Glæden ved historisk ræs

Vi bringer her en artikel på originalsproget fra vores skribent, Jim Casey. Dette er hans egen fortælling, så vi vælger at bringe den på originalsproget, så vi ikke går glip af personlige detaljer. Ellers er vores mål ellers altid at bringe artiklerne på dansk, men her gør vi en undtagelse. Vi håber at I vil nyde artiklen alligevel.

 

With all of the videos on Youtube and other services where you can see legends like Jim Clark, Dan Gurney, A. J. Foyt, Ayrton Senna, and dozens of others racing in their primes, in those beautiful cars, even people who were born after 2000 can be nostalgic for a time for which they have no memories of their own.

Start of the Formula 5000 race, Road America, July 2012
Photo: Jim Casey

For those of us who watched the exploits of those champions in person or on tv, a trip to a vintage racing weekend can be just the cure for that nostalgia.

BMW CSL chases a 911, Road Atlanta vintage
Photo: Jim Casey

Vintage racers cover a broad spectrum, from the owner/driver/pit crew who puts his Triumph TR-4 on a trailer and goes out for a fun weekend, to a millionaire architect whose crew packs up the semi with 4 cars and spares, and heads off for his fun weekend. What they have in common is a passion for the sport, and a love of older cars. What they also have in common is a friendliness and willingness to talk with fans about their cars.

Coming to the start of a GT race, Road Atlanta vintage.
Photo: Jim Casey

A general admission ticket to a vintage weekend usually allows paddock access, where you can get right next to the cars, and chat with the owner/drivers about their cars, and you’re likely to see everything from a TR-4 to a Porsche 962 to a Ferrari Daytona to a BMW CSL to a Williams FW 07.

GT-40’s chased by a Corvette, Road Atlanta vintage
Photo: Jim Casey

Tickets for vintage events generally cost a fraction of the price of a Formula One race, and the vintage cars sound better than today’s F1 cars.
What you will always see a lot of at any vintage event are lots of Porsches, Corvettes, and Mustangs, and the glorious sound of those flat 6’s and
American V-8’s will bring a smile to any fan’s face.

Shelby Mustang GT 350 leads a Sunbeam Tiger, Road Atlanta Vintage
Photo: Jim Casey

My favorite vintage event is the July vintage weekend at Road America in Wisconsin, sponsored by Brian Redman. The track is the best in North America, 4 miles of long straights, sweeping curves, up and down hills through the beautiful dairy country of central Wisconsin. The nearby town of Elkhart Lake is lovely and picturesque, and the local merchants do not raise their prices on race weekends, and concessions at the track are reasonable as well.

Lola T-70 at Road America, July 2012
Photo: Jim Casey

One of the best features of the weekend is the Friday parade of racecars into town, which are parked on the street around the three major hotels in town, Siebken’s, the Osthoff, and Victorian Village. The owner/drivers stay near their cars to answer questions, each hotel has a bar set up in the area, and the rumble of the racing engines as they roll into town is glorious.

One of the original 6 Corvette Grand Sports racing in the vintage event at Sebring prior to the 12-Hours, March, 1982.
Photo: Jim Casey

The cars are in town for about 3 hours before they head back to the track, and the whole thing is repeated on Saturday evening, with vintage and exotic road cars.

Jaguar XJR-8, Roebling Road vintage races
Photo: Jim Casey

There are large vintage events at most tracks, usually a couple every year. The atmosphere is much more relaxed than at a Grand Prix or WEC event, and generally much easier access to the cars and drivers.

Porsche 917 at Road America, 2012
Photo: Jim Casey

If you have a favorite historic car, if it’s not especially rare, like a Ferrari GTO or Lotus 79, there is a good chance you’ll find at least one of your all-time favorites there, and maybe it will inspire you to become a weekend Gentleman or Lady racer yourself.

Can-Am cars coming into Turn 5, Road America vintage, July 2012
Photo: Jim Casey
One of Emerson Fittipaldi’s Indycars scares a golfer at the Savannah Speed Classic.
Photo: Jim Casey
Classic Corvette at the Savannah Speed Classic
Photo: Jim Casey
Ferrari Daytona leads a couple of Porsches at the Savannah Speed Classic.
Photo: Jim Casey
Jim Hall’s last Indycar, a Lola-Cosworth.
Photo: Jim Casey
BMW M1 Procar
Photo: Jim Casey

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