Posted by P on 1/27/2007, 10:57 am, in reply to "Open Track Day at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway" In 1970, Siffert drove to a second place finish at Watkins Glen in a factory 917k. The next year, Siffert drove a 917/10 which was the same wheelbase as a 917PA, but had a shorter body and fins on each side of the rear bodywork. The engine was made to a 5.0L flat-12 and then a 5.4L by the end of the season. Siffert finished 4th overall before being killed in a Formula 1 accident during the season. In 1972, the 917/10K was introduced. It had a twin-turbocharged 5.0L flat-12 prepared by Roger Penske and driven by Mark Donahue and George Follmer(substitute for Donahue while injured). They won six out of nine races. When Donahue came back, cars were prepared for both drivers. Follmer had five out of the six Porsche wins and won the championship that year. The 917/10K's engine produced 1000hp on the dyno and had 900hp in race trim. It could accelerate from 0-60 in 2.1 seconds, 0-100 in 3.9 seconds, and 0-200 in 13.4 seconds. In 1973, Porsche and Penske came up with the famous 917/30. It had streamlined bodywork and a new 5.4L twin-turbocharged flat-12 that produced 810ft-lbs of torque and 1100hp in race trim which was the most powerful road racing car ever until the turbocharged Formula 1 cars of the 80s. Mark Donahue had a slow start but came together and won the last six races of the season and the championship. I was a witness to this event in 1975. Yes indeed. Roger Penske flew Mark in via helicopter. Mark got into the already prepared 917, first time around the track at speed broke the record with ease, and then broke it again on three successive passes. He then got out, waved to everyone, got back in the copter, and flew off (I think to Watkins Glen). Seeing a 917 on the Talladega speedway was awesome. Hearing it was more awesome. Being able to drive a Porsche on that same track would be quite a lifetime event. Later I was describing the 1975 event to a buddy of mine in the Tennessee PCA, Jim Watson. Jim nodded his approval, and said, "yes, I was racing a Kremmer that day", ha ha. Small world? Regards, P
207.69.137.27
Introduced in 1969 at the Geneva Auto Show, this amazing automobile is met with unbridled acclaim. It's first fitted with an air-cooled 4.5L flat-12. At the time, competition was the then-dominant LeMans Racers by Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini. It's first showing in the Can-AM series was made by Jo Siffert in a 917PA which was an open top (spyder) version. It had a complex aluminum-tube space frame chassis but was was heavy and underpowered compared to the 7-liter Chevy powerplants of the day.
This dominance of the 917/30 and the OPEC oil crisis enforced a rule of 3 miles per gallon by the SCCA. This led to a Porsche withdrawal from the short season of 1974.
There was one last important race by the 917/30 at Talladega Motor Speedway on August 9th, 1975. Mark Donahue set a World Speed Record of 221.120 mph. Donahue had run 250mph on the straights. This record stood until the early 90s until it was surpassed by an Indycar.
1983 928S 5-speed
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