|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
15 Jan 2010, 11:18 (Ref:2613769) | #1 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,941
|
Best old one-make series?
Was just thinking about the plethora of national/club one make series we used to have, mainly saloon based but there was also some sportscar and single seater ones from memory more internationally.
One could argue that they set the tone for what we have today throughout the racing scene at quite high levels that perhaps wouldn't even have been considered 20 plus years ago like one make F3, F2 etc. I used to like the Euro Renault Alpines and later the Spiders in the UK. The Metro's and 5 GT/Turbos were always pretty good value. Has anyone got any particular favourites and memories to share? |
||
__________________
"Double Kidney Guv'nah?" "No thanks George they're still wavin a white flag!" |
15 Jan 2010, 11:43 (Ref:2613777) | #2 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 946
|
TVR Tuscan challenge was always exciting to watch
|
||
__________________
Andrew Cliffe - Norwich Photo & Racing Exposure |
15 Jan 2010, 12:33 (Ref:2613785) | #3 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,060
|
||
__________________
All the same, isn't there a grand oul stretch in the evenings... |
15 Jan 2010, 23:57 (Ref:2614048) | #4 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 49
|
|||
|
16 Jan 2010, 00:14 (Ref:2614051) | #5 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,680
|
For me too TVR Tuscan challenge
|
||
|
16 Jan 2010, 12:43 (Ref:2614210) | #6 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 286
|
Although never devised as a one make series, Eurocars were really a Ford Mondeo championship which was very exciting and is still much revered today.
Another series that I remember as being fun, but quite fraught, was the BMW County Championship. The TVR Tuscans though do have to be up there amoungst the best. |
||
|
19 Jan 2010, 17:43 (Ref:2615801) | #7 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,810
|
The Rover Challenge for the GTi and later Tomcats were fab on telly when I was growing up. As were the Vento VR6 and Polo G40's.
Plus all the years of Caterhams. |
||
__________________
From redshoes: ''I have no idea who the second Team Hard driver is, and I suspect after the name is announced I'll be none the wiser.'' |
20 Jan 2010, 10:28 (Ref:2616198) | #8 | |||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,941
|
Quote:
I remember when it was launched in 1989 or ('90?) it had some decent drivers in it, like Gerry Marshall, Jeff Allam, Tim Harvey and Chris Hodgetts. These guys were well used to powerful rear drive cars but some lesser lights, err, well weren't whihc led to plenty of offs! The cars were tail happy in the extreme and were a brilliant addition to any raceday timetables. The Eurocar concept was interesting, they came along long before Rockingham was built didn't they? I also seem to recall they liked rolling over a lot!! The BMW County challenge that dave mentions was a good one but a bit before my time unfortunately. I've had to make do with programme listings and images to see that the creme of UK National racing competed in that. There were a few oddballs that didn't make it like the Saab's in the late 80's which attracted good drivers but not enough cars and anyone remember the Ford P100 pickup challenge? I think that got canned because the entrants were complete hooligans!! |
|||
__________________
"Double Kidney Guv'nah?" "No thanks George they're still wavin a white flag!" |
20 Jan 2010, 12:23 (Ref:2616272) | #9 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,718
|
Escort mexicos looked like fun in the early 70's
|
|
|
20 Jan 2010, 12:35 (Ref:2616279) | #10 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,699
|
The Euro cars were spaceframed with glass bodies were'nt they? A European attempt at NASCAR hence EUROCAR.
|
||
__________________
You can't polish a turd but you sure can sprinkle it with glitter! |
20 Jan 2010, 12:46 (Ref:2616286) | #11 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 9,441
|
It was. My mate George Polley did a few of them and at first was well off the pace. Like all one make series they should have been "all the same" but of course they wasn't. It was only when we found others were using starter bendix springs inside the McPherson struts and other "tweeks" that he got faster
|
||
__________________
Balls of steel (knob of butter) They're Asking For Larkins. ( Proper beer) not you're Eurofizz crap. Hace más calor en España. Me han conocido a hablar un montón cojones! Send any cheques and cash to PO box 1 Lagos Nigeria Africa ! |
20 Jan 2010, 13:11 (Ref:2616297) | #12 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,026
|
Isn't it fair to say One-Make/Single spec is the root of all evil in racing???
|
||
|
20 Jan 2010, 13:32 (Ref:2616308) | #13 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,699
|
There has only ever been one truely 'One make racing' series and my favourite and that is the American International Race Of Champions or IROC. The only reason these were all the same was because they were run by Penske Racing and meticulously prepared to ensure they were all identical and the famous drivers turned up on the day and literally pulled the ignition keys out of a hat and that was their mount for the weekend. I have one of these original cars at home.
As far as I am concerned all other one makes are not equal which is why I hate them with a passion, when you see someone have the legs on someone down the back straight whats that all about? How many have been caught cheating in the past including some well known faces. Last edited by Al Weyman; 20 Jan 2010 at 13:38. |
||
__________________
You can't polish a turd but you sure can sprinkle it with glitter! |
20 Jan 2010, 17:59 (Ref:2616443) | #14 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 286
|
[QUOTE=Al Weyman;2616308]There has only ever been one truely 'One make racing' series and my favourite and that is the American International Race Of Champions or IROC.
Al, we did have one truely 'One make race' in this country! It was to promote the new Vauxhall HP Firenza and all the cars were even identical in colour - silver! They were all driven by the stars of the national club racing scene and the race can be seen on You Tube - HP Firenza race @ Thruxton 1974. I was marshalling that day and remember the excitement of having such an event! |
||
|
20 Jan 2010, 18:16 (Ref:2616453) | #15 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,699
|
But they would only be identical if set up by the company running the series and no further adjustments made not to tracking, brakes, shockers, camber & caster, brake bias and especially engine management as the IROC cars were or it defeats the object to find the true best. All they could do was literally adjust the seat and belts and that was it but this does cost a lot of money and why IROC went over to tubular space framed cars as the production based Porches and Camaros just could not be kept equal after a couple of dings.
|
||
__________________
You can't polish a turd but you sure can sprinkle it with glitter! |
20 Jan 2010, 18:17 (Ref:2616454) | #16 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 286
|
Yes Al, Eurocars were 'invented' by Incarace, and the first ever race was run at Hednesford Hills Raceway with a field of eight cars, one of which was driven by Kevin Clarke (he did a lot of oval racing in those days). The cars looked to be too big for our ovals, hence their move to the circuits; which makes me surprised that the European Late Model Series seemed to work OK when they appeared at Hednesford last year!
|
||
|
20 Jan 2010, 18:29 (Ref:2616469) | #17 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 286
|
The Thruxton event was a one off race, not a series, and if I remember correctly the drivers drew the cars they were to race out of a hat that morning!
|
||
|
20 Jan 2010, 18:43 (Ref:2616479) | #18 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,699
|
Thats fair enough, shame it was only one race.
|
||
__________________
You can't polish a turd but you sure can sprinkle it with glitter! |
20 Jan 2010, 19:05 (Ref:2616493) | #19 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 946
|
P100 pickups!
The Ginetta G50 series looks like it could take off in the same way as the TVR Tuscan series - hairy RWD cars. |
||
__________________
Andrew Cliffe - Norwich Photo & Racing Exposure |
20 Jan 2010, 19:14 (Ref:2616500) | #20 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 286
|
|||
|
20 Jan 2010, 19:30 (Ref:2616507) | #21 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,699
|
They would have auctioned them off. I was at Alexandra Palace car auctions once and Vauxhall put through several works Manta 400 rally cars as I recollect. They were cheap as well!
|
||
__________________
You can't polish a turd but you sure can sprinkle it with glitter! |
20 Jan 2010, 19:32 (Ref:2616511) | #22 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 391
|
XJR-15's in Jaguar Intercontinental Challenge. Lovely cars, great drivers, pure indulgence.
|
||
__________________
"It's a grand old team to play for, it's a grand old team to support: and if you know your history, it's enough to make your heart go..." |
21 Jan 2010, 00:19 (Ref:2616655) | #23 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,680
|
P100 challenge usually supported the trucks and yes they were hooligans! Keith Holland drove one thanks to knowing Jackie Epstein from his F5000 days and the drive was free, mainly all the pick ups running costs were picked up by Ford including the vehicles.
|
||
|
21 Jan 2010, 10:38 (Ref:2616853) | #24 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,941
|
Running costs or rebuild costs?!!!!
|
||
__________________
"Double Kidney Guv'nah?" "No thanks George they're still wavin a white flag!" |
22 Nov 2011, 23:30 (Ref:2990216) | #25 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 157
|
|||
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
New one-make KTM series | Charlies | National & Club Racing | 1 | 11 May 2007 22:34 |
One make series................................ | retro | Australasian Touring Cars. | 40 | 31 Aug 2004 03:19 |
Ralliart one make series in Oz ???? | 27tim | Australasian Touring Cars. | 11 | 16 Feb 2002 19:57 |
What is your favourite one make series ? | Craig | National & Club Racing | 33 | 12 Feb 2001 22:13 |
One make series | redback | National & International Single Seaters | 4 | 13 Jan 2001 11:23 |