Image © Daimler/Hoch Zwei

When I think of the German Grand Prix, I think Nordschleife.

The Green Hell hasn’t hosted the German Grand Prix since Niki Lauda’s horrendous crash in ’76, but that doesn’t mean that F1 has been completely absent from its hallowed bends.

Schumacher rolled out a 2011 W02 Mercedes F1 car this past May for a spin around the track, and back in 2007 Nick Heidfeld took his BMW Sauber around as well. Neither lap is an on-the-limit assault on Stefan Bellof’s 6:11 time, but both are good to watch, and get you wondering – how much faster have we gotten in the past 30 years?

Paying Tribute to The Green Hell is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Perfectly poised

Photo of the day: Two wheeling Ford Capri is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

It’s America’s own Nurburgring Nordschleiffe. Awesome views, run off areas made of fresh air, huge elevation, thinning air at the top, 156 turns and about twelve and a half miles against the clock. It’s one of the sport’s classic events. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

By Andy Hallbery. Photography Robert Kerian

Pikes Peak, in Colorado Springs, is America’s second oldest motorsport event in the US. This year’s event, the 91^st, attracted the Big Guns again, as it had in the late 1980s when World Rally aces, Ari Vatanen, Walter Rohrl and Michele Mouton took on the challenge. This year, the most successful World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb made his debut in the fearsome Peugeot. I won’t spoil the outcome, instead Motorsport Retro will treat you to our day at the classic, and another event we can tick off our to-do list, through the lens of photographer Robert Kerian.

The  views are astonishing, as is the thinning air the higher you climb. The bravery of the drivers goes without saying. Some have been doing it for more than 30 years, the only real change being that what used to be a dirt track has now been mostly laid with asphalt. Still, it’s possible for any accident to end up far, far away from where it began. Crashes at the foot of the peak are met by trees, the higher up you go, there is less to slow the out of control machine down.

The fans too span generations, often driving up the night before, sleeping in the cold under the stars and waiting patiently for the sun to rise. For the teams this usually spelt the end of their shift after a late night. It was now up to the driver.

As for the cars it’s an eclectic mix of machines, from Loeb’s thoroughbred through to monster trucks and everything in between, wit times and records shaved each year. While a Loeb victory was largely predicted, likely his time was not… Romain Dumas gave it a shot in his hybrid Norma M20FCPP. The Porsche works driver even ran as entry number 911 as a nod to the number of Porsches tackling the climb.

The winner? Well it was a Peugeot and it was driven by a World Rally Champion. The many fans were happy. After all, they had seen something very special that will be talked about for years to come.

Here is Ari’s climb form 1997, and Seb’s from 2013. Check out the difference.

Vatanen, largely on dirt 1987.

Loeb on Asphalt 2013

The Lion still roars.

Special thanks to ace motorsport photographer Robert Kerian. http://robertkerian.com/race-cars

Photo Gallery: Pikes Peak 2013 is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

It’s time to buy some stickers!

And I Say Ding Dong is here to deliver. They make everything from high quality vinyl stickers to document holders, toolbags, bookmarks and more, all plucked from the pages of motoring history and enlivened with their wonderful sense of whimsy.

Everything’s well made and very affordable – a good bit of retro motorsport fun! And that’s what it’s all about!

Check ‘em out over at their site here.

Images via I Say Ding Dong

I Say, Ding Dong! – Classic motorsport stickers and more is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Enjoy this photo gallery of the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari and their current display: GRAND PRIX – The Formula One World Championship Single-Seaters

By Warren Edwards www.freelance-images.com

Photo Gallery: Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Image: Terzo Dalia

Terzo Dalia make models. 1/3 scale replicas of Ferrari engines.

And they’re so good that their first client was Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo.

Each model involves painstaking research into the chosen part’s history, engineering, construction and materials. The Terzo Dalia geniuses then invest their incredible skills, cutting-edge technology and accurate materials into building a meticulous recreation of the original at 1/3 of its size.

The result is of the highest quality, numbered and part of an extremely limited production run.

Check ‘em out below, and head to Terzo Dalia’s website here for more.

Images via Terzo Dalia

Terzo Dalia’s Tiny Treats for the Tifosi is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

The guys at Heaven VMX are putting out the call to owners of Pre 1965 bikes to bring them out of their sheds and on to the track for a three round series for the big bore four strokes. The 2013 Roy East Pre 1965 Classic Scrambles Series kicks off on July 20 at Buledelah NSW.Below is the official release from the Heaven Club:

The NSW based Heaven Vintage Motocross club are very proud to present an opportunity for Pre 1965 scrambles machines to once again grace the track. This was the period of the big powerful 4 strokes often of British origin stemming the coming force of the 2 stroke machines. They thrilled us with their special sights and sounds as scrambles transformed into our sport of motocross. These machines are the spiritual birth place of the modern MX machines with the start of the relentless drive for a better machine.

The 2013 series will have three rounds based around Heaven VMX race meetings on circuits that are compatible with these valuable machines.
Round 1 – 20/21 July – Crawford River circuit – Bulahdelah using the vintage MX track
Round 2 – 7/8 Sept. – Crawford River circuit – Bulahdelah using the natural grass track
Round 3 – 19/20 Oct – Canowindra Showground – natural grass ‘flat track’

The Heaven VMX club are keen to see as many machines on the track as possible and are offering any rider that that takes part in the series will have free entry for the meeting. This does not include the one event license cost if required but does cover the $60 entry fee for each weekend. There is free camping at each venue and plenty of track time to brush up on your technique and really stretch the lags of these beautiful machines.

This is a series and there will be awards at the end of the series but that is not really the objective of the series. Pre65 entries have really wound back in NSW over recent years and we know the bikes are out there resting in sheds and that owners are still keen to display the bikes doing what they do best so this is an oppurtunity to get them out on a circuit that is suitable for the bikes and their experienced riders to really shine and show everyone where our sport really all began.

Lets re-invigorate Pre65 Vintage Scrambles in NSW in style by supporting this series.

For more information contact Heaven VMX Inc by;
Phone: 0407 970 388
Email heaven.vmx@gmail.com
Mail PO Box 1073, Singleton NSW 2330

Check out this classic scramble video featuring the voice of F1 legend, Murray Walker

The 2013 Roy East Pre 1965 Classic Scrambles Series is go is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Image: Cahier Archive

In light of Pirellis current troubles, what chance a return of the American company with the greatest heritage in Formula 1 history?

By Tom Biltcliffe

Since the start of the 2007 Formula 1 season, the sport has relied upon a sole tyre manufacturer to provide rubber for each team. It was at the FIA’s discretion that the use of just one provider would not only reduce development costs and testing, but also narrow the gap between competitors.

Italian giants Pirelli currently hold the monopoly to wrap formula 1 racing wheels in super sticky racing rubber, having taken over from Bridgestone in 2011.

Dunlop  took the first of their 48 GP wins at Monaco in 1958 with Mike Hawthorn. Image: Cahier Archive

But what of the days where Michelin, Firestone, Dunlop and Goodyear also used to line pit lanes across the globe?

The latter, in particular, reigned supreme in the sport for over thirty years, dominating both the drivers and constructors World Championship scenes with 24 and 26 titles respectively.

The American company, which were formed in the nineteenth century, in Ohio, USA, have been at the forefront of tyre innovation for many years and have demonstrated as much from Richie Ginther to Michael Schumacher via the moon.

Yes, you read that right; Goodyear made an imprint of lunar proportions in 1971 and has the distinction of being the first tyre of any type to land on the moon.

In 1965, Ginther’s Honda crossed the line first in Mexico City to record Goodyear’s first F1 win (and Honda’s) and kick start their period of dominance right the way through to their last, when Schumacher’s Prancing Horse was victorious at Monza in 1998.

The 115 year old brand, now very much synonymous with airships and blimps, has come a long way since its inception under entrepreneur Frank Seiberling and, alongside its 72,000 workers, has a revenue of close to $20bn.

In the multi-billion dollar industry of Formula 1, Pirelli themselves are finding just how hard it is to please all parties and have been at the centre of just about every a controversy in the 2013 season.

The Italians find that as they continue to divide the team, drivers and fans that they are perennially in a ‘lose-lose’ situation.

Goodyear’s name and reputation as a F1 tyre giant – their record is still streets ahead of any of its rivals – and ranking as one of the most recognisable advertising icons in America, remains intact as they sit quietly in the background and away from such damaging rows.

The wing-footed brand has been at the heart of many iconic moments in the sport too. Who could forget Nigel Mansell’s 320kp/h blowout in Adelaide 1986 which cost him the title? The Brit was cruising round the South Australian circuit to his first Championship only for his trusty rear left Goodyear to spectacularly combust and allow Alain Prost to retain his crown.

Mansell’s Goodyear lets go in the Championship decider at Adelaide in 1986

Prost’s McLaren was, of course, also using the reliable US tyre and he headed a 12 year streak of Goodyear fitted World Champions, which included Piquet, Senna, Schumacher, Hill and Villeneuve.

After an absence of over fifteen years from F1, would Goodyear – who now concentrate on events a little closer to home such as NASCAR – be interested in returning to the sport where it made its reputable name, considering Pirelli’s difficult current position and Bernies love of surprises what are the chances?

Could Goodyear return to Formula 1? is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Enjoy this beautifully produced film of a Porsche 3.2 motor being stripped down. We can’t wait to see part two…..

Video: Incredible timelapse teardown of Porsche 3.2 engine is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

To celebrate 20 years of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, we are taking a look back at some of the events most memorable moments.

In 2009 Kiwi /US racer Rod Millen thrilled the crowds with this balls out run in his Pikes Peak Toyota Tacoma. In wet conditions, his run featured a stall, some incredible sideways moments on the grass and finished with an almost catastrophic crash with a Land Rover after the run was over!

Thanks to Jack H for the tip.

Best of Goodwood FoS: Rod Millen hangs it out 2009 is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Chris Harris has the time of his life as he pilots a million pound Jaguar C-Type in the 2013 Mille Miglia.

Video: Chris Harris’ Mille Miglia adventure is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

After more than twenty years spent racing on two wheels, bagging four 250cc World Championship titles and two Superbike World Championships along the way, Max Biaggi retired from racing last year having just snuck by Tom Sykes to secure his second Superbike Championship World Championship by half a point.

You can’t experience two decades of motor racing without a lot of elation, adventure and challenge, and Biaggi has some very interesting tales to tell after it all.

He does so right here, reflecting on his career with MotoGeo.

Two Wheels, Twenty Years and Six Championships: Max Biaggi on Racing is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed turned 20 on the weekend, let’s take a look at some of its all time hairiest moments.

1. 1994 – Mike Wilds Ferrari 312T

Watch as Mike Wilds takes to the skies in spectacular 360-degree fashion whilst piloting the 1978 Ferrari 312T of Gilles Villeneuve in 1994. Powered by a 3L naturally aspirated flat-12 making somewhere in the vicinity of 500hp, the 312 came unstuck following a reported collapse of the rear right suspension, which some onlookers argue you can see in the earlier stages of this clip. Wilds suffered various injuries, including a broken leg.

2. 2010 – Lotus Judd hits the hay bales

The ’89 Lotus Judd features a 3.5L V8 that generated 620BHP. Weighing around 500kg and shod with huge 16.25×13 inch rear boots, there’s no wonder it became quite a handful when a short burst of wheel spin drew to a sharp conclusion in 2010. The cause for the accident was said to be a failed rear suspension component (sure).

2. Dihedral instability – 1972 IndyCar

It’s the calm after the storm that makes this clip hurt the most. Watch as a very embarrassed (unnamed) driver waits quietly for the recovery crew after bending the Dihedral-wing equipped 1972 IndyCar of Andretti fame.

3. 2012 – Rod Millen Toyota Tacoma

On Saturday we shared an earlier clip of Rod Millen wrestling with the brutal acceleration of his Toyota Tacoma throughout the length of the tight Goodwood course. Built in 1998, the ‘unlimited class’ chrome-moly chassis was victorious at Pikes Peak in both ’98 and ’99, thanks in no small part to its highly developed, 2.1L four cylinder engine and it’s 800hp output. Millen returned with the car in 2012, dropping a wheel onto the grass under full throttle during the Top 20 shootout, spearing him into the hay. The car was said to have been capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in just 1.6 seconds.

5. 1994 – Jaguar XJ220

Wilds wasn’t the only entrant of the 1994 FoS unlucky enough to come unstuck before the event was out. The driver of this Jaguar XJ220 found themselves on the pointy end of a distinct lack in anti-lock brakes, the ensuing slide saw the stunning 342km/h supercar hurdle off the course.

By Jack Drewett

Five memorable Goodwood FoS crashes caught on film is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed turned 20 on the weekend, here are our top 15 videos from the event.1. Nelson Piquet interview

2. Ford Transit Supervan

3. Kenny Roberts on what he really thinks about Barry Sheene

4. Pikes Peak Peugeot

5. Martin Brundle reunited with the Toyota GT One

6. Porsche 917 K

7. Damon Hill on the turbine STP IndyCar

8. Porsche 956

9. Ago rides the MV Agusta

10. Nick Mason on why he loves Goodwood

11. Piquet in the Brabham BT52

12. Jenson Button drives the McLaren P1

13. Jaguar Project 7 gets sideways

14. Classic McLarens’ climb the hill

15. John Surtees talks two and four wheels

Best of Goodwood FoS: Top 15 videos from 2013 is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

The most traditional motor sports event in Germany is without doubt the ADAC Eifel race (Eifel Rennen). The history of this events dates back to the year 1922 as it was titled ADAC Eifel Tour around Nideggen. When the Nürburgring opened in 1927 the owner ADAC Rhineland moved the event to the new track and renamed the event ADAC Eifel Rennen. Motorsport legend Rudolf Caracciola won the inaugural event in 1927. During the fifties and sixties motorcycling races were part of the event as Formula 2 was promoted as the main event between 1964 and 1983. The famous DTM championship settled down in the seventies and eighties. Nowadays the event hosts especially historic motorsports for single seaters, GTs and touring cars.

by Marcel Hundscheid  www.speed-o-graphica.com

For the 2013 event several historic motorsports series participated in the event, featuring amongst others the ADAC Graf Berge von Trips Trophy, FHR HTGT, Battle of the Dwarfs, DTM/DRM Revival, Group C Racing, Historic Formula V Europe, Formula 3 Historic 1000 cc. Highlight of the event were the 3 hour ADAC Eifel Rennen on Saturday afternoon and Porsche Kremer Night of the Legends during the early hours of Saturday evening.

Graf Berghe von Trips Trophy

The Graf Berghe von Trips Trophy is a popular German championship open to formula cars built between 1958 and 1980. In this matter Formula 3 cars are represented as well as Formula Ford 1600 and 2000s. The regulations allow cars from 1958 tot 1980 and divide them into six classes. Wolfgang Alexander Albert Eduard Maximilian Reichsgraf Berghe von Trips was a German racing driver. von Trips participated in 29 Formula 1 World Championship races. In the end he won two of them, scored a single pole position and six pofium finishes. He was tragically killed in the 1961 Italian Grand Prix at Monza after he collided with Jim Clark’s Lotus. His Ferrari became airborne and crashed into a side barrier, fatally throwing him from the car and killing fifteen spectators. Thirty-three cars filled the lively grid as German Falk Künster claimed commanding victories in his GRD 374 F3 in both race 1 and 2.

Results race 1:

1)                Falk Künster                   GER                               GRD 374 F3

2)                Kees van der Wouden     HOL                            Royal RP30 FF2000

3)                Hans Meskes                  HOL                               Van Diemen RF78 FF2000

Results race 2:

1)                Falk Künster                   GER                               GRD 374 F3

2)                Kees van der Wouden     HOL                            Royal RP30 FF2000

3)                Peter Richards                UK                                 Delta T79 FF2000

FHR HTGT

The FHR Historic Touring car and GT Trophy is Germany’s oldest historic motorsports championship. Originally the championship was only open for touring cars but later on also GTs were allowed and the championship was renamed HTGT.

Battle of the Dwarfs (Kampf der Zwerge)

Tiny touring cars from the sixties and seventies can look back on an extensive motorsport history. Gathered into a single event are the Fiat Abarth from ‘Abarth Coppa Mille, Mini’s from the ‘British Car Trophy’ and NSU TTs from the ‘NSU TT Trophy’. The large grids didn’t have an actual race but held a regularity test on the track. Cars participating in the regularity test were a.o. Mini Cooper, NSU TT, Autobianchi A112 Abarth and Fiat Abarth 1000 TC models.

 DRM/DTM Revival

Especially for fans of former DRM (Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft) or DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft) could eat their hearts out seeing a field of around 20 legendary touring cars from the golden era of German touring car racing. One of the highlights was a former Team Rosberg Racing Opel Calibra that saw action in the 1995 DTM championship. Besides this beauty several BMW M3 E30’s and a Mercedes E190 excited the fans.

Group C Racing

The FIA created Group C in 1982, a category designed to replace both Group 5 Special Production Cars and Group 6 Two Seater Racing Cars and lasted until 1993. To relive the great days of sports car racing UK based Group C Racing recreates this remarkable era. Although the amount of cars that found their way to the Nürburgring wasn’t that big fans could see cars like the Sauber-Mercedes C11, the unique Veskanda C1-Chevrolet, Porsche 962, Jaguar XJR16 and Nissan NPTI90. Winners of the sixty minute race on Sunday were Bob Berridge and Gareth Evans in their splendid looking Sauber-Mercedes C11 in C1 as Mike Donovan claimed victory in his Spice SE88C in C2.

Results race:

1)         Gareth Evans/Bob Berridge    UK                                 Sauber-Mercedes C11

2)         Paul Stubber                          AUS                               Veskanda C1-Chevrolet

3)         Mike Donovan                        UK                                 Spice SE88

 Historic Formula V Europe

Formula Vee is a single seater class based on the pre-63 Volkswagen Beetle originally intiated during the 60s and 70s, creating large grids throughout Europe, Australia and the United States. Like the Battle of the Dwards a regularity test was held that was won by German Marco Wittkuhn who claimed the Jan Wellem Trophy.

 Historic F3 1000cc European Trophy

The Historic F3 1000cc European Trophy saw live in 2001 and is open to cars built between January 1^st 1964 and December 31^st 1970. The cars are especially known as screamers, produced by the tiny 1000cc four cylinder engine. During the first race German Max Blees claimed victory in the very last lap after a thrilling fight with Vincent Rivet and Francois Derossi. During the second race he scored a smashing victory finishing 21 seconds in front of Jim Tims.

Results race 1:

1)         Max Blees                              GER                               Brabham BT15

2)         Vincent Rivet                          F                                    Brabham BT28

3)         Francois Derossi                    F                                    Chevron B17

Results race 2:

1)         Max Blees                              GER                               Brabham BT15

2)         Jim Tims                                UK                                 Brabham BT21

3)         Vincent Rivet                          F                                   Brabham BT28

Photo Gallery: ADAC Eifelrennen is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

The latest designs from the ladies and gentlemen at 8380 Laboratories include magnificent M3s, Trans-American sedan champions and some groovy Gulf digs for your iPhone.

Featured above is The Trans Am Champs t-shirt and poster design; a celebration of American road racing heritage. The Trans Am Champs design features the champions from ’69 to ’71 in the SCCA’s Trans-American Sedan Series and is available printed on tees printed on Gildan 100% Heavy Cotton, or as a poster.

Up next – 8380 Laboratories’ answer to the question “Would it be possible to accurately depict all of the M3 touring car champions together in one design?” The M3 Champions poster is a spiritual successor to their M3 Streckenkönig t-shirt and takes the form of a 22″ x 30″ poster digitally printed to the highest quality on heavy matte-finish stock.

“Flying around Targa Florio at 150mph+ with no roof and feet out ahead of the front wheels.”

Last but certainly not least – a way to pimp out your iPhone in the iconic Gulf livery. 8380 Laboratories’ first iPhone case takes a light and strong Case Mate case and enswathes it in a glorious design based on the Gulf-liveried Porsche 908. Fits iPhone 4, 4S and 5.

Head to 8380 Laboratories’ site here for these, and a whole lot more.

Via 8380 Laboratories

Images thanks to 8380 Laboratories

TransAm Champs, Magnificent M3s and Gulf iPhones from 8380 Laboratories is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Image: The Cahier Archive

“As winter descended in Europe, Senna was able to enter his other world – back home in his beloved Brazil.”

Between extensive press coverage and social media, we have unprecedented access to the stars of modern Formula 1. Twenty years ago, however, things were a little different.

This film, shot at the end of the 1990 Formula 1 season, provides an insight into the off-season life of Ayrton Senna, when he had the chance to head back home to Brazil, take a break and prepare for the coming year.

Chill Out, With Ayrton Senna is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

An impressive selection of 80s and 90s F1 racers at your fingertips are set to feature in F1 2013, Classic Edition.

By Jack Drewett

Video game development house Codemasters are currently putting the finishing touches on F1 2013, the latest in their ongoing series of Formula 1 racing simulations. The game will be centered around the ability to play through the current season in a fashion you’d expect of an officially licensed release, however it’s talk of the recently announced “F1 Classics” mode which has really grabbed our attention.

“We’ve been trying to do it since we first got the Formula One license,” explains creative director Steve Hood of the idea, before going on to mention that fans of the franchise had been requesting classic cars, drivers and tracks be included for some years. The inclusion of Estoril, Imola, Jerez and Brands Hatch will be reason enough for many to take a look, as will surprising vehicle choices such as the Williams FW07, FW12 and the Lotus 100T.

As a game, F1 2013 promises an opportunity for fans of the eras revisited to jump behind the wheels of faithfully recreated renditions of period-correct chariots and have a wrestle. It’s also a fantastic chance to expose a younger fan base to some of the most colorful years that the rich history of Formula 1 has to offer.

Codemasters set to bring retro F1 into the digital age with F1 2013 Classic Edition is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

How did crowd favourite Randy Mamola, save this near certain crash on is 500cc Honda GP bike?

Video: Is this the greatest Moto GP save ever? is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

Back in 1993 the Sauber C12′s steering wheel only had only 2 buttons! One for the team radio and one problem button which set a marker in the telemetry data.

As you can see in the video and the infographic below, things have changed!

Video: 20 year evolution of F1 steering wheels is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.