F5000

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Wingwalker
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F5000

Post by Wingwalker » Thu 03 Apr 2008, 16:28

Not quite sure if this fits the description "African Muscle Cars".

A few simple questions:
Does anybody in SA stil have one of these cars?
I heard many stories of some F5000's being cut up for dragsters, rods, etc... does anybody know the story behind this.
What happened to all these cars after this formula was stopped in SA.. cut up, stored or just exported or ?

Can still remember when Paddy Driver hit the bridge at Killarney after making contact with John McNicol's car. Entertaining racing at it's best...

A few of my F5000 pics are on Moby's site.
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Killarney Racer
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Re: F5000

Post by Killarney Racer » Thu 03 Apr 2008, 16:40

Some were chopped up, used as spares for other projects, even an engine or two were used for oval track racing I believe.

I have heard that there may be on possibly two still in this country. Most were sold overseas and if you look at a really good site

http://www.oldracingcars.com/

you can track the history of some of "our" cars to the UK, US and Australia.

And sure they belong here - real muscle cars.

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Hi-Fi
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Re: F5000

Post by Hi-Fi » Fri 04 Apr 2008, 08:05

I remember that prang well. I wasn't far from that Dunlop bridge when I saw this car going upwards and that loud bang as it hit.

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ZA Perana
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Re: F5000

Post by ZA Perana » Fri 04 Apr 2008, 20:09

Someone read my mind....was wondering about these cars the other day, actually have a bit of a fascination with them after reading more about how well they competed with the pukka F1 cars.....
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Killarney Racer
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Re: F5000

Post by Killarney Racer » Fri 04 Apr 2008, 21:50

Maybe a new thread should be started on the local F5000 era, together with F1's. This is a facination in itself, and an important chunk of SA motor racing history. We were the only country in the world to run a local F1 series - we were privilaged and spoilt at the same time. We are very lucky to have lived thru this era and experienced ex-works cars every month on local tracks. F5000 was huge in many countries around the world and most lasted a lot longer than our series here which was starved of cash, and later of course the oil embargo's, etc..

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Hi-Fi
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Re: F5000

Post by Hi-Fi » Fri 04 Apr 2008, 22:48

Talking about F5000, look at the way Jackie Pretorius arrived at Killarney for practice all those years ago, being towed by a Mercedes 280s!
Attachments
1968 JACKIE PRETORIUS'  LOLA T140 AT PRACTICE FOR THE CAPE SOUTH EASTER TROPHY RACES.jpg

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Killarney Racer
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Re: F5000

Post by Killarney Racer » Sat 05 Apr 2008, 21:11

Check at the clubhouse - what a dump! Owen Ashley's workshop and all other building in the area are still to come.

Lovely Peugeot 203 in the background. A number of those used to race, Peter Gough having one of them. The engines sometimes found their way into all sort of SA specials that were made, even a Dart or two. Quite a few specials that raced at Gunners Circle were Peugeot powered, but I am not sure if the engines came from 203's.

By the way I work on Gunner Circle and travel on the old track every day. I often think of all the racing history in the area. A couple of years before my time though....

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Fairlane 500
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Re: F5000

Post by Fairlane 500 » Tue 08 Apr 2008, 20:43

A lot of people say that the Lola T70 was trashed to build this T140. How can that be when the T70 was still being raced in 1968?

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Killarney Racer
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Re: F5000

Post by Killarney Racer » Tue 08 Apr 2008, 21:54

Now that is a good point Fairlane. The T70 raced in the 1969 Springbok series. Will have to dig a bit into this one. Has anyone else heard that the T70 was trashed?

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Fairlane 500
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Re: F5000

Post by Fairlane 500 » Tue 08 Apr 2008, 21:58

I know that the car burst into flames either at Kyalami or in LM, but I don't know how badly damaged it was.

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