The year is 2000, the beginning of a new Millenia. Nestled on the Atlantic coast of the new World, we set sail for Daytona international Speedway. This is where American muscle goes 'toe to toe’ with Italian stallions. Eight cylinders face down twelve.
Ferrari after a twenty year sabbatical from making front engined V12 cars, return to the foray with their new ‘Maranello 550’- a tribute to their iconic 250, 275, and 365 models of the past. Lamborghini brings the Murcielago. An Italian manufacturer now under german ownership, with a new car named after a famous Spanish fighting bull. Murcielago translates as bat. Why anyone would name a bull after a bat is a little confusing.
Devoid of the stuffy pretences of their European forefathers, in almost every regard American’s are now dominant. When it comes to motorised warfare, their racing heritage is defined by dirt ovals, making their now banked concrete race tracks, somewhat devoid of corners. Clinging to a concept first imagined at Brooklands in England. A century later and the banked corners of Brooklands and Monza have long since crumbled. The USA however remains consumed by the passion for high speed and turning left.
Daytona Road Course is half oval, half infield. Our heroes will need to adapt. The threat previously from Japanese Steel, now replaced by Detroit Iron. The English come armed with a V12 Jaguar powered Lister Storm, while the Americans bring the Dodge Viper. A new breed of automotive snake, that clearly seeks to replicate the legendary 427 Shelby Cobra. The team charged with race prepping the Dodge Viper would give rise to a special ‘Street and Racing Technology’ division at Chrysler. Fast Dodge and Jeep models still carry the SRT badge today.
As the sun begins to set on unseasonably warm October, our heroes gather in readiness for a gruelling four hour battle. Devoid of modern technology such as traction control and ABS, this is a time when everyone had Nokia cell phones, and cars had CD players. The first iPod is still a year from launch. Life was simpler and our automotive pleasures equally less complicated. Launch control meant feathering the throttle and slipping the clutch. Paddle shifting meant you probably sold canoes.
Ferrari dominate our grid lineup. No one chooses the ‘Batmobile’. A sole American Saleen S7 is picked by DAC racing and the Dawson clan. A bloodline now infamous At VRROOM.
A thunderous chorus of pumping cylinders pound our ear drums, while the sweet smell of gasoline fills the air. With speeds up to 200mph on the fast banked sections and a makeshift chicane, this circuit is unlike anything Europe has to offer. These classic GT cars may not be as fuel efficient as their modern counterparts but with 600hp on tap they deliver a better power to weight ratio. Controlling all that power isn’t easy with the grim reaper riding shotgun.
Alex Pilbeam, Joseph Clark and Josh Bacon (Stig) form an alliance as ’Nearly on Pace’. Bumper Munchers return with Toby Klein and Albert Lucking behind the wheel. Harrison Simpson and Aaron Harris recruit Callum Puddicombe under the new team Velocita Rossa, while Dave Smith, John Woolven and Bern Horne are Spark Elite.
Qualifying sees Velocita Rossa start in pole position and defend their place into the treacherous turn one. Bumper Munchers move up to second having started in third. Nearly on Pace never far behind retake that place a lap later. With all the cars fuelled to thirty litres, the first pitstop comes at lap seven. Nearly on Pace emerge up front, while Velocita Rossa lurk menacingly in the rear view mirror at every glance. An hour passes, there are more pitstops with driver changes and potentially different tyre and fuel strategies in play. Still the gap remains miniscule. Then another hour goes by. The two teams inseparable in their Ferrari 550’s. Meanwhile the rest of the field is slowly spreading out.
Spark Elite are the surprise package. Having qualified fourth. Ben Horne, Dave Smith and John Woolven are proving themselves worthy contenders. They are one of the most consistent teams and now running in third place having caught and overtaken Bumper Munchers.
DAC Racing and the Dawson family are now firmly rooted in to fifth place. Realistically unlikely to catch up to Bumper Munchers but with a significant lead over Snails Pace, they know all they need do is keep it on track, stay consistent and bring it home in fifth, the same place they started.
New comers ‘Snails Pace’ are slowly getting to grips with the mammoth task they have set themselves. Determined to have fun, their resilience and progress is admirable. These relative rookies learn fast and are a welcome addition to the paddock.
Team GT was sadly injured from the start with Jeremy Gapper-Towse missing from the lineup. David Gapper-Towse had his co driver made a brave play in the early part of the race but retired early.
Alex Pilbeam, Joe Clarke and Josh Bacon took the chequered flag with Velocity Rossa a mere 15 seconds a drift after 240 minutes of continuous racing. Spark Elite grab the third spot, followed by Bumper Munchers, DAC Racing and Snails Pace.
A champagne shower followed which always makes great ending to a great race. Abruzzi-official kindly donated custom e-sports jerseys to our winners and Andy Maydel from Abruzzi came down to watch the race and present the first shirt.
This year has seen three Team Endurance Races at VRROOM. We started at Le Mans in France, the home of endurance racing, travelled west to SPA in Belgium, before a trans-atlantic voyage here to Daytona beach. The final chapter of our first legend is now complete. The names of our heroes recorded. Warriors forever honoured for their bravery in the pursuit of glory.
We will return in the new year. Warriors will gather once more – new heroes will emerge to battle for immortally. They will stand shoulder to shoulder and fight once more.
Daytona 240 race result:
Nearly on Pace. Alex Pilbeam, Joe Clark, Josh Bacon 1st (qualified in 2nd)
Velocita Rossa - Harrison Simpson, Aaron Harris, Callum Puddicombe (qualified in 1st)
Spark Elite - John Woolven, Dave Smith, Ben Horne (qualified in 4th)
Bumper Munchers - Toby Klein, Albert Lucking (qualified in 3rd)
DAC Racing - Rory, Alex, Laurence Dawson (qualified in 5th)
Snails Pace - Luke Wheeler + friends (qualified in 6th)
Team GT - David Gapper- Towse _ friend (qualified in 7th)
Words by John Parvin, images by AI
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