How a Cobra was meant to be driven

[Avalanche325]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVRndiadSJg&ab_channel=GoodwoodRoad%26Racing

[Alan_C]

Fun to watch the Cobras, the class of the field except the leading Jag. In a matter of a few laps the Jag was already 24 seconds ahead.

[Cobradavid]

Great quote: “It hardly ever goes in a straight line. I keep thinking the steering is broken, but apparently that’s just what it’s like!”

Watching the drivers’ hands saw on the wheel really gives you an appreciation for how hard those cars were (are) to drive fast.

David

[Avalanche325]

Fun to watch the Cobras, the class of the field except the leading Jag. In a matter of a few laps the Jag was already 24 seconds ahead.

That Jag was some kind of quick in the hands of an F1 driver.

[facultyofmusic]

God, watch the driver wrestle with that wheel! "handling a car" but the car's also handling the driver!

[JohnK]

In typical understated British fashion, "...has to correct just a little bit of oversteer" :eek:


https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=173006&d=1663989972

[Derald Rice]

Goodwood is always a good race, the drivers really put on a great show.

Did any one else notice that the tires seem to be a bit on the narrow side ??

Maybe Goodwood has some sort of tire rule, and that could have an influence for the close racing ??

[rich grsc]

I think that was me going to pick up some milk this morning..:rolleyes::eek:

[BrewCityCobra]

Absolutely love Goodwood - the vintage racing there is second to none. Can't help but love watching them saw at the wheel. Great racing.

[Ford & Jeep Fan]

Sooo are they really racing vintage cars with vintage parts?? do rules allow for a some more modern parts like better brakes and suspensions??

[JohnK]

I'm going to guess that it's similar to the Monterey Historic races, where it's more of a well-orchestrated parade than an actual race. These cars are just worth too much to be being raced "in anger," as they say.

[Ford & Jeep Fan]

I'm going to guess that it's similar to the Monterey Historic races, where it's more of a well-orchestrated parade than an actual race. These cars are just worth too much to be being raced "in anger," as they say.

I would agree but then we see these guys with the front inside front tire off the track going though some of the corners!!

[M. Townsend]

Thanks for sharing the video. The in-car views are great!

[GTBradley]

That looks like serious racing to me. Obviously, they don’t want to crash a a classic but some did end up in the barricades and a lot of spinouts. The pass at the 15 minutes to go mark had my blood pressure up! That lightweight Jag had excessive acceleration and was dominating until it blew something in the drivetrain. The tires looked like the old bias plys and the jag had some seriously fat rears on deep dish wheels. What a finish for the Cobras, though!

This event is now on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing.

[Avalanche325]

I'm going to guess that it's similar to the Monterey Historic races, where it's more of a well-orchestrated parade than an actual race. These cars are just worth too much to be being raced "in anger," as they say.

Vintage racing in Europe is it 100% all out, full contact. In the US, it is a little more race hard but stay 2 ft away.

[Avalanche325]

Sooo are they really racing vintage cars with vintage parts?? do rules allow for a some more modern parts like better brakes and suspensions??

The only thing that is upgraded are safety components like fire suppression and seat belts. Mechanical non-period upgrades are generally not allowed.

[JohnK]

Vintage racing in Europe is it 100% all out, full contact. In the US, it is a little more race hard but stay 2 ft away.

There's a local shop that maintains and rebuilds several cars that race in the historic trans am series. I was chatting with him a while back and he was telling me that the race outcomes are all pre-determined. Also, the penalty for contact on the track is an 11 month suspension. So, it may look like hard racing but they're mostly there to entertain the crowds.

[J R Jones]

There's a local shop that maintains and rebuilds several cars that race in the historic trans am series. I was chatting with him a while back and he was telling me that the race outcomes are all pre-determined. Also, the penalty for contact on the track is an 11 month suspension. So, it may look like hard racing but they're mostly there to entertain the crowds.

Yes John pre-determined, that from the horse's mouth. Cars I raced with are in that series and when they were at Elkhart my buddies, the original owners, got to try their old car, and get the inside story.

A distant relative bought a vintage GT350 racer from the West Coast. On arrival, I determined that it had a bad engine. Well now it puts out 478hp on the dyno, and two weeks ago he ran out of gear at Elkhart.
I had the same gearing that worked in the Trans Am with a Boss 351 which obviously did not make that much power. So vintage is a high powered parade.

BTW my old Shelby did not make it to Elkhart vintage this year. It was hit at Sebring by an Audi then the wall, then a Porsche. They will save it, but it will take seven months. I wonder if there were penalties?
jim

[ggunter]

What a great way to spend the first hour at work. Now I'm pumped for the day:cool:

[Avalanche325]

There's a local shop that maintains and rebuilds several cars that race in the historic trans am series. I was chatting with him a while back and he was telling me that the race outcomes are all pre-determined. Also, the penalty for contact on the track is an 11 month suspension. So, it may look like hard racing but they're mostly there to entertain the crowds.

This isn't Historic Trans Am. Which is frankly lame if that is the case.

I didn't mean to imply that is a demolition derby or even a "rubbin' is racin'" NASCAR event. However, contact from hard racing is allowed. Again, that is in Europe. US historic racing is different.... still hard racing but contact is frowned upon.

Watch a few of them and you will quickly see that it is not just a show.

Goodwood is there to entertain the drivers/owners......not the crowds. Some of their events are no spectators allowed.

[Avalanche325]

I will also add that in the US, there is still contact. At least in SVRA. I personally witnessed two 289 Cobras crash each other out going for a position. They were paid drivers. The owner was driving his 427. There was significant body damage to both cars.

[John Ibele]

I was curious about the answer to the question, "who owns a beautiful Jaguar like the one in first place for much of the race, pays professional drivers to push it hard, and looks that disappointed when it doesn't win?" A quick Google search confirms it's Adrian Newey, longtime CTO of Red Bull Racing and the premier designer of Formula 1 cars, heralded as one of the great engineers in auto racing. He's worth about $50M, and can certainly afford to own a car like the Jag and put it in harm's way. I'm expecting he doesn't engage in pursuits like this to come in second, or to join a parade, so I'm expecting the disappoinment was genuine.

He also wrote a memoir, "How to Build a Car", which looks like a great read.

Thanks to the OP for sharing a great link. That's thrilling racing.

[Avalanche325]

There are several races on the Goodwood Youtube channel. One with a Dragonsnake on the road course.
Want to see something fun? Watch the Minis, Angleas, and other small-bore cars duke it out.

[Avalanche325]

Here is what ONE GUY brought to the HSR event I went to a few years back. Behind that tent is a 18 wheeler to haul them. A couple mechanics and some paid drivers. If you're gonna play......play hard!

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