RE: PH Blog: Harris goes retro rally nuts

[dave stew]

AllNines said:

k3ybo said:

Stig Blomqvist in the Lotus Sunbeam is incredible, looks like a pro drifter on the way down. Short wheelbase, gravel and RWD, and still pretty damn quick...

This was quite a departure for him - he was a front drive Saab specialist for years, the left foot braking technique was then of course used to brilliant effect when he joined Audi in 1983 (winning the RAC that year).

[dave stew]

Guvernator said:

I think this highlights one thing, just how awesome rally events used to be and how they are now a mere shadow of their former selves these days. Spectacular jumps, firebreathing cars, deafening anti-lag and flinging dirt going sideways through every corner is what we want to see. Instead we get the politically correct watered down version, what a shame.

Do you remember the sudden anti-climax to the start of the 1987 season when the Group B cars were banned? Those poxy front drive Astras et al were complete toss compared with a bellowing Manta 400. They did catch up of course once the Sierra Cosworth, E30 M3 and Integrale joined the fray.

[uncinquesei]

for one short section in the second video (downhill), Per's Toyota magically transformed into a Nissan 240RS and then back again! Japanese cars, all look the bleedin' same...

[ChrisJ.]

dave stew said:

Do you remember the sudden anti-climax to the start of the 1987 season when the Group B cars were banned? Those poxy front drive Astras et al were complete toss compared with a bellowing Manta 400. They did catch up of course once the Sierra Cosworth, E30 M3 and Integrale joined the fray.

I do remember that.
The first event I saw with the new rules was the '87 National Breakdown.
Once the *Manta had been through, you had to make sure to look for cars approaching, rather than listen. They were so quiet.
* One or two 2WD group B were allowed in.
Here's some video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgGrP4XmhbE

[nismo48]

I could not agree more...absolutely fantastic...
The noise and the laughs too...brilliant..!!

mooseracer said:

namnol said:

This is a rally vid that gets me laughing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBsmG7mO3Dc

Absolute class

[vescaegg]

namnol said:

This is a rally vid that gets me laughing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBsmG7mO3Dc

Amazing.

Although part of my laughing was the nervous kind due to mild terror...

[funwithrevs]

ChrisJ. said:

briancorish said:

Have girlfriend, 28, low mileage, will swop for Lancia Stratos..

Is a replica any good?

Is that a replica Stratos or replica girlfriend?

[Niffty951]

Oddball RS said:

V6 Exige? about as near as you will get.

Interesting. Not the suggestion I thought would come back, I looked at this car at its launch but two things stopped me buying it:

1. The cockpit doesn't seem to have been deigned with a human in mind? It's the most uncomfortable combination of dodgy offsets and awkward shapes I've ever experienced.
2. It is a £30k car in every respect except the price tag. The build quality, interior, engine, experience were all inferior to the less expensive Z4MC I arrived in. Closer to an MX5 with a bit more grunt but they want 911 money for it?!

[funwithrevs]

Niffty951 said:

Oddball RS said:

V6 Exige? about as near as you will get.

Interesting. Not the suggestion I thought would come back, I looked at this car at its launch but two things stopped me buying it:

1. The cockpit doesn't seem to have been deigned with a human in mind? It's the most uncomfortable combination of dodgy offsets and awkward shapes I've ever experienced.
2. It is a £30k car in every respect except the price tag. The build quality, interior, engine, experience were all inferior to the less expensive Z4MC I arrived in. Closer to an MX5 with a bit more grunt but they want 911 money for it?!

Stratos cockpit is hardly spacious luxury, and I gather Exige times are on par with Stratos replica times on the track (as long as the Stig isn't driving of course).

[vit4]

namnol said:

This is a rally vid that gets me laughing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBsmG7mO3Dc

Brought a chuckle out of me, great to see them having a laugh Gorgeous car as well

[powelly]

Now it's not a competition, but this clip has to be right up there with the best of them, this man had pure class...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R7ws741KpE

[frankthetank2]

STIG!

[bigdog3]

frankthetank2 said:

STIG!

The Master

[Richard330s]

Since we are on amusing retro rally car pornography and ahead of the WRC Monte Carlo, some lancias and a damp car park. Might as well ad beans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H6Glgi6qjs&fea...

[Raitzi]

That video of Ari Vatanen in manta is epic, but I would say his record run in peugeot at Pikes Peaks is more amazing.( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKgeCQGu_ug )

Got to also post this. Classic hand signs by Marcus Grönholm :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqQhQSbe6fw

[Richard330s]

You should not laugh but Rautiainen's unfortunate steel bar incident and Gronholm being very tactful is still very funny

very amusing.

[VeeDub Geezer]

Richard330s said:

Since we are on amusing retro rally car pornography and ahead of the WRC Monte Carlo, some lancias and a damp car park. Might as well ad beans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H6Glgi6qjs&fea...

That just looks so right with the back end hanging out

[DOOGAL30]

check out this clip, fantastic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwkDODWIb_o&fea...

[tomoleeds]

reminded of the manta 400 rally car ,i drolled over it in the day,did jimmy mcrae drive one? ended up with a manta gte,silver b reg,around 1989,would wheel spin in 1st 2nd 3rd setting off in damp,not on purpose,just if you tried too hard leaving a junction, ANY CHANCE OF A MANTA 400 STORY? please !!

[alexpa]

1980's Fire

205T16
Delta S4
RS200
Quattro S1
BX 4TC
R5
037
6R4
911
et all
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3Mag3kA2J8&fea...

not related... v nice original porker http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJdRczyzMdM&fea...