Ten years ago, the Bentley Speed 8 gave the famous British marque its first win at Le Mans since 1930, finishing in a historic 1-2.
Recently Autocar’s Steve Sutcliffe managed to take the stunning 615-horsepower twin turbo 4.0-liter V8 Pprototype car for a spin at the Anglesey Circuit in Wales. Lucky Bastard!
He goes pretty easy on it, but then, given it is a priceless museum piece, i guess you would.
Typical Ardennes weather conditions treated drivers, spectators and photographers during the final weekend of May at Spa-Francorchamps. Peter Auto hosted the third edition of the Spa Classic over the weekend from May 24th until May 26th on the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Rather cold temperatures, nice blue skies in the early morning, followed by showers with even a flock of snow, instead of spring like temperatures.
Around 13, 000 spectators found their way to the track, despite the poor weather, as the organisation had an excellent programme in store featuring nine different competing grids.
Classic Endurance Racing sports cars and GTs, Group C prototypes, Spa-Jubilee a unique race featuring classic Porsche 911s. Spa-Classic Endurance Tourisme 1&2 paid a tribute to the legendary Spa 24 Hours with a day race and a night race, Sixties’ Endurance filled the grid with no less than 60 classic GTs and touring cars and the Trofeo Nastro Rossa paid tribute to a grid especially dedicated to pre-66 Italian Sports and GTs. Last but not least, the British Historic Formula Championship settled down in the Ardennes for two races giving spectators a chance to taste the the shapes, sound and spirit from the seventies.
Classic Endurance Racing 1
27 drivers had to cope with wet track conditions for their 60 minute race on Sunday.
Swiss driver Bernard Thuner drove a lonely race as he proved too quick for his fellow opponents. Thuner finished his 1967 Lola T70 Mk.III first, creating a gap over 1 minute in front of Belgian drivers Thierry de Latre du Bosqueau and Eric Jamar. Frenchmen Michel Lecourt and Raymond Narac crossed the finish line third in their 1974 Porsche 911 RSR 3.0.
Classic Endurance Racing 2
Weather conditions didn’t improve for the second group sports cars and GTs. Remarkably prototypes such as the different entered Lolas couldn’t settle for quick lap times due to the track conditions. In the end it was the huge flame producing Porsche 934/5 of Belgian Jean-Michel Martin and former German winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours Jürgen Barth taking victory. Briton Doug Hart finished second in his bright yellow 1975 March 75S as Swiss driver Christian Traber and Belgian Marc Devis scored a third place in their 1979 Porsche 935.
Group C Racing
Group C Racing relived the glory days of sports car racing bringing 17 epic prototypes to the legendary Belgian race track. Peter and Andy Meyrick dominated ¾ of the race in their 1990 Spice SE90C as pole sitters Gareth Evans and Bob Berridge had a very poor start in their Sauber-Mercedes. With less than 15 minutes on the clock father and son Meyrick had to retire giving victory to the 1989 Sauber-Mercedes C11 of Evans and Berridge who fought their way back to the front. Adrian Watt finished second (1989 Spice SE89), Herve Regout and Stephane Verbeeck managed to score a third place in a 1990 Porsche 962.
Spa Classic Endurance Tourisme 1 & 2
One of the highlights of the 3rd edition of the Spa Classic was the Spa Classic Endurance Tourisme 1 & 2. Touring cars from 1966 to 1984 payed tribute to the great Spa 24 Hours. Two sixty minute races, one day race and another held during the night, saw legendary cars such as the BMW 3.0 CSL and Ford Capri compete. Other cars included several Alfa Romeos, BMW 1800s and of pair Citroën SMs. In both races it was the 1973 Ford Capri 2600RS of Frenchmen David Ferrer and Mr. John of B. taking victory in front of a BMW 3.0 CSL. In race 1 it was the BMW of Eric Mestdagh and Pierre-Alain Thibault claiming second place, in race 2 Dominik Roschmann scored a second place in his BMW 3.0 CSL. Frenchman Claude Boissy manage to score a third place in both races in his 1974 Ford Escort RS1600.
Spa-Classic Jubilee
For five decades, the Porsche 911 has been the heart of the Porsche brand. To celebrate this special anniversary a unique race was held for Porsche 911s built between 1964 and 1974.
This car with its timeless design and unique Flat-6 engine has positioned the 911 as Porsche’s emblematic model and thirty-three 911s entered qualifying on Friday creating a unique sight. Michel Lecourt and Raymond Narac claimed victory during the first race in a 1974 Porsche 3.0 RSR. Santiago Orjuela finished second as Didier Denat crossed the finish line third both in a 1974 Porsche 911 RSR 3.0.
Jim Pace and Georg Tuma did the same during the second race in their 1974 Porsche Porsche 3.0 RSR.The French connection by Lecourt and Narac scored a second place as Pedro Sanchez finished second in again a 1974 Porsche 911 RSR 3.0
Sixties Endurance
Sixties Endurance created the biggest field of the weekend as 61 historic GTs and touring cars entered the Ardennes rollercoaster. AC Cobras, Jaguar E-Types, Ford Shelby GT350s, different Porsches, MG Bs to name only a few. The race was held on Sunday in dry conditions. Spectators could witness the the battle of the Cobras as none of the other participants could even match their lap times. Karsten Le Blanc and Jaap Sinke crossed the finish line first after a 1 hour race in their splendid looking 1963 AC Cobra 289. Jean-Marc Merlin finished second, Dominique Guenat and Yvan Mahe finished third, all in an AC Cobra.
Trofeo Nastro Rossa
Fans of Italian pre-66 Italian Sports and GTs could eat their hearts out with the Trofeo Nastro Rossa including different Ferraris, Bizzarrins, Alfa Romeos and a Maserati 250S. Belgian Vincent Gay had a lonely race as he was a class of his own in his 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C, claiming victory during both races. Belgian driver Marc Devis finished second in race 1 in a 1957 Maserati 250S as Jean Brandenburg and Jean-Luc George finished third in a 1965 Bizzarrini 5300GT. Dutchman Jan Gijzen scored a second place in his splendid looking 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB 4, as Bill Wykeham finished third in a 1960 Porsche Carrera Abarth, not the car you would expect in a Italian pre-66 class.
Historic Formula 2 Trophy
The British Historic Formula 2 Trophy settled down at Spa including 24 epic single seaters from the great days of Formula 2 racing. Andrew Smith had the perfect weekend claiming victory in both races with a 1974 March 742. Martin Stretton crossed the finish line second in his 1974 March 742 during race 1 as well in race 2, as Neil Fowler finished third in a 1977 Chevron B34D in race 1. Mark Dwyer managed to score a third place in a 1974 March 742.
The Spa Classic has grown every year since the start in 2011. Peter Auto is also known as the organiser of the Le Mans Classic. Besides three days of top historic racing on the most beautiful race track in the world, people could also enjoy an auction organised by Bonhams, visit an Automobilia village as well as many other activities. Peter Auto organised and hosted the best edition of the Spa Classic so far. We’re already looking forward to 2014 as the fourth edition of Europe’s most impressive classic events will shine on the international historic motorsports calendar.
The beautiful black and gold colours of John Player Special make up one of the most recognizable and celebrated liveries in motorsport.
In 1985 in Australia they adorned a BMW 635 CSi coupe which, partnered with Jim Richards, dominated both the Australian Touring Car Championship and Australian Endurance Championship in spectacular fashion.
The previous four years, however, had seen the car fail to snatch even one outright victory, despite a world-class team, quick driver and capable car. They’d also seen the team face plenty of controversy, and a sport evolving yearly as it fought to find a competitive balance.
2013 marks 50 years of Porsche’s 911, and boy have they been busy.
911s have spent the past five decades competing in, and winning, nearly every form of four-wheeled motorsport on the planet, and deservedly built one of motorsport’s greatest legacies.
This video from Porsche celebrates that legacy with magnificent motorsport footage of 911s, and is a great quick watch!
Driving a Nissan R90CK on full boost, Mark Blundell sums up his stunning pole position winning lap at Le Mans 1990 like this:
“Every input was pure reflex – things were coming at me everywhere I looked. For about 50 percent of the lap I felt like I was on the verge of a massive accident.”
Who as a kid, didn’t see the movie Cannonball Run and want to be a renegade outlaw like Burt Reynolds, breaking every speed limit on the way from New York to California accompanied by Farrah Fawcett? Honestly we all did! Brock Yates, the respected writer was the event’s founder, taking his 14-year-old son Brock Jr on that first run as they went coast to coast in 40hrs and 51mins… Yates’ best-selling book was turned into the film – although Brock Sr, now sadly in failing health – was less than thrilled with the celluloid version of his dream. MotorportRetro.com caught up with Brock Jr, who still runs a ‘politically correct’ version of the event today.
I’ve searched on “Brock Yates” just to see what’s out there. My father is well-represented, very few with me.
2) What is your funniest Cannonball moment?
I don’t remember any funny moments during the Cannonball. From my vantage point in the back seat the miles just flew by. It was an adventure on a grand scale. The country was vast and changing and back then it was a daunting distance, especially at night as there were few all night gas stations, unlike in the modern era when every exit has a few motels, gas stations and several national chain restaurants.
3) How many times have you driven it?
From the Red Ball Garage to the Portofino Inn on the original route, never. Across country well over 30 times and every time I think of Cannonball. Only one of those trips were anywhere near the speed limit, in a GMC 3500 Dually towing my belongings from one coast to the other, the rest at extra-legal speeds. In 2010 I did drive from the Red Ball Garage to Portofino but we veered wildly off course for photo opportunities, much to my disappointment.
4) Do you go the same route each time?
The One Lap of America had gone coast to coast several times during the early years but never from NY to LA. LA to Miami, Boston to Seattle, San Francisco to NY, Sebring to LA via Pikes Peak, LA to Rochester, LA to Detroit, LA to Atlanta, and others. I’ve been lucky to drive most of the main roads in the country and many of the others.
5) What is the route now?
Today it’s a lot more organised. One Lap of America is almost what it’s called. It’s still a long way, but it now includes race tracks and private locations where we can let our hair down. It’s far more legal too.
6) Was being on the first one, aged 14, the kid’s adventure we all imagine?
Being with Brock was always an adventure and even though none of us in the van had any idea of what an impact the trip would have, or that others would follow, let alone become part of the American Myth, it was exciting. Looking for police, gas stations, maps kept us busy for most of the 40hrs (and 51mins) and finally arriving in California – a place worlds apart from where we lived – was my high-point. So much so that I moved there 10 years later, after my own adventure driving across country alone.
Brock Yates Jr and Brock Yates
7) How many times have you seen the movie?
Twice, once when it came out, once when my then-new wife wanted to see it, and soon my daughter will ask to see it. It was a popular movie when it came out, but Brock was disappointed with the result. I never connected to it as, though some of the characters were based on real Cannonballers, the movie seemed to me an updated release of “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”
(20th Century Fox trailer)
8) What was your closest shave or “holy shit” moment?
In all my trips across country, I’ve been very lucky to have few moments of terror. Once, during the ’89 One Lap our third driver bailed after three days, and on the seventh day of eight covering 8000 miles, on a leg from Sebring to Pikes Peak, Colorado, I couldn’t wake my remaining co-driver to take over. He was fast asleep and I needed some. For miles I tried to wake him, starting nicely, then yelling, nothing worked. Finally as I was passing an eighteen-wheeler, I remember approaching the truck, and waking after I passed him. I screamed in frustration finally waking my co-driver who calmly asked if I was okay but by then the adrenaline was pouring into my system so I let him go back to sleep. Only once in all my years at speed across country has that happened and I know I was very lucky.
9) What was the most surreal moment? Apart from Burt Reynolds…
Once, years ago, I was delivering a factory BMW from LA to Atlanta. After two days on the road, I was pulled over in a construction zone in Louisiana by two troopers. This was in the period when officers in that state were finding any reason to impound (take) cars and resell them for the public (or private) coffers. After a very long conversation by the side of the road they decided searching the car was in order. One of the fine officers handed me a piece of paper to sign. The statement for my signature basically said that I approved the search of my vehicle without duress. I told the officers that I knew what would happen if I didn’t sign the paper-they would beat me up, put me in jail and then search the car. I suggested it would be easier on me if I just signed it. I did and they found an empty car.
Cannonball Run Movie Poster
10) Which car you’ve driven is your favourite?
I’ve been very lucky to have driven hundreds of cars of all types and makes but few I would own, even if I could. We have a 2002 MINI Cooper S and I continue believe it is the best car ever. Great to travel in, fun on the track, and a delight to drive every day.
Brock Yates’ best car ever – Mini Cooper S
11) Your father is a well-respected journalist in the industry. Did you want to follow in his shoes?
I decided early on that putting words to paper, or screen, gave me no pleasure nor did have an interest in it. I have continued organising the Tire Rack One Lap of America for him, as I can’t imagine not doing it, as it’s been a part of my life for 30 years.
Brock Yates Sr
12) Was your Dad aware that kids like me were absorbed by the book in the 1970s and wrote school projects based on it?
Based on the fan mail, the unsolicited entries and the excitement the Cannonball created, I think he did. It was one of the last real outlaw events and touched many people.
Cannonball Book
13) Would you call yourself a fan of race history?
Not really though I’ve been lucky to have been part of some of it, or have been there to see it.
14) Was racing better then or now?
Great drivers always rise to the top. That said the cars of the past eras demanded more from the drivers than the cars. These days I think the cars are more important than the drivers.
15) Who is the greatest racer of all time?
There are great drivers in every era. Was Jimmy Clark better than Tazio Nuvolari? AJ Foyt faster than Michael Schumacher? Could Sebastian Vettel get by Billy Vuckovich at Indy, or on a dirt track? Who would you bet on: Fangio or Senna? There is no way to measure the skills, desire, risk and experience of drivers from different periods fairly.
Yates thinks it is unfair to compare drivers from different eras
16) Which five drivers, dead or alive would you most like to have dinner with?
Swede Savage was a family friend and the whole family was devastated when he died at Indy. Kenny Schrader as he has been racing in NASCAR for many years and seems to be fun to be around, a true racer from the old school. Mario Andretti as I’ve met him several times over his career, the first time when he was taller than me, the last time when he came into the bar I was running and we had a great conversation about watching a child race. Michael was starting then and I had some opportunities. Peter Revson as he was one of my heroes growing up. Perhaps too Curtis Tuner, also NASCAR from the early days, so I could find out just how much fun he and my father had.
Swede Savage would make a fine dinner guest
17) What’s been the best post-event party?
We always have a good time after the events…!
18) Was there ever a race you were in and suddenly realised you were racing against a legend or hero? Or a ‘How did I get here’ moment?
My racing has been quite modest, One Lap, SCCA, and some outlaw events. I never raced against anyone really good, a legend or a hero. I did have a few WTF moments racing a 5700lb 1954 Lincoln Capri in the La Carrera (Mexican Road Race), with no brakes!
19) Do you know if your Dad ever complained about something wrong that was written about him?
Not really. He seemed comfortable with the attention and let me read the letters to the editor sent to him every month when he was with Car and Driver. Most of the letters were, as one would suspect, supportive, others were not.
20) Did you ever get a speeding ticket?
I counted them up a few years ago. I average one every two years whether I need one or not. I think of them as a road-use tax and nearly unavoidable even if I use the best radar detectors, CB radio, Waze, my eyes and instincts. If one drives quickly, often, there will be an impromptu meeting with an official by the side of the road. I was brought up with the concept that good drivers could traverse long distances at high-speed safely, and I will compare driving records with anyone. That said, I have had many pleasant conversations with officers around the country.
Speeding tickets come with the territory and are hard to talk your way out of….unlike in the movie
Enjoy the fabulous photo gallery of Ron Goodman’s 1954 Porsche 356 racer by Iain Curry.
Porsche 356 Outlaw spec:
Owner: Ron Goodman, Sydney
Car: 1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A Coupe with original 1620cc engine modified for competition with the likes of SCAT crank and Carrillo rods, with approx. 140rwhp.
800kg weight.
Original 4-speed Porsche gearbox, Porsche 356 Carrera GT diff.
Stripped interior, roll cage, leather bucket seats.
Original wheels, Porsche 356 Carrera GT brakes, original suspension but with aftermarket lightweight adjustable shock absorbers.
Spend a minute examining a modern Formula 1 car and you’ll discover a baffling array of wings, splitters and flaps; appendages and proboscises, each contributing to a car’s command of the air around it as its designers strive to push a car made as light possible into the Earth with as much force as they dare without dragging their speed down, or bending the rules to breaking point.
In the ’60s and ’70s, however, the development of downforce was a simpler and less surgically-precise affair, and in this video we enjoy the wonderful wings of the ’60s and ’70s, set to the soundtrack of the magic motors that got them all up to speed.
In a particularly eventful day’s racing, the 1986 British Grand Prix made a generous contribution to the annals of Formula 1 history.
It was the last Formula 1 Grand Prix at the venerable Brands Hatch circuit, which had shared British Grand Prix hosting duties with Silverstone since 1963. It would be Jacques Laffite‘s final Formula 1 appearance; a crash at the start leaving him with two broken legs and a tied record with Graham Hill for the most Formula 1 starts at the time. It was the first time that Frank Williams entered the Williams pits since the car crash that left him a paraplegic. And the race start pile up that ended Jacques Laffite’s career would prove a stroke of good luck for one Nigel Mansell and eventually give Frank Williams something to smile about.
Look at a modern designer track and it’ll appear to have all the ingredients to make it brilliant – turns designed by science and inspired by, or borrowed from, the best corners in the world, stunning aesthetics and magnificent facilities. But somehow they feel like something’s missing. A racetrack’s got to have soul.
The tracks in this video have soul in spades; bursting with as much character and personality as the drivers who attempt to tame them. And like much in life with an abundance of personality and character, they run a little close to the edge. These are the most dangerous race tracks in the world, as judged by XCAR.
ARE RSCA 87 005 was the 5th car built by Andy Rouse Engineering in 1987. It was built up from a RHD, Ford motorsport RS500 body shell, as the second car for the Rouse team’s assault on the 1987 Group A World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). Due to a shortfall in funding, it did not compete in all rounds of the championship. 87 005 had a brilliant race debut at the Spa 24 hour race in August 1987, driven by Jesus Pareja, Alain Semoulin and Thierry Tassin. It placed 6th overall, out of 61 starters and 21 finishers. Off to a great start, the future looked bright for 87 005.
In late 1987 the great Canadian / Australian Allan Moffat, leased the car from Rouse for rounds 8&9, (Bathurst Hardie Ferodo 1000 and Calder Park) of the WTCC. Looking splendid in ANZ Bank livery, 87 005’s drivers were Allan Moffat, Andy Rouse and Thierry Tassin. 87 005’s southern hemisphere debut was a cracker, splitting the all-conquering Eggenberger Texaco RS500’s at Bathurst, by qualifying the car on the first row of the starting grid. Rouse then took off, leading “the great race” for the first 3 laps. A cracking stoush ensued with nemesis Steve Soper in his menacing black Texaco RS500, with the two swapping the lead repeatedly. It all went south from there, with mechanical gremlins haunting the car at both Bathurst and Rd. 9 of the WTCC at Victoria’s Calder Park.
The car returned to England where Rouse prepared 87 005 for her finest season; the 1988 Group A French Touring car Championship. This is where 87 005 has a very distinct point of difference over every other Group A RS500. It was officially entered by Ford France as a FOMOCO Works racer, in the ultra-iconic FOMOCO Works livery, which is most associated with the Group B RS200 Rally Cars. For this glorious year, 87 005 was raced by F1 driver Alain Ferte, his brother and F1 pilot Michel Ferte and Andy Rouse himself. 87 005’s 1988 results speak for themselves;
Rd 1 Nogaro, 1st Overall (Driver Andy Rouse)
Rd 2 Le Mans, 1st Overall (Alain Ferte / Andy Rouse)
Rd 3 Montlhery, 1st Overall (Alain Ferte)
Rd 4 Le Chatre, 2nd Overall (Alain Ferte / Michel Ferte)
Rd 5 Rouen, Unknown, likely DNF.
Rd 6 Charade, 1st Overall (Alain Ferte / Andy Rouse)
Rd 7 Croix en Ternois, 2nd Overall (Alain Ferte / Michel Ferte)
Rd 8 Montlhery, Unknown, likely DNF.
Rd 9 Pau-Arnos, 1st Overall (Alain Ferte / Andy Rouse)
87 005 easily won its class, but despite 5 outright wins and 2 x second places in 9 rounds, 87 005 only came second overall in the Championship. This would definitely be because of some busted ass French way of counting results. Cest la Vie hey? 87 005 was also borrowed by Ford Denmark and did at least one race in Denmark, as an official FOMOCO entry.
For 1989 Pommy Mark Rennison, better known for his pace on the dirt, purchased the well proven 87 005 to compete in the British Touring Car Championship during its halcyon period of Gp A. Rennison was a good driver, but did not have the funds needed to beat the Rouse, Goode’s and Harvey’s who dominated this awesome period. Mark debuted the RS500 in Rd 3 at Thruxton with a DNF. He managed a 10th at Rd. 6, Silverstone and that was about it for the underfunded rally specialist. 87 005 was then purchased from Rennison by Frenchman Jean Paul Becker. Its competition history from 1989 is unknown, but its FIA Papers show it with Yacco sponsorship (Can anyone help?). Mr Becker kept 87 005 up until 2005, when it was purchased by UK RS500 expert Martin Johnson. Mr Johnson undertook a mild restoration on the car and had the vehicle authenticated by Andy Rouse, who signed the fuel tank (It was rubbed off by a well-meaning crew member of the current owner… no shit…) it was then on-sold to the current Australian owner.
Since arriving in Australia 87 005 has had a mechanical restoration of the engine, gearbox, diff, suspension and brakes and other miscellaneous things. The rubber fuel bladder was replaced with a modern Jaz fuel cell. The wiring for the ECU was in poor condition so it was replaced. The ECU in place was a faulty upgraded Weber- Marelli that had been chipped. It has subsequently been replaced with a modern Vi-Pec unit. The original Rouse spec Zytec ECU comes with the car and has its unique ID plate intact. 87 005 comes with 2 x sets of 3 piece BBS wheels which have all been recently reconditioned and painted. The interior of the car has been left in its original condition, with some lovely patina from the various owners. But it does look a bit shabby now and might annoy a fussy person.
87 005 has been restored to the 1987 homologation specifications used during the WTCC Bathurst round in October 1987 (No dodgy fuel or pumped out guards please Ruedi .
The car has a CAMS (Aussie branch of the FIA) Certificate of Description (CoD) and CAMS Historic Group A log book. It also has its French FIA Papers from its ownership with Mr Jean Paul Becker.
The current owner has a few different GP A cars and poor 87 005 is no longer needed. Such a significant car deserves a great owner who will look after her and give her the occasional spirited run, in the growing global Gp A Historic movement. For a small extra fee Ecurie Investments will change the cars livery to its all conquering 1988 FOMOCO works look. What a great idea!
Please contact Chris Bowden at ecurieinvestments.com.au for more information about this special RS500.
Round 8 of the 2013 Formula 1 season sees the bandwagon roll in to the leafy surrounds of the British countryside and Silverstone to see if anyone can halt Sebastian Vettel’s Championship charge.
We take a look back at six classic British Grand Prix moments from the event which spans almost ninety years.By Tom Biltcliffe
1) Gilles Villeneuve and Alan Jones’ crash 1981 – The Victorian-born reigning World Champion was hot on the heels of Gilles Villeneuve entering the final corner of the third lap only for the Ferrari to clip a curb, get sideways and spin off in a cloud of smoke. The Frenchman took Jones – the previous year’s winner – and the McLaren of the unassuming Andrea De Cesaris with him. It was a case of ‘race over’ for all parties, but only after Villeneuve tried to drive his damaged Ferrari back to the pits. Jones would go on to miss out on the title by a mere four points.
2) Jim Clark’s 1967 win – Only the great Sir Jack Brabham himself could intersperse Clark’s dominance of the circuit in the mid-60’s. The Scot drove superbly to snatch his fifth win in six years in Northamptonshire against his Lotus teammate and rival Graham Hill. This next clip also demonstrates the underdeveloped and rural nature of the place.
3) Mansell gives Senna a lift 1991– Mansell had just won the British Grand Prix in front of his adoring fans and then stops to pick up Ayrton who had run out of fuel on the last lap. Senna famously memorised all of the Williams dash settings and relayed the information back to the McLaren team
4) Nigel Mansell prompts invasion 1992 – The Brit, who notched an incredible 14 poles from a possible 16 in the 1992 season, lead again from the front much to the delight of his adoring public who could sense that the Williams driver was going to end the nation’s 16 year wait for a World Champion. While he cruised home, the sight of a Union Jack-clad sprawl of fans invading the track is one to give today’s health and safety chiefs a heart attack.
5) Hill v Schumacher 1995 – The constant thorn in Damon Hill, and Britain’s, side throughout the nineties was the presence of a German, namely Michael Schumacher. The Benetton driver and reigning World Champion was famed for his win-at-all-costs approach, but was under attack from the steely Hill. Silverstone was just one of their many collisions down the years. Was Hill too late or Schumacher too early in the corner? You judge:
6) Jody Scheckter causes huge pile up 1973 – The young South African was in just his second year of Formula 1 spun during the first lap of the British Grand Prix and the ensuing eleven car pile-up went down in history as one of Formula Ones biggest crashes. The Grand Prix Drivers Association demanded his immediate banishment, which was only put off when McLaren agreed to rest their driver for four races.
Classic car enthusiasts gathered during the weekend of June 14th until June 16th at Spa-Francorchamps for the annual Spa Summer Classic, a great event organised by the Roadbook Organisation. Over 500 classic cars, 10 different races, including touring cars, GT’s and single seaters found their way to the Ardennes rollercoaster.
The BRAVO organisation from Belgium has been existing for more than thirty years organizing events for historic cars. In 2008 BRAVO decided to set up a Belgian national historic championship known as the Belgian Historic Cup open to touring cars and GT’s up to 1976.
Historic Motor Racing, Spa Ardennes Challenge and the Crosslé Racing Drivers Club combined their grids into a vast field of 1966-71 closed prototypes, sports cars, GT cars and touring cars as well as a number of Crosslé 9S sports racing cars. The Crosslé Company, originally founded in 1957 is the oldest constructor of customer racing cars in the world. The company has built close to 1000 cars over the and won countless championships.
The Classic Sports Car Club was set up in 2001 presenting CSCC Swingin Sixties, a series open to sports cars, touring and GT’s produced during the ‘60s. Over the weekend of lot of Triumph, MG and Austin Healey models found their way to Spa as well as some TVR’s, Porsches, BMW etc. Another combined grid managed by the Classic Sports Car Club came from the Inter-Series Cup and the French HTCC Le Group 1 (Historique Tourisme Champion Car). This serie was initiated in 2003 by a driver who revived the Group 1 category featuring all kinds of touring cars and GTs.
Fans of Caterham/Lotus Seven type cars had their own race within the combined grid of the Magnificent Sevens race series managed by the Classic Sports Car Club and the French Trophée Lotus. Frenchman Jean-Paul Couilliot relaunched the Trophy Lotus Seven in 1987 as it became the Trophée Lotus Seven from 2005.
The Monoposto Racing Club from Great Britain and the French Trophée Formule Ford Kent combined their grids into a large field of classic single seaters, featuring F3, Formula Ford and some very fast Jedi single seaters.
The Historic Sports Car Club from the UK presented the Guards Trophy GT and Sports Racing Championship. This serie is open to GT and sports racing cars built before 1966. An invitation class for pre ’69 sports-racing, GT and sports-prototypes is also included. Several Chevron B6’s and B8’s as well as a bunch of Jaguar E-Types to name just a few.
Fastest cars on track during the weekend were the single seaters from the French Trophy F3 Classic. A nice field of Ralt RT1’s and RT3’s, different Chevron and March chassis as well as bunch of different Martini’s coupled with pre-1995 Formula Renaults. Classic liveries from the ‘80s featuring the March of Nigel Mansell, the Ralf of Andrea de Cesaris and many others claimed the legendary Ardennes rollercoaster.
Finally touring cars and GTs from the French ASAVE Challenge GT-Tourisme & Trophée Maxi 1000 as well as F.I.S.C. Legendary Circuits claimed the track. Like during earlier versions of the Spa Summer Classic, it was an event not to be missed and we’re already looking forward to the next edition in 2014.
(scroll down below the results for more photos)
Results:
CSCC Swinging Sixties race 1:
1) Al Fleming Lotus Elan
2) Raymond Barrow Chevrolet Camaro
3) Rainer Vorköper Jaguar E-Type
CSCC Swinging Sixties race 2:
1) Raymond Barrow Chevrolet Camaro
2) Rainer Vorköper Jaguar E-Type
3) Al Fleming Lotus Elan 26R
NK HTGT race 1:
1) Michiel Campagne Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
2) Marcus Graf von Oeynhausen Jaguar E-Type
3) Alexander van der Lof Bizzarrini 5300GT
NK HTGT race 2:
1) Marcus Graf von Oeynhausen Jaguar E-Type
2) Alexander van der Lof Bizzarrini 5300GT
3) Michiel Campagne Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
CSCC Magnificent Sevens – Trophée Lotus race 1:
1) Jamie Constable Caterham CSR
2) Mike Cantillon Caterham C400
3) Kevin Williams Caterham C400
CSCC Magnificent Sevens – Trophée Lotus race 2:
1) Mike Cantillon Caterham C400
2) Jamie Constable Caterham CSR
3) Kevin Williams Caterham C400
Monoposto Racing Club & Formula Ford Kent race 1:
1) Dan Clowes Jedi Mk.6/Suzuki
2) Marc Fortune Jedi Mk.6/Suzuki
3) Jason Timms Speads RM07/Suzuki
Monoposto Racing Club & Formula Ford Kent race 2:
1) Dan Clowes Jedi Mk.6/Suzuki
2) Jason Timms Speads RM07/Suzuki
3) Geoff Fern JKS TFR 11
Spa Ardennes Challenge & Crosslé Racing Drivers Club race 1:
1) Arnie Black Crosslé 9S
2) Michael Schryver/Richard Piper Chevron B6
3) Gwyn Pollard Crosslé 9S
Spa Ardennes Challenge & Crosslé Racing Drivers Club race 2:
1) Arnie Black Crosslé 9S
2) Heinz Grau Crosslé C 9S
3) Nick Ledger/Philip Ledger Crosslé 9S
CSCC Inter-Series Cup & HTCC Le Groupe 1 race 1:
1) Tim Davis TVR Tuscan
2) Nicholas Olson Lotus Esprit S
3) Miles Masarati/Piers Masarati Porsche 911 Turbo
The HSRCA and friends took to Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend for their Winter Historics, and had a ball playing historic sports and racing cars in the rain.
The event was held over the 29th and 30th of June and saw a couple hundred historic sports and racing cars gather at Sydney Motorsport Park to tackle the new extended circuit, which spent much of the weekend utterly soaked by ever-present rainfall.
Tricky conditions or not, the racing was tight and exciting and there was a varied and impressive collection of cars waiting to be enjoyed out on the track, or in the pits and paddock. The friendly crowd was the icing on the cake, with everyone happy to have a chat about their pride and joy, racing and everything in between bouts of mechanical tinkering and racing.
Sean’s a freelance graphic designer and illustrator based in Adelaide, Australia, specialising in solid logos, retro illustrations & custom made typography.
And he’s using his talents to bring much joy to the classic motorsport world, combining them with his love of motorsport, nostalgia and design to create collectible artworks featuring detailed vector illustrations and bold layouts inspired by the liveries, machines and masters of motorsport.
“The black and gold JPS liveries have always been one my favourite motorsport designs and the fact that Ayrton Senna scored his first victory in a JPS Lotus makes it all the more memorable.”
His retro motorsport collection is growing rapidly, and you can check out a sample right here! This small collection focuses on some significant moments for the great Ayrton Senna, starting with the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix, which would be his first Grand Prix win.
“Ayrton Senna – In my eyes the greatest Formula One driver. I wanted this tribute poster to capture the late 80’s early 90’s F1 era in the style that I remembered. When the cars where at their sexiest with minimal wings, classic signage, basic colours and street circuits seemed to rule. The iconic Marlboro McLaren cars of Prost and Senna are images that are ever lasting with me.”
Ayrton Senna 1987
“In 1987 Ayrton Senna won his first Monaco Grand Prix, whilst driving the Lotus 99T in the yellow Camel livery. Senna and Monaco are just 2 of those things that remind me of this great era in F1. Although the Camel Lotus was not as memorable as the JPS Black and Gold or his successful years at McLaren, There is something unexpectabily solid visually in the bright yellow Lotus.”
787B Le Mans
“The Mazda 787B – Winner of the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans. Such a unique car with an unreal sound and an even more unreal livery. This poster celebrates the only japanese and only rotary powered car to win Le Mans and its insane paint job. I was lucky enough to redesign this illustration to fit on a banner used in Johnny Herberts ‘An Evening With Johnny Herbert’ currently underway in the UK.”
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