Better late than never: The Old Timer Grand Prix 2014 [PICS]

[mwggriffiths]

Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_017 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

Seeing as I've nominated the Old Timer Grand Prix as my Event of the Year in the RR Awards, I thought I should probably pull my finger out and do a little thread explaining why.

Better late than never (and it's definitely late at over 4 months after the fact!) here is the mwggriffiths coverage of the Old Timer Grand Prix 2014:



Intro

The Old Timer Grand Prix is Germany's answer to the Goodwood Revival / Silverstone Classic / Doningtion Historic. It's held annually and the racing is predominantly held on the Nurburgring GP circuit, with various car club stands spread across the in- and out-fields.

On the face of it, the OTGP seems to pale in comparison to those great events - the Nurburgring GP circuit isn't exactly the most photogenic circuit in the world, it lacks the star studded line-up of drivers of the Revival and if you don't speak a word of German you won't have a scoobie what's going on...

But in many ways it's takes what's great about those events and turns it up to 11:

A weekend pass only costs 58 euros, which is less than the Friday at the Revival. If you include ferries and fuel, it probably costs the same as spending the weekend at the Revival, but you can do laps of Goodwood when everyone packs up on the Monday can you

It's held in Germany, so everything is clean and tidy. More importantly the beer is both good and cheap


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_002 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

As I discovered at the Nurburgring 24hrs in June the fans are incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and passionate with just the right amount of bonkers thrown in for good measure.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_003 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

The classes racing are less classic and more retro than Silverstone or Goodwood with huge grids of 70's sports and F1 cars and plenty of 80's DTM weaponry too:


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_007 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

Speaking of DTM weaponry, the German OEMs back the event by rolling out their Heritage Fleets for parade laps and the park them in the paddock for you to drool over:


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R0_20140808-10_004 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

The cars are possibly even more special than they are at the Goodwood Revival! That's a bold claim I know - but it's the first time I've ever seen an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale or a TZ-2 in the flesh, so I reckon it's warranted:


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_014 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

If you're into your German metal the club stands were exceptional: 10 3.0 CSLs, 20-odd BMW Z1's and 100's of 911's of all shapes and sizes to name but a few - it was endless! This 300 SEL was looking particularly stunning parked up in the paddock:


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_006 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

The racing may lack the "pro" drivers of Goodwood, but it's still hard-fought because many of the races are part of larger national championships which meant despite occasionally appalling weather conditions nobody was taking it gently to look after the car:


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R1_20140808-10_003 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

Its significantly quieter than the Silverstone Classic or Goodwood Revival, so it's much easier to move around and see all there is to see:


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_016 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

All the paddocks are open to all, so you can get up close and personal with some of your hero cars:


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_004 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

Each race series had multiple races across the weekend, so rather than attempt to show them chronologically I'm going to lump each class into its own section. I'll update this list with a link once I post each section.

1. The Paddock, the Club Stands and Car Parks
2. Prasentation BMW
3. FIA Masters Historic Formula One
4. Revival Deutsche Rennsport-Meisterschaft
5. Zweisitzige Rennwagen und GT bis 1960-61
6. BMW Rennen
7. Gentlemen Drivers (GT bis 1965)
8. AvD-Historic Marathon

However if you can't wait the full set is available on my flickr

Matt

[mwggriffiths]

1. The Paddock, the Club Stands and Car Parks

Much like the Silverstone Classic one of the draws of the OTGP are the Car Parks and Club Stands. If you're into your German metal, you'll be in heaven:


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_001 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

The photos in this section barely scratch the surface of what was on offer around the circuit over the weekend.

There were huge Owners Clubs from Ferrari


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_009 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_010 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

McLaren, which even brought out some Grand Prix cars from its collection to display.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_011 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_012 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

A ginormous Alfa Romeo Stand featured everything from this awesome GTV6 track car...


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_013 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

...Through various Zagatos, numerous Spiders, a few SZs, 8C's and even the new 4C...


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_016 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

....And this priceless and incredibly rare 33 Stradale:


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_015 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

Unfortunately I only saw it move about 5 metres all weekend - no racing for the 33


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_017 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

As I mentioned in the opening post access was fantastic - you could get right up close and personal with absolutely everything:


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_005 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_008 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

I took over 10,000 that weekend, so narrowing them down has meant that loads of cool stuff has had to be cut out...


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_018 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

.... But I couldn't cut out a set of AC Cobra velocity stacks now could I?!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_Paddock_20140808-10_019 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

This is just the beginning. The track was calling....

Matt
 

[mwggriffiths]

2. Prasentation BMW

The Prasentation BMW was described in the programme as a series of parade laps from a number of priceless BMW race cars from BMW's own collection.

It started innocently enough while the cars warmed up...


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R0_20140808-10_001 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

But the problem with putting a load of racing car drivers into a load of old racing cars is they don't really listen when you tell them to follow the guy in front and a nice and sedate pace...


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R0_20140808-10_002 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

For the first few laps this McLaren F1 GTR was leading the pack, acting as a bit of a pace car.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R0_20140808-10_003 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

...But behind the others were getting restless, clearly bored of just cruising around.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R0_20140808-10_005 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

As the cars and tyres warmed up the pace started to increase...


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R0_20140808-10_006 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

... And then all hell broke loose as one of the M3's tried to dive bomb the F1 under braking into Turn One. 


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R0_20140808-10_007 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

Thankfully they didn't make contact. The move didn't work, but the gloves were off now!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R0_20140808-10_008 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

What followed was 4 or 5 laps of very aggressive but thankfully clean racing between the M3's with the F1 slowly but surely pulling away at the front as the driver gained confidence.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R0_20140808-10_009 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

It left me thinking "If this was a parade lap, what would the racing be like?!?"


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R0_20140808-10_010 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

Matt

[georgeb]

Fantastic! Really looking forward to the rest.

[alolympic]

Hurry up, I want more!

[HammerDown]

Stunning pictures.....I'm sooo envious !!

[bstardchild]

Lovely pictures and great commentary

Can I ask what kit & lenses you use for track and for paddock?

[PhoenixCapri]

At last you're getting around to it!

Keep the pictures coming - hope you got some of the Zakspeed Fords

[mwggriffiths]

3. FIA Masters Historic Formula One

The FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship was the first event in the programme.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R1_20140808-10_001 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

The series also stops off at a number of other high profile classic events during the year, including the Silverstone Classic and Spa 6hrs Classic, along with stand-alone events at some of the infamous circuits of yesteryear.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R1_20140808-10_002 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

But we're at the Nurburgring. And it's raining. And nobody seems to have told any of the drivers, because they're not slowing down or taking it easy!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R1_20140808-10_003 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

The conditions over the two races varied between damp and monsoon - I'd have been safely tucked up in the garage if I owned one of these beasts!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R1_20140808-10_004 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

There were some incredible liveries on display, like this mustn't-call-it-a-Williams Brabham BT43 with its iconic Martini stripes.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R1_20140808-10_005 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

The BT43 above was joined by its younger sister, the BMW turbo powered BT50:


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R1_20140808-10_008 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

And of course you couldn't call yourself a Historic Formula One series with some Marlboro liveried cars....


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R1_20140808-10_007 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

...And the same could be said of the JPS gold and black Lotus, represented at the OTGP by the 98T and this 76  *insert your own Xzibit meme in here*


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R1_20140808-10_009 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

While the racing was strong in the mid-field...


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R1_20140808-10_006 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

.... The BT43 was in a class of one at the front most of the time


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R1_20140808-10_010 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

As a child these cars evoked no memories of my childhood, so they left me a little bit cold (although that could have been the weather!)... But the good news is from here on in its tin-tops as far as the eye can see!

Matt

[baggabones]

Ooofff!!! That is all

[mwggriffiths]

4. Revival Deutsche Rennsport-Meisterschaft


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_009 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

Deutsche Rennsport-Meisterschaft aka DRM was (sort of) the precursor to DTM in Germany. It ran from '72 and evolved through to '81, before it was combined with a number of other series and died.

It may not have lasted a long time, but in those 10 years DRM (and the Group 2, 4 and 5 cars that were eligible) gave us some of the coolest, fieriest racing on the planet!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_001 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

The DRM Revival is seemingly open to any car eligible to race in period - i.e. Anything built to Group 2, 4 or 5 regulations.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_002 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

This leads to some fairly gigantic speed differentials. Above and below a Group 5 Porsche 935 dives down the inside of a Group 4 934 into Turn One, and all the 934 driver can do is watch!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_003 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

This shot illustrates the variety of all 3 Groups nicely. Furthest from the camera is one of two Porsche 935's racing over the weekend, followed by a fairly mild 934 (on two wheels!), followed by a Group 2 bubble arch BMW 1602.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_004 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

Like the 935 above and the E21 320i Turbo that raced to Group 5 regulations in the DRM shared only its glass house dimensions with the road car upon which it was supposedly based.

Teams worked to the letter of the rules, not the spirit, hence the flat floors and the 935's headlights being lopped off and relocated to the bumper for better aero.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_005 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

This not only resulted in some seriously cool looking cars, but some seriously fast ones!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_011 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

When testing at Paul Ricard 935's would routinely out-drag contemporary F1 cars down the back straight, and they weren't far off the space over the course of a lap either!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_023 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

Not speaking a word of German I couldn't understand the commentators, but I'd be stunned if the DRM Revival wasn't the fastest series of the weekend, including the F1 cars!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_013 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

The Group 5 cars, particularly the Zakspeed Capri and BMW Motorsport 320i, were being hustled up over the curbs all weekend - it was fantastic to watch


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_022 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

In fact it was so mesmerising I just stood there for the first few laps, drinking in the cars, the noise and the flames and forgot to take any photos!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_017 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

If you don't grin like an idiot when you see the Zakspeed Capri fly past you need to get yourself checked for a pulse!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_015 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

Don't think for a moment though that my eulogising about Group 5 means the Group 2 and 4 cars were a letdown... Far from it in fact!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_006 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

The Group 4 cars may have been slightly more production based, but they were being driven like they were stolen which was more than compensating for their relative lack of pace!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_007 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

I don't think anyone had told the drivers their cars were supposed to be slower than the big boys in Group 5. The cars were either on two wheels...


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_014 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

...Or on fire!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_016 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

If you've heard of the Old Timer Grand Prix before, it's probably been in the context of photos or onboard video from one of these incredible M1 Procars. Seeing them in the flesh they absolutely lived up to the footage I'd seen online.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_018 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

The M1's were also racing in the BMW race later, so I'll talk more about them then.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_020 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

This Pink Pig liveried 911 was one of my favourite liveries of the weekend. I don't know of any 911's that race in this scheme in period, but I enjoyed the nod to the legendary 917/20 Pink Pig 


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_008 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

There is so much win in this photo! That splitter, those arches, those brakes, those wheels, that wing and that fire! It sums up what I loved about the DRM quite nicely


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_010 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

I'm not entirely sure what class the white 911 was racing in. Googling leads to believe it was a very early Group 5 evolution of the 934, before the headlights were moved to the bumper. It was certainly quite a bit faster than the "regular" 934's!


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_012 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

I didn't get many shots of the Group 2 cars because those that did race were constantly being forced off line to let the big boys through, and lets be honest - nobody wants to make up the numbers! That said, some are visible in the background of some of the shots above.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_019 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

The DRM Revival was one of my favourite series of the event, and worth the trip on its own in my opinion! Hopefully more events will start to include series from the 70's and 80's in their schedules.


Old_Timer_Grand_Prix_R4_20140808-10_021 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr

I'd happily drive all the way to Germany just for a DRM/DTM Revival - in fact, somebody make that happen!

Matt

[106e30]

Once again, amazing photography of an adventure I'm very gutted I haven't done myself.....YET

[106e30]

Also as a fellow e30 318IS owner I just wanted to know what happened to yours after the crash back in the summer? and is the compact still around? looked like a solid little car.

[gurnersimps1963]

Awesome pics and write up bud,thanks for sharing.

[atomman]

Awsome ! Just Awsome !!

[mwggriffiths]

Thanks for the compliments everyone, I WILL get around to finishing this thread eventually - I'm writing up some more as we speak

Dec 14, 2014 9:17:16 GMT bstardchild said:

Lovely pictures and great commentary

Can I ask what kit & lenses you use for track and for paddock?

The kitbag looks something like this:



It briefly consists of:

A Canon 5D MK3 and a Canon 24-105mm F4 L (I don't use the 24-105 much, but it gets me out of a jam every once in a while)



A Sigma 35mm Art and a 50mm Art. Most of the paddock and museum shots this year have come from the 50mm. I adore both these lenses, truly class leading primes (The 35mm will be going on eBay soon, I don't use it enough since I bought the 50mm - I just prefer the 50mm focal length).



Finally the track workhorse - a Sigma 120-300mm F2.8. An absolute tank of a lens that's started making some dodgy rattling noises recently This was definitely one of the last lenses produced before got its act together on its build quality (The Art's above are superb), still it seems to be working for now, and the image quality is epic so hopefully it won't die completely.



I've also got an old 40D as a spare body, but that really is knackered after 6 or so years abuse.

An EF 2x teleconverter rounds out the kit bag for those shots where I need some extra reach, although I try to avoiding it wherever possible

You don't need all that to produce great images though, I just need it because I'd break the smaller, cheaper cameras  - I'm really hard on all my gear, as you'll see later when we see photos I shot in the monsoon!

Dec 14, 2014 9:30:33 GMT PhoenixCapri said:

At last you're getting around to it!

Keep the pictures coming - hope you got some of the Zakspeed Fords

There was only the one, the rest must have rusted away or broken down

Dec 16, 2014 16:03:25 GMT 106e30 said:

Also as a fellow e30 318IS owner I just wanted to know what happened to yours after the crash back in the summer? and is the compact still around? looked like a solid little car.

The E30 is still around, although I'm still in a fight with my insurance company about its value at the moment so its tucked up for the winter. Hopefully I'll be allowed to fix it in the new year...



I bought it a friend at the Old Timer Grand Prix actually - Hope no-one smashes this one up



As for the Compact, despite my best attempts it WILL NOT DIE! Although winter is coming....

After the OTGP I joined some friends for some Tourist laps of the 'ring in it. Fitted with some sticky tyres it did a sub-10 minute bridge to gantry! Check that body roll 



It then did Shelsley at RRG:



And a bargain £89 Javelin trackday at Cadwell Park:



It didn't enjoy that so much - I tore both engine mounts to shreds



I guess its not surprising with sticky tyres and mounts that are 192k old....



As I said, hopefully more updates soon, including some more paddock shots I've just found on my phone

[mwggriffiths]

Let me start off this post with a disclaimer: These were taken on a phone, and not one with a particularly good camera at that!

So without further ado here are some poor, unedited "atmospheric" paddock shots:

This is just part of the Porsche stand. The Alfa stand was just as big, as were the Maserati and Ferrari stands combined! As I said in the opening post, the in-field car show is enough of a draw for a lot of people, never mind the racing!



In Adenau getting some Pizza we see Britain is well represented this weekend:



A tiny selection of the Alfa stand, including a Zagato, a Montreal two of four SZs that were present and the even rarer RZ!



A small selection of the BMW stand. As I was stood here I was trying to work out what I'd most like to steal... a manual Interlagos Blue M3 CS is pretty high up on my list for my next car, but on balance it'd be the E30 EVERY SINGLE TIME



More from the BMW stand. I'm pretty sure every M1 ever built was at the 'Ring that weekend....



As I mentioned in the first post, you could get really close up and personal with the racers here:



A car synonymous with the Nurburgring GP circuit - Senna's 190E



My favourite Alfa EVER, sorry 33 Stradale, sorry Montreal, sorry GTA, but the TZ2 is my favourite. Its even smaller in the flesh than it looks in the pictures!



A Golf PLus on Porsche Turbo dubs? Why not! 



Walking around the Maserati stand I got to play one of my favourite games - guess the head/taillight donor! Are these pre-facelift E30 lights? Also, what's a Karif!?!



Some proper photos soon...

Matt

[Geordie]

Great thread. Thanks for sharing the pics.

[Woofwoof]

THANK YOU!

[HoTWire]

I can't believe I didn't reply to this post with how much I enjoyed it!

I shall sort that out now.


THIS IS AWESOME


I love your photographs.


Now if someone can get me some contact details for a proper Group A BMW E30 touring car that'd be great (check your racing programs).