IMSA GTP at Lime Rock, 1988

After Daytona, I thought Jag would take GTP, just as it had taken the WEC. I was wrong. By '88, Kaz' little Lola based project wasn't the silly little also-ran thing I'd seen at Charlotte in '84.
Here's one of Geoff Brabham's steps during his march through America. And if Jaguar V12 torque couldn't do it at Lime Rock, it surely wouldn't it do it at a longer place. :) Obligatory "I miss the '80s" comment: BMW E24 pace car!

[@TheSupradude26]

I really miss these older series where all the cars were all so different. Turbo 4 cylinders up to V12's. Regulations didnt make all different manufacturers cars look the same other than the paint. Early 90's was the best. Group C cars going 250mph at LeMans etc...

[@Kinggweeny]

Those Jags were basically GrpC WEC cars worked to fit into the GTP category so never really stood a chance against the 100% GTP designed Nissan's (and AAR Toyota's a few years later) and that was TWR Jaguars problem throughout its GTP campaign. I have to say it was mega racing which I can watch over and over again. Thanks for the uploads :)

[@MrMcKane]

@Roger Dodger I'm sure there was different rules when it came to underbody aero. For example, the 962's in IMSA seem to have bigger venturi tunnels compared to WSPC 962's.

[@christianponicki9581]

@@MrMcKane Also, while front diffusers were coming into style in IMSA GTP in the early 90s, Grp C cars like the Allard were forced to use a flat undertray at the front and generate front downforce from wings instead. The Allard had "a wheelbase of 2850mm and *the mandated Group C 900mm flat floor* area forward within this" - maybe I misread this, but I think it means "no front diffuser".

[@PeterKKraus]

So were the 962 Porsches.

[@mcrichton46]

@@MrMcKanethey did because the IMSA 962s had air-cooled single turbo engines and the WSPC 962Cs had water-cooled twin turbo engines. Just look at the IMSA 962s in the 80s, they’ve got a distinctive humpback in the bodywork where the single big turbo is, and the exhaust comes out the rear (the WSPC cars had side exit exhausts). This allowed the IMSA cars more space in the underbody area beneath the rear bodywork since there was one turbo mounted high and center !

[@donwest5387]

if they knew they wouldn't be competitive, they should have stayed home

[@pseudosmith4979]

I was there when Morton flipped on the Climbing Turn. Ferocious.

[@rexyoshimoto4278]

IMSA was fun to watch in the 80's and 90s. Derek Bell, Chip Robinson and Geoff Brabham, etc. would put on a show. All gentlemen of the track they'd rip it up every week. Porsches, Nissans, Jaguars, Toyotas, Ford even Pontiacs. I wish they were still around. I lived around the corner from Dan Gurney's shop in Santa Ana, CA and got to see GTP championship Toyotas. The engines were little 4 bangers but were amazingly fast.

[@Chris-adams-rc-journey]

I've met and done work for Chip Robinson. Hes a contractor in Augusta ga. He actually owned the building I worked in until a year ago. Super nice guy and none of my co workers cared that he was a badass driver like I did.

[@rexyoshimoto4278]

@@Chris-adams-rc-journey Wow, that's cool. I remember him when he joined the Nissan team in 88/89 (I think he drove the 84 car). Seen a video of him when he crashed it at Road Atlanta. It's hard to believe he made it out alive! He was a great racer.

[@fatmallcop363]

Gtp cars in a short class track like lime rock? Damn. I tought that this was a thing in finland and sweden only! Super cool.

[@PeterKKraus]

Formula 5000 and second gen. Can-Am too.

[@chejlr]

I was there, look at the crowds. Back then they used to park cars behind the church. Now Imsa first stopped bringing the prototypes and now the took the GT class away. So after 35 years of going to Limerock im sad to say goodbye to that great track.

[@413TomaccoRoad]

VP racing series is gone too?

[@gsoulracing566]

Here from reading about LRP history. It's one of my best tracks on iRacing

[@johndeere1951a]

Commercials kill this replay, but, outstanding Lime Rock pro racing. Le Mans class cars playing in a fish bowl. I watched my first SCCA race there in 1965. Beautiful park today (2023) thanks to Skip Barber. Thanks also to the late John Fitch 🇺🇲.

[@413TomaccoRoad]

He only left a few in just to get an idea what tv was like back then. Historical purposes.There were abiut 30 minutes more commercials in the actual broadcast.

[@sabercruiser.7053]

THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH FOR UPLOADING

[@Twobarpsi]

Loved this series!!

[@jaspal666]

The Dodge and Pontiac commercials are so 80s. Love it!!!

[@TheSupradude26]

Haha, the Daytona commercial was rad. "The Daytona is $347.00 cheaper than the Mustang hatchback..." Damn, I wonder how many people who wanted a Mustang went out and got a Daytona instead because of that massive $347.00 price difference... $8995.00 vs $9342.00...

[@replynotificationsdisabled]

It was a DSM. Id take it. ​@@TheSupradude26

[@RandyDubin]

Wait a minute, Morton had that accident *THAT WEEKEND*, got severe burns on his face, and yet returned to the track for the race as a spectator in Nissan's pits? WTMF????

[@oldsccaguyyah9901]

Yep! Worked (corners) with a guy from NEDIV one weekend, he told me that Morton was pretty pissed that his burns kept him from suiting up. Hearsay contends that John said something like '..nothing on the inside's broken..'. Another example of the differences between club guys and the pros!

[@HaulinWulf]

Thanks for uploding all those videos! Like + Sub!

[@tylerford9638]

thanks for these videos

[@ryanstewart4444]

Ahhh Lime Rock. Short track oval racing for sportscars.

[@PeterKKraus]

Short track roller coaster.

[@VZ935]

I used to own the Dyson 962 #18. That 962 was built by Fabcar. Was a sweet race car.

[@jackhampton2062]

Hey Van! Didn't know that(Fabcar)...the chassis was one of Lloyds, correct?

[@VZ935]

@@jackhampton2062 Correct, Richard Lloyd Racing. 962 GTi DR1

[@PeterKKraus]

So you own the Bob Akin 962?

[@Twobarpsi]

Wow! Great trivia.

[@TopSecretVid]

Lime Rock is a really nice track..

[@PeterKKraus]

Announcement of the grid at the start. 11:57

[@chrispraz877]

Camel gt/gtpsuch a great race series. So looking fwd to gtp in "23. Imsa is doing alot right for pure racing.

[@ericforster2970]

Imagine driving among the epic Nissans Jags and Porsche 962s... ...and you're in the Pontiac, LOL.

[@franbrinda]

Don’t laugh. In light class they were very competitive. Pontiac and Buick made some very fast motors

[@johnevans1385]

1:55:12 Porsche 962 front wheels are 6 inches off the ground!

[@donwest5387]

"more higher"?

[@geneyus6411]

Re excavate the track?? How come everyone else's car can make it through?

[@donwest5387]

ain't that "blue car" purdy?

[@donwest5387]

"other competitors' body parts"?

[@donwest5387]

isn't the "Firebird", a Spice?

[@cool3865]

yes its a Spice body and Pontiac engine

[@donwest5387]

septum "bone"?

[@PeterKKraus]

Lol. Moretti owns Momo.

[@Red_bull50]

Any body running out to get Brute Deodorant?

[@TheSupradude26]

I just saw that commercial haha. I remember it as I was about 10 years old when this was on in 88....

[@donwest5387]

flat right rear

[@donwest5387]

loose wheel-nut on the track!

[@donwest5387]

can't see any obvious damage😂

[@grahamkeeton6643]

Great racing but I really wanted the jaguar to win not the Nissan

[@markholroyde9412]

What a piece of crap that track was, more like a roller coaster ride, its knackred., Great racing back then though

[@mrconancat]

I'll take Lime Rock over any F1 track currently on the circuit (Exceptions: Spa, Montreal, Monza)

[@PeterKKraus]

That's the fun and the terror. Check this out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZXWqaCbarWMjZY