Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Things are starting to get a little out of hand now that moneyed folks are "racing" old cars.

This photo (not mine) from Donington yesterday; evidently a Seven banged into Elan #36 and then the other one ran up his arse.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16329766@N07/5545791255/

That's just a little unkind. The Seven has been racing for years and years by Andy Shepherd and the Elan #36 is a series 1 that has also been racing for many years. These aren't moneyed folks (far from it) but racers that had an unfortunate accident at the first corner in the first race of the season - the ones behind didn't really have anywhere to go.

I was in the race but fortunately ahead of the action! The grid at Donington is way further back so you really can get a good turn of speed into the first corner - I expect there'll be a few more incidents.

I did find out that I can't quite match a well driven Griffith on such a quick circuit - but I got fairly close ....


Paul (Photo courtesy of Brian Clarke)

Paul,
As you are involved in historic racing, I'm sure that you have caught my drift(!) the very top end is now populated almost exclusively by very rich folks who have massive budgets, fancy transporters, arrive by helicopter and even receive money from event organisers to put their billionaire toys on the grid. Their driving standards would not be out of place on a stock-car track and, inevitably perhaps, this is trickling down.
Tony Dron first drew my attention to this a couple of years ago and I'm sure that you will agree he knows his onions.
OK, so this particular incident may have been just one of those things but we seem to have more panel-beating going on than ever before.

And Tony Dron has written on the subject of coming together in classic racing being more prevalent on this side of the pond in his piece in the current issue of Octane.

His point, as well made as he usually does, is that in the States contact during vintage racing is deeply frowned upon, whereas in the UK there is an increasing trend to touch in classic racing. That it is apparently becoming acceptable is what he and others find hard to take.

Tim

Also Whizzo Williams writes along the same lines in the racing supplement with the current issue of Octane.

I agree there's some huge money in historic racing - and there's a load of folk who don't have a clue what happens under the skin of their car and can easily afford to have the car repaired (it doesn't cost much more to repair a million pound car than a 10,000 pound one). In this particular race series (historic roadsports), most people don't have lots of money, many maintain their own cars and quite a few sleep fairly rough in the paddock!

I did a couple of races in the HGTCC which runs at big events and attracts very expensive Astons, E Types etc - this is also where some well known racers compete. I was stunned by the cavalier attitude of some of the drivers and scurried back to Roadsports where it is still frowned on if you have contact. Real gentlemen racers would of course offer to pay towards the other person's damage if they've made an error of judgement. Doesn't seem to happen too often.

There is a fine line between and doing an extended trackday parade and getting over zealous - clearly the ideal is having a closely fought competitive dice, which is what keeps people coming back.

Paul

I ran ONE race in vintage here at Mosport and found the driver talent greatly varied . I f you have the money you can drive a bug eye one year a a F1 car the next . Most of the drivers were very good but a few were a heart attack to pass . Contact here is usually awarded a 13 13 and at the least you are put on the trailer immediately for the weekend ---ed

nice to see a +2 racing.....also getting away scott free....

- when "parading" turns into racing, you get the banging "for free"....This is seen everywhere. How to get around it beats me.....Have to take all the clocks away, I guess.....Having said that, historic racing is like any other racing; - expensive. No more, no less....2nd thoughts ; - a bit less ! However, FIA is trying to bring the cost upwards ; - in the pre-65 classes, we have had no option but the CR65 Dunlop Racing in 204 compound - wet or dry. Now the 404 compound comes available for wet race use, and cost goes up....Then, when everyone run them in the wet, I guess you are back to square one again.....Only the Dunlop people cheer.....

I race Alfa Romeos in SVRA in the North East USA, any contact is deeply frowned on & calls for an up close appointment with the chief marshall. As Ed mentionned we also run 13/13ths...

pharriso wrote:I race Alfa Romeos in SVRA in the North East USA, any contact is deeply frowned on & calls for an up close appointment with the chief marshall. As Ed mentionned we also run 13/13ths...

I believe that the stance adopted in the US, as described by yourself and Ed is the right way to go. There are only so many old cars left. If you change all the parts, they become new cars.

If the rich boys want to race each other to the death there are plenty of "continuation" models coming on stream. When I see an irreplaceable old GT40, T70, Cooper S or B16 biting the dust I literally shudder, however they could all really mix it and display their neurosis and testosterone imbalances (in their built-up heels) in cars which look the part but, in historic terms, are only worth money. And we racing fans could scream "faster, faster (Pussycat) kill, kill..." from a safe distance.

I seem to remember Sir Stirling crushing an Aston with a light weight Jag at La Guano Seca on first turn [ the start was like a palace revolt ]----hasn't been invited since ---naughty naughty-- I think it stems from the desire to win in the older more mature drivers and just stupidity from the rich ones -ed

Pete,
Go see a psychiatrist, and soon.
Andrew

Hey Pete take me too -I m half a Scot -so I only need half the sessions ed

I think Sir Stirling Moss got it spot on a few years ago when he stated that seatbelts should be prohibited in modern racing. In the old days there was a fair amount of respect as you knew that contact might very well lead to the inevitable death of a fellow competitor. Nowadays everyone knows that he/she/it is safe during a crash as we have all these safety contraptions that save us when we are forced off the track by someone else (or just by being stupid ourselves). If the respect would come back, the bashing would stop.

J