MM on assignment: The Mitty '06

[ScottyB]

Here is an explanation of what The Mitty is: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.aptgroup.us/Mitty/about.php">http://www.aptgroup.us/Mitty/about.php</a><!-- m -->

Chan and I took a drive up to Road Atlanta today to check out this awesome event. forecasts were for rain, but it ended up being cloudy with just a few drops to make a session or two interesting. this event looked the same as many i'd been to before: transporters everywhere, crouds of enthusiasts, the smell of uncatalyzed exhaust wafting through the spring air. however, after driving through the paddock for the first time it was clear just how unique this event would be.

many of the cars are among the only survivors of their kind, or at the very least very expensive machines fabricated entirely by hand. we saw it all -- Lotus Europas and Datsun 510 BRE's to Riley & Scott World Sports Cars and retired F1 cars. the event was sponsored in part by a local Mazda club, and being an event heralding old japanese racers meant that cool examples of contemporary japanese sports cars and racers were all over the place.

the racing was often times closer than i would ever expect drivers to put their rare cars through. lots of clean passing, dive bomb braking manuevers, and even a few good powerslides from the big boys meant that the action was always exceeding expectations. classes looked well appointed and although the field would always get fairly spread out, there was always an intense battle or two to keep track of. my only complaint was the lack of track time for the cars, it was usually only 7 or 8 lap sprint races.

during an intermission in racing, Chan and i checked out an autocross test drive being held by Lotus of Atlanta. the course was tiny but it was worth it, the elises were very entertaining. being a year under the required 25 year old age limit meant i had to ride shotty with a salesperson, but he was a very good driver and after the first turn i had totally forgotten about my dissapointment. for those of you who have not experienced a truly light, small vehicle before, you're doing yourself a disservice. it's amazing how diluted the driving experience is in our typical street cars. bribe, fight, offer sexual favors, whatever....find your way into an elise, it's worth it.

some definite highlights besides the lotus drive were seeing Jeff Brabham's old Nissan GTP car in action, as well as Shumacher's old Benneton F1 car. there was some great action from the vintage muscle car classes, which put on a great display of solid axle V8 oversteer and roaring soundtrack. i couldn't get enough of the old Datsun's either, the 510's and Z's were constantly breathing down each other's necks. the ticket lady was awesome too, and gave us a free infield parking pass, which gave us access to some prime vantage points. we also saw some quality deep south ricers and i ate half a turkey leg (gave the rest to Chan) during which time i felt like a total caveman, carrying around this monster peice of animal leg and tearing at it with my teeth. The Mitty is definitely on my calendar for next year!

pictures to come, many to load so hold your horses

[Dave]

another classic writeup by Scotty. Can't wait to see the pictures. I'd really like to make a trip down next year and see this. Maybe some Road Atlanta action is on order for next spring...

[ScottyB]

thanks dawg! here are the pics, the videos will be a while coming because i have to convert them from quicktime to .avi, and compress...big PITA.

this Fiat 1300 Abarth was badass. i couldn't resist a self-whoring image in the bling bling headlight covers


Shumachers old car. this thing was lapping so fast that i barely had time to get my camera settings correct and test them on another car before he came around again.


it might look like ass, but this turbo 13B 510 was a freaking animal. if i ever own a 510, it will be like this one.


these guys really duked it out. the turbo 2002 in the back swapped positions with the 914/6 pretty often, usually trying to dive bomb him in turn 1. the europa in the foreground often pushed it so hard in 11 that he was up on the outside curbing a bit and would take a scary bounce coming off. he always got a good set going into 12 though, and just kept up the pace.


alfa hottie


the nissan GTP: enough blow off valve noises to make even the most jaded riceboy soil his drawers. stupid fast and stupid rare...the driver was pretty impressive though


shaguar


rx7 GTU left, rx-792-P right. Chan - "know what's better than an RX-7? an RX-7....92!"


why hello what is this? rod millen, please pick up IMSA Z from tech, rod millen to tech please....


this is what happens when money turns into IMSA Z engine parts. Mr. T says, "i pity the fool that has to work on that engine" what a mess.


it's not everywhere you can see vintage muscle iron, 911's, e-types, and 13b turbo 510's dice it up!


sweet little car, although i'm pretty sure you're balls have to be pretty large to drive a cigar on wheels like that


apparently this was in the '88 Le Mans. made pretty V8 sounds


so much cool equipment! porsches in front, Tecate CART car in middle, old 911 and turbo 2002 in back


more pics and video to come

[Goodspeed]

Wow that looks like quite an amazing event, a lot of racing history in one place not to mention a lot of badass vintage race cars. I'm envious. Can't wait for more pics/vids!

[navin]

wow, fucking awesome!

[ScottyB]

i loved the muscle cars. pretty much every single one would slide a little, but sometimes they'd slide ALOT! thankfully this one didn't end up adding to the errant tire marks leading to the wall....right Maeng?


first S800 i've ever seen, and a nice one at that


lock dem shits up!


Datsuns aplenty...

[Feersty]

What camera you using Scotty?

[BLINGMW]

I might post some pics later, but Scott's camera kicks mine's ass. So here's some heavily compressed video... but the SOUND is worth it!

Prototype cars down 12:


Prototype cars through 10:





Prototypes in esses approaching 5:



Some production cars on lap one, Ferrari spins at the top of 5:


More from those cars approaching 5:



Oh hey, look, it's an F1 car wailing through 5!


That car would actually hit the ground and make a shower of sparks on the esses sometimes, sorry I didn't get it on film



And lastly, that lotus, 914, and 2002 battle at the start:

[ScottyB]

What camera you using Scotty?

kodak DX7590 with a 512 card and walmart tripod. its a great camera for a beginner who is interested in eventually learning the ins and outs of photography and needs an affordable/user friendly platform to start from


sweet videos Chan!

[Jeff]

Very cool guys.