Unfettered access to vintage sports car racing highlights is one of the greatest joys offered on YouTube. Take this clip of a 1972 BMW CSL 3.5 for example, which just participated in the 44th running of the Historic Sportscar Racing Mitty at Road Atlanta.
The Mitty is one of the longest-running historic and vintage car race events in the United States. Event participants are nicely varied, ranging from early sports racers to more modern prototype machines. This particular BMW CSL 3.5 participated in several bouts over the race weekend, including a Group 5 sprint race and a BRM endurance event.
While the video description suggests racer Josh Tuggle was behind the wheel of the beautiful BMW, race results confirm Robert Summerou was the registered wheelman. This CSL 3.5 has been frequently campaigned by owner Dean DeSantis over the years, but he was a tad busy racing his 1969 Porsche 911 RSR in the same event. The screaming CSL managed to qualify second in the 2X class for the sprint race, following James Dolan in a 1965 Shelby GT350. That order would be retained in the actual race later on.
Unfortunately for the CSL, things didn’t go as smoothly in the endurance race. The car placed 44th place after completing just 8 laps and retiring. Damon’s weekend wasn’t all bad, however, as he piloted the RSR to 11th overall in the race. That put him ahead of Ford CEO Jim Farley and his 289 Cobra, which proved to be a mighty quick combo over the weekend.
We might not all have access to the driver seat of a vintage race car, but I’m grateful for the owners who are willing to rig their cars with cameras. These cars were always meant to be enjoyed by the masses, even if the person inside is the one having the best time.
Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.
