Category Archives: The Blink of An Eye

Autoexe?

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1999_ALMSSebring_jb_0015

Sounding like a basic MS-DOS command AutoExe (remember that nightmare?) is actually a Japanese tuning company marketing after sales performance parts for Mazdas. So what? The interesting bit is that it is owned and run by Yojiro Terada, a proper Le Mans’ Legend. Why so? Well  he has 29 participations in the world’s greatest race to his credit, only Bob Wollek and Henri Pescarolo can beat this score.

Appropriately he was also in Sebring back in 1999 for the opening round of the American Le Mans Series. He brought his Autoexe LMP99 Ford, a relabeled Riley & Scott MKlll to be part of the support cast to the werks efforts. Who could ignore the Rising Sun livery? As I said Terada-san is a proper Le Mans’ Legend, may we have many more of them.

John Brooks, February 2013

Snakes in the Grass?

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2000 Le Mans 24

Rumbles from several sources suggest that one of the big surprises that will form part of the announcement revealing the list of invitations to compete in the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours will be the inclusion of a brace of SRT Vipers. Those blessed with a good memory will recall a hat trick of Viper victories around the turn of the century, so this is a welcome return, but they will have a lot to live up to. Olivier Beretta is seen here celebrating his triumph in 2000.

John Brooks, February 2013

Max Mad

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1999 12 Hours of Sebring

Trawling through the 1999 Sebring files I stumbled across this, Max Angelelli on fire in the Doyle Risi Racing Ferrari 333 SP. Unfortunately this hot display did not translate into actual success on track, the 333 SP getting the dubious honour of posting the first retirement. Engine failure the reason given, Icarus had flown too close to the Sun.

Speaking of Max being inflamed, he seemed pretty fired up at the post race conference last week in Daytona. This performance confirmed what I had puzzled over earlier while watching the finishing stages of the Rolex on TV. The Speed coverage kept repeating “Pass of the Day” showing the eventual winner blasting past Max in a straight line speed duel, the main skill required for this would be keeping a straight face. On cars that were subject to balance of performance adjustments this looked a bit fishy and no wonder Max was pissed. If, as I hear, some of the German giants are considering building Daytona Prototypes Mark Two, Grand-Am had better get this aspect sorted or be prepared for some serious grief.

John Brooks, February 2013

The Opening Lap

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1999 12 Hours of Sebring

It seems inconceivable now but back in 1999 Audi were rookies in endurance racing. They rocked up to the first American Le Mans Series race, the 1999 Sebring 12 Hours with two of their Audi R8Rs. In typical Audi fashion both cars finished the race, the above example of Michele Alboreto, Dindo Capello and Stefan Johansson managed third and the sister car two places back. Audi learnt a huge amount from the experience, and a year later saw the debut of one of all time greats, the R8, they were one their way.

John Brooks, January 2013

A Case of the Benz

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2013 Dubai 24

The eighth edition of the Dubai 24 Hours took place last weekend. The event has matured nicely and even in these financially perilous times could boast 81 starters, someone must be doing something right.

At dawn we have a brace of SLS coupés, with the Jones’ example on its way to a fine fifth place overall. More from the race during this week.

John Brooks, January 2013

Signature Toon

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2012 12 Hours of Sebring

One of the better features that the ALMS introduced to ACO-style racing was the Autograph Session. The drivers all grumble about it, especially the cool pros, but most are secretly pleased to get the recognition and admiration from the fans. Of course some driver line ups are more equal than others, so one feels sorry for Audi’s crew when Team Impala are in town, how could they compete?

“Life’s a bitch, then you die…..”

John Brooks, January 2013

Midnight at Misano – Send Your Camel to Bed

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1998 ISRS Misano

1998 saw the ISRS develop into a potentially top line sportscar series and the schedule included a night race at the charming Italian circuit of Misano, down in the Province of Rimini. Naturally I took the opportunity to have an Italian Riviera holiday in the lovely resort of Cattolica and, as ever, had to sing for my supper. Saturday night was spent trying to shoot cars in the dark, and being in the  pre-digital era there was no clue about the likely results except what little I had learned in the past.

The 333SPs were very expressive that night, adding to f-stop confusion. To my surprise some images were almost OK. Here is the Lilian Bryner, Enzo Calderari, and Angelo Zadra example.

A warming thought in December.

John Brooks, December 2012

Another Day at the Office

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1998 ISRS Kyalami

December 1998 and the ISRS (aka Mango’s Barmy Army) finale at Kyalami. I had been to the original track back 1981 but the revised version was very different, much like the whole country.

Dominant that year, and indeed for most of the seasons that the competition ran for, was the Ferrari 333 SP. This elegant racer is being guided through the pit entrance by Vincenzo Sospiri, Champion in both ’98 and ’99.

John Brooks, December 2012

It Ain’t Half Hot, Mum

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2012 FIA WEC Bahrain

One of the benefits (?) of travelling the world in pursuit of the FIA WEC is associating with the other boys in the band who make up the media corps. Despite their frequent grumbles and moans, they have a generally good time, working hard and playing hard.

The Sun seems to have got to them a bit early in the day or perhaps it was the double Brasso on the corn flakes. Hark, I hear the Temple Bells, they’ll all be open now………….

Compliments of the Season to all of my fellow travellers.

John Brooks, December 2012