Spa Six Hours 2009

DC-MXV · Oct 18, 2009

At long last I have managed to sort through some of the pictures I took at the recent Spa Six Hours and thought that the following selection may be of interest to people on here. Mostly they are of original cars but I have also included some pictures of Gelscoe001 which was entered in the Masters Sports Car race as well.

This was my first visit to Spa and the circuit is even more impressive than it looks on TV. The setting is stunning and the fact that you can walk around most of the circuit makes it excellent for spectating.

I am sure those here who have driven it have had a real treat.

The first set of pictures are some miscellaneous shots featuring GT40 s in the race, especially when running together near the start and lapping slower cars.

DC-MXV · Oct 18, 2009

1025

1025 - Position 1st 106 laps at average speed of 130.521kph fastest lap 2:50.357 at 148.009kph.

Watching the early part of the race unfold was really interesting as 1025 had to start from the pit lane behind the 96 other cars in the race. This followed a blown engine in practice and other which failed in qualifying. As far as I saw I think that in qualifying only an out lap and one other was completed. We were sat opposite the pit and could watch the pit board showing that sometimes 10 or more cars a lap were being overtaken.

DC-MXV · Oct 18, 2009

111

111 - Position 4th 105 laps at average speed of 128.772kph fastest lap 2:53.807 at 145.071kph.

I was very pleased to see 111 returned to the green livery as I think it looks much better than the white it was running in last year.

DC-MXV · Oct 18, 2009

1070

1070 - Position 5th 104 laps at average speed of 128.036kph fastest lap 2:53.119 at 145.648kph.

I am fairly sure this is 1070 (R Meins) from what I have seen before however I could not see a chassis number to confirm. Can anyone confirm this is correct.

DC-MXV · Oct 18, 2009

1005

1005 - Position 28th 96 laps at average speed of 118.171kph fastest lap 2:47.922 at 150.155kph.

Car was delayed by requiring an alternator change. According to Autosport this car was the quickest car over the last 2 hours as it recovered up the field from the extended pit stop.

DC-MXV · Oct 18, 2009

1023

1023 - Position 72nd 74 laps at average speed of 132.995kph fastest lap 2:48.646 at 149.511kph.

Took early lead and continued until retirement after 3 hour 53 minutes following a wheel bearing failure.

DC-MXV · Oct 18, 2009

1079

1079 - Position 75th 69 laps at average speed of 96.805kph fastest lap 2:49.348 at 148.891kph.

Car was running within an hour of the end of the race however extended pit stops, not sure what the problems where had reduced distance covered.

DC-MXV · Oct 18, 2009

1108

1108 - Position 87th 42 laps at average speed of 117.462kph fastest lap 2:47.893 at 150.181kph.

This car ran for 2 hours 30 mins and set the fastest lap of the race. I do not know the problem which caused retirement.

DC-MXV · Oct 18, 2009

Masters Sports Cars 1018/GEL001

The MastersSports Car race which was won by Martin Stretton/Jon Minshaw in a Lola T70 also had 2 GT40 entered.

The first was 1018 for Ray Bellm which went out in qualifying but was withdrawn from the actual race. The 2nd was the car built by Gelscoe, which in the race stood no chance against the T70's. The fastest lap set in this race by a T70 was 2:34.352 for comparison with the 1965 spec GT40 in the 6 hours (approx 14 secs quicker).

Jay Cushman · Oct 18, 2009

What an awsome job of taking pics and giving details. Many thanks

jimbo · Oct 18, 2009

Beautiful photos and very well-presented. Is there any particular reason that some of the GT40s are running with their lights on?

DC-MXV · Oct 18, 2009

Jim,

I think the main reason the cars had lights on, some pictures from qualifying and some from the race, is that there were 97 cars on track with a great speed differential and it was just a case of making sure that cars being lapped knew they had a faster car behind. Obviously the last couple of hours of the race are in darkness so lights are needed then.

Dave

550spydr · Oct 19, 2009

Great coverage. Thanks for the photo a well.

Luomi · Dec 3, 2009

1079 with drivers Chris Stahl, Herve Regout and Pierre Alain Thibault, the director of Spa circuit, sitting on the car.
The car had problems with only running first, third and 5th gear and a water pipe leckage.
Next year we will fight again.
Chris

Neal · Dec 3, 2009

Great shots!

KarlB · Jan 9, 2010

Dave

Thanks for the lovely detail shots ..........much better than mine ever turn out!

Regards

Karl

Keith1 · Jan 9, 2010

Re: Masters Sports Cars 1018/GEL001

DC-MXV said:
The MastersSports Car race which was won by Martin Stretton/Jon Minshaw in a Lola T70 also had 2 GT40 entered.

The first was 1018 for Ray Bellm which went out in qualifying but was withdrawn from the actual race. The 2nd was the car built by Gelscoe, which in the race stood no chance against the T70's. The fastest lap set in this race by a T70 was 2:34.352 for comparison with the 1965 spec GT40 in the 6 hours (approx 14 secs quicker).

Fantastic photos thanks for putting them up. Interesting amount of GT40 failures especially Tessie.. 3 engines? Cripes that'sa big buck operation for sure

Not sure why T70's were that much faster. When they were contempories in long distance racing they were quick in practice but poor performers on the longer runs - GT40 nearly always trounced them. T70 only ever won one FIA world championship race in the day... but were almost unbeatable at club level.

John Woerheide · Jan 19, 2010

The T70s back in the day had high compression race engines built in america and in Europe could not get high enough octane gas to run properly. Yes, that's it !

Spa Six Hours 2009

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