Continue reading »]]> This video explains all about Group B Rally. The cars then were allowed to be purpose built and not based on a real road car. The power was huge, the speeds crazy, and the fans loved it. Even if you just watch the first couple minutes of this you will learn a lot. Also included is the history of the Lancia Stratos, the coolest pure sports car ever.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_B

http://www.autozine.org/strange_car/strange_60.htm

Background

FIA (International Automobile Federation) introduced Group B in 1982 as the most exotic category in motor rallying. The regulations for Group B required the manfacturers to build only 200 road cars, very much lower than Group A’s 5000 cars. Besides, more modifications were allowed for the race version. Therefore car makers could put as much state-of-the-art technology as possible into their racing cars.

This created a golden era in motor rallying history – Audi, Lancia, Peugoet, Ford, Citroen and Austin Rover created many super rally cars to compete in World Rally Championship, all with at least 400 horsepower, lightweight Kevlar body and most of them were mid-engined and 4-wheel drive also. Recalling that period, motor rally enthusiasts always regard that as the best moment of their life. WRC had never been as exciting as that period.

What a pity the Group B ended in misery. In 1986 season, series of accidents involving spectators as well as led to the death of Lancia’s top driver Henri Toivonen and navigator Sergio Cresto happened. Group B was accused of being too powerful and too light to be controllable. As a result, FIA axed it after that season.

I’d say this is really the definitive video about Group B history.

Too fast to race (HQ) (Group B Rally Cars)

Continue reading »]]> So how fast is rally and hill climb REALLY? Check this drive out from 23 years ago. It is in the T16 version of the Peugot 405, designed just for racing.

Keep in mind that he is on the edge of a giant cliff the entire way. Even a couple decades ago they were going obscenely death-defyingly fast. The car control in this is incredible. Also, the race goes from an elevation of about 9400ft, up to to over 14,000 feet. The cars lose a lot of horsepower on the way up. That means they need to start with extra and drive hard up top.

Continue reading »]]> I love that the uploader of this video refrained to adding his own annoying music over this. It is nothing but original audio. I love driving, rally, and seeing all these cool older cars. I want to race.

I enjoy watching the handling of the cars and the physics involved in these crashes. I watch chunks of it for several minutes at a time. I am constantly reminded how many cool small cars Europe has had that we haven’t, and also how the communities support the events. What kind of racing could be better than driving balls out on regular roads, on every surface, and the spectators don’t have to pay to see it?

I noticed there were a ton of Peugot 205 GTIs, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot_205  which sadly we in the U.S. never got to drive.
“The Peugeot 205 is a supermini produced by the French car manufacturer Peugeot between 1983 and 1998. It was declared ‘Car of the Decade’ by CAR magazine in 1990. The 205 won 1984 What Car? car of the year.”

How fun does that little car look to throw around?
Please go buy me something from http://www.rallycarsforsale.net/

The observation that most of these crashes were before anti-lock brakes and traction control is a good one. It shows.

The first section is France. If you get tired of only tarmac and too many Peugots, Finland starts at about 37:30. The Fins drive in the forest and on a lot more gravel and dirt and snow. I haven’t made it to the Belgium or Italy sections yet. I especially love the sound of the old BMWs with unrestricted exhaust. There is a lot to learn from this video. I find it fascinating.

Continue reading »]]> I paid hundreds, for the coins there, a big chunk of them for face value, just to be nice to someone prominent in Forest Grove. She is with Chamber of Commerce and real estate company. I did also get coins to resell. She was very nice. Right after that some regulars came in with many more possibly silver pieces for me to test.After carefully inspecting, acid testing, and sorting every single piece of that, the group on top is fake and the bottom pile is silver. I make less than $20 for all that effort. GOLD and PLATINUM please.