Dink's Spa Classic Car Racing blog - dialup unfriendly
Discussion
Glad to see you had a good time Phil,
Unfortunatly our 7 wasn't finished for Spa nor was the Crossle F2 car so we gave Spa a miss this year.
That is Joe Henderson's TR6 which we battle against on a regular basis. He said he was going, lucky bugger. Hopefully he is out with the CSCC and me at Snett for our final round of the year Bash as he may win if he turned up.
Some good shots from both you and dink, makes me wish i was there.
Well Done to Cheng and his monster as well I heard they did well
johnny
Unfortunatly our 7 wasn't finished for Spa nor was the Crossle F2 car so we gave Spa a miss this year.
That is Joe Henderson's TR6 which we battle against on a regular basis. He said he was going, lucky bugger. Hopefully he is out with the CSCC and me at Snett for our final round of the year Bash as he may win if he turned up.
Some good shots from both you and dink, makes me wish i was there.
Well Done to Cheng and his monster as well I heard they did well
johnny
Edited by johnnymaestro on Tuesday 3rd October 12:30
By chance I slipped through the officials at the La Source hairpin. The saturday pics were great so I just walked into the pressroom to ask for a press-permit to shoot the cars from there. Sunday was my lucky day!
But hey, I'll just tell my story in a chronological way. So this evening I'll sit down for some 'Spada tries to tail the Cobra' action.
But hey, I'll just tell my story in a chronological way. So this evening I'll sit down for some 'Spada tries to tail the Cobra' action.
Dink's Spa Classic Car Racing blog (2)
Taking a seat in Phil's wonderfull Spada - a favourite as you'll all know - was a familiar one. The interior is luverly, seats are mega-comfy and all is in A-class condition. The steering wheel at the other side made no difference in liking it so damn much. This GT is just so me.
Chasing Cheng's big one is another matter though. The Lambo is certainly not a slow car. Trying to keep up with the Cobra on the rural roads around the track took the best of the 365 bhp 4 litre V12. And still we were pedestrian compared to the strolling beast. "From what I hear he's revving it to about 3k max." we were doing more than double . . .
Look at the two cars being entirely different. I must say the Espada drew a lot of attention and some had to ask what engine was in it! (check out the plates FFS!) Amazing for a Lambo-freak like me . . . but it says all about the unfamilliarity with the apparently rare Spada.
I'm really looking forward to the race-footage. Stage-taping the wires . . .
Racing GT40 with a magnificent Gurney-Weslake V8 in. All those Ford's - and there were quite a few that weekend - sounded the nuts. But what amazed me was they often weren't the quickest cars around.
Nice Stratos rep.
Our neighbours at the paddock: Richard Abels' E-type.
The variety of the cars present was amazing. I don't think I've ever seen so much different cars in one weekend.
Tomorrow: paddock strolling provided for some more nice ones.
Taking a seat in Phil's wonderfull Spada - a favourite as you'll all know - was a familiar one. The interior is luverly, seats are mega-comfy and all is in A-class condition. The steering wheel at the other side made no difference in liking it so damn much. This GT is just so me.
Chasing Cheng's big one is another matter though. The Lambo is certainly not a slow car. Trying to keep up with the Cobra on the rural roads around the track took the best of the 365 bhp 4 litre V12. And still we were pedestrian compared to the strolling beast. "From what I hear he's revving it to about 3k max." we were doing more than double . . .
Look at the two cars being entirely different. I must say the Espada drew a lot of attention and some had to ask what engine was in it! (check out the plates FFS!) Amazing for a Lambo-freak like me . . . but it says all about the unfamilliarity with the apparently rare Spada.
I'm really looking forward to the race-footage. Stage-taping the wires . . .
Racing GT40 with a magnificent Gurney-Weslake V8 in. All those Ford's - and there were quite a few that weekend - sounded the nuts. But what amazed me was they often weren't the quickest cars around.
Nice Stratos rep.
Our neighbours at the paddock: Richard Abels' E-type.
The variety of the cars present was amazing. I don't think I've ever seen so much different cars in one weekend.
Tomorrow: paddock strolling provided for some more nice ones.
BossCerbera said:
GTRene said:
So you've mannaged it to the podium?? well done Phil
Also it seems most of the times it was dry? better
specialy with high powered rwd cars
Also it seems most of the times it was dry? better
specialy with high powered rwd carsWe have been SO-O-O-O close to wins/podium over the years but have been cursed with bad luck like punctures, vapour lock on last lap (while leading!). The race started dry but started to rain when I was P3. I like the wet
and got to P1. I don't think we played the Safety Car period as well as we could which is why we ended up P3. Cheng drove a blinder in his stint to get us up to P3 from where the Safety Car/driver change dropped us. Dink got a photo of the moment I took P1 from the Sunbeam Tiger:
Albert has barely scratched the surface of the photos he took. He's got so many photos of incredible old cars I suspect the old "Dink The Link" days are gone - Dink will post his own photos now!
The Spa Six Hour meet has grown in stature over the years and it's an incredible atmosphere. It's one of the best historic meets now IMHO. The sight and sound of Mustangs, Corvettes, Cobras, Astons and Jaguars etc. coming down the pit straight then through Eau Rouge in the dark are simply amazing.
Couple of my shots which give an idea...
These two looked peachy in the dark...
The Spa Six Hour meet has grown in stature over the years and it's an incredible atmosphere. It's one of the best historic meets now IMHO. The sight and sound of Mustangs, Corvettes, Cobras, Astons and Jaguars etc. coming down the pit straight then through Eau Rouge in the dark are simply amazing.
Couple of my shots which give an idea...
These two looked peachy in the dark...
BossCerbera said:
These two looked peachy in the dark...
Did you listen to them fire up? Without silencers on they sound stunning!
But it is more frightening when you are next to the black one on the grid sitting there looking across and noticing your eye level is the top of his rear wheel arch
and wondering if he will get away from the line going straight. Great therad too
Can't wait to see all the pics and videos.
What a great weekend it was!
johnnymaestro said:
Glad to see you had a good time Phil,
Unfortunatly our 7 wasn't finished for Spa nor was the Crossle F2 car so we gave Spa a miss this year.
That is Joe Henderson's TR6 which we battle against on a regular basis. He said he was going, lucky bugger. Hopefully he is out with the CSCC and me at Snett for our final round of the year Bash as he may win if he turned up.
Some good shots from both you and dink, makes me wish i was there.
Well Done to Cheng and his monster as well I heard they did well
johnny
Joe IS a Madman. In the best possible way.Unfortunatly our 7 wasn't finished for Spa nor was the Crossle F2 car so we gave Spa a miss this year.
That is Joe Henderson's TR6 which we battle against on a regular basis. He said he was going, lucky bugger. Hopefully he is out with the CSCC and me at Snett for our final round of the year Bash as he may win if he turned up.
Some good shots from both you and dink, makes me wish i was there.
Well Done to Cheng and his monster as well I heard they did well
johnny
Edited by johnnymaestro on Tuesday 3rd October 12:30
jellison said:
Any Real Griffs?
Dink's Spa Classic Car Racing blog (3)
There she is. The amazing thing was: during the six hour race a Z240 Datsun got past her easy! I guess the TVR is a more difficult baby to drive.
Chaindriven '34 Frazer-Nash with the interior lifted to sort out the . . . . gearbox I think. Imagine cars like this next to souped Vette's. The Paddocks were automotive Nivana's.
This little NSU Prinz was blistering fast on the track and so charming. Great soundbyte too.
Everyone's favourite: the GT Junior. Does laptimes of about 3.15 mins.
Nice Ginetta looks a bit E-light . . .
Raw Vette gets the last details in engine tuning before the race.
I never had a thing for Stangs, but this weekend that changed a bit. To say all Yank mills look the same is another myth. The variation in intake and exhaust, heads and lay-out is amazing. Almost every mill was a personal flavoured work of art.
I said it! Escort with a hard one in.
I didn't get this badge . . . Anyone?
BossCerbera said:
. . . I suspect the old "Dink The Link" days are gone - Dink will post his own photos now!
More tomorrow.
PS. Nice ones Phil
After our gang of ten had diner at a slooooow serving restaurant in Francorchamps, we raced back to the track (Spada again
) to catch the last half hour of the main event: the six hour race. Phil placed his iXus on the bars of the stand to catch some light and atmosphere. I was just shouting everytime a Healey, Light-E or Cobra Coupe lifted (instead of braking for the slope at Eau Rouge) and popped and banged the hell out their engine's. What an amazing hellfire they gave. A famous lightweight E-type cracked so much like the six was going to burst. Some Astons ditto. 
You'll see the traffic was pretty heavy. There were over a 100 classic cars running!
In all the hurry and the good weather at my Dutch home I forgot to take a coat with me. I'm a bit taller than Phil so the Lambo jumper he lend me was a bit tight but kept me warm at rain and at night. Thanx for that!
After the 6 hrs race was over all went to their hotels. At effing 22.30! We checked out the paddocks and met some guys sorting out their machinery. Really amazing how open and friendly everyone was. A good way to make friends. Next day I met them again and asked for their emails to sent 'em the pics I took from their cars. We called it a night at 00.30. With all the impressions and thundering sounds lingering in my head I didn't get much sleep.
What did I say, more tomorrow?
Edit to ditch a major mistake!
Edited by dinkel on Wednesday 4th October 21:50
mmmm the nice yellow(not my colour but the picture looks great) TVR Griffith 200 or 400? nice
And I see you found a very nice Ginetta G12 very rare...nice picture Dink, thanks how did you think that car looks in the real world? I never saw one...how was it??
I think the last picture the red car is a Triump GT6 with a special hood...!
GTRene
And I see you found a very nice Ginetta G12 very rare...nice picture Dink, thanks how did you think that car looks in the real world? I never saw one...how was it??
I think the last picture the red car is a Triump GT6 with a special hood...!
GTRene
dinkel said:
Chaindriven '34 Frazer-Nash with the interior lifted to sort out the . . . . gearbox I think.
Remember the Frazer-Nash at the Klassiekerrally... It has the same kind of transmission.
dinkel said:
I didn't get this badge . . . Anyone?
Damn, it's on the tip of my tongue... It's no GT6, GTRene...
Love to see the rest of the pics Albert!
Edited by klassiekerrally on Thursday 5th October 06:34
L100NYY said:
Loving the night shots Phil, very atmospheric and always my favourite part of LM and Britcar meetings. I remember watching those 2 Corvettes racing at Brands last season and they really did look the part. Are you competing over here at all in the Cobra either this year or next?
Bernie Chodosh and black'n'flame '50s Vettes remind me of my teens (he was often featured in the yank/rodding mags of the 80s). First got to meet him at Spa a few years ago. His Vettes - like the Thunder Road Cobra - run open pipes at Spa. He's organising a race tour in the States next year to include Daytona which Cheng and I are contemplating - f
k it, you only live once! I haven't raced the Cobra in the UK for a few years now. I've been focused on a Spa podium or, better still a win of course! It's a quest that has gone on so long I'm becoming a bit of a Spa specialist - I've raced there more times than anywhere else!
Cheng competes with his Cobra in the Sports Racing & GT Challenge in the UK (albeit with mufflers on) so check out www.srgtc.org.uk/ . One of THE BEST races I have EVER watched was Cheng racing to a win in the wet at Brands Hatch last year. Seriously, when he's in the groove with the Cobra and the odds are stacked against him, it's spectacular to watch. There are other loopy motors running in the series and I recommend watching it - it's one of those lesser known 'club racing series' that's a real gem.
klassiekerrally said:
dinkel said:
Chaindriven '34 Frazer-Nash with the interior lifted to sort out the . . . . gearbox I think.
Remember the Frazer-Nash at the Klassiekerrally... It has the same kind of transmission.
dinkel said:
I didn't get this badge . . . Anyone?
Damn, it's on the tip of my tongue... It's no GT6, GTRene...
Love to see the rest of the pics Albert!
Edited by klassiekerrally on Thursday 5th October 06:34
(Image sitting on those chains - rather him than me!
Did Joe Hendo finish?
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