Video: How the fearsome reputation of the Isle of Man TT was earned

Yep, he’s about to ride straight through that huge fireball.

When it comes to motor sport events with fearsome Isle of Man TT is unrivaled. The idea of this video is to cram as many reasons as to why that is the case, into one five and a half minute piece of madness. Enjoy.

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The Ducati V8 F1 Engine that Never Was

Image: Phil Aynsley www.philaphoto.com

We all know Ducati’s beautiful bikes, but the company’s been around since the ’20s, and they’ve dipped their toes into many other designs over the decades. Even (cover your ears) vehicles with four wheels.

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Split-second decision making at the Isle of Man

Michael Dunlop and Guy Martin go toe-to-toe at the 2014 Isle of Man TT.

When the technology of on-bike digital video cameras and the craziness of Isle of Man collide, the result is always spectacular. This is one of the best pieces we’ve come across yet, depicting the battle of Michael Dunlop and Guy Martin at the 2014 Isle of Man TT.

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Stan Dibben is No Ordinary Passenger

“Sidecar racing in particular is addictive. Joyous lunacy if you like!” – Stan Dibben

Stan Dibben is a Sidecar World Champion with a great outlook on life and some serious credentials under his belt. Spend a few minutes enjoying his exploits, bravery and humour in this video.

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Video: Kenny Roberts rides his 1980 YZR500 at Laguna Seca

Watch in awe as the ever-charismatic King-Kenny gets back on the horse and rides.

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Classic TT – Suzuki XR69 – Onboard with Lee Johnston

One minute of pure fury at the 2014 Classic TT as we ride aboard with “The General” Lee Johnston.

Watch in awe as 2014 Classic TT 350cc Champion Lee Johnston hops aboard the Suzuki Classic Racing GSXR1100 XR69 and absolutely hammers through the course.

Read on..

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Video: Jim Clark sideways in a Lotus Cortina (1964)

This is the way a Lotus Cortina should be driven!

This quick clip from the British Saloon Car Championship (BSCC) race at Crystal Palace in 1964 showcases the awesome driving style of the one and only Jim Clark. The period commentary makes this little gem even more enjoyable, we hope you like it as much as we do!

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Why ‘Class 1′ DTM was too good to be true

Image: DTM.de

In 1995 and 1996 the DTM and ITC had it all: great racing, hi-tech cars, superstar drivers and three willing manufacturers hell-bent on making it the best racing series in the world. These were the halcyon days of state-of-the-art, over-the-top touring car racing.

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Bathurst, Brock and an Audi – Video

Remember the time Brock hot-lapped around Bathurst with Brad Jones and an Audi A4 Quattro Super Tourer?

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Cologne Capri RS onboard – That Cosworth Howl

Just listen to that Cosworth GAA V6 scream! The Cologne Capri RS is responsible for one of the greatest mechanical sounds of all time.

This stunning Ford Capri won the Belgian Touring Car Championship on debut in 1973 after being built by Ralph Broad of Broadspeed, before being sent back to England and updated to full Cologne specification. For the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed, JD Classics prepared and presented the machine, which drew crowds every time it fired up thanks to the intoxicating howl of the Cosworth GAA V6 engine.

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The eight most iconic JGTC racing machines ever

Eight incredible racing machines from the glory days of Japanese touring cars. These are the meanest machines the legend of JGTC had to offer.

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Rare Footage: Brock, Bond, The Beast and a Torana XU1

Brilliant and rare racing footage, perfect soundtrack and all the character you could hope for – take ten minutes and enjoy this piece of classic motorsport gold with Peter Brock, Colin Bond and their early ’70s beasts.

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Isle of Man – Flat out in a WRX STi

Even in a modern car such as the WRX STi with current safety measures, the Isle of Man TT is terrifying. Here’s proof.

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BMW E30 M3 Rally – Patrick Snijers in 1988

This is more exciting than WRC in every way. Madman Patrick Snijers pushes his BMW E30 M3 to the absolute limit during the Manx International Rally of 1988.

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Video: WRC driver and MKII Escort tackle Colin McRae Forest stage!

Magic happens when pro rally driver Kris Meeke goes flat out through the forest in an MKII Ford Escort.

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Video: Tarmac rally insanity

Breathtaking in-car footage captures the madness of a full-tilt tarmac run.

SVS nabbed this terrific piece of onboard footage, during which James Stafford and Richard Cleary pilot their Darrian T90 GTR in a manner which reminds us of the old school – huge speed, no runoffs, fearless driving and massive risks. Enjoy!

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Video: ‘Climb-dance’ in High Definition

The most famous piece of rally footage ever shot has been remastered, and it’s beautiful.

The unforgettable short film Climb Dance just got a whole lot clearer. Originally directed by Jean Louis Mourey back in the late 1980s, the world-famous clip featured Ari Vatanen and Robby Unser piloting the iconic Peugeot 405 T16 GSR at record speeds up the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

Read on..

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Pure Sounds: Ayrton Senna’s V12 scream

If there’s a better sound out there than this, we’d like to know about it.

Watch here..

FIAT S76 – 28.5 Litres of pure flame spitting glory

Just wait ’till you hear this thing!

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Video: Monsters of hillclimb

The idea of this video is to celebrate overpowered cars that are hard to control on the hillclimb. We approve.

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Video: Inspiring Formula 1 video borrows from upcoming Sci-Fi hit

Borrowing an audio track from an upcoming Hollywood Sci-Fi film by the name of Interstellar, this user-created clip overlays some hard-hitting Formula 1 visuals with great effect. We really enjoyed this, and we think you guys will too.

Watch here..

Video: Ferrari F1 V6 vs V12 pure sounds!

Go on – treat your ears this holiday season.

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Video: Keeping BRM alive

A touching story of two men working on some of the most amazing machines to ever see the track.

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Honda F1 engines of the past – FW11 unleashed

Soak up the glorious sound of 1980s turbocharged Formula One as Honda engineers fire up Nigel Mansell’s old FW11 and take it for a blast. The Honda F1 V6TT engine was capable of over 1000hp.

Watch here..

Overtake Ayrton Senna – A how-to by Nelson Piquet

How to overtake Ayrton Senna – an eleven second demonstration by none other than Nelson Piquet.

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That BRM V16 note – Goodwood Festival of Speed

The BRM V16 first raced in 1950, and by the end of its official development was sporting close to 600bhp from just 1.5L. It’s exhaust note is truly unique.

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Video: Lewis Hamilton has a drive of Ayrton Senna’s MP4/4

…and admits he doesn’t know how the heroes of the 1980s did it!

In this video, Lewis Hamilton slides behind the wheel of the 1200hp machine in which Ayrton Senna won his first world championship.

Watch here..

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The Spectacular Silver Arrows Project

Image: The Silver Arrows Project

The story of the Silver Arrows is one of triumph and progress, earned through blood sweat and tears. What we know of it we’ve pulled from history books, wise men and women, and images and sounds captured on near-century old mediums.

The Silver Arrows Project aims to change that, and tell the Silver Arrows’ story with the technology and mediums of the future.

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Lancia LC2 – Wolf in Wolf’s clothing

Images by Laurent Nivalle

It looks as good as it sounds, and sounds as amazing as it goes. This is the Lancia LC2.

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Le Mans 2014 – Group C

Image: Jayson Fong, Form & Function

Throughout history, Le Mans has been the battleground on which many motorsport legends were forged, from Bentley to Porsche; Tom Kristensen to Jacky Ickx.

The most rambunctious of those legends raced in the era of Group C, and we were delivered a special treat this year, when many of them returned to the circuit to stretch their legs. Live their exploits vicariously through these mega shots from photography maestro Jayson Fong of Form & Function.

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The 2014 Le Mans Classic Mega Gallery

Images: Jayson Fong, Form & Function

Every second year, once the latest-and-greatest from the likes of Audi, Toyota and, this year, Porsche, are packed away, Circuit de la Sarthe kicks into top gear for something truly special – the Le Mans Classic.

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Historic Superprix Supergallery: Brands Hatch

Images thanks to Jayson Fong of Form & Function

Motorsport Retro superphotographer Jayson Fong returns with his Brands Hatch HSCC Historic Superprix supergallery. Check it out!

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BMW LMR V12 – Le Mans hero of 1999

Images via Road & Track

The German marque’s only outright 24 Hours of Le Mans champion.

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Video: 1990s Isle of Man karting is the most terrifying thing ever

This is one slice of motorsport we’re glad to be watching via onboard cam, rather than driving ourselves!

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Video: WRC ace + Mk2 Escort RS1800 = completely sideways

Eight time WRC rally winner Jari-Matti Latvala shows us just what his Ford Escort MkII RS BDA can do – and then some!

Watch here..

Video: 1998 WRC madness with Juha Kankkunen

Few onboard videos are this frightening to watch!

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Video: Full Noise in a Mazda 767B Around Spa

Strap in, brace yourself and hold on to anything you can as we wind up for an on-the-limit lap of Spa Franchorchamps in the utterly glorious Mazda 767B.

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Brutal noise: Full throttle in an RX-3 touring car

Leaving Porsches, Corvettes and Mustangs in it’s wake, this GT3-spec RX-3 sounds phenomenal.

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Video: Colin McRae – master behind the wheel

Reactions quicker than the speed of thought.

One of the top voted comments attached to this clip exclaims: “that whole video just looked like a massive crash that somehow never happened” – a statement that could be used with accuracy to describe any piece of footage featuring Colin McRae at the wheel, casting aside the reality of the fact that he was in complete control, (almost) all of the time.

A master of his chosen craft, we could watch Colin McRae drive rally all day.

Watch here..

Video: Ride onboard the flame-spitting RX-3 from Barbados

Amazing incar footage shows the cabin of this maniac RX-3 lighting up as the monster three-rotor engine breathes FIRE.

Watch here..

Video: Onboard the Audi S1 (insane)

This might just be the greatest onboard video the internet has to offer.

Watch here..

Video: Onboard the Zakspeed Capri

Lightning-fast gear changes and aggressive overtaking – this car still has it!

Watch here..

Video: How to (really) drive a 911 at Spa Francorchamps

Nothing but the best onboard footage as this fearless driver tears around Spa in his 1965 Porsche.

Watch here..

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Why Ayrton Senna was so fast (video)

Image: The Cahier Archive

Many will argue with great reason why Ayrton Senna remains the greatest racing driver of all time, however it is significantly less often that people speak with specifics regarding what exact traits made this so. What talents may Ayrton have had which placed him on a different level to the other greats of his time? What did he do differently to the rest?

Read on..

Niki Lauda – “We need to change Formula One”

Opening Image: Niki Lauda with Mauro Forghieri at the 1976 Italian Grand Prix (The Cahier Archive)

Three time World Champion Niki Lauda speaks out, calling for more aggressive, faster Formula One cars which are more difficult to drive, and more exciting to watch.

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Video: This is why we love Formula 1

Get revved up with this fantastic video, which will stir your emotions, ignite your adrenalin and kick start some Formula 1 fever!

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LEGO Formula 1 Masterpieces – Gallery

Images: Luca Rusconi

Computer software, 3D modelling and good old fashioned creativity come together to allow the hands of Luca Rusconi to craft these incredible LEGO Formula 1 models.

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Experience the 1978 Italian GP with Jacques Laffite

Ride onboard the ’78 Matra powered Ligier F1 car, and listen to that V12 scream!

Read on..

Video: Five of the best-sounding Formula 1 engines

These five terrific videos showcase the best-sounding engines ever heard in F1.

Read on..

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Images: Grand Prix Classics

It’s not every day that you encounter a Porsche 914/6 at all, let alone a race-ready example complete with a successful period racing history. This is one such car, and it’s up for sale at Grand Prix Classics.

William Stroh purchased the car originally, receiving the 248th 914/6 built and immediately converting it to race in the SCCA’s C Production class.

Through 1970 and 1971 he raced in the SCCA Regional Championship supported by a support contract from Porsche North America.

This series was fiercely-contested with team cars driven by Alan Johnson, Peter Greg and Richie Ginther. Nevertheless the pair saw a great deal of success, including a series of wins, and eventually made it to the Road Race of Champions.

The car has been restored by the original team mechanic to be as it was raced in 1970 and ’71, including its 6-cylinder 2-liter engine. Throughout its life it’s been extensively documented and now includes original period photos, results, lap charts, magazine articles and memorabilia.

It’s now eligible for historic events, including the upcoming Rennsport Reunion.

You’re sure to find plenty of Porsches at historic events around the world, but not many of them are going to be 914s. This unusual, rare and downright cool car is up for sale at Grand Prix Classics, and you can head to their official site here for more information.

Images via Grand Prix Classics

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Guy Martin is an Isle of Man TT hero. He’s the most popular competitor at the most dangerous racing event in the world, striving for peace and tranquility.

Guy Martin is down to earth, passionate, and a little bit crazy. When he rides, he does so with the full attention of all eyes and cameras in the vicinity, yet he strives most for peace and tranquility. This short film affords us an exclusive insight his mindset.

MORE: Watch Michael Dunlop and Guy Martin go toe to toe at the Isle of Man

Martin explains how he switches off to concentrate solely on racing, and how the most famous TT event fits in with painting houses, and his daredevil nature.

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Images & Story Jayson Fong of Form & Function

The London Classic Car show finally brings classic cars back to center stage in London – We were at the opening to find out what it was like.

Held at the London’s Excel exhibition centre, the London Classic Car show looks to bring an event to London that will showcase the thriving classic car market and bring it to the world stage.

Featuring a diverse range of the most valuable, rare and sought after classic cars from all eras the London Classic Car show brings them all under one roof. And by rare, we mean rare. Some of the most notable being Fangio’s old Jaguar C-type and James Coburn’s old 1961 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder SWB on display, which in 2010 was the world’s most valuable car, fetching £5.6 million under the hammer.

Perhaps the show’s most unique feature is the ‘Grand Avenue’, with a selection of cars spanning the decades taking to the runway and bringing the London Classic Car Show to life in a moving indoor environment. The grand avenue allows visitors to indulge the senses by seeing, touching and even smelling the cars on display.

If you are planning on going, make sure to listen out for the Formula 1 V8 scream of the Lotus Judd 101 – definitely amongst the highlights of the parade.

Another of our favourites is a display of icons from the legendary 24hrs of Le Mans, including the Ford GT40, Group C and Bentley’s 2003 Speed 8.

Other features of the show include an exhibition of James May’s personal curation of ‘Cars that changed the world’, The Motorsport Hall of Fame Showcase, James Martin’s Classic Cafe and a tribute exhibition giving an insight into the history of Formula 1’s most successful designer – Adrian Newey.

As well as the legendary cars on display, the opening night also had a handful of appearances from the likes of James May, Chris Evans, Adrian Newey, Martin Brundle, David Coulthard, James Martin and Red Bull’s Christian Horner.

All in all the London Classic Car Show was a fantastic event with plenty of classic car goodness to get visitors prepared for the 2015 Classic Car season.

The show runs until 5pm, Sunday 11^th of January – Tickets are £25 at the door or £22 online. Family and group deals are also available, check out http://www.thelondonclassiccarshow.co.uk/ for further information.

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Images: Bonhams

“In 1950 at the Indianapolis 500, Louis Rassey put a one-legged East Coast midget car racer, Bill Schindler, in his rail-frame 270 Offenhauser-powered upright racing car. It was a marriage made in heaven.” – Bonhams

Well if you put it that way, we’re interested! This car is the 1948 Automobile Shippers Special Indy Roadster. It’s very orange, very awesome, and heading to auction very soon at Bonhams’ Scottsdale Auction on the 15th of January.

The aforementioned one-legged East Coast midget car racer is Bill Schindler, one of the most successful midget car racers of all time – the ‘Freeport Flash’. He could, and did, win in and on anything. Winning isn’t everything however, and without a goal to strive for it can lose its meaning, so Bill sought greater challenges.

He moved to AAA Sprint Cars in 1950, and even filmed some of the racing sequences in To Please a Lady. Joie Chitwood the convinced car owner Ervin Wolfe to let Schindler drive one race in his stead. He claimed second, proving his pace in the sprint car.

And that’s how he found himself at the next race on the circuit – the Indianapolis 500 – looking for a ride. That ride would be this car – Lou Rassey’s 1948 Automobile Shippers Special Indy Roadster.

The car had been built, funnily enough, for the 1948 race and was initially powered by a monstrous V16 engine which Lou had built. In 1948 the car was driven by Louis Durant, but the team developed engine trouble during practice. They swapped out the V16 for a Meyer & Drake Offenhauser four, but then their qualifying attempt was rained out.

In 1949 the car returned to Indy, this time with George Lynch set to drive. This time they qualified eighth, but crashed out on the second lap.

And so we make it to 1950, with Bill Schindler now set to drive. He qualified fifth on the first day of qualifying, lapping the Brickyard at 132.690 miles an hour. By the time qualifying was complete however, they would be deep in the pack at 22nd.

A spin early in the race left them way at the back, but they were able to fight back through the field and were ready to crack the top ten when a universal joint failed. A few laps later and rain set in, seeing the race flagged in a procession after 138 laps.

The team went on to claim 12th at Springfield and 7th at Darlington, but suffered with unreliability.

In 1951 Schindler began an epic battle with Tommy Hinnershitz, winning 10 races. He was sadly killed in 1952 in a sprint car racing accident in Pennsylvania.

The car was sold in 1951 to Charlie Helin and it would appear twice more at Indy, in 1952 and 1953 but at this point it was five years out of its prime and it failed to qualify.

Brooks Stevens then showcased the car at a museum he’d built in Milwaukee along with other cars of its era.

In 1982 it was bought by David Uihlein who restored it to its 1950 Indy 500 configuration with a Jud Phillips-built Offenhauser 270 four, dual Riley Carbs and the gorgeous orange Auto Shippers’ livery you see before you.

Since then it has been carefully-maintained and was purchased by its current owner in 1998. It has been shown in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

This awesome machine is a living example of the skill, bravery, ingenuity and passion which has powered motorsport throughout its history. It tells a story in the way that few machines can, and that makes it truly special.

It will head to auction at Bonhams’ Scottsdale Auction on the 15th of January, and is expected to fetch US$300,000 – 350,000. For more information head to Bonhams’ website here.

Images via Bonhams

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Formula 1 1973 was a year of Stewart, Fittipaldi, and Peterson. Let’s look back on a season plucked right from the center of one of the great eras of motor racing.

Opening Image: Ronnie Peterson at the 1973 Austrian Grand Prix (The Cahier Archive)

This terrific, in-depth video recap takes a look back on Formula 1 1973 – the year that Jackie Stewart said farewell to F1 with a bang. It was also the year in which the dearly missed Ronnie Peterson won his first Grands Prix, including Austria (pictured).

MORE: The very best of Jackie Stewart – Captured in still photographs (Gallery)

It’s a comprehensive, well presented, documentary style clip which allowed us here at Motorsport Retro to relive one of our favorite Formula One eras of all. Sit back and enjoy, Formula 1 1973.

MORE: A tribute to Ronnie Peterson (Video)

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“It upsets your inner ears and gives you the impression that you’re driving vertically straight down into the middle of the earth.”

On the 4th of October, 1983 Richard Noble reached a top speed of 650.88 miles per hour and set a land speed record of 633.468 miles per hour in the Thrust 2. This is how it felt.

The team started the Thrust 2 project in 1979 on a budget of £175. Their first attempt was in 1981, and that’s when they learned everything that they’d done wrong with the car.

They did succeed in clocking a 500 mile-per-hour run, however. No mean feat to for anyone, let alone for a small team that got their start with barely enough money in their pockets for a decent ride in a London cab.

“Three hundred to five fifty is boring. It’s just more of the same but faster. When you start getting up to five fifty and towards six hundred something happens.”

In 1982 they tried again, and hit 615 miles an hour, but were thwarted once again by the weather. At least they knew they were on the right track, and they’d found their location.

It would be 1983 before they achieved their goal. In this video Richard Noble puts an experience that only a handful of people on Earth have had into words, so that we can get an idea of what it’s like to go from stationary, to 633.468 miles per hour and then stop.

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1964 was the year in which John Surtees would become World Champion, fending off Graham Hill by a single point to claim the ultimate title. F1 Program Covers make for terrific story books, so let’s take a look back at a few landmark races, with the help of their promotional merchandise.

The 1964 season kicked off in Monaco, with a dominating performance by Graham Hill seeing him take first place by a little over a lap. American Richie Ginther claimed second place, making Monaco 1964 a 1-2 for BRM. Third place was Peter Arundell, the first or two times he’d stand on the podium during his career. Where was eventual World Champion John Surtees? Back in the pits with a broken gearbox, after just 15 laps.

A handful of races later the 1964 season was in Rouen for the French Grand Prix, and a betting man would have scoffed at the idea that Surtees was to win the Championship. He’d placed second in the Netherlands, but in France his engine broke shortly after the race commenced. This was a misfortune made more painful considering he’d also had to retire from the round prior at Spa with similar gremlins. The race was won by Dan Gurney, with Graham Hill and Jack Brabham in tow.

The 1964 British Grand Prix was the first Formula One World Championship race to be held at Brands Hatch. It was also designated to be the European Grand Prix of the year, and it all went down on the 11th of July. Jim Clark, Graham Hill and John Surtees made up first, second and third respectively. Take a look at the flier above, talk about an awesome looking F1 Program!

Germany. The Nurburgring. It was the 2nd of August and it was the first race of the year in which Surtees would place first. Hill wasn’t far behind.

The 1964 Italian Grand Prix, Monza. Surtees placed first for the second and final time of the 1964 season, however it would turn out to be just enough. Bruce McLaren took second, and Lorenzo Bandini came in second, riding the high of winning his first ever Formula One World Championship Grand Prix in the round earlier. The F1 Program that went along with the event is decidedly minimalistic and art-inspired.

The 1964 United States Grand Prix was the second last round of the year, and at this point Graham Hill was still in the lead for the overall points championship. He’d take first place in the race ahead of Surtees, and looked to be the lead contender for the 1964 Championship…

…Until the 1964 Mexican Grand Prix rolled into town. It was the final round of the World Championship, and before the start of the race the points championship was theoretically up for grabs between Hill, Surtees and Clark. Dan Gurney would win the actual race, however it would be a disastrous 11th place finish for Hill and a solid second place for Surtees which would become the championship decider. Hill, who had suffered damage to the exhaust of his BRM earlier in the race was battling with crippled power output as a result. How frustrating that must have been!

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Drop what you’re doing and come for a blast around Spa during the 1985 1000km race, onboard with Jochen Mass and his fabulous Porsche!

The video title suggests that the clip takes us for a ride with Stefan Bellof and his Porsche 956, however we believe this to actually be Jochen Mass, and a Porsche 962. Bellof also drove a 962 at Spa in 1985, however was tragically killed before the race would finish.

MORE: One off Grand Prix winners – Jochen Mass

Feel free to drop us a comment via Facebook and let us know your thoughts on this awesome little mystery-clip.

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Two-time 12 Hours of Sebring winner. Three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner. Five-time 24 Hours of Daytona winner. Hurley Haywood has a resume that would make any racer envious.

Plus he’s spent much of that time racing the fastest Porsches in existence, which makes us envious!

“If you have one ounce of energy left after a 24-hour race you haven’t done your job right.”

This video is full of wonderful stories of endurance racing; great races and the cars which made them. We also learn a bit about the drive (ha!) and work ethic that winning at the highest echelon of endurance racing requires.

“I did an 8-hour stint driving at night with that car.. because my co-driver didn’t really like driving at night, so I took over the duties.”

Hurley tells the story of the 1977 24 Hours of Daytona, which saw the introduction of turbocharged cars and an epic drive that took him from the back of the field all the way to the top of the podium. He also introduces us to some majestic Porsches, like the 917/10 Can Am that he raced to third in the 1973 Can Am Championship, the ’77 Daytona-winning 911 RSR, and Peter Gregg’s championship-winning 935.

Fetch a cup of tea, and enjoy the stories and insight of Hurley Haywood.

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Come for a blast from Langwies to Arosa in the awesome Eggenberger BMW 635 CSi, and watch this awesome machine tackle the brutal downhill section.

Shot in Switzerland in 2013 at the Arosa ClassicCar event, this video demonstrates the awesome Eggenberger BMW 635 CSi and it’s attempt at the 76 corner epic between Langwies and Arosa.

MORE: Gallery – BMW 635 Group 2

The track is 7.8 grueling kilometers long, during which time it descends by a full 422 meters – including an unbroken 1.2 kilometer downhill stretch, the longest in Switzerland.

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One of the main reasons motor racing delivers such a rush is because there’s the ever-present chance that it could all come undone at any moment.

Some of the accidents are minor, some more serious. Some are hard to watch as beautiful racing machinery is destroyed, others are hard to watch without laughing. The risks are all part and parcel of racing, so sit back and enjoy thirteen minutes of errors, accidents and general all round bad days.

MORE: Ten terrifying crashes caught on film (video)

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Racing – Things Don’t Always Go Right is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

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An intimate look at the comeback effort which became one of the most iconic sportscars to ever race.

Images & Story Jayson Fong of Form & Function

Post war Mercedes Benz, a company that lay in disarray after WWII changed the world forever. The domination of the Silver Arrows in the pre-war era couldn’t seem more distant.However, in 1952, Mercedes Benz would make a stunning return to sportscar racing with one of the most iconic cars to have ever been made – the 300SL ‘Gullwing’.

Ask almost any car enthusiast to think of some iconic cars from the automotive world and the Mercedes Benz 300SL will no doubt be among one of the top selections. Although very much recognized in modern times for its stunning and timeless design, many also forget the motorsport blood of the car that now comes with such a tremendous price tag.

Coded the W194, the 300SL was initially built purely as a racing sports car. However by 1954, road cars bearing the 300SL badge would become part of the legend with 1400 cars being built for both purposes until 1957.

The link to its motorsport upbringing is evident in its name, the letters S-L representing the words “sport licht” or Light and Sporty. Using a lightweight spaceframe chassis, Mercedes Benz would enter the 1952 Le Mans 24Hr looking for an advantage in their competitive sports car to bring the Silver Arrows back into the light. Part of the lightweight solution was the implementation of the iconic ‘gullwing doors’ which minimized deformation to the spaceframe and allow it to retain its strength.

Furthermore, powered by a 3.0 Inline-6 Cylinder, the 300SL was an example of a winning formula that combined aerodynamics, lightweight and power to create a package that was both a useable and durable machine for racing duty.

The 300SL quickly made itself a legend before production ceased and today has continued to inspire Mercedes Benz to produce formidable road and race cars. The 300SL – A car that could handle all the action on the track and remain an extremely desirable road machine off of it, it was truly the culmination of form and function.

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On a very damp December day at Brands Hatch, Chris Harris drives the incredible Daytona 24 Hour winning Group C Jaguar XJR-9.

A very lucky Chris Harris relishes the opportunity to slide behind the wheel of the amazing Jaguar XJR-9, the car which championed the Daytona 24 Hour, and is remembered as one of the greatest Group C Sportscars ever.

GALLERY – If you’re planning on buying a Jaguar XJR-9, now’s the time

The video is of terrific quality and we’re really afforded a feel for the monster as we ride onboard with Harris. This particular Jaguar XJR-9 will be offered at the RM Amelia Island sale, 14 March 2015.

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XJR-9 – Driving the Monster is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.

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