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The Vintage LAGP was a successful event. It had some growing pains
and tested the frustration levels of all. From a drivers perspective
the course was about 1.1 miles with about 11 turns. Turn one was a
bumpy off camber slippery hairpin -but if done well it wasn't that
bad.
From that point hard acceleration through three gears up the hill to
turn three which opened up to a the back strait. At the end of that
back strait a series of very tight downhill turns switch back and
forth until the front strait. Most cars could reach top gear at the
end of the front strait.
Space was definitely an issue both on the course and ESPECIALLY on the
paddock. Each car was allotted 10' X 20' "period". But some owners
of big rigs seem to think otherwise.
Innumerable spectators were able to walk to all parts of the paddock.
This made it difficult for cars coming off the track to get to their
pits.
Since cool down laps weren't allowed hot engines did not like to sit
in traffic waiting for spectators to clear. Lots of engines
overheated and had to be shut-down. This made it difficult -since the
cars then had to be pushed.... Hot humid air mixed with hot tempers...
The media had a field day. Lots of presence by the Ford contingent and
VIP's. It seemed that every television station was present from
sunup to late evening.
I was able to drive several different new Ford Mustang's around the
track in celebrity drive arounds. Saleen and Roush modified cars
and truck were available and handled exceptionally. This was alot of
fun (and gave me extra track time...).
The venue offered a food fest. Chinatown, Olvera St.(oldest St. in LA)
and Phillipes (home of the Beef Dip Sandwich) were within four hundred
yards of the paddock.
Vendors seemed to do better than they had expected.
There was a quiet tribute for the late Princess Diana. British cars
drove counter-course with their numbers blacked out at about 5 MPH.
Mordy Dunst
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