RE: 70s saloons: Time For Tea?

[rolymo]

Fantastic video, made my day ! brought back great memories of racing my Vauxhall Viva V8 ( Pontiac V8,421 cubic inc with tri- power carbs 420 bhp) and muncy trans back in the early 1970s. Raced several times at CP with my works PROD- sports Turner 1750cc , great fun in those days.

[rolymo]

That video was so good I had to watch again and again, Oh! I do wish I could get my kit out and have another go. Unfortunately these days I am confind to memories or watching my kids race. The Viva sprinting at Curborough, Staffs in the 70,s

[rolymo]

Watched it again, great stuff !

[Jasper Gilder]

martin thomas said:

Shame I spun :-)

I think you made up for it in other races - remember Flame Out?

[windy1]

Colin (Viva GT Gerry Replica) and myself (Escort MK2) love to take our cars and play to the crowds at the Crystal palace sprint. When Colin left the line they broadcast this footage of the Murray Walker commentary on the tannoy for that race. It seemed very appropriate to the atmosphere of the event.

I agree modern circuit racing is very boring. I'd suggest you all get to a round of the British Hillclimb championship sometime - this for me is the only thing left in moptorsport where you can still get close to the action.

[dinkel]

Come to the Spa 6 Hrs meeting to watch the British Saloon Car Challenge:

[Legacywr]

That's why Mk1 Escorts cost so much these days!

[vjj]

I am not usually one for jumping up and down like a lunatic but I find myself doing just that watching this vid.........................

I have childhood memories of this racing, and the rallycross, and it all came flooding back

Than I read this forum and the bloke who is driving the bellowing camaro has posted on here.

I know the escort won on that twisty track - bet it didn't at silverstone or thruxton???

Any answers Mr Thomas?

Great start to my weekend.......................

[rustyabarth]

Fond memories of being a small child driven sideways everywere in my dads Viva Gt listing to the sound of a set of open weber twin 40's.

Watched this video many times and its still fantastic. Proper racing, with real men hustling the beasts around in spectacular fashion.

[will261058]

That was brilliant as usual from that era, so much more exciting than F1 is today IMHO.

[gareth_r]

hammo19 said:

There was an element of this re-created at the Silverstone Classic meet a couple weekends back. An epic battle between Mini Coopers, Ford Cortinas, Mustangs, Falcons and Galaxies...

That's what I remember about watching saloon car racing on the 'box when I was a kid.

Minis vs Lotus Cortinas vs Mk2 Jags vs Ford Galaxies and Falcons. Different types of cars creating a classic contest of handling vs power.

[LuS1fer]

gareth_r said:

hat's what I remember about watching saloon car racing on the 'box when I was a kid.

Minis vs Lotus Cortinas vs Mk2 Jags vs Ford Galaxies and Falcons. Different types of cars creating a classic contest of handling vs power.

Yep, no wings, no air dams, no huge rubber, flexible chassis but, crucially, REAR wheel drive providing the entertainment.

[PascalBuyens]

martin thomas said:

Shame I spun :-)

Forgiven, because of your profile pic

[Shy Torque]

LuS1fer said:

Could watch this sort of racing all day long. I recall being at Oulton Park in the 70s when a yellow Escort Mk 1 (Nick somebody) and Droop Snoot Firenza (Gerry Marshall) were dicing for the win. Stunning stuff. Proper racing

Watch the BTCC and you'd fall asleep nowadays. Just too fast and grippy and they all contrive to look much the same..

Just managed to pip this Firenza at the line at Mallory the other weekend. Watching that Crystal Palace video gave me the final push to enter my first race. Grid was a good mix of capri's, escorts and yank tanks (Classic Touring car Club pre '83)Even better than watching and not expensive (3K for race ready car and van load of spares).

[sonarbell]

Just some additional data on the Crystal Palace Video..

What you may not already know is that Mike Crabtree in the Escort jumped the start, so was given a 10 second penalty, this means that Gerry Marshall actually won the race even though he finished second on the road. (If I remember correctly he must have known as he celebrates the win when he crosses the line!)

This info was given to me by an old friend..

[Gregor Marshall]

And is completely true too, so a well informed friend...

[rolymo]

Life on the fast track, practice at the Palace in the mid 60's with my Turner (prod-sports) Cosworth 1750cc engine. drive was good untill in the race the flywheel bolts sheared and shattered the bell housing all over the track. That day I had a "renta driver" and we found out later that he had rev'd to 9600 rpm(bang)

[Fletchyboy]

Shy Torque said:

Just managed to pip this Firenza at the line at Mallory the other weekend. Watching that Crystal Palace video gave me the final push to enter my first race. Grid was a good mix of capri's, escorts and yank tanks (Classic Touring car Club pre '83)Even better than watching and not expensive (3K for race ready car and van load of spares).

Hello Shy Torque. It was me you caught on the line. It's only my second year and I found driving my rear wheel drive droop snoot really a handful on yokies....do you pump them up or let them down???
Hope to see you out there again sometime.