Spotted on TEN news a story about an HK Monaro for sale, presumably by auction, with the owner hoping to get $300,000 for the red beast. even then there is $200,000  reserve.

This Monaro came from the Muscle Car era of the late 1960 and early 1970s when standard production cars were raced in the classic Bathust  touring car endurance race. There were special models from Holden and Ford built to qualify as production cars for the race.

In the early 1970s inflammatory journalism helped create a public perception that these cars were potentially dangerous. One particular fear aroused was these cars coming onto the second hand market at bargain basement prices where any newly  licensed driver could afford them.  There were only a few of these special models built each year, just enough to qualify them as production cars for racing, and the prices reflect their rarity and desirability as a collectors items.

It is hard to judge the price of the homologation specials  for racing as there were many look alike models with stripes and wings but ordinary family car engines such as the Monaro in this picture. this one comes with a 6 cylinder Holden motor, not the V8s  of  the top models.

The moral of this story is the popular press love fear stories and they are reluctant to let  facts get in the way of a good scare.

FIA GT1

This is a fledgling series, now in its second year, featuring some of the world’s fastest sports cars.  Unfortunately this year there have been many problems after the rolling starts to the races. Multiple car pile ups seem to happen at just about every race start. In a series that promise to be interesting, reducing the less than generous fields due to crash damage detracts from the racing spectacle.

Just when everybody heaved sigh of relief after Sunday’s race at Silverstone got off to a clean start disaster struck at mid race distance.  The Westbrook Nissan GTR made an overambitious move on the Mucke Aston Martin DB9, causing the Aston to spin off the track and lose several positions. Westbrook continued slowly with  a damaged tyre and a drive through penalty from  the stewards. Mucke returned to the track with his Aston Martin and then ran into the limping Nissan, severely damaging both cars.

The onboard footage showed Mucke with one hand on the wheel and gesturing at Westbrook with the other as the crash happened.

In the  Stewards report they said they were convinced are convinced Stefan Mucke drove in a very dangerous manner causing an unnecessary accident.

The race finished with a thrilling three way fight going right down to the final corner. The acton behind was very sparse. The series needs all the cars out there racing, not sitting on the back of recovery trucks, or in workshops still being repaired.

MotoGP

Danny Pedrosa out after yet another fall. Reminds of something an ambulance officer said talking about horse racing jockeys. He worried as the seemed to  injured easily in a fall, possibly because they did not have enough  muscle and body fat to soften the impact on the bones. Maybe pint sized Danny needs to bulk up a bit.

The Simocelli Effect

In the 125cc support event the rider taking the chequered flag had his race win taken away as race direction felt his last corner pass was too aggressive. There was bit of elbow rubbing but both riders stayed upright and on the power on their run to the line. They were wide as both ended up on the grass at one point.

Now would race direction have intervened in this case if the Simocelli saga had not occurred?