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For you who are drivers, how did you get started?


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#1 63Corvette

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Posted 29 July 2015 - 16:53

I had a friend who had a Porsche which impressed me. So I saved my pennys when overseas with the USAF and bought a Porsche when i returned. I started flagging SCCA races with my roommates when I was in college, and eventually did some autocross when I could (finally) afford it. I had no money, so couldn't afford to race cars until I was 30 years old. I bought a 1969 L88 Corvette and went racing with IMSA, mostly because no one told me, and I didn't realize, that I couldn't. I would love to hear the stories of others.......Rob Walker: "Well, by the time I was 21 years old, I had owned 21 cars........"   ;)



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#2 arttidesco

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Posted 29 July 2015 - 17:25

20 years after becoming enthralled with the sport and five years after first helping a friend out polishing the windscreen of his racing production saloon, a change in my domestic circumstances landed me with a large sum of money from the sale of my half of a property, rather than do the wise thing and invest in another property I blew the lot racing a 2CV for a year.

 

Best fun I ever had with my clothes on ;-)



#3 Charlieman

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Posted 29 July 2015 - 17:42

Honesty is the best policy.



#4 alansart

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Posted 29 July 2015 - 18:20

My parents (who never drove a car) gave me a Scalextric in 1964 as a Christmas present.

 

I raced slot cars until about 1972.

 

Started marshalling in 1971.

 

Brought a F750 in 1979 and then raced FF1600 from 1982 until 1994.

 

I met my lovely wife at Donington in 1982.

 

If my parents had brought me a different present in 1964 my life would probably be totally different  :)



#5 wolf sun

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Posted 29 July 2015 - 18:34

Great topic 'Vette - looking forward to some entertaining stories!

 

Also, when I started a similar topic years ago on 10/10ths another forum, people were surprisingly/annoyingly coy, so please give us the warts and all!!!



#6 Nick Savage

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Posted 29 July 2015 - 19:48

I always said to myself  -  I'll try my hand at racing historics when I have some cash and some time (probably on retirement). Then at age 40 I had a close call and thought "Hold on, I could get run down by a tram one day and I would never have tried racing".

 

Coincidentally, a mate asked me to look at an unrestored 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint coupe for sale at a workshop, on his behalf. Coincidental with this, I got made redundant, in 1988. My wife fondly thought that I would eke out the redundancy pay-off to feed her, our young son and the mortgage until someone was stupid enough to offer me a job.

 

Instead, when my mate declared that he had lost interest in the Alfa, I bought it. Had it race-prepared, did a couple of track days at Goodwood (pre-makeover) and went racing in 1991 with the Historic Sports Car Club in their Road Sports series.

 

So here I am twenty-five seasons and six racing cars (mainly Alfas) later...  in the intervening time I have raced at 13 UK tracks and ten European tracks including Nurburgring Nordschleife; Spa; Monza; Dijon; and Charade amongst others   -  places previously only known to me through the electrically colourful writing of DSJ. I have met and made some great friends. I have met and raced against the genuinely talented and the totally hopeless; some real sh*ts and luckily rather more good eggs; and a load of people I learned from.

 

I drive my racecar to and (hopefully) from the track. I am a slow and I hope safe amateur amongst amateurs. Now I am retired (well, nearly, still freelancing to pay for the racing) and for the last 3 years I have been racing a '69 Chevrolet Camaro back where I started, in the Road Sports in HSCC.

 

Eventually the vets and the medical will catch up with me and when they do and I have to give up  -  well, I have amassed some astounding memories...

Nick



#7 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 29 July 2015 - 23:51

I was literally a babe in arms attending speedway with my parents. My father had been a very good endurance trials rider and knew many of the competitors in speedway. Some of whom visited our home in that period.

As my father lost interest I was old enough to go with my mates and was very regular at our local speedway. Rowley Pk, Adelaide.

I never attended a circuit meeting until about 71 when I was old enough to drive. My first circuit meet was Mallala for a Australian Touring Car round. Moffatts Mustang, Beecheys HT etc. Plus wall to wall FJs. That was my only visit to Mallala before it closed with the advent of AIR.

 

Meanwhile we had a stockcar track in our bottom paddock, that started with me thrashing around the paddocks in my first car a worn out Vanguard ute. My father, a sand and metal and small earthmoving contractor pushed out an oval track, 300m or so, with the front end loader on a reclaimed swamp so the top was all fairly good clean fill. An earth wall was built where required. We had up to about 20 cars turn up on Sundays. The racing was largely unregulated but was by nature speedway rules and regs. Inevitably that folded because of neighbours as well as an errant right rear that got over the fence and hit a parked car.

By that time I was driving and some country [more country!!] boys about 20 miles away had started a dirt circuit type track on the top of a mountain. The track was flat but the drive to get there sure was not!

 

I crewed for a local speedway sedan competitor, probably 69-73 and when he started to find other  [cheaper] interests [larger family] he also got involved in Austin 7 club SA events. Mud Sprints primarily and I started to do them with the car I had been running in the dirt circuit events. I also started with club hillclimbs and circuit sprints too. By that time the 'equipment' had upgraded to a HR Holden. 

With the advent of Rallycross in SA after doing a few club sprints there I got a CAMS liscence and started competing in 77. Cumulating in becoming State Champion [series] in 1980. Rallycross by then had died. Bothe here and in NSW too [Catalina]



#8 Ray Bell

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Posted 30 July 2015 - 00:27

My wife, probably when still my girlfriend, said I couldn't race until we had kids...

I had been flag-marshalling and travelling interstate to races almost every week for a few years and always harboured the idea that I would one day race. Musing over building a Sports Sedan Simca with Holden 179 engine and VW transmission was only musing, as was looking at Borgward Hansa 1100 flat fours in wrecking yards and thinking I could create a little ANF2 car around them. Anyway, we still hadn't had kids.

My son was born in June 1972 and about seven months later I took out a 'home improvement' loan that included enough to buy a Simmons Hustler and build a Renault 16TS engine to make it go better.

The class for 1600cc Clubmans was on the way out as 1300s became quicker, but we still had a state Club-conducted series for the 1600s and I won once and was second once. Without ever winning a race - or even my class. I ran the car at Warwick Farm, Amaroo Park, Oran Park, Hume Weir, Winton and Phillip Island in the time I had it. My daughter had come along in that time too.

Figuring it was a bit out of date with its crossover swing axles, I succumbed to an offer to sell it and bought another chassis that had never been proven. My efforts to get that on the track were fruitless and I sold it off. Hard financial times had hit with a bad judgement in property selling and buying and all the racing I did after that was with the kind assistance of Malcolm Smith, who had a little bank account with which he could toy with a few cars.

So I drove his (ex-John Goss) Tornado Ford at a couple of meetings and Richard Stiegler let he have a run in a Nota Sportsman at an Amaroo.

These days I just plan to one day build up an old-style Australian Special, a 2-seater racing car which might be roadable with lights and guards as well, power from a 230ci Chrysler flathead 6, suspension will be Ford transverse leaf (1940-48 stuff with hydraulic brakes) and I'll have a 4-speed box out of a 25hp Vauxhall.

One day...




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Edited by Ray Bell, 30 July 2015 - 01:01.


#9 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 30 July 2015 - 00:38

Grrr, the text froze!

 

So I started playing circuit racing in 82 with my Rallycross Holden as a Sports Sedan. Which as everyone knows costs too much!!  I quit in 2000 and was by then racing a 6 litre XU1 which was a top10 car nationally. And was costing more than I should have been spending! In that period I also raced and owned a Torana Club car that I still have as well as one of the first HQs ever built in SA. I have driven in private practice a Formula Vee, a Formula Ford, A GpN EH and done some test and development stuff in a few other cars too

 

Meanwhile I had bought [in 93] a classic speedway Supermodified as ran at Rowley Pk in 75-76. Until I quit road racing it was just serious fun though we all got a lot faster and were putting on very 'spirited demonstrations' I ran these events up until 12 or so, though the last couple of years were only occasional. I still have that car [For Sale] so may still do some more events. it is ready to run with usual basic prep.

 

About 09 after not even attending a road race meet for a few years I went to Mallala for a Sports Sedan round and for some reason thought doing a hillclimb  the following weekend would be a good idea. After finding that my existing Torana 'Club Car' needed more work than I thought I ran a road car. And was on the pace still!

At that time a 351 Falcon IP car was available which I bought with a broken engine. Budget to get it on the track was about 6 grand and I spent 10!  But the car was far better than it had been. And for most people it would have been closer to 20k. Again, I was wheel dealing parts to get what I really wanted and still am! The way I have always had to go racing. Sell the bits that too me are obsolete and buy better stuff, sometimes obsolete stuff from others higher up the food chain! eg ex Nascar tilton clutch and sell the road car twin plate. Or ex Touring car brake rotors and callipers as they move to bigger and better!

I am sporadically still running Sprints and hillclimbs in both the [For Sale] Torana and the Falcon. And have run road cars too!

 

In the later 70s I was semi regular at Drag 'Street Meets' where I always ran a variety of effectively Used Cars. Semi serious was low 15 sec Monaros and fun was a high 18 sec EH Holden wagon purchased the day before for $50!   Ever only got towed home once, with a broken diff.

I was vaguely considering running these events again but have been told too many rules now. I have attended one drag meet in 25 years, and that was free admission for me.

 

So while I hold no records for longevity I have done some form of motorsport or another for 47 years.

And have just renewed my level 2 speed liscence for yet another year. At times I would still love to go racing again, nothing like it but the continual B/S politics and the expense effectively precludes that. Plus while I have always enjoyed the engineering side of developing and maintaining a car it really hurts too much these days. I am still fit enough to drive the things just less interested in the maintenance. If anyone needs a driver with a lot of experience in both prep/ set up and driving I am interested!


Edited by Lee Nicolle, 30 July 2015 - 00:53.


#10 JacnGille

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Posted 30 July 2015 - 02:47

I've been a car nut for as long as I can remember. My Dad took us to the drag races along with a NASCAR race or two when we were little. And then Road Atlanta was built not far from us. We went to the first Can Am in 1970 and I was hooked. I joined the SCCA a couple of years later became a Tech Inspector. I worked all the car races that Rd Atlanta had and flagged the bike races. The SCCA began the Showroom Stock class. My Honda fit in the C Class so I jumped in with both feet. I raced for a couple of years and crewed for friends I met at the track for several years after.



#11 63Corvette

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Posted 30 July 2015 - 15:55

" I have met and made some great friends. I have met and raced against the genuinely talented and the totally hopeless; some real sh*ts and luckily rather more good eggs; and a load of people I learned from."

 

YES, What he said!!! From my point of view, having fun, with your family, and meeting and racing with all of these cool people is what it's all about!



#12 David Birchall

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Posted 30 July 2015 - 21:07

I always have regretted not racing in England, where I was born and grew up-but no money... But I moved to Vancouver when I was 25 and by my late twenties was involved in racing. I was involved with Austin Healeys and a group comprising members of the AH club, the Jag club, MG club etc got together one night and formed the Vintage Racing Club of British Columbia, that would have been late 1976.
I blame Michael Bowler for my enthusiasm, his reports and track tests in "Thoroughbred and Classic Cars" were inspirational.

My first racing car was a Healey 3000 of course but I quickly realised that what I really wanted was a purpose built racing car and as a result of Michael Bowler, a Lola Mk1 was what I sought. But never found one I could afford so I bought a similar looking car, The Lucas Whitehead Climax Special. It had taken third overall at the first professional road race in Canada, The Carling 500 in 1959. I raced the Climax Special, number sixty nine, at most of the tracks on the West Coast including three times at the Monterey Historics.

Steve Earl, founder and organizer of the Monterey Historics, had one particular mantra-"You cause a crash and you will be out of here and not allowed back in next year!" I think it was a good idea and should be incorporated at the Goodwood Revival where egos seem to reign. Anyway, my second year at Monterey I overcooked it coming into the hairpin in front of the pits, the car snapped around, I overcorrected, the car snapped again and I was into the Armco-hard! Steve Earl's only comment was "I've never seen a car do that before!" Me neither...

I raced until 1992 in every thing from sports racers to Formula Junior single seaters (front engine of course!), Marcos, Lotus Cortina, Lotus 26R (amazingly fast!) Won a race in a friends 1934 Aston and last of all a Shelbyized Mustang. I quit really because we lost our local track the beloved Westwood circuit just east of Vancouver.

I made friends in racing that will remain friends for life-most of us do historic rallying now-you can take the missus and call it a holiday.

Edited by David Birchall, 30 July 2015 - 21:36.


#13 GMACKIE

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Posted 31 July 2015 - 00:09



I had a friend who had a Porsche which impressed me.

Same here, 63. :wave:Jack Bono had a damaged 356, which needed some body work in preparation for racing. I was an apprentice 'tin basher' at the time, and did the required work on the 356. In exchange, Jack 'worked over' the 40hp engine in my brand new '61 VW Beetle. Now with 69 hp, it really went well...so well, Jack talked me into taking it to Silverdale Hillclimb.

 

As I had never been there before, I had no idea what was ahead. Didn't even take spare fuel, or pump the tyres up. By the end of that day [late 1961 or early 1962 ?] I was hooked, despite having to 'borrow' fuel to get home on. :blush:

 

The Beetle was the only car I had, and therefore my race car. It was the 'Devil I Knew'. Circuit racing was a natural progression, and it's a difficult habit to kick.

 

There are some great memories [I try to forget the bad ones ;) ] of those times, and those friends [many of them are still around] who made life so enjoyable. :wave:



#14 David Birchall

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Posted 31 July 2015 - 01:56

Nick Savage! We have exchanged comments on the Alfabb.
I saw your old Alfa 2600 at Angouleme two years ago and was impressed with how well it went-I raced "Piggy", the local Alfa 2600 Sprint once after my formula junior had a problem and was so impressed with the 2600 engine-"How many rpm shall I use" I asked the owner (an Aussie...) "Eight thousand"! he said without hesitation-"In top gear" I asked. "In every bloody gear!" he said. So I did. It was orgasmic!

That is why I have spent the past several years building an Alfa 2600 powered special that resembles the sports racer that Alfa never built in 1949/50. Hope to have it ready for the Spring Thaw rally next April here in B.C.

#15 Nick Savage

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Posted 31 July 2015 - 06:53

Dear David,

The Alfa 2600 Sprint 'Miss Piggy', now that was a pioneer car ! When my 2600 was in the depths of development hell in 1995/97, I took inspiration from Miss Piggy. As to my old car, Tony Murray, current owner, has spent a lot of time patiently eradicating some of its faults and now drives it quicker than I ever managed. Alfa 2600 racing experience is a pretty exclusive club  -  a lot more people have raced 250Fs than 2600s. Glad to hear you joined the club !

Nick



#16 oldtransamdriver

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Posted 01 August 2015 - 04:23

A high school friend bought an MG TD and invited me to the 1958 Lake Erie Invitational SCCA race in Dunkirk N.Y  At that time I was based in St. Catharines Ontario, the home of

Bill Sadler.  I had a great time riding along as a passenger and can remember Herb Swan in a Porsche racing Don Yenko in a Corvette.  That started an exodus to just

about every race at Green Acres and Harewood Acres (WW II air bases) and many U.S. tracks for the races.

 

Another friend and i drove non-stop to the 1959 U.S. GP in December at Sebring Florida.  There were other trips to WG, Daytona,

Thompson, Connelsville, Riverside, Laguna Seca, RA, etc. 

 

If you have some time, look up on google -   Interview with Robert Barg Trans-Am racer, Camaro Research Group. 

After the early T/A and IMSA adventures there was 72 Cortina racing at Westwood, and the last hurrah with a 70 T/A camaro in 1980.

 

It was a great ride.  See   ultimateracinghistory.com

 

Robert Barg


Edited by oldtransamdriver, 02 August 2015 - 15:10.


#17 63Corvette

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Posted 02 August 2015 - 02:10

Great story Robert. For those of you who have not yet read Robert's story, here is the link: http://www.camaros.o...hp?topic=7844.0



#18 GF100

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Posted 03 August 2015 - 12:55

First post on this forum but long time viewer. Great history from guys who were there in the day and great entertainment. 

 

Anyway to the topic. I woke up one morning and Bathurst was on. It was 1969 and I was aged 9. Was hooked from there. No previous family involvement so I was the first in the family to show any interest in motor racing.That said my dad was kind to me and facilitated my love and interest and from the age of 10 til I could drive myself would take me to all the Oran Park and Amaroo races we could afford and twice to Bathurst - 1970 and 1974 (the wet one). 

 

At 15 I got a job after school at Ray Kaleda's garage at Gladesville and worked for him for near on 10 years after school and later after my day job. Ray really sparked my interest and love for the sport and in time I crewed for him at Bathurst in 1976 in the Braun L34 with Bob Stevens. Paul Grimm did his car prep and team management at the time. Interesting guy. Sadly, Ray crashed late in practice and was a DNS. I've maintained an interest throughout but life and work kept me out of the sport until I turned 30 and went Sprint Kart racing for 10 years then, through Ron Masing at Coltspeed got involved in Starions and built up a car for Super Sprints. Life has gotten in the way again and I am no longer competing but all going well, will be building up another car in 12 months time and be back into it again. I cannot lose the bug, its just such a fascinating pursuit - engineering, planning, spinning spanners and then testing your skills and meeting like minded people. 

 

Sort of a "meet me" and brief history but that's my motor racing story.


Edited by GF100, 03 August 2015 - 13:06.


#19 RTH

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Posted 04 August 2015 - 05:40

Clive Trickey's diary of a Mini Seven racer in Cars & Car Conversions magazine with all his detail costings took it from just a pipe dream to reality in 1971.

 

brands%2073.jpg


Edited by RTH, 04 August 2015 - 05:49.