917's - still in action anywhere?

gavinlit · 05-23-2006, 03:52 PM

I picked up a haynes book at a market on the weekend tracing the development of the 917. It was a bit before my time so it's the first of looked into it. Wow. I just can't believe they were driving cars with that much power, no driver aids & minimal understanding of the aerodynamic issues involved. Seems like the older drivers had a much tougher time of things generally. Given that it was such an awesome car I'm wondering if any of them are still running around anywhere in a historic series.

Dantilla · 05-23-2006, 04:04 PM

Too valuable to seriously track.

A 917K was at historic races in Seattle a couple of years ago. It was to do a few demonstration laps at lunchtime, alone on track, but it rained a little bit an hour or so earlier, and since the track was not completely dry, the mighty 917 idled back into it's trailer.

It was great just watching it start, and idle away.

Jeff Alton · 05-23-2006, 04:17 PM

I am sure it was the same one that ran laps up here last summer at lunch at the vintage races. The guy driving on saturday spun it, they had someone else drive it on sunday........

Cheers

mark_d_mcguire · 05-23-2006, 04:33 PM

Took my wife to the monterey historics for Porsche's 50th birthday year. That was the day she realized why I'm so hooked. There were several 917/10&30s running there. There were also some running at the RennSport Reunion in Daytona, and I'm assuming at Lime rock.

If i ever win a big lottery, I'll campain one at all the PCA races, so everyone in the club can see one running in anger. Make that a really big lottery.

Plecostomus · 05-23-2006, 04:35 PM

Wasn't there a recent event where some imbeciles trashed their 917s in an attempt to win a race?

DaveE · 05-23-2006, 04:47 PM

I think someone ran into Chuck Stoddard's 917 at the Friday practice for the Glen Double Fifty several years ago.

TRE Cup · TRE Cup's Garage

Le Mans Classic- Bobby Rahal drove the short tail purple and green psychedelique 917- he may own it. Chris Mc Allister and Bruce Mc Caw both own gulf team cars and both have raced them in vintage races. Jerry Seinfeld cruises his around at various events- no racing.
Rudy Junco had one of the left over short tails with a can am motor in it- really raced it at porsche 50th at monterey chasing chris.

you won't see them at "ordinary" vintage events - usually just the special big ones

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Saw the 917-30 on Speed at the Goodwood festival in England. I forget exactly who drove it but it was someone like
Derek Daly. It was only driven at about 50% which is more than enough for most of us mere mortals to handle.

oneblueyedog · oneblueyedog's Garage

There are imposters out there too. Really nice though.
http://www.kraftwerkz.net/

Todd Simpson · 05-23-2006, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Took my wife to the monterey historics for Porsche's 50th birthday year. That was the day she realized why I'm so hooked. There were several 917/10&30s running there. There were also some running at the RennSport Reunion in Daytona, and I'm assuming at Lime rock.

Mark-

What was your take on the 50th at Monterey? I remember the turbo 917's running pretty hard, the earlier 917's less so, but I was new to events back then.

The Lime Rock event was a bit of a disappointment, definitely some "parade lap" races at that event.

ted · ted's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Plecostomus
Wasn't there a recent event where some imbeciles trashed their 917s in an attempt to win a race?

Yeah that was terrible to watch.
Click here for the old Pelican thread discussing the crash.

kcirevaM · 01:28 AM

Look at this link, there is some picture of the 1000km of Spa.

http://www.race-rally.be

I edit the link for the fourth time.

Go on 1000 kmm of spa, multimedia, and classic endurance racing.

Sorry, it seems that it's only in french.

gavinlit · 05-23-2006, 10:08 PM

I'm not getting much out of the above link. Anyone else have succcess?

ted · ted's Garage

The hyperlink did not work for me either.
Copy and paste works.

mark_d_mcguire · 05-24-2006, 12:17 AM

Todd, Since it had been 25 years since I saw Donohue and Follmer run these cars for money, it is hard to compare. I do remember the historic race running very close though. I think the Shadow can am car was leading for the first half of the race but spun out and a 917/30 in sunoco livery took over.

These cars have to be detuned for mortals to drive, but racing is all relative with the other competition on the track.

Ican't see how they could even warm up the oil at Lime rock, that's too bad.

I grew up 15 miles from Mid-Ohio and my dad was an SCCA Tech inspector back then. I got to meet Penske and Donahue and saw these cars up close. That's why I have spent my kid's college money on my track habit.

kcirevaM · 05-24-2006, 01:23 AM

Here the link (in english) of the series racing at 1000 of Spa.

http://www.classicenduranceracing.com/uk/index.asp

DaveE · 05-24-2006, 03:16 AM

Seeing 917s at Spa would be awesome. I have an old vid clip of the two Gulf cars absolutely banging into each other up through Eau Rouge on the first lap fighting for the lead of the 1970 race. Brian Redman once said after a race at Spa the grass was greener, the sky was more blue just knowing you were still alive.

Todd Simpson · 05-24-2006, 03:49 AM

Thanks Mark...those cars shook the ground when they went by, but were eerily quiet compared to the other Can Am cars. It may have only been 8/10's but it was still impressive. The next time Porsche is featured I will be back at Laguna Seca.

The real nuts vintage racing is Goodwood Revival. Too much carnage.

jluetjen · jluetjen's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Todsimpson

The Lime Rock event was a bit of a disappointment, definitely some "parade lap" races at that event.

I've still got video of that event. The normal 917's were run pretty hard and there were a lot of them there. The 917-10's were raced in a somewhat gentlemanly manner, while the two (or was it three) 917/30's were treated fairly gently, and only opened up some on straights. Considering that it was the first time that I'd seen a 917/30 on the track, I was impressed.

Soundwise, the 917/30's were a bit of a let down. They're not very loud, especially next to a 917K or a 908. In that respect the 917/30's are more akin to the latest Audi R10 which is known as "Whispering death". All bite and no bark.

Netspeed · 05-24-2006, 07:06 AM

I saw the 917/30s and 10s running against the UOP Shadows and Mclarens at the 50th in Monterey. It was phenomenal! They were going really hard.

For me, the best race of the day was watching Hurley Haywood in a 914/6 come from behind and pass all the Shelby Mustangs, 289 Cobras, and the lead 911 to win his class. He passed the 911 on the last lap!