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The annual countdown thread is back! *heavy breathing*


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#2551 Bordino

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Posted 03 March 2023 - 17:19

When I started to post on this topic, I wanted to post as many numbers as possible, but it soon became difficult. First, I wanted to post only my own pics and they are not classified by numbers, if classified at all . Second, English is not my first language and correcting the typos is fastidious with a French-parametered software. Third and last, all of this takes time and I didn(t have so much in the period. Anyway it is a very instructive discipline and I learnt a lot and it is a pleasure to read all your great contributions.

So, today is number two and this is not a very original one, I think, if we consider the predominent nationality of this forum. Anyway it remains my greatest moment in "live" motorsports, the battle during 24 hours, the cheers of the british contingent, the non-invasion at the track with less than a lap between the 1st and 2nd. Those Jag were gorgeous, with a beautiful sound. I learnt a few years ago that the gearbox was close to let go, it would have been a big disappointment for many people.

 

 

002-lm88.jpg

 

 

Seen here at Arnage on Saturday evening, with its spats, of which it lost a few.

 

Things were cheaper these days, even for a 1956-built pit-roof :

 

lm88-ticket.jpg

 

Around 20 euros, not bad :lol:

 

And this was my entry for tomorrow !

 

It has been a very nice trip with you all, even though I don't care much for F1 nowadays. I have tons of like to still distribute, still and would add that I met around here some very nice people.

I also learnt a lot and want to thank you all for that.

I may come to rant from time to time if I find the right way to spell my rant.

 

Have a good '23 season !



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#2552 Nemo1965

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Posted 03 March 2023 - 17:24

Well, the countdouw season is about to close so I might try to take a course the upcoming time. :)
What else to do now?  ;)
Might have some time for that in between all other work I'm doing....


I can help you in a Zoom session, if you want to…

#2553 mikeC

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Posted 03 March 2023 - 17:39

Thank you, Bordino, for your splendid contributions which have added to my enjoyment of this thread.



#2554 Ivanhoe

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Posted 03 March 2023 - 17:52

Thank you, Bordino, for your splendid contributions which have added to my enjoyment of this thread.

+1  :up:



#2555 Henri Greuter

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Posted 03 March 2023 - 19:41

I can help you in a Zoom session, if you want to…

 

Better approval of how analog and UnDigital I am possible?:  What is zoom  ????

 

Thanks for the offer but you are wasting your time if I gave you the opportunity. With computer matters I am helpless. It is my personal variant of dyslexia.

But thanks anyway!



#2556 Sterzo

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Posted 03 March 2023 - 20:58

...English is not my first language and correcting the typos is fastidious with a French-parametered software.


...I may come to rant from time to time if I find the right way to spell my rant.

Ici dans South London nous parlons bon Franglais mate. Hope you keep posting. Don't worry about correcting spelling or grammar; your communication is clear and that's what matters. And those photos are wow...



#2557 racinggeek

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Posted 03 March 2023 - 21:19

2_9_millers_at_mke_19_bowes_hopkins_road

 

Mick Anderson of Wisconsin owns both of these replicas/restorations of former Indianapolis 500 cars, which may explain why they often were lapping the Milwaukee Mile in tandem during the 2019 Millers at Milwaukee event. Since we're on Day 2 here, we'll open with the No. 2 Dowgard/Lindsey Hopkins Watson roadster of 1960 that's arguably more significant because it's a tribute to the last car Tony Bettenhausen raced in an Indy 500; Tony dropped out of the '60 race, then of course was killed in practice for the '61 race. The No. 9 is the Bowes Seal Fast Kurtis roadster Johnny Boyd would have raced to third place in the 1958 500.

 

2_9_millers_at_mke_19_bowes_hopkins_road



#2558 racinggeek

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Posted 03 March 2023 - 23:00

2-ra-redman-vintage-11-72-javelin-follme

 

Here's one of the AMC Javelins that carried George Follmer to the first-ever SCCA Trans-Am drivers championship in 1972 (there was only a manufacturer's championship before then).  Roy Woods Racing, which was running Javelins in the 1971 T-A season, picked up the Javelin program after Roger Penske's team and Mark Donohue won the championship for AMC in '71 and dropped out of the series (see their car under the No. 6s in this thread), and Follmer scored four wins in seven races in '72, mostly driving the RWR Javelin numbered 1 but also occasionally in the No. 2 seen here that Woods himself usually piloted. The image above is of Jim Hague leaning through T13 at Road America in the 2011 Brian Redman vintage races; the one below is of current car owner Ken Epsman heading toward the Carousel in the 2021 WeatherTech races at RA, both as part of the Historic Trans-Am group.

 

2_ra_weathertech_vintage_21_72_javelin_f



#2559 racinggeek

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Posted 03 March 2023 - 23:16

2-ra-vscda-fall-vintage-17-60-mallock-u2

 

You may remember in one of my posts back on Day 5 that I mentioned Formula Junior was being featured more in American vintage racing starting in 2017 and was in fact the featured class at the Vintage Sports Car Drivers Ass'n. (VSCDA) fall races at Road America that year. Ray Mallock his own self came over from Britain to run a few of these races in the quite distinctive 1960 Mallock U2 Mark 2 built by his father; he's seen here making the climb to T6 at the VSCDA race, in which he finished in fourth place.



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#2560 racinggeek

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Posted 03 March 2023 - 23:28

2-ra-indycar-21-newgarden-winner.jpg

 

Josef Newgarden down toward The Kink on his way to winning the 2022 IndyCar race at Road America, wearing the colors his car should wear more often instead of the blah white/black "colors" it too often has.



#2561 red stick

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 04:46

Audi came to Pikes Peak when the SCCA began sanctioning the race and an Open Rally Division was created.  John Buffum drove Audis to division wins in 1982 and 1983, followed by Michele Mouton in 1984.  In 1985, Mouton returned, winning overall honors and setting the then fastest time ever up the mountain, an 11:25.39.

 

Mouton-Pikes-Peak-1985-Audi-Tradition-2-

 

Bobby Unser was not happy.  A foreigner holding the record was one thing, but a woman was more than he could bear.  He convinced Audi into letting him drive one of its cars the next year, where he promptly scored a record tenth overall win, lowering the course record another 16 seconds.

 

a-pikes-peak-bergrennen-1986-unser-077-0

 

Audi returned in 1987, this time with Walter Rohrl, who became the first man to win the Hill Climb with a time under 11 minutes, a blistering 10:47.85, in a year where the second and third place Peugeots of Ari Vatanen and Andrea Zannos also clocked in under 11 minutes.

 

A168880_full.jpg?1582293190

 

walter_rohl_returning_to_the_pikes_peak_

 

And speaking of Vatanen, who would become King of the Mountain the following year, well, his 1988 run was memorialized in film . . .

 

 

 

Thanks to all for your contributions this year.  This has been a blast.


Edited by red stick, 04 March 2023 - 04:56.


#2562 GlenWatkins

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 05:47

My post number one in this years countdown:

waynerainey2022goodwood2.jpg

 

This is Wayne Rainey last year at Goodwood reunited with his number 1 Yamaha YZR500 two stroker with which he won the 1992 world championship, his third.   Those who followed motorcycle racing of that era will remember the epic battles Rainey had with the likes of Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz & Mick Doohan.  What makes this seemingly unremarkable photo remarkable is the fact that Rainey is riding while paralyzed from the chest down from injuries suffered in a crash during the 1993 Italian Grand Prix.  This was the first time he has been back on a bike.  Here’s how they made it happen, those who have ridden a 2 stroke bike know and will smile when the announcer talks about ‘getting on the pipe’, I sure do.

 

And here is the video of his ride at Goodwood this past September with the aforementioned two wheeled royalty – even King Kenny was there, all following closely behind. (FYI, the first 2.5 minutes are of the ride, the rest interviews)

[youtube][/youtiube]

waynerainey2022goodwood.jpg

 

Thanks to all who have participated in this year's countdown!

 



#2563 GlenWatkins

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 05:48

Almost forgot the 1964 Indy 500 winner:

foyt1964.png


Edited by GlenWatkins, 04 March 2023 - 05:48.


#2564 mikeC

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 07:59

The winning team of Austins in the Light Car Club's Relay Race, Brooklands, 1937 )left to right: Kay Petre, Charles Goodacre and Bert Hadley)

 

1937-LCC-Relay-Race.jpg



#2565 mikeC

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 08:04

Oh, another one!

 

Leon Thery in his Richard-Brasier, winner of the 1905 Gordon Bennett Cup

 

1905-GB-25.jpg

 

1905-Brasier.jpg


Edited by mikeC, 04 March 2023 - 08:06.


#2566 ensign14

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 09:11

52186383243_58047fd9c3_b.jpg



#2567 68targa

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 09:29

Emerson was excited when told he was going to drive a Ford 5000 ....

 

 

1-roth-50kimg002.jpg

 

and my final # 1 for this season. A favorite of mine and probably several others it has to be the Chaparral 2F with Phil Hill and Mike Spence winning at Brands Hatch in 1967. I was privileged to have witnessed this race where the USA team beat a full team of Ferrari and Porsche works entries. Wonderful times.

 

1-1967-BOAC-chap.jpg

 

A  big thank you to those who have contributed to this thread it has been very entertaining and some great, great photos from you all.  Enjoy the 2023 season .



#2568 Anja

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 09:48

image057.jpg

 

Sobiesław Zasada is probably the most successful Polish driver ever, with three European Rally Championships (back in pre-WRC era when that meant a whole lot more). But this is a less known episode from his career. Most of Zasada's success came while driving a Porsche 911 and near the end of his career he wanted to try an Alpine. It happened in Rally Poland 1974, where he started in a brand new Alpine A110. Zasada was running in third place, getting to know the new car ahead of some international starts planned later in the year, when the disaster struck. On SS12 he came upon a car... driving in the opposite direction, belonging to the organizers. Going at full speed, on a narrow road, he couldn't completely avoid crashing into it. Miraculously no one was hurt, but the Alpine was completely wrecked and it turned out to be Zasada's only ever start in the French car. 


Edited by Anja, 04 March 2023 - 10:05.


#2569 Ivanhoe

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 10:06

Jack Brabham navigates his BT24 through Woodcote corner at the 1967 British GP, back in the days when a photographer’s job was almost as exciting as that of a racing driver.

CE8033-D2-A331-4094-ACAA-DF1-D5994-F0-D2

And as a bonus, ever wondered about the user name of one of the most loyal contributors in the countdown threads over the years? Here’s the French pioneer of car racing, René de Knyff in the winning Panhard-Daimler at the Paris - Bordeaux race in 1898.

EE1-F9670-4-E76-432-F-90-C8-FA8-FD28579-



#2570 BRG

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 10:13

So, today is number two and this is not a very original one, I think, if we consider the predominent nationality of this forum.

Eh bien, you cannot go wrong here with a picture of a Jaguar winning at Le Mans!   :love:

 

You have been a brilliant contributor to the Countdown, with so many great personal photos.  And your written English has been impeccable.  Bravo!  And please join us whenever you can in the future.  



#2571 ensign14

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 10:23

When I started to post on this topic, I wanted to post as many numbers as possible, but it soon became difficult. First, I wanted to post only my own pics and they are not classified by numbers, if classified at all . Second, English is not my first language and correcting the typos is fastidious with a French-parametered software.

I'm lucky on the first count because I have often concentrated on tiny details on racing cars when given the chance to photograph them, and, with a long-standing fascination for typography, numbers are an obvious target.  So they tend to stand out with pics.  On the other hand I'm not bothered about them when they are age-inappropriate, or obviously the wrong typeface.  So I won't be putting up a no. 71 on a Cooper-Climax or a 44 on a Shadow DN3 for instance.

 

On the second, your English is parfait.



#2572 OvDrone

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 10:33

We are here, the closing number of this timeless thread. And as stated previously, I will bookend this with the most recent post in contrast to my post from yesterday.

A moment that will live on with me forever happened recently at the beginning of this 2023 Supercross season with my favorite ever rider ( as seen by my avatar ) Eli Tomac, finally won the crown jewel traditional opening race of the season - Anaheim 1 - after 10 damn years of trying.

This triumph was done in sublime yet oh so human style with him going to the lead ahead of this elite #deepfield, having a small fall mid-race and then storming to the front again to a remarkable classic win. This will embolden me throughout the year to never give up by victorious example.

In the world of Motocross, the legacy if for the crowning Champ to wear the 'red plate' at the first race, and after that it's given to the rider who is leading the Championship standing. Thankfully, we are 8 rounds and with 10 to go and Eli is still wearing that red plate with Cooper Webb and Chase Sexton hunting him relentlessly making this season and series one to remember already. Today it's time for his favorite hunting ground at Daytona, so I'll enjoy every minute of it. Time to get that win!

My desire is for Tomac to wear the red plate all season long and end it as 3x Supercross Champion and 2nd in the all-time wins list, passing my previous favorite - James Stewart.

It is remarkable to witness this living legend hone his art each race and the fans are absolutely loving it, knowing that what they are witnessing is something special. Going to do my best and all to go Stateside for the first time, visit my partner at her home and see Eli Tomac race in Pro Moto this Summer.

1VgyB3L.jpg

See you all for tomorrow, closing thank you post.

LETSGOET3


Edited by OvDrone, 04 March 2023 - 10:52.


#2573 BRG

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 10:35

"… And now the end is here, And so I face that final curtain countdown..."   Yes, thank you Frank, don't ring us, we'll ring you.

 

For our Grand Finale, we are looking at some of the greats that run with the #1.  Many were champions of course, and the champions of champions are sometimes called GOATS   So I thought I would feature a couple of goats.

1goats.jpg

Not that sort of goat, dummy.....

 

The ADAC Deutschland Rally has seen some distinguished winners over the years.  They include the best female rally driver (and arguably the best female driver in any discipline) Michele Mouton.  red stick has already brought us her Pike's Peak victory in the Audi Quattro with which she is forever associated, but she could win in other cars too! 1-Rallye-Deutschland-1986-Mouton.jpg After leaving Audi, Michele drove for Peugeot Talbot Deutschland in 1986 and won the Deutschland Rally in a 205 Turbo 16, partnered not by her usual co-driver Fabrizia Pons, but by Terry Harryman, a hugely experienced competitor.

 

But the King of the Deutschland Rally was the undisputed greatest rally driver of all time - well, in my opinion at least! - Sebastian Loeb.  Partnered by his faithful co-driver Daniel Elena, Loeb had won this rally 9 times.  Then some others got a look in but just as they thought his domination was over, he popped up in 2012 and won it for a 10th time.  1-Rallye-Deutschland12.jpg As a Frenchman, I suppose blasting through vineyards is second nature to him!  

 

And that's my lot.  Many thanks to everyone who contributed or commented on all of these wonderful contributions that have made this the best Countdown thread so far.  You are all GOATS in your own way!!


Edited by BRG, 04 March 2023 - 10:39.


#2574 Henri Greuter

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 11:33

2_9_millers_at_mke_19_bowes_hopkins_road

 

Mick Anderson of Wisconsin owns both of these replicas/restorations of former Indianapolis 500 cars, which may explain why they often were lapping the Milwaukee Mile in tandem during the 2019 Millers at Milwaukee event. Since we're on Day 2 here, we'll open with the No. 2 Dowgard/Lindsey Hopkins Watson roadster of 1960 that's arguably more significant because it's a tribute to the last car Tony Bettenhausen raced in an Indy 500; Tony dropped out of the '60 race, then of course was killed in practice for the '61 race. The No. 9 is the Bowes Seal Fast Kurtis roadster Johnny Boyd would have raced to third place in the 1958 500.

 

2_9_millers_at_mke_19_bowes_hopkins_road

 

 

Nice pic and very informative to know all this.

 

the #2 Dowgard is indeed a replica, as I pointed out already on day 16.

 

Your avatar is the real 1959 Indy 500 #16 and that particular Watson chassis was restored back into its 1959 configuration and been seen for a number of years as such. Rcently it changed hands and maybe the car is redecorated by now but I am not aware of such having happened. But when you made these pictures it was still the 1959 #16.

Anyway, the Watson chassis that was the 1959 #16 was the Dowgard #2 one year later. But since you pictured this car while the true 1959 #16 still existed in that trim, this Dowgard has to be a replica. (I think it is the same one I spotted in 2016 and used in my contributions for day 16)

 

But as you already indicated: the car is built for good reasons as a tribute to a great driver and a fantastic family I might add to that. A family that has literally sacrificed life and limbs for a spot on the Borg Warner by at least one of the family members but never saw that dream fulfilled.
 


Edited by Henri Greuter, 04 March 2023 - 13:47.


#2575 Sterzo

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 12:00

It is impossible to consider "number one" complete, without a picture of Fangio at the Nurburgring in 1957, in what even he considered his greatest drive. So here are two of his fabulous Maserati 250F (chassis 2529).

 

1%20Fangio-1957-German.png?dl=1

 

The endearingly chaotic Maserati team decided, rightly or wrongly, their Pirelli tyres might not last the distance, so they short-fuelled the car and Fangio made a pit stop on lap 13 of 22. I have read, but not seen confirmation, that is was Bertocci the chief mechanic who dropped the centre-lock wheel nut. (Not sure that's him in the picture). In any case, the nut rolled under the car (as nuts do) and it took some time to scrabble about and retrieve it. This prompted a sensational recovery drive, involving skimming the earth banks, and charging past Collins and Hawthorn in their Ferraris with uncharacteristic ruthlessness. Photos from after the finish show the two Ferrari drivers looking as pleased with Fangio's win as he was. They knew what they'd witnessed.

 

1%20pit_stop1957.jpg?dl=1

 

Huge thanks to all those who have posted in this thread, a monument to the sheer enjoyment we derive from motor racing, enhanced by being able to share it. Whether you have reminded us of familiar scenes, let us dip into your personal memories, or led us along obscure trackways - thank you.

 

Shed not a tear. Only 23 races to go before another countdown thread begins.


Edited by Sterzo, 04 March 2023 - 12:01.


#2576 Bleu

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 13:02

01_SI202203270557_hires_jpeg_24bit_rgb-l

 

With current numbering system in F1 it was good to see #1 last year.



#2577 DeKnyff

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 13:10

001-01.jpg

 

More Juan Manuel Fangio. Here he is, hitting an oil drum with his streamlined Mercedes W196 (it happened several times along the race, maybe it was because he couldn't see the wheels?), at the 1954 British GP.

 

Although he had qualified on pole, breaking the 100 mph barrier at Silverstone, Fangio lost terrain in the race due to handling problems and he finally finished 4th. Fellow Argentinian José Froilán González, The Pampas Bull, won the race in a Ferrari.

 

Two curiosities about that race: four Argentinians finished among the top six (Fangio, González, Onofre Marimón and Roberto Mieres) and the fastest lap point was shared among no less than seven drivers, who posted the same time: 1 min 50 sec.



#2578 Beri

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 13:58

104 days have flown by. We started at 105 and there will be the inevitable number 0 posts coming up tomorrow on the 105th day. But as things will be winding down, I see number 1 as a fitting goodbye to my pictures in this thread. It has been 104 days of pure enjoyment and utter dedication by you all. 104 days of sheer knowledge that has been shared. Sometimes you all seemed like living encyclopedias.
104 days where the slowest, the fastest, the oldest and the latest racing cars, ordinary cars, bikes, soap box cars, trucks, tractors and even boats were shared. 104 days that took us from the heights of Mount Panorama even higher roads into the Rockies for Pikes Peak. From the rural areas of Poland and Scotland to the glitz and glamour of famous circuits like Road America, Spa Francorchamps and La Sarthe. 104 days that led us throughout history. From the early racing days till the modern day. From unsung heroes that were pictured, both drivers and cars, to legends. 104 days that saw it all.

I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I know that sounds a bit exaggerated, but I've been through quite a rough patch recently. During it all, this thread kept me entertained and distracted from it. And there are so many regular/daily posters up here that it is impossible to thank you all individually without failing to mention someone. So via this way, I want to thank you all! It has been a true honor to be allowed to guzzle up all your knowledge. And it has been an absolute joy in discussing things with you all up here.

And like I've said before, and many of you all did so as well; this thread feels like a true community. Through laughter and not, I thoroughly enjoyed this thread every single day that it has been up and running.

On to the next Countdown Thread in 267 days from now! In the meanwhile; I hope to have fun discussions and conversations with you all on all the other threads on the Atlas Forum. See you there!

As for my number 1, how fitting can it be that I conclude with the reigning champion of the sport that unites us all? Pictured is Max Verstappen at the 2014 Masters of Formula 3 in Zandvoort. Quite ominous, already then, he would dominate qualifying and the race to seal the win.

908px-Max_Verstappen_at_the_2014_Zandvoo

#2579 ensign14

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 14:07

More Juan Manuel Fangio. Here he is, hitting an oil drum with his streamlined Mercedes W196 (it happened several times along the race, maybe it was because he couldn't see the wheels?), at the 1954 British GP.

 

Two curiosities about that race: four Argentinians finished among the top six (Fangio, González, Onofre Marimón and Roberto Mieres) and the fastest lap point was shared among no less than seven drivers, who posted the same time: 1 min 50 sec.

 

Giambertone wrote in his Fangio "auto"biog that Fangio had phenomenal regularity - could follow the same line lap after lap - by gauging where the front wheels were.  That Fangio wasn't the Lord High of Everything in sportscars lends some credence to that.

 

And of course they probably didn't all share the same lap time, but Silverstone seemed to be using eggtimers rather than stopwatches and only gave times out to the nearest second/
 



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#2580 milestone 11

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 14:53

Sincerest apologies for poking my nose in at the end. As always, the little that I've seen of this thread has produced a fantastic mix of racing nostalgia. A credit to all that have participated.

Louis Chiron at West Park hairpin in 1947. Chiron's Maserati finished 2nd behind the similar car of Reg Parnell in somewhat controversial circumstances largely due to the Italians not having a lap chart.

Louis-Chiron-at-west-park-47.jpg

Chiron's car before the start.

Louis-Chiron-1947.jpg

Prince Bira at Bel Royal in the 1948 edition, my first motor race I'm told.

Bira-48.jpg

Edited by milestone 11, 06 March 2023 - 12:28.


#2581 mikeC

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 16:57

Let me add another photo of Louis Chiron with Number One, one year later at the 1948 British Grand Prix in his Talbot Lago:

 

1947-Talbot-Lago-GP.jpg



#2582 Nemo1965

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 17:01

Sincerest apologies for poking my nose in at the end. As always, the little that I've seen of this thread has produced a fantastic mix of racing nostalgia.

Louis Chiron at West Park hairpin in 1947. Chiron's Maserati finished 2nd behind the similar car of Reg Parnell in somewhat controversial circumstances largely due to the Italians not having a lap chart.

Louis-Chiron-at-west-park-47.jpg

Chiron's car before the start.

Louis-Chiron-1947.jpg

Prince Bira at Bel Royal in the 1948 edition, my first motor race I'm told.

Bira-48.jpg


High quality pictures like these, especially in color, especially of Monaco, always bring the past so achingly close and yet so far...

Edited by Nemo1965, 04 March 2023 - 17:01.


#2583 mikeC

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 17:29

St Helier, not Monaco!



#2584 racinggeek

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 20:08

Day 1 already? Man, I only jumped in at Day 65, but it really has been a blast going back through my vast array of photos and doing the research on them as well. If permissible, I may have a couple of Zero Hour photos before we get the green lights/flags in Bahrain and St. Pete, but here come a couple of No. 1s from my files.

 

1-ra-fall-vintage-07-old-grey-mare.jpg

 

This is the famed Old Grey Mare, a junkyard special built in 1935 by Lem Ladd and John Rueter to compete -- which it did, successfully -- against the European cars prevalent in those seminal years of American sports car racing. Built on a Whippet frame with Ford engine and running gear and a body salvaged from another sports car of the time, the Mare set a record on the Mt. Washington Hill Climb and won races elsewhere in the northeastern U.S. Ben Bragg did the massive restoration of the Mare, seen here in the 2007 VSCDA fall vintage races at Road America; most of the credit for the information written here goes to this story on the Veloce Today website.



#2585 racinggeek

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 20:35

1-mke-nascar-vintage-08-superbird-usac-n

 

One of the best stock car racers of the 1960s in the midwestern U.S. was Norm Nelson. The Wisconsin-based "Great Dane" scored three USAC Stock Car championships (1960, 65-66) and 35 career wins in a series where he competed against the likes of national stars like AJ Foyt, Parnelli Jones and Paul Goldsmith, as well as regional favorites Don White and Butch Hartman. Nelson also ran a second car for several years in which Roger McCluskey won two straight USAC Stock Car titles in 1969-70, and all told Nelson's team won 62 USAC races and six entrant's crowns. Nelson was still winning himself as late as 1974 at age 51, when Hartman edged him for the championship in the last race of the season, and McCluskey last took one of his cars to victory in 1976. Shown here making laps on the Milwaukee Mile in 2008 is the Plymouth Superbird Nelson would have owned and McCluskey raced in 1970 and '71 which also took a second place to AJ in the Riverside 500 NASCAR Grand National race in '70; I can't vouch for its authenticity, but it does have the right look based on photos I've seen, except for the Coors decal.

 

EDIT: meant to add that Nelson's 35 USAC Stock Car wins are third-most behind Don White (53) and AJ (42), and his wins as an entrant are second behind only the Chrysler factory -backed Nichols Engineering (70). Believe most if not all of McCluskey's 23 stock car wins, good for sixth on the list, came in Nelson's cars.


Edited by racinggeek, 05 March 2023 - 02:15.


#2586 jcbc3

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 23:18

St Helier, not Monaco!

 

 

The Monte Carlo of Jersey!



#2587 ensign14

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 00:15

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#2588 as65p

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 00:24

Brings back memories of the squashed hedgehogs on the '93 McLaren... :D



#2589 racinggeek

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 03:42

Mention of Norm Nelson a few posts above brings to mind that one of his last efforts in USAC stock cars was running an AMC Concord for Roger McCluskey in 1978, which I believe came about because of McCluskey's association with the AMC-backed effort to make a turbo AMC stock block work as a USAC Champ Car engine; the Indy car and stock car both were sponsored and probably entered by future NASCAR team sponsor Warner Hodgdon. Which transitions to one of AMC's last factory-backed racing efforts before they were bought -- er. merged with Renault ...

 

1_ra_redman_vintage_16_amc_spirit_nurbur

 

In 1979, BF Goodrich took over sponsorship of the IMSA Radial Challenge series for showroom stock(ish) compact cars and small sedans, in which Team Highball was a longstanding top team running AMC-backed Gremlins, Pacers (seriously) and Spirits with team leaders Dennis Shaw and Amos Johnson driving. Goodrich was obviously looking to make a name for its street radial tires in the racing world, and reports of that time said AMC wanted to increase its visibility in Europe because a large number of its Spirit cars to American soldiers stationed overseas; the factory actually tried to get a Spirit running in the European Touring Car Championship in '79, but I don't see any record of it making more than one or two appearances with not-good results.

 

With those things in mind, Goodrich and AMC came together in 1979 to sponsor a two-car effort in the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring, prepped to Group 1 specs with 304-inch V-8 engines and run on Goodrich street-legal radials by Team Highball. The No, 2 car driven by a young Lyn St, James, IMSA Radial Challenge vt 9and later HANS Device co-inventor) Jim Downing and automotive journalist Gary Witzenburg placed a trouble 25th overall and the No. 1 of Shaw, Johnson and actor James Brolin a more-troubled 43rd overall -- yet that was good enough for first and second places in class and plenty of ads in car and racing publications of the day/

 

Below is a photo of the No. 2 Nurburgring-winning Spirit in the Karussel during the race (source unknown). Above is the Spirit the late Myron Cottrell raced at vintage events in the mid-2010s, seen there at the 2016 The Hawk/Redman races at Road America. Cottrell said this car, although painted as the No. 1, is the 24-hour race winner, although Shaw couldn't say for sure when I spoke with him several years later. In any case, the AMC held a place in racing history at the time as the only American car to win in any class in that race; don't know if any others have done so since.

.

1-spirit-no2-side.jpg



#2590 racinggeek

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 04:56

One last photo(s) submission for Day Zero for me:

 

0-ra-redman-12-ferrari-512-hollfelder.jp

 

0-redman-12-ferrari-512-hollfelder-2.jpg

 

Tom Hollfelder's gorgeous Scuderia Fillipinetti Ferrari 512 (seen elsewhere as No 7 but taped into No. 0 at this race, so we'll roll with that) leans into the Carousel (top) and turns into the morning sun in T13 (bottom) at the 2012 Brian Redman vintage races at Road America. Good to go out of the thread with a race car as beautiful as this.

 

With that, I'm thrilled I was able to take part this year. Thanks to everyone who made the effort to post interesting, cool and noteworthy cars and write a bit about the history of them -- I loved the more oddball vehicles, the really early cars, the curiosities, the rally cars and especially red stick's Pikes Peak rundown, along with the stories about them -- and thanks to those who not only gave my photos a Like but also corrected errors in my writings or otherwise commented on them -- always appreciated. Still have quite a few pages I haven't yet seen, so I'll check back in here soon.

 

And now, time for racing!



#2591 barrykm

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 06:14

One last photo(s) submission for Day Zero for me:

 

0-ra-redman-12-ferrari-512-hollfelder.jp

 

0-redman-12-ferrari-512-hollfelder-2.jpg

 

Tom Hollfelder's gorgeous Scuderia Fillipinetti Ferrari 512 (seen elsewhere as No 7 but taped into No. 0 at this race, so we'll roll with that) leans into the Carousel (top) and turns into the morning sun in T13 (bottom) at the 2012 Brian Redman vintage races at Road America. Good to go out of the thread with a race car as beautiful as this.

 

With that, I'm thrilled I was able to take part this year. Thanks to everyone who made the effort to post interesting, cool and noteworthy cars and write a bit about the history of them -- I loved the more oddball vehicles, the really early cars, the curiosities, the rally cars and especially red stick's Pikes Peak rundown, along with the stories about them -- and thanks to those who not only gave my photos a Like but also corrected errors in my writings or otherwise commented on them -- always appreciated. Still have quite a few pages I haven't yet seen, so I'll check back in here soon.

 

And now, time for racing!

 

Lovery pictures, thanks. But that hoop structure immediately before the engine air intake - I don't think I've seen that before..?!



#2592 MikeTekRacing

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 08:09

For me 0 will always remind me of Damon’s Williams…
Each time I see a big 0 on a car, that’s where my mind takes me.
Let 2023 F1 Sundays begin!

#2593 Ivanhoe

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 08:13

What a great place this has been the last few months. Thanks for all your great contributions and stories, it’s been an honor and absolute pleasure to be part of it. I hope you all have a fantastic 2023 motor racing season.

 

There have been countdown threads with more pictures of Dan Gurney, who drove in so many series, so many cars and with so many numbers. So also #0. Here he’s seen at his Daytona 500 debut in 1962, driving a Ford Galaxy.

B92-BDF53-8842-407-B-A76-D-9-FAF51-BE739

1-FA651-AD-97-D6-41-FC-BECA-D0-DA9-A980-



#2594 DeKnyff

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 10:10

000-02.jpg

 

The Corvette of Jack Saunders arrives to the Bahamas for the 1964 Nassau Speed Week.

 

Saunders took part in several races of the week, with mixed results, but he couldn't qualify for the Trophy Race.

 

 

And this is my last post in this thread, thanks to all posters for your amazing pictures, which bring us to a great variety of motorsport cultures and moments.



#2595 Bleu

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 11:05

 Yesterday, a co-driver turned to be a driver in a zero car.

 

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#2596 OvDrone

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 14:57

Just as the Grand Prix is about to start, I want to take the time to graciously thank each and every one of your from my deepest, sincere Racing heart.

This thread brought so much passion, joy, insights, wisdom, fun, even deep life experiences to the table and it was an absolute thrill and honor to be a part of it.

First one where I finally was able to post each and every day and it was not short than legendary.

The list is too long to name you all ( it's on my bucket list for next year  :cool: ) so here a candid Cheers for these past 105 days and here's to many more together!

Have a great season y'all. Love you. 



#2597 JRodrigues

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Posted 05 March 2023 - 23:31

It was great hanging out with so many wonderful people and stories. See you all again in 200 days.



#2598 jcbc3

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Posted 06 March 2023 - 07:39

Thanks everyone and especially members sharing their private photos!



#2599 red stick

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Posted 06 March 2023 - 12:24

One more bump to say thanks to all who participated.  I learned a lot, enjoy the European rallying photos that seem a staple every year, am fascinated at the photos of racing's early years that are available, enjoy the stories, and am amazed at some of the unlikely cars that people compete in (I'm looking at you, Chevette).

 

This is one of the most anticipated threads each off-season.  Good work!



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#2600 barrykm

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Posted 07 March 2023 - 04:53

May I belatedly add my thanks to all the contributors to this thread, with particular appreciation for all the research that was undertaken  :clap:

 

It's been a real pleasure to be entertained, informed, and amazed.

 

Take care all, have a great 2023.