https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/c87364d0-2511-4f25-9f0a-ca574469870f Help us preserve, scan and post more rare and endangered films on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddem5RlB3bQe99wyY49g0g/join Website: www.PeriscopeFilm.com Produced and directed by Rodney Jacobs of Freewheelin' Films (https://freewheelinfilms.net/) for Datsun, this documentary "Road Atlanta" follows the lead-up to and culmination of the 1977 SCCA National Championship Races, focusing on the high-stakes, technical, and emotional aspects of amateur and semi-professional road racing. It centers on Bruce McInness and the Bob Sharp Racing team, who prepare two Datsun 240Z race cars for the final weekend of competition. The narrative explores the intricacies of car tuning, track strategy, and the challenges of practice, qualifying, and racing. Despite setting a track record and starting from pole in two races, McInness suffers mechanical failures in both, while Logan Blackburn ultimately claims the championship in a dramatic final race. The film captures the passion, precision, and unpredictability of motorsport at its most grassroots level. 0:00 – A three-car battle unfolds on the track as McInness overtakes Fitzgerald; Blackburn holds third as the 1977 National Championship nears its conclusion. 1:14 – At Lime Rock, Connecticut, a team prepares for the final race of the year at Road Atlanta, testing their car in solitude. 2:19 – Road Atlanta is introduced as the host of the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, an Olympic-like event in American sports car racing. 2:42 – Sam Posey, a professional driver, introduces himself and gives context on the significance and growth of the Road Atlanta event. 3:40 – Over 500 drivers with a wide range of car types—from showroom stock to pure racecars—arrive at Road Atlanta. 4:04 – Drivers from across the U.S., both amateur and professional, come to the track as class winners to compete for national titles. 5:16 – A detailed explanation of the challenging 2.5-mile, 12-turn Road Atlanta course is provided, with emphasis on the unique features and high speeds. 6:30 – The course walkthrough continues with a breakdown of how different segments test the car’s acceleration, handling, and braking under pressure. 8:05 – Drivers begin tuning their vehicles, including warming up tires and engines, testing radios, and fine-tuning car setups. 9:00 – Suspension tuning is described as crucial and complex, involving multiple adjustable components that greatly impact car handling. 9:55 – Practice begins at Road Atlanta; Bob Sharp Racing faces setbacks after breaking a track record and blowing an engine. 10:41 – Crew chief Jean Crow and team owner Bob Sharp lead efforts to recover; driver Bruce McInness has a chance to win two championships. 11:26 – Rain disrupts the second day of practice, but teams still go out to prepare for possible wet race conditions. 12:29 – Qualifying begins; unlike other formats, all cars are on track simultaneously and compete to set their best lap for grid position. 13:29 – Qualifying is described as a moment of pure speed, where drivers aim for perfection in a single lap amidst pressure and risk. 14:31 – Driving at the limit inevitably leads to mistakes; some minor, others resulting in crashes, though no serious injuries occur. 15:35 – Road Atlanta draws whole families and offers two days of races; 23 national titles will be decided, each race 30 minutes long. 16:22 – McInness qualifies on pole for his class race but faces strong competition from Dave Felson and others with similar cars. 17:07 – Disaster strikes as McInness’s car stalls at the start. Felson takes the lead, and the team is left puzzled and disappointed. 18:21 – Sunday brings renewed hope as the team prepares their 280Z for McInness’s second race. He starts on pole again. 19:13 – The top three contenders—McInness, Fitzgerald, and Blackburn—line up in nearly identical Datsun 280Zs, promising a tight race. 20:14 – The race begins. McInness takes the lead, with Fitzgerald and Blackburn close behind. An intense battle ensues. 21:15 – Fitzgerald passes McInness briefly, then McInness retakes the lead under the bridge as Blackburn starts closing in. 22:33 – Blackburn passes McInness, who starts to fall back. Moments later, McInness retires due to gearbox failure—his second DNF. 23:43 – Blackburn, driving flawlessly, pulls away from Fitzgerald and wins the race. McInness’s team is left to reflect on their bad luck. 24:07 – Blackburn is crowned the 1977 National Champion, expressing pride in the car's performance and the team's effort. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7AQ2heL87s Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:08:21 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/c87364d0-2511-4f25-9f0a-ca574469870f All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.