Racing Legends 2017: Change the name but not the essence of the Valencian festival

TEXT: CARLOS SANZ / PHOTO: WIDE PHOTO

Racing legends It is not a new event within this world, but it is the continuation of the Classics & Legends that it has been celebrating the previous three years and that for reasons of brand and image rights it has not been able to continue with that name. But in everything else, it's still the same, isn't it?

We have to say that, after three editions on the rise, this year the Valencian festival has dropped in its offer (at least if we compare it with the 2016 pageant). By this we do not mean that it has ceased to be attractive, far from it, but it is time to get on your feet and start working hard so that next year you can climb a step on the quality ladder again.

The space dedicated to the greats of the road, to the trucks, buses and classic fire engines has been much, but much, missed. We do not know why, but this year the wonderful colossi of the Savall family have not been and other collectors, and it is something that has disappointed many of us.

On the other hand, until the last moment, the on-track exhibitions of historic Formula 1 cars of which there has been no trace have remained on the scheduled program, something that does not seem very serious to us. Although there were few, as was the case last year, the simple fact of hearing one of those Ford Cosworth V8 engines roar through the circuit makes the hair stand on end, something that we have also been wanting.

In the end there was no F1 but there was Formula Vintage

A Martini Mk29 with Renault mechanics from 1979 on the asphalt of the Valencian track

Seat Historic Vehicles went to the Ricardo Tormo circuit with this 1430 Formula 1970 Cordoban

Salvador Cañellas, now as in 1970 at the wheel of the Cordoban Formula 1430

Seat also carried this immaculate 5 Selex ST1430 Formula 1976

Another historic Formula Ford, a 86 Vandiemen RF1986

Vintage formula, with national flavor

But there have also been surprises, and very good ones, such as the contribution in the form of an exhibition of the Vintage Formula, made up of a large group of historic cars, many of them from the golden age of racing in Spain. Formula III, Formula IV and single-brand championships (Seat 1430 and 1800, Ford 1600 and 2000, Nissan, etc.) from the 60s to the year 2000.

In this category, cars as charismatic and nostalgic as the Juncosa XJ10 from 1976, the Selex ST3 from 1971, the Martini Mk12 and Mk29, Van Diemen Ford 1600, several Coloni CN1 from 1998, etc. Even the Department Seat Historic Cars He drove two of the cars that are kept in his ship 122: The Cordobán of the Formula 1430, which Salvador Cañellas drove in 1970, or the recently acquired Selex ST5 of Fermin Velez of 1976.

A 12 Flash Martini Mk1800 1975 waiting for the green traffic light

The French Paris Martini passing the finish line

Five Coloni CN1 2000 from 1998 in the Cheste paddock

This Selex ST5 was piloted in his racing times by the ill-fated Spanish driver Fermín Vélez

A relic of the Spanish circuits, a 1967 Formula V Cheetah

A rarity, a 1 LDS Mk1 Formula 1963

It was a real pleasure to see them roll down the Valencian track. Even in the pits we ran into a cheetah from 1967, a nice Formula 5 with a 250cc Ossa engine.

We also saw a curious LDS Mk1 that participated in South African Formula 1 back in 1963, a single-seater with the design of a Cooper of the time and powered by a 1.5-liter Alfa Romeo engine.

In the Historic Endurance as in almost all classic races, the Porsche 911s are the great entertainers

An incredible Porsche 904 GTS awaits permission to roll

The Fernández sisters exchanging information about their Porsche 356 B

A Bizarrini 5300 GT Corsa in the corner at the end of the straight

Spectacular battle between the Bizarrini and the Porsche 904

Nice profile of a 911 Porsche 1969 S

Inside the pits there was intense activity

Japanese surrounding the beautiful Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA of the Fujita team

The Alfa Romeo Alfeta GTV negotiating one of the fast corners

A Jaguar E Type ready to take off

Iberian Historic Endurance in Racing Legends

One more year, the official competition came from the hand of the Iberian Historic Endurance, Hispano-Portuguese endurance competition for cars and GTs, with a race on Saturday and another on Sunday. It had an important participation of 31 teams, which offered a great show.

In addition to a lot of Porsche 911s from different eras and evolutions that, as is usual in this type of test, are the most numerous and also the most competitive, we were able to see other very attractive models in front of the viewer, like a superb Bizzarrini GT 5300 Corsa of 1964 that attracted the glances of those present.

We also got to enjoy several Alfa Romeos, an Alfetta GTV and two Giulia coupe Bertones, including a beautiful GTA from the Japanese team Fujita; a spectacular Jaguar E Type in silver; a competitive Ford Escort Mk1; a Mini Morris Cooper. In addition, we were able to delight ourselves with one of the jewels of Spanish motorsports: A Porsche Carrera GTS 904 that belonged to the Catalan pilot Juan Fernández and that we already saw in the elegance contest of the Spirit of Jarama last year.

Seconds before starting the Iberian Historic Endurance

The beautiful 5300 Bizzarrini GT 1964 Corsa arriving in the parc fermé after the race

It is impressive to be with this beautiful machine

Pedro Bastos and his Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0 were the dominators of the race on Saturday and Sunday

The Porsche 904, which was owned by the Spanish driver Juan Fernández, ready to hit the track

An efficient Lotus Elan (Type 26R) passing through the pit lane

The Porsche 904 Carrera GTS taking its place on the starting grid

Another Spanish machine: The Ricart from 1927 that Saica Motor is building by hand for Salvador Claret

A giant killer from the 50s, the Lotus Eleven

One of the first Alpine manufactured in Valladolid, the A-108 from 1964

On two wheels: Motorcycles and regularity

On a circuit like Cheste, calling himself "Ricardo Tormo" and with an immense love of motorcycling, vehicles on two wheels could not be absent.. This year, of course, it also featured track shows from a ton of GP motorcycles of different periods and displacements, as well as the running of the Territorial Circus.

On Sunday, the usual regularity championship was also held in which, as it is known, you have to be more aware of the stopwatch and the co-driver than of the rest of the competitors.

In Racing Legends there was also a lot of motorcycle. Not in vain is it in Valencia

Biker riders signed cards

Aerial view of a small part of the paddock classic car park

Flawless 1939 Studebaker Comander Sedan

The Renault Fuego Club occupied a good space with its beautiful coupes

A '66 Volkswagen Beetle with matching Caravan

It is not common to see a Marcos like this GT with a Ford V6 engine in Spain

Another British sports car, a TVR 3000M of about 75

Unmistakable Bertone stamp of the 1971 Alfa Romeo Montreal

Sleek profile of the 6 BMW 24 series E1981, a 635 CSi

Typical American haiga from the 50s, a 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air

Impressive restoration of this 1967 Fiat Dino Coupe

The paddock of the Valencian festival

One of the most important incentives to attend Racing legends This is the amount of classic vehicles from other fans that we could see parked throughout the paddock area, especially for those of us who came to Cheste from outside the province of Valencia. Observing the amount of wonders that are concentrated in the different areas dedicated to the clubs is a delight. You only have to take a look at the photographs that accompany this text to get a slight idea.