Two Mondays ago, when I asked you all to name Cars Named For Cities, some of the comments understandably strayed from cars that were intentionally named after cities to the many cars actually named after racing circuits, but which got in on the technicality of just happening to share the the name of the city they’re in. [“Really? There’s a race track in that happenin’ town of Talladega?” said no Ford marketing man ever.]
Since people seemed so eager to explore the car model/race track naming connection, let’s do that. I’m all about giving the people what they want. However, I am also about making you slackers think, and drawing out the obscure references that result. So, since you’ve already had a chance to mine the deep well of city-based car names just fourteen days ago, I am going to make it interesting by specifying only cars that are named for racing venues that are not named for the city they reside in. In other words, Daytona and Le Mans are verboten today. However, if you’re aware of some car maker introducing the Circuit Paul Ricard SportWagon Brougham, then step right up.
I can already hear somebody say something along the lines of “What about Mulsanne — part of a track named for part of a city; can I post that?” My answer has three parts:
- Stop being pedantic; that’s my job here.
- You know you’re going to post it anyway, so why are you asking?
- This whole series is just clever comment bait. You really need to repeat Hodgson’s Law to yourself a few times.
However, there are a few caveats (there are always caveats):
- The track name has to be part of the model name, not just a descriptor or a nickname (Yeah, I’m lookin’ at you, ‘Ring Taxi).
- Concept cars and kit cars are okay, but let’s stay away from homebuilt specials and works racers, which tend to have somewhat indistinct “official” naming.
Difficulty: 1/3 cup sugar per 1/2 gallon of vinegar.
How This Works: Read the comments first and don’t post duplicates. Bonus points for adding photos. Remember, you can simply paste in the raw image URL now, thanks to the magic of Disqus.
Image Source: parkwayspecialistcars.co.uk, rrocwa.com.
Dodge Daytona. The track is Daytona International Speedway. The city is Daytona BEACH, Florida.
http://www.topcarrating.com/dodge/1969-dodge-charger-daytona-4.jpg
See, people? THAT’S how you do pedantry!
I had to check. The other really famous beach towns in Florida usually have two separate cities. There is Panama City, Florida and Panama City Beach, Florida. Also, Miami, FL and Miami Beach, FL.
We should just post every car called a Daytona
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Alfa_Romeo_Tipo_33-2.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Daytona9.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Shelby_Daytona%2C_1964.JPG
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/1991_Daytona_CS.JPG
http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100612053841/muppet/images/7/7e/Susanthesethings.jpg
“One of these things is not like the other…”
We should just post every car called a Daytona
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Alfa_Romeo_Tipo_33-2.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Daytona9.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Shelby_Daytona%2C_1964.JPG
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/1991_Daytona_CS.JPG
http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100612053841/muppet/images/7/7e/Susanthesethings.jpg
“One of these things is not like the other…”
That covers a lot of territy, including this Daytona.
Bentley Brooklands
http://www.kitcar.com/KitCarsForSale/sebring-hughes-md.jpg
Nope. Sebring International Raceway is named for Sebring, Florida.
Nevertheless, I thank you for the opportunity to post one of my favorite kit cars.
http://www.almuro.net/sitios/Mecanica/imagenes/coches/jaguar_xkr_silverstone_2000.jpg
XKR is a track?
Silverstone Edition.
How about that Vevy Monza??
Autodromo Nazionale Monza is in…Monza.
Oops Chevy Monza!!!???
Lime Rock edition
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lime_Rock,_Connecticut
Yes, but it’s just a section of the town of Salisbury, not the city itself. We’re being pedantic, remember?
Shouldn’t it be green?
{ducks and runs}
Named after a ranch, not a city.
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/pics/SecaSeriesAd1.jpg
Chevrolet Laguna S-3 http://www.nashnut.com/wp-content/uploads/bf13-76laguna.jpg
Ah- this was the one I was trying to remember!
Off topic but that photo reminds me…I found myself trolling the online classifieds for ’76-’77 Olds 4-4-2s and Cutlass S’s the other day. I personally feel that Colonnades keep getting better and better with time, and they’re not super-collectable yet. Just might need to… WAIT! Someone slap me, right now!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3372274089_9c8d33a5a2_b.jpg
*Runs! Breaks glass! Grabs bucket of ice water!*
I think part of the issue is that it’s hard to gauge the size of them now that they are rarely seen, even at car shows. My dad still has his black ’76 Laguna similar to the one I posted but with a red stripe and it dwarfs everything else they have. The hotter versions of the Grand Prix and Cutlass look nice but that’s a lot of car to get moving, stopping and handling.
I think there were 4 ’76 -‘ 77 Cutlasses at this year’s Arthritis Foundation Show in Columbus. Put that in perspective, they were featuring Thunderbirds and I think there were only 4 ’58 – ‘ 60 Squarebirds including mine.
still mucho better than a Camry/Altima/fill in the blank/ DITTO car
Hmmm….
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1960-1969/1966-Pontiac-Bonneville-silver-convt-le.jpg
I was waiting for this one. Not quite a circuit, but it is a racing venue, and not a city named Bonneville in sight…ding-ding-ding!
Also Bonneville:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/T140.JPG
(grr seems I have some things to learn about posting images)
That’s a ’79, my favorite year. But it seems like a mix of T140E and T140D parts?
Yeah something isn’t quite right about it. I had a source image of a more stock bike but the picture wouldn’t show 🙁
Baws tree-oh-two Laguna Seca.
Yeah, it’s also a town, but that town’s in Texas, not anywhere near Mazda Raceway.
On a pedantic tangent, could any Mazda built in the past couple years (after the sponsorship took place) count?
It’s not a track, or even a circuit, but more of a route. I’m going to post it anyway.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Alfa2900B.jpg/1280px-Alfa2900B.jpg
Alfa Romeo 2900B Mille Miglia Roadster.
Ferrari also had the 250 MM for Mille Miglia which was a follow on to the 250 S after it showed success in the road race.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Ferrari_250_MM.jpg/1024px-Ferrari_250_MM.jpg
Is that like the Carrera Panamer[ican]a?
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Porsche_Carrera_GT_(7129619255).jpg
http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/2014-porsche-panamera-leaked-images_100424207_l.jpg
Why not?!
And on that basis: Every Targa, everwhere.
(Named after Porsche’s rudimentary cabin cooling solution on their Targa Florio racecars).
Fiat Panorama, named after the Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst.*
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Fiat_Panorama_Assisi_1983.jpg/1280px-Fiat_Panorama_Assisi_1983.jpg
*This is a complete lie and is merely a coincidence.
I thought it was named after this…
Willys Interlagos, a serial built version of the Alpine A108 made in Brasil and named for the Interlagos circuit. Interlagos is a neighborhood in Sao Paulo and also a track that F1 visits on occasion.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Willys_Interlagos_berlineta_1964.jpg/1024px-Willys_Interlagos_berlineta_1964.jpg
I knew Tanshanomi would like my previous Ford Talladega post, so here is another one….. just to remind the die hard Mopar fans of the car that kicked their butt’s during the aerowars. Talladega: the Superbird killer.
Pontiac Lemans
http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=imgres&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAgQjRwwAGoVChMIs-GCqqjqxgIVAhOQCh3puwae&url=https%3A%2F%2Fautopolis.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F28%2F1989-1993-lemans-from-fame-to-shame%2F&ei=uDqtVbOlGoKmwATp95rwCQ&psig=AFQjCNGJGkcvNC-Q_j-Kkob8r1wMQzYT-Q&ust=1437502520568701
You want pedantic? You got it!
Castrol Raceway, built in 1991 was formerly known as “Budweiser Motorsports Park”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castrol_Raceway
A time-traveling namer was inspired by this, hence the 1979 Budweiser Rocket.
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj34/FastFreddy488/cn02357.jpg
Now you’re going to complain, and say that it’s a homebuilt/works race car.
To which I’m going to reply that it has an extra booster from a sidewinder missile, the rest of the missile having been used to destroy the caveats.
Not the caviats! Poor things!
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Wildmeerschweinchen-06.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavia
Willys Interlagos.
Pedantic is worth bonus points?
Chrysler Saratoga. Saratoga Race Track is a horse track in Saratoga Springs, in Saratoga County, NY.
http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2012/10/SIA-1941ChryslerSaratoga_01_1500.jpg
Pedantry Level Up!
Might have gone the other way around:
Dodge Challenger / Challenger Raceway, Indiana, PA.
Ford Thunderbird / Thunderbird Raceway, Muskegon, MI.
I was going to go for Dodge Dakota / Dakota State Fair Speedway of Huron, SD, just to be weird; unfortunately there’s a Dakota, MN. Evidently [different state name], [state name] towns are more common than I thought.
For some reason, the first version of this comment was flagged as spam, but let’s try this again: Audi AVUS Concept, named for the late, oddball Autobahn/street circuit in Berlin.
http://cartype.com/pics/4047/full/audi-avus_frontside.jpg
Concept cars allows the Volkswagen V12 Nardo:
…and the Audi ‘Pikes Peak Quattro’
(not really worthy of the name ‘Pikes Peak’ or ‘quattro’)
Kinda obvious, but there’s been lots of Nurburgring edition cars over the years, like the Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R M·spec Nür
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Nissan_Skyline_R34_GT-R_N%C3%BCr_002.jpg
or Opel Astra VXR Nurburgring
http://images.car.bauercdn.com/upload/9242/images/1040×585/0000b7a75393-9b3e-44f9-9.jpg?mode=pad
Except the Nurgurgring is named for the town of Nurburg.
/Channeling my inner Tanshanomi.
See Tanshanomis verdict on P161911s post above, this is a similar pedantichrist splitting of folicular growth. The village is called Nürburg, the collection of tracks (including GP Circuit and Nordschleife and combined layouts) is collectively called Nürburgring.
Oh, Millennium Jade. My favorite R34 color.
Can we submit “cars named for a corner at a track not named after a city”?
For example; the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge: (no picture added, because however much Jeff and others enthuse I am still convinced that all current Infinitis should win every award for ugly available).
And if corners count, then Bentley give you the Arnage and the Hunaudieres:
(Disappointed to discover that there is a small city called Fiorano Modenese, so I should have submitted the Ferarri F599 GTB Fiorano last week.)
Maserati Kyalami
Where is Preludacris when you need him to nominate the Honda Prelude Montegi?
Lamborghini Jarama
For another week perhaps we might try “paint colours named for tracks that aren’t also cities”:
From BMW – Interlagos Blue
From Ferrari – Grigio Silverstone
From Audi – Avus Silver, Estoril Blue, Nardo Grey, Nogaro Blue, Misano Red (…yes, yes Audi — we get the idea.)
It’s good to see you’ve really embraced this. 🙂