RE: Chris Harris video: the Spa Six Hours

RE: Chris Harris video: the Spa Six Hours

Thursday 11th October 2012

Chris Harris video: the Spa Six Hours

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"
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!
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.


 

Author
Discussion

Mr P and R

Original Poster:

25 posts

177 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
I really have to get involved in some classic racing ! Great video.

James1972

98 posts

144 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
"Good cars everywhere - look a 911 "
Come on Chris there was some good non Porches there !
smile

stevoknevo

1,672 posts

189 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Best video yet, for me. Pity about the non-finish, but there's always next year. Great banter pre-race as well biggrin

C2james

4,685 posts

164 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
god i want a classic car! bounce

tyrrell

1,670 posts

207 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Great video sorry the car did not Finnish but I am sure you will be back next Year

SlipStream77

2,153 posts

190 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
That looked like fun! I was surprised at the slow steering rack on the Falcon though.

White mini driver needs to use his mirrors! biggrin

MadDog1962

890 posts

161 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Excellent!

I want to go.

NGK210

2,868 posts

144 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Splendid all-round, and very civilised. Ta.

Hellbound

2,500 posts

175 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
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.

Dave Hedgehog

14,541 posts

203 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
James1972 said:
"Good cars everywhere - look a 911 "
Come on Chris there was some good non Porches there !
smile
just what i was thinking wink

i love historic racing, fantastic vid chris, they just keep getting better

bad luck on the engine frown


John_S4x4

1,350 posts

256 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
I enjoyed that. Enjoyed the banter from your fellow drivers and enjoyed watching and hearing all the classic cars. I must go sometime. Thanks

bruciebonuz

295 posts

214 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
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!

Oz83

687 posts

138 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
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.

Chicane-UK

3,861 posts

184 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Another great watch - some really good videos from Mr Harris lately smile

juansolo

3,012 posts

277 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Splendid.

Historics are where it's at.

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

225 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
The noise of those classics on full chat does it for me.

Great vid thumbup

HorneyMX5

5,308 posts

149 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Damn you, made me late to work! Cracking video.

PGM

2,168 posts

248 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Ardbeg, makes you do silly things!


spad78

149 posts

175 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
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.

Al W

591 posts

226 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Great video thanks, and sorry about the result. I really must get to the next one....