Touring cars from when they were worth watching

Today's British touring car championship has lost a lot of its true racing heritage and turned into some of the worst driving standards I have seen. The best era for touring cars was the sixties and seventies and Outlon Park was host to some of the best of the historic and classic touring cars from this, my favourite period.

Here are three shots which give you an idea of what the weekend had to offer, including one for our cousins over the water.

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you mad?

And your comment means what?

Ah those were the days! You are right Kenny, today's racing has lost that competition between the big & small, the fast and slower. Back then it was exciting watching the venerable Cooper S serve it up to cars with twice the power, the Lotus powered Ford Cortina's and Escorts - ah the memories. Thanks for posting, these shots have made my day!

Great shots, sir ! Cheers from the colonies. =)

AAH!!!! Fantastic photos, fantastic cars, what an era!!
Don't know what that other chap was on about, maybe he didn't live through those times.
See my pics @ http://www.flickr.com/​photos/motorsportmad/

Very nice and have to agree modern day Touring Cars is just very expensive Banger racing a Classic Plato move the commentator says which means if he cannot get round the car in front tap the rear bumper to put him off line and drive through

did used to enjoy the days of the Cosworths and E30s.

Those Cortinas, Anglias, Jags, Capris, was that an MGB I spotted in shot 1?
They bring back so many memories, I have some shots taken @ Oulton, late 60s, early 70s,
digitally remastered from 35mm slides.....
I'll post in a new thread, lets see how many peeps out there remember those days.
{There used to be a bridge just before start line}.
How the circuit has changed over the years.

How different all those cars look unlike todays jelly moulds.Old Skool for me any day.I really enjoyed those; we need more photos like that. I look forward to the new/old thread Motorsportmad.

Automotive porn, those and the RS Cosworth Sierras

Yeah, those were the days for good racing. So many David & Goliath battles between big engined Detroit Iron and little engined British stuff. The Camaros and Galaxies would just disappear down the straights, only to be caught (and often passed) by the minis and 'tinas when the twisty bits came. Then back to the straight and the Detroit stuff would just pull out and shoot past again under power. Repeat until end of race.

I also loved the way that the Cortinas managed to cut down on tire wear, by keeping one wheel about a foot off the ground in the corners.

For me though, the real thing was the 'Superloons'. The big engined silhouette class with the likes of Gerry Marshall in Big Bertha / Baby Bertha and John Pope in Mighty Magnum. The drivers were great characters, but the cars were individuals too, with individual names. Nobody cares if Platos Chevy is the same car as the last race, but the loss of a car like Big Bertha was really sad, although without it, we would never have had the superb Baby Bertha. Racing cars had long careers then too. Gerry's 'Old Nail' Firenza raced for 8 years or so and notched up over 60 wins. She still lives on too, as she was presented to Gerry when she was retired and is still in the family.

These are current day pics of a classic race correct? Nice shots either way.

Nice shots, Kenny. Sedan racing was always fun to watch, especially when they were in my mirrors! Other classes, with seconds between the leaders after the 4th lap, gave the term "Parade lap" new meaning.

Todays Tin Tops are very boring in comparison.
As a kid I remember the Ford Falcons,Galaxies,Coope​r Car co Minis,Cortinas,then got older ,Gerry Marshall and co,Brut 33 Camaro,etc,and used to love to go and watch all over the place.

And dont start me on the huge old sports cars ,and grand prix drivers in them,whatever the weather.

Those were great days and circuits,not the sanitised ,health and safety rip off now.

Yes,Kenny,
Thanks for posting these ,and thrilled they are back out .
Saw a few testing at Mallory recently and Denny Hulmes Lola ,bloody awesome.
That Green and White Capri is quick too and mint.

I'll be back to see these babies.

Pons

I agree, these cars are superb entertainment value, well worth going to see them. I caught them at Lydden in July and they failed to disapoint.

Great shots M8

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