[richie]

Who here remembers the Fastmasters Series that raced at IRP throughout the summer of 1993 in conjunction with the USAC shows on ESPN's Saturday Night Thunder? Any particular memories from this series that you have? It was an interesting concept of having legendary drivers aged 50 years or older racing Jaguar XJ220's around an oval and a "roval". The format was changed a few times because of the carnage that took place, but it was a once in a lifetime thing to see something like this.

Here is the infamous first race from the Fastmasters series on June 19, 1993:

ROUND 1, HEAT RACE 1 from June 19, 1993

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv7Ku53jhIQ

---------- Post added at 11:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:31 PM ----------

ROUND 1, HEAT RACE 2 from June 19, 1993

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KflOiyUIuVQ

---------- Post added at 11:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:31 PM ----------

ROUND 2, HEAT RACE from June 26, 1993

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpaYjIl_Vp8

---------- Post added at 11:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:31 PM ----------

ROUND 2, FEATURE from June 26, 1993

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibg3lTfvDAU

---------- Post added at 11:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:31 PM ----------

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND, HEAT RACES 1 & 2 from August 21, 1993

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH0Jxqoq6pk

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CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND, FEATURE from August 21, 1993

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIqGIqVY5Vw

[short track scott]

That was a great idea that didn't play very well on tv.

It was neat to see the guys compete like that, but I always thought it could have been done with a field of 9:1 late models with better results.

But I must say whoever sold Jag on the idea has my vote for best sales man EVER!
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[KRJoyce1]

I remember it, and enjoyed seeing them live at IRP.

However, whats the fun in seeing them in a Late Model? Guys rip those cars up every weekend.
The Chance of seeing these Legend Drivers (who I would guess half of them were on the "DO NOT RENT LIST" with the Rental Car companies from some of the stories heard) go out in these Jags and have at it, was a lot of fun and enjoyment for the fans as well as the drivers.

Hard to believe it has been that many years ago though.

[ByronMack]

I was there when they ran the road coarse and I think parnelli Jones was racing. They put governers on them to reduce the damage, but it just caused them to have to lean on each other going into the turns.
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[cmakin]

I remember watching on TV. For some reason, I thought that the first heat race was with the "Roval" dog leg. I seem to recall two things. First, that there was going to be carnage as these guys all piled into the dog leg, and second, that there was. I also seem to recall several tries before they went in single file. Maybe that was the feature. Scott is right. Talk about a great salesman. Someone had to take a huge hit on tearing those cars up, though.

[indysix]

Thanks for this...

Attended each one. Last time I got to see Davey Allison before the accident. Great to see Bobby make a come back of sorts.

I was in the Bob Cicconi pit that night. After the first crash Bob saw Tom Walkinshaw heading to look at the cars. Bob leaned out and said "Hey Tom, I'll give you 250 for each of them Tom". If looks could kill.........

Actually got a couple of the name magnets they used on the cars. Got them signed too.... wonder where I put those.......

[HARFprez]

i was lucky enough to be at every show, & IRP even made one of the nights a HARF night. i was able to award Brian Redman a HARF t-shirt in Victory Lane. you all are so correct, the Jaguar factory team that was there everynight were having nervous breakdowns. Not sure if any of you remember or not, but these XJ220's were not even available for purchase here in the USA yet, they wanted to use this publicity as a launching pad for their unveiling, little did they know that this would be the most "expensive" promotional idea ever, but man, was it fun for us fans. My only regret? the last night of the Fast Masters they had a big auction before the races, auctioning off everything from gloves to helmets to suits, everything (including the big winners race wear you could collect after Victory Lane was over), one of the auctioneers also was Benny Parsons (i sure miss Benny), so my regret was not having enough money to buy more. We'll never see an idea like this again, it's one of those events where the phrase "you had to be there" really means what it says. bob.