Vrrooom, vrroom... a heads-up

[Wally]

Touring Car Legends Episode 1

Today on ITV4 from 8:00pm to 9:00pm


A fascinating three-part series about the history of the British Touring Cars Championship from its birth in 1957 up to the present day. The first programme looks at the very early years in the late 1950s when competitors would actually drive their cars to the meetings dressed in their Sunday best. The very first meeting was at Brands Hatch on Boxing Day 1957 and it was then known as the British Saloon Car Championship.

Motor Sport

[Ian]

Re: Vrrooom, vrroom... a heads-up

Sounds good - I first watched touring cars in the early 70s. Great stuff!

Ian

[StephenL]

Re: Vrrooom, vrroom... a heads-up

Far more interesting than F1.

[Olybirder]

Re: Vrrooom, vrroom... a heads-up

Thanks Wally, I will try to remember to watch that. I used to enjoy watching Touring Cars when it was on BBC, rather than tucked away on some more obscure channel.

I have only attended one meeting, which was the inaugural night time race at Snetterton. At the time my partner had a little Nissan Micra, so we were able to root for the Primeras of David Leslie and Anthony Reid. The meeting reached a climax for the last race as it was just getting dark. A spectacular firework was coming to its end, the cars were circling round the circuit, weaving from side to side with their lights blazing, and the tannoy was blasting out Robbie Williams' "Let Me Entertain You". It was genuinely exciting.

When I have watched it recently there seems to be fewer car brands to identify with and it seems to have lost some of the connection to ordinary motorists. The racing still seems frantic and exciting, though, with plenty of jostling and overtaking.

Ron

[StephenL]

Re: Vrrooom, vrroom... a heads-up

Anyone remember Gerry Marshall, Wizzo Williams, John Myerscough? I used to work with John, and he often took me round the circuit in his Alfa GTV between practices.

[Guest]

Re: Vrrooom, vrroom... a heads-up

Set to record, thanks for the tip. I remember a classic early televised race in the Mid 60s or thereabouts, at Brands Hatch with, IIRC, Jim Clarke, Graham Hill and several other Grand Prix drivers trading places all around the track. A Loyus Cortina was one of the cars I think. I have seen it repeated once on TV some 10 or so years ago so hopefully this will turn up in the first show.