1988 Trans Am Showdown at Niagara Falls (Full Vintage Race)

[@tormkg9879]

The algorithm sure knows what it's doing. I just watched a bit about how Audi built a Quattro that dominated Trans-Am a couple days ago and here we are, a 35 year old race demonstrating exactly that.

[@CamaroThings]

This was when racecars were racecars. Seriously hope the Trans Am can get back to this level of popularity and exposure again.

[@3PumpChumper]

The uphill battle TA faces is rich guys would rather pay through the nose to drive a GT Porsche, Ferrari, Audi, etc even if they have to share the car to split the costs. I hope that once the COVID thing passes, and money is presumably tighter, that rich guys will wise up and realize the manufacturers are raping them on the cost of “homologated parts”. For the cost of a couple headlights and some body panels on a fancy Mercedes Benz that noses into the tire wall, you can about put a front clip on one of these cars if you have your own shop/skills and still be legal. Buy your parts from a vendor or make them yourself, you have that option. Repairs on anything FIA/GT involves a tub of Vaseline and instructions not to clench.

[@KCBarr1]

And Bruce Jenner was still a man.

[@civlyzed]

@@KCBarr1 lol!

[@bosprocket]

@@KCBarr1 and Hurley Haywood was still closeted

[@IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT]

I just started watching Trans-Am (and Can Am, which I finished). So far I am watching every Trans-Am race in order from Past to Present, and I gotta say, Trans-Am is too underrated. I wish they were big again too.

[@re1644]

Wow, lapping the whole field, except 2nd place. Insane 🤩

[@RDC_Autosports]

the 80’s were the best years of my life! 90’s weren’t bad then it just went downhill.. like strait down 😅

[@chapmanwendy219]

I was at he race as a teen. I remember watching the Audis just run away from the others . On that course there was no contest unless one had mechanical problems

[@beaconassassingaming741]

Watched this race live being from the falls.Can't believe I came across this.Thanks so much.

[@burdphil]

Love these 80s races so much... thank you!

[@TheTransAmSeries]

Thanks for watching, make sure to give it a like and subscribe.

[@GG-si7fw]

Is there a video of Walter Rohrl's qualifying lap? He was a full second faster than the 2nd position car.

[@billp6191]

It's great seeing a field of completely different cars

[@Mike-xh8fl]

My wife is from Niagara Falls and had no idea this was ever a thing!

[@TheTransAmSeries]

The views for this race were insane!

[@2006gtobob]

How is that possible?

[@RedneckSwede]

My childhood was awesome watching racing and hearing the icons of commentary from Steve Evans and Brock Yates.

[@peterdevreter]

Aaah, miami vice, cocaine, crooked wallstreet guys, greed, nice ladys and fast audi's with that awesome sounding 5 cilinder. God I miss the 80's....

[@cb550rider]

Hell yeah

[@herbertlewis8442]

I was 16. Sat on the parking ramp at the corner of 4th & Niagara Streets. Good action out of the turn into front straight

[@yankees29]

What did those turbo charged monsters sound like powering out of that turn?

[@cb550rider]

You should come up to Watkins Glen we still race there every year.

[@markchamberlain9856]

My friends and I from Watkins Glen corner worked there. Thanks for the post!

[@herbertlewis8442]

I was able to sneak in through the mall

[@bjm1682]

I live twenty minutes from here and am a huge motorsports fan. I am going to give my father royal hell for not taking me to this when I was ten lol

[@Jason-gt2kx]

I became a racing fan in the late 80s. Thanks SO much for this vid!

[@ryanstewart4444]

Still love the sound of those Audi's. I didn't know that they were run by Bob Tullius and Group44. Guess that makes sense given their car numbers now that I think about it.

[@purwantiallan5089]

I am here only for AUDI in 2023.

[@JaredR1996]

Another awesome video. Thank you Trans Am 👍

[@TheTransAmSeries]

Thanks for watching, make sure to give it a like and subscribe.

[@HarlemHyena]

IIRC, there was an IMSA video game in the works for the 3DO (or was it the CD-i?), but it never was completed... Imagine if Trans-Am had its own game around that time. Definitely would've been a good bit of competition for all those JGTC games being released everywhere.

[@cdniracer]

My memories...........The Audi Quattros were unbeatable(later to be banned by SCCA.........met "Bruce" Jenner.....Paul Newman was a no show(movie).........miss Brock Yates and Steve Evans RIP........met Van Miller channel 4 and girl from chan 17 Eileen

[@sayerma]

Walter lapping everyone in the field, bar one. That's an epic drive.

[@dr.jiIIaIicecooper2587]

Love the looks of Olds Cutlass Supreme

[@DonaldTheHedgefox]

Only here to see this video since it was recommended thanks KZbin in advance never knew you seen my games I played lel

[@stimpacat]

In 1988 My Brothers and I won the RCCA Outstanding Mechanic award(Bridge Hampton Raceway we fix ever competitors Radiators). I am looking at the plaque on my wall. This was a bad year, they changed the rules the next year. No 4wd. It is such a major advantage, in most Spectator race's today they should not match them. 2 classes, 4wd and 2wd. they can not be crossed. I remember these races like yesterday. I do own a 1987 corvette z52 red/graphite.

[@ldarm]

I found it quite amusing that the backmarkers seem to make way for their fellow V8's but often held up the Audi 5-banger.

[@garneauweld1100]

Anything can happen! I love this sport!!

[@brilliantradience]

AWD 4 the win, same the US manufacturers didn't capitolize but still great racing and big ups for the upload

[@thevoodoo57]

commentators do make me laugh with some of their silly questions! But this is a great post! cheers for the vid!

[@metrichotrods1763]

Hey, F1, this is how you build a road course

[@arnodobler1096]

Too few corners for F1

[@f.d.robben159]

Walter Röhrl - veni vedi vici

[@Bebopin-69]

I remember when a got my 2nd car , at 17yo, i had recorded a race in long beach and willy t ribbs was going at it against scott pruet, one of them drove a 4banger turbo toyota,

[@plantfeeder6677]

SCCA should've followed European Rallycross when 4-wheel drive took them over in the early '80s and given the Audis penalty time. Instead they just banned 4-wheel drive after this season.

[@civlyzed]

What a great name, Willy T. Ribbs!

[@kz1000ps]

Easily one of the best driver names ever!

[@RDC_Autosports]

he’s an announcer at a lot of imsa races today in 2023

[@peterlanglois65]

I missed going to this race because I had to work.

[@TheTransAmSeries]

Now 20+ years later you can watch it! ;)

[@herbertlewis8442]

I was able to go both days

[@LuisAbreu90]

Thank you Trans Am .

[@TheTransAmSeries]

Thanks for watching, make sure to give it a like and subscribe.

[@LuisAbreu90]

@@TheTransAmSeries Done.

[@Nickles4]

Lol it's wild they just leave cars on the track back then

[@SC457A]

Dang I miss hearing Steve Evans.

[@DemonWolf-b7x]

Awesome 😊

[@nicholasmarshall3191]

Until Trans Am allows foreign manufacturers back in, it will probably remain under the radar.

[@Thevwmethod]

Walter.. left foot was gold ..

[@kelevra558]

Hahahahaha, the majority of the circuit looks like my home state. Nevada baby.

[@cezarpo]

IM HERE ONLY FOR AUDI 😎

[@grossadmiral1]

...und ich wegen Walter! 😂

[@JK-g62]

Thats sad...lol

[@5Zylinder]

That Audi 200 Trans AM!

[@thefixmdude22512]

I remember this race. Grew up there. The city never got paid for it. They skipped town with the money. So they said.

[@drumnbasssakuga9352]

It's so crazy how much better the Audi corners, surprising considering the S1 Quattro in rally was known for understeering and rolling too much

[@scottl.1568]

I watched this when I was 12

[@mitchell-wallisforce7859]

Oh dear god..... I heard "West Germany" at 1:35 and went "huh?". Then I saw the red and white and just about shit the bed. Banning AWD was a mistake on Trans-Am's part, frankly. Audi might not have ditched you for IMSA had you just let them have what was rightfully theirs.

[@sonicstep]

41:10, 46:06, Willy's broken gear stick. Metal fatigue? Should have used aerospace grade aluminium.

[@marc-alexandrefavreau6784]

the only race ever happen in the streets of Niagara Falls US

[@JohnSchoolingJr]

Wait... Was that THE bruse Jenner?

[@BEasay]

Yup.

[@OldManBadly]

Back before Paul Gentle Owes Me came along and destroyed the series.

[@racingmaniac2549]

Good job Trans Am.

[@TheTransAmSeries]

Thank you!

[@senioraces]

those where the days.

[@zross9]

Bruce Jenner also raced cars?!?!?? He did it ALL!

[@MathiasGreenwalde]

kids nowadays complain if their video isnt 4k 60fps. Im only 25 but still remember when tv's were low res but felt like todays 1080p.

[@beyond_the_infinite2098]

I hate street courses like this with the cement barriers lining the "track" No room for error and more of a destruction derby. Glad this went kaput.

[@mitchb2305]

It's amazing there were no cautions.

[@ZedNinetySix_]

Willy T. Ribbs was such a badass

[@2006gtobob]

Well practiced Nascar pitcrews these guys are not. As a 16yr old kid back then, I was having heart attacks by how seemingly inept these guys appeared to be.

[@sonicstep]

43:04, Roger Mandeville's Mazda

[@sebvv5219]

They rarely showed the race leader. Weird innit?

[@Nickles4]

I mean Walter was just slapping everyone. What's the point

[@yankees29]

He demolished the competition. That Audi was an impressive machine. The 80’s was the greatest era of racing. The speeds being reached were absolutely amazing. Group B was the greatest rally era ever.

[@stevenbodum3405]

1988 the audi was the only car, people were interested in

[@mitchb2305]

Because there's nothing really to watch once Willy fell behind.

[@rickmassey1272]

Bruce Jenner was obviously the most dedicated TRANS am driver....who would've guessed?

[@philippbehrend5559]

oooooooh

[@Baba_Yaga6486]

🙊😂😂😂

[@Baba_Yaga6486]

@Frank Dux 😂

[@lisapark6007]

st January 3rd and no snow 2021 people walking in t-shirts and maid of the mist out ? NOT !

[@sonicstep]

32:36, Noah Webster at it again. 😳

[@roadhogg74]

Contrast down , volume up and then it's buckle up buckeroo!

[@TSi99999]

This is what Cup is trying to turn into. Though they will never have the variety Trans AM had. V6, three V8s, turbo 4..Plus they insist on keeping the cars fat pigs at 3450lbs. These Trams AM cars would lap a Cup car at under 3k.

[@cdniracer]

The city did not like this experiment and cancelled 5 year deal after 1 year

[@johnmarsh2078]

Sadly typical of the SCCA to ban cars that weren't made in the USA so that the advertising didn't go away. The Jags and Audis brought some further glamour to the series and banning sucessful cars demoted the series to a bunch of also-rans. The same happened with Can-Am in 1973/4.

[@rudfil]

How many times did the SCCA penalize the Audis because they never could be slowed down…lol

[@MrCedimaan]

@@rudfil 4 times. they added 50kg twice forced them to use thinner tires and restricted the airintake for the turbos effectivly reducing the hp output of the engine by around 10%.

[@MGTV1]

no-one is going to mention that Caitlyn Jenner is in this race?

[@dr.jiIIaIicecooper2587]

10:12 Bruce Jenner LMAO

[@sonicstep]

12:30, Cheers.!

[@mortenfrosthansen84]

Too bad they didn't make a streetcar, more similar to Oldsmobile Cutlass.. especially the rear is much better than the 1988 Cutlass, which is kinda tacky to look at

[@trwsandford]

Don't miss-gender Caityn! lol

[@subohmcircus]

Jenner, putting the trans in Trans Am...

[@alexander1485]

The cold war was still going on too

[@sonicstep]

42:15, what happened to yellow flag..?

[@metrichotrods1763]

Caitlyn Jenner holding down a top 10 position hahahaha

[@user-xi9py8es1s]

"4wheel drive" he says

[@MikesFitnessGoals]

underrated 🤣

[@fluffskunk]

Chris Kneifel before he became a full clown during his time as Champcar's chief steward.

[@jardim23]

Bruce Jenner raced in TRANS AM 😁😆

[@eggreedgious5194]

Röhrl was Audi 5000!

[@Nitramrec]

No, he was Walter Röhrl! 😉

[@BEasay]

Willie T

[@kizashikaze9066]

Niagara Falls is one of the most underwhelming things i've ever seen. Trans Am however...

[@robertryan7204]

This is very similar to the 1992- 1994 " Tranzam" or Sports Sedan race at Surfers Paradise Australia kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6SWhox4rsdpb9U

[@butchcassidy3373]

Willy should have had Bruce come help him with his knob. He's a knob specialist.

[@thedriver133]

😂😂 And they End up Ban The Audi omg , 1989 : American Engine and No AwD 😂 PmsL

[@Baba_Yaga6486]

It's almost like they were afraid of the competition 😂

[@youngrody2386]

The Audi-works team is far more loaded than the rest of the Privateers, so they banned them after some BS politics and Sponosriship deals. Contrary to popular belief, the Audi Quattro didn't win because it had ran at a faster pace, but rather had better tire wear and handling characteristics due to a much better chassis design. The AWD system was just better at managing the tires while the rest was far less advanced in comparison, not because it offered a bigger traction advantage on low Aero Cars (Which the Audi also didn't fare aerodynamically much well, this was the 80s. The Americans had better Drag Co. but didn't produce nearly as much downforce as the Audi.) These tire wear advantages also translated well later on to Imsa, where though it was not at all the fastest car (Qualified behind the archaic Nissan 340zx and pre historic Dodge Starion), it did put up a good fight and won a few events. Reliability issues were a big factor though due to the cars bearing the Ballasts significantly worse than the other cars (flaw of a smaller and less naturally torquey engine carrying a heavy vehicle in general.)

[@Baba_Yaga6486]

@@youngrody2386 true, apparently they only had something like 50% of the tire wear that the other competitors had. So what the audi drivers did was keep a steady pace in the first half of the race and in the second half of the race when the other drivers would start to struggle with traction they would put the hammer down and run through the field. The audi were also 100hp down on the V8 cars, which is further testament to how well the chassis was engineered. Just amazing race cars for the time👌

[@youngrody2386]

@@Baba_Yaga6486 I wish the Americans were going to just adapt to the competition, they were fully capable of technologically competing with Audi like they did with Ferrari, Porsche and Nissan in previous racing series. AWD was always going to be worse at tire wear and significantly in pace if Aero is on point, but the Americans didn't want to increase spending like Chevy almost did in CanAm where Porsche just out-spent Chevy to win, and wanted to keep Transam cheap to run like it still is today. Something I don't like about series like LMP1 and F1 was that a while ago the regulations just turned it into a spending battle because of how absurdly expensive the technology was forced upon privateers and manufacturers were, and it derailed the talent argument as budgets became more important than team and driver. The solution they came up with was a Budget cap for F1 and BOP system for Lmh and lmdh, and although they aren't perfect, and sometimes feel manufactured, they do make the racing closer and the talent more apparent.

[@diesel_cat6389]

awd were also banned in Europe. But you don't know about it. Because after the AWD ban in Europe, Audi fell to the end. With 2WD systems, they are no way to compete. And after the defeat they closed the program. Audi weren't fast. They only have 3 pole positions in 1988. Just the AWD system saves the tires. Therefore, awd were banned not only in America but also in Europe.

[@sebvv5219]

Trans Am? More like Cis Am, amirite guise?!???? xDDDDDDDDDDddddddd