UOP Shadow Totaled at Road America

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

As the cars came up the hill and crested the hump under the bridge, the air came off Pace’s Shadow and it “flew straight up, did a half turn, landed on the roll bar and skidded for 150 yards,” according to eyewitness and local Wisconsin radio personality Steve Zautke.

I don't follow vintage racing at all. No reason why.

Do racers like that have to maintain quals? Dissimilar cars at that speed has got to be exciting.

The debris field is a little more than 150yds, btw.

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I was reminded of how boring road racing can be from a spectator point of view.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

... through 3A, 3B, 4, 5A, 5B, and 6. ...

I enjoy watching at Pacific Raceways. I've run enough laps there, between PCA Driver's Ed and then SCCA racing that I understand exactly what the driver is going through.

Also a few places with excellent sight lines. Running back and forth in the infield from Turn 1 to 3A/B.
Turn 1 is a barely kink at the end of the main straight, taken at full throttle/top speed.
3A and 3B are is a technical area where driver mistakes are common. Having made plenty of less than perfect lines through there, it is entertaining for me as a spectator.
More entertaining than Portland Int'l Raceway, where the best seats are just along the main straight.

Nice thing about the SOVREN Historics- Admission includes the pits. As much, or more time is spent up close and personal with the cars that watching the action on track.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I don't follow vintage racing at all. No reason why.

Do racers like that have to maintain quals? Dissimilar cars at that speed has got to be exciting.

The debris field is a little more than 150yds, btw.

My friends who race SOVREN all have to have the same qualifications as if they were running SCCA, IMSA, or other organizations. The cars are scrutineered quite thoroughly as well. There are even make-specific required modifications that while not "period correct", serve to address "known issues" on particular cars. Rear camber limiters on 356's are one example.

Originally Posted by Dantilla

I enjoy watching at Pacific Raceways. I've run enough laps there, between PCA Driver's Ed and then SCCA racing that I understand exactly what the driver is going through.

Also a few places with excellent sight lines. Running back and forth in the infield from Turn 1 to 3A/B.
Turn 1 is a barely kink at the end of the main straight, taken at full throttle/top speed.
3A and 3B are is a technical area where driver mistakes are common. Having made plenty of less than perfect lines through there, it is entertaining for me as a spectator.
More entertaining than Portland Int'l Raceway, where the best seats are just along the main straight.

Nice thing about the SOVREN Historics- Admission includes the pits. As much, or more time is spent up close and personal with the cars that watching the action on track.

Heh heh... yup, I'm intimately familiar with the "oh schitt" road at the bottom of the hill at 3A... Puts you back on track at the corner worker station just before 5A.

Funny, too, when our "new" track in the area - The Ridge Motorsports Park - came on-line about ten years ago, the rush was on to abandon Pacific because The Ridge was "so much better". Once the shine wore off, though, most guys I know prefer Pacific. I know I sure do.

[jmaxwell]

I helped startup the UOP automotive. catalyst plant in Tulsa in 1974, and we had one of the CanAm cars ( and Jackie Oliver ) at our Grand opening festivities. I also was still there to close that plant last May, and “rescued” this painting from my office. We hadn’t been part of UOP since the early 80’s, but I always considered myself part of the Shadow Racing Team, and still have the jacket to show it. Glad there weren’t serious injury, and hopefully it can be rebuilt.

[Googam]

I was at the Watkins Glen '74 UOP Grudge Race. George Follmer vs Jackie Oliver. Follmer destroyed him. Jean Pierre Javier dropped out, he was so far behind. Here's a link to a lot of the great 70's racing at the Glen. Used to do my track days there in the 90's. Saw every F! race from '72 until they left the track

WATKINS GLEN MEMORIES

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

My friends who race SOVREN all have to have the same qualifications as if they were running SCCA, IMSA, or other organizations. The cars are scrutineered quite thoroughly as well. There are even make-specific required modifications that while not "period correct", serve to address "known issues" on particular cars.

I figured as much. Running at those speeds is a skill, for the driver and the car.

[CurtEgerer]

Just an FYI, Jim Pace, the driver of the wrecked car, is one of the best out there in the vintage series. He won the 24 Hrs of Daytona outright one year, has raced at Le Mans, etc. He was hired to drive the Shadow for the owner. This wasn't some weekend cowboy behind the wheel. I wonder if the in-car video will eventually be released?

[sammyg2]

Some vid of a shadow:

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Some vid of a shadow:

Very cool!

Especially like the 911 pace car at about 8:46.