The "I can't believe they raced it!" Thread.

[Cap'n Jack]

Umm, all this talk about Sports Sedans and no mention of Tony Ricciadello's iconic Alfa Romeo GTV? I can't believe Ricciardello still races this car and that it's still a front runner after all these years.

 

[Liquid]

More vintage Thundersaloons/Sports Sedans

Thundersaloon Carlton is just fantastic.

 

[adam46]

Umm, all this talk about Sports Sedans and no mention of Tony Ricciadello's iconic Alfa Romeo GTV? I can't believe Ricciardello still races this car and that it's still a front runner after all these years.

Truly one of my favourite race cars on earth. I remember first seeing it in the mid-2000's, and being both delighted and amazed that it was still running when I first came across the Shannons Nationals livestreams in 2015.

Do you happen to know when he first raced it, Cap'n?

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Do you happen to know when he first raced it, Cap'n?

I'm not sure too sure. The car itself was built way back in 1992 (!), but from what I can tell Ricciardello first competed with it at Oran Park in 1998.

 

[mwoodski]

Umm, all this talk about Sports Sedans and no mention of Tony Ricciadello's iconic Alfa Romeo GTV? I can't believe Ricciardello still races this car and that it's still a front runner after all these years.

Thought about posting it, felt it was too "new" for the subject. Tried capping it around 1992.

 

[adam46]

Thought about posting it, felt it was too "new" for the subject. Tried capping it around 1992.

As the creater of the thread, I can confirm there's no age cap here!

Thanks for the info on the Alfa @Cap'n Jack! I never realised that it went through another pair of hands.

 

[mwoodski]

Personally! Considering we were going on about the 70's cars hahaha.

Of the new ones, I really loved the Audi Jack Perkins ran.

 

[adam46]

While we're talking about Sports Sedans, and possibly straying away from 'not believing' they raced it moniker, I'll throw this one out there. It's more "I can't believe they built it!"

Looks like an Aston Martin DBR9, and is pretty convincing in the speed department too - the reality is a little different. The car was built after a scaling-up process of a 1/18 Minichamps model by bodywork specialists, and was raced by Kerry Baily. The car had a NASCAR engine rather than an Aston V12, and was very successful indeed.

An article on the car can be found here - http://anygivenreason.com/2013/05/the-aston-martin-dbr9-sports-sedan/

@Cap'n Jack - is this car still active? I only watch Sports Sedans intermittently, but I don't recall seeing it about lately.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

is this car still active? I only watch Sports Sedans intermittently, but I don't recall seeing it about lately.

Yep. I don't actively watch the Sports Sedans series, but I caught a race from last year on TV a few days ago and it was still going.

 

[Liquid]

Brabham BT23C

 

[adam46]

Brabham BT23C

Oooh, nice shelving!

 

[TheCracker]

Brabham BT23C

I bet that was a barrel of laughs in a strong crosswind.

 

[Inferno251]

Brabham BT23C

Around that era was when many F1 teams experimented with aerodynamics, notably the double wings:

Brabham BT26A

Matra Cosworth MS10

Lotus 49B

Then, of course, evolved the controversy surrounding the 'winglets.' F1 innovations (especially aerodynamics) is itself a completely different topic, so I wont go on...

Once, I came across a website once that had a whole thread dedicated to winglets and aerodynamics, but I can't find it anymore . Instead, here's some more instances of weird F1 innovations

 

[Michelin Man]

I've always found gas turbine racecars very fascinating and equally bonkers , and they sound ridiculous too.

The two that spring to mind for me are the Rover-BRM, which I believe was the first gas-turbine car to race at Le Man's, and achieved a best finish of 10th in 1965.

And my personal favourite gas-turbine car, and arguably the best; is the Howmet TX, which still remains to be the only gas-turbine powered car to win a race. In fact it won two races in the national SCCA (Sport Car Club of America) in the 60's, making it the most successful gas-turbine car in Motorsport I believe.

 

[sems4arsenal]

Someone has a race version of my piece of 🤬 car

 

[mwoodski]

if its got wheels, someones raced it

 

[mwoodski]

...another photo of the interior of the McCormack Charger.

 

[AMPMROCKETFANN]

...another photo of the interior of the McCormack Charger.

Who's bright idea was this?

 

[RACECAR]

...another photo of the interior of the McCormack Charger.

Well that's a really complicated way of sweating off the pounds.

 

[ScottPuss20]

...another photo of the interior of the McCormack Charger.

What jerk in their right mind would think it was a good idea to put the engine next to the driver's seat?

 

[legatoblues]

I thought that was fairly standard fare for the wild sports sedans of the era...or maybe I've just seen that very same car multiple times without realizing?

 

[TheCracker]

...another photo of the interior of the McCormack Charger.

I pity the fool who's driving that when it decides to throw a rod.

 

[Fat Tyre]

Citroen series from Argentina.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Citroen series from Argentina.

View attachment 627995

So it's like Turismo Carretera racing with 2CV bodies...?

 

[Fat Tyre]

So it's like Turismo Carretera racing with 2CV bodies...?

Exactly, they also race Fiat 600 and 125.

 

[mwoodski]

I thought that was fairly standard fare for the wild sports sedans of the era...or maybe I've just seen that very same car multiple times without realizing?

twas.

Usually had a shroud covering it.

 

[legatoblues]

twas.

Usually had a shroud covering it.

Thought so. Just went back and found a 2002 sports sedan I saw a while back. Powered by a turbo F2 motor. Spicy.

Great example of that engine placement.

 

[Zychotic1]

I think this explains the real reason for the right hand shifter on the charger... theres no more room for the lever to swing... especially with the engine cover (assuming it has one)

 

[mwoodski]

Yep, and it didn't hurt that McCormack was used to/prefered right hand shifting from the F5000 cars.

 

[Jimlaad43]

What is this catastrophe of a vehicle?