The 39th running of the Classic Motorsports Mitty at Road Atlanta could not have been more spectacular. Record crowds enjoyed perfect weather and an automotive nirvana second to none. The legendary track hosted some of the very best HSR vintage racing throughout the weekend, featuring Ford and Can-Am monsters plus many other historically significant machines.
Spectators were also treated to …
There were so many cool cars parked around the track this weekend that never made it into the car corrals... Five Porsche 356's were parked at the camp site behind us. Nearby was a couple with a 550 Spyder. Toby Bean had his vintage Ferrari Mondial Spyder at his tent. The guys camped next to us had a concours worthy Shelby 350GT and Camaro SS. In the paddock were pair of late model Ferrari Italias, a McLaren 570S and a Ford GT. My father and I talked for a while with a one-off Citroen 2CV wagon.
The Coker Tire Tour show was nice, but what's GRM & HSR's appetite to host a larger car show at the Mitty? Many spectators are bringing cool cars anyway, why not designate a spot for everyone to show them off? Given the big turnouts at local events like Caffeine & Octane and Caffeine & Exotics, I think we could even boost Mitty attendance by extending an invite to local show-n-shine groups and asking them to spread the word.
nderwater, we are working on trying to move a cars and coffee group or two to the Mitty. Thanks for your good ideas and comments.
We had a great time. Friday was rainy, but I got to drive the Cooper for the first time in the rain, and learned a LOT!
HSR put in in the group with F1 and F5000 cars, after lightly expressing reservations, I was put in with the sport cars and really got to do some good racing against a 911, Lotus Elan, and a super quick Morgan.
I didn't realize how nice Road Atlanta is for spectators.
Leo
I was surprised to see you mixing it up with the street-bodied cars, but glad to see you holding your own. Props to you for taking that car out in the rain!
I really didn't get to see the whole field, but it seemed like there was only about 5 cars out in the rain. The hardest part was not trying to keep up with that damned VW Rabbit! He cleaned my clock in the wet...not so much when it dried!
I was absolutely amazed at how much the front of that Cooper hydroplaned. It was an almost constant. I would just TOUCH the brakes and the fronts would lock up to the point of not realizing it till I noticed the "DUNLOP" on the sidewalls. However, If I didn't have a sparkplug issue, I would have stayed out the whole time. It was the first time that car felt powerful!
At the end of the day, I to "race" more with the sports cars than with the F1 and F5000 machines. It's always fun to compare apples and oranges!
Leo
I ran a VW GTI in the rain at a very wet Summit Point a few years ago. They are amazing rain cars.
That's an amazing photo, and major props to you for taking a vintage open car out in that.
Thanks!
Road Atlanta is a pretty forgiving course in the sense that I would have to be driving really fast and stupid to hit something.
Also I really wanted a photo in the rain! LOL
Leo
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