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Tom Kristensen's mighty Thunderbird carves through the pack
See the best of Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen in a 1959 Ford Thunderbird during the St. Mary's Trophy at Goodwood Revival. Full races available for GRRC Fellows and Members. Find out how to join: www.goodwood.c... #goodwoodrevival
Пікірлер: 721
"I need a short throw shifter to make me a faster driver" This man's shifter goes from Florida to New York from 4th to 3rd and he's still lapping the pack
@jessebower2944
4 жыл бұрын
People dont know how to make a machine talk and walk like others
@Dokker62
4 жыл бұрын
Many race drivers in the old days preferred factory style shifters as they fitted better into the car's interior. With a big, flimsily steering wheel like in that T-bird it would be less operable to reach all the way down to a short, sporty stick everytime. Cool car, cool driver, massive fun to watch!
@lightningstrikestwice6302
4 жыл бұрын
That's funny as hell! Back in the sixties Ford had a cab-over truck called A C Series. They had 5 speed manual transmissions in them and by the time you got from 1st to 5th you'd covered most of the United States. They were seriously a mystery shift. As they wore out they got worse and you ended up banging your knuckles on the dash. Thanks for the Memories!
@lightningstrikestwice6302
4 жыл бұрын
Back in the day, my grandmother had a 58 Thunderbird. Never considered it a pretty car. And certainly, never thought I'd see one of the racetrack. Like another viewer sent., she's aged quite well! Goes to show you! Things just get better with age!
@drivewaymarvels311
4 жыл бұрын
Short shifters are for uneducated morons in slow cars. When I put my trans in first I can touch my knee cry about it.
That Thunderbird coming up behind those minis looked like a wolf running down a herd of sheep!! THAT WAS COOL TO SEE‼️😀
@pachy444
Жыл бұрын
Yes it did but there's no Minis in that race, the two small cars are Austin A40 Farinas
Wow, he was taking corners like he was driving one of those minis.
@swoli6-11
4 жыл бұрын
He was drunk...
@petez470
4 жыл бұрын
Yup...wasted.
@piotrmalewski8178
4 жыл бұрын
Short, lightweight cars are terribly difficult to drive. Those big RWDs practically drive by themselves. You just have to tell them the direction and they do everything else alsmost on their own. Weight distribution.
@theeoddments960
4 жыл бұрын
Piotr Malewski yeah they can get squirrelly but so do American cars with their soft suspension and super light springs. In a lot of ways of handling they are inferior to the foreign cars but if you build it and actually try to focus a little bit on handling they can blow through corners
@piotrmalewski8178
4 жыл бұрын
@@theeoddments960 I switched from modern short hatches to 70ies rwd with leaf springs and live axle and went rallying with both. Like you they say it's inferior but with proper technique it can be very fast through corners, because it can use grip of all wheels evenly if thrown into a corner properly. Also it's much more forgiving. Since I've tested it, I value weigh distribution more than any other parameter. If short fwd skids in the rear axle, often it is a fight for survival, one move too late and you're done. In my old rwd nothing happens that quickly, when the rear goes, you just give it the direction and it drifts towards to, almost on it's own. And if i leave the steering wheel, it counter steers and gets the straight line on it's own- not the best idea to do, but if someone ever went panic, the car could have saved the person on it's own.
There's racing drivers and then there's Tom Kristensen
@swoli6-11
4 жыл бұрын
Tom is in my basement, locked up
@Mcali1984
4 жыл бұрын
There's racing driver's, and a guy in a car with much more power than everyone else. So yeah.
@swoli6-11
4 жыл бұрын
@Th3Aggr3ssiv3 Cons3rvativ3 nope
@jesusofamerica
4 жыл бұрын
I have a 97 thunderbird I plan on doing the same thing with. Mixed reviews about it but like pops "kristensen" I'm here to smoke you in my soaring barge around the corners and through the straights.
@swoli6-11
4 жыл бұрын
@@jesusofamerica Then you a nub, also jesus is flat pluto
This is much more entertaining than NASCAR!
@AmericanThunder
4 жыл бұрын
NASCAR is entertaining for 5 or 6 minutes. lol
@Chris_Troxler
4 жыл бұрын
NASCAR used to be entertaining.
@UberLummox
4 жыл бұрын
Used to be and shall never be again.
@scifiknut
4 жыл бұрын
I must protest. NASCAR on street circuits are fun to watch. Ovals are not my thing, though. Too many stupid crashes and too many weather delays. And still the same 3-4 persons pull off the victories. I'm excited for the new season of NASCAR, though, when Matty D. will get into the Wood Brothers #21 car. Could be a regular top contender if they get it right.
@Iker_Skywalker
4 жыл бұрын
Also more entertaining than f1
Beautiful piece of driving! Those four wheel power slides. NASCAR used to be like that. Back when it was worth watching...
That’s about the best thing I’ve seen in a while. Way more exciting than Nascar. I was actually laughing at how those little cars looked afraid as he was catching them. Outstanding driver. Made my Day!!!!!!!
@Jackie_Tikki_Tavi
4 жыл бұрын
Chaga chaga chaga, chaga chaga chaga, CHOO CHOO B***HES! I'M COMONG FOR THAT BOOTY!
@ethansmith9065
3 жыл бұрын
You could fairly see the minis looking back at the tbird and gasping in fear amd shock, ala looney toons.
@prmafrozt2943
Жыл бұрын
Fun fact: that Thunderbird was used in the 1959 Daytona 500. There is footage of the car, just search “1959 Daytona 500”
"And the Jag certainly more nimble than the Thunderbird" (as he pendulum passes the Jag)
The amount of talent and courage it takes to throw that ancient lump of metal around a racetrack THAT HARD cannot be measured. Bravo sir.
@edwardmylnychuk5774
10 ай бұрын
lol thats what you call knowing your car, ihad a 64 fairlane that would do the same thing, just drift around corner when you hit the gas right, drifting is better than having car roll that is too disturbing while steering, my 67 cougar would lean too much if i took a corner fast but the fairlane just drifted and it was sweet
Does a Ford fans proud to see that big tbird fly!
@Neildo430ci
4 жыл бұрын
Probably 352cid, i wonder the eng. Specs
@barryo9065
4 жыл бұрын
@@Neildo430ci Could be the optional 430 lincoln V8
@markusantonio4866
4 жыл бұрын
@@barryo9065 your correct on the engine
@mescko
4 жыл бұрын
@silverbird58 I'm pretty sure the 430 was the only engine ford ever competed with the Squarebird.
@halohunter5217
4 жыл бұрын
I'd rather see a Mk I Escort, Capri, or Cortina... but to each their own. US Fords were always lacking compared to the European models.
Thunderbirds are my favorite cars ever. I had a 63 thunderbird in high school and it was the southeast driving car I ever had.
I love how the Minis take that one turn probably thinking this is where they can split away from the T-Bird only to have the T-Bird kick out the rear end and swing through the turn just as fast. Love it!
I had a 1960 T-bird in 1964. I bought it from the original owner, a doctor who actually drove it. I learned that it had the 430 Lincoln engine in it. That was a tire smoking beast.
@Neildo430ci
4 жыл бұрын
On my early 58-59 ranchero builds. Always looking for a 430. Now i have a 58' hardtop edsel pacer. Still looking. I settled for a 64' 390GT block
@arttafil6792
4 жыл бұрын
Neil Dohi, the easiest and cheapest way to go is to get a 428 engine which is in the FE engine family and do a rebuild. Do a .010 clean-up overbore and that’ll give you about 432 cid. Outward look is the same but you’ll have more modern, stronger and performance proven internals.
@barryo9065
4 жыл бұрын
@@arttafil6792 The 430 he's looking for is not an FE block. Its MEL
@arttafil6792
4 жыл бұрын
Barry O, thank you for the correction. I was thinking of the 410 cid Lincoln engine.
@arttafil6792
4 жыл бұрын
Even though I lived through the hey days of hot rod ding I’m man enough to admit I don’t know it all.
Looks like he was having a great time!
That old bird gets around the track just fine
This is really cool to watch all these classic cars doing what they were Made for!
He's driving it like he stole it! Did he touch the barrier at 1:53? Wow!
@ChapuleTaylor
5 жыл бұрын
He came pretty close to touching it.
@swoli6-11
4 жыл бұрын
He is drunk
@burniezarsoff4118
4 жыл бұрын
@@swoli6-11 yay! Me too........can l please have a drive of it next?🤪
@Immad1337
4 жыл бұрын
PissAllOverMyAnusWhileMaintainingProperHomeostasis he touched it. The car even budged a little when he tapped it. Kept that line clean like nothing even happened.
@swoli6-11
4 жыл бұрын
@@Immad1337 freaking wreck fest with this drunk driver...
I watched this a thousand times and it never gets old. Love that tbird.
Nice to see classic Tbirds racing for a change not just sitting at car shows!!
I took my driving test in a 59 Thunderbird! My first (and only) Nascar race was at Riverside which was won by Steady Eddy Gray in a 60 Thunderbird!
@manowar5516
7 жыл бұрын
roamic I could imagine seeing one of these at Daytona back in the day. The Thunderbird was a destroyer!!!
@fordsonhigh6420
5 жыл бұрын
I don't think my 60 T-Bird could do as well as this 1959.
@swoli6-11
4 жыл бұрын
And you came last
@swoli6-11
4 жыл бұрын
@silverbird58 you say they all blow a big nut ower that car? Damn
Ah, she's built like a steakhouse but handles like a Bistro
@UberLummox
4 жыл бұрын
Nice one! And has the interior of a Greek whore house. ;)
@Lucatin
4 жыл бұрын
She's out of control!
@masonmarco5767
4 жыл бұрын
Ah , you're killing me. AH YOU'RE KILLING ME!!!
@zrxdoug
4 жыл бұрын
Zapp Brannigan FTW! :D
@patrickhorvath2684
3 жыл бұрын
"You're sure it's a woman this time...?"
Stunning driving in that big 'ol beast....the clanging sound was the drivers brass balls!!!!
@stevehall9585
4 жыл бұрын
That's not a beast it's the only car on that track with the scooters.
People always giving TOO MUCH praise to drivers who drive heavily modified purpose built machines without acknowledging the fact that those modifications make the vehicle EASIER TO DRIVE. The real heros are those who can make a brick swim like a fish . This guy is the real deal.
@louis-philippelavoie6929
5 жыл бұрын
I think you have a good point
@halohunter5217
4 жыл бұрын
Easier in some regards but purpose built race cars do not have power steering or brakes like this T bird most likely does.
@chrishamilton2559
4 жыл бұрын
@@halohunter5217 no power steering, no power brakes. Just good old-fashioned Detroit muscle.
Man that guy can drive!
Imagine the adrenaline flow of the dude in the mini seeing nothing but a ginormous T-bird, sideways, filling his rear view mirror, slowly getting closer and closer!!!! This is roughly a millon times more entertaining than modern F1 or superspeedway draft-fests.
@lessharratt8719
2 жыл бұрын
AGREED!!
I seen this race before that Thunderbird is fantastic. lifting the right front wheel on the right hand corner. it's such a shame the exhaust system came loose he had that race won handily. that's how the racing Gods work sometimes.
Man I have always loved these races and the Goodwood Festival. Watching these guys run these classic vehicles to their max. I hope young people watch this & racing classic motor cars like this never ends!!
Damn, this guy is driving it like a GT40.
Oh man! Seeing that tbird thundering down the way. Priceless!
These guys are all very talented drives, but even they do mistakes, slide around, drift and save again. It's soo much fun to watch and shows how difficult it is to go fast with these classic cars!!
Gotta give credit when its due. Awesome driving skills )
@Wings_of_foam
2 жыл бұрын
Well, he did 9 Le Man wins :)
pure brilliance that driving had me laughing like a drain, brilliant car control!!
I’ve driven one of this year of Thunderbirds, and he is right on the steering presets✨👍🏻
One of the greatest revival clips I have seen this year! As great as this is, I could only imagine seeing how devastating these were on the Daytona race track back in the day!
That thunder bird is ridiculous! Too cool seeing that thing flying and sliding around the track over taking everyone in the little Brit cars that are planted to the track. 🤣 The guy driving is one bad mother too. He wrestled that thing effortlessly floating the car all around. Awesome video 👍🏻🤘🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Mr.Racingdriver. A true legend in any kind of car.
It's great seeing the American T-Bird running down the Minis. Driving it on the edge the whole time, drifting it the entire track.
@alanbush4192
2 жыл бұрын
they are NOT mini's they are Austin A40 Farina's
I've never seen a big ol' American classic shift like this. I want one!
@theeoddments960
4 жыл бұрын
Just see mopar guys power shift. There’s a channel named uncle Tony’s garage and he has a video of him powershifting and tips on it and if you did that in any stick shift automobile from 1983-up you’d have a freshly picked gear shifter in your hand dismounted completely from the fuckkin console... impressive though.
What a shame he got the meatball that old thunder chicken was about to cut them up like turkey
@Okipouros
5 жыл бұрын
First time I see it called meatball. Will use it! If anyone doesn't know, the still black flag with orange mark is a mechanical black flag, and the car should retire to the pits. But I was under the impression they should show it with the cars number?
@swoli6-11
4 жыл бұрын
Bom shakalalaka bom shakalalalaka
@bryantmatthews93
4 жыл бұрын
That's why the called the flag that exhaust was fine
@swoli6-11
4 жыл бұрын
@silverbird58 i seen cars race with missing everyting except 1 wheel, damn that drift skills...
@reginaldfitzpatrick8681
4 жыл бұрын
The meatball! That is unreasonably funny
I love these races! They’re all over the track, different power from different cars, etc. seems like such a challenge trying to keep those boats on the road haha and the noise is beautiful! Wow
I love the way that T-Bird uses its raw power to get around the track.
A great pity the exhaust came adrift...
@scootergeorge9576
5 жыл бұрын
Didn't seem to be having any effect.
@crazytrain7114
4 жыл бұрын
@@scootergeorge9576 it could go right through a floorboard if it came off, or a windshield
@ripme6616
4 жыл бұрын
That bird can really fly🤣😂🥴
@truthseeker8483
3 жыл бұрын
@@plantfeeder6677 Gotta love classic cars racing...you never know what might happen next..... :-D
Looked like he was drifting down the straights, hell of a driver
Man when that right front tire comes off the tarmac coming off the a turn at 12:00 thats just awesome
@delandcamargo5732
5 жыл бұрын
Watched mr. 9x in some other revival vids he is just awesome a total beast in the little nimble Ferrari or big galaxy or T-bird
I watched TK live at many a ALMS races, and every LeMan victory. But this drive impressed me the most!
Finally a great recommendation.
He had that bad ass bird in the wind!!! Love them fast Fords!❤
Great stuff. That was what racing used to be like. Loved it.
Man this guy can drive 👍🏻
The Car looks big among the European Cars.. but here in the State's not too big.. my Brother owns a 58 Tbird.. 390 Y block. Can't wait to Show him is Classy Cruiser
@AtZero138
4 жыл бұрын
@jimmy hawkins Yes.. thank you... this guys driving is amazing... can't stop watching this Car sliding around
I like the style he's developed to get everything out of her she's got
This looks so much faster & more exciting on camera than formula 1.
This is the kind of racing people like to see. Cars sliding and bouncing all over the track, and the drivers fighting to keep them straight. Nowadays in nearly all forms of racing the cars seem so relaxed and calm, which never translates into one-track action and drama.
So happy to find this video. Just recently obtained a 69 Thunderbird & had a hard time finding an old bird that handles around a course on KZread. Inspiration video for my new project!!!! Thanks Goodwood for sharing 😁.
I had a Thunderbird like that , decades ago; I loved it!
That is just spectacular to watch…, thank you Lord Marsh
What a great drive from Tom in our 59 Ford Thunderbird! A great shame the exhaust was knocked loose but a brilliant show regardless. For onboard footage visit our video here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/gIuEx5Z6YKm5f5M.html
@alpeena
6 жыл бұрын
Bill...........I would think most of the race parts on that car are custom?......suspension, etc etc......was that car ever road raced in period?. is it a big soft sloppy girl?....hp figure?......450?
@alpeena
6 жыл бұрын
ahhhh...u mention 600 in the other vid.......and it ran Daytona?...wow
@RJLightning68
Жыл бұрын
Wasn't this Johnny Beauchamp's Ford T-Bird that he finished 2nd with in the inaugural Daytona???
I don't think he was steering that big 'ol T-bird. He was merely swinging that big tail around and hoping he got pointed in the right direction.
@scootergeorge9576
4 жыл бұрын
Steering the big bird with the throttle pedal!
@UberLummox
4 жыл бұрын
;@@scootergeorge9576 Hey Scooter! Steering with his right foot f' 'sho! Would love to know if it has the optional Lincoln 430 mill or the std. 352...Edit: looks like "352" on the hood maybe? Would be interesting to know what suspension mods they're allowed. Would appear we have similar watch lists! Dave
@scootergeorge9576
4 жыл бұрын
@@UberLummox - A Holman Moody built 430 T-Bird was a very close second in the 1959 Daytona 500. That being said I spent some time with Google trying to find out what powers this car. Could only find, "big V-8" which is obvious. I'm guessing an FE; perhaps a 427 or 390. A lot of parts available for these engines. And it sounds bigger than a 352.
@UberLummox
4 жыл бұрын
@@scootergeorge9576 Nice! Yeah, I've seen pix of Squarebirds on the ovals. Surprised they weren't outlawed for not being based on a conventional full-size platform. I read they were 3500-3600 lbs. so maybe they met a weight requirement - if there was one. Then again, the average US battle ship was 4000-ish, so who knows.
@scootergeorge9576
4 жыл бұрын
@@UberLummox - By 1960, it made sense to go with the Galaxie. One glance of the Starliner fastback brought out that year and the "Squarebird" gets parked.
Damn thats a Cool car and amazing driving skillz
My new favorite driver
Hit the pits, get the baling wire on it, and, Get the Heck back out There!!
This is a lot more entertaining than F1.
Tom Kristensen is my new favorite driver!
I can't stand fords but seeing that T-Bird gliding across that track among compacts, was a thing of beauty! Look at that old man tap dance on the tarmac! Wow!
I had the same year and model of T-Bird. Driving on the Pasadena freeway was an adventure.
Odd thing is the front end works fantastic.
Brilliant driving!
Instantly liked this video because I'm watching a big 59' TBird running down cars half its size. I love 1/4 mile but this has now caught my eye!
@mescko
4 жыл бұрын
Vintage road racing is the shizzle. I'm a Yank but drag racing has always been a big snooze for me.
Fantastic viewing.takes me back to when I drove my 1965 mk 1 lotus Corrina around that circuit
Think I may have a new favorite driver. This guy has a grip on the T-bird and Fairlane.
Now THAT is driving!
My family had a 59 thunderbird, white with the 352 in it. She was a big girl but fun to drive.
Amazing. Elegant driving. Just a bit of drift.
That fella can drive,wow!
I have a 1960 t-bird. Mine is white with a 352 and an automatic transmission its a great cruiser. I realize the car in this video is built to race but knowing how big and sloppy these old barges are it is hard to imagine driving one that hard. Looks like a lot of fun though.
@glennredwine289
4 жыл бұрын
Probably some really HD shocks. Springs, too. But that old T-Bird is almost too beautiful to race. My dad had a '64 but I really like the fins on those 58-60 Birds. I saw a video here on KZread where a guy did a restomod and put a 5.0 Coyote motor in a black '63 Bird, sounded absolutely cool. I would love to do that on a 65 or 66.
Dear goodwood I’m verry disappointed that you don’t post full race replays any more
Hats off to Tom. You know that he could hear that tailpipe hitting the pavement. Most likely didn't know what it was, and still endured lap after lap of thinking his car was going to fall apart...
What a great driver hanging it out.👍
Big American Iron running at GW looks so cool. Big Boss coming through!😁
its so uncanny seeing all of these little compacts and then this lad comes around the corner
Pure power of the big block and a skill driver can do wonders if i got it right Thanks for posting
Holy mackerel what a driver!@!!! So awesome to watch!
Old Ford FE engines are no joke!
My first car was a 1960 T-bird convertible, my second was a 1955 T-bird removable hard top.
That's not a car, that's a ship! Very fast ship!
If only modern racing could be this entertaining
This is absolutely amazing!!
Visibility in a 70 year old car is better than today's cars.
Must have been unnerving to see that menacing front end roaring up to your rear bumper during this race. It had a Batman /Mad Max vibe to it - and an aggressive driver to boot!
It looks like Tom never took his foot off of the gas pedal.
Son, you must take my word, If there's a God up in heaven, He's got a silver Thunderbird.
@racketman2u
6 жыл бұрын
never saw anything in the Bible about God being a masochist.
@lazyrrr2411
6 жыл бұрын
... and a '57 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser
@ernestimken5846
6 жыл бұрын
Not a silver Thunderbird. He returns in a white Mustang. (Revelation 19:11)
@rexracer7192
5 жыл бұрын
@@racketman2u no, he's an avid car enthusiast though!
@rexracer7192
5 жыл бұрын
@@ernestimken5846 lmfao
Meanwhile: Toms shop manager is asking, “ Why do we have so many exhaust hangers left over?”
You can see that bird fits his style of driving to T.
@douglasthomas5090
4 жыл бұрын
Clever
FORD ...FIRST ON RACE DAY! love this old bird flying down the track!
Mr. Le Mans rockin' the 'bird!!!!!! To bad the exhaust broke.
Looks like a great white shark than come to catch something 😂🦈
Need a lot of guts & balls to drive this mammoth on the relatively-tight Goodwood, props to Tom which were able to nail down that beast.
Props to the OGs. These machines aren’t easy to drive.
I was born in 1959! This car is my baby!
Man. Must be day and night between this American land yacht and the Audi R8 and R10 he drove at Le Mans. I don't know the man, but the car guy in me feels that he probably enjoys driving the Thunderbird way more.