1648 replies to this topic

[B Squared]

Back to Team Penske, couple of signed shots from my personal collection. Sorry for some shadowing, but I didn't want to remove them from their frames. Emerson at Mid-Ohio and Gil at Laguna

[Anja]

 

Before the well known 130 RS became Skoda's main motorsport weapon, there was the 200 RS. Built in 1973-74 with the aim to beat foreign cars in the national Czechoslovakian rally championship - as due to homologation issues it wouldn't be allowed to compete internationally. It was a tough task as the man to beat was Vladimír Hubáček, at that time already a four-time champion of Czechoslovakia with the mighty Alpine A110 at his disposal. The Skodas competed in 1974 and 1975 and only won two events during that time (both wins scored by a long-time Skoda driver Jiří Šedivý) - while their main rival Hubáček won the championship in both of these seasons. 

 

Pictured here, Oldřich Horsák and Jiří Motal at the 1974 Barum Rally - which they ended in a DNF. 

[LegendInTheMaking]

As a final (?) tribute to F1's underdogs, Pedro Diniz at one of his finest moments, during the 1997 European GP.

 

Starting as a classic pay driver with the worst team on the grid (Forti), there were never any real expectations of Diniz in F1. After a single season and performing roughly equal to super-sub Roberto Moreno, Diniz and his wealthy sponsors had the ambition to move up the grid. They had set their sights on Ligier, but then-owner Tom Walkingshaw at first to refused to enter into talks with a "pay driver" like Diniz. Eventually, Ligier held a shootout in which Diniz, apparantly against Vicenzo Sospiri and Emmanuel Collard, proved to be the fastest and prefered by the engineers for his feedback. In the Ligier he wasn't as fast as Olivier Panis, but started to build a reputation as a decent and reliable driver - who comes with a lot of cash. 

 

This earned him a move to Arrows, which had just been taking over by Tom Walkingshaw. Basically, Diniz' money was used to lure world champion Damon Hill to the team. While we mostly remember Damon's heroic performances in Hungary and Spain, Diniz was for most of the season not too far behind and at times even in front of Hill. During the European GP of this picture he earned his equal best result with a 5th place, holding off Panis, Herbert and Hill. After this season Hill left and Diniz was partnered with Mika Salo for 1998. They were equal on points, but the car was highly unreliable and Diniz decided to look elsewhere. Walkingshaw did not agree and sued him for breach of contract, which expectedly resulted in Walkingshaw actually having to pay damages to Diniz. As by then Diniz was regarded as a steady driver with loads of cash, he easily landed a seat with Sauber.

 

At Sauber his teammate was Jean Alesi, by then one of the most experienced drivers on the grid. Diniz actually outscored Alesi, but this was more due to the timing of reliability issues than to driver performances, as Alesi had some stellar weekends ending in bad luck. In fact, reliability was so poor that Diniz only finished 4 races, of which 3 were in sixth place. His second season at Sauber was a slump. He failed to match Mika Salo and Sauber began to question Diniz' position. He couldn't arrange terms for 2001 and decided to stop racing and buy a share in the ailing Prost team. He has since joined his family's supermarkt business.

[ensign14]

They now apply lacquer to preserve the dirt of victory...

 

[DeKnyff]

In 1970 Porsche brought a 917K to the Targa Florio, which was only used in Friday testing by Vic Elford. The 917 appeared to be too large and wide for the Targa compared to the 908. Just imagine driving this 600bhp beast on the twisty public roads of Sicily.

 

Impressive pictures, Elford must have felt like a white shark in a swimming pool.

 

The most oversized car ever to actually race at the Targa Florio was possibly the Chaparral 2F of Phil Hill and Harp Sharp in 1967 (they did not finish the race).

 

But like that, I have an excuse for posting it, otherwise we will never se it in a countdown thread (#222). 

 

[Nemo1965]

Impressive pictures, Elford must have felt like a white shark in a swimming pool.

The most oversized car ever to actually race at the Targa Florio was possibly the Chaparral 2F of Phil Hill and Harp Sharp in 1967 (they did not finish the race).



But like that, I have an excuse for posting it, otherwise we will never se it in a countdown thread (#222).

https://i.kym-cdn.co...345/099/f94.gif

[Beri]

Number 2, that's a long way since Izzyeviel started this thread with 96 to go. I can't make it for the number 1 tomorrow so this will be my last entry for this thread. Nemo1965 already said it, but I wanted to thank you all too. Thanks to you all I thoroughly have enjoyed myself. I've been looking up stories that you've all mentioned that I never heard before, read new things every day, saw amazing cars that I never knew existed, deepened my knowledge, found out new facts and figures and even have found a whole new interest for myself into the Nazi Grand Prix era. Thank you all. It has been a genuine pleasure and I hope to see you all in a new thread in 247 days time!

The 73rd season is about to start in an hour from now. But it all began, at Silverstone in 1950. A race that was won by Giusepe "Nino" Farina from Pole Position. A race where he also recorded the fastest lap in his Alfa Romeo 158. Which is one of the most successful racing cars ever produced. Both the 158, and its derivative the 159, took 47 wins from 54 Grands Prix entered.

[Bleu]

 

Dan Ticktum is a driver who built a bad reputation in junior classes. The picture is from Monza 2020 where he finished first in the sprint race but was subsequently disqualified due to lack of fuel for a sample.

[red stick]

Been fun!

From Amelia Island, again, did somebody say 917?

 

[OvDrone]

I have a maybe weird softspot for the WTCC and that's maybe my Eastern Europeaness showing as it's fairly popular in this part of the world and imho, the best WTCC season ever was the 2012 one.

Exactly ten years ago, elite Touring Car racer Rob Huff, won a season-long enthralling battle between him and teammate and legend, Yvan Muller.

This marks Rob's only World title to date and he done it in supreme fashion with great wins at the Slovakiaring, Guangdong, Curitiba, Sonoma and especially a memorable one at the Salzburgring.

An cool mix of notable and eclectic circuits from around the world, in that now classic sky blue #2 Chevrolet Cruze.

[OvDrone]

Also when I started posting on the thread this year, I said that I do not desire to post more than once per racing number but I want to share a little tribute to a legend that called time on his career before this racing season started.

And I have to thank DeKnyff for the inspiration to share this post.

Tony Cairoli is kinda like the Valentino Rossi of Motocross. His legacy is nothing short of legendary with 9x FIM Motocross titles, 2x MX2 - 2005 and 2007 and 7x MXGP titles - 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2017.

Here's two pictures of the #222 from Cairoli's last MXGP title season - 2017. Cheers Tony. 

[Alan Lewis]

Kay Petre in her two-litre Bugatti, at the 1934 BARC Whit Monday meeting, in Brooklands. She is photographed here after winning the Morrow Senior short handicap race. According to some sources, that meeting (which included several races) was the first race "where women compete on equal terms with men".

Canadian-born Kay Petre was a regular racer in the 1930s until an accident ended her career in 1937. After the war, she worked for Austin, although not as a car tester or anything like that: she was a 'colour and interior consultant'. She passed away in 1994.

Random Factoid Department. In their obituary for the actor Peter Bowles today, The Times states: "He was taught to drive in 1962 by Kay Petre, a formidable competitor in 1930s British motor racing..."

[Martijn]

Salzburgring 2000, Sauber-Mercedes C9, personal photo taken through the catchfence.

[red stick]

Ganassi Racing Riley-Ford DP.  IMSA.  COTA.  2015.  Personal photos.

 

 

[red stick]

Earlier Ford.

 

[PlayboyRacer]

#1 Jacques Villeneuve, Winfield Williams Mecachrome at the 1998 Italian Grand Prix. A difficult title defence for the reigning world champion - in the mediocre FW20 - meant he produced regular fighting drives for points and also produced a few heroic performances. Here was one in qualifying at Monza, where he planted the Williams 2nd alongside Schumacher and in front of the title challenging McLarens. Hard to believe it was Williams' only appearance on the front row all year. Perhaps also the year where JV proved a true Williams driver, cut from the same cloth as the likes of Keke Rosberg and Nigel Mansell. And perhaps a chip off the old block.

[WOT]

#1: Jim Clark, 1966, Warwick Farm, 2.5 Litre Lotus 39 [R12] Climax FPF 4

He won this race

Personal photos

 

 

 

[WOT]

My other number ones - are Sydney locals: 

#1: Ian "Pete" Geoghegan, 1966, Warwick Farm, 289ci Mustang.

Personal photos

 

 

[WOT]

#1: Frank Matich, 1967, Warwick Farm, 4.4 Litre Matich SR3 Repco 720 V8

Personal photos

 

 

[WOT]

Gosh... I will really miss this thread... the most wonderful continuous spark of joy on these Fora... thanks especially for WOT, DeKnyff and Anja. In case I did not mention YOU, you were ALL wonderful.

 

 

Thanks Nemo, to be honest I have really enjoyed sharing the few photos that I have left, most of my photos were destroyed when many years ago we were being moved from country to city and the removal truck got caught in flood waters. But it's been a pleasure.

[Ivanhoe]

The 1973 edition of the Rallye Monte-Carlo was the first WRC rally and was absolutely dominated by the Alpines A110-1800, taking a 1-2-3, having 5 cars in the top 6 and 6 in the top 10. Pictured is the A110 of Bernard Darniche and co-driver Alain Mahé who finished in 10th place.

[Bleu]

 

There has been an all-female team 28 times in Le Mans. Ten since teams have included three drivers. Last year there were two, but this trio of Tatiana Calderon, Beitske Visser and Sophia Flörsch had to retire. I believe it's Calderon on the wheel at this picture.

[Aaaarrgghh]

 

#1: Jim Clark, 1966, Warwick Farm, 2.5 Litre Lotus 39 [R12] Climax FPF 4

He won this race

Personal photos

For me, the definitive #1.

 

Anyway, below is Ronnie Peterson in the unloved Lotus 76. For all that I have read about this car being bad, looking at the qualifying results, it really didn't seem that terrible. Especially compared to the first showing of the Lotus 77, when both Andretti and Peterson qualified at the back of the grid. But, of course, it didn't get them the same results as the 72 did.

[mikeC]

Arthur Waite (1) and Gordon England (2) await the start of the Georges Boillot Cup Race, Boulogne, 30th August 1925.

 

[Anja]

 

In the early 1980s it was time for Skoda to replace the 130 RS. They were developing the 130 LR but there also appeared an alternative solution. Namely the Skoda MTX 160 RS built in 1983 by Metalex, a well established Czech motorsport company. Since Skoda didn't have any engines bigger than 1300cc Metalex designers decided to use a more powerful engine from a VAZ 2105 (easily available to them as it was one of the cars they prepared for rallying) which ultimately turned out to be one of the project's downsides. But not for performance reasons - using a Soviet engine instead of a Czech one didn't sit well with the decision makers and the project was already on the backfoot from the beginning. Or perhaps even doomed to fail, but initially the car was allowed to be tested on rally stages alongside the 130 LR prototype in 1984 and both were running outside of the official classification in a few Czechoslovakian events. According to the available accounts the 160 RS was often faster but despite that promising performance Skoda decided to only pursue their factory design. That left Metalex unable to continue the project by themselves. Since the extent of modifications meant they couldn't use the Skoda Garde as base for homologation, they would have to produce 200 cars within a year which wasn't possible for them without Skoda's involvement.

 

Pictured here, Václav Blahna and Pavel Schovánek at Rallye Šumava in March 1984.

Edited by Anja, 19 March 2022 - 09:02.

[68targa]

Well here we are at #1   - First off let me say how fascinating and interesting it has been to see all of the fabulous photos and the stories from everyone on this thread.  From so many different disciplines of our sport so thank you to everyone who posted.

 

Ok so today I am going to allow myself to post two scandinavian drivers.

 

 

I can't remember if I have posted this photo before so anyway I'll put it in.  Finnish driver Leo Kinnuen and his Porsche 917K  Spyder. during an Interserie race in 1972. He was quite successful in this car and series.  His career lasted from the late 1960's through to the 1982 and he was an accomplished rally driver as well as circuit racer.  He partnered Pedro Rodriguez during the 1970 Sports Car endurance series in a John Wyer Gulf Porsche 917 when they won at Daytona, Monza and Watkins Glen as well as that famous wet race at Brands Hatch when they won by 5 laps. In reality it was Pedro's race of races and Kinnuen only drove a minimal number of laps, but he kept it on the road.  He died in 2017 aged 73. .

 

 

 

Ronnie Peterson again, this time not in a JPS Lotus but a Scuderia Filipinetti 2.0 l Lola T212 during a round of the European 2-litre sports car championship. This was a very competitive series with some star drivers such as Vic Elford, Jo Bonnier, Toine Hezemans and Helmut Marko.  In this race at Silverstone he finished 2nd to Toine Hezemans

 

So that's it from me for this year, enjoy your racing.

 

I'm off , now where did I leave my car .....

 

Edited by 68targa, 19 March 2022 - 14:50.

[B Squared]

It's been enjoyable; thanks to all. Cheers to a safe and competitive season for all.

 

Bobby Marshman in Lindsey Hopkins' Kuzma-Offy 1962

Marshman family photo

 

A.J. Foyt in 1968

 

The 1982 Penske PC10 of Rick Mears with Peter Parrott and Jerry Breon perfecting their pit technique

 

Al Unser, Jr. in the 1993 Galles Lola

 

[DeKnyff]

 

 

The 1966 Karting World Champion, Susanna Susy Raganelli, driving her Tecno Parilla 100 cc kart. The picture could probably correspond to the World Championship race at Amager, near Copenhagen, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

Below, she celebrates her title at the podium, with second (Leif Engström) and third, future F1 ace Ronnie Peterson.

 

Susy had also won the Italian championship the previous year.

 

Regrettably, her racing career didn't go beyond karting.

 

[jcbc3]

 

 

 

.... The picture could probably correspond to the World Championship race at Amager, near Copenhagen, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

...

 

 

 

That was where I misspent a large part of my youth. However looking at the picture, I can't recall any angle that ring a bell. So I don't believe it's Copenhagen, but since the picture is some years before my career it could be. 

[OvDrone]

Well, here it is. I can't go the whole thread without posting a single F1 pic, so with the qualifying session fast approaching, here's my share.

I am posting this as a statement of my thoughts regarding last season but without it taking away anything from the great driver that used the number of this page.

It's Lewis Hamilton in 2009 where he wore the #1 on his McLaren MP4-24 to two great wins at the Hungaroring and Singapore and I'm choosing Singapore as my favorite, nearly 10 years from him doing a lap of the Gods at that very track.

I have fond personal memories of 2009 and it was that year that I started getting back into watching ALMS, WTCC, Indycar, MotoGP, not just the WRC and Superbikes. I wasn't a supporter of Lewis back then as he felt underdeveloped personality wise and I did not like McLaren. Ron/Whitmarsh's McLaren sucked imho.

But after Lewis grew up, he started resonating with me more and more and is now my absolute favorite driver and sportsmen. I can't like these young 20 year olds even when I was one in the 10's, I am sure that will change too with the current crop but all in all I don't have the energy to invest like I did with my past and current favorites:

Sebastien Loeb, Simon Pagenaud, Eli Tomac, Martin Truex and Lewis Hamilton. And I am ok and grateful for all the WDC he has, now I just want him to win a race in every season and bow out with like 111 wins or something, that would be rad.

Thank you for hearing my little share here and enjoy this new season of Racing y'all! With that, I am complete.

[Sabre1977]

If i had a hero outside car racing is this man...

 

https://pbs.twimg.co...sSgP?format=jpg

#1 Wayne Gardner - Honda NSR 500 - HRC - 1988 Spanish GP

The reason to post this... Today is Father's day in Spain and my father and I always saw the 500 CC ) MotoGp races together until he died 7 years ago. He introduced me as fan of motorsport since I was a child. Wayne was his favourite Rider of all time.

Edited by Sabre1977, 19 March 2022 - 20:21.

[Ivanhoe]

Great tribute to your late father Sabre1977  Been to the Assen TT with my dad several times, our favourite was #34 Kevin Schwantz.

[Sabre1977]

Great tribute to your late father Sabre1977  Been to the Assen TT with my dad several times, our favourite was #34 Kevin Schwantz.

 

 

 

Spencer, Lawson, Gardner, Schwantz, Rainey, Mamola, and the young guns Doohan & Kocinsky..... Good old times.

[jcbc3]

Are we there yet?

[Sterzo]

Nearly there, jcbc3. When all is said and done, today is Number One. There is one driver, one car, one race that will always live as Number One for me.

 

 

Juan Manuel Fangio, Maserati 250F, 1957 German Grand Pix at the Nürburgring.

[JdB]

I would like to thank everyone who had contributies to this thread. I thoroughly enjoyed all pictures, and especially the stories behind them. I've been following this thread for years (and even contributed in the past), this is what keeps me alive during the off-season. Just like Steve McQueen said in Le Mans :
"Racing is life. Everything in between is just waiting."
Enjoy the season!

Gr.Jeroen

[Izzyeviel]

 

Lets hope the new regs are more successful than this car.

[Izzyeviel]

 

'Who wants to be a zero?'

 

One picture, 15 championships, over 200 grand prix victories, and Karl Wendlinger is slap bang in the middle of them all... lost potential.

 

Probably the race where we realised Damon wasn't just a test driver who'd earned a chance, but maybe something a bit special.

[red stick]

Danny Ongais, sadly lost earlier this year.

 

Edited by red stick, 20 March 2022 - 03:06.

[Ivanhoe]

It has been a fantastic journey through motorsports history with all of you again. Every year I think it can never get better, just to be proven wrong the next year. Special thanks to DeKnyff and Anja for their challenging themes, OvDrone, for sharing his unbelievable broad interest and knowledge of motorsports in the 2000’s, redstick, BSquared, WOT and Targa68 for their personal pictures and stories from the US, Australia and Great Britain and Sabre1977 as a daily contributor and his excellent choice of pictures. And of course all other people participating in this thread, be it by posting an occasional picture, contributing to the discussion or by just showing their appreciation by a simple like. It just has been such a good place to hang out, had such a good energy, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, thank you all. I’ll sign out with the #0 AMC Javelin entered by Roger Penske and driven by Mark Donohue and Peter Revson at the 1970 Daytona 24 hours. Have a great season everyone!

 

[DeKnyff]

 

American roadcircuit rider Patricia Fernández, officially 'the fastest ever female road racer' with a special gold medal, after her 190.290 kph lap of the Dundrod Circuit on a 600 during the second Supersport race of the 2016 Ulster Grand Prix.

 

This is obviously my last post on this thread, my congratulations to all contributors for the excellent quality of their pictures.

[BRG]

We are now approaching Bahrain where this service terminates. Please be sure to take all your personal belongings with you when leaving the thread and thank you for traveling with us.

Well done to all who contributed and made this the best countdown thread ever.

[Bleu]

Doesn't seemingly allow to put the picture in, but I had found this car to be part of the countdown.

 

https://twitter.com/...7829760/photo/1

[ensign14]

The World's Fastest Lancastrian in Milt Minter's old Can-Am 917...

 

[Henri Greuter]

No shot of Scheckter in 1973 with Yardley M23 #0 ????  (Yet????)

[Sabre1977]

 

#0 Tatsuya Kataoka/Nobuteru Taniguchi -  Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 - Good Smile Racing by Team Ukyo - Super GT championship 2015.

 

A very manga-esque livery because the main sponsor (GoodSmile) is a company who produces action figures and animes derived from this figures. The team is managed by former Larrouse/Tyrrell/Minardi driver Ukyo Katayama. 

Edited by Sabre1977, 20 March 2022 - 13:43.

[OvDrone]

With the start of the F1 season minutes away I want to take the time and dearly thank everyone here for sharing their heartfelt passion, incredible insights, personal stories, historical reflections and just fun had here together. I learned SO Much from you all this Winter and it was a real blast.

Thank you to DeKnyff, Anja ( both of you for the badass dedication to your themes, so much Gold DeK for enlightening us on the rich legacy of women in Motorsport and Anja, for giving light on our Eastern European Racing heritage, Cheers ) Red, Ivanhoe, Dom, Beri, Wot, each and every one of you this was one of the best threads since I've been here and that's saying a lot.

Take a bow ladies and gentlemen and here's to a new glorious and healthy season of Racing and see you all again after it ends for an even better future Countdown. 

LETSGORACING

[Izzyeviel]

This thread is the highlight of the season, see y'all at christmas when we start again...

[barrykm]

No shot of Scheckter in 1973 with Yardley M23 #0 ????  (Yet????)

 

I look forward to seeing it next year