Classic Motorsport Photos

[Roo]

Is it the road version of the GT-One ?

Yes. They had to build one for homologation reasons. Interestingly - and this factoid I discovered on Wikipedia recently, so take it for whatever you think it's worth - in order for the car to be deemed not just a production car, but also usable by the public, it had to have storage space for a standard sized suitcase. Toyota managed to convince the ACO that the fuel tank, when empty, could in theory hold a suitcase.

 

[Carlos]

Yes. They had to build one for homologation reasons. Interestingly - and this factoid I discovered on Wikipedia recently, so take it for whatever you think it's worth - in order for the car to be deemed not just a production car, but also usable by the public, it had to have storage space for a standard sized suitcase. Toyota managed to convince the ACO that the fuel tank, when empty, could in theory hold a suitcase.

What the.. But I guess all those homologation cars used loopholes.. Not sure where I have to leave the suitcase in the 911 GT1 or CLK GTR street version. Or Nissan R390 etc..

 

[GTPorsche]

911 GT

Between the front wheels, like every other 911 in existence.

CLK GTR

Good question.

Nissan R390

Same as the 911 GT1.

 

[HighSeasHoMastr]

I believe on the CLK GTR there is a small compartment just in front of the rear wheels on either side, Huyura-style. You can sort of see it in that photo- it'd be just inside of where the engine lid attaches behind the door and in front of the rear wheel. Probably just about big enough to stick a briefcase in.

 

[knoxviue]

Good question.

On the side

• 

 

[GTPorsche]

Well, I do see something there.

I wonder how Toyota managed to convince the ACO that a briefcase could fit in the fuel tank with no fuel in it.

Edit: I have to correct myself on the R390. It's not the front where the storage is.

 

[HighSeasHoMastr]

Good god those door sills.....

You must have to walk across them to get into that thing
I stand corrected. The briefcase would surely fit in either side in those compartments. Although I wonder if the race car actually had those...? Seems like they might be a safety issue, with side impacts and all that. Of course the other 5 feet of carbon on either side of the slot might just about do the job.

 

[GTPorsche]

I doubt the racecar would have had the compartments like that. Most likely would have been crash structures there instead of a bin.

 

[HighSeasHoMastr]

Probably just about guessed it with the little illustration I added then. Certainly looks big enough for one.

That R390 is pretty great though. Are the lids for those actually screwed in? Certainly looks like they are from the pictures I can find.
Pretty convenient that. I'll go fetch the bags, if you'll just lend me a screwdriver and wait a few minutes...

Anyways, to get back on slightly at least, it's not a photo, but this channel has a lot of old BPR races on it which are fantastic to watch. Here's 1996 Spa:



There's more on his channel.

 

[Carlos]

 

[brocky31]

A Blower Bentley

Mark Donohue and his McLaren in the pits for 1972 Indy 500

 

[Pete05]

A Blower Bentley

Mark Donohue and his McLaren in the pits for 1972 Indy 500

The brave men who quite literally flew their cars around Brooklands back then are all deserving of huge respect

 

[UnkaD]

I believe on the CLK GTR there is a small compartment just in front of the rear wheels on either side, Huyura-style. You can sort of see it in that photo- it'd be just inside of where the engine lid attaches behind the door and in front of the rear wheel. Probably just about big enough to stick a briefcase in.

That's the CLK LM in the picture.

 

[05XR8]

 

[Liquid]

1966 German Grand Prix

 

[Liquid]

Graham Walker, 1921

Father of Murray. At the Pasage du Grand Prix de la Sarthe.

 

[jontikis]

Formula 3000 at Spa, 1985

Emanuele Pirro driving a March B85 for the Onyx Team.

24 Hours of Le Mans, 1978

Didier Pironi and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud win in a Renault Alpine A442B.

BTCC 1990 - Donnington

Gerry Mahoney in the Arquati M3 leads the Sierra Sapphire of maybe Ray Bellm (not sure) and the RS500 of Sean Walker.

1964 Grand Prix of Japan

The start of the Skyline legend.

 

[Leadfoot530]

Whilst scrolling through Facebook, I found an article from Top Gear showing off some of the cars from the 2016 Le Mans Classic race. Yes, I know they technically aren't classic photos themselves, but I figured the source material seemed fitting. That, and I wanted to share it, and had no other place to post it that I could think of. If it needs moved, just point me in the right direction.

But seriously, there is some GREAT wallpaper material in here!

http://www.topgear.com/car-news/gallery-achingly-cool-cars-le-mans-classic#1

 

[Suzumiya]

1995 Spa 24 Hours

#50 Team SomethinG Yamaguchi Toyota Corolla driven by Junko Mihara, a J-Pop idol, Michiko Okuyama, and Kumi Satou, making for an all Japanese female lineup. Mihara is now a politician, Satou participated in last year's N24.

They finished 19th out of over 47 entries overall.

 

[Panoz]

Michiko Okuyama, a diver, Okuyama was unfortunately brutally murdered in Australia in 1997.

I'm certain your confusing two different women as the same person...

Michiko Okuyama was only 22 years old when she was killed while in Australia for getting a diving license.

Michiko Okuyama, part of the all-women at Spa 1995 raced in a off and on basis from as early as 1985 to as late as 1997.

 

[Suzumiya]

I'm certain your confusing two different women as the same person...

Michiko Okuyama was only 22 years old when she was killed while in Australia for getting a diving license.

Michiko Okuyama, part of the all-women at Spa 1995 raced in a off and on basis from as early as 1985 to as late as 1997.

And that's why you do research kiddos. Fixed my error, mistake on my end

 

[Liquid]

1966 Belgian Grand Prix

Winner: John Surtees ENG
Car: #6 Ferrari 312 (3.0L Ferrari V12)

This would turn out to be Surtees' last race for Ferrari. He quit the team two weeks later after being dropped from Ferrari's 1966 Le Mans programme. It almost certainly cost Surtees and Ferrari the title that year.

The race was greatly affected by the weather. The race started out dry but immediately a heavy rainstorm swept and flooded the entire track. At the end of lap one, there were only 7 cars left from the 15 starters. Seven drivers crashed; Siffert, Hulme, Bondurant, Hill, Spence, Bonnier and infamously, Stewart. Jim Clark also retired with water flooding his engine.

Driver: Dan Gurney USA
Car: Eagle Mk1 (2.7L Coventry-Climax I4)
Finished: Not Classified

The remains of Stewart's BRM. With no marshalls Stewart lay trapped, unable to escape his car. Nobody had even seen him crash off. Luckily, Graham Hill had crashed just down the road and was able to help get Stewart out of the car.

This incident led him on the safety crusade to which the sport owes him so much.

Bonnier's Cooper.

 

[G_Parrilla]

1964 Monaco GP.

 

[Wiegert]

Opening event of the 1981 Dubai Grand Prix; A 10-lap* Citroën CX celebrity race featuring then-current and former racing drivers including Sterling Moss and Dan Gurney. 6 of the 15 starters crossed the line with Bruno Giacomelli taking the win.

*The event marked the 10th anniversary of the UAE's inception with the lap number presumably based on that fact.

 

[DK]

I wonder what stopped Bernie from organising a race there back in the 80s.

 

[Vinylshark]

Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO, 1989

I really wish I could've seen those race

 

[G_Parrilla]

Opening event of the 1981 Dubai Grand Prix; A 10-lap* Citroën CX celebrity race featuring then-current and former racing drivers including Sterling Moss and Dan Gurney. 6 of the 15 starts crossed the line with Bruno Giacomelli taking the win.

*The event marked the 10th anniversary of the UAE's inception with the lap number presumably based on that fact.

I remember watching a video of that race. Crazy stuff.

 

[Liquid]

Indianapolis Archive

1909 Wheeler Schebler Trophy

This may be the very first race held at Indianapolis, around March. The bricks were not laid down until later after several deaths at these early races.

1920 Indianapolis 500

Race winner Gaston Chevrolet, brother of Louis. Bricks clearly shown.

1934 Indianapolis 500

Driver Bennett Hill.

1953 Indianapolis 500

1958 Indianapolis 500

Juan Manuel Fangio in practice for the 1958 race. He did thirteen laps and was able to prevent teammate Paul Russo from overtaking him and was clearly on pace to be able to compete. Fangio, as a "rookie", was pleased to be able to handle such a dangerous car; the Novi-powered Kurtis Kraft was notoriously difficult to handle.

He was all set to drive in the race until other cars were forced upon him by sponsors (Offenhausers as opposed to the Novi he had practiced in) and Fangio left Indianapolis in frustration to take part in the French Grand Prix instead.

That French GP would turn out to be his last ever race. Had he been allowed to race in the Novi, the Indy 500 could well have been Fangio's farewell event instead.

 

[Liquid]

Driver & Mechanic

Brabham & Billington (1962)

Chapman & Hill (1969)

Ickx, Regazzoni & Forghieri (1970)

Jones, Head & Williams (1980)

Bonus:

1987 German Grand Prix

Ron Dennis working as the lollipop man.

 

[Liquid]

1968 Belgian Grand Prix

Driver: Bruce McLaren NZL
Car: McLaren M7A (3.0L Ford-Cosworth V8)
Finished: 1st

The first McLaren victory.