Strong arms needed

Watch Gérard Larrousse (picture above) using all the strength he has in his arms, to have his Alpina-BMW 2800 CS turn at the La Source hairpin, in the 1971 24 Hours of Spa. The French driver shared his car with Niki Lauda, but had to retire with a broken gearbox.

In the 70’s, the touring cars were fast and pretty, but were a handful to drive. No power steering, no drivers’ aides, no electronics at all. The races, especially at Spa and at the Nürburgring, enjoyed a huge following and the best drivers did not hesitate to spend their free week-ends at the wheel of these wonderful cars.

Hans Joachim Stück (picture here-under), both hands pushing the steering wheel from lift to right, in a similar Alpina-BMW 2800 CS, at La Source hairpin, at the famous Coupes de Spa 1971. Same corner, same car, different technique. And it worked: Stück easily won the race.

Special thanks to Patrick Maloens for these superb pictures.