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1972 Spa 24-hours


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#1 RacingCompagniet

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Posted 21 January 2023 - 08:42

On my way to Nürburgring for the 1971 German GP, I was too late for the Spa 24-hours the weekend prior to the German race. Anyhow, I paid a visit to Spa-Francorchamps and drove a lap around the circuit in my Volvo 544S. The year after, I planned the trip to include also the Spa race, so here are the first of my images from that race. (There could have been more images, but I made the mistake of reloading an already exposed film, thereby spoiling 72 photos. At best, one could perhaps call some of them 'artistic'...)

Ford Capri RS (Birrell-Bourgoignie)
0723-1-Birrel-Bourgoignes-Capri-NEW.jpg

Mazda RX 3 (Vetsch-Mattli), by far the noisiest car together with its sibling...
0723-5-Vetsch-Mattli-Maxda-RX3-NEW.jpg

Alfa 1300 GTA (Facetti-Zeccoli)
0723-8-Facceti-Zeccoli-1300-GTA-NEW.jpg

BMW 2800CS (Heyer-Fitzpatrick)
30-Heyer-Fitzpatrick-2800-CS-NEW.jpg


L-G Sjöberg


Edited by RacingCompagniet, 21 January 2023 - 20:23.


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#2 ReWind

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Posted 21 January 2023 - 10:10

Wonderful photos once again! :up:

 

Alfa 1300 GTA (Facetti-Zeccoli)

Written on the car is Facetti / Truci .



#3 RacingCompagniet

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Posted 21 January 2023 - 11:19

Wonderful photos once again! :up:

 

Written on the car is Facetti / Truci .

Sharp eyes. The race programme says C. Facetti / T. Zeccoli but that setup could of course have changed by the time of the race.



#4 Tim Murray

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Posted 21 January 2023 - 11:35

The results on the Touring Car Racing site list the drivers as Facetti and Truci:

http://www.touringca...s/1972 Spa.html

#5 davidbuckden

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Posted 21 January 2023 - 12:40

Thanks again - I so like this era and these are good images. For me there were never better Touring Cars than the E9s, the Capris and the GTAs - and Spa's not a bad little track! Regards, David.



#6 marksixman

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Posted 21 January 2023 - 16:30

Once again, tremendous images. Thank you.

 

Interesting that your opening post mentions how noisy the Mazda rotary racers were. In 1983 I was spannering a 956 at Le Mans, and we had one of the C2 Mazdas in the pit next to us, or it might have been one away. The noise was PAINFUL ! Still gives me headaches just thinking about it !



#7 d j fox

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Posted 21 January 2023 - 19:59

Very many thanks for these great photos Great cars great era. More please!
Talking Mazdas who remembers the white Z&W Enterprises RX 7 of Pierre Honneger? Raced at Silverstone and Le Mans in 1980 and ear-shatteringly noisy!

Edited by d j fox, 21 January 2023 - 21:05.


#8 RacingCompagniet

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 08:29

Cologne Capri engine room

EPSON002.jpg

 

...and interior

EPSON003-NEW.jpg

 

Opel Commodore (T. Pilette - C. Tuerlinx)

23-NEW-NEW.jpg

 

The winners:  Hans Joachim Stuck and Jochen Mass

0723-7-Stuck-Mass-Capri.jpg



#9 marksixman

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 10:37

Cologne Capri engine room

EPSON002.jpg

 

...and interior

EPSON003-NEW.jpg

 

Opel Commodore (T. Pilette - C. Tuerlinx)

23-NEW-NEW.jpg

 

The winners:  Hans Joachim Stuck and Jochen Mass

0723-7-Stuck-Mass-Capri.jpg

Hmm ! On the Capri, I think I would have mounted the coil somewhere else, to keep the main HT lead further away from the charging regulator, and the finned box which I presume is an electronic ignition module. Neither of those would work too well after a bit of HT shock in wet weather.

 

Oh, silly me, it is Spa - never rains there !!  


Edited by marksixman, 22 January 2023 - 20:57.


#10 BRG

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 12:22

Did they have electronic ignition in 1972?  

 

More great shots from RacingCompagniet!  Those were some of the best years for touring car racing.  



#11 D-Type

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 12:44

Do I see a transverse Mini-style engine installation!  I never knew that.  Was the gearbox mounted E-W or N-S?



#12 RacingCompagniet

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 13:28

Do I see a transverse Mini-style engine installation!  I never knew that.  Was the gearbox mounted E-W or N-S?

Where? :confused:



#13 GreenMachine

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 14:06

Do I see a transverse Mini-style engine installation!  I never knew that.  Was the gearbox mounted E-W or N-S?

 

Oil cooler, if you are looking at the Escort.

 

Otherwise  :confused:



#14 arttidesco

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 15:06

Oil cooler, if you are looking at the Escort.

 

Otherwise  :confused:

 

Escort ?  :confused:  :drunk:



#15 arttidesco

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 15:08

Do I see a transverse Mini-style engine installation!  I never knew that.  Was the gearbox mounted E-W or N-S?

 

If you are thinking about the Ford V6 definitely not  :wave:



#16 dwh43scale

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 16:28

Superb - keep them coming ...



#17 GreenMachine

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 21:13

Escort ?  :confused:  :drunk:

Memo to self:  Must read the photo captions.  :blush:



#18 RacingCompagniet

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Posted 23 January 2023 - 09:09

Alfa GTAM (D. Pizzinato - P. Michels)

24.jpg

 

BMW 2800 CS (V. Gaye - W. Braillard)

28.jpg

 

Not exactly what one would expect to see in a race,  the standard-looking Volvo 164E of J. Byttebier - C. Crespin

26-NEW.jpg

 

Taped up to prevent too much glare in the rear-view mirror.

EPSON002.jpg

 

L-G Sjöberg



#19 70JesperOH

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Posted 23 January 2023 - 12:07

 

...and interior

EPSON003-NEW.jpg

 

 

I am amazed at how standard the interior of a '72 Cologne Capri looks!

 

Absolutely beautifull pictures.

 

Jesper



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#20 Gregor Marshall

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Posted 23 January 2023 - 12:41

Opel Commodore (T. Pilette - C. Tuerlinx)

23-NEW-NEW.jpg

 

 

Great Picture. Do you have any of my late father in the number 7 Commodore he shared with Paul Joosens?
I have a couple, but not many, plus I have a paddock shot that my father took of the Commodore being trailored in, being towed by a white Camaro!!



#21 RacingCompagniet

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Posted 23 January 2023 - 14:43

Great Picture. Do you have any of my late father in the number 7 Commodore he shared with Paul Joosens?
I have a couple, but not many, plus I have a paddock shot that my father took of the Commodore being trailored in, being towed by a white Camaro!!

I have one, but of a quality that I would normally not have published... :well:

 

Marshall-Jossens-Commodore-NEW.jpg

 

 

Lars-Göran Sjöberg



#22 10kDA

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Posted 23 January 2023 - 16:04

Great pics! Thanks for posting, your pics are much appreciated.

 

Below: Gotta love the hinged/pop-out rear windows. They are enough to drive a current-era aero engineer and Tech Director apoplectic. Driver's appropriate response: "YOU drive the thing for 12 hours and get back to me." :lol:

I have one, but of a quality that I would normally not have published... :well:

 

Marshall-Jossens-Commodore-NEW.jpg

 

 

Lars-Göran Sjöberg

 

 

Not sure what class the Volvo is in but though kind of heavy, Volvos can definitely be brought to a state of tune that can kick a$$ on the

track.

 

Re: BMW glare issue - Or, one could pull a thin-but-more-dense-than-sheer ladies' stocking over the mirror. Tried and proven. LOL

 


 

 

Not exactly what one would expect to see in a race,  the standard-looking Volvo 164E of J. Byttebier - C. Crespin

26-NEW.jpg

 

Taped up to prevent too much glare in the rear-view mirror.

EPSON002.jpg

 

L-G Sjöberg



#23 marksixman

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Posted 23 January 2023 - 17:21

 

 

Re: BMW glare issue - Or, one could pull a thin-but-more-dense-than-sheer ladies' stocking over the mirror. Tried and proven. LOL

Now where you get one of those at a race meeting ?!!!!!



#24 john winfield

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Posted 23 January 2023 - 18:41

Great photos RC. W. Braillard sharing the BMW.  Must be Willy Braillard - I remember him in Formula Vee, late sixties early seventies I would think.

 

The Schnitzer BMW looks so elegant, the Cologne Capri so purposeful, the Volvo looks....like a Volvo!



#25 RacingCompagniet

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Posted 24 January 2023 - 08:21

Great photos RC. W. Braillard sharing the BMW.  Must be Willy Braillard - I remember him in Formula Vee, late sixties early seventies I would think.

 

The Schnitzer BMW looks so elegant, the Cologne Capri so purposeful, the Volvo looks....like a Volvo!

You are certainly right about Willy Braillard.  Googling his name both refers to his racing in Formula Vee and also to Marabout, which is one of the sponsor names appearing on the BMW in my photo.



#26 Gregor Marshall

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Posted 24 January 2023 - 15:17

I have one, but of a quality that I would normally not have published... :well:

 

Marshall-Jossens-Commodore-NEW.jpg

 

 

Lars-Göran Sjöberg

 

That's great and is my Dad driving too, brilliant, thank you so much for posting :) 
Before Brexit I was able to purchase this - www.modelltoys-austria.at/product_info.php?products_id=20517&language=en


Edited by Gregor Marshall, 24 January 2023 - 15:23.


#27 Gregor Marshall

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Posted 24 January 2023 - 15:24

Great photos RC. W. Braillard sharing the BMW.  Must be Willy Braillard - I remember him in Formula Vee, late sixties early seventies I would think.

 

Willy also raced the Vauxhall Magnum as part of the Dealer Team in 1976 and 1977.



#28 RacingCompagniet

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Posted 24 January 2023 - 15:24

That's great and is my Dad driving too, brilliant, thank you so much for posting :) 
Before Brexit I was able to purchase this - www.modelltoys-austria.at/product_info.php?products_id=20517&language=en

 

Purchase what?   :confused:



#29 ReWind

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Posted 24 January 2023 - 15:29

The address was just incomplete. It should look like this:
 

https://www.modellto...517&language=en

 

100-155%20724607-1.jpg



#30 10kDA

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Posted 24 January 2023 - 20:39

Now where you get one of those at a race meeting ?!!!!!

Stuffed between the cushions of the '66 Ford Country Squire tow rig's back seat. How it got there was never explained. By me. To the questioner. For reasons of personal safety. I survived.



#31 LittleChris

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Posted 24 January 2023 - 20:50

The address was just incomplete. It should look like this:
 

https://www.modellto...517&language=en

 

100-155%20724607-1.jpg

 

According to the site selling this, it was driven by Garry Marshall  :D



#32 Myhinpaa

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Posted 24 January 2023 - 22:15

Some more info at Racing Sports Cars, + photo of programme cover: 

 

https://www.racingsp...1972-07-23.html

 

Spa-1972-07-23-Racingsportcars.jpg

 

 



#33 RacingCompagniet

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Posted 25 January 2023 - 08:39

Walter Brun / Jörg Obermoser (Mazda RX 3)

2-Mazda-RX3.jpg

 

Toine Hezemans / Helmut Kelleners (BMW 2800 CS)

11-NEW.jpg

 

Dieter Glemser / Alex Soler-Roig (Ford Capri 2600 RS)

31-Glemser-Soler-Roig-Capri-NEW.jpg

 

F. Neri / M. Damseaux (Fiat 128)

21-NEW.jpg



#34 PZR

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Posted 25 January 2023 - 10:28

I wonder if you have any photos of the (three) cars entered as 'Datsun 2000 GT' models (in fact very rare 'GLC10' LHD variants of Nissan's C10-series Skylines) which were driven by Henry Miroux, Rob Janssen, Henri Sonveau, Serge Laurent, 'Chavan' and Jean Degey?

 

Miroux and Janssen were in car #60, finishing 20th. Sonveau and Laurent were in car #62, finishing 28th. 'Chavan' and Degey were in car #61 but didn't finish.

 

There were quite a few other 'unlikely' cars in the race, but these three cars were real oddities in Europe at the time.    



#35 Myhinpaa

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Posted 25 January 2023 - 10:55

https://www.racingsp...2-07-23-060.jpg

 

Datsun-2000-GT-1972-24hrs-Spa.png



#36 RacingCompagniet

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Posted 25 January 2023 - 11:03

I wonder if you have any photos of the (three) cars entered as 'Datsun 2000 GT' models (in fact very rare 'GLC10' LHD variants of Nissan's C10-series Skylines) which were driven by Henry Miroux, Rob Janssen, Henri Sonveau, Serge Laurent, 'Chavan' and Jean Degey?

 

Miroux and Janssen were in car #60, finishing 20th. Sonveau and Laurent were in car #62, finishing 28th. 'Chavan' and Degey were in car #61 but didn't finish.

 

There were quite a few other 'unlikely' cars in the race, but these three cars were real oddities in Europe at the time.    

 

I'm afraid not.  As I said when starting this thread, I managed to double-expose a complete roll of film.  They might very well have been there... :(



#37 PZR

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Posted 25 January 2023 - 16:06

Thanks, yes. I've seen that one - and a few others - before. Have purchased some others from photo agencies too.  



#38 PZR

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Posted 25 January 2023 - 16:07

I'm afraid not.  As I said when starting this thread, I managed to double-expose a complete roll of film.  They might very well have been there... :(

Just my luck...  Never mind. The others are wonderful.Thank you!



#39 SamoanAttorney

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Posted 25 January 2023 - 17:25

It would seem appropriate to flag up my old friend David Blumlein's Spa 24 book, published a few years back.

 

It is on offer at half-price at Chaters and comprehensively covers the '70s as well as earlier and later races.

 

jb



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#40 D-Type

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Posted 25 January 2023 - 20:19

Do I see a transverse Mini-style engine installation!  I never knew that.  Was the gearbox mounted E-W or N-S?

My mistake.  I thought it was a windscreen in the background of the Capri engine bay shot and . . . 



#41 Charlieman

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Posted 25 January 2023 - 20:49

My mistake.  I thought it was a windscreen in the background of the Capri engine bay shot and . . . 

If there was an assumption on which to leap, you must be an agile monkey to jump that far. 

 

The electrics in the foreground of the photo demonstrate how tight the Capri engine area was. You would be hard pushed to move the coil anywhere else.



#42 70JesperOH

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Posted 26 January 2023 - 07:35

Not exactly what one would expect to see in a race,  the standard-looking Volvo 164E of J. Byttebier - C. Crespin

26-NEW.jpg

 

L-G Sjöberg

 

Zooming in on the standard wheels I think this would be a group 1 production saloon. I'm sure there were no disinction between groups 1 or 2, but only according to engine size, at least for ETCC points. But never the less, some entries has a Gr. 1 affixed to the car on Frank de Jong's site: http://touringcarrac...s/1972 Spa.html

 

Jesper



#43 RacingCompagniet

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Posted 26 January 2023 - 08:52

Zooming in on the standard wheels I think this would be a group 1 production saloon. I'm sure there were no disinction between groups 1 or 2, but only according to engine size, at least for ETCC points. But never the less, some entries has a Gr. 1 affixed to the car on Frank de Jong's site: http://touringcarrac...s/1972 Spa.html

 

Jesper

Yes, that is correct.  There were some group 1 entries in the 2000-5000 cc class, among them the Volvo.  There were also some in the 1300-2000 cc class but none in the class below 1300.



#44 RacingCompagniet

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Posted 30 January 2023 - 08:33

Some more from the -72 Spa 24 hours

 

The Capri of Franck and ?

0723-4-Franck-X-Capri.jpg

 

Heyer-Fitzpatrick 2800CS at Eau Rouge

Schnitzer-2800-CS.jpg

 

The Peltier-Ethuin 2800CS (originally entered for Aaltonen-Quester) with a somewhat shortened rear-end

0723-2-NEW.jpg


Edited by RacingCompagniet, 30 January 2023 - 09:22.


#45 Myhinpaa

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Posted 30 January 2023 - 10:13

According to the results, Klaus Fritzinger was drafted in as fellow driver ("X" in entry list) to Jean-Claude Franck.

 

Finished 11th O/A: https://www.racingsp...-07-23-004a.jpg



#46 d j fox

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Posted 30 January 2023 - 17:13

Confirmed on the Touring car site from Frank de Jong ( the late and much missed....)

 

http://touringcarrac...s/1972 Spa.html

 

4: Jean-Claude Franck/Klaus Fritzinger: Ford Capri RS2600: Kent Frami Racing