1990's Appreciation Thread

[-Fred-]

There were conspiracists that were saying NASCAR played a huge part in the NATCC collapse because they were scared it could potentially become more popular since it related more to the cars people actually drove, and actually "bought" people and their entries in order to have a small field.

That never actually made sense to me... I actually think people in America were just not ready for touring cars.

 

[catamount39]

There were conspiracists that were saying NASCAR played a huge part in the NATCC collapse because they were scared it could potentially become more popular since it related more to the cars people actually drove, and actually "bought" people and their entries in order to have a small field.

That never actually made sense to me... I actually think people in America were just not ready for touring cars.

It's depressing looking back on it. Would have loved to have a North American based touring car series. The action was quite good even with those small grids of cars.

 

[Dan Hill]

The British Touring Car Championship 1997 - 2000

I lived on BTCC throughout the magical years of 1997 - 2000 before I started working summers and weekends. The racing was so intense and close, and a race could have been won by any one of ten drivers. The cars looked fabulous and you could relate to them more as they looked like those driving by your own house.

View attachment 512980​

Some of my favourite racing cars hail from BTCC with the Volvo S40 being my number one hence it's prominence above. I was quite p'eed off when the Renault Laguna was confirmed as not coming to PCars as I was so hyped for that.

I don't really have an out-and-out favourite moment as I loved everything about it and would look forward to my Saturday afternoon of action. Youtube is quite good for footage of this golden age of BTCC and I dread to think how long I've spent looking at it in the last year alone.

Completely agree. I don't really watch the BTCC anymore (2001 was the last full season I watched) but I was glued to it as a kid. The Volvo S40 (particularly the 1998 and 1999 cars) was also my favourite and Rydell was my favourite driver. I quite enjoyed the 3 way Ford battle between Menu, Reid and Rydell in 2000.

 

[Roo]

Prior to this thread existing I posted this in the Classic Motorsport Photos thread, but it's more appropriate here.

Whilst not really in the remit of this thread, I didn't know where else to put this: gallaries of images from the 1989, 1998 and 1999 Le Mans 24 hours. There are other years if you use the filter.

Edit: In other news, whilst we're all familiar with Volvo's 850 estate in the 1994 BTCC, I've just discovered it was also raced in the SuperTourers championship in Australia in 1995:

Edit 2:

 

[Roo]

Michael Schumacher on his way to winning his first World Sportscar Championship race in Mexico, 1990:

1990 Monza 480km:

1990 Coupes de Spa won by Jochen Mass and Karl Wendlinger for Team Sauber Mercedes:

 

[GTDriver1230]

I remember watching this at the time. I still have the VHS tape.

 

[doblocruiser]

Germany's BTCC équivalent -> STW



...one of the best racing moments

 

[VXR]

I remember watching this at the time. I still have the VHS tape.

I was at this RAC and on that stage about a mile back from the finish line. We were fairly oblivious to what was going on, but that will always be iconic to me, especially the helmet going into the back window.

Unless they go back to Group A style homologated rallying, I'll never enjoy WRC as it is. The cars do nothing for me as they're so removed from the road cars they've evolved out of.

 

[Ingram]

Loved the Formula 2 rally cars of the nineties too. This was probably my favourite:

..and here's Jean Ragnotti putting it through its paces

 

[Bram Turismo]

Perhaps the most beautiful grid Le Mans has ever seen.

Very nostalgic for me as I was 10 years old at the time, and the very first motorsport race I ever watched on TV.

 

[doblocruiser]

Something I don't understand is that why no single game developer is trying to get those ancient series licensed for games.

* BTCC / HSCC (running)
* STW
* Fia GT
* Sportscar and Group C
* Group B Rally

Where exactly lies to problem to get those cars licensed for use in a video game? Or is the demand simply failing?

 

[Furinkazen]

Loved the Formula 2 rally cars of the nineties too. This was probably my favourite:

View attachment 518702

..and here's Jean Ragnotti putting it through its paces

Group A7 Renault.

 

[JR98]

The FIA GT's Predecessor, BPR Global GT Series. Running from 1994 to 1996 it hosted 3-6 hour races with 8 races in 1994 and 12 in 1995 and 1996. It featured everything from an Alpine A610 to the McLaren F1 GTR. It was dominated in '95 and '96 by the Gulf liveried David Price Racing F1 GTR (Despite Porsche running 911 GT1's in '96) with the 1994 season being won by a Larbre Competition 911 Turbo S.

Some of the cars that competed:
Alpine A610 Turbo
Callaway Corvette
DeTomaso Pantera
Dodge Viper GTS-R
Gillet Vertigo
Ferrari 348 LM
Ferrari 355
Ferrari F40 LM
Honda NSX GT2
Lister Storm GTS
Lotus Esprit GT1
Jaguar XJ220
Marcos LM600
McLaren F1 GTR
Morgan Plus 8 GTR
Porsche 911 Carrera RSR
Porsche 911 GT1
Porsche 911 GT2
Porsche 911 Turbo S LM
Porsche 944 Turbo
Porsche 964 Turbo
VBM 4000 GTC
Venturi 400 GTR
Venturi 600 LM

 

[05XR8]

 

[RVDNuT374]

44 posts without mentioning possibly the greatest era in NASCAR history? Time to change that:

 

[Bo]

I don't really watch the BTCC anymore (2001 was the last full season I watched) but I was glued to it as a kid.

A shame, because currently it's probably the most competitive and entertaining it has ever been. The early 2000s dip with the BTC cars and the slightly weak grids in the S2000 era is long gone. It's probably one of the only championships in the world where a family team can turn up and beat a manufacturer-backed effort.