Access to pits....as it was!
Discussion
coppice said:
Compared to a Formula 1 car of the 50s-60s the Donnelly Lotus was far, far safer . Remember that , thanks especially to Jackie Stewart's safety campaigning in late 60s , massive leaps were made in driver safety. But yes, we've also come a long way from 90s safety levels, if not by as great a leap .
I meant the Lotus 102 series of cars looked fragile compared with the other cars around at the time, not compared with cars from a different era. I don't recall the entire front end being ripped off a car, to the extent the fuel cell bags were visible - and there were some pretty huge accidents around that time e.g. DeCesaris in the Jordan 191 at Bridge, and Lamy in a 107 a couple of years later (same place IIRC).You'll struggle to get that kind of access even at some national level events these days. Health and Safety innit. Understandable in some respects, the stupidity of people with iPads taking photos etc and wanting selfies with everything and everyone mean people they are far less attentive these days. People also expect to automatically be safe in most situations now (an ironic side effect of things actually being safer) so again are less likely to watch their backs.
The Festival of Speed is a good example, amazing access but also a high numpty quotient out to 'get the shot'.
Silverstone in particular seem to have gone out of their way to pander to the corporate crowd with two fingers up to the regular fan, thankfully many smaller events still use the National Paddock which is at least generally accessible.
The Festival of Speed is a good example, amazing access but also a high numpty quotient out to 'get the shot'.
Silverstone in particular seem to have gone out of their way to pander to the corporate crowd with two fingers up to the regular fan, thankfully many smaller events still use the National Paddock which is at least generally accessible.
Edited by ukaskew on Tuesday 23 May 18:37
Great photos, really nice to see some new photos of Senna.
My experience of the years 1990 until 1992 was you couldn't just 'wander in' as the tunnel/bridge at Silverstone had security people manning these entrances, so you needed the correct pass.
However, after 17.00 each day it was then able to get over to the pits and see what was happening. Brilliant days.
1993 saw the traditional June 'tyre testing' stop being open to the public, which was a big shame. Then I think it started again around 1997 and became available to go whenever teams were testing there, so several times a year.
I was lucky to be a 'guest' of McLaren in 2001. Happy days.
But the original tests in June 1990 until 1992 were the best.
Thanks for sharing these photos.
My experience of the years 1990 until 1992 was you couldn't just 'wander in' as the tunnel/bridge at Silverstone had security people manning these entrances, so you needed the correct pass.
However, after 17.00 each day it was then able to get over to the pits and see what was happening. Brilliant days.
1993 saw the traditional June 'tyre testing' stop being open to the public, which was a big shame. Then I think it started again around 1997 and became available to go whenever teams were testing there, so several times a year.
I was lucky to be a 'guest' of McLaren in 2001. Happy days.
But the original tests in June 1990 until 1992 were the best.
Thanks for sharing these photos.
dr_gn said:
coppice said:
Compared to a Formula 1 car of the 50s-60s the Donnelly Lotus was far, far safer . Remember that , thanks especially to Jackie Stewart's safety campaigning in late 60s , massive leaps were made in driver safety. But yes, we've also come a long way from 90s safety levels, if not by as great a leap .
I meant the Lotus 102 series of cars looked fragile compared with the other cars around at the time, not compared with cars from a different era. I don't recall the entire front end being ripped off a car, to the extent the fuel cell bags were visible - and there were some pretty huge accidents around that time e.g. DeCesaris in the Jordan 191 at Bridge, and Lamy in a 107 a couple of years later (same place IIRC).The 102 tub apparently shattered on impact. I don't think that will be news to anyone here but it was actually one of the concerns that was raised about carbon fibre tubs when they were first introduced in the early 1980s? Those worries vanished when John Watson involuntarily tested the tub's integrity in his McLaren. I believe Donnelly's seat also failed in some way and moved forward, which led to a change in design with Lotus tubs where the seat fits in a closing wedge in the tub and cannot possibly move forward. It gave them a head start with later frontal impact tests.
Can't remember where I read all that. It was an anecdote from a Lotus mechanic at the time either on here or... somewhere else!
My dads conpany used to own Grovewood Securities who in turn owned Brands. Used to go to sooo many events at Brands when I was younger with full access to pits. They were an oily mess in those days. Last time I went was 1986 aged 19 when Mansell won although I enjoyed the free beer, champagne, grandstand etc a little too much.
WelshChris said:
Freeloading in the Williams pit at Monza, race day 1986, with a general admission ticket. They were super friendly, even invited me for lunch and asked me to help push tyre trolleys around 
...
Freeloading in the Williams pit again, Silverstone 87...
Brilliant. ...Freeloading in the Williams pit again, Silverstone 87...
Such a different sport now
ELUSIVEJIM said:
Brilliant.
Such a different sport now
Indeed. Already pretty ‘corporate’ at that point, but at the same time a lot more accessible and welcoming if you could get past the jobsworths. You got the impression that the teams were happy to welcome fans and give them a close up view (if you could blag your way into the paddock that is!). A lot of what has been done to prevent public access is in the name of safety to be fair - This photo of the Monza pit wall during the race that I took on the same day as the one above illustrates what I mean - an accident waiting to happen with no fencing...Such a different sport now
These photos and stories are all incredible. You don't know how jealous you're making people who were either born after this time or never had these chances or access!
One thing, didn't Rick Parfitt work as a mechanic for an F1 team during a Monaco GP? Late 80's/early 90's? Think Roger Taylor did too.
One thing, didn't Rick Parfitt work as a mechanic for an F1 team during a Monaco GP? Late 80's/early 90's? Think Roger Taylor did too.
Two mates of my mine, both RAF engineers, were at Ricard in 73 and within minutes of walking in to the March F1 team pit, were drafted into doing some fabrication work for them , and they did so for most of the summer's European races . I wrote an article for Motor Sport about their experience a few years ago .
I remember - as a 9 year old - walking round the pits at Silverstone after one of the '79 BGP practice sessions. People were standing around gawping at the mechanics doing their work. It was around lunchtime, so they must have been a bit short because someone from the crowd of onlookers was asked if he could give them a lift with a replacement engine, and hold it in place while they bolted it to the back of the car. Which he duly did. It was a Renault V6 turbo engine.
Another occasion, maybe the same year, a particularly over enthusiastic pit marshal offered to go and drain some petrol off his own car so that a Lotus mechanic could wash some gearbox parts. Obviously they didn't need it, and there was much head shaking and mirth once he'd gone.
Another occasion, maybe the same year, a particularly over enthusiastic pit marshal offered to go and drain some petrol off his own car so that a Lotus mechanic could wash some gearbox parts. Obviously they didn't need it, and there was much head shaking and mirth once he'd gone.
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff