Whacky grand prix/autoX in Vallejo in the 80s

[masraum]

This is cool. Someone posted these on the miata board.

I've never heard of this before, closing public streets for an autocross. That's what they did in Vallejo, CA for about 4 years back in the 80's. Some great looking and very fast cars in here, but it's weird to see an autocross with no Miatas. The music in the first video lasts only a couple of minutes, then there's just the sweet sound of the engines. Check out the gigantic camera on top of the 914, probably weighed so much it added a couple of seconds to his times. There is some great in-car video they took with that.

Vallejo Grand Prix Out-Takes Part 1 - YouTube
Vallejo Grand Prix Part 2 - YouTube

Looks like a lot of fun that could never happen these days due to lawyers and insurance companies (or more accurately, the people that take advantage of them).

This looks like a very long course.

[URY914]

Repost but a great one to watch again. Gotta love the Garritson 914-6.

[pavulon]

Crazy.

I have clear memories of some local gear-heads who sold my home town on a go-cart grand prix around/through the downtown area. I knew the guy who got the event approved and organized and wouldn't have missed it for anything as he told anyone who would listen "there is no way you can roll a go-cart." that proved prophetic as there was a heat 1 banzai run into turn 1 resulting in two carts striking the 1 foot tall solid red quartzite curb and vaulting cart-wheel style into some parked cars. Guess who was piloting one of those carts. Not realizing how bad it could have been, I laughed so hard I almost soiled myself. The 80's sucked for most things but that was spectacular!!

[Flieger]

Are those short-shorts fireproof?

[Wilhelm]

Wow ! This is cool. Times have sure changed. Imagine any city allowing this nowdays !

[Tobra]

I liked the 914, impressive the size tires they squeezed under those flares. Fast car, the video almost looked like it was speeded up.

[Flieger]

Tires weren't what they are now back then. That still looks like a lot of tire for a 914-4.

[javadog]

I raced in an autocross in 1983 where they ran that 914. It won easily. The thing was a lot faster than it looked in that video.

JR

[rfloz]

Originally Posted by masraum

Looks like a lot of fun that could never happen these days due to lawyers and insurance companies (or more accurately, the people that take advantage of them).

This looks like a very long course.

I suspect if you look a little deeper you just might find a lawyer or two out there on course (note that I don't defend insurance companies or "victims").

As a former SCCA Solo II safety steward, I'd have some issues. Namely curb proximity in some placees and the lack of spectator control. I mean, really, people crossing the course while it's hot?

That said, I would happily run the 911 there.

[VaSteve]

I liked that camera on the top of the 914. They are just a little smaller today.

What I find interesting is how much skin spectators always show in old videos, photos. People always have their shirts off. I guess we know a lot more about skin cancer and we're a lot fatter these days as well.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

I liked that camera on the top of the 914. They are just a little smaller today.

What I find interesting is how much skin spectators always show in old videos, photos. People always have their shirts off. I guess we know a lot more about skin cancer and we're a lot fatter these days as well.

That was a California town. If you come out to California you would see that there is still an abundance of skin. Especially at the Long Beach Grand Prix (and ALMS race) which is as close to this as it comes these days.

It's a beach thing.

[VaSteve]

It's more than just a beach thing, I have seen it in plenty of old racing videos and photos from all over.

It always makes me think....was it hotter back then?