As most of you who hang around C's place know, Mr. C is a gearhead. Don't know how it happened, I guess like most American boys I grew up in the automobile culture and with a fascination of all things automobili and loved racing from the get-go. Many a happy Saturday night was spent at the local dirt oval watching the good-ole-boys banging wheels and drinking whiskey.The excitement and danger of auto racing at any level can be intoxicating. From stock cars I soon graduated to Formula 1 and to this day am an avid fan. F1 cars are unbelievably fast and it boggles the mind how quick a driver's reflexes have to be to handle these fantastic machines. I have a computer F1 simulator and even in the comfort of my study it's almost impossible to match the speed of the real cars. But as fast and dangerous as F1 is, World Rally is in a class by itself.These guys are just plain nuts.Modern World Rally isn't at all like amateur Rally where you start at Point A and arrive at Point B in a prescribed amount of time, obeying the law all the while. World Rally is whoever gets from Point A to Point B first wins. However, like all Rally, two people occupy the car, the driver and the navigator. Both of these positions have become highly professional and, understandably, the two form strong bonds and often spend their entire careers together.The cars are super modified compacts like the Ford Focus, Subaru XRS and a little Citroen I'm not familiar with. The 2 litre engines pump out about 350hp through all four wheels. The cars weigh 1,200lbs.They race all over the world, but mostly in Europe and the Mediterranean, with occasional excursions to places like Australia and Argentina. They seek out the most remote back roads on which to race but usually start or end in a populated place.What makes them crazy? They drive at speeds up to 170mph on these country lanes and often lose control which results in the most spectacular crashes. You ain't seen nothin' until you've seen one of these boys flying down a single-lane Irish road at 150mph past families, farms and fields. The fans are even crazier than the drivers as they line the roadway, crowding in as closely as possible, some of them playing the game of reaching out and trying to touch the cars as they speed by, much like the Tour de France. Remarkably, there are few injuries and deaths.This is not a sport for the faint of heart and many other drivers, including F1, consider it the most difficult racing of them all. Like F1, WRC is almost unknown in the U.S. however, there is one cable channel that carries replays and it's definitely an entertaining hour. Check it out.
Mr. C... I too am becoming a big fan of Rally, but F1 is still my thing. No need mentioning NASCAR in this company.
Intelli...lol. I think these street buzz bombs are often influenced by Rally.
Punch... Will do a geezer post soon. Probably on John Surtees. The Isle of Man motorcycle rally might be the only thing crazier than WRC. I doubt Kimi will make it in WRC. I'd like to see him try, Toyota said there's no chance he's going to drive for them at the money he wants.
I saw a rally once, many years ago in the UK. It was a motorbike and sidecar one - that was noisy and scary enough for me to remember it more than 30 years later.
My car sounds like a rally car but drives like a submarine. Do I get half points?
Matt... The only thing that might be crazier than the cars are the motorcycles. If your car sounds like a rally car but drives like a submarine... you might be a redneck. Peach... Yes mam. F1 in the morning with champaign and eggs benedict. WM... You got it! I reconcilled myself to "money on wheels" a long time ago. Is it ridiculous? Yes. Is it a waste of money and resources? Yes. But it beats the crap out of spending billions on guns and tanks and riot gas and it's a hell of a lot more fun.
Rally car racing isn’t something I watch habitually, but it’s certainly spectacular. However one sport I see you’ve mentioned in another comment that takes it a step further is the Isle of Man TT. You should watch some YouTube clips of highlights from the various races there.
As a former biker it’s something I can appreciate all the more – it’s pretty hair-raising stuff.
Wouldn't call myself a race fan, but I have followed F1 all my life. In the early 80s and race-nut friend and I, went to a disused airfield in the Leicestershire countryside and paid about $100 for a one day seminar on driving formula Fords, a step down from F1 at the time, they resembled Indy cars today. One hour in a classroom, being taught the racing line and the importance of using gears as brakes. Take a written test, passed that, then you and an instructor, with him driving, get in a Turbo-charged Peugeot and he does a couple of laps, talking you through the dos and don't, then you get to drive, him with a clipboard checking off if you are crazy or not. Pass that test, you get shoe-horned into a Formula Ford, in a fire retardant jump suit, several safety harnesses, helmet, gloves etc., the car had a roll-bar, and then let loose for 7 laps. Steering wheel the size of a CD, gear levers an inch away from the steering wheel, foot pedals you manitpulate with your toes, changing gear every few seconds, the chicane dropped your speed to 15mph, the straight of way up to 120mph, the engine cut out at 6,000 revs, if I am remembering correctly.
It was a cool spring day, about 50F, when I completed my 7 laps, I was wringing wet with sweat. One of the most exhilarating days of my life.
Simon... The Isle of Man TT is the reason I mentioned to Punch that I might do a post on John Surtees, one of my heros. I believe he won the Isle of Man something like 7 times and the world motorcycle championship 5 times and F1 championship. I finally got to meet him at the Amelia Island Concours de Elegance. Quite a gentleman. A terrible sorrow about his boy being killed.
Holte... Sounds like a blast. I have always wanted to go to the Bob Bondurant class and do the same thing. I'm jealous. BTW, in my comment to Simon I mentioned the Amelia Island Concours, I know you live in south Georgia so it's not to far a drive to Fernandina Bch. If you haven't been, highly recommended. One of the best in the country and they always feature a racing driver and his cars... Sterling Moss, John Surtees, Dan Gurney, Johnny Rutherford, to name a few. This year's honoree will be Big Daddy Don Garlitz, one of the pioneers of drag racing, and his Swamp Rat collection. It's in March. Check it out.
Modern World Rally isn't at all like amateur Rally where you start at Point A and arrive at Point B in a prescribed amount of time, obeying the law all the while. World Rally is whoever gets from Point A to Point B first wins. However, like all Rally, two people occupy the car, the driver and the navigator. Both of these positions have become highly professional and, understandably, the two form strong bonds and often spend their entire careers together.
The cars are super modified compacts like the Ford Focus, Subaru XRS and a little Citroen I'm not familiar with. The 2 litre engines pump out about 350hp through all four wheels. The cars weigh 1,200lbs.
They race all over the world, but mostly in Europe and the Mediterranean, with occasional excursions to places like Australia and Argentina. They seek out the most remote back roads on which to race but usually start or end in a populated place.
What makes them crazy? They drive at speeds up to 170mph on these country lanes and often lose control which results in the most spectacular crashes. You ain't seen nothin' until you've seen one of these boys flying down a single-lane Irish road at 150mph past families, farms and fields. The fans are even crazier than the drivers as they line the roadway, crowding in as closely as possible, some of them playing the game of reaching out and trying to touch the cars as they speed by, much like the Tour de France. Remarkably, there are few injuries and deaths.
This is not a sport for the faint of heart and many other drivers, including F1, consider it the most difficult racing of them all. Like F1, WRC is almost unknown in the U.S. however, there is one cable channel that carries replays and it's definitely an entertaining hour. Check it out.
Freakin love rally racing, unfortunately I don't get to see it on tv much. It's so amazing, a thousand times better than nascar.
ReplyDeleteI think they practice for that race going up my street.
ReplyDeleteMakes NASCAR look like a bunch of grannies.
Let's see now isn't Kimi Raikkoen talkin about moving to WRC. One of his heros was James Hunt. How 'bout a post for the past.
ReplyDeleteMr. C... I too am becoming a big fan of Rally, but F1 is still my thing. No need mentioning NASCAR in this company.
ReplyDeleteIntelli...lol. I think these street buzz bombs are often influenced by Rally.
Punch... Will do a geezer post soon. Probably on John Surtees. The Isle of Man motorcycle rally might be the only thing crazier than WRC. I doubt Kimi will make it in WRC. I'd like to see him try, Toyota said there's no chance he's going to drive for them at the money he wants.
I saw a rally once, many years ago in the UK. It was a motorbike and sidecar one - that was noisy and scary enough for me to remember it more than 30 years later.
ReplyDeleteMy car sounds like a rally car but drives like a submarine. Do I get half points?
I've never even heard of rally but do love me some F1.
ReplyDelete*shakes head grins* walks out thinking "ha ha ha money on wheels. I could make me some money from them wheels"
ReplyDeleteMatt... The only thing that might be crazier than the cars are the motorcycles. If your car sounds like a rally car but drives like a submarine... you might be a redneck.
ReplyDeletePeach... Yes mam. F1 in the morning with champaign and eggs benedict.
WM... You got it! I reconcilled myself to "money on wheels" a long time ago. Is it ridiculous? Yes. Is it a waste of money and resources? Yes. But it beats the crap out of spending billions on guns and tanks and riot gas and it's a hell of a lot more fun.
Rally car racing isn’t something I watch habitually, but it’s certainly spectacular. However one sport I see you’ve mentioned in another comment that takes it a step further is the Isle of Man TT. You should watch some YouTube clips of highlights from the various races there.
ReplyDeleteAs a former biker it’s something I can appreciate all the more – it’s pretty hair-raising stuff.
Wouldn't call myself a race fan, but I have followed F1 all my life. In the early 80s and race-nut friend and I, went to a disused airfield in the Leicestershire countryside and paid about $100 for a one day seminar on driving formula Fords, a step down from F1 at the time, they resembled Indy cars today. One hour in a classroom, being taught the racing line and the importance of using gears as brakes. Take a written test, passed that, then you and an instructor, with him driving, get in a Turbo-charged Peugeot and he does a couple of laps, talking you through the dos and don't, then you get to drive, him with a clipboard checking off if you are crazy or not. Pass that test, you get shoe-horned into a Formula Ford, in a fire retardant jump suit, several safety harnesses, helmet, gloves etc., the car had a roll-bar, and then let loose for 7 laps. Steering wheel the size of a CD, gear levers an inch away from the steering wheel, foot pedals you manitpulate with your toes, changing gear every few seconds, the chicane dropped your speed to 15mph, the straight of way up to 120mph, the engine cut out at 6,000 revs, if I am remembering correctly.
ReplyDeleteIt was a cool spring day, about 50F, when I completed my 7 laps, I was wringing wet with sweat. One of the most exhilarating days of my life.
Simon... The Isle of Man TT is the reason I mentioned to Punch that I might do a post on John Surtees, one of my heros. I believe he won the Isle of Man something like 7 times and the world motorcycle championship 5 times and F1 championship. I finally got to meet him at the Amelia Island Concours de Elegance. Quite a gentleman. A terrible sorrow about his boy being killed.
ReplyDeleteHolte... Sounds like a blast. I have always wanted to go to the Bob Bondurant class and do the same thing. I'm jealous. BTW, in my comment to Simon I mentioned the Amelia Island Concours, I know you live in south Georgia so it's not to far a drive to Fernandina Bch. If you haven't been, highly recommended. One of the best in the country and they always feature a racing driver and his cars... Sterling Moss, John Surtees, Dan Gurney, Johnny Rutherford, to name a few. This year's honoree will be Big Daddy Don Garlitz, one of the pioneers of drag racing, and his Swamp Rat collection. It's in March. Check it out.
Sir John Surtees is not a geezzer, motherf*&ker.
ReplyDeleteSir John is 75 yrs. old. Define geezer if you please.
ReplyDeleteif you have to ask you would not understand the answer.
ReplyDeleteTypical cop-out from someone who doesn't have an answer.
ReplyDelete