Hi guys,
I've got a 57 MGA and I'm trying to explain my time and money killer to friends and family. I wrote up a blog for them trying to tell them how cool vintage race cars are. I thought it would be fun to throw it out to guys with a similar passion to see what sort of feedback I get. Check it out at http://vintageandclassiccar.blogspot.com/
I understand the need to write with an effort at Top Gear style hyperbole, but with the jab at Peugeot, and then the reference to just their result at Indy,have you heard of these little races called Pikes Peak, Le Mans, or the Dakar Rally? All have been won by PSA cars. To me, if you're trying to explain the joy of vintage racing, then the first clip should be the St. Mary's Trophy from the Good wood Revival. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXb243vn0jY&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DkXb243vn0jY&app=desktop
Ha ha, a Peugeot fan! Sorry to put down your car. It was a light hearted joke. I poke fun at MGs too and I own one.
Yeah, I actually agree with you. If I was to respond to my blog I'd say that rally racing has kept the spirit of road-able sports car racing alive past the 60s. Somewhat. Some of those cars definitely belong in the category, pure race, not streetable.
Fantastic blog! I just bookmarked it. I seem to be a minority with my interest in old British tin as well. I'm in my late thirties and just a few years ago I bought my old dream car from when I was a teenager; a Triumph Spitfire. Thank goodness I have cheap taste! We need to keep the interest going, so I wholeheartedly support your blog. Nice job Isaiah!
-Hamid
Thanks for the good words Hamid!
How can anyone not like a Spitfire? Even the name is awesome.
I think we have a good hobby. The MGA and the Spitfire seem fast, so they're fun to drive, but they don't have us in trouble with the law. I've got a friend with an MR2 that's got a huge aftermarket turbo, ported heads, after market fuel management, etc. and I can't help but think 1.) he still has less into it that I do the MGA, and 2) I would get tickets all the time!
At least I get him. I really don't get the guys that go ride down busy highways in tights on 10 speeds on the weekend. That doesn't seem fun ha. Even tried it and confirmed.
Enjoy the drive!
Excellent blog Isaiah, and great supporting pictures. I especially liked the pic of the original Thompson track layout from the early '50s (#66 Lotus 9 crossing the start/finish line of the oval). The Thompson road course is finally being reincarnated this season in layout version #4 after being dormant for around 40 years.
Also, AMEN to your comment about adults riding so-called "racing bicycles" on busy highways in goofy looking team tights. That's one of my major pet peeves. I say get them off the roads and onto dedicated bike paths where they belong. They don't have an equal right to the road with motorists. They don't pay registration fees or gas taxes. Did you know that Connecticut has enacted a law that states a motorist must leave a minimum 3 feet of space between his vehicle and a bicycle? Try that on a two lane blacktop. So you either follow behind at 10-15 mph or put yourself and oncoming vehicles at risk to pass a bicycle ... or worse, several bicycles in tandem on a training run hogging the road. It's especially dangerous on rural roads which are plentiful in Connecticut. The common sense solution is to keep bicycles off roads so bicyclists won't be hit by cars! (Sorry to hijack your thread for my rant but your comment got me started! I'll probably incur the wrath of fellow forum contributors who think riding bicycles on busy roads is OK. Sorry DSW.)
Great writeup but I feel if you have to explain to friends and family, then......never mind
I just realized that I managed to say nothing positive in my first response, so here goes:
Kudos on a fairly comprehensive history and explanation of old car racing!
The only substantial lack I would address is that you don't devote sufficient time to the actual feel and enjoyment of racing classic cars today. A history lesson tells why the cars are important, but the exhilaration of true man and machine interaction, unfettered by computers and safety nannies needs to be explained as well. The folks who don't "get" classic car racing just don't understand why it would be so fun to take a car that's slower than their appliance-mobile and wring it out to it's underwhelming limits. You'll never convince them with numbers and history, but perhaps the tactile sensations could break through to them.
In reply to Gary: Having been one of those "guys in goofy shorts" for most of my life, I do have to take issue with your rant. Allowing three feet to pass a cyclist isn't a death sentence on your commute. Common sense dictates that if you can't safely pass someone moving in the same direction as you, then you can't safely avoid children, animals, or inattentive drivers pulling out either. If barely over half the width of your car stops you being able to overtake then wait a couple of minutes. On most highways and back roads cyclists are allowed to ride up to two abreast by law. Usually, if they are riding in a well ordered pack, its highly unlikely they are only going 10 to 15 mph. Most of the roads I rode on in East Tennessee are rural roads with no shoulder, and our group usually averaged over twenty for our thirty to eighty mile training rides. That's faster than most school and church zone speed limits. You are at most slightly slowed down by cyclists ( most of whom also own cars for which they buy gas and help support the roads). The argument that they have no right to be on the road because they don't pay precisely the same fees and taxes as motorists is fallacious at best. Most non-numbered roads a are funded through local taxes on property, not from gasoline duties which go to federal and state govts. I bet the guys in goofy shorts own houses and pay taxes, don't they? Perhaps if you can't share the road with other users, its not them that should get off the highway.
Haha! Gary that was a heck of a rant! I was a bike messenger for a few years and am an avid road cyclist that wears those cute little tights (you know why we wear those?). Remember that not all cyclists are smug and out to piss off motorists, some just like to bike! In fact, I meet up with my riding buddies at different locations with my bike on the rack strapped to my miata; I pay my fair share of fees and taxes, and have two more cars at home. I think your viewpoint is common for someone that has no knowledge or interest in cycling, unfortunately. Some of us do it for commuting to stay in shape and save on gas. It's also great to get fresh air. Some of us get a rush out of hitting 45 mph on level ground and traveling for 200 miles at one time. Did you ever think about how cool it is that biking is the fastest a human can go under their own power? I think it's awesome. You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but as a cycling nut since I was 9 years old, you are the type of person that scared me every day when I road to school as a kid, or when I had to ride on the road at times because there were too many pedestrians, and had to fight the massive gusts from passing semi trucks that would blow me off the road.
You would've hated me when I was a messenger; I kicked every car I could with the metal spikes on my shoes that got in my way. Lots of dents and red badges of courage during my early twenties. I'm chill now, nearing age forty, and I now have two little boys that I'm trying to teach respect for others and safe bike riding practices on the road.
The next time you see a poor dude battling a 20mph headwind up here in Skagit valley with a trailer full of kids that I'm towing, could you do me a favor and give me 3 feet? I'm just trying to enjoy myself.
-Hamid
In reply to AverageH:
I gave the bikes a shot. When I was living in Kona I tried it because of all the iron man stuff. Bought a GT with some carbon. I found a liked surfing more and I still try to surf on occasion. It's a little unfortunate but the car project has seemed to rule my free time for the last couple of years. Phases I guess. Plus I live in Oregon now and surfing just isn't quite as fun.
Gary, good catch on the track. I had no idea what it was of.
Travellering and GJZ, you're probably right. The fastest way I could make converts is just to get them out on the track. But I do think the stories are awesome and might encourage people to look at them as more than just "old cars". They kind of give life to what those old cars were. At least for me.
I live in Portland OR so giving bikes the right of way is the norm. They ride down the street here. They're pretty quick so it's not a big deal.
Thanks for the comments guys!
Good town, Portland; I was born there and lived on Wistaria drive in NE Portland. Lots of good memories. Went to Alameda primary school.
It's really hard balancing all of it! I tend to tinker on the Spitfire late after everyone goes to bed, and I also go for a jog or spin on the bike in the garage around midnight or so. Lately, I've found that it's hard to go and fire it up to tune it a little as our 1 year old naps a bunch, and I don't want to wake him. Next thing I know 3 weeks have gone by! Oh well, as a British car the work will ALWAYS be there.
-Hamid
Nicely done.
And nice that you have an MGA coupe! I have a 1962 street driver coupe, 58 Twin Cam roadster and 56 rebodied Jamaican.
Hamid, totally understand. We have a one month old. It's amazing how time flies between when I can even get to the car these days.
Wsphon, that's awesome. Especially the 58 twin cam. I can see how you'd end up with three. They're so simple but fun. I think if I get another one I'd snag a beat up body/frame (like the one that sold at the Portland All british Field Meet for $1500) and build a small block chevy rat rod. I know, sounds ghetto but I think it'd be fun.
Isaiah wrote: Wsphon, that's awesome. Especially the 58 twin cam. I can see how you'd end up with three. They're so simple but fun. I think if I get another one I'd snag a beat up body/frame (like the one that sold at the Portland All british Field Meet for $1500) and build a small block chevy rat rod. I know, sounds ghetto but I think it'd be fun.
I use the Chev 3.4 V6 in the Jamaican - fits a lot easier. I hate chopping up a frame unless I have to. Recall one guy I knew that stuck a 283 Chev in his TR-3. Had to leave out the cross brace between the front suspension mounts. He wondered what was happening as the suspension slowly folded in on itself, with the tires leaning more an more inward, over a couple of months.
Oh, yeah, I didn't realize you had to cut the frame up to get a small block v8 in. Maybe there's a low profile oil pan? I know the v6 would move it fast, but I want that small block shriek. There isn't anything like a small block that's been blueprinted and is way up there on RPMs. Love that sound.
Getting people to understand and excited about vintage racing who are not car people or folks that gravitate towards the latest and greatest is a tough sell. Sunday millions of Americans will be watching the Superbowl, I will be out riding my dirt bike as I simply do not get football, nothing wrong with it I just find it boring.............really how can that compare to the Isle of Man, Group B or watching guys on Superbikes literally flying at Cadwell Park. I have a friend who asks my why on earth I love my vintage motocross as the bikes have lousy brakes, skatey handling due weedy forks and skinny tires............that's exactly what I like about it as it dances all around. Same applies to the Datsun I race, the fun is in the fact that the car skates around or at least if you are driving it fast. I had a modern D sports racer and while it was fast and an adrenaline rush, it was not pure fun..........most vintage sports cars are low enough on the performance scale that you are not going to run out of runoff at the rapid rate that you would in say a Formula Atlantic. I take my car to track days when I instruct and taking people for rides is one of the best ways to turn them on to old cars. Some of my favorite converts were a Mustang Cobra owner whose friends were giving him a hard time that he was passed by some old Datsun. After I took a couple of them for rides on a damp track they were stunned and had the usual "I had no idea anyone could drive a car like that". Also loved the uber macho guy with 450 hp Evo who started with classic I have big power and aint scared why do I need an instructor. When we came off track after 4 laps in the Datsun he just looked down at his feet and said "man I have a lot to learn" he also remarked that these old low powered cars really teach you to drive. My most recent favorite was the owner of a V8 M3 who after family and friends were giving him a hard time about having to wave the 80hp Datsun past commented that the owner drives the wheels of it and those old cars are not as slow as people think..........which brings me back to why I love them. In order to get any speed out of these old and mostly under powered cars you have to drive like a complete animal..........slippery smooth best describes the style.........you cannot do that on sticky slicks and still be fast.........you just can't be the thrill of skating a car on a long lazy trajectory.
Tom
Now that's the sort of blog I've always wanted to do. Nice job. As a former bike messenger in downtown PDX I have to confess I was one of the worst offenders when it came to abusing traffic laws. If I had a nickel for every time I threaded between TriMet buses or crossed Burnside against the light in rush hour traffic...
I was younger and much more foolish then.
Tom, I bet taking people out in a classic race car would make them appreciate the classics. Want to talk me into liking classics ha? I want to get out on the track pretty bad. We'll see if I can somehow achieve that with the MGA.
BoeingPilot - Against traffic on Burnside... that's brave! If that transferred over to your flight career I hope you're flying cargo ha!
boeingpilot wrote: Now that's the sort of blog I've always wanted to do. Nice job. As a former bike messenger in downtown PDX I have to confess I was one of the worst offenders when it came to abusing traffic laws. If I had a nickel for every time I threaded between TriMet buses or crossed Burnside against the light in rush hour traffic... I was younger and much more foolish then.
Yes!!! My kind of dude. I know Burnside! Awesome stuff. I'll never forget my "rush" deliveries; from Queen Anne Hill to Pioneer Square via 5th avenue. Passing cars like nothing and in the middle of the three lanes weaving around the buses and pedestrians. I so didn't care about anything, just kept my whistle in my mouth and blew at everyone that looked at me funny. Lots of going the wrong way down one-way streets. It was quicker to get to where I was going, but I also just loved to freak people out. I still sweat when I think of those times.... stupid and fun. I'd carry a loaf of bread in my Timbuk2 messenger bag (brand new company at the time, and the bags were special-ordered through the mail with a 2 month wait) and finish it in half a day. When I finally left that job, I was also working nights as a cook; I went to a party that my sister was having, fell asleep on the couch in the middle of the party, and woke the next day at 4pm. My body just shut off. I think I averaged 100 miles a day? Can't remember, maybe that was at the beginning when they give you longer deliveries to get you in shape. Sorry... just reminiscing. I bet my toddler son will wake as soon as I stop procrastinating and get to my homework. Another 2am night.
-Hamid
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