This sunday just gone, Albany hosted its famous classic car race around the streets of the city.
This penchant for racing your car around Albany's streets has become a time honoured tradition. I'm pretty sure it was me that started it all off way back in '65 when I got my drivers licence. I had a vintage ford prefect ute that the previous owner had painted pink and grey with house paint and brush.
Being young and full of testosterone,confidence and bravado, I would race my 10hp ute against anything that had a reasonable chance of coming second.
So I challenged mainly pedestians and homeless dogs. Mind you, some of those dogs could run.
My car racing blossomed over the years, until one friday night after being out with the boys, I attracted the attention of the local john darms, who were equipped with the latest in taxpayer funded pursuit vehiculars. A 1972 GT Cortina!
I was the proud owner of a 1972 Datsun 1600, complete with black paint outs on the rear and front, wood grained dashboard (special order), after-market wide 4.5inch by 13inch wheels, fitted with state of the art cross ply tyres, and a loud exhaust.
When I realised they were intent on having a pleasant tete a tete with me I decided to do a runner. Albany nestles between two large hills, Mount Clarence and Mount Melville. It was on the latter that I decided to drive up one street to the top, then along to the next street and drive down, then along the highway to the next street and drive up,then along again,turn down the next street etc etc. With the cops at the bottom of the street, and me almost at the top, I thought I had them licked, but they were slowly gaining on me. Finally, in a bid of desparation, I swung into a driveway of an unsuspecting house, and hid. As soon as they had driven past, I backed out and made my way home.
I suspect this became the Albany Classic as it is known today !
Well.......I jest, jest a little bit!
Street racing in Albany,(legal street racing that is), began back in 1936 I believe. You can't quote me on any of these dates, but I've seen some vintage photos of cars with steam coming out of them and cart wheels instead of rubber tyres.
My earliest recollection of the Albany street circuit was when I was about eight or ten years old.
Later, in the 70's the course was changed and included Lockyer Avenue, Middleton Beach road, and Campbell road. Now in more modern times,the cars don't actually race,it's more of a time trial, and as such it traverses the main street,York Street, and meanders thru the city centre. Much work is put in by the various clubs, and this work is rewarded by being a thrilling spectacle for everyone that attends.
The cars are so many, and varied. Somewhere around 160 odd cars turn up, with home made racing cars from the early '30's and 40's.
Open wheeler cars are represented, along with many'vintage' cars of all makes and models,making for some interesting and spirited racing.
The maximum speed allowed is 130kph, but I suspect up the back straight they do a bit more. Let's face it a phase 3 Ford XY with 500hp, on song, would achieve more than that in a quarter mile.
The very tight and twisty nature of the street circuit, does even things out, to the point where a 2 litre car can win over a 6 litre car.
I'm sure a great weekend was had by all.
Roll on 2009!
