most unusual way to finish a race (in the top 5)

[rallycross]

Have been watching some great clips on you tube of lost circuits in the USA and came across this old race with a highly unusual finish.

Top qualifying times around 115-117 mph.
Average speed over the race 97 mph for the winner.
Race distance 500 miles.
Year - 1953! (the film is quite good quality and in colour).
Cars - NASCAR road saloons, big heavy V8's on skinny cross ply tyres.

Skip forward to 8 mins approx to see an amazing way to come in 5th place after 500 hard racing miles.

Also worth watching though just to see Jnr Johnson flip his car over and for it to go on fire, only for him to clamber out open the bonnet and put the fire out using his shirt, meanwhile the race goes on around him with cars passing by on both sides - how things were different in those days!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYgBqX0stB8

This is quite interesting if you like lost circuits, a mega fast road course that looks like Spa or Oulton Park except its in Augusta USA and has banked corners all the way round - must have been a wild ride with lap average for V8 saloons in the 97 mpg average range - in 1964!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD6grqgwfP0&t=...

[andy97]

I have seen Pete Morris win a Porsche GB club race in a 968 at Donington backwards after 3 cars all spun at the final chicane. Morris was on the grass facing the wrong way but selected reverse and crossed the line first to win!

[swooshiain]

That was brilliant, thanks for posting it! Love the rather pointed commentary on one of the retirees as well - "How on earth did he fit in there in the first place?"

[nicanary]

Happened to Stirling Moss once. Maserati's #4 driver Luigi Piotti saw him in trouble and oushed him round to the pits.

[The Wookie]

andy97 said:

I have seen Pete Morris win a Porsche GB club race in a 968 at Donington backwards after 3 cars all spun at the final chicane. Morris was on the grass facing the wrong way but selected reverse and crossed the line first to win!

Ha I’m surprised he hasn’t told me about that one! Pete is my next door neighbour

[andy97]

The Wookie said:

andy97 said:

I have seen Pete Morris win a Porsche GB club race in a 968 at Donington backwards after 3 cars all spun at the final chicane. Morris was on the grass facing the wrong way but selected reverse and crossed the line first to win!

Ha I’m surprised he hasn’t told me about that one! Pete is my next door neighbour

You will have to ask him about it; as I am sure you know he is usually happy to spin a dit!

You can also ask him about the time he was leading a CSCC race and got drive through penalties for speeding in the pit lane; 3 times in the same race, I seem to remember. Might have been Castle Combe!!!!!

Edited by andy97 on Tuesday 8th October 13:16

[bigbadbikercats]

Darlington, the Southern 500, and the “Darlington Stripe” (the result of brushing the wall while running high on the banking) are still very much a part of NASCAR today and for the last few years it’s been a “throwback weekend” with cars (and sometimes even crew members) in colour schemes and liveries meant to evoke NASCAR heritage. Great Stuff!

Also note that the car being pushed over the line to the finish is “ The Fabulous Hudson Hornet” which younger readers might be more familiar with as “Doc” from Disney/Pixar’s Cars... :-)

Edited by bigbadbikercats on Tuesday 8th October 17:28

[The Wookie]

andy97 said:

You will have to ask him about it; as I am sure you know he is usually happy to spin a dit!

You can also ask him about the time he was leading a CSCC race and got drive through penalties for speeding in the pit lane; 3 times in the same race, I seem to remember. Might have been Castle Combe!!!!!

Edited by andy97 on Tuesday 8th October 13:16

Haha he does indeed like to share a story!

He’s neglected to tell me that one too