Saturday, September 7, 2013

Alfiste Heaven And A Time Warp


Back-in-the-day: D/E Production race at the SCCA Nationals at Watkins Glen in 1961.  This picture was taken at
the right-left-right chicane at the end of the long straight.  It is long-since gone, now part of the infield, replaced
with the Bus Stop Chicane that shortens the long straight before it feeds into the right-hand sweeper.


Thanks to the Automobiliac blog for the link below, and to Santo Spadaro for uploading the video of his vintage races in his Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce coupe (whew!) at Lime Rock last weekend. The video is of two races and runs a total of about 20 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACW58REIfZI&list=UU_rjOFDUuec7Rp7f2f2NS0g#t=33

This footage really takes me back.  It looks like an SCCA D/E/F/G Production race from any year in the late 1950's or early 1960's.  It's so much fun to watch the cars run on narrow treaded tires, without fender flares, &c. &c. &c.  I haven't seen this many Giuliettas together on track in one place at one time since back then.  And, as a bonus, there's a rare (silver) Alfa Zagato coupe in both races.

Lime Rock still strikes me as the toughest short road course in the States to learn properly and drive fast.  Turns 1-2-3 go on forever: "ladies and gentlemen, choose your multiple apexes."  The Diving Turn onto the main straight is daunting even in a car with modest power.

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