Memorable Sights at the BTCC

[Carrie]

When you've been trackside, what moments have stood out as memorable? It can be racing or things you've seen around the circuit.
I remember one time at Oulton Park about 1997 watching one little lad of about 9 years of age maximum leaving with his prize for the day - a Peugeot bonnet which was very nearly bigger than he was. He didn't appear to have his parents with him at the time and I often wonder what their reaction was when they saw his acquisition
Cleland's window balancing acts on the driver parade and Invader's shouts of CLELAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! certainly were attention grabbing - I'm sure MULLER!!!!!!!! thinks much the same these days
In terms of accidents, I'll never forget watching Kelvin Burt's crash at Oulton Park - truly terrifying or being just beyond Deerleap at Oulton during qualifying, hearing a noise and arriving at Lodge to the unbelievable sight of Spence's car parked on top of the catch fencing - I've still never quite figured out how on earth he managed that one.
That's a start with a few thoughts, there's many, many more memorable moments I could post....

[SL]

Sorry Carrie, not the BTCC, but the Silverstone Tourist Trophy.

Not sure of the year but late 80's. Walkinshaw was running 3 XJS and they were miles ahead, all of a sudden there was a downpour, starting at Woodcote (pre chicane days). We had the sight of cars barrelling down the straight under the bridge only to see a rain soaked track, about 4 cars went off straight away, then the crowd groaned as one of the leading XJS's was seen heading towards the parked cars, backwards. Shortly after another 4 cars joined the battered parking lot. I'm glad to say all drivers were unharmed, apart from dented pride. By then most of the circuit was wet and the pace slowed.

I just remember that time as it was quite a nice September day until then, suddenly the clouds opened, we all got soaked, everyone not wanting to head for shelter as the spinning and sliding cars were a joy to watch. I have a photo somewhere of the carnage.

SL

[Carrie]

Oh, we've never had any experience of Silverstone's rain...have we??? Sorry, of course we have, it's the horizontal stuff they specialise in. Silverstone, that little part of Northamptonshire with it's very own micro climate
Don't apologise to me about getting off topic onto things other than Touring Cars - I'll just let you explain to Rik and Redshoes instead

[SL]

Not quite off topic as they were in the ETC rounds and so still touring cars. Your subject was BTCC.

No offence but the ETC in the 80's was fantastic, Jag, BMW, Rover, Alfa, Nissan all competing with factory and private entries, a few Mercs turned up now and then. I must dig out those old photo's.

I must say though this thread is 100,000 times better than the usual dross that is posted in this area.

Well done

SL

[Carrie]

Hmm, obviously been a long day, for some reason I just thought Jag = sportscars. Nothing wrong with ETCC, even if it wasn't as good as the BTCC the last time we saw it.

[Carrie]

Simon, I think you've just found yourself a task for the weekend - you definitely need to drag out those old photos
That reminds me, one of the guys I work with has photos from Oulton in the sixties, must remind him he's supposed ot be bringing those into work for me

[SL]

Wadda u wanna see babe.


Several from Spa 198? are easy, Le Mans from the same time also, one or two from other events.

All the rest are with ex girlie, this will cost a meal for two at least, we still speak, sometimes politly. She did once offer to return them but the insertation bit and with a hammer apart from bringing tears to my eye's I thought would spoil the photo's

SL

[Les]

John B&Q in lycra perhaps.

An Alfa leading the race (before the inevitable...)

[SL]

Les,

Seeing an Alfa lead a race will not be seen for many years, except perhaps in Historics.

Seeing John in Lyrca is not a nice sight, same as seeing anyone in Lyrca. It should be reserved for those with perfect bodies. AA girls / Hiawiian tropic girls YES, Blokes NO.

Same goes for the latest fashion of bright coloured T shirts with logo's (see Fcuk) Always go for the white one, always in fashion.

SL

[Carrie]

Originally posted by Les
John B&Q in lycra perhaps.

Now how could I possibly forget that It always worries me how many people might have had that as their only introduction to John through the whole season

[Lorna]

Memorable BTCC meetings..... Slight totalling a Honda at the Tourist Trophy at Donington in 1997. (Scarily, Woody has photos taken at the same angle as mine - we were stood near each other not realising we would be mates a few years later).

Muller three abreast at Brands Hatch (was that last year? my memory is bad!!!)

Scarey moments - Tarquini and Thompson going off in the same place at Croft in (eek! 97 or 98?) and Paul Lomax rolling the Clio 172 at Brands 2000.

Jammy person moment - Woody in Matt Neal's car on the parade lap at Silverstone in 1999.

Rick Pearson winning in the Clio 172 at Brands Hatch in 2000. Well done Rick!

Funniest moment - getting mistaken for Joanna Clarke! (I am flattered, Joanna!)

Horizontal rain at Silverstone in 1999. Evil, evil, evil place!

Loads more but that's all I can think of for the moment.

[Les]

How could I not put down Rick's win - that was just a whole weekend of fun.

Scary - Daniel Scanlon? in the FFord who ended up between the tyre wall and catch fencing at Paddock Hill Bend. We saw the car come out in bits but no driver. I was so sure he had been fatally wounded but it turns out he had minor injuries.
or Danny Watts crump at Oulton Park.

As for John and the lycra. I am sure anyone who saw him like that soon realised his was a fun team to be around.

[Craig]

On track it had to be the two Toyotas at Brands Hatch taking each other off! I think that was my first live race

Off track it had to be the sight of the B&Qsi... and WHAT a sight they were! But, I guess even that had to be eclipsed by the sight that greated us at the 2001 final race at Brands which saw some lunatic driver doing a streak down the main straight having thrown his overalls, helmet and boots into the crowd...

[Radisichrox]

Originally posted by Les

As for John and the lycra. I am sure anyone who saw him like that soon realised his was a fun team to be around.

Speaking of him, where is he these days? What's he doing for next year??:confused:

[knowlesy59]

The only thing that i can think of at the moment is this year at Oulton.Muller going backwards down ?knickerbrook? and only just being missed by Thommo.
It was the kinda moment where your thinking Yeah,we got some action here and were gonna have a big smash,and then you think this is gonna be nasty,get outta the way so you dont get busted.

Another time would be the karting at Oulton this year.Must of flashed my skills (as you do)about 4 times,then i run out of money.but anyway i was spinning around when some dipstick comes on the inside first corner,rams the side of the car,flips the front end up and places the kart on my shoulder,at this point im thinking,foot down,do one.i come around next lap and he is in the barrier and he has write the karts steering colunm off . Now that was scary!.

If i think of more i'll tell you.Now have a nice day!

[MJB RETURNS]

though i never been to a race,the very frist image from the btcc was from tarquni smashing his car at knockhill!!!!!!

[Axel Foley]

I only started going to the BTCC races in 99, an this has been at Oulton Park each time, apart from Donington this year too.

From 99 - Two moments still remain as my favourite - Menu parking his car an inch from the ditch at Cascades. That was funny. The other was Thommo ramming Plato off in amazing fashion! Great races in that year at Oulton.

From 00 - Gavin Pyper rolling in front of me at Cascades, that was pretty big, but Gavin was fine.

From 01 - A marshal fell over whilst replacing some tyres at Knickerbrook Very funny! Also, Kurt Luby's RWD doughnut. And at Donny, when Eaves overtook Muller and Plato in the same corner!! But then he was knocked off two corners later by Plato.

Good memories tho

[Carrie]

Who can possibly forget the sight of Menu almost parking in the Oulton Park lake - hmmm, wonder why they decided extra armco was needed after that Talking of Oulton Park and water, I think it might have been a qualifying day at one of the Oulton Park meetings where the marshals were desperately trying to persuade a couple of swans that they didn't really want to waddle across the track whilst there were cars out there.

[Carrie]

Actually, it was at the meeting where Menu had his close encounter with the lake that we heard what was possibly one of the noisiest race cars to ever be part of the TOCA package - a Renault Spider which lost its exhaust very early on in the race Excuse me Mr Spider driver, could everyone in the crowd have new eardrums please...

[touringlegend]

I was standing at Duffus, Knockhill 99, and could see from the start line right round to Clark's. Of course, there was the first lap shambles where Leslie spun(or was pushed??) at the bottom of Duffus, then Rydell/Plato/Thompson/Radermecker bargeing into each other going upto the chicane! The Renault lived up to its reputation by losing it's rear bumper, easily!! That was quite weird seeing all that action, it was my first ever BTCC race, and the hundreds of people just turning at once.

[Chris Y]

One of the best sights I remember was going to the first BTCC night race at Snetterton in '99 ( I think ). It was my first time at Snetterton, so there was 'double' the feeling of discovery, and although the racing was pretty good, it was the 'carnival' atmosphere and all of the lights and 'extras' that people had done specially to make that meeting unique. Somehow the whole meeting seemed more friendly, and people seemed to be enjoying it more.

I understand the reasons for not having one this year, but it will be sorely missed. I for one can't wait for the Mini Festival this year at Donington Park, which apparently is going to be a night race for some of us

[TimD]

I've seen a lot of memorable racing in the BTCC, but I've got to say that the most memorable sight in all my years of Touring Car attendance has to have been the vision of the massed ranks of the B&Qsi striding down Brands Hatch pitlane, in search of their hero.

I honestly didn't know whether to join them or to run and hide.

[Asp]

Talking about Oulton & jumpy measures - I wonder why all that Cathc fetching appearing at Lodge after that Privateer whose name escapes me jumped the barriers??!!

[Aidan J Harvey]

Originally posted by Asp
Talking about Oulton & jumpy measures - I wonder why all that Cathc fetching appearing at Lodge after that Privateer whose name escapes me jumped the barriers??!!

It was mentioned here

Originally posted by Carrie

arriving at Lodge to the unbelievable sight of Spence's car parked on top of the catch fencing - I've still never quite figured out how on earth he managed that one.

[SL]

Aidan J Harvey,

Not quite with you on the reply, any further clues ???

SL