The battles from the perspective of this MGB in the 2012 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix are fun and worth a watch on their own (man, this driver works through the traffic!). More importantly though, take a moment to look at the setting: Look at those low brick walls, bridges, and the brief glimpses of the glass structure of the conservatory. Now appreciate that this event is not happening in Sicily in 1962, or Brescia in 1951, or Pebble Beach in 1955. This is a race you can go and watch next year. I still can’t believe that they pulled it off. I still hope that more municipalities will find the will and the passion to do the same. I look forward to attending the Central Park Vintage Grand Prix, the Detroit Belle Isle Vintage Road Races, the Hyde Park Historics, and the Lincoln Park GP Classic.
Tag: Onboard
These onboards from the Targa Florio during the practice period are always harrowing. When you see the occasional shepherd and daily Sicilian traffic it’s not hard to see why this footage from 1973 was the last year of the event. Let’s ride shotgun with the Claude Haldi/Bernard Chenevière Porsche 908. Almost a shame we can’t see the lovely Toblerone livery of this unusually red P-car. The car didn’t make the main event due to blowing an engine in practice. Easy to believe from where I’m sitting.
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In the Days Before Go-Pro
I hope this cameraman got paid well.
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Over-the-shoulder Onboards Are So Passé.
One of the best things about the GoPro is that you can cram the thing anywhere… like the nosecone of a Cooper T-33. Let’s take a spin around the 2013 Silverstone Classic in the JD Classics prepped Cooper.
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More Onboard at the Südschleife
Yesterday’s post had me craving more of the forgotten Sudschleife and now I’m sure of it: If the Nordschleife weren’t right next door this would have been considered a fantastic track.
It was only the big events that were raced on the combined glory of the North and South loops of the Nürburgring into it’s complete 17 mile configuration. Of course, the Nordschleife got all the fame and left it’s little brother Südschleife to languish away alone: oft-forgotten and little loved (even in its prime) compared to the more challenging technical turns of the Nordschleife.
Today, while much of the public roads remain, the connecting pathways to the Nordschleife were destroyed during the construction of the GP circuit. This Formula Vee race from 1968 though, shows the Südschleife in all its glory. It must be hard to be considered great when the basis for comparison is the Nordschleife but on it’s own this looks like a hell of a track. Also, helicopter footage of the F-V race? Who would have thought….
Let’s hope at the Nordschleife lives on in more than just videos of this kind 50 years from now.
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2 Liters. Barely Contained.
Here’s a video you can show your muscle car friends when they claim anything packing less than a 427 is just a dainty little commuter. This Abarth 2000 Sport Prototipo piloted by Max Comelli is a rabid wolverine. 2 Liters… a mere 122 cubic inches. This is why I so love these little lightweight racing machines.
1st in class for this run up a Brescian mountainside from Marone on the shore of Lake Iseo to Zone.
Man, I’ve really shortchanged hill climbs. I’ve always treated them as second class to wheel-to-wheel racing. I was wrong. This is thrilling.
From green flag to checkers (and more), Ben Adams lets us ride shotgun for the entirety of the Fordwater Trophy race as he pilots a lovely little Turner-Ford MKII. Ben started in 9th and finished 7th. After a very good start, he spent the bulk of the race between the leading pack and the much larger group a ways behind. I’m glad that he chose to let us see the unfiltered video, rather than editing out the warmup lap and gridding up. It lets us really be a part of the whole experience. This is as close as most of us are likely to get to a seat for the Revival, and I send a hearty thanks to Ben for letting us tag along.