s First ATCC Victory is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Trip the Light Fantastic with Alan Greene’s Psychedelic Motorsport Art

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Alan Green Retro Racing Art

After a brief but enjoyable trip to reality we’re heading back into the abstract this week, with Alan Greene‘s stunning psychedelic retro motorsport art.

Alan celebrates the extended palette that digital art provides him, using a tablet and wand to hand-paint the basic foundations of his works. He then prints the computer sketch on museum-quality canvas and uses acrylic paint, poster markers, molding pasts and various other media to bring his work to life and create his original work.

Alan Greene Retro Racing Art

His tagline is “Automotive Racing Expressions”, and it’s clear that the passion, energy and bombast of classic motorsport have been an inspiration to him. His retro racing artworks are awesome, and I particularly love the way that his cars seem to drip and burn with energy.

Each work is reproduced in a limited run of 300 hand signed and numbered giclée canvas prints, which you can check out on his website ASGsportwerks.com.

Make sure to head to his Facebook page, facebook.com/ASGsportwerks, and give him a ‘Like’ to keep up with his work as well!

Images thanks to Alan Greene ASGsportwerks.com

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Alan Greene Retro Racing Art  Alan Greene Retro Racing Art

Trip the Light Fantastic with Alan Greene’s Psychedelic Motorsport Art is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.


Video: The Alligator Car – McLaren M19C

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The McLaren 50th Anniversary celebrations continue with a look at  it’s race winning challenger for the 1972 season, the M19C.  The M19C was nicknamed ‘The Alligator Car’ due to its bulging mid-section and long nose. The car ‘s livery was distinctive, sporting colors from McLaren’s first-ever sponsorship deal with Yardley cosmetics and the team also introduced new features such as brake cooling ducts, a safety kill-switch for the engine and a 6-point seat-belt racing harness.

The teams results in 1972 were solid, with New Zealand’s Denis Hulme winning the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, and along with team mate Peter Revson the M19C also scored no less than ten podium appearances.

 

Video: The Alligator Car – McLaren M19C is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Photo of the day: Ferrari at Spa

Cool Retro Tees from Driven Threads

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driven threads

The team at Driven Threads have a new range of Retro Tees and a great offer to match.

Just buy any two tees from Driven Threads and receive a free Slam It solider tee.

As a small Australian company, based in Melbourne, the guys pride themselves on producing unique motorsport-inspired tees with a pure Aussie Attitude.

The tees are Driven to Perform and are of the highest quality and proudly designed and printed in Australia.

The design team has been busy with the recent release of the Retro Collection. Six original t-shirt designs to be produced in limited release, with less than 100 of each design printed.

Featured designs include:

‘M3USCLE’ E30 BMW M3 1987 ATCC Winner

BMW- new website

‘Banished’ Gibson Motorsport Nissan R32 GTR

GTR- new website

‘Hatched Hot’ Generations of VW Golf

VW- new b

‘Mint DNA’ The original NA MX5

MX5 Props Edited hi res (1 of 1)

‘Rally Bred’ The original S1 Audi Quattro

driven threads

Head over to driven-threads.com and grab your Tee now. And don’t forget to check out the Blog and facebook page.

Cool Retro Tees from Driven Threads is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Auction: 1955 Jaguar D-Type

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1955 Jaguar D-Type

The upcoming London Sale to be hosted by RM Auctions is set to feature a stunning selection of retro racing hardware, and none more beautiful than this 1955 Jaguar D-Type.

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Drawn from the Laidlaw Competition Car Collection, RM Auctions expect the iconic British racer to fetch between 5,500,000 and 6,500,000 pounds, with good reason. This D-Type is not only a former factory team car of Silverstone and Nürburgring 1000km heritage, but was also used for some of Jaguars earliest fuel injection testing.

1955 Jaguar D-Type

RM are betting that such history will make the car particularly appealing to prospective buyers, as will the 285bhp, twin cam straight six that measures in at a hefty 3.8L. You just don’t see six successive induction trumpets in a line often enough these days.

1955 Jaguar D-Type

The high-tech DOHC head and dry sump lubrication system allowed the near 60-year-old wide-angle 3.8 to turn with serious haste. Peak power arrives at 5,750rpm.

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However there’s no doubt that the mechanical prowess of this example takes a back seat to it’s historic relevance, and sheer beauty. RM describe the D-Type as “one of the most significant and iconic historic competition cars extant”, no arguments here.

1955 Jaguar Type-D

It’s hard not to dream about such lines sitting in our own garage, and the long list of previous high-profile owners stands as a testament to the fact that many others agree. Peter Sutcliffe, Mike Salmon, Neil Corner and Sir PaulVestey have called this D-Type theirs in times past.

1955 Jaguar Type-D

1955 Jaguar Type-D

Even more so than its owners, it’s for an illustrious racing career that this car will be remembered.

1955 Jaguar D-Type

1955 Jaguar D-Type
With a welded aluminium front subframe, riveted aluminium-magnesium construction and lines reminiscent of an air craft, it’s hard not to feel at least a little inspired by the D-Type. It’s a six million dollar piece of art that can be driven in excess of 180mph, what’s not to fall in love with?

Images via RM Auctions 

Auction: 1955 Jaguar D-Type is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Motoring Marques Celebrate Past, Present and Future at 2013 RACV Motorclassica

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Motorclassica 2013

RACV Motorclassica will add to its celebrations of unique, collectible and significant cars and bikes in 2013, when it’s joined by motoring icons Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Morgan and Caterham to showcase brand-new 2014 models.

The magnificent motoring marques will exhibit the models of their future alongside the icons from their past when RACV Motorclassica opens the doors to Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building over October the 25th, 26th and 27th.

Lamborghini will also have a significant presence at the event, continuing its celebrations of 50 years of supercar production with a display featuring everything from the 400GT to the Aventador.

If bikes are more your speed Harley Davidson will be celebrating its 110th birthday in its display, and Triumph, Benelli, Indian and American Ironhorse will be present as well.

RACV Motorclassica is a highlight in the classic car calendar, and we can’t wait to get stuck in to this year’s event.

Head to the official RACV Motorclassica website here for more and to buy tickets, and read on for the official word from RACV Motorclassica.

Images via RACV Motorclassica

Manufacturers Move In On 2013 RACV Motorclassica

Iconic automotive heritage brands Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Morgan and Caterham will use the 2013 RACV Motorclassica to showcase brand-new models, in a first for Australia’s premier exhibition of unique, collectible and historically significant cars and motorcycles.

Drawing on their own heritage, these manufacturers from Germany and the UK will display their latest 2014 models alongside cars from their storied past at the RACV Motorclassica event, to be held in Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building from October 25 to 27.

Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Morgan and Caterham will be joined by a display of contemporary models from Lamborghini Melbourne, which will be celebrating 50 years of supercar production at Motorclassica with an adjacent line-up of significant models from its past, ranging from the 400GT to the Aventador.

lamborghini-aventador

Motorcycle enthusiasts won’t miss out either, with Motorclassica celebrating 110 years of Harley Davidson as well as displays of the very latest bikes from Triumph, Benelli, Indian and custom cycle manufacturer American Ironhorse.

“Manufacturer involvement like this is a significant step for Motorclassica and reflects both the quality and credibility of our event, and that there is no longer an annual motor show to display their latest models,” Motorclassica Event Director Paul Mathers said.

“Motorclassica attracts an informed and engaged crowd, and uniquely provides a platform for manufacturers to both display their latest wares and draw on their heritage, in a way that really enhances their brands.

“I’d also suggest that Motorclassica will offer a very hands-on experience for enthusiasts and potential buyers, they’ll be able to sit in the cars or on the motorcycles, touch and feel them and engage with manufacturer representatives who understand the vehicles and importantly the brand back story.”

While Mercedes Benz is keeping quiet on the details of its new model, other than to admit it’ll be an Australian first, Jaguar has confirmed it will be showcasing its newest models in Australia, the F-TYPE and XFR-S.

Jaguar-F-Type

Morgan, now the oldest and largest British owned car company, will showcase its classic Plus 4 model and the much anticipated Morgan 3 Wheeler, which is expected to make its Australian debut in final ADR approved format.

Morgan Cars Australia has experienced unprecedented demand for the new 3 Wheeler and is presently holding over 350 ‘expressions of interest’ for this unique vehicle.

Caterham, which celebrates 40-years production of the iconic Seven model this year, will exhibit the latest top of the range CSR 175 model.

“We’re also very close to confirming the very first public display from another car manufacturer, returning to the Australian market and with a long history here, plus there’s interest from several more,” Paul Mathers confirmed.

“I think you will also see more involvement by the contemporary car and motorcycle manufacturers with Motorclassica in the years to come, as we offer an engaged and relevant alternative to other shows.”

caterham

Although only in its fourth year, Motorclassica is already Australia’s premier classic car event and a mecca for automotive enthusiasts, uniquely mixing contemporary models with rare and exotic, historic, vintage, veteran, classic and collectable cars and motorcycles, plus automotive memorabilia, models and other collectibles.

2013′s event at Melbourne’s iconic Royal Exhibition Building will see more than 150 cars and motorcycles on show inside its 19th century halls, plus another 200 cars and motorcycles each day outside in the adjacent club displays.

A highlight will be Saturday evening’s exclusive collector car auction of just 30 prized vehicles, conducted by the country’s oldest auction house, Theodore Bruce.

Motorclassica is supported by the City of Melbourne and Victoria’s premier motoring organisation, the RACV.

Additional information on the 2013 Motorclassica, to be held at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building from October 25-27, is available on www.motorclassica.com.au.

Motoring Marques Celebrate Past, Present and Future at 2013 RACV Motorclassica is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

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