Yes, there was a time when the “pit men” who serviced the cars were actually in a pit below the racing surface. What a terrifying view it must have been.
Via Rumbledrome.
Author: Harlo
Doug Nye says it best: “As 550 chassis 01 it can be described as being the first purpose built competition Porsche”.
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New Racing “Video” Game
Artist Malte Jehmlich’s created a physical world “video” game where a player sits in a console watching the POV camera mounted on an RC car driving around a cardboard track in the next room. The fact that he labeled the cabinet “Nürburgring Power-Slide” sealed the deal on me featuring it here.
via.
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Smilin’ Carroll Shelby
Carroll “Perfect Teeth” Shelby.
It’s been several months since we last wrote about the F1-67 project and their modern reproduction of a 1967 spec Formula 1 car (with cheap and plentiful smallblock Chevy power). I still love the idea, and hope that Stuart Taylor Motorsports sells the hell out of them. A spec series of these brilliant little machines would be endlessly entertaining—certainly more entertaining than modern Formula 1.
What I’ve missed in the interim are these videos that the development team have created during track days with the car. You can bet the other drivers on the track weren’t having as much fun as the driver of this wonderful car.
Bonhams upcoming Monterey spectacular, Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia auction at the Quail Lodge is selling off the Michael L. Amalfitano Collection of Porsches. There’s such a stunning array Porsches that I couldn’t decide between the two star attractions.
The 910 is a highly desirable ex-factory car that, despite lacking any serious World Sportscar Manufacturers Championship wins, led the 1967 Nürburgring 1000 Kilometers race with Gerhard Mitter and Lucien Bianchi. They led the race right up until the last lap when an alternator failure kept the 910s to only a 1-2-3-4 finish.
Originally raced with an air-cooled 2.2 liter flat 8, the car is currently fitted with a 2 liter 6 cylinder from when Porsche sold the car to be raced by a customer. I adore the factory Porsche team liveries of this era. The Grand Prix White bodies with bold blocks of color on the bonnets is pure utilitarian delight. Complete details on Bonhams lot detail page.
The 917 is every bit as magnificent. Campaigned by David Hobbs and Motorcycle champion Mike Hailwood, this example debuted for the Gulf Wyer team in the 1970 LeMans. The car performed exceptionally well lapping with Hobbs at the wheel at an average lap time of 3 minutes 35 seconds. Hailwood proved he was as able on 4 wheels as 2 by keeping within 15 seconds of that time. Sadly, as the rain persisted Hailwood overran the pit entry, missing the opportunity to switch to rain tires. A hundred yards later, he slid off the Dunlop Curve and into a parked car. Complete history in the lot details.
What do you think? Which would you choose?
Update:
The 910 Sold for $799,000 inclusive of Buyer’s Premium.
The 917 Sold for $3,967,000 inclusive of Buyer’s Premium. Yowza!
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Fangio v. Brabham
Just because you retire doesn’t mean your competitive spirit retires. What starts as a simple 4 lap demonstration at the 1978 Australian GP at Sandown quickly becomes a full on race as two drivers in two cars from two eras test their mettle. The 5-times world champion seems to strike first, pushing his W196 Mercedes Benz ahead of the 3-time world champion’s 12-years-newer Repco Brabham. The Benz seems to have the top speed, but the Brabham can outbrake it all day long. An astounding clip.
What I wouldn’t give for even half of Laurent Nivalle’s eye for capturing beautifully composed shots on the fly. Any one of these shots would be a worthy photo shoot that would please any photographer and art director. A team of award winning shooters, ADs, photography assistants, lighting technicians, stylists, and a catering team could not capture the beauty of the LeMans classic any better. That Nivalle caught these shots on the fly, at a second’s notice, and managed to craft these magnificent compositions is quite an accomplishment. They’re all so good that I had trouble selecting just a few to whet you’re appetite. Click over to Laurent’s site for the complete set—they’re just gorgeous. via Grain Edit.
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A Spin Around Spa, circa 1958
Who wants to run a lap around Spa-Francorchamps during the 1958 Grand Prix d’Europe?
“Talk to the man in the Austin Healey. He’s a real guy. “A man of parts,” as Commander Whitehead might say. A gent with a flair for living, if you please.
And live he does in his Austin Healey. A tromp on the loud-padal and his AH hums to 60 in 11 seconds or so. That’s performance.
You know, of course, that the AH holds more than 100 American and International records. In fact, every record in its class.
Pray, sir, when will you drive your Austin Healey.”
I just never get tired of hyperbolic advertising copy.