COMPETITION DRIVER

[Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] it takes a rather special type of men to drive sports cars in competition there must be a special love for fine Machinery special knowledge of how to use it well a special desire to compete and win such as the type of men who bring Jaguars and MGS and elvas to the ground pre at Watkins Glenn the Elva is an english-made car that's named for the French phrase Elva she goes this one lives up to her name in an early morning practice run it checked out well taking down shifts easily at the slow turns acceleration through the long backstretch was smooth the lap time is good the driver and his mechanic are both satisfied with its performance the car is ready to race but it took long hours of careful work to make it ready just as a highly bred racehorse requires special care and handling a competition sports car must be critically tuned and specially adjusted for every race it enters If a driver is to exhibit the skill of a funio and the reflexes of a new valari on the track he needs a mechanical Savvy of a cering in the garage before the race ever begins he must be certain his car is capable of responding instantly to his every command only when a driver has this assurance can he enter a race with the careful confidence that's needed to win drivers call registration formalities the lineup often over 200 drivers enter the various events in the Watkins Glen Grand Prix as each dri registers his Sports Car Club of America license is checked his car is entered in its proper class and its race number is recorded when everything is in order the driver is issued an official badge the wish of good luck is always appreciated the pageantry of the ground free actually begins with safety inspection every car that races at Watkins Glen must pass a series of safety checks before it is allowed on the track the result array of Racing Equipment provides an orgy of sightseeing for sports car fans they watch and watch the colorful [Music] cars and sometimes the even more colorful [Music] drivers the inspectors look too but for a a race would be no safer than the cars that enter it every car must be mechanically perfect nothing is left to chance were made to go on and come off easily and the rain provides the means for an impromptu washdown nothing interrupts the rare treat of this concentration of Racing Equipment a unique fuel system gets informal inspection a well-known driver must be pointed out throughout the inspection Kendall Engineers are busy assisting officials with technical problems recommending the proper lubricant for the critical needs of the car your mother was just a girl when this Oldtimer first burned up the roadways it's still going strong and there's a parade to prove it the concour Doon the Glenn's famous review of antique cars is competition driving of another sort dozens of these masterpieces compete for prizes on authenticity and appearance Fords the strutting stuts a vintage Allard An Elegant MG Sedan recapturing A Moment Of Glory before the old once again gives way to the new the wonderful world of competition driving exists only because of the men and women who helped create it the night before race day is a time for these people to talk about the sport they love FL tast performances are reliv came back with a little larger trophy B and said well now you've got something that you can sterilize the [Music] bottle very very large ice bu for one little friendships are renewed those who have seen enough races to know claim there is a spirit in Watkins Glenn at Grand Pre time that cannot be matched anywhere it is a spirit of Marty gr and excitement it fills the streets as thousands of holiday bent sport fans shrug off the worries of business mortgage payments and babysitters behind the scenes race officials work into the night it's not unusual to find Florence mly and her staff double-checking the inspection reports of last minute entries oblivious of the gay [Music] outside race day a late night storm that has left the course muddy and Misty cannot dampen the enthusiasm nearly 30,000 fans will pass through the ticket Gates others have arrived days ahead of the actual races to claim premium viewing sites along the 2 and 3/10 miles of track much of the early morning activity centers about the service area throughout the day drivers and mechanics will Express their preference for Kendall products by and Technical service facilities which the refinery provides and still they keep coming cars drivers spectators some competition cars are tuned too critically for normal driving and must be towed to the race course Violet Corvette from Chicago Cunningham's capable list Jaguars a Ferrari Testa Rosa from Georgia an arrogant Lotus from [Music] Pennsylvania no matter how carefully a driver prepares his car there are always jobs to be done in the padic as race time near the rigor of practice day driving which is mandatory for all entrance and conducted under regular race conditions make many of these adjustments necessary bugs that were not present during safety inspection are often aggravated into full-blown mechanical disorders during practice driving giving the driver an opportunity to correct them before the actual race Begins the variety of these last minute problems are infinite some are complicated others require only an oil change for solution now it is nearly time for the first race starting grids which prescribe arrangement of cars for this event are consolid the cars move out [Music] but a race official says told the mark he means it a United States Senator is on hand to watch the lineup briefing is conducted by the chief stward for medical reasons in case of a crash each driver has been instructed not to drink water before the race not to chew gum during the race not to wear dentures until after the race but competition driving is tight thirsty work and you need teeth to chew the gum that eases the tension the starters flying trucks the first race of the Watkins Glen Grand Prix is underway the Maseratis and alls a Ferrari and hey take a calculated lead the little Formula 3 Coopers and an NE SC to bring up the rear these cars were positioned last on the starting grid they have no self starters they must be pushed by hand to turn over their engines their little 500 cubic cm engines make great bursts of speed impossible but their low center of gravity and phenomenal cornering abilities allow unusual maneuvering if you push a Cooper Before the Race you slide it during the race [Applause] like most Grand Prix events this race is open to more than one class of car thus it is possible for a driver to win in his own class without necessarily leading the entire field flag signals from the race Communications men keep drivers informed on track conditions each color has a meaning green means all clear but trouble can shape up fast on the race course [Applause] [Music] [Applause] able to all stations display yellow and word of the crash is flashed to race communication headquarters the severity of the accident is appraised the call is relayed to an emergency area ambulance to station right now the exact location of the wreck is pinpointed within seconds Emergen vehicles are dispatched fast action and cracked teamwork can keep a limited accident from turning into an out andout [Applause] [Music] [Applause] disaster a to Baker he off the road he's going to the hospital directly to hospital okay last situation is under control close coordination of these highly trained volunteer safety men has paid off green flag to the drivers is again in order anxious officials are informed that the accident is not serious details are duly recorded in the timers log 8 events comprise the Watkins Glenn Grand Prix each is devoted to two or more classes of cars with the exception of the ker brothers memorial race here only production class MGS are allowed to compete Sam and Miles CER Charter Watkins Glen drivers were distinguished for the skill and sportsmanship they demonstrated at the wheels of the car they drove best the mg while leading the 1950 Grand Prix Sam coller's car left the course in a fatal accident a few years later miles CER winner of the 1949 Grand Prix died of polio road racing lost champions of the highest caliber with the passing of these men but they'll be remembered as long as mg's race at Watkins when they're not racing drivers love to talk about racing a favorite topic is the chicane a series of tricky turns which are often built into a course to reduce the hazards of long uninterrupted burst of speed drivers call the chicane at Watkins Harry drivers come into the chicane at speeds that sometimes exceed 120 mph mastering The Hairpin turns requires an adroit combination of braking downshifting and navigation the resulting speed reduction of a full field of cars sometimes creates a jam up that's reminiscent of Sunday traffic on the highway [Music] the chicane can be tricky even when a driver finds it [Music] [Applause] empty for cars that can't make it at all there's an Escape Route the yellow flag means caution re-entry is allowed at the flag black man's discretion spin outs are liable to occur anywhere on the course but you see them most often at tight turns when a driver overestimates the cornering ability of his car during a spin the driver's first concern is to keep the car upright next he must clear himself off the course to avoid a pilot a smartly engaged reverse gear can often save the day competition drivers admire these skills those who have mastered them share the the knowledge track safety and the welfare of racing depends on it competition driving has been compared to golf in both Sports the participant improves with experience and the right choice of clubs or Vehicles the queen Katherine Cup race is an exciting Proving Ground both for driving skill and the specially modified equipment that has been chosen to test that skill the race is open to classes f g and H cars all modified represented in the field are versions of the Porsche the Lotus the Elva and the fat as well as an Asuka Bandini and Martin engine displacement ranges from 750 to 1500 cubic cm in a field of this size private duels developed turning the track action into several races in one two of the elves locked full boore neither giving way for lap after lap magnificent driving can be seen in clashes such as these Spectators know the problem is what to look from Grand stands fill up early but sports are famous for their ability to improvise some of the improvisions are elaborate others are more primitive they race to win but in a sense winning is incidental to the thrill of competing they all compete well proving themselves and their cars when you see them on the city streets Corvettes look small but on the track next to Jaguars and Ferraris the Corvette is a great thundering Steed by comparison to most sports cars they are big with engine displacements of 4.6 L and more here again the drivers find their Rivals as Corvette 51 a Canadian entry challenges the lead taken by the Violet Chevrolet for 17 laps the two Corvettes Slug It Out practically ignoring the hurrying Jags and Ferraris then the Canadian car is forced into the Escape rout while its rival Thunders to Victory and To the victor belong the spoils pretty girls a wreath of laurels The Checkered Flag then the Victory lap the plets of the crowd and one of few times a competition driver has an empty course all to [Music] himself the stage now is set for the big race the Grand Prix and the tremendous Vitality of wkins Glenn takes a breather time for a quick stop before the biggest race of the day once the grid lineup is formed and Driver signal they are ready the race is in the hands of the starter he must unleash several thousand horsepower without a second of for warning the traditional starter at wkins Glenn is Tex Hopkins the man in the lavender suit every eye follows his deceptively casual walk then Bill Sadler's Corvette special makes a heroic bid for the lead but camped up the startling acceleration of the lisst Jaguars from the very beginning it's clear that Walder hanskin and Ed Crawford in the lists are going to be the men to [Music] beat the field thins up fast as the inherent speeds of the four classes of modified cars become apparent these are the fast cars the hot iron the drivers who handle them are brave men as they Roar into the chaane Sadler still hounds the listers [Music] down into the backstretch where there's no room for the feather footed maximum speeds of over 140 mph can be developed here with every last rev coed from the engines [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] The Ground Prix is a long race 44 laps 101 miles each driver handles such a race differently depending on the capabilities of his car and himself if a comfortable lead is possible initially the driver will take it then ease his speed a little not to overtax the [Music] car this is the kind of race the lists are trying to drive the the red Sadler special won't let them do it Sadler is out to win he's driving hard he is driving [Music] [Applause] [Music] persistently Crawford refuses to let up his fourth lap has set on new course record now he is racing against himself as well as other [Music] drivers all the driving is superb as mile after mile of twisting turning track Falls prey to the modified Ferraris and jaguars the Bristol and twin cam [Music] mg on the 23rd lap Crawford beats his own record with a new lap time of 1 minute and 32 seconds he has had to reach maximum speeds of close to 150 mph on straightaways to compensate for the pre seconds lost at treacherous 30 mph turns his speed is terrific unrelenting then it begins to tell he spins into the grass his fit signals a Slowdown [Music] the grind begins to take its toll in mechanical failures and depleted fuel tanks the Sadler special has made two pit stops and must leave the race entirely even the lisst Jags are not without trouble as brakes begin to [Music] lock the checkered flag goes to Crawford he has won the Ground Prix instead of the usual pretty girl Crawford chooses the pit Chief Alfred Momo for his Victory lap partner it's a rare moment filled with champagne Laurels and interviews it is the time of the competition driver and Crawford is the [Music] symbol nothing remains of race day now but the presentation of awards tangible recognition of wish for the sport of road racing their performance today has been a credit to the sport [Music] the record books have been closed the timers and officials have left the crowds and cars and drivers have moved on only the race course remains a breeding Place perhaps of the new Champions to whom Juan fio paid tribute in his retirement address the race course Waits patiently until the competition drivers once again bring their Jaguars and G's and elvers to Watkins Glenn