[edit] Recreating the 5's glory days
From Telegraph Motoring, Saturday 20th March 2004
The humble Renault 5 first took to the track in a one-make series in 1974 - and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its debut in national racing, Renault Sport is organising a one-off race for the 5 at Thruxton on May 30, writes Robert Daines.
The event will be open to the Renault 5TL, TS and GT Turbo models and will form part of a meeting featuring rounds of the Fonnula Renault UK Championship and ELF/BTE Lawline Renault Clio Cup. If enough original Renault 5 racers are found, it's envisaged that a handicapping system will be put in place to keep the racing close and true to the spirit of the original series.
Renault UK is keen for as many original drivers and team members as possible to take part in this nostalgic event. Extensive detective work has tracked down many competitors keen to recreate their glory days behind the wheel of a Renault 5. Among those is multiple champion Neil McGrath of Warrington, Cheshire.
McGrath has fond memories of his days behind the wheel of the diminutive French car. "The original Renault 5 races a took place at a time when racing was great fun to be involved with and people had a great spirit for the sport," he recalls. He went on to race a Renault RS (ed-R5?) Gordini in the British Saloon Car Chasnpjonship and to develop a successful career in British Touring Car racing. Such was the lure of the R5 grid that he returned to the fold in 1984, with the advent of the R5 Turbo. "The Renault 5s were the launching pad for my career," he says, "and I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of one again for this anniversary event."
Renault Sport is also keen to locate Maggie Anderson. who won Britain's first Renault 5 race at Brands Hatch.
One person who will be delighted to see a full grid of Renault 5s in action 30 years on is Tim Jackson, who has headed Renault UK's motorsport division since the mid-1980s.
"To have a grid of Renault 5s at Thruxton would be amazing and something very special for those who used to compete In the various Renault 5 championships, for seasoned spectators and those who were never lucky ehough to see these tremendous little cars in action," he said.
Needless to say the hunt is also on for sa many Renault 5 race cars as possible - former competitors who may have their vintage race car stored in the garage or lurking in the barn can contact Renault Championship manager Simon North on 01895 829220 or e-mail nospamsimon.north@ihatespamgrovewood.co.uk.
ed - obviously, you should remove the nospam and ihatespam parts of the above address!
Blues Brothers: Renault is commemorating 40 years of Gordini racers with styling tweaks to its Clio Renaultsport 182, now available in French racing blue (as a no-cost option) and with two competition stripes (295) a la Renault 8 Gordini from 1965
[edit] Motoring: Strictly no left turn My Worst Car; Simon Nearn's Renault 5 Gordini
From: The Independent - London Date: January 30, 1999 Author: Simon Nearn
I'VE HAD so many really awful cars over the years, but in their own special way I sort of still love them. When I was a car dealer, the number of bad cars I came across was horrendous. Before then, I got through a heap of cars as a student. The one I remember the best was a Renault 5.
It wasn't just an ordinary one, though, it was the fast one, in the shape of the Gordini version with a 1,400cc engine. I found it pretty safe, because it really wasn't fast enough to fall off the road. The trouble was that the gear knob kept coming off at the worst possible moment - such as changing gear. It would do odd things and make a nasty noise every time I turned left. Further investigation revealed that it had suffered a big shunt on the left-hand side and not been put back together very well afterwards.
I swore that I would never have one again, but that didn't stop me sticking with the Gordini for the time being, which meant that it could leave me stranded in the middle of roadworks on the M25. It had to go, but that Gordini needed some special selling skills. So when the buyer came around for a test drive, I told him to drive right out of the house, first right, then right and finally right back into my drive. That was the only way I could avoid the noisy left-hand side showing up. Mind you, the guy I sold it to in Wigan was back two days later to complain. After that, I remember having a horrible bright orange Austin Metro. It never broke down, but it would misfire above 50mph and did abandon me at the NEC in Birmingham. I would never want another one, but I did end up with something as bad. It was a Vauxhall Astra 2.0 GTE. Like the Gordini, it was a hot hatch, except that it would spin its wheels going up a hill and the handling was appalling. In lots of ways it was worse than the Renault and Metro put together. Luckily, someone liberated it on a bank holiday weekend in Manchester. Simon Nearn is the managing director of Caterham Cars, one of the UK' s largest wholly-owned car manufacturers. Buy one of their sports cars by calling 07000 000077
