More replies to McLaren F1 questions and comments
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excellent read Flemke.
Some pics of Flemke's car can be seen here:-
www.benphotos.net/auto.php?idcateg=38
btw - you mentioned the brown F1. I remember when that came back from the paintshop, everyone was shocked how bad it looked. UPS Brown I though, anyway, quite an important owner (as I'm sure you know Flemke
), but AFAIK it was resprayed pretty quickly.
I particuarly like the Augbergine of George Harrisons old car, looked stunning, although it had polished wheels, which I was never sure about. The last chassis, for one of the oijehs, shortly b4 I left, looked stunning in Candy Orange, since then a couple of other customers have had their F1's resprayed.
Lastly, a customer in the Southern hemisphere ordered a white F1, which didn't look great. If anyone has seen pictures of the JGTC "Lark" sponsored car, part of it is sprayed in a flourescent pink, well a Japanese customer wanted the whole car sprayed that colour! luckily, when he saw a scale model, he went off the idea
Some pics of Flemke's car can be seen here:-
www.benphotos.net/auto.php?idcateg=38
btw - you mentioned the brown F1. I remember when that came back from the paintshop, everyone was shocked how bad it looked. UPS Brown I though, anyway, quite an important owner (as I'm sure you know Flemke
), but AFAIK it was resprayed pretty quickly. I particuarly like the Augbergine of George Harrisons old car, looked stunning, although it had polished wheels, which I was never sure about. The last chassis, for one of the oijehs, shortly b4 I left, looked stunning in Candy Orange, since then a couple of other customers have had their F1's resprayed.
Lastly, a customer in the Southern hemisphere ordered a white F1, which didn't look great. If anyone has seen pictures of the JGTC "Lark" sponsored car, part of it is sprayed in a flourescent pink, well a Japanese customer wanted the whole car sprayed that colour! luckily, when he saw a scale model, he went off the idea
The F1 still remains at the top of my fantasy list but I would have to be worth a 'serious' amount of money before I could justify buying one. Probably talking of £20m plus.
As with most cars a huge amount of the performance is down to the driver. Mr average would probably extract as much performance from a Lambo or Ferrari for a fraction of the cost of the F1.
Also no matter how much you are worth you must always be driving along knowing your car is worth as much as a nice big house in the country. Knowing that it is worth so much, has over 620 BHP, no ABS, no traction control and is pretty much irreplaceable must have quite an effect on your right foot.
Point in case was JK in this months Autocar when he was one of the test drivers at Brands Hatch for their annual track car test. He turned up in his Enzo and had a few laps but kept the traction control on all the time and didnt really push it because the car was so expensive.
If money really was no object then I would definately buy one. For the same money though you could have an F40, F50, Caterham R500 EVO, and still have a lot of change.
I guess this is part of the reason that separates the F1 from all other 'super' cars.
As with most cars a huge amount of the performance is down to the driver. Mr average would probably extract as much performance from a Lambo or Ferrari for a fraction of the cost of the F1.
Also no matter how much you are worth you must always be driving along knowing your car is worth as much as a nice big house in the country. Knowing that it is worth so much, has over 620 BHP, no ABS, no traction control and is pretty much irreplaceable must have quite an effect on your right foot.
Point in case was JK in this months Autocar when he was one of the test drivers at Brands Hatch for their annual track car test. He turned up in his Enzo and had a few laps but kept the traction control on all the time and didnt really push it because the car was so expensive.
If money really was no object then I would definately buy one. For the same money though you could have an F40, F50, Caterham R500 EVO, and still have a lot of change.
I guess this is part of the reason that separates the F1 from all other 'super' cars.
Another fantastic series of replies there sir. Most grateful for those am i.
A few further questions if you would be so kind.
- You say you drive a Porsche day to day... could i ask which model? 996? 993? and which variant? c2? turbo?
- The garage where you store the F1... do you store other cars there? And if so, under what circumstances would you choose one of those over the F1?
- What is your favourite race circuit on which you've driven the F1?
- When you do drive it on circuit, do you and a few mates hire the circuit? Or do you go along to a normal trackday?
- I too would be interested in what business you're in, but completely understand that that is a personal question and respect your privacy
Many many thanks for sharing your views on the F1. I've had Driving Ambition for a couple of years now and am always amazed how quickly 3-4 hours go past when reading and admiring the photography.
Enjoy the F1 in good health,
Rico
A few further questions if you would be so kind.
- You say you drive a Porsche day to day... could i ask which model? 996? 993? and which variant? c2? turbo?
- The garage where you store the F1... do you store other cars there? And if so, under what circumstances would you choose one of those over the F1?
- What is your favourite race circuit on which you've driven the F1?
- When you do drive it on circuit, do you and a few mates hire the circuit? Or do you go along to a normal trackday?
- I too would be interested in what business you're in, but completely understand that that is a personal question and respect your privacy
Many many thanks for sharing your views on the F1. I've had Driving Ambition for a couple of years now and am always amazed how quickly 3-4 hours go past when reading and admiring the photography.
Enjoy the F1 in good health,
Rico
andy_b said:This wouldn't be the infamous "Flying Turd" by any chance would it
btw - you mentioned the brown F1. I remember when that came back from the paintshop, everyone was shocked how bad it looked. UPS Brown I though, anyway, quite an important owner (as I'm sure you know Flemke
Agree with you about the candy orange. A surprisingly beautiful colour.
flemke - another fantastically inciteful post from an evidently smitten owner. I admire your honesty and frankness as well as the way you view the car - as a tool to be desired rather than just an inanimate object. Your's is certainly the most driven of the F1's I have seen (barring XP5 of course). I may not agree with you on certain aspects (such as your car colour, mirror choice and HDK options) but I certainly respect your opinion.
I must say that I find your descision to try to improve the handling characteristics of the F1 an interesting one. It takes a brave man to disagree with GM! I await the results with avid interest. (Incidently, I believe the wheels on Dan Kennedy's car as mentioned earlier were in fact for show and were never driven on. He speaks of this himself on a thread on the AF forum).
I am curious as to how you store your F1 (an indeed all your cars) when not in use. Could you give any details, apart obviously from location/security arrangements and whether the Facom tool chest is kept nearby.
In answer to your question - I was fairly sure I couldn't possibly want an F1 more but once again, I was wrong!
Good luck with the set-up changes.
308gt4 said:
maranellouk said:
I am fairly confident they don't grow bushy 'taches like Mr Murray's down in NZ
In that case he could be a Mexican
Also (just to get a rise from the Kiwis) you may not have seen some of the women
Well, there's a rather buxom NZ lass I know quite well back in the UK. Has a tendency to appear in the tabloids with rather little (if anything) on. I'm quite sure she didn't have a GM tache at either end
disclaimer: not that I'd know about anything m'lud
>> Edited by maranellouk on Friday 6th August 04:36
flemke said:
Matt T16 (what's the mileage, how often driven?) -
The odometer is around 29,000 miles, 25,000 of which I have done. Apart from during the winter, if the car and I are near enough to each other I try to go out once a week, once a fortnight at least.
Thankyou for replying with yet another highly detailed post. A very enjoyable read.
Re: Mileage. Fair play Sir. I think its such a shame when a car such as the F1, designed to be driven, spends its life parked up and stored. Far far better for it to be allowed to 'play' on the Autobahn!
Matt
flemke said:
condor (follow or participate in motorsport?) -
Yes; no.
A question for you and everyone: how feasible is it to participate in motorsport if a person is not, well, hugely selfish and aggressive? There are different ways to participate, of course, and I would love to hear folks' thoughts on this.
I'd have thought a racing driver who was hugely selfish and aggressive would be a mediocre one at best
McNab is a very successful ex-racing driver and he's certainly not selfish or aggressive... but modest, kind, brave and inspirational
sirtophamhat said:
Thats a size difference for you.
Flemke, I correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to be getting the impression that the factory is a bit possesive of "their" cars. Do you encounter this?
Hello everyone! I had a close encounter with the McLaren pictured here. Here's a link to my thread at s2ki. Hope you enjoy.
www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=116370
>> Edited by s2000raj on Friday 6th August 21:48
s2000raj said:
Hello everyone! I had a close encounter with the McLaren pictured here. Here's a link to my thread at s2ki. Hope you enjoy.
www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=116370
>> Edited by s2000raj on Friday 6th August 21:48
I already posted your McLaren thread on one of the other threads here
Neil fellow S2KI'er
>> Edited by Neil_H on Friday 6th August 21:51
PetrolTed said:
More pics, courtesy of JeremyC and Flemke
I think this is an outstanding color. The metalic blue that the tvrfreak (Faisal) shot is superb but there is something about the pastelish blue that goes well with the black wheels and interior. It would look good with loads of brake dust spewing beyond the fenders.
Looking at the automotive forums for F1 that was posted earlier here or in another thread, there is a guy named Frank on the east coast in America who has THREE F1's and shares them quite liberally as well, eNcluding a REAL LM! One it sounds like he is holding for an investment and not driving but a black one and and a LM he drives 2500 miles a year it sounds like. (limited to 2.5k by the show and display rules).
>> Edited by PiB on Saturday 7th August 05:06
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