A few weeks ago, Lohnes posted a great in-car video of Gerry Marshall muscling a Chevy 302-powered Vauxhall Firenza around a British road course. This two-part, 16 minute video has him dicing it out in a 1967 Camaro, swatting away at a flock of 2.0-liter and under Minis and Ford Escorts. Like they say in the commercials, we’ll sell you the whole seat, but you’ll only need the edge.
It’s hard to underestimate just how amazingly popular Gerry Marshall was in Great Britain in the 1960s and 1970s. It wasn’t necessarily because of victories. Yeah, he was winning races, but Marshall was a guy who would do just about anything to compete, and he was a larger-than-life personality that the media and his countrymen just fell in love with.
It was also at a time when club racing was featured every single weekend. When Gerry Marshall was on the tube, you were just about guaranteed a nail-biting afternoon’s worth of competition. His driving style was described as “sideways, on-the-edge cornering that was to distinguish his driving in any car, large or small, front or rear drive,” and you get 16 minutes full of that in this video. It’s from the 1971 Crystal Palace race, and Marshall is at the wheel of a Camaro, which doesn’t look big on an American track, but looks positively gargantuan on a British road course.
Gerry Marshall raced until the very moment he died. He was flogging an ex-Richard Petty IROC Camaro around at Silverstone when he succumbed to heart failure.
What to watch for:
At 3:40, you get a good shot of a Boss 302 pretty well sideways on one of the corners, trailed by an Italian Job’s worth of 1375cc Mini Coopers.
Just after 4:15, you see why the British would tune in every Saturday to watch Gerry Marshall race.
At the beginning of Part 2, Marshall’s left turn signal comes on and stays on for the remainder of the race, like your grandpa driving his Buick to Florida.
Guys I’ve seen this video about 30 times it’s one of the best ever touring car races ever (that’s what we call it over here), one problem though The late great Gerry Marshall is NOT driving the Camero that is driven by Martin Thomas, Gerry is driving the Vauxhall (GM in the US of A) Firenza so can you sort this artical out please. Sorry to point out the mistake, but keep up the great work. Chris
Ummmm, according to the announcer, Martin Thomas is driving the Camaro, Gerry Marshall is in the Vauxhall.
Cool video tho.
First the title is wrong: Gerry Marshall drives in Vauxhall Viva GT not the camaro wich is being driven by Martin Thomas. The Escort is being driven by Mike. The mustang got wiped off lol funny. Super video