126 replies to this topic

[dank]

Photos available on google images of this car along with photos of a white F40

And a yellow one...

[jtremlett]

...But unrelated to this, I realised I don't really enjoy the GP Masters series, though it's probably a hoot to take part in. For me, the '70s Grand Prix stars were the drivers, not the cars - and I just can't get excited about a Tyrrell without Stewart or Cevert on board, a Hesketh without Hunt, a Surtees without Hailwood, and so on, however immaculately presented the cars are. Whereas with big spiorts cars from that era, the cars were the stars for me, whoever was driving - which is why I still enjoy watching them race, even at 8/10s. Take no notice, just my musings on the way home.

You are not alone although I cannot really put my finger on why I think that way too.

Out of interest (we were discussing this last night, down at 't pub) did Ferrari offer the F40 in any colour except red (or rosso corsa or whatever it is)?

In theory all F40s were supplied new in red and all cars in other colours are repaints. There is some suggestion (unconfirmed) that a couple of very late cars were supplied new to Japan in yellow.

Jonathan

[dank]

You are not alone although I cannot really put my finger on why I think that way too.

Really? I thought Sunday's race was a corker with Bill Coombs and Steve Hartley duking it out at the front, while Michael Lyons came from 23rd to join their little scrap.

[LotusElise]

I almost always enjoy GP Masters, although I found the Peter Gethin Trophy more exciting this year.

[arttidesco]

I am probably perverse or nostalgic, but I love seeing the historic single seaters F1 to FF and tin tops Group C to under 2 litres not to mention the open sports classes as well, what ever age and would still be really happy if they were all driven at Judy Lyons pace.

I can't say it was ever thus, but ever since I went to Talladega in 2009, I'd rather be at a race track, hill climb, sprint, production car trial, rally, C d'E or any other motoring event any day of the week than anywhere else be it for contemporary or historic vehicles. It goes without saying I'd rather be behind the wheel but given that neither my driving talents nor my efforts at working hard have given me the necessary rewards for that to happen I still take pleasure from getting up at the crack of dawn to get to whatever track before the action starts and being one of the last to leave when I am certain the action is all over. I guess I have the bug and it has a tightening grip on me.

[eldridge]

Can anyone tell me what happened to the Ure/Wigley Cooper Bristol in the Woodcote Trophy please?

[Suzy]

Just to bore you all witless here are my efforts from last weekend: http://www.flickr.co...57630761671522/

I would love to know more about the gorgeous yellow Ferrari 250 SWB that Jackie Oliver was driving. I'd spoken to the owner at the Media Day and he told me that he'd acquired it from an American gentleman who had actually kept the car in his apartment living room with spotlights trained upon it to show it off to everybody!

I have to say that it is one of the most beautiful cars I've ever seen. I don't know anything about how many were made etc. I do know that the owner let me sit in it at the Media Day (and left the keys in the ignition) and I didn't want to get out of it again. I was most upset when Jackie Oliver appeared and wanted it back.

[Gary C]

A fleet of F40's. Does absolutely nothing for me.

[Alan Cox]

I would love to know more about the gorgeous yellow Ferrari 250 SWB that Jackie Oliver was driving.

I seem to recall reading somewhere earlier this year that it had had a hillclimb career in period, before making its race debut at this year's Donington's Historic Festival. Sorry, but don't know its chassis number. I'm sure someone here will know.

[arttidesco]

I seem to recall reading somewhere earlier this year that it had had a hillclimb career in period, before making its race debut at this year's Donington's Historic Festival. Sorry, but don't know its chassis number. I'm sure someone here will know.

Barchetta indicates the #60 SWB driven by Oliver as chassis 1953GT no known race history up to '07 but has seen plenty of trading action being traded for an F1 Turbo Ferrari and a 333SP in it's time.

Edited by arttidesco, 26 July 2012 - 22:37.

[Lee Nicolle]

Pick a car, any car, so long as it's in red.

That is the holding yard at Ferrari when they were making those things?

[Lee Nicolle]

You are not alone although I cannot really put my finger on why I think that way too.

In theory all F40s were supplied new in red and all cars in other colours are repaints. There is some suggestion (unconfirmed) that a couple of very late cars were supplied new to Japan in yellow.

Jonathan

I think the one the Japanese dentist killed an official in the Northern Territory a few years back was yellow.

[Catalina Park]

I think the one the Japanese dentist killed an official in the Northern Territory a few years back was yellow.

No Lee, the one that killed my friend Keith Pritchard and his mate Tim Linklater was red.

[edited to the respond to correct person! oops!]

Edited by Catalina Park, 28 July 2012 - 05:18.

[GMACKIE]

No Doug, the one that killed my friend Keith Pritchard and his mate Tim Linklater was red.

That was awful.

[Ray Bell]

The worst disaster in Australian motor sport ever, probably...

But it scarcely raise a ripple, strangely enough.

[hipperson]

If I am not mistaken The Sultan of Brunei had 6 X RHD Special Order F40s in white.

Plenty about his F40s on Google. The greedy chappy has 3500 cars apparently

Here is one

http://www.flickr.co...N03/4833358131/

[geordiecraig101]

A bit late but i thought i would add my bit. After going to last years classic, i put this on my "to-do" list for this year, and was not disapionted. There were a few areas were things could be improved (busses being the main one) but all in all it was a great day with sum great racing, the Gethin Trophy being the stand out for me. After have been there for the GP weekend and seen how bad sum areas of the circuit were from all the rain, it was great to see all the work that was done in getting the venue ready for the classic.

Managed to get a few vids up on youtube, so pop over have a look n c waht u think.

http://www.youtube.c...geordiecraig101

[Giraffe]

There were a few areas were things could be improved (busses being the main one)

I was lucky enough to have alternative transportation available to me over the course of the weekend, but the buses remained a major issue for spectators attempting to travel between the International Paddock / Wing ane elsewhere. The old Routemasters were slow, cumbersome and time consuming to load and unload. At one point on the Sunday I was sat with Derek Wooten (of Vanwall) at the Wing where he was awaiting the arrival of his family, and from joining the queue at the Village to arriving to meet Derek, it took them more than one hour.

Edited by Giraffe, 30 July 2012 - 19:07.

[john aston]

THe bus crews were all lovely but the routes were far from perfect. I currently have difficulty in walking very far and the walk from the drop off point to the old pits was a right bloody struggle.The presence of so many rayban'd young men poncing around in BMW estates marked VIP transport grated massively as typically they were empty- the BMWs that is.. I do not intend to go the next Classic in disabled mode but my experience certainly gave me an insight into the sheer bloody frustration which comes from mobility problems.

On a different but HSCC related topic I hope some TNFers will be attending the excellent Croft Nostalgia meeeting this weekend- many of same cars and drivers as at the Classic.

Edited by john aston, 31 July 2012 - 06:41.

[Giraffe]

TThe presence of so many rayban'd young men poncing around in BMW estates marked VIP transport grated massively as typically they were empty- the BMWs that is.

The BMWs were there on standby for team personnel & drivers who needed to travel between the two paddocks as they were not allowed to use their own vehicles. They were there as a solution to critisism from entrants last year and the "Rayban'd young men" were almost exclusively Silverstone instructors, my regular driver being Martin Angle, son of Hugh Angle who often shares his dad's Chevron B16 with him.

[john aston]

Ok - but standing in the pi**ng rain waiting for 30 minutes for a bus whilst watching a procession of said VIP transport whilst in a lot of discomfort did not put me in the sunniest of moods. Can you get me one next year please ? And I wont be rude about their shades...

[Giraffe]

I used the Routemasters to visit "AA World" on the Friday; it was reminicent of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow.......

Edited by Giraffe, 31 July 2012 - 16:00.

[mfd]

it was reminicent of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow.......

Did they have Routemasters as well? :

[arttidesco]

Did they have Routemasters as well? :

How else would Napoleon have found his way back to Paris from Moscow ?

[Peter Horsman]

Those empty BMWs were not obviously for team personnel and drivers - we had to use the white minibuses which were generally OK. The BMWs were apparently for VIPs and the like. I suspect much like the Olympics, where the officials and their hangers-on are treated much better than competitors. Thought the Classic had improved since last year, but the buses did take an age to load/unload and the queues will no doubt have put some people off from attending next year.

[Giraffe]

Those empty BMWs were not obviously for team personnel and drivers - we had to use the white minibuses which were generally OK. The BMWs were apparently for VIPs and the like. I suspect much like the Olympics, where the officials and their hangers-on are treated much better than competitors. Thought the Classic had improved since last year, but the buses did take an age to load/unload and the queues will no doubt have put some people off from attending next year.

The BMWs were on call and only responded to instructions by radio from HQ, but Martin told me they were sat around doing very little for long periods. The key was to pal one up....

[Odseybod]

... but the buses did take an age to load/unload and the queues will no doubt have put some people off from attending next year.

Things rather ground to a halt on the Sunday afternoon, when one bus (sorry, should know the type/model number/operating company) got a wheel stuck in a muddy hole in the terminus opposite the big AA place and everything stacked up behind it - passenger pushing-power eventually saved the day. Some sort of signiage showing where the buses hoped to be heading for might have been helpful (if there was any, I missed it) but the 'clippies' seemed very pleasant once you did get on board, if a little unsure of their actual destination.

Edited by Odseybod, 01 August 2012 - 09:42.