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Post by Carl on Oct 27, 2017 2:59:33 GMT
I've been watching an early endurance race at Road America for big bore Sports Racers and Grand Touring cars, their Under 2 Litre equivalents, and a bravely driven pair of factory Lotus Ford Cortinas in the lion's den.
The quality of teams and drivers is amazing: Three Cobras supervised by Carroll Shelby. Jim Hall and Roger Penske sharing Hall's Chaparral 2A and Penske's Grand Sport Corvette (allowed by the rules). This was Penske's final year of driving and a highlight is a lap in the Corvette with his running commentary. The great Walt Hansgen, Ken Miles, and Ronnie Bucknum, Peter Revson in a U2L Elva entered by his brother Douglas, David Hobbs and Chris Craft in one of the Lotus Ford Cortinas, and 22 year old John Morton sharing the class winning Cobra.
The remarkable field includes Jim Hall's and Eric Broadley's first designs, the Chaparral 1 and Lola Mk.1, Lotus 23Bs and Elevens, Cooper Monacos, Elvas, the very fast Lola Mk.6 GT, historic prototype for Ford's GT-40, and a beautiful and equally fast Ferrari 250 LM.
Judging by the nonchalant crowd, spectators clearly had no idea of the historic magnitude of the cars and drivers gathered there on that day.
The first episode will lead you into the second and third. Total time is about 24 minutes.
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Post by charleselan on Oct 27, 2017 8:41:57 GMT
Another incredible film of American racing at its very best. As you mention Carl the "historic magnitude" of the cars and drivers present was something to behold and one doubts that the majority of the crowd were aware that day.
Road America is a truly inspiring race venue and this footage clearly depicts racing as it was back then, so little protection, if any, from the natural terrain. It also goes to prove that one does not need huge amounts of aerodynamic downforce to make cars look fast.
So much to observe in this film. Did anyone notice the radio antenna on the Chaparral, for that is what i take it to be. The UK Ford Cortina Mk1 tail lights on the Mecom Lola! Also the "works" Cobra's running with American Race Spec cut down screens.
The "lightweight" Corvette was a real beast of a car and for slot car enthusiasts Revell/Monogram made a lovely version of it a few years ago in a special presentation box.
Fantastic, Carl, and many thanks for putting this up for us all to enjoy.
JC
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Post by Jamie on Oct 27, 2017 20:13:22 GMT
Fantastic stuff Carl! Just watched the first 10 minutes and will finish off later tonight. Mexico FP2 on at the moment so that has my attention for another 20 minutes đŸ˜€
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Post by Carl on Oct 27, 2017 20:29:50 GMT
John Charles, You're very welcome. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it! Early road courses with, as you say, so little protection. A dirt and gravel pit lane! You're absolutely right that there's so much to observe. And many unanswered questions: Was this David Hobbs' first venture across the Atlantic? Was it Roger Penske's last race? Seeing Ken Miles manhandle the Cobra is fantastic, something he did perhaps better than anyone because of his time spent developing it. -Carl Rene, Hope you enjoy the rest. I have a feeling you will.  -Carl |
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Post by Jamie on Oct 27, 2017 22:20:46 GMT
Hi Carl,
I've just noticed that you are published in the latest edition of MotorSport - congratulations.
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Post by Carl on Oct 27, 2017 22:43:02 GMT
Thank you Jamie! Must be the letter I wrote about the Can-Am McLaren. Cool
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Post by René on Oct 27, 2017 23:22:17 GMT
Carl, indeed the letter about the McLaren M6A. A very nice letter in your usual eloquent way!  |
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Post by René on Oct 27, 2017 23:29:34 GMT
Rene, Hope you enjoy the rest. I have a feeling you will. -Carl Carl, that is again an amazing recording. I have enjoyed this so much and wonderful to see Road America in its first original form. Fantastic cars and I love the Ferrari 250LM of which I have a slot car of exactly this race. But I never saw it in action. Great stuff. Gonna watch it again! |
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Post by Carl on Oct 28, 2017 0:07:18 GMT
Thank you for your kind words, Rene.
I knew you'd enjoy the results of the Road America 500! I gave you a subtle clue with the smiling face wearing sunglasses, although Enzo Ferrari seldom smiled, did he?
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Post by Carl on Oct 28, 2017 5:13:25 GMT
So much to observe in this film. Did anyone notice the radio antenna on the Chaparral, for that is what i take it to be. The UK Ford Cortina Mk1 tail lights on the Mecom Lola! Also the "works" Cobra's running with American Race Spec cut down screens.
Not until you mentioned it and I watched the entire film once more. Good eyes, John Charles. I wonder how they may have used radio transmission? Maybe to signal the driver with a simple light system to come in? And those do appear to be Cortina tail lights on the Lola. Well done! I am really impressed by the great job done by Richard Doane and Dick Thompson in placing the #59 McKee Mk.1 on the front row only 8/10ths of a second slower than Jim Hall in his Chaparral 2A. Dick Thompson was a Corvette specialist known as The Flying Dentist because of his day job. I believe this is the same car with a different number. Fast and very nice looking. Attachment Deleted |
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Post by charleselan on Oct 28, 2017 22:10:42 GMT
Carl,
I was equally surprised as you at the position of the McKee, and so close in pace to the Chaparral, however it did not appear to be so well paced against it in the race.
Very interesting that long antenna on the Chaparral, could well have been something to alert the driver to a pit stop etc. A lot of the specialists like Lola and Lotus used parts from production cars at that time; I can go around my Elan and note parts that come from many different main stream car manufacturers.
Such a shame Roger Penske gave up race driving as he was very good, as was of course Jim Hall and his partner Hap Sharp. I have seen quite a few films of that period on my YouTube "surfings" and find it quite amusing to see Hap wearing slacks and often a check shirt when driving. Really sad though that he entered into serious depression in later life and took his own life.
I wonder if that was Penske's last competitive race drive.
Attached is the photo I mentioned a few posts back of Jim Hall at Bridgehampton, a wonderfully scenic view and just look at those outrageous rear wheel arches on his Chaparral 2G.
Attachment Deleted
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Post by René on Oct 29, 2017 10:34:43 GMT
That is a stunning picture of the Chaparral, JC. The lack of billboards and/or guardrails makes it almost surreal. Simply beautiful.
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Post by René on Oct 29, 2017 10:39:43 GMT
Thank you for your kind words, Rene. I knew you'd enjoy the results of the Road America 500! I gave you a subtle clue with the smiling face wearing sunglasses, although Enzo Ferrari seldom smiled, did he? Enzo had his moments. They also say you could have a good laugh with him during dinner where he would tell dirty jokes. I guess he just told one to Gilles in the attached picture!  |
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Post by charleselan on Oct 29, 2017 12:05:38 GMT
René,
A race circuit in its purest sense. I could have spent all day at the vantage point this photographer had watching Can Am or Trans Am cars, just unbelievable seeing them hove into view around the corner nearest the ocean in the distance and then surging up towards me, and the sound of those big V8's working overtime, absolute bliss.
JC
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Post by mikael on Oct 29, 2017 13:05:15 GMT
Thank you Carl. Amazing - and amazingly beautiful - machinery! as well as spectacular racing.
From a technical point of view, the mounting of the wing on the Chaparral, on those long, slender struts, demonstrates in a spectacular way that the induced drag really is very low - otherwise those struts would have bent backwards, as if they had been made of rubber. (I find this so fascinating: that a wing profile gives you a very large lift (on an airplane) or a very large downforce (on a racing car) at the modest cost of just a little induced drag. It (the wing) is probably the most amazing technical discovery ever. (Sorry for over-using the word "amazing" and "spectacular" -- but I cannot think of more appropriate words in the present context.)
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