I posted this vid in The Awesome Thread, but it also belongs here in the 917 thread.

Bruce Canepa driving his 917 in anger around Laguna Seca. Bruce Canepa is widely known as one of the absolute best drivers in the vintage racing circles, and he really knows how to drive this car. He is turning low 1:30's in this vid, lap after lap, which is remarkable considering the 917 relies almost entirely on mechanical grip. Its shape was made for aerodynamics and top speed as opposed to downforce. The sound of this car is intoxicating.

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha2ZqP-Hnvc&feature=related]

 

This thread made my day. Rep!

 

Big deal I can run a 1:30 in a $100k gt3 cup





Badass cars Eric
Great thread

 

True...but Bruce Canepa is doing that in a 40 year old car, with a 4 speed trans geared for 246 mph worth over $2mil and driving it effortlessly at 8/10.

 

I agree it's 40
I don't agree 8/10's
Or
Effortlessly . He's busting his balls

 

To me, for what little I know about racing, mostly from observation;
10/10 - braking at the latest possible moment, you are either as much throttle as possible or braking hard as possible almost all of the time. Taking corners at the very limit of traction, sometimes slide/tail drift.
9/10 - As much throttle as possible, but going easier on the brakes and braking much earlier and without as much effort, taking corners below traction limits, but not too much below, just enough to be comfortable.
8/10 - Still using max throttle where traction permits, taking corners fast but comfortably within traction limits, occasion pauses between applying brakes and throttle and vice versa.

Of the 7 or so laps in this vid, Canepa does 9/10 for maybe two or three laps, 8/10 the rest of them.

At Rennsport there was a guy in the same group as the 917's driving a 908/3 in silver Martini livery (older guy, very friendly, east coast accent) who was driving the SHIT out of his 908/3. Easily 9/10, sometimes balls out. Most vintage racers drive at 8/10 or below. The cars are too valuable and there is a rule something like if you hit another car, you lose your license for 13 months.

What do you think Mark?

 

Id say his ease of operation is the result of years behind the wheel..

Id say those same years have his desire to go as fast as comfortable engrained so deep he can't do below his fastest.

But that's my view
Most of the best look effortless.

 

I was standing next to his car last Monday:

 

I came across this video on youtube a while back and keep going back to it. It takes about 30 seconds to get going, then its non-stop awesomeness. Watch the 917/30 come on boost coming out of the hairpin and leave double 18" wide stripes on the track.

On another note, a 917/30 with essentially no racing history, as it was a backup car, recently sold for $4.4 mil at auction. The highest price ever for a Porsche at auction.

The mighty 917/30 - YouTube