I didn’t think it was possible, but this image of a Chaparral 2G at The Bridge in 1968 looks almost serene.
Category: Historic Racing Photos
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Rocket Man
Redditor “Neither-nor” dug up this impressive shot of Max Valier testing the rocket car he developed under the patronage of Fritz von Opel at AVUS in January of 1930.
Although Opel lost interest in the project, Valier carried on. This smaller image is from a different test of a continuation model (and may represent Max’s shift from solid to liquid fueled rockets) run in April. Ultimately his interest in rocketry would claim his life a month later when an experimental rocket exploded on the test bench.
A generous collector has uploaded high resolution scans of his BMW brochures to Picasa. This example of the 1978 BMW Motorsport brochure naturally drew me in.
From the brochure’s text:
Why men race.
Racing is high adventure. And this alone is enough to account for racing’s incredible popularity.The sport is burgeoning as never before. There are now more spectators, more participants, and more events than the sport has ever seen. In Germany alone, for example, there are over 1,000 approved racing events held every year. Road races, mountain climbing, circular-track races, rallyes, rally crosses, gymkhanas – the list is endless and varied.
We at the Bavarian Motor Works believe it is a sport worthy of our attention and involvement. For the simple reason that as more people become involved, more people will be capable of mastery of their cars in the extreme driving situations every driver occasionally faces.
That’s a phenomenal point. The natural instinct among the general populous is that racing drivers never turn off their competitive driving and make roads more dangerous. I think this brochure makes the opposite point marvelously well, a trained racing driver understands the road, understands their car, and understands how they interact. They are safer to those around them on public streets than other motorists.
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Road Race
With the 2011 Isle of Man TT in the books, I was reminded as I watched Guy Martin and John McGuinness streak along the (mostly) straight between Guthrie Memorial and East Snaefel Gate that this is how all races used to be. The country lanes that surround the Isle of Man are simple little 2-lane stretches of (very) curvy blacktop. It is hardly an acceptable racing surface as we’re used to today. There are no runoff areas. There are no fences to catch debris. The riders transition their weight over a crest and land with their helmets perilously close to a hedgerow or garden wall. In short, it’s a proper race.
The fact that the TT remains as it is—and should be—is nothing short of miraculous.
Now close your eyes and imagine those simple country roads with a charging Alfa Tipo 33, as on the mountains of Sicily, or the engine note of a Stanguellini 750 echoing off the village walls south of Brescia. You can’t help but feel a bit robbed by history.
The juxtaposition between the TT and this weekend’s Canadian GP—the chasm between the spirits of these two events—is even more startling when you see this image of Maurice Trintignant and his Gordini T16 bombing down a country road in Rheims in 1953. Even when we see a “street course” like Monaco today, it’s sometimes hard to remember that humble country roads were good enough for the pinnacle of motorsport.
O, that they could be again!
Brian sent in these unbelievable photos that his father took at the Brookfield Ohio Davis Field Trial in the mid-late 1950s. The event was apparently put on by Davis Volkswagen, but the photos here are even more shocking than seeing a Beetle giving its all on what looks to be virtually untouched field.
If you’ll remember, I was stunned, and pleased, to see a Jaguar XK120 being put through her paces on the dirt hill road of Agoura Hills. Well that’s nothing compared to the scene you see here—this time in what looks to be a Morgan.
The owner of this Triumph TR2 is no less courageous and pushes her for all she’s worth on less than pristine racing surfaces. I adore that these sportscar owners realized that their cars were for sporting purposes—and put them to that end with little mercy. I don’t think we’ll soon see any Lamborghini or Koenigsegg drivers reviving the Field Trial.
Well, I guess we’ll have to get by with the WRC.
Thanks for these, Brian. They’re an amazing artifact, not only of days gone by, but of a spirit gone by as well.
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Pedro Leads the Pack
Dan from Karting Archives sent over this marvelous photo of Pedro Rodriguez leading a Mexican kart race. Just look at the spectators! Something tells me that the karting dress code has (unfortunately) relaxed in the years since this amazing shot was captured. Their attire makes this looks very much like a country club event. Who votes we start replacing the back 9 with a kart track?
Update: Over on The Chicane’s Facebook page, Luc Ghys pointed out this marvelous pair of articles from a Mexican Magazine from 1960 chronicling the karting championship and Pedro’s participation. Thanks, Luc!
Lotus 72s for John Miles and Jochen RindtLet’s take a look at another marvelous group of photos from Dick Lees archives. This time it’s a non-championship Formula 1 race at Silverstone: the Daily Express/GKN 22nd International Trophy Meeting. Lots of great views from the pits here. Watching this year’s Monaco Grand Prix over the weekend, it’s still hard for me to believe the accessibility that was once so common at F1 races.
Jackie Stewart Drove a March701 and finished second to Chris Amon also in a March 701
Denny Hulme’s McLaren and Mike Walker’s McLaren F-5000
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Pete Lovely, 1926—2011
Pete Lovely in a Jag at the 1952 Torrey Pines 
Pete Lovely at the 1953 Pebble Beach in a Giaur 
Pete Lovely, the hot rodder
Hard work has its rewards 
Amazing shots from various runnings of the Detroit News Soap Box Derby throughout the 1940s. More at Rivet Head.
