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

[Har1MAS1415]

If anyone can remember any other instance of the Chrysler/Dodge Shadow taking part in a motor race then I am all ears.

In February 1989, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City played host to the Challenge of Nations. Intended to launch the then-new Chrysler Shadow and appeal to the Mexican market, 26 cars were entered with 2 each assigned to a competing nation, although Team France didn't make the start. The winner was Team Italy representative Gianni Morbidelli with the Team Germany pair of Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Frank Biela completing the podium. Points were awarded for each position so Team Germany were the overall winners with 146 points with Italy 2nd and Argentina 3rd.

The event was never repeated but, in hindsight, could arguably be seen as a forerunner to A1GP.

Richards and Grice's bizarre 'World Cup' race in Mexico

ONE of the funniest stories told so far on the V8 Sleuth Podcast came courtesy of Jim Richards and Allan Grice. In addition to nine Bathurst 1000 wins and

www.v8sleuth.com.au

Nations Cup 1989? - TNF's Archive

Nations Cup 1989? - posted in TNFs Archive: I have heard that in between 1989 or 1992, there was a Nations Cup in the Autodromo Hermanod Rodriguez with Phantom Cars and was a succesful event...Does someone know more?

forums.autosport.com

 

[Har1MAS1415]

This Subaru BRZ recently contested the Anglesey 12 Hour Race of Remembrance.

What is so unbelievable about why it raced?

Well, the car was a write-off when the team running it (Mission Motorsport) acquired it!

The car finished 42nd overall and 11th in its class.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

The Citroën CX raced at Dubai in 1981.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

Okay, it didn't actually race but here's the Mad Max Lotus E23 of 2015.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

An unraced example:

This is the BMW-powered Ardex S80 prototype that entered the Group 6 (over 2 Litre) class in the 1981 Le Mans 24 Hours but failed to qualify.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

The Stadium Trucks Series

Can't believe such a series exists!

 

[Har1MAS1415]

School bus racing!

 

[Har1MAS1415]

The Top Gear BMW 330d in the 2007 Britcar 24 Hours. It was already 4 years old when TG got their hands on it. Also the fact that it finished and scored a podium in its class after all that was sent to try it!

This synopsis of the episode in question says it all!

Top Gear: 24 Hour Endurance Race

Tonight we take part in our first ever motor race. James tests the new Fiat 500 near some youths on bicycles, and the Ascari A10: just how fast is this thing? Hello! Hello and welcome. (Tonight the…

modernathena.wordpress.com

 

[Har1MAS1415]

https://www.slotforum.com/threads/race-cars-you-never-heard-of.207990/ - No shortage of potential candidates for this thread there!

 

[MatskiMonk]

The Top Gear BMW 330d in the 2007 Britcar 24 Hours. It was already 4 years old when TG got their hands on it. Also the fact that it finished and scored a podium in its class after all that was sent to try it!

It's not really an unusual car for it's class, in fact, I think most of the cars in it's class were 330d's and I doubt they had the budget Top Gear put into their car. As I recall, they pissed off quite a few people. I was at the 2007 race and Top Gear being there didn't really add much, closed off garage for the most part - which sucks since the accessibility of the Britcar 24 was a real highlight. Being next to a Pit stop for the Duller Z4M taking place during the 2006 event is one of the things that got me into motorsport, sadly at that point, I wasn't into photography, so these were digital stills taken on my camcorder at the time (hence the laughable resolution - but they did have to fit on an 8mb memory card), and I didn't have any way of taking photos in 2007.

.. anyhow, E46's (albeit M3s) were still running in the 2018 race.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

It's not really an unusual car for it's class, in fact, I think most of the cars in it's class were 330d's and I doubt they had the budget Top Gear put into their car. As I recall, they pissed off quite a few people. I was at the 2007 race and Top Gear being there didn't really add much, closed off garage for the most part - which sucks since the accessibility of the Britcar 24 was a real highlight. Being next to a Pit stop for the Duller Z4M taking place during the 2006 event is one of the things that got me into motorsport, sadly at that point, I wasn't into photography, so these were digital stills taken on my camcorder at the time (hence the laughable resolution - but they did have to fit on an 8mb memory card), and I didn't have any way of taking photos in 2007.

View attachment 1408197View attachment 1408196View attachment 1408198View attachment 1408205

.. anyhow, E46's (albeit M3s) were still running in the 2018 race.

It wasn't the "unusual" aspect that made me bring it up.

More the circumstances behind the car being entered in the race and being prepared in only 10 days.

My recollection of the episode in question is that the class that Team TG were in was a mix of 3 Series and 1 Series.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

Speaking of the BMW 1 Series.

It was unusual to see one in the British Touring Car Championship when Rick Kerry entered one in the 2007 Season as the series' first ever diesel entry.

Like the LPG Honda Civic 3 years earlier, it was generally uncompetitive, although Kerry was just out of the points in 11th at Rockingham.

After sitting out the 2008 Season, the car returned in 2009 with Nick Leason driving, but disappeared after 3 meetings.

WSR would later run an NGTC 2nd-generation 1 Series, starting in 2013, and would go on to win the 2014 and 2018 titles with Colin Turkington.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

It's not really an unusual car for it's class, in fact, I think most of the cars in it's class were 330d's and I doubt they had the budget Top Gear put into their car. As I recall, they pissed off quite a few people. I was at the 2007 race and Top Gear being there didn't really add much, closed off garage for the most part - which sucks since the accessibility of the Britcar 24 was a real highlight. Being next to a Pit stop for the Duller Z4M taking place during the 2006 event is one of the things that got me into motorsport, sadly at that point, I wasn't into photography, so these were digital stills taken on my camcorder at the time (hence the laughable resolution - but they did have to fit on an 8mb memory card), and I didn't have any way of taking photos in 2007.

View attachment 1408197View attachment 1408196View attachment 1408198View attachment 1408205

.. anyhow, E46's (albeit M3s) were still running in the 2018 race.

Team Top Gear's class only actually had 5 entries in all, including them.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

In 1999, a pair of Lexus GS 400 models were entered in the Grand-American Motorola Cup Sports class. Team Lexus won its sixth race in this inaugural year and went on to claim two track records and four podium finishes.