268 replies to this topic

[SamoanAttorney]

You are correct, I forgot that for one year it was a heads-up contest; I guess I was so pissed it lasted only one year, I conviently ignored it.

 

Here is one Corvette attempt, by a single dude against all odds, that showed, nowadays, money comes first, but it was a valiant effort.

 

https://www.imsa.com...ck-widow-power/

 

 

Bob,

 

I was lucky enough to cover most of those races in 2000 for Don's magazine.....and you are right to be disappointed, a battle between Viper and Vette would have been a highlight of any endurance racing championship. However, the Viper had reached the end of its development (and budget), whereas Vette, thanks to Pratt & Miller and Doug Fehan, were only at the beginning of their journey. A case of what might have been.....

 

The red monster in the photo was another case of a dream that did not realise its potential...... 

 

jb

[WonderWoman61]

You are correct, I forgot that for one year it was a heads-up contest; I guess I was so pissed it lasted only one year, I conviently ignored it.
 
Here is one Corvette attempt, by a single dude against all odds, that showed, nowadays, money comes first, but it was a valiant effort.
 
https://www.imsa.com...ck-widow-power/

Whoa! That car looks WICK-ED!

[WonderWoman61]

Fact,, 2 litres were boring. Buzzy little engines that though they were hitech. Spectators thought so as well,, and did NOT come in their droves.
I arrived at the Mallala round at 10am, the queu was huge. One car!! Try doing that then for the V8s and you would be back in Mallala. I feel there was generally more for a club meeting than the higher entry 2litres.

No wonder Supertouring never caught on in the States.

[BRG]

No wonder Supertouring never caught on in the States.

Well, Lee is in Australia, but Supertouring never really caught on there either. 

 

In both the US and Australia, it appears that race fans cannot cope with anything but V8 engines probably because that was what their parents drove..  Whereas in Europe (and elsewhere) our old folks drove Austin Minis, Renault 8s and Ford 100Es with four pot motors, so those are what rings our bells.

[WonderWoman61]

Well, Lee is in Australia, but Supertouring never really caught on there either. 
 
In both the US and Australia, it appears that race fans cannot cope with anything but V8 engines probably because that was what their parents drove..  Whereas in Europe (and elsewhere) our old folks drove Austin Minis, Renault 8s and Ford 100Es with four pot motors, so those are what rings our bells.

Well, why didn't he say so? I have never been to Australia and I thought he was referring to the North American Touring Car Championship.

[WonderWoman61]

Fact,, 2 litres were boring. Buzzy little engines that though they were hitech. Spectators thought so as well,, and did NOT come in their droves.
I arrived at the Mallala round at 10am, the queu was huge. One car!! Try doing that then for the V8s and you would be back in Mallala. I feel there was generally more for a club meeting than the higher entry 2litres.

That was in Australia though and Supertouring lasted from 1993 to 2002.

The post refers to the USA and Canada where Supertouring only lasted 2 seasons.

[ensign14]

I think given that Red Bull are almost literally a league ahead thanks to breaching the costs rules, we can put the FIA's cost cap penalties in this as abject failure.

[WonderWoman61]

I think given that Red Bull are almost literally a league ahead thanks to breaching the costs rules, we can put the FIA's cost cap penalties in this as abject failure.

The implementation and then scrapping of the 2009 budget cap springs to mind. Screwed up the 2010 newcomers before they had even started.

[10kDA]

Well, Lee is in Australia, but Supertouring never really caught on there either. 

 

In both the US and Australia, it appears that race fans cannot cope with anything but V8 engines probably because that was what their parents drove..  Whereas in Europe (and elsewhere) our old folks drove Austin Minis, Renault 8s and Ford 100Es with four pot motors, so those are what rings our bells.

That's a generalization about US fans that does not hold up. About the rest, I wouldn't know. Many US fans are tunnel-vision-ly brand-oriented, seeking validation for the make and model they have purchased and drive. NASCAR plays into that behavior, to their (once great) profit. Not everyone in the US falls into that line, I assure you. Back in the single seat Can-Am days it was the best of all possible worlds, for me at least.  F Atlantics and Super Vees as support races, which were equally interesting for me as the main events. And then the VW Rabbit race which was often the most entertaining of the entire weekend, especially Turn 1, Lap 1 LOL. Hmmm... are near-stock Rabbits "Touring cars"?

[E1pix]

I well recall close to half of the Rabbit field being off-track in Turn 5 at Road America, on the first lap in maybe 1976. Or were they Sciroccos?

Great stuff. They were indeed eight cylinders, per the theory, when two were bump-drafting. ;-)

[Lee Nicolle]

Well, Lee is in Australia, but Supertouring never really caught on there either. 

 

In both the US and Australia, it appears that race fans cannot cope with anything but V8 engines probably because that was what their parents drove..  Whereas in Europe (and elsewhere) our old folks drove Austin Minis, Renault 8s and Ford 100Es with four pot motors, so those are what rings our bells.

Tiny tourers generally had 4 cars, 2 Bimmers and 2 Audis that sometimes actually raced. And once the Bimmer drivers crashed each other out!

The rest were a pile of broken down junk wheezing and spluttering around. The British championship was usually a demo derby.

Anyone EVER excited about Minis [we may except a Cooper S] R8s 100Es really need a life. . They were at best mechanised transport. 

I grew up around as a kid a 34 Ford V8 soft top then Vanguards and later Holdens. Ane we regularly attended speedway with then solos, sidecars, TQs Speedcars [Midgets] Heavy Stockcars and later Supermodifieds into Sprintcars plus sedans.

[10kDA]

I well recall close to half of the Rabbit field being off-track in Turn 5 at Road America, on the first lap in maybe 1976. Or were they Sciroccos?

Great stuff. They were indeed eight cylinders, per the theory, when two were bump-drafting. ;-)

I think it was still Scirocco Cup in 76. I remember a few years in Rabbit Cup when one was left spinning on its top as the pack "screamed" (and tried to stream) thru 5, lap 1 LOL

[E1pix]

Pretty sure that was Paul Hacker.

Not sure why I suddenly smell double brats…

[10kDA]

Brats for breakfast!

[Bob Riebe]

Well, Lee is in Australia, but Supertouring never really caught on there either. 

 

In both the US and Australia, it appears that race fans cannot cope with anything but V8 engines probably because that was what their parents drove..  Whereas in Europe (and elsewhere) our old folks drove Austin Minis, Renault 8s and Ford 100Es with four pot motors, so those are what rings our bells.

Over here, the Trans-Am did have the Under Two Liter class and later the 2.5 class, which briefly, very briefly, caught some interest.

First with Alfa Romeo vs BMW, and later Datsun vs Alfa Romeo but as there were no competetive U.S. makes because Detroit was spending, adjusted for inflation,  millions on the 305 class, they simply drew little interest.

 

 It got as much interest as it did probably because Alfa and BMW were Exotic names and later because Datsun was spending money to become well known and the 240Z  was catching the interest of a lot young dudes at the time.

A side affair that also gave the buzz bombs a lift was that AMATEUR racing at the time was amateur in name only with British makes vs Japanese make spending a lot of money on races that paid no money and  Paul Newman being a competetive racer for Datsun made all the stars align briefly but it all fell apart in 1981 when the SCCA decded to adopt NASCAR tube frame follies. -- (I remember well the article  where a SCCA spokesman said just that.)

[Bob Riebe]

Pretty sure that was Paul Hacker.

Not sure why I suddenly smell double brats…

I am shivering with memories of a cold shower.

 

I do not know why but even though it is 41 degrees outside, I want to fire up the charcoal burner and cook some brats!!!

Edited by Bob Riebe, 20 April 2024 - 18:25.

[WonderWoman61]

What have I started just by mentioning the North American Touring Car Championship?

[E1pix]

You’ve started fun.

I am shivering with memories of a cold shower.

Shower? (LOL)

[WonderWoman61]

Fact,, 2 litres were boring. Buzzy little engines that though they were hitech. Spectators thought so as well,, and did NOT come in their droves.
I arrived at the Mallala round at 10am, the queu was huge. One car!! Try doing that then for the V8s and you would be back in Mallala. I feel there was generally more for a club meeting than the higher entry 2litres.

In that respect, the Supertouring Bathurst 1000, lasted as long as the NATCC. Just 2 years.