Ken Fildes' Crossl� 19F in Action with Brian Cullen -- Links

The Crossl� 19F was one of the first historic racing cars that I looked at close up in a paddock and came to follow.  I wrote a blog post about the car on the "Poetry in Motion: Vintage Speed" NYFA project, here.  That post also talks about poetry I wrote about the car (for a poetry collection in progress).

In addition, I also wrote a magazine article that featured the little Irish car.  You can see the article here.

I dunno.  I just liked it!  It was small, low, and had character.  People stopped and asked about it, because it was unique -- the only one built by the Crossl� Car Company in Northern Ireland in 1970.  It is a Formula 2 / Formula Atlantic.

As mentioned in the "Poetry in Motion" post, the car was sold away from North America back to its roots in Ireland.

Recently, I found some links that show Brian Cullen in action in the car since it returned to Europe. Here are some of the links:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canvas-Artwork-Brian-Cullen-Crossle/dp/B00SLY0YBM

https://thoughtverse890.wordpress.com/2015/05/17/cm3-7559-brian-cullen-crossle-19f-framed-print/

-- 

 http://www.woodentrophy.com/photos/photo.php?id=18396870346

http://www.azixe.com/product/CM3-7559-Brian-Cullen-Crossle-19F-Poster.html

??http://michaelhugganphoto.photoshelter.com/image/I0000AvolgGoEjJw

http://www.buyezee.co.uk/product/YXdfMzI4NjMwNTkwNQ/catalog/cm6-7883-brian-cullen-crossle-19f-photo-mug

I don't know if I'll ever see the car in action again live myself, or have a chance to see it up close again, but I hope so!

It interests me that many historic owner/racers purchase one or more race cars, become longtime custodians of them, and race them for many years, but many are just the opposite -- they seem to buy and sell cars at whim, only holding on to them and racing them for a short time, seemingly not attached to them at all.  I'm not sure what the difference in personality is or the reasons why there is a difference in these owner/racers.  I've heard that professional racers really don't get emotionally attached to cars, and that surprises me, too.

I have gotten attached to a few, not all, of my road cars.  Memories are attached to them, you know?  You remember your first car, long vacation trips in a certain car with people you love or loved, babies brought home in them, etc.

How do you feel about favorite cars?  Do you have a sentimental attachment to any of them, or do you simply regard them as utilitarian or useful for certain kinds of racing for awhile, then time to move on to something else?

Let me know in the Comments section!

Historics: Goodwood 73rd Members' Meeting -- Day 2 results, 1970s F1 demo, C Type Demo, more

The Goodwood Estate in West Sussex, England put on its 73rd Members' Meeting over the weekend, March 21 and 22, 2015. 

This historic motor racing meeting is somewhat like the famous Goodwood Revival with a couple of notable differences -- there is no period dress required and much fewer "extra" activities going on -- people are there primarily for the racing.  The other difference is that the period the cars can come from -- 1948 - 1966 is opened up, both for cars before 1948 and for after 1966!

Here's my article about the results for Day 2 of the 73rd Members' Meeting at Goodwood.

Here is my article about Day 1.

Actor Hugh Grant talks racing on "Live With Kelly & Michael"

Some fans of historic/vintage motor racing may know that actors are, just like people in any other profession, drawn to the sport.  Though perhaps not as well known around the racing scene as a McQueen, a Newman, or even a Dempsey, British actor Hugh Grant, 54, is one of the internationally known thespians of late to take his chances behind the wheel of a race car.

Wednesday morning, February 11, 2015, Grant was in New York to promote the U.S. release of his film, The Rewrite.  Grant has starred in such movies as Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994); Notting Hill (1999); and Bridget Jones's Diary (2001). 

On Wednesday, he appeared on the morning talk show, Live With Kelly & Michael, to talk about The Rewrite.  Before they got to that, though, Michael Strahan asked him about his hobby -- racing cars.

Strahan wanted to know how much racing Grant has done, how many races, and has he been successful.

"I had a lot of training," replied Grant.  "And then I finally plucked up my car and did my first little series of races in Sweden last year.  I came in last, second last, and miles, miles last."

Kelly Ripa commented that it was perhaps good that he was not so competitive in the races, since he has children, and he needs to stay safe for them and not crash.

"You would think that," Grant said, "but I still manage to crash quite badly."  He continued with his dead-pan humorous description, "It�s an extraordinary sport.  It�s basically half an hour of middle-aged men trying to kill each other."

 

Stahan asked how fast they go.

 

"Pretty fast, down the straight," Grant said. "About 170 miles an hour or something."  The show's hosts and the audience were impressed with the speed.
 

 He continued, describing a bit more what the experience feels like to him.
 

"And you�re so miserable while you�re doing it," he said.  "You�re strapped in; everything hurts.  Sweat is pouring off of you.  You�re thinking, �Why am I doing this?  He�s trying to kill me.�  And then you get out at the end and feel kind of manly.  It�s very strange."

 

A funny way to describe racing -- but how true is it, and how many male racers do you know who admit to the discomfort in the car, as well as to their "manly" feelings afterwards?  Ha!  Maybe it takes a "charming" comedic actor, known for his roles in romantic comedies, to give spectators the real scoop about racing?  (or maybe he hasn't raced enough yet to find out the other pleasures of the sport?!).

Feel free to add your thoughts in the Comment section below!

 

Here is a link on YouTube to the interview.

Have fun on the track, Hugh -- maybe we'll see you around!

[Also fun to hear that Grant's movie The Rewrite is set at my college alma mater -- even in the English Dept. of -- Binghamton University!  Hope I can find a way to see the movie sometime!].

 

 

Destiny Racing USA, 2015 Schedule

Bulletin Board post:

Destiny Racing USA sends their schedule for 2015.  Posting it below for interested racers or especially for people on a budget who might be thinking about getting into historic/vintage racing for the first time, or who just want to try it with a low commitment, just to see what it's all about.

Tom Fitzgerald is the owner of his family business, Destiny Racing USA.  Tom is a friendly mechanic, owner/racer, and instructor from the Watkins Glen area.  He has cars for rent and track-side support at some of the most well-known tracks in the USA (see schedule below) where you can race them. (Note: if you are new to the sport, you will likely need racing lessons and certain other qualifications in order to join the competition events on the track). 

If you are a novice, my guess is that Tom will make you feel comfortable, not pressured.  If you have raced before, if you are an owner/racer, etc. but your cars are elsewhere and you don't want to take on the expense of hauling them to an event, he has some cars available to choose from that you might rent and race instead. 

Tom's company has headquarters in the Watkins Glen region (Geneva, NY) as well as at Sebring in Florida, so his racing season goes year-round.  See the schedules below for his contact information and events his company could help you participate in this racing season.  Enjoy!

Historics: Crossl� book reveals Northern Ireland racing car company's 'Hidden Glory'

[Photo credit:  Booklink; used with permission from the author.]

It was a pleasure to speak with the author of this book in purchasing and writing about the book and to also communicate with Paul McMorran of the Crossl� Car Company.

Readers of this blog and my Poetry in Motion: Vintage Speed (poetry and historic/vintage motor racing) project will know of my affection for Crossl� race cars.  This book and the videos linked below will help explain why.

Read the full article about the book on Examiner HERE.

Related videos:

"Building a Dream" by the National Museums Northern Ireland

Crossl� Car Company promotional video

RIP, John Crossl�.

Historics: SVRA Announces 2015 Racing Schedule

SVRA has announced its racing schedule for 2015.

 

[Photo credit:  SVRA.com].

5 new events next year mean that now there will be 18 total -- East Coast, West Coast, and places in between.

According to SVRA, here is the schedule for the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) for 2015:

• Feb. 13-15, Duel in the Desert with VARA at Spring Mountain Raceway, NV
• Feb. 20-22, The Southern Classic at Road Atlanta, GA
• Feb. 26-March 1, The Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring Int�l Raceway, FL
• Mar. 28-29, Willow Springs Historics with VARA at Willow Springs Raceway, CA
• Apr. 9-12, Miami Historics at Homestead-Miami Speedway, FL
• Apr. 25-26, British Extravaganza with VARA at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, CA
• May 14-17, SVRA Spring Vintage Festival at Road America, WI
• May 28-31, Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival at Sonoma Raceway, CA.
• June 10-14, Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational at Indianapolis Motors Speedway, IN
• June 19-21, S. California Historic Sports Car Festival at Auto Club Speedway, CA
• June 25-28, Mid-Ohio Vintage Grand Prix, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, OH
• July 9-12, Portland Vintage Racing Festival at Portland Int�l Raceway, OR
• Aug. 13-16, Pocono Mountain Historic Getaway at Pocono Raceway, PA
• Sep. 10-13,* U.S. Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen Int�l, NY  *(if repaving is approved, date will be July 23-26)
• Sep. 18-20, The Coronado Speed Festival at Coronado Island, CA
• Sep. 24-27, Heacock Classic Gold Cup at Virginia Int�l Raceway, VA
• Oct. 8-11, Mardi Gras in October at NOLA Motorsports Park, LA
• Nov. 4-8, U.S. Vintage National Championship at Circuit of The Americas, TX

Crossl� 5S racing 2014 Whitsun Trophy, Goodwood Revival

Check out this video linked below.

RIP, John Crossl�.

 

[Photos by Connie Ann Kirk].


VIDEO:  1964 Crossl� Ford 5S in 2014 Whitsun Trophy, Goodwood Revival

Well-edited video -- including in-car footage as well as Goodwood track footage of 2014 Whitsun Trophy race at the Goodwood Revival.

[Video by John Monson / Ecurie Scalpel Productions, Goodwood].

 

Whitsun Trophy race, Goodwood Revival, 2014 -- Highlight "reel"

Here's a video of highlights from the powerful cars racing in the Whitsun Trophy at the 2014 Goodwood Revival.  These were said to be some of the fastest cars on track at the entire event!

Link takes you to the Goodwood Revival site where you can watch the video. 

Personally, I wish they had left the sounds of the cars in this one rather than back up the video with music.

VIDEO:  Highlight "reel" from Whitsun Trophy, Goodwood Revival, 2014

Goodwood Revival, 2014 -- from the Whitsun Trophy race

[Photo from Goodwood].

Despite taking a little spin along the way, racer John Monson finishes the Whitsun Trophy race at the Goodwood Revival on September 13, 2014 in his 1964 Crossle 5S sports racer.

Congratulations, John! 

The Goodwood Revival, 2014 -- Whitsun Trophy start

[Video by Connie Ann Kirk]

Racer John Monson in the #57, 1964 Crossle 5S sports racer, starts The Whitsun Trophy race at the 2014 Goodwood Revival.  September 13, 2014.  Apologies for shaky video!

Goodwood Revival 2014 -- complete race results

[Photo by:  Connie Ann Kirk]

I attended my first-ever Goodwood Revival in September of 2014.  This, after consecutive historic racing weekend events the two weekends before -- Lime Rock Park Historic Festival 32 over Labor Day weekend, and the United State Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen the weekend between Lime Rock and the Revival.

Here is the article with the race results from the 2014 Goodwood Revival, on Examiner.com.  There is also a link within that article that will take you to the page where the time sheets are located!  (You're welcome!).

2014 Historic Monaco Grand Prix, Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, complete race results

We followed the 2014 Historic Grand Prix of Monaco and now have the full results of the final races! 

Check out the National Historic Motor Sports page of Examiner.com for the list of winners, finishers and their placements, and links.

Congratulations to all the winners and competitors! 

Monaco must be a win-win event -- just to have the chance to race there at all would be a victory for most racers I know!

Formula 5000 cars -- Talk at IMRRC, Watkins Glen, 5.10.14

There was a talk as part of the International Motor Racing Research Center "Conversation" series on Saturday, May 10th about Formula 5000 cars.

I wrote a summary of the 3-hour program for my National Historic Motor Sports page on Examiner.com.  NBC Formula 1 commentator, Sam Posey, was the honored guest at the talk.

You can find the article here.

2014 Historic Grand Prix of Monaco, Grand Prix De Monaco Historique

We are following the 2014 Historic Grand Prix of Monaco! 

This is a weekend of racing historic race cars on the same iconic circuit as the Formula 1 series will race in two weeks.  The historic race meeting is held every two years in what many consider to be the most glamorous and arguably challenging road course in the world.

Check us out on the National Historic Motor Sports page at Examiner.com

Historics: SVRA race results for 2013 U.S. Vintage Racing National Championship at Circuit of the Americas

[Photo:  Historic/vintage racer on Jumbo-tron sign at main entrance to COTA, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas -- October, 2013.  Credit:  Connie Ann Kirk].

On Wednesday, October 30, the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) posted official results for all races held last weekend at the inaugural U.S. Vintage Racing National Championships at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Rochester Motorsports presents results from the feature races of the weekend ....

To read the full article with race results, please go HERE..........

Historics: SVRA to offer COTA orientation for 1st U.S. Vintage Racing National Championship

[Photo:  SVRA will hold its first U.S. Vintage Racing National Championship at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas October 25-27, 2013.  Credit:  COTA].

Ahead of its first national championship, the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) will offer coaching specialized to the country's purpose-built Formula 1 track at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. According to a press release issued Monday from SVRA, this instruction will be a featured part of the historic racing group's first SVRA U.S. Vintage Racing National Championship and will take place at the track on Wednesday, October 23, ahead of the race weekend of October 25-27.

CONTINUE READING HERE...........

Historics: 'Vintage Motorsport' to offer awards at 1st SVRA U.S. Vintage Racing National Championship at COTA

 

 [Photos:  Top -- Award.  Credit: 'Vintage Motorsport' magazine.  Bottom:  SVRA logo.  SVRA.com].

 

Vintage Motorsport magazine will sponsor five awards at the first SVRA U.S. Vintage Racing National Championship in Austin, Texas later this month, according to a release from the publication on Friday. "Vintage Motorsport" is the official magazine of SVRA.

 

?

READ MORE AT Rochester Motorsports, Examiner.com, HERE.........

Historics: SVRA posts preliminary entry list for the U.S. Vintage National Championship at Circuit of the Americas, 2013

[Photo:  SVRA Gold Helmet to be awarded to the winning racers at the U.S. Vintage Racing National Championship at Circuit of the Americas in 2013].

If you race historic or vintage race cars in the United States, or are an avid fan of historic cars or race events, you're probably aware that the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) is planning its first ever U.S. Vintage Racing National Championship at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas later this month. Recently, SVRA posted a preliminary entry list for that event to its website. The championship takes place October 25-27.

READ MORE..........

Lime Rock Park Historic Festival 31 -- 2013: race results, car show awards, etc.

[Lime Rock Park tower.  Credit:  Connie Ann Kirk.].

Just got back from Lime Rock Park's Historic Festival 31, the 2013 edition of their annual historic races and car show. 

Wrote an article each day, back in the hotel after activities for each day were finished (well, finished the last article on Tuesday, since I had to drive back to New York Labor Day night). 

Here are the links:

Saturday:  Historics: Lime Rock Park Festival 31 puts on 20 races, escapes rain

Sunday:  Historics: Lime Rock Park Historic 31 showcases cars, history

Monday:  Lime Rock Historic 31: Collier Ferrari takes 'Best of Show,' race results

Threatening rain held off but for a few minutes mid-day on Sunday and a longer, more virulent stretch Monday morning; however, Lime Rock still managed to put on 40 races throughout the weekend, involving 10 groups of cars (these, after practice and qualifying sessions as well).  It also had its annual Concours d'Elegance with the finest collection of cars on display ever, according to LRP officials.  There were certainly several rare vehicles in attendance.

Another fun event and good weekend.  Appreciated the free beverages in the Media Center, and the well, park-like atmosphere is a pleasant way to experience a racetrack.  No grandstands -- you bring a lawn chair, picnic, and watch races from the slope of a hillside!  :)

As they say over there at the Northwest Connecticut Berkshires track, "Think fast!"

Historics: VIR loses trademark landmark

[Photo: Iconic oak tree at VIRginia International Speedway.  Credit:  www.virnow.com].

America's Motorsport Resort - VIRginia International Speedway - has lost an old friend. According to VIR officials, the iconic oak tree that became a trademark for racers and fans at the scenic track and even appears on the track's logo and in the name of its signature tavern, fell on Tuesday, broken at the base.

READ MORE...........

[Muse:  I can imagine how this lovely tree became so iconic at this road course, especially as it shades the cars briefly as they race by on this sharp turn, as shown in the photo above.  Kind of a wonder it has not suffered an accident from being struck by a vehicle.  Too bad about the loss...].