Poor Isuzu, known mostly for diesel trucks, perhaps the Bellett, and a weasely 80s spokesman. But from the late 70s to the early 90s, it was master of its own one-make race series. Like in Gran Turismo, this often made for interesting competitors when both front- and rear-wheel-drive generations of the Isuzu Gemini (aka Buick Opel / I-Mark) went doorhandle to doorhandle on the circuit. We’ll let Isuzu guru JT191 take it from here with video of the race action below the fold.
The Castor Cup Racing Series was a JAF sanctioned, one marque race, for Isuzu Gemini cars. The series was run by the Isuzu Sports Car Club and the series ran from 1979 through 1993, spanning all three generations of Geminis. The series had at least 5 races every year, and some years may have had as many as 12 race weekends and championship runoff events in addition to those 12.
The descriptions say these videos are from about 1990. Probably they are actually 1988 or 1989, because there are no third generation cars. What is surprising is the mix of the first and second generation cars on the track at the same time, and if the notes are correct, racing against each other in the same class.
The first generation cars are PF50 and PF60, RWD, double wishbone front and beam axle rear suspension, running as much as 130 HP from 1.8 liter DOHC 8 valve NA engines. These would give an AE86 a run for its money. The second generation cars are the JT150 and JT190, with strut front suspension and beam axle rear suspension running 120 HP 1.5 liter SOHC 12 valve turbocharged engine or 135 HP 1.6 liter DOHC 16 valve NA engine. The latter was Isuzu’s answer to the CRX Si. I would not have expected these two types of cars to be able to coexist on the race track, but the FWD cars look to be holding their own quite well.
Looking at the videos, for an event made up of enthusiasts of the cars, they are not afraid of trading paint. Winning seems a lot more important than keeping the car in perfect condition. A few drivers seem to be ignoring the rule that unless the passing car gets along side before entering the turn, he is supposed to back off. One of them appears to be depending totally on laying his fender into whoever he is next to, in order to guide him through the turn. And if the last video was shot after the race, the other drivers do not appear to be lynching that driver.
Thanks, JT191!
The black coupe in the first video sure spun out a lot!
The RWD cars are also known as the GM T-body, and any engines that will fit an RWD I-Mark will fit a Chevrolet Chevette/Pontiac T1000 and vice versa (GM’s skunkworks had a 2.8 V6 Chevette in the early ’80s that they let “Car and Driver” take a spin in. If they had built it it would’ve changed the car’s whole image – and possibly GM’s)