32 replies to this topic

[Doug Nye]

This sounds like a fun weekend...

 

The SVRA (Sportscar Vintage Racing Association) 

 

"...annual downtown U.S. Vintage Grand Prix Festival, held on Friday, commemorates the early sports car road races that took place on the 6.6-mile course laid out on village streets. The high point of the Festival is a re-enactment, with SVRA race cars driving the original Watkins Glen course to the cheers of 20,000 enthusiastic spectators. Join us and enjoy a great racing weekend at Watkins Glen International, plus a rare chance to drive your race car around 6.6 miles of living history!”.

 

 

Our Brian (Redman) enjoyed his run in Greg Galdi's 312PB.  He says: "312 PB was good - slowed right down at the level crossing then having a good gap to police cars ahead, gave it a good blast using 8,000 in 1st, 2nd and 3rd! Sounded great."

 

He also remembered: "In 1970 when we flew over the railroad crossing on the way back to the Glen Motor Inn, Pedro said 'lets' do it again' and on the second trip, at about 80 mph we flew in the air - and just missed a train...".

 

Real racers, eh?

 

DCN

 

[RobertE]

Oof; what a car; just seeing it reminds me of that get-together in Basildon yrs ago, when Chris Amon was stopped by confused plods while in a similar car, demanding to know why he had no tread on the tyres. (Slicks, of course.)

 

"Private road at the moment..."

[Bloggsworth]

I drove an F3 Cooper from Much Hadham to Widiford and back one day - Not quite in the same league...

[Emery0323]

Interesting - I seem to recall reading a few years ago (in Sportscar Market ?) that one of the 312PB owners had had a replica of his authentic 312PB fabricated that he could vintage race, while his real one could be kept safely away from on-track risk.  Does anybody know if there's any truth to that?

 

God bless Brian Redman, wishing him good health!

[Doug Nye]

One in use - one kept in the safe - is indeed increasingly common these days.  I have some sympathy with the logic (if not a lot where non-compeititve use is concerned)...

 

DCN

[BRG]

Oof; what a car; just seeing it reminds me of that get-together in Basildon yrs ago, when Chris Amon was stopped by confused plods while in a similar car, demanding to know why he had no tread on the tyres. (Slicks, of course.)

 

"Private road at the moment..."

I may be wrong, but I think confused plod was actually quite correct.  You could close a road but the Road Traffic Act remained in force, so speed limits etc still applied.  It was only very recently when the law was finally changed that we could close roads for motor sport.  Amon may have been lucky they didn't book him for driving an unlicensed, untaxed, uninsured, unMOT'd car on bald tyres....

[Doug Nye]

The Essex police - not renowned for their user-friendly approach to motorists in any circumstances - were actually very supportive of the late Canon Lionel Webber's Basildon event.  However, when Lionel got the presiding boss copper to join in the driver briefing, the officer delivered a lengthy homily about the Road Traffic Act remaining in force, and spelled out the requirement to observe speed limits, etc etc...at considerable length.

 

When he'd finished, our clergyman friend returned to the microphone, and promptly said: "Thank you very much Inspector.  And if your mum and dad ever want to get married, just tell them to call me...".    

 

Subsequently, a good time was enjoyed by all.

 

DCN

[RobertE]

I recall it being a moot point, but you are correct; a good time ensued. I think Stirling got involved, too, along the lines of it being a decommissioned road for the duration. But I'm no lawyer. (Thank God.)

[FLB]

Well, I'm sure Mr. Fisken has a story or two about this...

 

https://www.bbc.com/...london-36147942

 

[mariner]

Some other sports racers on the road

 

 

I wonder if he agreed to valet parking

 

 

Here Jim Hall delivers the  2F to the then new Chapparal exhibit at the Midland Petroleum museum the correct way, under its own power. IIRC it is quite long way on a nice straight road so I hope he floored it, cop car or no cop car.

 

 

A T70 somewhere (?) in the UK

 

[Emery0323]

Regarding the video of Jim Hall driving the Chaparrals on public roads - He's a well-known citizen of Midland, Texas, and no doubt was either treated leniently by the local police, or else given an escort.

 

 

Well, I'm sure Mr. Fisken has a story or two about this...

 

https://www.bbc.com/...london-36147942

 

Coincidentally, that's the same 512M that is pictured in this post in the recent "Ciao Nino" (Vaccarella tribute) thread:

https://forums.autos...nino/?p=9613308

[AJCee]

I don’t have access to a copy anymore but some time late 70s/very early 80s there was a Motor Sport article on a road-legalised sports car. The main photo was of a conversation with some of the constabulary with the headline “Ello, ello, eLola”.

[john aston]

I've seen a Chevron B8 drive down Briggate in Leeds, if that counts ? 

[DouglasM]

Oof; what a car; just seeing it reminds me of that get-together in Basildon yrs ago, when Chris Amon was stopped by confused plods while in a similar car, demanding to know why he had no tread on the tyres. (Slicks, of course.)

 

"Private road at the moment..."

1997 was the year.

 

 

[DouglasM]

I recall it being a moot point, but you are correct; a good time ensued. I think Stirling got involved, too, along the lines of it being a decommissioned road for the duration. But I'm no lawyer. (Thank God.)

 

He certainly was

[Roger Clark]

 

This sounds like a fun weekend...

 

The SVRA (Sportscar Vintage Racing Association) 

 

"...annual downtown U.S. Vintage Grand Prix Festival, held on Friday, commemorates the early sports car road races that took place on the 6.6-mile course laid out on village streets. The high point of the Festival is a re-enactment, with SVRA race cars driving the original Watkins Glen course to the cheers of 20,000 enthusiastic spectators. Join us and enjoy a great racing weekend at Watkins Glen International, plus a rare chance to drive your race car around 6.6 miles of living history!”.

 

 

Our Brian (Redman) enjoyed his run in Greg Galdi's 312PB.  He says: "312 PB was good - slowed right down at the level crossing then having a good gap to police cars ahead, gave it a good blast using 8,000 in 1st, 2nd and 3rd! Sounded great."

 

He also remembered: "In 1970 when we flew over the railroad crossing on the way back to the Glen Motor Inn, Pedro said 'lets' do it again' and on the second trip, at about 80 mph we flew in the air - and just missed a train...".

 

Real racers, eh?

 

DCN

 

That no parking sign seems more complex than I'd want to read and interpret while driving.  I see they have a nighttime curfew for under 16s.  Perhaps they need a daytime one for over 70s.

[Vitesse2]

The Essex police - not renowned for their user-friendly approach to motorists in any circumstances - were actually very supportive of the late Canon Lionel Webber's Basildon event.  However, when Lionel got the presiding boss copper to join in the driver briefing, the officer delivered a lengthy homily about the Road Traffic Act remaining in force, and spelled out the requirement to observe speed limits, etc etc...at considerable length.

 

When he'd finished, our clergyman friend returned to the microphone, and promptly said: "Thank you very much Inspector.  And if your mum and dad ever want to get married, just tell them to call me...".    

 

Subsequently, a good time was enjoyed by all.

 

DCN

Only a few miles from Nye Towers, when the movie The Rake's Progress (aka Notorious Gentleman in the US) was being made in 1944, an entire section of the road between Frimley Green and Brookwood (the B3012) was sealed off for filming for several days and a number of racing cars, temporarily garaged at North Camp, were allowed to run - apparently unregistered and unsilenced - on the still-open roads between the garage and the filming location, presumably via Mytchett Lake Road and Mytchett Place Road. Hardly any of the footage - apart from Leonard Potter crashing a Bugatti and some back projections - was used in the final movie, which includes a mish-mash of reused newsreel from races at Brooklands, San Sebastian and Spa! All masquerading as Le Mans.

[Tim Murray]

Arttidesco and I attended the BRM Day at Bourne in 2012, where a large number of unsilenced racing cars were driven through the streets of Bourne. At one stage we got quite worried when a policeman appeared and pointed a speed gun at some of the cars passing by. Presumably though it was just for his own amusement, as we never heard of any follow-up prosecutions.

[Ray Bell]

Ah yes, the original Watkins Glen circuit...

 

Where Stirling Moss, or arriving for his first event at the modern circuit (c.1958) was taking a lap of the original roads and exclaimed, "Why aren't we racing here, old boy? What a wonderful circuit!"

 

Paraphrased, of course, but a story from Mike Argetsinger.

[john winfield]

I don’t have access to a copy anymore but some time late 70s/very early 80s there was a Motor Sport article on a road-legalised sports car. The main photo was of a conversation with some of the constabulary with the headline “Ello, ello, eLola”.

 

1979.  Rod Leach's 1968 Can-Am Lola T160, possibly the ex-Chuck Parsons car.

 

https://www.motorspo...th-a-canam-lola

[10kDA]

That no parking sign seems more complex than I'd want to read and interpret while driving.  I see they have a nighttime curfew for under 16s.  Perhaps they need a daytime one for over 70s.

Seasonal parking policy, common in many areas subject to frequent and deep snowfalls. Makes it easier for the plows to get through and clear the streets. No concern if you're driving Spazzaneve.

[AJCee]

1979. Rod Leach's 1968 Can-Am Lola T160, possibly the ex-Chuck Parsons car.

https://www.motorspo...th-a-canam-lola

Thank you John, that’s the one!

It was a photo caption not the article title, but close enough for 42 years ago I hope! Gosh, doesn't that Rover police car date it…

[Lee Nicolle]

That no parking sign seems more complex than I'd want to read and interpret while driving.  I see they have a nighttime curfew for under 16s.  Perhaps they need a daytime one for over 70s.

I once fought a fine for asign with so many different rules. Actually won too. Magistrate suiggested to council they should make things simpler I doubt however they did. Misleading signs is a major revenue earner.

[FLB]

There was this recently:

 

Edited by FLB, 03 October 2021 - 00:02.

[johnwilliamdavies]

Rupert Marks was competing at Prescott in his McLaren today. And he regularly drives it to and from events. 

 

https://www.instagra.../p/BIrksFRj7ua/

[Emery0323]

We also should not forget Jim Glickenhaus (owner of Scuderia Glickenhaus) and his personal collection of historic racing sports cars.

He has a couple of them registered for road use, among them the Ford GT40 MkIV Chassis No. J6, which he has driven on public roads for many years.

It finished fourth at LeMans in 1967 with Bruce McLaren and Mark Donohue as drivers.

I once saw it being driven on a rural highway near Lime Rock Park and it took me several minutes to pick my jaw up off my chest!

Once I looked up the car's history in the Ronnie Spain GT40 book, I knew the backstory.

(Photo Credit: Autoweek Magazine).

 

https://hips.hearsta...ts/IMG_7289.JPG'

 

He also has his Ferrari prototypes from the same era road-registered.
 

Edited by Emery0323, 03 October 2021 - 14:22.

[Perruqueporte]

Not in the same league perhaps, but the late Joey Dunlop regularly tested his road racing motorcycles on the public highway near his Ulster home.

Christopher W.

[Stephen W]

There have been "road demonstrations" at Bromyard, Ormskirk and Southport. Southport's "event" took place last week-end not sure if there were any racing cars present as I was at an HSA Curborough sprint both days!

[AJCee]

I have a recollection that I posted this before, so please forgive me, but I recall an all red Porsche 935 being resident and active on the roads in Harpenden in the late 1980s. It made quite a noise struggling with the speed limit through town. It was involved in an accident on the A6 (as was) with a BMW up near the Redbourn Road. The BMW was a right mess, the 935 lost some fibreglass and exposed the frame a bit at the front…

[john winfield]

Apparently Raymond Mays used to 'demonstrate' (test?) the ERAs on a triangular route from Bourne. West, winding past Grimsthorpe Castle, through Corby Glen to Colsterworth, blast fifteen miles or so south down the Great North Road to Stamford, then back through the south Lincolnshire villages to the ERA works in Bourne. I'm trying to visualise a 1930s police chase down what's now the A1. The old Wolseleys might have struggled a bit! 

[AJCee]

I'm trying to visualise a 1930s police chase down what's now the A1. The old Wolseleys might have struggled a bit!

‘The Dukes of Haconby’?

[marksixman]

Returning to the 312PB, I remember seeing them race at Brands Hatch 'in the day', and noticing that they had two brake lights each side.

 

One pair each side would always come on fractionally earlier than the other. Does anyone know, did they have separate lights for front and rear systems (being, of course, dual circuit, with bias to the front), or two brake light sensors set at different pressures, indicating "I am slowing down a bit" and "watch out, I am slowing down bloody hard !" ?

 

I think this is probably the most 'anorak' question I have ever asked, but I tried to find out at the time, with no success !!

[BRG]

Magneti Marelli electrics.  Made Lucas look good.