[TomSlick]

I've only been to races in Melbourne, Abu Dhabi and Singapore. Monza is my dream.

That is some fine traveling, Mcb. How was it getting around in Abu Dhabi and Singapore?

[PARAM]

Patrick Depailler's car. Pic taken about 2015 at Laguna Seca for the historic car races.
If you guys are ever in the mood for the oldster cars on track driven with somewhat modest (as opposed to extreme) prejudice, the historics are fun.

That was one sweet car!!!! I used to enjoy the vintage car races on Saturday before the GP but they didn't race anything like that one!!! They had a Can-Am Shadow showdown one year.

Melbourne, Abu Dhabi and Singapore. Monza is my dream.

That is some fine traveling!!! I always wanted to see Monaco, Zandvort and Spa. My older brother followed F1 in Europe IIRC 1971. Said it was great. That's who got me into F1.

The Bog...yeah, heard a few stories. Big mud puddle, burning old cars...
lol, breaks my heart...restore 'em, don't crush 'em...er...uh...burn 'em.

They burned a bus there in 1974. A brand new Challenger too. The guy faked like he was going to drive it into the Bog and got stuck in the mud. In 1980 they had NY State Police with dogs. And still people tried to stir it up in the Bog. It's not why they stopped racing there though but it should have been.

[TomSlick]

That was one sweet car!!!! I used to enjoy the vintage car races on Saturday before the GP but they didn't race anything like that one!!! They had a Can-Am Shadow showdown one year.

That is some fine traveling!!! I always wanted to see Monaco, Zandvort and Spa. My older brother followed F1 in Europe IIRC 1971. Said it was great. That's who got me into F1.

They burned a bus there in 1974. A brand new Challenger too. The guy faked like he was going to drive it into the Bog and got stuck in the mud. In 1980 they had NY State Police with dogs. And still people tried to stir it up in the Bog. It's not why they stopped racing there though but it should have been.

In the early 70s, I was at an IMSA event and one of the support races was a 4 car showdown between 2 of the current UOP Shadow Can-Am cars versus 2 of the current UOP Shadow Formula 1 cars. Pretty good stuff.

Always had a desire to see the original layout of the Nurburgring (The Ring). Hard to imagine they let those cars get airborne on that hump. I have two posters of BMWs getting airborne. I've seen footage from the 60s of Formula 1 cars flying over that little hill. Ridiculous.

Wow, that Challenger could have been worth a lot of dough today. Those old pony cars do real well in today's auctions like at Barrett-Jackson.

As for historic racing in general, the turnout here at Laguna Seca is pretty cool. Trans-Am, Can-Am, Formula 1, Formula 5000, Formula Ford and all the SCCA production classes (Corvettes, Mustangs, Camaros...right on down to the Alfas, Triumphs, Spitfires and Sprites). Cars dating back to 1900 are included.

[PARAM]

I owned 2 sports cars in my life. A 1959 MGA and a 1972 TR-6. The MGA was a great touring car but not as fast as the TR. And the Triumph was fast but it rattled itself apart. British engineering!! I ended up getting a 1973 for parts though I had plenty of the extras already. A California hardtop, the rag top, the full toneau cover and a luggage rack on the trunk. Basically what I took off of the parts car was the wiring harness (which I used), wire wheels, the spare gauges, I switched trannys and kept the rear lever shocks and both carbs. Used to rebuild them and then when the others fouled, I'd switch them out and rebuild those. It was fun but a lot work. But man could that sucker fly!! Now I just own a truck.

This conversation got me nostalgic so I got out the programs from the Gran Prix's I attended and my god, the first year they listed the vintage cars. 1954 F1 Ferrari (4500 cc), 1953 Ferrari 250MM, 1955 Maserati 300S, 1956 Mercedes 300SL, 1927 Bugatti Monoposto, etc. etc. The next years programs didn't list the cars, mainly because they had over 120 of them. A 1959 Cooper Monaco won at Laguna Seca that year (1974). A 59 Maserati T60. A 31 Bugatti. They were fun to watch.

Then when I got to the 1980 program I realized the anomaly that the year was at the Glen. In that GP there were 3 former GP Champions. Emerson Fittipaldi (twice), Mario Andretti (78) and Jody Scheckter (79). Six future F1 Champions were also in the race. Alan Jones (winner that year), Keke Rosberg who would win for the same team (Saudi Williams). Nelson Piquet who would win 3. Nigel Mansell and featured in a spread about new, young drivers in the back of the program was future 4 time Champ Alain Prost, along with Elio DeAngelis, Rene Arnoux, Jan Lammers, Derek Daly and Marc Surer. I wonder if that program is worth anything?

[TomSlick]

I owned 2 sports cars in my life. A 1959 MGA and a 1972 TR-6. Now I just own a truck.

Nice. '68 Fiat 124 Spider, '78 Porsche 930 and '85 Honda CRX Si.

This conversation got me nostalgic so I got out the programs from the Gran Prix's I attended and my god, the first year they listed the vintage cars. 1954 F1 Ferrari (4500 cc), 1953 Ferrari 250MM, 1955 Maserati 300S, 1956 Mercedes 300SL, 1927 Bugatti Monoposto, etc. etc. The next years programs didn't list the cars, mainly because they had over 120 of them. A 1959 Cooper Monaco won at Laguna Seca that year (1974). A 59 Maserati T60. A 31 Bugatti. They were fun to watch.

The unique appearance of those old cars is what I enjoy the most. Nowadays cars just seem a little too similar for my tastes.

Then when I got to the 1980 program I realized the anomaly that the year was at the Glen. In that GP there were 3 former GP Champions. Emerson Fittipaldi (twice), Mario Andretti (78) and Jody Scheckter (79). Six future F1 Champions were also in the race. Alan Jones (winner that year), Keke Rosberg who would win for the same team (Saudi Williams). Nelson Piquet who would win 3. Nigel Mansell and featured in a spread about new, young drivers in the back of the program was future 4 time Champ Alain Prost, along with Elio DeAngelis, Rene Arnoux, Jan Lammers, Derek Daly and Marc Surer. I wonder if that program is worth anything?

Those are some great name droppings there in that paragraph.

Favorite auto racing movie?

[PARAM]

Favorite auto racing movie?

GranPrix with Jim Rockford
Bobby Deerfield was good too

Here's a good list. I'd still put GranPrix #1. Senna, LeMans would be right up there.

[TomSlick]

I realize this is a Formula 1 thread...but...have you ever taken in any sprint car races? Out here we have Super Modifieds (same cars as the Outlaws series). San Jose Speedway was a high banked paved track. Best entertainment on a Saturday night one can have. Later, the track was obliterated for housing (sigh). Raceway was moved a few miles to the fairgrounds where the track became a dirt track. Still great racing, but that track was destroyed for more housing. Now one must travel about 60 miles to the nearest Super Modified track.

[TomSlick]

GranPrix with Jim Rockford

Yeah, the Rockford Files rocked. That gold Firebird flying around LA.

Best opening movie sequence starts just as credits finish and the camera pans back from inside an exhaust pipe...engines revving. Then some outstanding on board camera work at Monaco in the beginning of the Grand Prix movie.

[PARAM]

I realize this is a Formula 1 thread...

It's a racing thread too.

Never attended a modified race. Well that I can remember. My grandparents lived on a street that dead ended at Trenton Speedway. My older brothers used to climb a tree to see the action. I got to tag along a time or two.

I went to the 1988 Daytona 500. My wife was 8 and 3/4 months along with our 3rd. She stayed home. My brothers and I went. Always a lover of F1, the most memorable thing was on the opening lap when they all hit the line (which is where our seats were...my sister was dating a sports writer from the Daytona Beach Journal ) the vibrations lift you off your seat!!

Having said that, the sound of an 1970's era F1 car screaming by the camp site for that first practice lap on Friday morning woke me right out of an alcohol induced deep sleep!!!! Grab a butt, grab the camera and get moving. I swear someday I'm going to have those slides converted to digital.

[Horny Mcbae]

That is some fine traveling, Mcb. How was it getting around in Abu Dhabi and Singapore?

No issues at all. We stayed in Dubai and took a taxi to Abu Dhabi (2 hours, great freeway). Race weekend was good. The track is in the middle of nowhere so not much to do outside the track but I assume that is how it is with most tracks in Europe apart from Monaco or these new street tracks. Benefit of attending a race weekend in Abu Dhabi you get to go to Ferrari World which is really close. Wonderful place. Amazing roller coaster which is the fastest in the world or at least was when I went. And lots of historical cars in their museum. It's the first time I ever saw a Daytona in the flesh. Mesmerizing.

Singapore was awesome. Their public transport system is amazing. No issues at all travelling around. The heat and humidity tho………. god damn.