One of my most favorite races ever...

C Production at the 1980 SCCA run offs at Road Atlanta. My buddies and I used to go to this event every year in the 80's. The race begins at around the four minute mark on the youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CIJ-6pPmpY

I was there in '80. C Production was always the highlight of the weekend, and it didn't disappoint!

I went to a lot of CP races all around in the '70s & early '80s. Always crazy hot racing! I also truly loved the Trans Am Under 2.5 series as well.

Unfortunately, I'm not aware of much of that racing ever being filmed as moving pictures. Except maybe on 8mm or Super 8. It's not exactly the same with no sound, jerky camera action, and the frequent stops to wind the spring on the camera up. However I did take and see some wonderful 35mm stills way back then.

Thanks, TR8owner. That's a great video and a great race. I hesitate to call it the good old days because all that does is brand me as a geezer ... but then again, I am one. But damn, those were the good old days! I connected with the cars, recognized the drivers, and understood the various SCCA classes. That was sort of the tail end of the golden age. (There I go again).

Wow, I didn't know Mike Joy was announcing back then.

I was there too in 1980 and Mike Joy is an avid reader of Classic Motorsports. He has a Bugeye! I run into him every year at events like the Mitty and Monterey.

In reply to racerdave600:

What was your take on Fitzgerald. The accusation has always been that he deliberately tried to take out Baker's E type off the start to clear the way for Newman. It certainly looks that way on the video. If I remember right, didn't the SCCA slap his wrists for this incident?

yeah, it looks that way. Also the yellow TR8 got knocked out by bad judgment ? of the Z driver.

In reply to maseratiguy:

I have the post race interview with Ken Slagle on a Triumph wedge DVD and he doesn't blame Logan Blackburn for that incident but he does certainly insinuate that some factory Datsun drivers of that era were A-holes. I'd assume he's referring to Fitzgerald who was basically hired to run interference for Newman. One season at the final qualifier for the run offs the Datsun team approached Slagle and asked him to throw the race so Newman could qualify for Road Atlanta. He told them where to go, won the race and Newman didn't race the run offs that year.