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Films:
Alfa Romeo Sprint Speciale Is A Racing Statement
Inspiring story and a beautiful car. I have to ask because I’ve driven this road hundreds of times. Were the northern California clips filmed on the Ukiah Comptche road? I swear I recognize many of those road sections.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4RtAFwzbNo&list=UUQYBnt4mhDEIo3IiZaYg2qA
Amazing stuff! What a beautiful car. Is it still a 1600 cc engine? You can tell that Conrad Stevenson is passionate about what he does. Trouble is that when you’re not a pistonhead in the sense that you can fix your car yourself, racing a classic – like my ’72 Giulia – is really not affordable. Or am I making excuses now?
One of the most inspirational videos to date on many levels – thanks Petrolicious for being the conduit for this…as I sit in my office it transports me to a different place and reminds me that indeed, “life is too short”. So cheers to that, this evening I’ll pull the covers of my old Alfa Duetto, avoid this excuse and that excuse, and go for a spin up my local mountain with a massive grin!
Then ponder what I should (more actively) do with my joy machines…keep the videos coming, and most importantly the wonderful personal insights – they enrich the day!
Very nice video. One of the best, for sure. I really enjoy seeing someone putting in the hard work, then taking the car through the paces with full commitment. The passion and sincerity comes through. As a fabricator, these presentations with people like Mr. Stevenson inspire me to make more time for my personal projects. I’m not getting any younger!
Thanks for sharing.
@TJ
You are correct in part of what you said. The current Carrera pales in comparison to the original.
Having acknowledged that, it is still the fastest, most dangerous, vintage event on pavement. As a back marker, (2006, 08 & 2010) I drove flat out @110mph in TRANSIT, on public roads and highways with the local folks, all day, everyday trying to keep up with the race. And get to the “speed stages” on time. The fast boys were going 120mph to 140mph in TRANSIT. I asked the overall winner in the 2008 race how fast his car goes “It only goes 180mph, but it gets there quick!” In 2010, he rolled 7 times. The cars are very fast, the roads can be quite dangerous and drivers make huge mistakes. I wonder how long it can continue and how soon can I get back in a car…
Can someone write a tune for what he said? I believe it’ll become an amazing song.
Wow, just wow.. I was genuinely touched by his words about building/investing into a car needs to be justified by the enjoyment of racing it! After going to Laguna Seca with my car this past September, I can say it was well worth my struggle to get there and will surely be one of my greatest adventures of my life.
Thanks for another inspiring feature of such a great story on this special car, and the awesome owner!
Todays Carrera Panamerica like all of the so called Classic ‘ Races ‘ [ and I use the word ‘ race ‘ loosely here ] is in fact a pale shadow of what it once was . Now being more a parade to show off ones car as well as a tour/social event with all the dangers and speed of a drive to your local shopping mall in comparison to the historic ‘ real ‘ thing that no longer exists and never will again
The excessive hyperbole dolled out by the participants and promoters of such Historic ‘ Racing ‘ events only exceeded by the pundits who’s sole agenda is to sell advertising space as well as help promote such events in order to do so
But hey . On a positive note . At least its a nice car being featured
TJ Martin: I actually appreciate your contrarian stance and i think that there can certainly be a self-congratulatory quality to certain historic events. However, when it comes to the Carrera Panamericana I feel that we must be seeing two different things or i’m just too dumb to know what racing looks like (there you go, have at me!). While I would certainly be cautious of anyone who compared it directly to the original event, from what i’ve seen it is older cars being pushed hard by a pretty serious crowd.
Today’s Carrera is by far the most demanding and brutal event the vintage car world, and cars do break, and people do get injured or killed. Sure it is not as crazy as the original event, but it is not by any means a “social tour.” I suggest watching the GT Racer series if you want to see how hard the cars are driven. Many cars don’t finish because the roads are so rough and the speeds are so high.
Another killer video from you guys! The ’65 Giulia SS is one of my all time favorites and to see one rescued from hanging on a fence and then purpose built for the Panamericana is really exciting. The passion of the owners and drivers that Petrolicious captures in all of its videos is what keeps me coming back every day.
Just a sidenote, was part of the piece filmed on the 1 where it splits off from 101 and runs through the canyons to the coast? If so, I drove that stretch for the first time last month (in my brother’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) and have never had so much fun in my entire life. We did it once with every intention of continuing on down the coast and immediately decided that we needed to turn around and run it again! Unbelievable road and it drives me nuts that I live in Boston and can’t just pop over to drive it whenever I want!
