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

[GTPorsche]

Even weirder that it has an MDX decal down the side.

 

[0ldman279]

I may have posted the wrong pic.

They have several race "cars", the Odyssey was the first van I think, but when I looked it up on Google the pic of the Odyssey was of a white van.

That's what I get for posting before finishing my coffee.

 

[0ldman279]

Here's the Odyssey.

 

[catamount39]

Here's the Odyssey.

That's even more shocking.

 

[NotThePrez]

I take your Honda Odyssey and raise you:

A RWD converted Element built to compete in Formula Drift. It was powered by a Turbo V6 making over 600 HP. It was not very successful, IIRC.

 

[catamount39]

I take your Honda Odyssey and raise you:

A RWD converted Element built to compete in Formula Drift. It was powered by a Turbo V6 making over 600 HP. It was not very successful, IIRC.

How did that not roll over?

 

[0ldman279]

Hard tires, no traction.

That's the only way. lol

 

[TVR27]

 

[Formidable]

Shell Eco Marathon Cars

Plenty of more pictures

 

[girabyt3]

I can't believe this hasn't been posted yet

When you played GT too much your life is arround GT all the time . Remember that Kaz said every car has it's own fans

 

[girabyt3]

Foton Tunland in the Dakar Rally

PERU!!!!

 

[Liquid]

In 1991 the Cavalier wasn't the only Vauxhall in the British Touring Car Championship.

1991 Vauxhall Belmont (Jeff Wilson)

 

[TenEightyOne]

In 1991 the Cavalier wasn't the only Vauxhall in the British Touring Car Championship.

1991 Vauxhall Belmont (Jeff Wilson)

Brilliant car, and the most-stolen-in-Britain at one time. The type, not that actual one. Back when I had my GTE my friend had a Belmont with a GTE conversion (I don't know why either) that was stupendously quick.

/nostalgia break.

 

[Liquid]

Vauxhall Belmont

Brilliant car

Reported.

 

[TheCracker]

Brilliant car. For a retired old man with a flat cap and beige M&S slacks.

 

[Legro]

Hold on, why Belmont? Why didn't they just call it Astra Saloon, like the one before, or the one after it, and how the continental equivalent was named?

 

[TenEightyOne]

Hold on, why Belmont? Why didn't they just call it Astra Saloon, like the one before, or the one after it, and how the continental equivalent was named?

They marketed it as "Not just an Astra with a boot", maybe they were going for a bit of class with the name. No Vauxhall was called "Kadett" here back then, when the names were combined I guess Astra went to the Kadett rather than vice versa.

Brilliant car. For a retired old man with a flat cap and beige M&S slacks.

It was a cheap fast car, 156bhp wasn't too bad in a 1000kg car. At the time it was the most powerful in its class, I guess those slacks started out white



EDIT: Looking at the exhaust I'd say the pic is the less powerful 8v rather than the 16v... still shifted though

 

[-Fred-]

We got that as a Pontiac LeMans in America (And Asüna something or other in Canada as well) but I don't get what's so special about an Astra/Kadett sedan being raced, seeing how that generation Astra/Kadett hatchback was raced in touring cars pretty much all over Europe.

 

[TheCracker]

We got that as a Pontiac LeMans in America (And Asüna something or other in Canada as well) but I don't get what's so special about an Astra/Kadett sedan being raced, seeing how that generation Astra/Kadett hatchback was raced in touring cars pretty much all over Europe.

It's not the car, not in modified or race specification, that's the issue - although the stock Belmont, or non-GTE Astra for that matter, was as dull as dishwater. It's its image, like all booted hatchbacks in Europe, as God's mobile waiting room that's the issue. Hence the flat cap and beige slacks. Think of it as a European Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais.

 

[Pezzarinho17]

I remember seeing these appear and then quickly disappear in 2008... Because vision in a Formula 1 car is overrated.

 

[Liquid]

Hold on, why Belmont? Why didn't they just call it Astra Saloon, like the one before, or the one after it, and how the continental equivalent was named?

Because it was during that period of about 1984-1992 where the small hatchback became the dominant car class for the working man and the saloon became more and more mid- and upper-market. Thus, the saloon based on the small hatchback became increasingly obsolete and for the UK market these cars were given different names to try and make them appear as being a slight step up over the regular hatchback.

Ford Escort -> Ford Escort saloon -> Ford Orion
Vauxhall Astra -> Vauxhall Astra saloon -> Vauxhall Belmont
Volkswagen Golf -> Volkswagen Golf saloon -> Volkswagen Jetta/Bora
Fiat Ritmo -> Fiat Ritmo saloon -> Fiat Regata

That entire class of car pretty much disappeared in the early nineties apart from the Bora, which got bigger anyway.

 

[DK]

Brilliant car. For a retired old man with a flat cap and beige M&S slacks.

It looks like something that Alan Partridge would shill.

 

[TheCracker]

That entire class of car pretty much disappeared in the early nineties apart from the Bora, which got bigger anyway.

Renault also continued to produced a 4-door Megane Saloon up until the most recent version.

 

[Liquid]

Renault also continued to produced a 4-door Megane Saloon up until the most recent version.

I only said it pretty much disappeared. A lot of models did but some did continue, true. Some even came back, like the Focus saloon replacing the Orion.

 

[TheCracker]

It always struck me as an odd choice, when hatchbacks are so much more flexible/practical and almost always much better looking. But i digress.

 

[G_Parrilla]

Hope this wasnt posted already. 1995 Spa 24 Hours.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Now that is a proper WTF choice for a race, especially Spa. A 806 is usually something you would see in the Nurburgring, considering how much of a left field choice it is. And yet somehow, someone decided that it should go up Eau Rouge just for kicks... Did it even finish the actual race?

 

[G_Parrilla]

Now that is a proper WTF choice for a race, especially Spa. A 806 is usually something you would see in the Nurburgring, considering how much of a left field choice it is. And yet somehow, someone decided that it should go up Eau Rouge just for kicks... Did it even finish the actual race?

It retired with a blown engine after qualifying 12th place in a 47 cars grid, with a 2:49.850, I think it even was the fastest in the it's class.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

It retired with a blown engine after qualifying 12th place in a 47 cars grid, with a 2:49.850, I think it even was the fastest in the it's class.

Oh well, I'll still give that Belgian team an A for effort and boldness with their car choice. And there was actually a production class for it? Or was it more of a "1-to-2-car class"?

 

[G_Parrilla]

Oh well, I'll still give that Belgian team an A for effort and boldness with their car choice. And there was actually a production class for it? Or was it more of a "1-to-2-car class"?

I did some research. It was 3rd quickest in the Procar Div. 2 class (20 cars), against Clios, Corollas, Golfs, and even an E30 M3.
The van used a rally Group A Peugeot 306 engine, and the supertouring 405 Mi16 supspension and gearbox.