The Spa 6Hour 2010

[simon drabble]

well driven B's do it in 3-05....

[Simon Hadfield]

The GT40 that was not run because it had no papers does indeed have a great period history - just not the period that the Spa Six hours is run for. Indeed it did not even exist in the correct period and that is from the very Mann who built it.

[Simon Hadfield]

The point of having a V8 engined car is that you can maybe race to a position rather than simply wait for others to fall by the wayside (the waiting for which is of itself a skill, I do realise). On another tack why do some people (preparers) wall off their garage, prevent others from looking under the bonnet, peering underneath etc? If these are historic cars, prepared to the correct specification, what do they not want people to see?

[compte deGraves]

Originally Posted by Simon Hadfield

The point of having a V8 engined car is that you can maybe race to a position rather than simply wait for others to fall by the wayside (the waiting for which is of itself a skill, I do realise). On another tack why do some people (preparers) wall off their garage, prevent others from looking under the bonnet, peering underneath etc? If these are historic cars, prepared to the correct specification, what do they not want people to see?

A very, very good point. As a matter of interest when I was buying my Volpini I was told by a very well known historic racer to always buy a car with an MSA issued "log book" and never, never a Belgium one!

[SZRacer]

Sadly, I fear that this is the trend. Unless the race 'reinvents' itself (read: takes a big risk of losing SOME current entrants), and goes back to attracting a more eclectic grid, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Much like what has happened in GTs (cobras etc.) and Touring Cars (Mustangs etc.).

A lot of the 'good guys' (I'm humbly, or stupidly, including myself in this category) get demoralised, and either race elsewhere, or give up altogether. For me, it's the reason why I'm racing less, but racing in Pre-63 GT not Gentleman Drivers, and U2TC, not Touring Cars.

But, really enjoyed my stint this year, in the oldest car, a 100M, and the fact that we were able to come a 'respectable' 34th, with one driver putting in 3'13 laps and the other two low 3'20s, shows that you CAN have a competitive race in a non-V8. Saying that, it may well have been a different story without the rain!

I know (and this goes back to your quote below) that my co-driver has stated it's his last time for the Six Hours in a 100M, and it's certyainly not a race for my Alfa, which spends most of its time at 7-8000 rpm! I can see the attraction of a 'cheap' V8, but then, some of us race for the fun of it, or because we love racing unusual cars, don't we?

Agree about the lights though. Didn't realise HID lighting was a period fitment!!

Originally Posted by terence bower

BTW,overheard an Elan owner complaining that he will have to buy a V8 if he's going to do it again next year! Makes you wonder how many others are thinking the same,great shame if it follows its current trend of becoming a V8s only race!

[simon drabble]

all of which is why HSCC are missing a trick by not running a 6 hour Guards race in UK... (not at Snet!)

[john ruston]

Mr H ,You are referering to one in Top F1 Garage with all bells,carpets and whistles and I was talking about the car in leper pits ,about 42 . At least yours was a GT40 at some point and could have run in Eau Rouge,the dustbin of the non conforming.
Mine needed a skip!

[SZRacer]

Hey, we were in one of those pits...!



'Alms for an ex-leper?'

Originally Posted by john ruston

I was talking about the car in leper pits ,about 42 .

[john ruston]

So were we,but not for long!

[terence]

Originally Posted by simon drabble

all of which is why HSCC are missing a trick by not running a 6 hour Guards race in UK... (not at Snet!)

Nothing wrong with Snett,just wait and see what its like next year.

[simon drabble]

I meant in addition to their 3 hour rather than instead of....

[terence]

Originally Posted by Simon Hadfield

The point of having a V8 engined car is that you can maybe race to a position rather than simply wait for others to fall by the wayside (the waiting for which is of itself a skill, I do realise). On another tack why do some people (preparers) wall off their garage, prevent others from looking under the bonnet, peering underneath etc? If these are historic cars, prepared to the correct specification, what do they not want people to see?

Perhaps IF those people put in the attention to detail on the cars?


Just for reference,ie B lap times. Mr Thibault was doing 3.09s back in 2003/4,that was with a well worn 1950,the owner would not let us refresh it Simon.





[Your's,tired of waiting]

[josvandeperre]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Its not that GT40.That was bureaucracy .

The car referred to was all ally and run by the same Team that ran the really crappy GT 40 look alike that was quick for a very short period last year.

Can anyone clarify which two cars these were as I cannot figure it out from the entry list (drivers etc) - TIA

[simon drabble]

Terry - what are you suggesting..... ;-)

[zefarelly]

[QUOTE=terence bower;2769220]Just for reference,ie B lap times. Mr Thibault was doing 3.09s back in 2003/4,that was with a well worn 1950,the owner would not let us refresh it Simon.QUOTE]

so with the stupid chicane a legal MGB should be around 3:12- 3:15 . . . .or slower than a Mustang? which is about where normal/sensible LC's are, superheros and bottomless budgets aside!

[Ben Shuckburgh]

hmmmm. feeling a bit victimised - v8 owners aren't all bad!!........
even though i'm selling the old girl.....

[simon drabble]

As a winning car in the 6 Hour it should fly off the shelf Ben...

[Ben Shuckburgh]

Originally Posted by simon drabble

As a winning car in the 6 Hour it should fly off the shelf Ben...

hope so

[terence]

[QUOTE=zefarelly;2769286]

Originally Posted by terence bower

Just for reference,ie B lap times. Mr Thibault was doing 3.09s back in 2003/4,that was with a well worn 1950,the owner would not let us refresh it Simon.QUOTE]

so with the stupid chicane a legal MGB should be around 3:12- 3:15 . . . .or slower than a Mustang? which is about where normal/sensible LC's are, superheros and bottomless budgets aside!

The cigar is awarded to Zefarelly for his correct assumption.
Mustang wise? that would depend on the driver.
Ben,are you looking for a B to replace the Mustang with?

[terence]

[QUOTE=terence bower;2769336]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

The cigar is awarded to Zefarelly for his correct assumption.
Mustang wise? that would depend on the driver.
Ben,are you looking for a B to replace the Mustang with?

Bet your really pleased with your trophy btw.

[Ben Shuckburgh]

[QUOTE=terence bower;2769336]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

The cigar is awarded to Zefarelly for his correct assumption.
Mustang wise? that would depend on the driver.
Ben,are you looking for a B to replace the Mustang with?

hmmm. thanks for the offer but i've got ...ahem..other plans. Anyway, it's a Falcon.......I know they all look alike to most people

[Moosehead]

Originally Posted by Ben Shuckburgh

hmmmm. feeling a bit victimised - v8 owners aren't all bad!!........
even though i'm selling the old girl.....

LOL, get used to it Ben, me and Al have had to

[Newall Andy]

Originally Posted by Simon Hadfield

The point of having a V8 engined car is that you can maybe race to a position rather than simply wait for others to fall by the wayside (the waiting for which is of itself a skill, I do realise). On another tack why do some people (preparers) wall off their garage, prevent others from looking under the bonnet, peering underneath etc? If these are historic cars, prepared to the correct specification, what do they not want people to see?

There were two GT40s that raced in the Spa 6 hr that passed the tech inspection and were included in the final results.... that have never seen FAV or Slough.... cap fits !

[Ben Shuckburgh]

Originally Posted by Moosehead

LOL, get used to it Ben, me and Al have had to

Perhaps we have to take what I heard Boris call tonight "the Millwall attitude"......."Nobody likes us and we don't care"

[terence]

Not so much as "not liking" more a case of there being far too many. The RACB had actually suggested that a more varied grid would be more acceptable to the spectators.Problem being that "development" on V8s has jumped so far ahead of everything else [apart from Jags] that is.