I was there, because one of my cousins created the poster for the race. Even better, I had a press-pass allowing me to go anywhere around the circuit that press photographers could go, which was just about anywhere just outside the guardrails and walls. It was a cool experience.
How weird that the broadcast was partially sponsored by "Dianetics" (Scientology.... ) Whooooooah! Cool race, sad I missed it, I moved from Tampa that year...
I'm a child at this race, in 1988, still have a Nissan banner, the large blue ones sitting perpendicular to the track. Can see where I was standing. Now I'm in my 40s, sitting on my couch, watching the broadcast for the first time 😅 "GTE" is what became Verizon, btw. Car #11, George Fuche, is the Scientologist sponsored car. Dianetics, L. Ron Hubbard. St. Pete is scientologist headquarters. This would be like the Dhali Llama entering a a car with a picture of Buddha on the hood. The 80s were really the peak/Pinnacle of all forms of motorsports.
A few years after this race I heard David Hobbs while calling an IMSA race use the name "Concrete Pete" for Halsmer. I'd always wondered about that, though got the meaning for sure. Well, I finally found out the specifics. Right after 1:39:12 here, David shows why he'd later describe Halsmer that way.
@@AmericasChoice Considering I've seen other races where there is video of Halsmer being on the wrong side of other collisions that I wouldn't quite call "that's just racing" moments, I can bet he was at fault in this case too.
@@sergioleone3583 I am sure. Did you see the look on his face when Jack told him Hobbs was really hot? ha ha He did something similar to Mario in this race, too. Not a legitimate passing effort on the inside, and in a car that was not really contending.
Great concept, but as usual the European teams stuck their nose up in the air at the Americans. What'd we get? A bunch of 962's we saw every week anyway and one Lancia... No Saubers, No Jags, Nothing other than ONE LANCIA bespoke to Europe showed up. Just like now with the IMSA GT-P's and Le Mans Hypercars. They're all to snoody or afraid to come to the US and run when their cars are legal. It's actually PATHETIC. Meanwhile, Look at the WEC grid. There's Cadillacs, Porsches and (starting this year) BMW's from the LMDh GT-P class... All which regularly compete in IMSA. What are they so damn afraid of?!
Aston Martin is an LMH and will be running in IMSA come 2025. I also think that if the WEC can balance the two regs well this year and teams can sort their cars out enough, we will see more teams run at least some of the IMSA endurance rounds 2025 onward.
I can't believe someone finally posted this race. I'd only heard about it, never actually seen it. Thank you for UL'ing this race. ☺😊
I was there, because one of my cousins created the poster for the race. Even better, I had a press-pass allowing me to go anywhere around the circuit that press photographers could go, which was just about anywhere just outside the guardrails and walls. It was a cool experience.
This is pure gold. Thanks for putting it on TH-cam
i was 7,we came down from NJ to watch this. now live in FL right down the road from a road course track 😁👍
How weird that the broadcast was partially sponsored by "Dianetics" (Scientology.... ) Whooooooah!
Cool race, sad I missed it, I moved from Tampa that year...
I'm a child at this race, in 1988, still have a Nissan banner, the large blue ones sitting perpendicular to the track. Can see where I was standing. Now I'm in my 40s, sitting on my couch, watching the broadcast for the first time 😅 "GTE" is what became Verizon, btw. Car #11, George Fuche, is the Scientologist sponsored car. Dianetics, L. Ron Hubbard. St. Pete is scientologist headquarters. This would be like the Dhali Llama entering a a car with a picture of Buddha on the hood. The 80s were really the peak/Pinnacle of all forms of motorsports.
A MASSIVE GEM FROM THE 80's
A few years after this race I heard David Hobbs while calling an IMSA race use the name "Concrete Pete" for Halsmer. I'd always wondered about that, though got the meaning for sure. Well, I finally found out the specifics. Right after 1:39:12 here, David shows why he'd later describe Halsmer that way.
Hobbo was HOT! Too bad there wasn't any video of the collision.
@@AmericasChoice Considering I've seen other races where there is video of Halsmer being on the wrong side of other collisions that I wouldn't quite call "that's just racing" moments, I can bet he was at fault in this case too.
@@sergioleone3583 I am sure. Did you see the look on his face when Jack told him Hobbs was really hot? ha ha He did something similar to Mario in this race, too. Not a legitimate passing effort on the inside, and in a car that was not really contending.
It's IMSA's GTP vs Europe's Group C
Isn't the "Corvette" a Lola monocoque?
Yes.
The first iteration of the Nissan was also a Lola monocoque. Very similar, if not identical, to the Corvette.
the '88 nissan was much revised by Electromotive@@nicholasrobbins1127
I saw them run many times at Portland
Awesome One-Hit Wonder of Sportscar in the 80's
I remember this race well. I was hoping that MB and the good teams from Group C would show up. However the tams that showed up were the b teams.
Makes sports-car racing today seem pale doesn't it?
no
Great concept, but as usual the European teams stuck their nose up in the air at the Americans. What'd we get? A bunch of 962's we saw every week anyway and one Lancia... No Saubers, No Jags, Nothing other than ONE LANCIA bespoke to Europe showed up. Just like now with the IMSA GT-P's and Le Mans Hypercars. They're all to snoody or afraid to come to the US and run when their cars are legal. It's actually PATHETIC. Meanwhile, Look at the WEC grid. There's Cadillacs, Porsches and (starting this year) BMW's from the LMDh GT-P class... All which regularly compete in IMSA. What are they so damn afraid of?!
Aston Martin is an LMH and will be running in IMSA come 2025. I also think that if the WEC can balance the two regs well this year and teams can sort their cars out enough, we will see more teams run at least some of the IMSA endurance rounds 2025 onward.
Do it again. GTP VS Hypercar. Come on man.
Should bring the World Challenge back in 2024
1:47 Tale of the Tape
john's running retty wide