Race Cars Used To Be So Very Cool

[PonoBill]

We're headed into the Vintage Car racing season, so I'm starting to get all worked up about my other hobby. This link was posted to a group I belong to: Friends of Triumph (FOT), a bunch of weirdos that race Triumph and Triumph-powered cars. It's got a zillion very cool old photos of race cars. If you're an addict, beware, this will cost you an hour.

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=21791.0

One of the photos really surprised me--a shot of Graham Hill passing into the tunnel at Monaco. You may wonder how I know that. I own an oil painting that hangs in my office in Hood River based on the photo. I didn't know the photo existed until I saw it here. I've always thought the rollbar in the photo was inaccurately painted--too skinny and too low, it would never pass tech. Now I wonder if it is skinny enough.

[Kaihoe]

Bill,

Cool pic.

The cars of that era sounded great to not like the high revving stuff of today. Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame owned v16 BRM and recorded it going round Donnigton Park some of the best audio I've ever heard

[JeanG]

Those dudes had balls of steel.

[PonoBill]

Bill,

Cool pic.

The cars of that era sounded great to not like the high revving stuff of today. Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame owned v16 BRM and recorded it going round Donnigton Park some of the best audio I've ever heard

I think you're thinking of Nick Mason, the drummer. Yeah, I have the CD he recorded of a bunch of different cars. Great stuff, though my wife is not as enthusiastic about me playing it turned up to 11 as I am. One of those things I have to wait to be alone to enjoy.

Oops, nope, you're right, Waters does (or did) own a BRM. I didn't know Pink Floyd spawned two car crazies. Learn something new every day. Nick Mason also owns a 1954 BRM Type 30 and it's on the CD he recorded called "Into The Red" though I doubt they every brought a type 30 to the redline. The engine was as reliable as a rabbit's romance. Even Mason can't afford to keep it running.

[pdxmike]

Your speakers go up to 11?!?!

[PonoBill]

Of course--I bought my amplifiers from the Spinal Tap online store.

[PonoBill]

Turn your speakers to 11 for this and women you don't even know will come into your house from off the street and yell "TURN THAT DOWN!!!"

Apparently they have a hearing range like dogs.

[surf4food]

Do you ever come to San Diego and race in this vintage car event?

http://www.fleetweeksandiego.org/tickets.html#speedweek

[PonoBill]

Yup, I did Coronado a couple of years ago. Had a nice time, but airport circuits are kind of unexciting, though the one they laid out had some interesting challenges. Stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado --that was fun, paddled every morning and took a few hops to Dogpatch. I think the BOP was the week after that year. Pretty handy.

Peyote did well, as always. It's a remarkable car, punches well past it's weight, always.

[surf4food]

Nice!!  It's a fun event and yeah there's lots of good places to paddle in the area.  Cap it off with some good beer at Coronado Brewing Co.

[stoneaxe]

Time for another All Aluminum Tour.....

[Weasels wake]

And they don't crash like they used to, wiping out dozens of spectators.

But don't get me wrong, I'm a serious race fan!

[PonoBill]

You might find this post and video interesting. http://www.xgeez.com/2011/03/we-didnt-all-make-it-to-here/  and a great choice of music

[SUPCHLU]

Hmmm, sewing machines sound pretty cool, but nothing beats the sound (or smells) of a 8000hp fueler.....


....especially when they go from alcohol to nitro at the :27 mark.

Caution:  The throttle "burp" at 1:01 could blow your speakers if they're turned up to 11.

[PonoBill]

Surprising they ran it that long. Most of the warmups I've been around lasted just long enough to transition to nitro and back to alky.