[urq] Audis as Collectibles... (long rant)

[Motor Sport Visions Photography]

In a message dated 1/20/2001 Kwattro at aol.com writes:

<< I think that you're wrong.  We'll always see some crazy owner
"trashing" and 
thrashing his multi-million dollar car(s) in pointless celebrations of
past 
glory.  Every year, at places like Goodwood and Monterey, priceless cars
are 
beaten into the ground, and sometimes crashed. >>

Carter, I fear you must be seriouly misinformed about the quality of the
field at events like Monterey and Goodwood. Please don't mistake these
two premier historic racing events with more casually run local vintage
events.

On the subject of thrashing a priceless car the most memorable recent
boneheaded shunt at Monteresy Historics was none other than Sterling
Moss himself in the Aston Martin he won Le Mans in. They hardly had time
to get the car fixed in time for Goodwood. But, he was driving the car
becuase of his own significant historical value as a driver in a very
historic car that he helped make famous.

At Monterey, you go crazy and trash, you simply do not run there again.
Those who are owner/drivers, like my family friend with a 1967 Lola T70,
tend to stay out of the way and leave the "trashing" to the professional
drivers who, along with the car owners they drive for, are taking
calculated risks...but they too are human and sh*t happens.

Some of the most memorable racing I see every season is in those 10 lap
"races" at Monterey. Last season a highlight was watching Sir Jack win a
vintage F1/F1/Fjr race when reunited with one of his early winning GP
cars. The race was quite a fight and one could easily see the way
Brabham slid the car through the corkscrew that he was still a masterful
driver.

What we are treated at getting to see at vintage events like MH or
Goodwood is truly remarkable and hats off to collectors who allow their
cherished and priceless collectable race cars to be out there where they
belong, on the track! BTW, at MH 908s are commonplace.

On a vintage note, IMSA GTP cars are going to be run in a vintage series
as a support event for ALMS this year. Eric F's post reminds me of the
Nissan GTP car I often see in Bruce Canepa's shop and I have to wonder
if it will join in this series.

My point being, if all collectable race cars do is sit in museums and
private collections, they may as well be scrapped as far as I and other
enthusiasts are concerned. Thank goodness for vintage racing.

Mike Veglia
Motor Sport Visions Photography
http://www.motorsportvisions.com