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Savannah Speed Classic 2014 – Report and Photos

1973 BMW CSL
1973 BMW CSL

The Savannah Speed Classic 2014 was held October 24-26 on the 1.96 mile, 10-turn Grand Prize of America / Savannah Harbour Race Course on Hutchinson Island in Savannah, Georgia. Sanctioned by Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR), the races were the first part of the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival, the second part being the more sedate Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance.

The Grand Prize of America race track winds through the lush Hutchinson Island directly across the river from historic River Street in Savannah, Georgia. HSR attracted a field of over 140 racers in cars spanning almost 100 years of motor sports.

The track was built in the late 1990s to hold sanctioned Indy Lights racing but only managed one such event. The track is quite bumpy in parts but fairly wide, providing good racing and several opportunities for passing. Drivers must stay sharp though as several turns involve looming concrete walls on the exit. The track also features several banked turns, allowing spectators to experience some impressive cornering displays at speeds higher than the norm.

The 2014 running of the Savannah Speed Classic saw spectacular Georgia fall weather, with cool, dewy mornings giving way to warm, dry sunshine all three days. The venue played its part with its manicured green infield area at turns two and three providing a terrific view of the track action, gourmet food, motor sports memorabilia and the chance to get up close to the newest products from Porsche and BMW.

As is the norm at these gatherings, the atmosphere was decidedly more relaxed than professional races and the fans could walk the paddock, mingle with crews and drivers, breathe the heady mixture of hot oil and racing fuel, ask questions and snap photos to their heart’s content. One of the off-track highlights on Friday was the evening cocktail at the Westin Savannah Harbor. Attendees enjoyed poolside refreshments and were treated to a humorous panel discussion with racing greats Hurley Haywood, Brian Redman and Bobby Rahal.

For the drivers, things kicked off Friday morning with tech inspections and the first of several group qualifying sessions. Friday’s track action finished with the first race of the weekend, the Hawk Performance H/P Enduro. Qualifying continued Saturday morning and the serious racing got underway after lunch.

Groups Two and Three saw the largest grids with over 45 cars taking the green flag. Lots of close racing action with American, Italian, English, Japanese and German marques from 1949 to 2002 mixing it up. The top three spots were grabbed by the faster Group Three cars but the Group Two class winners did well to come in ahead of numerous Group Two cars.

A crowd favorite, Group Five brought out the big-bore historic sports cars. Lots of cylinders, lots of noise and lots of speed from the Corvettes, Mustang Cobras, BMW CSLs and Porsches. The crowd was treated to Motorsports Hall of Famer Brian Redman looking oh-so-smooth on his way to 3rd in his Chevron B16.

The Pre-War race on Sunday was a survivor’s affair after several qualifying sessions consumed much vintage machinery. Just four cars from the original eight entries made the grid and hung on to see the checkered flag. The relative youth of the #284 1953 MG TD driven by Steve Konsin saw it through to the top step. Style highlight of the class goes to Miles Whitlock sawing the huge wheel in his Ford while chomping on an equally huge cigar.

Photographer Peter Falkner documented the Savannah Speed Classic 2014, offering the following images from the first leg of the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival. We split up Peter’s photos into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs.

Savannah Speed Classic 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery

 

1973 Porsche 911 RSR
1973 Porsche 911 RSR
1972 Porsche 911 RSR
1972 Porsche 911 RSR
1972 BMW CSL
1972 BMW CSL
1967 Alfa Romeo Duetta
1967 Alfa Romeo Duetta

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1973 Porsche 911 IROC
1973 Porsche 911 IROC
1973 BMW CSL
1973 BMW CSL
morning beauty
morning beauty
Rothmans Porsche 962
Rothmans Porsche 962

 

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Savannah Speed Classic 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two

 

1969 Chevron B16, Brian Redman at the wheel
1969 Chevron B16, Brian Redman at the wheel
1972 BMW CSL
1972 BMW CSL
1973 Porsche 911
1973 Porsche 911
1972 Porsche 911 RSR
1972 Porsche 911 RSR

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1928 Riley 9 Brooklands
1928 Riley 9 Brooklands
Rothmans Porsche 962
Rothmans Porsche 962
1962 Lotus Super 7
1962 Lotus Super 7
1919 Ford Model T speedster
Miles Whitlock chomping on a cigar while driving his 1919 Ford Model T Speedster

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Savannah Speed Classic 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three

 

1949 Jaguar XK 120
1949 Jaguar XK 120
1973 Porsche 911 RSR
1973 Porsche 911 RSR
The rare BMW 2002 SWB Cabrio
The rare BMW 2002 SWB Cabrio…
Where you been?
Where have you been?

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1938 Woseley Grand Prix
1938 Woseley Grand Prix
Jaguar E Type
Jaguar E Type
1964 Ginetta G4
Lotus 23B
1973 Porsche 911 RSR
1973 Porsche 911 RSR

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Savannah Speed Classic 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

 

1973 Porsche 911 RSR
1973 Porsche 911 RSR
1939 Ford Dreyer Special
1939 Ford Dreyer Special
2004 Panoz GTS/P
2004 Panoz GTS/P
1993 Porsche 964 RSR
1993 Porsche 964 RSR

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1973 Porsche 911S
1973 Porsche 911S
2000 Audi S4
2000 Audi S4
1963 Corvette Roadster
1963 Corvette Roadster
1972 BMW CSL
1972 BMW CSL

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Savannah Speed Classic 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

 

1973 Porsche 911 RSR
1973 Porsche 911 RSR
1964 Elva MK7s
1964 Elva MK7s
1960 Austin Healey Sprite
1960 Austin Healey Sprite
1973 MG Midget
1973 MG Midget

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1964 Lotus 26R
1964 Lotus 26R
1959 Triumph TR3
1959 Triumph TR3
1973 BMW CSL
1973 BMW CSL
1974 Porsche 911 RSR
1974 Porsche 911 RSR

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Savannah Speed Classic 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six

 

NASCAR Dodge
NASCAR Dodge
1986 Buick Somerset/Kelly
1986 Buick Somerset/Kelly
1994 Ford Mustang Cobra R
1994 Ford Mustang Cobra R
1969 Lola T70 Mk IIIB
1969 Lola T70 Mk IIIB

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1996 Porsche 993 Cup
1996 Porsche 993 Cup
1963 Corvette Split window coupe
1963 Corvette Split window coupe
1973 BMW CSL
1973 BMW CSL
Lotus 23B
Lotus 23B

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Savannah Speed Classic 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven

 

1971 Porsche 914/6 GT
1971 Porsche 914/6 GT
1972 BMW CSL
1972 BMW CSL
1974 Porsche 911 RSR
1974 Porsche 911 RSR
1965 Corvette Roadster
1965 Corvette Roadster

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72 MGB GT V8
1972 MG B GT V8
1972 BMW CSL
1972 BMW CSL
1972 BMW CSL
1972 BMW CSL
1959 Elva MK4
1959 Elva MK4

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Savannah Speed Classic 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight

 

1965 MGB
1965 MG B
1974 Porsche 911 RSR
1974 Porsche 911 RSR
Lotus Elan 26R
Lotus Elan 26R
1966 Yenko Stinger
1966 Yenko Stinger

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1965 Chevy Corvair Monza
1965 Chevy Corvair Monza
Chevron B21, patriotic seating
Chevron B21, patriotic seating
Tom Grudovich discussing strategy in his Ginetta G4
Tom Grudovich discussing strategy in his Ginetta G4
1964 Elva MK7s
1964 Elva MK7s

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Savannah Speed Classic 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine

 

1962 Shirdlu-BMW
1962 Shirdlu-BMW
Brumos Porsche 914/6
Brumos Porsche 914/6
1964 Ginetta G4
1964 Ginetta G4
1966 Ford Mustang GT
1966 Ford Mustang GT

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1969 Porsche 911S
1969 Porsche 911S
72 Chevron B21
1972 Chevron B21
1959 Austin-Healey Sprite Coupe
1959 Austin-Healey Sprite Coupe
1973 MG Midget
1973 MG Midget

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Savannah Speed Classic 2014 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

 

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The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

[Source: Peter Falkner]