I saw yesterday what was probably the best show on Speedvision I've
ever seen. They replayed on their 30 minute show, "Legends of
Motorsport", the 1965 Alpine Rally.
What a wonderful race that was. There were all kinds of cars, from
Renault Alpines, Mini Coopers, Lotus/Ford Cortinas, Austin Healey (Big
Healeys), Sunbeam Tigers, Jaguars, and Lancias, and a Saab 92.
Of special note (to me, at least!) was the 3 Spitfire Team that
entered.
These were set up like regular Spitfires, but had GT6-like hard tops
grafted on. Le Mans Spitfires, perhaps? They also had a total of 6
forward lights, 4 headlights and 2 driving lights, I believe. The two
additional headlights were grafted in to the bonnet a'la the TR3. The
bonnet looked like it swung up (like a conventional car, or a TR3, etc).
The scenery was unbelievable, seeing and hearing the cars slide and
corner around the mountain curves. Most curves were protected on the
outside by a few posts in the ground, if that. Stacked stone walls
lined the inside of most of the curves.
Of the 90-odd cars that started, only 30 or so completed the rally.
All three Spitfires finished, to my delight.
One classic shot was early in the morning, as the cars were first
beginning to head out onto the circuit. The camera panned over a
spectator that had camped in for the night. There he was, in his
sleeping bag, on the inside apex of the course, sleeping peacefully as
the cars sped right past him! His car, parked right next to him, was
a beautiful red Spitfire convertible, hood up.
This was truly a great piece of racing footage. Seeing the cars, all
new and shiny, blasting down the curvy mountain roads, squealing and
sliding into the turns, was incredible.
And, they finished the show with a shot of one of the Spitfire
drivers, heading around a 130-140 degree uphill bend, kicking the back
end out and obviously having a good time of it. Classic!
Easily, easily, worth a whole months bill to see that 30 minute show.
Next time, maybe I'll have the foresight to pop a tape in the VCR...
Cheers!
Chip Mautz
Atlanta, GA, USA
'71 Spitfire MKIV - So, if I just welded this GT6 roof on like so....
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Roight! I'll do you for that!
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