RAC Rally!

[David May]

I’m packing cameras for tomorrows RAC Classic Rally (now where have I heard that name before??)
It used the known as the RAAB revival and has run in the hills above Bologna for the last 7 years. I’ll be asking Mr. Munari why they’ve changed the name, and why RAC of all the possible choices!

This year is called a Stratos special edition and there are no less than 19 entered (in a field of 120), including Mr. Munari himself running at Nr 1. I’ll need a very wide lens to get them all in shot!


Dave May

[tryphon]

I was supposed to take part this year but unfortunately my car is not yet ready, sure thing in 2005.

[rutthenut]

I remember reading about this event from earlier posts.

Should be great spectating. Be even better to drive it!

Web link (English version) http://www.rallyclubsandromunari.it/RallyClub_Menu_en.asp

[David May]

There were 4 gaps in the grid but still a very impressive turnout, of which 9 were Gp4 cars (some recent conversions!)
Hardly anybody was trying at all on the stages I watched, but then these are not cars to wreck!

The organisers decided to close the 'Parco Chiuso' which was the traditional meeting place and somewhat spoilt the chats and interviews.

Odd to see a UK plate HRV256N in Marlboro colours but with an Italian crew.

Cars too spread about for a good group photo.

Dave May

[Stratos]

David,

Whatever photos you did get, please upload to the photo gallery, so that everyone can enjoy them.

[David May]

As requested, I’ve posted 13 photos representative of the field at Bologna yesterday to my members gallery.
I checked my database and in fact 14 of the 16 cars running were sporting Gp4 dashboards and arches!
I keep a database of names and registration numbers if anyone is that fanatic... (Also got megabytes of low-resolution video clips in QuickTime format, but they were going so slowly they might as well be stills!)

Dave May

[Andrew Way]

Originally posted by David May
but they were going so slowly they might as well be stills!)

:p :p :p

One of the best reasons I know for owning a replica - at least you can afford to drive it hard.......

[tryphon]

Not all real Stratos are driven like this ;)

Anyway in their defense it was a regularity event so...

I saw David's pictures and I'm amazed to see how many Stradales have been "badly" converted to Group 4 lookalikes, it's a shame.

I can bet that in 10 years time there will be more Group 4 cars around than Stradales, an abberation!!!

[Andrew Way]

Originally posted by tryphon
more Group 4 cars around than Stradales, an abberation!!!

I agree this is a shame.

[David May]

Yes, there seems to be a big business in converting Stadales to Gp4s. And what's worse, people are proud of it!

It was interesting to note how no two cars were the same. The original works cars may have been all different, but here you can see wheels in every shade from yellow to gold to brown, no dashboard had its full complement of instruments, switches or fuses and no two tailpipes were even similar.

Dave May

[Stratos]

Sounds like some of the Replicas are more original than the originals.

[SUSIT]

Originally posted by Stratos
Sounds like some of the Replicas are more original than the originals.

Dangerous words David:) :)

[tryphon]

Originally posted by Stratos
Sounds like some of the Replicas are more original than the originals.

Well my view is that what makes a car what it is, is its chassis. You can do anything around that but the car will still be what its chassis is. Some people respect heritage, history, the passion of the people behind a concept and some don't.

You could build a replica that's exactly the same as the original and I would place it in the same league as the original (n.b. this is still possible today albeit at a price premium over buying an original).

I have a lot of respect for those who spent years of effort building replicas and I'm sure most of these are, by conviction, as close as possible to the original. The only area, IMHO, that is neglected by most replicas is the engine. If you can't have the chassis then try to get the original engine. It will get you much closer to what the Stratos is supposed to be, just my thought.

I know a few original owners who know little on their car and what it represents and find the car a pure excuse to show themselves up in events that are not related to the nature of their car. I have far less respect for those persons. Others still find this a lucrative market and are only in it for the money, mostly dealers of collector's cars fall into this category. I have no respect whatsoever for those.

Trying to avoid making this post tiring I would conclude by saying just: Whatever you do try as much as you can to do it properly, respecting the object, the history, the heritage and the people who spent a part of their life to make it become reality.

Just my thoughts,
Tryphon.

[Stratos]

Hey guys,

Mine was just a tongue in cheek remark. Don't let this thread degenerate into an argument of original and replica - I didn't intend that to happen.

Maybe I shouldn't have posted my comment.

[SUSIT]

Originally posted by Stratos
Hey guys,



Maybe I shouldn't have posted my comment.

NO NO NO David we are all entitled to our veiws etc just so long as we all respect each others differing veiws on all matters, its what makes the world an interesting place. IMHO

Stephen Struthers:)