More replies to McLaren F1 questions and comments

[wolves_wanderer]

Flemke, I have read both posts from top to bottom now, no doubt at some cost to my boss! For somebody who is such an incompetant wordsmith you do an outstanding job of putting across the whole F1 "experience" to those of us who can but dream.

After reading your accounts I want one even more than ever! Is it possible for you to isolate the best thing about the whole car/experience, or are there too many to say which is best? Also do you have any more stories in the mould of the old lady in France?

Thanks once again for joining and sharing

[anniesdad]

Flemke,

Thanks once again. I'd like to think you got a bit of a sweat on, considering your far more experienced friend advised you not to do the run. But.....a Man's gotta do what a Man's gotta do. Fabulous insight once again.

If I may be so bold....I think some "spidery" carbon mirrors a la 360CS wouldn't go amiss on your car.

[lotuslad]

Great stuff Flemke!

Quick question: You have mentioned that you are a mature gentleman and are clearly a petrolhead - how did you manage not to buy a car until you acquired the Cerbera?

[admiral]

And what did you think of the Cerbera?

[nel]

Thanks - another good read and yes, it makes me want an F1 more - it's always had a place in my fantasy garage anyway (along with a 300SL gullwing coupé, a 911 turbo and a Ferrari Dino). Out of curiosity, do you know if the F1 was ever homologated in France where a couple of vehicles have to be given to Les Mines for destructive testing?

OK so I'd have to sell the house and move the family into a tent, but it might just be worth it...

[Rob P]

Question for Flemke...

Quick is a relative term. From my own humble experience it seems that as you get used to the power of car it suprises you less. The first time I jumped behind the wheel of a car at the tender age of 17 I thought..."this is quick!", then you drive something faster, and you think "this is quick" and so on and so on.

I know it sounds like a stupid question but has the power of the car suprised you less the more you drive it?

[ettore]

Another very considered post. I find it interesting that your thoughts are turning towards historic machinery (not that the F1 isn`t!) - clearly your current selection pretty much covers the gamut in terms of contemporary cars.

The 908 is also an aspirational car for me, although I prefer the curves of the 908/2 to the blunt instrument aesthetics of the 908/3 (what do I know!). Your comment on values seem accurate. Unfortunately the majority of the heavy hitting historic sports racing porsches are now painfully over-restored garage queens with perfect paint and even glass fibre - something that porsche certainly never managed. There are the odd exceptions of course, including Siggi Brun with his 908/3 and a fellow F1 owner with his 917 but sadly these are all too rare. Might I however suggest the Alfa 33/3 as an interesting alternative?. You would struggle to justify calling them cheap but they offer an equal package (Elford drove them too!)for considerably less cost...

Oh, and whilst I`m proffering unnecessary opinion you should drive a Frazer Nash LM Replica before committing to a nice OSCA MT4!.

[docevi1]

I like waking up to these posts, makes my morning much more interesting. Thank you.

I think I'm going to go against the grain here and I say that after reading your experiences I wouldn't want to own a F1. See one yes (I've only ever seen TVR's, Nobles, Ultima's, Porsches & a handful of Aston Martins - I'm young ), sit in one with suitable waterproof clothing covering my top yes, have a ride in one yes but own, no thanks.

I'm happy with my Marlin Roadster - it gives an interesting drive at non-licence removal speeds and has its own "show-off" qualities I'm sure the F1 "unfortunately" has (although to a much, much, much lesser degree) Which is nice. More power is always nice, but there comes a point where you have to ask why do you need more (as you point out with the option of the LM engine).

thanks for taking the time to tell us about your car

[whatever]

Another really interesting posting, thanks.

I'd ask how it compares to the cerb, in acceleration rather than handling (which I can guess) but it's probably an answer I don't want to hear! (but secretly do, of course).

Edited: Do you know why McLaren don't offer two smaller rads, rather than a small or a large? Surely this would help to deal with the larger range of temperatures you describe?

>> Edited by whatever on Thursday 5th August 11:03

>> Edited by whatever on Thursday 5th August 11:58

[slinky]

I agree with Stefan,

It's great to get into the office and find a new post like this.. duly printed off and read whilst talking idiots thru rebooting a computer...

Does it make me want an F1 more... of course it does, it's no. 1 in my list of fantasy cars and it's position there has been strengthened (sp?)..

Thanks once again Flemke..

slinky

[clubsport]

Wow! again echoing the thanks for further information.

I was very interested to hear that the factory suspension is non adjustable with a static front only ARB.
I run a 993 RS and the suspension is fully adjustable.
A decent set up transforms the car, I guess Mclaren are content they achieved optimal settings for the car for both road and track.

[Neil_H]

I've thought of some questions!

- How obsessive are you about keeping the car clean and generally maintaining it's appearance? Do you wax it yourself? What do you use?
- Have you had any 'moments' in the car where you felt close to bending it?
- Ever had any negative reactions from people whilst driving it?

Here's a video that may be of interest to everyone, onboard camera of a Macca at 241mph (quality isn't great):

www.sportcars.dhs.org/Pictures/McLaren_F1-Fast.wmv (5.5meg, right-click save as)

[docevi1]

some more movies:

McLaren vs Skyline Jeremy Clarkson clip.
McLaren vs Supra, Japanese - longer with onboard footage, impressive (if not low quality).

[hobo]

Can't believe in all this time no-one has asked the following:

DO YOU HAVE ANY SINGLE DAUGHTERS (preferably 20-30 years of age, 5'8" - 5'10", brunette, not too skinny. Who also happen to be insured for your cars) ?

[anniesdad]

Flemke,

If you look at this thread www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=257750 , its shows pictures of an F1 owned by a Dan Kennedy(?) who appears in one shot to have sourced non-standard wheels and presumably has overcome the problems you have experienced re: wheels and nuts. Maybe he could be of some use in your quest in resolving this.

Wouldn't know how to contact him, my guess is he's American.

[nubbin]

Flemke - fancy meeting up with the Eurohoon crowd at some point on the continent? Details on www.Eurohoon.com - come and see a representative sample of PH monkeys in the wild!

[Mannginger]

Well I've been quiet on the "F1" threads thus far, but I have been very impressed by the knowledge imparted and it's fascinating getting an insight into any car, far less the F1 and so thanks for that.

All I can say is that this quote was a great one for me...

"I don't know if I was sweating; I'll ask a friend who was there. Beforehand I was unsettled because, although up until the day before I had been quite relaxed, the night before I had a drink with a friend who lives near Frankfurt. This man is a master driver, has driven F1s a lot and has balls the size of coconuts (so I've been told, that is). Anyhow, he implored me not to do the run because he was convinced that at around 330kph the car becomes aerodynamically unstable. The fact that this gentleman once shunted an F1 at, er, 330kph along the same piece of Autobahn where I would be doing my run gave his voice a certain credibility. But once you've started a project, you keep going, right?"

Excellent work sir!

Phil

[charlescrawley]

I'd just like to add my thanks to flemke for his two posts. Fascinating reading.
In answer to his posed question, it doesn't make me want to own one any more, as I don't think that's possible!

[s works]

Cheers Flemke - a sprited read about a spirited ride.

If you had 20k to spend on a car, just for fun, what would get you closest to your F1?

P.S. I note you have a Caterham, so you can't have that by the way

[greg_D]

Hello Flemke,

Let's get the caveat's out of the way first. I know the following is a cheeky question and i should bloomin' well mind my own business and keep the questions related to the car, but out of sheer noseyness i am keen to find out what line of work allows you to indulge your automotive fantasies so completely?

feel free tell me to bugger off and mind my own business if the question makes you uncomfortable

Greg