The Hawk: A Ride Through Racing History.

"Jonathon Klein" (jonathon-klein) 08/01/2014 at 08:58 • Filed to: None

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A few weeks ago I was putzing around on Twitter when I saw an exchange between Alex Lloyd from Yahoo, and Sam Smith from Road and Track, talking about how they were going to be at Road America. First off, I had never been to Road America, but everyone I talk to says it is absolutely epic. Secondly, being the new kid on the block in the auto journo game, I wanted to see if I could pick the brains of people that have been doing it for longer than I have. Also, they are kind of celebrities, at least in these circles.

The event the two guys were talking about was called The Hawk with Brian Redman, a former racing driver. It essentially boils down to a coming together and race of vintage and late model racecars. I talked with Alex and Sam before the event and they both convinced me to head on up. Road America is only about 2hrs from my house and thought I'd make a day of it. Shooting some cars, talking with these two and checking out the track. I didn't really comprehend the magnitude of what I would be witnessing. I just figured it would be a few guys in tents with some vintage racers, nothing too special, nothing to outrageous. Boy was I wrong.

As my wife and I headed into the registration area to pick up our tickets, my eyes were immediately opened. I hadn't even walked into the gates and I got whiplash. The very first car, a 60's Alfa Giuletta, then a 355 Ferrari, then a track ready Lotus Exige, another Ferrari California, a MG, a prewar racer that had plates on it! There was also a 60's Ferrari that even I couldn't identify, my head was spinning. I think I tripped more in the parking lot then I have ever tripped while drinking.

It was just ridiculous, and just the tip of the iceberg. We got our passes and headed into the parking area, and what's there to greet me? Ur Quattro!

I knew right then and there I was in heaven. It never stopped. Ferrari's, a few Lamborghini's, tons of Porsche's, vintage Mustangs, vintage cruisers, motorcycles, Vipers, Vettes of all shapes and sizes, it was paradise, and again, we weren't even in the paddock area yet!

Walking up to the main area, you walk down a hill and under the track, and we just happened to be under it while a whole squad of 60's-70's Formula 1 cars were going over it. It was awesome. And then a vintage Morgan past us up! The man driving it couldn't have been more perfect, pipe, massive handlebar mustache, and the coolest hat ever. I was so awestruck by the fact that I had just seen a Vintage Morgan that I didn't even think about taking a picture of this fine gentleman.

We moved through the tunnel and out into the light. On my right a GT40 up for sale, on my left a tent full of Alfa racecars. Let me just say that again, ALFA RACECARS! They were so beautiful. Just the workmanship that went into these cars back then is staggering.

My whiplash asserted itself once again as we moved through the lower paddock area. There was a Cheetah reunion. And an actual Porsche GT3 racecar.

Old IMSA cars from the 80's. Some grand-am cars from the early 2000's, and a bunch of homebuilt racecars that were set up in every spec you could possibly imagine. My wife at this point was just leading me through the paddock because I was too busy taking pictures and freaking out. I kept saying, "did you see that?!" I feel like that was my catch phrase for the entire day.

The entire paddock was just filled with things I never thought I would ever see. A real Porsche 550. A Morgan Aero 8 racecar. A Bugatti pre-war replica. A Lotus Europa racecar. Countless Can-Am cars with all the stacks you could ever want! Something I didn't even know they made, a Ferrari Daytona racecar.

Oh, and my current favorite Ferrari, a 246 Dino GTS.

The funny thing about the Dino was that it was sitting next to a brand new F12, and a 360 Modena, both blacked out and looking menacing. A kid that was working the booth with his family comes over to me and says pointing to the F12, "you like it?" To which I reply, "yeah, but the Dino is cooler." His face was pure dumbstruck, he was totally thinking, did you see the supercars right here? What's wrong with you? It was awesome. I could have spent hours just staring at that Dino, but there was even more to see.

Walking down the paddock along the start line, the larger teams if you can call them that, had loads of newer racecars, including something I really never thought I'd see in the middle of Wisconsin. A 787B.

For those that are unaware of what a 787 is, let me school you for a bit. The 787 is Mazda's own prototype racecar that won LeMans. It used a 4 rotor Rotary engine, and sounds like if you mated a wild cat, a food blender set to liquefy, and an old Formula 1 engine together. In other words, its sounds psychotic. And also one of the best things I have ever heard in my life.

It's atrociously loud, there's backfire galore, and the whine of the engine is intoxicating. It ran that day with a few other Prototype cars, and going up the hill it was cooking, and I mean cooking. It was shooting flames like it was in Vietnam dropping napalm. It was terrific.

What also accompanied it in that group was another one of those life changing moment's in my car life. A proper V10 Renault Formula 1 car. I can't say for certain, because I was drooling so much, but I think it was from around 1992-95? It was first just sitting in the garages at the back of the paddock, a spot saved for some of the craziest cars there. I took some pics figuring it most likely won't run today. Then all of a sudden a flurry of activity was over the car by the three mechanics, I rushed over, and was just in time to hear it run.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Nothing on this Earth in the form of motor racing compares to the howl and bellow of a V10 F1 car. It is just amazing. Literally everything I write, and even the short clip I took of it firing isn't enough to do this engine justice. You just can't capture the raw intensity, or the ear shattering shriek this engine produces. It's something you need to witness first hand. I had the opportunity to go and watch last year's V8's run, they pale in comparison to the almighty howl of this car.

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After I watched and drooled over the F1 car, I finally managed to get a hold of Alex. First off, he was one of the nicest people I've met. So gracious with so little time he had. He was still getting ready for the races. We talked for a long while, answering all my questions, talking about the car he was driving, a last gen Corvette Z06 racecar, talking about the weekend, cars, and journalist stuff.

( His car did not have KERS, his Mechanic said he got a bit too trigger happy with the label maker)

It was an absolute pleasure getting to meet him. His race engineers were also super cool. I sincerely hope to meet him again, but maybe this time without all of the loud engines and us shouting to hear one another, maybe also with a beer? Alex, if you read this, next time, I'll buy.

Sam however, wasn't having all that great of a weekend. He was attempting to drive another car that continually decided to either die or blowup on him, which led to us not meeting up. But no worries, I know we will all meet up one day soon. I just hope his next racecar outing is better than this one.

As we were walking out towards our car, we happened to come across an old McLaren Can Am car, I stopped and took some pictures, and just as I was about to leave, a brand new McLaren 650S pulls up. I didn't even know they were out yet. Guess what, they really aren't. The 650S was the first in the States. I spoke to the press guy who was taking it around the country, he told me that the car was on the boat still Thursday, in Customs Friday, and here on Saturday. Let me tell you, the P1 nose looks way better in person. Then entire car is just plain awesome. It was a final treat to an amazing day.

Here I sit on my couch about two weeks after the event and recalling it for this article still puts the biggest smile on my face. I had the chance to see every kind of car we all dream about. From vintage Ferrari's, Can Am racers, old Formula 1 cars, to LeMans winners. It was just amazing. If ever you get a chance to go to a vintage event at your local track, do it, it will be one of the best times of your life. It's a gear heads dream.

Follow me her on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

And here are a bunch more photos, enjoy, and part two is !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

505Turbeaux > Jonathon Klein 08/01/2014 at 13:45

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lawdy

505Turbeaux > Jonathon Klein 08/01/2014 at 13:50

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by the way I shared out to oppositeblog for best of consideration. I think I may have screwed up your original share though by accident. If I did please reshare and I apologize. Good post!

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Jonathon Klein 08/01/2014 at 14:30

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I believe vintage racing is much more fun than a normal racing event. More down to earth and the cars!