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Post by charleselan on Nov 3, 2017 19:14:30 GMT
Not an onboard but clips of cars from the 1958 GP at various points on the circuit. I think it conveys the feel of how Spa was in its original format made even more so by the eloquent commentary by the great Raymond Baxter, for us guys of a certain age the man!
In this clip there is that wonderful bit on the Masta Straight of Tony Brooks in the Vanwall that sends shivers up my spine every time I see it as the sound is incredible even if it is a 2,5 litre "4". Also the imagery of the Masta Kink is frightening, just imagine Chris Amon taking that flat in 1970............
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Post by René on Nov 4, 2017 11:31:23 GMT
That is wonderful and what a challenge that must have been!
I still have vivid memories from childhood sitting on the backseat of my dad's car on a sunday afternoon trip driving through the Ardennes area. Several parts of the old track were still recognizeable then (in the 70's) by old signs and billboards. I remember fantasising how it must have been to race on those roads.
A nice addition to your video is this clip:
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Post by Carl on Nov 4, 2017 21:18:44 GMT
John Charles,
Wonderful sights and sounds of that most formidable of circuits. I'm nervous even to imagine a 132 mph average lap speed.
Incidentally, I have joined you in being sent down into junior status without explanation. Some administrators become crazed with power and I plan to confess.
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Post by Carl on Nov 4, 2017 21:34:20 GMT
Rene, We all share a justifiable fascination with the old Spa-Francorchamps circuit. What a fascinating tour (with cool soundtrack) and your childhood memory of your own excursion is a wonderful experience, one to be envied! Is that Mike Hawthorn in the Ferrari near the end? About those ominous skid marks at the exit of the Masta kink: I confess  Best regards, Carl |
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Post by charleselan on Nov 4, 2017 21:49:20 GMT
Brilliant bit of film René, which if I am not very much mistaken (quote from a well known veteran commentator) was from the John Tate Collection. He was a UK movie maker that followed the racing in Europe from about 1957 through to the early/mid '60's. His son then produced a set of videos/DVD's which are still available.
I believe that it it in the full length version of the film you have attached that there is the amazing sequence of Tony Brooks in his winning Vanwall flat out on the Masta Straight. I am still totally in awe of the "Kink", which isn't a kink but and "S" Bend!!!
Jim Clark actually said that he was often frightened or scared at Spa, and yet he produced performances there that defy belief.
In the film towards the end as they approach Blanchimont what the blazes is the guy in the VW Beetle doing on the wrong side of the road!
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Post by Carl on Nov 4, 2017 22:00:33 GMT
The guy in the vintage Beetle may be Max Verstappen's grandfather.
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Post by René on Nov 5, 2017 0:22:13 GMT
Incidentally, I have joined you in being sent down into junior status without explanation. Carl, your forum status is directly linked to your number of posts. The more posts, the more status which is of course very important!  I do have the power though to change the status names as these 'new', 'junior', etc. names are the default setting of this forum program. I played with the idea to change it to driver's names or race teams. But that would be virtually impossible because we would have to decide on a list of greatness! Who would come after Jim Clark? And if we decided on a name even greater than Clark, I am sure JC would stop posting to not lose his Clark status!  Any suggestions are welcome though!!  |
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Post by René on Nov 5, 2017 0:26:17 GMT
The guy in the vintage Beetle may be Max Verstappen's grandfather.  You make me laugh Carl! |
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Post by René on Nov 5, 2017 0:29:24 GMT
. In the film towards the end as they approach Blanchimont what the blazes is the guy in the VW Beetle doing on the wrong side of the road! It looks like he is trying to follow the racing line!  But I think Carl gave the answer... |
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Post by Carl on Nov 5, 2017 0:56:10 GMT
Incidentally, I have joined you in being sent down into junior status without explanation. Carl, your forum status is directly linked to your number of posts. Rene, I understood that soon after a few tense moments several days ago considering how John Charles may have misbehaved, which of course he did not at all and instead excelled, which I mischievously chose to ignore. It's a good system and it encourages comment. There's no reason to change this wonderful forum you've created. Best regards, Carl |
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Post by Carl on Nov 5, 2017 4:37:02 GMT
Jim Clark actually said that he was often frightened or scared at Spa, and yet he produced performances there that defy belief.
Absolutely right, John Charles. He detested the danger of Spa yet won the Belgian Grand Prix four times in a row! That remarkable conundrum serves as a measure both of his great character and incomparable skills. |
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Post by chrisb on Nov 5, 2017 8:20:20 GMT
Jimmy's first experience of Spa really influenced how he felt about the awesome place, in 1958 he was in the Border Reivers D type when Masten Gregory and Archie Scott-Brown went past him - only for later on Archie to crash and subsequently perish, bearing in mind as they were both Scots they had been talking beforehand, then of course 1960 and that, what must have been a harrowing experience of Chris Bristow's and Alan Stacey's deaths - Alan being his team mate and Stirling having a bad accident in practice, if memory serves I think someone else had a bad accident in practice as well? but memory is vague, but then, 1963 and 1965, showed the absolute genius of the driver, especially when you think in 1965 he was driving one-handed as the gear lever kept popping out of gear, but for me and ok he had the best car but practice in the 1967 GP was just so mind-boggling over 3 seconds quicker than Dan but nearly 5 seconds quicker than Graham...
what I love about the 1958 race was the sound, we talk of the new engines but, when you listen to the 1958 cars -
incidentally JC - Raymond Baxter will always be my favourite commentator, an astonishing chap and I will never forget his famous words at the 1967 Italian GP, although as a ps Murray, will always hold my affection, admiration and respect, but Raymond was brilliant
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Post by charleselan on Nov 5, 2017 11:41:55 GMT
The guy in the vintage Beetle may be Max Verstappen's grandfather.
Also you are correct in believing that to be Mike Hawthorne in his Dino 246, a glorious machine with an engine note of a true "V6".
Chris,
Great words about Spa in the past and Jimmy's dislike of the place, following what he had witnessed in his formative years. I think that the race in 1958 when he drove the Border Reivers "D" Type was his ever race outside of the UK, some introduction...........
The other big accident involved Henry Taylor when he crashed his new Lotus 18 in practice and suffered some serious injuries. I do recall that he actually began legal proceedings against Colin Chapman after that, something to do with the car being unfit for purpose. That had to be one of the darkest days in GP racing.
Raymond Baxter was by far the best commentator we have had in the English spoken language and so suited to the 1950/60's. Murray became an icon in his old age, and is a lovely chap, but when he was the commentator on the BBC Grandstand Winter Scramble series he used to drive me mad as he made so many mistakes identifying riders. |
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Post by Carl on Nov 5, 2017 20:59:28 GMT
I still have vivid memories from childhood sitting on the backseat of my dad's car on a sunday afternoon trip driving through the Ardennes area. Several parts of the old track were still recognizeable then (in the 70's) by old signs and billboards. I remember fantasising how it must have been to race on those roads. Rene, I am about to enjoy the tour of the old course again, wonderful because time is allowed to study each of the iconic corners and the landscape and buildings trackside. It must remind you of your childhood drive through the Ardennes with your father and reminds me that one day I want to have that same experience. - Carl |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2018 8:45:32 GMT
Forty years distance.   |
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You make me laugh Carl!
But I think Carl gave the answer...
