Dan's been mucking about in Caterhams, Chris has been playing with the big boys at Spa...
Switching from new racing cars to old racing cars is not easy. Even in endurance racing, we tend to drive modern racers absolutely flat out, and even if we peel away from 100 per cent effort, there is never any need to save brakes or clutches.
"You have to be gentle with old cars"
You have to be gentle with old cars – learn when to extract a little more, and when to preserve.
I entered my first big historic race meeting last year with bothers Richard and Andrew Frankel in a 1963 Ford Falcon. It was the Spa Six Hours, and for the first two-and-a-bit everything went swimmingly, then the old girl shed a wheel and we didn’t finish. Somewhere in the fug of Ardbeg that night I think we agreed to give it another go, hence the same names appearing on the same car for this year’s event.
The ingredients for the Spa Six Hours weekend are not easily bettered by any other race meeting, especially if the weather behaves itself. The circuit is an unrivalled combination of space, scope, challenges and heritage. To lap in something old and pokey as the sky reddens is a great privilege.
Pre-66 touring cars are where it's at!
For collected eye-candy, this might be the finest collection of machines I’ve seen in one place: a dozen Lola T70s, a 917, a Ferrari 512S, several Can-Am McLarens and more lightweight E-Types than you can throw a SWB 911 at. There being enough of those not to worry about losing the odd one.
Over 100 cars qualify for the six-hour race, GT40s at the head of the field, grunty Alfa Giulias at the back.
Speaking of Giulias I also had a slither in the U2TC race in a Giulia Super. This is now my desert island race series: hyper-competitive at the front and full of pre-66 touring cars under two litres displacement. It is mostly great swarm of any-speed-oversteer.
If you’re thinking of taking a trip with some buddies to watch evocative classics being driven as intended, Spa has to to be right at the top of your list.
Enjoy the vid. It’s long and indulgent, but I just love watching the cars.
Normally with videos of racing, and some of you may ridicule me for saying this, but after about 10 minutes I'm approaching boredom. This however, well....it stirred something in me. Those machines looked sublime and it all sparked some emotion in me. Great video Chris, and thanks for making it a long one.
Great video. There is little more wonderful than a well prepped, beautifully liveried classic race car. I bought a 1972 Fulvia HF racer on a bit of a whim after watching many classic races but sold it to buy the Fanalone as I quickly realised I didn't have the time nor the readies to do it properly. You either have to team up with a mate or have a lot of cash to do go racing in one of these. Tyres, race fees, fuel, engine rebuilds, the odd crash or bump etc etc...but if I win the lottery I would go out tomorrow, buy a Ford Galaxie and go mini hunting!
Fantastic vid. Were any lens effects or after effects used? When I was running it full screen on my laptop, the grainy feel and out of focus shots made me feel like I was watching some archive footage or something. I was half expecting CH to remove his crash helmet sporting a Graham Hill-esque moustache.
Great video that captures the essence of how serious a business it is having fun. Good crack from the team and disappointment this time but always next year.
