RETRO: Remembering some of BMW’s Sports Racing Cars

As I can only imagine how glorious those BMW V-12 lumps sounded at full “Chat” upon thoust Mulssane Straight!

 

Another story waylaid in the mountainous driftwood piles upon thoust Isle ‘O Nofendersville. Shipwrecked some five years Mateys…

 

As it seems apropos to uncork this No Fenders yarn now that BMW M Team RLL has just been victorious at the Battle on The Bricks this fall.

 

Although I didn’t painstakingly go thru the two prior years Le Mans results. I did manage to discover that a total of three BMW 328 2.0-liter Inline six cylinder racecars contested the 1939 24 Heurs du Mans.  With All three finishing in the top ten overall. With the top BMW entry finishing fifth overall and first in class.

 

Reportedly this was the Bavarian Motor Werks’ initial automobile racing car, in what’s ultimately become a long, storied Motorsports activity, which includes winning the 1983 Formula 1 World Championship. Whilst it’s hard to believe it’s now a quarter century since they won at Circuit de la Sarthe!

 

Hardcore Sports Cars enthusiasts will presumably know that the BMW V-12 LM Prototype racecar, a collabouration between BMW and Williams Grand Prix Engineering, owes it’s linage to McLaren’s F1 GTR.

 

Although the McLaren F1 GTR was a development of the initial Gordon Murray designed McLaren F1 road car, which utilized a BMW S70/2 naturally aspirated V-12 lump’ at just over six litres.

 

After much pressure from aspiring privateer racers, Murray relented and produced the McLaren F1 GTR racing version, which sported an updated BMW S70/3 DOHC 6.0-litre normally aspirated v-12 lump. Competing in such series as the BPR Global GT Series, which then became the FIA GT Championship amongst others.  With these GT1 racecars being the top class at le 24 Heurs du Mans in the mid-1990’s.

 

Suffice it to say, without rehashing the entire McLaren F1 GTR’s history. The #59 car won the 1995 24 Heurs du Mans at the hands of JJ Letho, Yannick Dalmas and Masanori Sekiya. Yet by 1997 was deemed “obsolete”, with McLaren withdrawing from Sports Car racing.

 

Yet BMW wasn’t ready to Pull-the-Pin’ upon Sports car racing, and hence hired Sir frank’s (Williams) outfit to design a full blooded LMP1 spec prototype racecar utilizing it’s V-12 engine.

 

Thus Williams produced the BMW V-12 LM racecar for the 1998 24 Heurs du Mans. With two prototype chassis being built. Campaigned by longtime BMW Factory team Schnitzer Motorsport, although entered under the banner of Team BMW Motorsport.

 

No idea how the numbering sequence was done, unless these were just the first two LMP1 entrants that year? As car No. 1 featured Hans-Joachim Stuck, Steve Soper. And somebody then relatively unknown named Tom Kristensen, then just a single winner of the race…

 

The No. 2 entry saw Pierluigi Martini, Jochim Winkelhock and Johnny Cecotto behind it’s keyboard.

 

Making it’s debut during the Le Mans test day, the BMW V-12 LM’s were slower than the Werks’ LMGT1 entries of Porsche, Toyota, Nissan and Mercedes-Benz. Reportedly clocking in at 11th behind the likes of the Porsche 911 GT1, Nissan R390 GT1, Toyota GT-1 and Mercedes-Benz CLK-GT, which claimed Pole.

 

Pierluigi Martini qualified the No. 2 entry in sixth place, with Tom Kristensen putting the No. 1 in a distant 12th.

 

 

The first BMW V-12 LM to retire from the race was car #2 at a meager 43-laps. While it’s Seester

#1 was retired shortly after, at 60-laps. As both cars suffered from “harmonic: vibrations in their drivetrains and were retired in order to prevent catastrophic detonation!

 

Subsequently it was determined that the chassis suffered from lack of aerodynamics, and more importantly. It suffered cooling issues. Prompting BMW to discard the two V-12 LM chassis in favour of a total redesign for the next year’s competition.

 

On a somewhat interesting sidenote, or going down another Wabbit’ Hole; You make the Call! Having surfed thru Bill Auberlen’s extensive racing career. Whom I’ve long taken to calling Him Bimmer Billy’, due to His longtime BMW affiliation.

 

Auberlen, Steve O’Rourke and Tim Sugden were that year’s highest finishing powered BMW entry at Le Mans. With their #40 Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren F1 GTR finishing fourth overall.

 

While interestingly, part of Bimmer Bily’s extensive racing exploits – which I’ve previously scribbled about in,

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2023/03/reminiscing-briefly-over-great-bimmer.html

 

Includes being half of the driving Duo that won BM's lone World Sports Car (WSC) victory overall at the 1998 Monterey Sports Car Championship.

 

With Auberlen and Belgium co-driver Didier de Radigues taking the cheqered flag aboard Team Rafanelli’s BMW Motorsport backed Riley & Scott Mk III BMW 4.0-litre V-8 during the Laguna Seca IMSA GT Championship’s season finale. Forbearer of the American Le Mans Series. (ALMS)

 

Reportedly Italian Team Rafanelli (Rafanelli Engineering) was running it’s Riley & Scott prototype that year in the FIA International Sportscar Racing Series (ISRS) as part of BMW’s preparations for racing it’s BMW V-12 LM chassis fulltime in 1999.

 

Yet Rafanelli was replaced by Schnitzer Motorsport instead, racing the BMW V-12 LMR. Including two cars in the ALMS.

 

Yet Team Rafanelli persevered another season with it’s updated Riley & Scott Mk III chassis. Now sporting it’s own aerodynamic revisions, along with switching to a Judd GV 4.0-litre V-10. Winning the 1999 Grand Prix of Atlanta, albeit the Werks BMW V-12LMR’s weren’t present…

 

To continue reading this No Fenders story, please visit the ling below…

 

RETRO: Remembering BMW’s Le Mans Winner                

LE Mans: Porsche’s prestigious Overall Winner’s list

Which reads like a veritable Who’s Who of Man and Machinery…

 

Funny how I first learned about Porsche celebrating it’s 75th Anniversary. Which I discerned when perusing last year’s 24 Heurs du Mans entry list.

 

Since in typical “Penske Perfect” fashion, or El Capitano’, nee Roger Penske’s “Attention to Detail”. The third Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche 963 was competing with the No. 75 on it’s flanks. Being Roger’s nod to the company’s History…

 

Porsche’s Debutante 24 Huers du Mans Overall victory came in 1970, when the Porsche GH Salzburg entry of Richard Atwood and Hans Herrmann won aboard a Porsche 917KH “coupe”. In 1971, Der Helmut’, aka Dr. Helmut Marko and gijs van Lennep driving for Martini Racing won driving a 917K. Before the ACO effectively killed the 5.0-litre Sports Car class, which the likes of the 917 and Ferrari 512M competed with.

 

Yes, that’s the very same Dr. Helmut Marko, whose the “famous” Red bull Racing Formula 1 Consultant…

 

For 1976-77 Martini Racing scored back-to-back victories with the iconic Porsche 936 Spyder. Jacky Ickx teamed up with Gijs van Lennep aboard a 936/76 Spyder. With the Belgian repeating a year later in an updated 936/77 Spyder with Hurley Haywood and Jurgen Barth.

 

Then there’s the ’79 win with the Kremer Racing Porsche 935 K3 which I’ve scribbled ‘bout before here on No Fenders. As Klaus Ludwig shared the podium’s top step with those dubious Whittington Brothers don and Bill.

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2019/04/retro-notorious-porsche-and-ferrari.html

 

As the ’79 race pitted two rival 935’s against each other fighting for the win. With the Hawaiian Tropic sponsored Dick Barber Racing entry including somebody named P. L. Newman on it’s driving roster, finishing runner-up…

 

Beginning with the ’81 24 Heurs du Mans, Porsche went on a tear, arguably during it’s Glory Years! With the Stuttgart Automobile manufacturer winning  then an unprecedented seven straight Le Mans victories

 

1981 saw Porsche Systems dust off it’s 936 Spyder. With two of Lecircuit de la Sarthe legends, i.e.; thee original Mr. Le Mans, aka six times winner Jacky Ickx and soon to be Five-times winner Derek Bell winning behind the keyboard of an updated 936/81 Spyder.

 

Beginning in ’82, the latest Panzerwagen from Weissach rolled out. As the new Porsche 956 would win four straight races.

 

1982 saw Ickx and Bell win again for Rothmans Porsche. Followed by Haywood, Al Holbert and Vern Schuppan’s win.

 

Joest Racing took over the podium’s top step the following two years. First in 1984 with Ludwig and Henri Pescarolo. Then Paolo Barilla, Ludwig and “John Winter” the following year.

 

1986 saw the arrival of Porsche’s greatest Le Man’s racer, the iconic 962. Seeing Rothmans Porsche go back-to-back between 1986-87   with bell, Holbert and Hans-Joachim Stuck at it’s controls. Before Tom Walkinshaw and His Eponomous Silk Cut Jaguar’s ended Porsche’s streak in ’88.

 

Porsched didn’t return to the winner’s circle until 1994, when Mauro Baldi, Yanick Dalmas and Hurley Haywood won aboard a Dauer 962 Le Mans-Porsche derived “Street Car!”

 

1996 saw the car that the late Al Holbert had been championing Porsche to build upon the 962’s demise win. Albeit it was the TWR Porsch WSP-95 “Spyder” with Davy Jones, Manuel Reuter and Alexander Wurz winning.

 

Then Joest Racing won again in ’97 with the same Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) racecar. Basically an old Jaguar XJR-14 Group C chassis with it’s roof cut off and intended to compete in IMSA’s new Exxon sponsored World Sports Car series. (WSC) Before being “outlawed” by rule changes.

 

As Reinhold Joest convinced Porsche to allow Him to race the chassis, and the rest was History. With Joest winning again for the second year in-a-row with ‘lil Stevie Johnson’, aka Stefan Johansson, Michele Alboreto and some Dude named tom Kristensen at it’s controls.

 

1998 saw Laurent Aiello, thee “Scottish Terrier”, aka Allan McNish and Stefane Ortelli win for Porsche AG behind the wheel of it’s Porsche 911 GT1-98

 

Meanwhile, Stuttgart had also taken over the WSC 95 project, renaming it the LMP1-98, which basically met with poor results and was cancelled for 2000.

 

Porsche returned to Sports Car racing with the debut of the Porsch RS Spyder at the 2005 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Laguna Seca event. As Roger Penske would successfully campaign the RS Stateside in the ALMS, with overall victory in the ’08 12 Hours of Sebring being it’s High-water mark.

 

The RSSpyder also raced at Le Mans, winning the LMP2 class between 2008-09, beforerule changes for 2011 rendered it obsolete.

 

Porsche returned to Circuit de la Sarthe with it’s most impressive “Piece of Kit” as the Bloody Brits would say in 2014. When it’s “Spaceship” LMP1 919 Hybrid made it’s debut.

 

The Porsche Team then won the first of it’s three successive Le Mans W’s in 2015!

 

That year saw Earl Bamber, Nico Hulkenberg and Nick Tandy winning, netting Porsche a record extending 17th Overall victory.

 

2016,which has to be one of my favourite wins! Saw Romain dumas, Neel Jani and Marc Lieb victorious again. Snatching what was to be Toyota’s maiden Le Mans triumph disintegrate upon the race’s final lap! Followed a year later by Earl Bamber, Timo Bernard and Brendon Hartley taking the lead of the race back in the final hour…

 

Porsche then promptly withdrew once again from Sports Car  racing. And wouldn’t return to the FIA World Endurance championship (WEC) until the new Hypercar era dawned in 2023. With Porsche Penske Motorsports running two full season Porsche 963 Le Mans Daytona Hybrid (LMDH) prototypes in both IMSA’s new Hybrid GTP category and the “Weckity-WEC”. Plus the aforementioned third No. 75 “Wildcard” Le Mans entry, for Circuit de la Sarthe’s Centenary running… 

LE MANS: When Scandia Racing went to France

Hey Andy, watch out for that triple F1 World Champion!

 

Yeah, I’m still waylaying Y’all with Ye bevy ‘O Canned stories I scribbled before going on sabbatical here upon No Fenders, during my Open Heart surgery recovery. Thankfully now into week seven of said recovery!

 

Apparently I listened to this sometime in early June of last year, and just haven’t been able to find an appropriate “slot” for “Back-timing” it’s posting. Yet with the 12 Hours of Sebring this coming Saturday, and the Ferrari 333 SP being one of my All-time favourite Sports Car prototypes. Well, Yuhs get the drill, Righto?

 

As Scandia Racing was one of my former Home team racing outfits, and actually won Sebring twice in 1995 and 1997.

 

With team owner Andy Evans and a superb cast of supporting drivers, i.e.; Fermin Velez, Eric van de Poele and ‘lil Stevie Johnson’, aka Stefan Johansson taking the chequered flag at Sebring!

 

Buoyed with the evocative Ferrari 333 SP Stateside success in the newly formed IMSA Exxon World Sports Car Championship and Supreme GT series, (WSC) try saying that fast five times Y’all, Hya!

 

“Moneyman” and Team boss Evans opted to take His pair of Ferrari’s to Mecca for the 1996 24 Heurs du Mans. Which is where things get interesting…

 

As Marshall Pruett The Week in Sports Cars Podcast with former Scandia Racing Technical Director Jeff Brown is most enlightening. With Marshall prefacing the Le Mans experience by noting you won’t find them listed in the Box Score!

 

As the two cars, Nos. 17-18 oddly were entered under the banners of Racing for Belgium Team Scandia and Rocketsports, Inc.

 

As the No. 17 was naturally an All Belgium Drivers affair, with the two Eric’s, i.e.; Eric van de Poele, Eric Bachelart and Marc goossens at it’s controls.

 

Having recently scribbled here upon No Fenders about Bachelart’s Conquest Racing’s latest foray into IMSA GTD Competizione this year with a brand new, shiny Ferrari 296 GT3 no less, ironically contesting this week’s 12 Hours of Sebring…

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2023/11/another-ex-indycar-team-races-on.html

 

While the No. 18 Rocketsports entry featured Andy Evans, Fermin Velez and Yvan Muller behind it’s keyboard.

 

As the No. 17 entry faired far better than it’s Seester’ No. 18 entry. As Van de Poele set the races fastest lap before the Racing for Belgium entry retired on lap-208.

 

Whilst the No. 18 only lasted a scant 31-laps overall, before also being listed as DNF. (Did Not Finish)

 

As Brown’s Deadpan comment about telling Boss Andy Evans, you do know that’s Nelson Piquet is Priceless! After Evans outbrakes Himself on Lap-1 no less!

 

https://marshallpruett.podbean.com/e/mp14xx-the-week-in-sports-cars-le-mans-1996-team-scandia-ferrari-333-special-with-jeff-braun/

 

Whilst apparently the Ferrari 333 SP has rightly just been inducted into IMSA’s Hall of Fame, with it’s Bio’ written by Marshall Pruett…

 

https://www.imsahalloffame.com/drivers/ferrari-333-sp/#content 

RETRO: Reliving Another forgotten Golden Age of Sports Car racing...

When two European Based Series were definitely more technologically advanced vs. America's "Low bucks" approach!

As Y'all know, many of my No Fenders tomes are notorious for scurryin' down multiple Wabbitholes', and I'm currently stuck on belabouring the point that sports Cars, A la Championship auto Racing Teams (CART) v Indy Racing League *IRL) had Thar own Split, which actually lasted two years longer than the infamous Open Wheel Racing Split; But I Digress...

ALMS and Grand Am merge - finally

As it's hard to believe that twenty years ago, we were nearing the end of a golden era of Sports Car racing when V-12 engines were Top of thee Pops! Having had the pleasure of witnessing that most evocative Ferrari 333 SP in action at Yuhs Guessed I-T! Thee Rose City's Portland International Raceway circa 1999.

As History denotes, the race was held on August 1, 1999. And I fondly recall it being a perfect day for motor racing, with five Ferrari 333 SP's competing, along with three BMW V-12 LMR's, giving us a total of eight naturally aspirated V-12 runners interspersed in the 42-car field!

Although it would be one of those Boomin' six-litre V-8 Panoz LMP1 Roadster S's winning the race with Eric Bernard and David Brabham at its controls. As the Top-5 was completely Dominated by the two Panoz and three BMW V-12's, with the best Ferrari could muster being P9. 

Yo Johnny, Johnny Be good? It's funny reading that regardless of 'Ol Johnny Herbert's Quip 'bout V-12's never being very reliable, ironically the 333 SP's 4.0-litre naturally aspirated V-12 lump was derived from one of those Bashed Formula 1 machines, la Scarlet's Ferrari 641 chassis.

Yuhs know, the one that won six Grands Prix during the 1990 Formula 1 season, with "The Professor," aka Alain Prost winning five times and his Wingman Bloody Nige! Red 5 or better known then as Il Lione, nee Nigel Mansell winning once the year that Prost finished runner-up in the F1 World Championship to his bosom Buddy Ayrton Senna after their collision at Suzuka!

As the Ferrari 333 SP scored a Hat Trick at the Sebring 12 Hours, winning twice with Andy Evan's Scandia Racing and once with Gianpiero Moretti's Momo Corse in '98, albeit the record books denote the winning team as Momo Doran Racing. Also the same year this team won the24 Hours of Daytona, Sweeping Florida's endurance events!

Along with noted Engineer Tony Southgate reputedly claiming that the 333 SP's V-12 was one of the most reliable lumps' he'd ever known...

VIDEO: Men At Work - Be Good Johnny

Meanwhile, the year y2k's (2000) second premiere endurance race, Hmm? Suppose it's fitting, Karmic or Apropros that Sebring follows DayToner' in Sports Cars 2020 Reboot this July, Righto?

The 12 Hours of Sebring under the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) sanctioning body that year, also it's Debutante event had 16 LMP1 Prototypes competing, headed by four "Factory" efforts, i.e.; Audi, BMW, Cadillac and Panoz, all 2-by-2, Coom-by-Yah!

DAMN! That's twice as many entries vs. this year's anemic DP Class at DayToner', and just the Factory entrants listed above was one more than the paltry GT Le Mans field at this year's Rolex 24...

With the Audi R8 LMP running a Twin Turbo V-8, Cadd 'O Lacc' running the long forgotten Northstar V-8 turbocharged lump and Crowd Darling Panoz LMP1 Roadster  esses's, those thunderous, rumblin' front engine "Batmobile" 6.0-litre Big Block V-8's were just some of the Prototypes diverse machinery.

Whilst that aforementioned Shrieking twelve cylinder Naturally Aspirated BMW V-12 LMR that I've still not gotten round to chronicling here on No Fenders, was the Defending 24 Heurs du Mans and Sebring winner, since the ALMS was effectively Locked Out of that year's Rolex 24, having based it's series upon ACO Rules. While the 24 Hours of Daytona now fell under the auspices of the rival Grand Am series.

And I can only Arse-sume that of those 16 Prototypes I've previously mentioned, some possibly were of the lower P2 category? While once again Intersport Racing entered its No. 37 Lola B98/10 Ford 5.1-liter V-8 racecar, with Team Owner john Field leading the charge with his two Pals Don & Dale Whittington behind its Keyboard.

Also, interestingly Kevin Doran's Doran Lista concern had decided to swap  la Scuderia's four litre V-12 in favour of a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated Judd V-10 into the back of its aging Ferrari 333 SP, in hopes of better performance and fuel mileage, Momma Mia!

As one can only wonder what 'Ol Enzo would have thought 'bout that, Eh? The Sacrilege of dropping an English lump' in one of his Scarlet machines, Yikes! although they did finish fifth overall and best Privateer, only bested by the Werks' Audi and BMW concerns.

As Audi would score it's first of many 1-2 victories in "Double Ought," y2k or formally known as 2000, with Tom Kristensen, Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro taking the Chequered Flag first.

As Kristensen scored his first Sebring 12 Hours victory the year prior driving for BMW alongside team-mates JJ Letho and Jorg Muller.

As Letho would finish third in 2000 in the lead BMW, whilst Kristensen won again, en route to becoming known as "Mr. Sebring" upon amassing a record total of six Overall victories at Sebring, five for Audi.

VIDEO: A Great Dane' - Tom Kristensen on winning at Le Mans & Sebring

Audi would Dominate Sebring by racking up an impressive 11 W's, if I've done my Ryth-Muh-tickin' correctly? Having owned Sebring from 2000-07, winning eight straight times before El Capitano', nee Roger Penske's Porsche RS Spyder Defeated them. Audi won once more in '09 before Peugeot claimed top Honours back-to-back between 2010-2011. Audi then scored its final two victories in 2012-2013 before leaving the scene. Presumably since ALMS & Gran Am merged in 2014 and Audi moved to the FIA's World Endurance Championship. (WEC) Before leaving Sports Car racing entirely under the cloud of Diesel-Gate! And are trying to spiffy up Thar image now in Formula E instead...

As it would be nice to see new manufacturers enter the Global Sports Car scene, since Toyota will basically run unopposed a third straight year at Le Mans, while Thars only three manufacturers Stateside, i.e.; Acura, Cadillac and Mazda, albeit just two Acura's and Mazda's apiece.

thus imagine All four of those makes plus who knows else beside the Minnowesqe Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus concern, with its two car SCG007 entry slated for next year's 24 Heurs du Mans All going Head to Head at Circuit de la Sarthe.

And what'll happen with the Stillborn Aston Martin Valkyrie Le Mans Hypercar project? As why couldn't they farm it out to a Privateer effort instead? since it would be glorious to hear the wail of its 6.5-liter V-12 lump screaming down the Mulsanne Straight! Whilst reportedly Peugeot will return to Sports Car racing in 2022.

Or how Cool would it be to have Gordon Murray's latest creation, the almost Sold Out T50, propelled by a Cosworth 4.0-litre au Natural' V-12 lump' turned into a Le Mans competitor, Eh?

Encouraging Signs for Global Sports Cars Future

But we've been down this road before, so what will really happen? Especially now that the Dreaded COVID 19 Pandemic has totally Upset Ye Applecart!

Once again, Here's another story that's been stuck in Ye Driftwood upon thou Isle 'O Nofendersville, Ah-waitin' it's turn to be Dried-off 'N Placed upon the No Fenders story Rotisserie Yuck-Yuck-Yuck!

Ah, thou power of the Well Timed Press Release, Eh? As I found myself more excited about the prospects of a single, truly Unified Global Sports Cars Prototypes category over this year's Paltry season opening 24 Hours of Daytona weekend's entrants, Wayback at the end of January, remember that Y'all? Like Seriously, only eight top flight DPi entries, Huh?

PRUETT: Time for reckoning for Global Prototypes

As I Don't think Yuhs can correlate anything out of these numbers, (below) for which I was momentarily drawn to the year Y2k, nee 2000 like a Moth to a Flame, Ouch! Regarding another languishing No Fenders tome regarding the long forgotten mighty BMW V-12 Prototypes.

Primarily due to a Cheeky comment Sky Sports F1 Commentator; Err

Pundit Johnny Herbert made last year during a Friday's Formula 1 Free Practice session somewheres 'bout how the V-12's were never very reliable still sticks in My Craw. Like I Dunno, did 'Ol Johnny forget 'bout Thee McLaren MP4/6 of 1991? Yuhs know the car Ayrton Senna won his third and final F1 World Championship with...

 Thus for Humour, I've previously looked up the 2000 24 Hours of Daytona race results Wayback on January 24th, thou Eve of this year's Rolex 24. Before All Hell with my Gory winDOUGHS 10 Arse-symulation attempts began! Which I won't bother Y'all 'bout again. Other than may be One Bloody Day in the Future I'll actually be able to use the Gory Machine! But I Digress...

And perhaps it's just Mwah, but I actually see a silver lining from the Corona Viruses COVID 19 Pandemic's major interuption of Motor Racing, specifically for Sports Car racing. As it serves as a catalyst to see Sports Cars re-invent itself, as the Sport is in need of major change Globally.

PRUETT: Converging towards some Home Truths

Focusing primarily upon North American Sports Car racing, which see's the IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship under new leadership, with former Mazda Motorsports Boss John Doonan at the Helm as newly anointed IMSA President. How will the sport transition to a rosier future?

LMDH to replace DPi in new IMSA ACO Convergence

Alas, Thanks solely to Herbert's Cheeky comment, my cursory examination of that year's 38th running of Thee 24 Hours of Daytona under the auspices of Grand Am, as the New series Inaugural event, when Sports Cars began their own rendition of The Split with the rival American Le Mans Series. (ALMS)

Hence, the 2000 Rolex 24 at Daytona's race results revealed a Monstrous field 'O 78 racing cars taking thou Green Flag; Aye Karumba! As Thar were a total of 21 Prototypes entered in the SRSR Class, whatever Thee Hell that was?

Which appears to be from the very Sketchy info I can discern on Ye Intrawoods', the Grand American Road Racing Championship was initially comprised of five classes, including Sports Racing I & Sports Racing II for its premiere Prototypes categories. Which Arse-sumedly is what SR stood for before thou introduction of the de Riggour Daytona Prototypes (DP) designation. While the other three classes were for the various GT Tintop Saloons' categories.

This two-tier Prototypes category which I've now discovered was based off the long defunct FIA Sportscar Championship Rules, for which SRI Open Top Prototype Chassis were allowed a maximum displacement of 6,000cc Naturally Aspirated or 4,000cc "Blown," aka Turbocharged lumps', (engines) a la what raced at Le Mans. Whereas the SRII chassis were limited to six cylinder engines and 3,000cc and contested "lower" events.

Hence, we can see the worrying trend currently affecting Sports Cars Globally, when these 78 Starters made up more than Double the amount of this year's 58th Rolex 24's field of 38 entries!

Although to be Fair to Sports Car racing, All Motor Racing series have seen marked Declines in Thar numbers of entrants. Like Gory Hell, RASSCAR' only allows 40 entrants vs. it's long traditional number of 43...

As it's Prototypes ranks Included three of those gorgeous la Scuderia normally aspirated V-12 Ferrari 333 SP's, with Doran Racing & Risi Competizione running 333 SP 98 models.

not to mention those wondrous Whittington Brothers were in the race, with Thar lead driver being some Field Chap, presumably Ted Field of past Interscope Racing fame; El Correctomundo? Albeit the car classified DNF, 67th Overall was a Lola B98/10 Ford entered by Intersport Racing instead, which retired from engine maladies.

Alas, I've since learned that lead Driver was actually John Field, owner of Intersport Racing, which primarily competed in the rival American Le Mans Series (ALMS) instead. Although it appears the team had two entries at Daytona, both retiring, P66-67 Overall respectively. 

As I was somewhat Cornfuzed, knowing that the two Whittington Brothers who won the 1979 24 Heurs du Mans had both been sent to the Gray Bar Motel for being involved in Drug Smuggling during IMSA's "Checkered" past...

As the #37 Intersport racing Prototype was actually driven by John Field, Dale & Don Whittington. As Don was released from Jail after serving an 18-month prison sentence. While Dale is the youngest of the three Whittington Brothers, who Died at the relatively young age of 43, just three years after this Rolex 24 outing.

Yet the 38th running of the Rolex 24 was won by the Dodge Viper GTS/R of Team Oreca Racing, piloted by Olivier Beretta, Karl Wendlinger and Dominique Dupuy.

With the Corvette Racing's C5.R with Ronnie Fellows, Justin Bell and Chris Kneifel  at its controls as the crème filling of a French Dodge Viper Sandwich!

Or should that be le Oreca ménage à trois Wee-Wee! Which included a Bloke by the name of David Donohue at the keyboard of the third place Viper.

On a side note, if the name Kneifel sounds familiar to Yuhs? It's because he went on to serve as CART's (IndyCar) Chief Steward between 2001-04. And scored his best career result in '01, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona with Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell and Frank Freon for Corvette Racing...

As the Overall Podium was a Clean Sweep by "Second Rung" Grand Touring Over (GTO) Class competitors with the first Prototype, the Dyson Racing Riley & Scott Mk III/Lincoln finishing fourth overall.

Yeah, that's right, Lincoln Mercury briefly ran in motor racing under the Auspices 'of its parent company FoMoCo, i.e.; Ford Motor Company.

Although perhaps this No Fenders tome is gonna Drive Y'all to Drinkin' when Singing 'bout that 'Ol Hot Rod Lincoln; Hya!

VIDEO: Commander Cody's Hot Rod Lincoln Song

For the second half of this Zany No Fenders Double Header story, see; RETRO: Reliving Another forgotten Golden Age of Sports Car racing...