Wednesday 30th April 2014

Al Buncombe in an E-Type: Time For Tea?

What happens when you start from the pits in a fast car? This!

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Youtube viewing figures never cease to amaze. Stuff that's dull, short or badly filmed (sometimes a combination of all three!) can attract huge numbers, leaving gems like this languishing with just a few thousand. Bemusing. Let's put that right.

This 10-minute video comes from last year's Oldtimer Grand Prix and is quite brilliant. Starting from the pit lane in his Jaguar E-Type, Al Buncombe charges his way through the field over a few laps. He's seen passing a Cobra in the last handful ofseconds and there doesn't seem to be anything ahead after that; even if it's not the lead then, he went on to win the race.

That he passes some of the backmarkers so easily isn't a surprise, it's almost frustrating in fact as you want to see more of the cars! Various iconic cars are cast aside including 911s, a Mercedes Gullwing and all manner of British roadsters.

Later on of course the overtaking manoeuvres take a little longer but are no less thrilling. And all the while the action is accompanied by that glorious straight-six howl and some deft inputs on the most beautiful steering wheel In The World. Enjoy the vid.

Watch it here.

[pistolp]

Pro takes on amateurs = lots of overtakes.......

Bayern defended better last night!

[heightswitch]

Is this Jonathan Buncombe's son… Of the Chimp fame?
N.

[GranCab]

Amazing driving skills ... he has late braking and carrying corner speed down to a fine art !

[vescaegg]

Some of those GT academy boys are insanely fast.

Here is another one of him destroying the field.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/alex-buncombe-sho...

[Bill]

pistolp said:

Pro takes on amateurs = lots of overtakes.......

He nearly gets collected a few times by early brakers and erratic lines.

[Amizade]

Surprised he didn't swop any paint.... you can tell he didn't own it !

[The Wookie]

Arguably plenty of easy targets in there but some lovely driving nonetheless

Amizade said:

Surprised he didn't swop any paint.... you can tell he didn't own it !

A mate was hinting for me to have a go racing his very original, very special 60's 911 with him a while back, I shied away from it because I would have to drive it like that and didn't want to risk it!!

[Neith]

vescaegg said:

Some of those GT academy boys are insanely fast.

Here is another one of him destroying the field.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/alex-buncombe-sho...

Was going to post the same thing, the GT-R video is insane. Seriously quick driver.

[Chris Stott]

Very impressive driving.

That car doesn't sound anywhere near as good as the Lister Chris Harris raced at the Goodwood revival though.

vescaegg said:

Some of those GT academy boys are insanely fast.

Here is another one of him destroying the field.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/alex-buncombe-sho...

Alex isn't a GT Academy boy, he's a professional racing driver. But he does partner a lot of the GT Academy drivers with RJN.

Met him at Brands in 2010 at the UK GT Academy finals along with Lucas Ordonez (the 1st GT Academy winner)... they were taking the finalists round in a Nissan 370 GT4 car... both were very fast and great company.

[zeduffman]

That Cobra sounded pretty delish.

[Penguinracer]

Some beautifully ruthless efficiency at work there.
As Senna once remarked" Once you no longer go for the gap you are no longer a racing driver!"

[roscobbc]

Just shows you what good brakes and a determined will to win can do - and (as already mentioned) perhaps not owning the car - I guess all the others will more than happy enough just to finish without any body or mechanical damage!

[LordFlathead]

Mesmerizing performance and all round great video, love it

[Gus265]

Must buy Lightweight E-type*, get Alex as co-driver, Goodood Revival victory. Happy days.

• anyone lend me £3m please?

[stephen300o]

Did he enter the wrong race? Or just get the red mist during the lunch hour parade laps?

[WTFWT]

No doubt the boy can drive, but the car has such a serious performance advantage, he really just goes through the motions. When combined with some suspect talent elsewhere on track… The two Cobras at the end seem to be taking lines suited to a different circuit!

[reggiespider]

Great to watch and hear, very exciting. He was clearly cutting through some slower/less talented drivers but it was fun to watch nonetheless and I ended up about 5cm from the screen with fists clenched.

[Jonny TVR]

amazing talent

noticed he changed gear mid corner a couple of times which seemed strange

[WallyCarrera]

Penguinracer said:

As Senna once remarked" Once you no longer go for the gap you are no longer a racing driver!"

Great quote, particularly appropriate today.

[Digga]

stephen300o said:

Did he enter the wrong race? Or just get the red mist during the lunch hour parade laps?

A really masterful drive. That Jag definitely has some grunt though and had a power advantage on the straights which was amply complimented by the drivers skills in braking and cornering. I love the race craft demonstrated - the way he would "zig" when the driver in front "zagged", in order to make the fastest route around them.

I fancy that I'd like to have a go of that era of sports car - you can really see how he 'feels' the way into the corners.