NASCAR Fan Reacts to Group B: When Rallying Got TOO FAST

Comments · 2K

• CA

  @carisi2k11 · 4 years ago (edited)

  Henri Toivonen's death was the catalyst for change to group a. F1 in the 1980's got up to 1500hp in qualifying mode. Toivonen was to rally what Senna was to F1.

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• EI

  @einarthormodster95 · 3 years ago

  This is the kind of American I really like! Curious about the world, at the same time he is proud of his own country! Respectful, and kind 🙂

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• OU

  @outwest1014 · 4 years ago

  Audi sent Michele Mouton, a highly ranked rally driver, with a Group B Audi to the 1985 Pike's Peak hill climb. She, of course, destroyed the course record by 10sec and beat all the competition that year by 30sec. Mouton and Pat Moss (Stirling Moss's sister) are the 2 most well know women drivers in World Rally. FYI Moss was an Austin Healey factory driver.

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• AL

  @aldinoperes · 2 years ago (edited)

  I was at Portugal rally when that accident happened in Sintra. The group B was amazing. Great cars, drivers and skills. The sensation when the cars passing by you is outstanding, your adrenaline and emotions climb to unimaginable standards. I was born in 65 and I've had great luck to see and living those moments . It's very hard to explain the feeling if you haven't lived that moment. Big hug

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• AN

  @antivanti · 3 years ago

  “They are only bushes to us—only trees; if we think these are people, we cannot drive” - Walter Röhrl (rally driver)

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• TH

  @TheArdanwen · 4 years ago

  I had a run on nordschleife with walther röhrl..... there are no words to describe the terror and fear you go throu when he is &quot;going easy&quot; ..... the moment he switches to &quot;racemode&quot; you want to die.... BUT also you feel absolut secure and save.... cant explain it....<br>Best 7 minutes of my live

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• CR

  @creepyinstigator · 4 years ago (edited)

  Jeremy Clarkson does a great segment on top gear about how group B came to be, and the fight between Audi and Lancia to be the best while bending the rules to get there. <br> &nbsp; &nbsp;BTW the Lancia tube role cage was cardboard tubes made to look like metal to save weight, making the drivers even more crazy.

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• PE

  @petertan8222 · 4 years ago

  The crazy part? The FIA was thinking of one-upping Group B with the even more bonkers Group S prototypes. A bit over 900 kg + 600 bhp in race trim + snow, gravel, dirt + those crazy spectators . . . I mean, what could go wrong?<br><br>And then Toivenen and Cresto&apos;s horrific accident.<br><br>Lancia fanatic here, ever since the Fulvias and especially the Stratos. For Group B it was the 037 for me.

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• MI

  @mikesuch9021 · 2 years ago

  Supercars boast a 0 to 60 speed in 3 seconds. On dry pavement. <br>The Audi Quattro group B car does 0 to 60 in 3 seconds <br>ON GRAVEL!

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• SH

  @shaunhamilton9328 · 4 years ago

  I was a mechanic for a group N team during 1986. The group B cars were incredible. You need to see the video of Marku Allen driving the Lancia 037 on the 1000 lakes rally. Pure mastery of the car and terrain. Keeping the 2 wheel drive Lancia ahead of the Audi&apos;s on the gravel stages!

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• DA

  @davidivers6261 · 4 years ago (edited)

  The spectators were definitely the crazier, in some countries it was considered a badge of honour to actually touch the car as it went past. There&apos;s at least one anecdote about mechanics finding a spectator&apos;s finger caught in the bodywork at the end of a stage...<br>The Renault was only 2WD, it predated the Quattro, but still had the engine in the middle like the later Peugeot.<br>The Metro 6R4 was 4wd and was normally aspirated, so no turbo lag. When Group B ended there were still many 6R4s sitting around unsold, so they became a cheap go-to for European Rallycross. The engine was eventually developed for use in the Jaguar XJ220.<br>Despite the legendary power of the Group B cars, it was only a few short years before the more production-based Group A cars like the Lancia Integrale and Ford Escort Costworth were posting faster stage times...

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• DG

  @DGYSAM · 4 years ago

  I vividly remember waving at the drivers in Group B cars as they were transitioning between stages in the Rally New Zealand.<br>They ALL would wave back and the cars were just incredible.<br>The noises they made would send shivers down your spine but NONE could hold a candle to the AUdis. Their 5cylinder engines just sounded like perfection!

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