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Multi-purpose championships


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#1 Jesper O. Hansen

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Posted 19 February 2004 - 19:52

Multi-purpose championships


Inspired by the multi-purpose drivers-thread, I was fascinated by the various disciplines that the participants of the 1963 International Championship for Manufactures, Div. III - that’s GT-cars over 2 litre – had to cover. Besides ten conventional endurance races ranging from 3 hours/500 kilometres to the 24 hours of Le Mans, the championship also included 3 hill climbs and two rallies!
This is how the year unfolded

Round 1: 1963-02-17 – 1963-02-17 Daytona (USA), 3 hours, Ferrari
Round 2: 1963-03-23 Sebring (USA), 12 hours, Ferrari
Round 3: 1963-05-05 Targa Florio (I), 720 kms, Ferrari
Round 4: 1963-05-12 Spa-Francorchamps (B), 500 kms, Ferrari
Round 5: 1963-05-19 Nürburgring (D), 1000 kms, Ferrari
Round 6: 1963-06-02 Consuma (I), hill climb, Ferrari
Round 7: 1963-06-15 – 1963-06-16 Le Mans (F), 24 hours, Ferrari
Round 8: 1963-07-03 – 1963-07-07 Wiesbaden Rally (D), rally, Austin-Healey
Round 9: 1963-07-07 Clermont-Ferrand (F), 3 hours, Ferrari
Round 10: 1963-08-11 Freiburg-Schausindsland (D), hill climb,Ferrari
Round 11: 1963-08-24 Goodwood (GB), 500 kms , Ferrari
Round 12: 1963-08-25 Ollon-Villars (CH), hill climb, Ferrari
Round 13: 1963-09-08 Monza (I), 3 hours, Aston Martin
Round 14: 1963-09-14 – 1963-09-22 Tour de France (F), rally and racing, Ferrari
Round 15: 1963-09-14 Bridgehampton (USA), 500 kms, Shelby

(hmm, the format was supposed to look a little different)

1964 continued the trend. Any other examples of this mix of various disciplines incorporated into one championship. I have heard of a few one-make series that has consisted of circuit racing and rallies, but has there been any other championship of this standard, held to such varied disciplines?

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#2 canon1753

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Posted 19 February 2004 - 22:11

USAC Championships in the late 60's had events on superspeedways, mile ovals, dirt ovals, a hill climb and a few road races. That required a racer with a mastery of 4-5 different disciplines.

#3 Jim Thurman

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Posted 19 February 2004 - 23:37

The two best "all-around" championships in U.S. racing...

USAC Championship Cars from 1967 through 1969 when there was a great mix of circuits (road course, paved ovals, dirt ovals and even a hillclimb - Pike's Peak)

and...even though it's two wheels, the AMA Grand National Championship. Up until around 1985, I believe every type of motorcycle racing counted towards the title, thus riders would race the mile dirt ovals, road race and TT race. On rare occasion, even motocross riders would try other disciplines for points.

#4 D-Type

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Posted 20 February 2004 - 02:05

I've never heard of this one before. What a great idea!

I've always felt that sports/racing cars although spectacular were a bit artificial. In the fifties they were at least road- capable. Well they had to be with races like the Targa Florio, Carrera Panamericana, Mugello and Pescara about, not forgetting Spa and the Nurburgring. But later they evolved into the totally artificial concept of a racing car with two seats, eenclosed wheels and headlamps.

Today it would have to be for saloons or genuine GT's - combine rallies, the old sports car classic endurance races (Le Mans, Sebring, Spa, Daytona), the 1000 km races (Nurburgring, Mugello, Targa Florio), modern semi-sprint races (BTCC, DTM, etc), the European mountain hillclimbs (Mont Ventoux etc) plus Pikes Peak, maybe a couple of NASCAR style ovals. Wow!

Well we can all dream can't we?