F1 Past

Author
Discussion

coppice

8,562 posts

143 months

Saturday 15th February 2020
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The other key factor in spectacle was tyres . Right up to 1977 , when Michelin introduced radial tyres , F 1 had used cross ply tyres . They lend themselves far better to sideways (ab)use . I saw many F1 races 'live' , pre 77 , with cars using wings and slicks and they certainly moved around a lot , despite massively wide tyres and a lot of down force compared to a Repco Brabham .

I have to say it amuses me now when we get the endless slo mo replay of even the tiniest oversteer slide - as if it were the save of the century . I was lucky to,have watched Ronnie Peterson at (proper ) Woodcote in his Lotus 72 - sideways at 150 mph , every lap . But sideways was the norm back in the Jurassic era of 1973

Teddy Lop

8,294 posts

66 months

Saturday 15th February 2020
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A44RON said:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a28474453...

One of the most fascinating articles I've read on the subject. Puts into perspective how other-worldly impressive even average F1 drivers are.

"At one point, I tried briefly to listen without earplugs; the shriek was musical but also insufferable. A piercing, ice-pick pain, as if a tiny knife was lodged in my ear canal and was attempting to burrow its way out. Wonderful."

God I love these machines.
only just saw this , what a splendid, beautifully written article.

Much as it's a "dream" of many here to ever sit in such a cockpit, I often ponder how much "fun" it wouldn't be to have the opportunity to drive a F1 car, compared to something more benign, the pressure of something so difficult to drive correctly, but he does a great job of showing how much of a twit I am...

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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1970 British GP at Brands Hatch -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcU8unEMkqQ]

Look at the suspension movement.

CanAm

9,115 posts

271 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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Eric Mc said:
1970 British GP at Brands Hatch -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcU8unEMkqQ]

Look at the suspension movement.
And a glimpse of John Bolster having a quick word with Black Jack in the pits.

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Monday 24th February 2020
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Few more, this time from the BGP at Silverstone in 1979. Thought I'd scan them before they fade away completely; the originals are in pretty bad shape now. Taken either on my Dad's Olympus Trip 35, or the mighty Ilford Sprite (with 120 roll film) that I had as a 9 year old...

Ferrari 312 T4's (Villeneuve, Sheckter)



Ligier JS11



Lotus 79



Mario Andretti & friend - Colin Chapman went ballistic when he appeared and saw what was going on - distracting his mechanics and all that. Great. Pretty sure that's a spare DFV shoved in the transporter along with all the other random stuff.



Great pair of tyres here in the Lotus pits


coppice

8,562 posts

143 months

Friday 20th March 2020
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As some of us may have more time on our hands than we usually have at this time of year , and /or need a distraction from current affairs , can I recommend a new series of podcasts? They are not glossy , production values are low and remember this series has been created by an enthusiast for enthusiasts , . But mercifully , we are spared ads for Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones ....

The series is called the Mechanic's Gallon (Colin Chapman fans may smile at that one) and includes people like Cedric Selzer and Bob Dance , Pete Briggs , Beaky Sims, Pete Kerr etc.

You will enjoy how F1 used to be , learn why G Hill and J Surtees weren't always popular with their mechanics and just how much of an impression Mario Andretti made at Lotus . More recently , Pete Briggs will make you reappraise your view of a certain team owner /sponsor best known for his airline business interests ....it is a shocking , but riveting listen

Highly recommended

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Friday 20th March 2020
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Link?

paulguitar

23,104 posts

112 months

stevesuk

1,345 posts

181 months

Friday 20th March 2020
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My contribution today is "Griff's F1 Cars" on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/lotus1013/

He runs a 1989 Lotus Judd F1 car. Has recently acquired a Jordan Peugeot from 1995 - which he's in the process of recommissioning. Some interesting posts and pictures.

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Friday 20th March 2020
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paulguitar said:
Thank you.


Will be off there for a listen.

paua

5,649 posts

142 months

Tuesday 14th April 2020
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1957 Nuerburgring footage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c0Edbb8ELU

Found this clip whilst looking at Moss interviews etc. beer


Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Tuesday 14th April 2020
quotequote all
paua said:
1957 Nuerburgring footage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c0Edbb8ELU

Found this clip whilst looking at Moss interviews etc. beer
I have this painting hanging in my office (a signed print - not the original, of course) -




paulguitar

23,104 posts

112 months

Friday 26th June 2020
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I just came across this quite amazing video on youtube tonight:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk1JI2bO5lE

I am not sure if it has previously been posted here, also not sure if perhaps it's a Pistonheader in the video as a six-year-old?




dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Saturday 27th June 2020
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paulguitar said:
I just came across this quite amazing video on youtube tonight:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk1JI2bO5lE

I am not sure if it has previously been posted here, also not sure if perhaps it's a Pistonheader in the video as a six-year-old?
Here are some more Tyre Test videos from the early '90's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQL1VjeXuqE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTCmzQ4mh5c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jKeqGL-6Xk

I was there in the pits for the tests in '85, '89, '90, '91 & '92 - absolutely mind-blowing. Makes modern F1 seem like watching a silent film. The sounds on the '92 video almost make me want to cry...Bridge Bend, just wow.

I've been scanning my old photos from those tests, and posted them on the F1M website here if you're interested:

https://www.f1m.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t...

coppice

8,562 posts

143 months

Saturday 27th June 2020
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Oh , it is just bloody fabulous isn't it ? I could weep when I hear yet another delusional F1 talking head prattle on about the ..umm..relevance of the modern F1 'power unit' ,.. Oddly enough relevance was the last thing on my mind at Silverstone back then , as you'd hear the banshee scream of a V8 , V10 or V12 get closer and closer until exploding into sight and consuming every sense.

Variety too - we now effectively have four firms making the same engine , and they all sound st. 'Oh , but think of the efficiency ' some will waffle on , to justify the current parody. Sorry, but I will take lessons about efficiency when F1 cars stop eating 12 tyres in 75 minutes ,

Stunning , amazing and if you are too young never to have experienced it live you can never get more than a taste of the real thing from watching it on screen -good though even that is .

paulguitar

23,104 posts

112 months

Saturday 27th June 2020
quotequote all
dr_gn said:
Here are some more Tyre Test videos from the early '90's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQL1VjeXuqE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTCmzQ4mh5c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jKeqGL-6Xk

I was there in the pits for the tests in '85, '89, '90, '91 & '92 - absolutely mind-blowing. Makes modern F1 seem like watching a silent film. The sounds on the '92 video almost make me want to cry...Bridge Bend, just wow.

I've been scanning my old photos from those tests, and posted them on the F1M website here if you're interested:

https://www.f1m.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t...
Fantastic stuff, thanks for posting. That's my afternoon and probably evening sorted! beer

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Saturday 27th June 2020
quotequote all
coppice said:
Oh , it is just bloody fabulous isn't it ? I could weep when I hear yet another delusional F1 talking head prattle on about the ..umm..relevance of the modern F1 'power unit' ,.. Oddly enough relevance was the last thing on my mind at Silverstone back then , as you'd hear the banshee scream of a V8 , V10 or V12 get closer and closer until exploding into sight and consuming every sense.

Variety too - we now effectively have four firms making the same engine , and they all sound st. 'Oh , but think of the efficiency ' some will waffle on , to justify the current parody. Sorry, but I will take lessons about efficiency when F1 cars stop eating 12 tyres in 75 minutes ,

Stunning , amazing and if you are too young never to have experienced it live you can never get more than a taste of the real thing from watching it on screen -good though even that is .
Same with historic F1 and Goodwood etc, nothing like seeing them when they were being run and driven in anger by a 'proper' F1 team, when they were state-of-the-art. Something special about it that a demo can't ever replicate.

paulguitar

23,104 posts

112 months

Saturday 27th June 2020
quotequote all
coppice said:
Oh , it is just bloody fabulous isn't it ? I could weep when I hear yet another delusional F1 talking head prattle on about the ..umm..relevance of the modern F1 'power unit' ,.. Oddly enough relevance was the last thing on my mind at Silverstone back then , as you'd hear the banshee scream of a V8 , V10 or V12 get closer and closer until exploding into sight and consuming every sense.

Variety too - we now effectively have four firms making the same engine , and they all sound st. 'Oh , but think of the efficiency ' some will waffle on , to justify the current parody. Sorry, but I will take lessons about efficiency when F1 cars stop eating 12 tyres in 75 minutes ,

Stunning , amazing and if you are too young never to have experienced it live you can never get more than a taste of the real thing from watching it on screen -good though even that is .
I could not agree more with anything ever written than this post!smile




anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Saturday 27th June 2020
quotequote all
dr_gn said:
Same with historic F1 and Goodwood etc, nothing like seeing them when they were being run and driven in anger by a 'proper' F1 team, when they were state-of-the-art. Something special about it that a demo can't ever replicate.
Historic F1 races are not demo's, same goes for the cars races at Goodwood.

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Saturday 27th June 2020
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Even a demo run knocks spots of the experience of modern F1 cars.