Flemke - Is this your McLaren? (Vol 5)

[Swampy1982]

flemke said:

Swampy1982 said:

All quiet on the Flemke front...

Did you have a nice easter? Take any trips out in any of your cars (other than the A2!)

I did notice when searching for this thread that you had completed 1000+ laps of the Nordschleife and that was back in 2006, I wondered what your tally was up to now and if you still have the same desire to get out to Germany.

A normal Easter, thanks. No, I did not get to do any fun driving, unfortunately.
The last time that I drove around the 'Ring was several years ago when I stopped racing there. I don't think i have been around since. Not sure of total laps, I think in the 1,800-2,000 range.
I would like to go back, yes, but my understanding is that the tourist driving scene out there is even worse than it used to be, which would make it unsafe, frustrating, and I don't like the position of being responsible for other drivers (especially bikers) who don't know the circuit and keep putting themselves in harm's way. Excluding tourist driving, that would leave me with just the option of returning to racing, which I have often considered, but I just don't have the time to do it.

Glad your easter break was ok, shame to hear you didn't get any fun driving in, but with the weather seemingly turning the corner I hope you get more time and conditions to enjoy your cars.

I have often thought about doing a trip to Nordschleife, but my constant fear was being one of the many tourists who are hesitant and causing a hazard to others, like you the bikers would be a massive concern.

I have to say that's a hugely impressive lap count, and I am glad to hear that you still have some enthusiasm for going back to do (time permitting), as clearly its something you have enjoyed in the past.

reference the return to racing, if there became a point that you had more time, is there a specific class of racing that you would look to do? and would it be a departure from what you have done previously?

[Storer]

flemke said:

A normal Easter, thanks. No, I did not get to do any fun driving, unfortunately.
The last time that I drove around the 'Ring was several years ago when I stopped racing there. I don't think i have been around since. Not sure of total laps, I think in the 1,800-2,000 range.
I would like to go back, yes, but my understanding is that the tourist driving scene out there is even worse than it used to be, which would make it unsafe, frustrating, and I don't like the position of being responsible for other drivers (especially bikers) who don't know the circuit and keep putting themselves in harm's way. Excluding tourist driving, that would leave me with just the option of returning to racing, which I have often considered, but I just don't have the time to do it.

I have said this elsewhere, but it is always worth remembering that life is not a rehearsal and must be enjoyed to the full. It will be worth spending time thinking about your life and commitments, and maybe delegating some of the "stuff" that is eating your time.

I did 8 years ago and two of my good friends have had the epiphany recently following my prodding.

Life is short!

[The Moose]

flemke said:

A normal Easter, thanks. No, I did not get to do any fun driving, unfortunately.
The last time that I drove around the 'Ring was several years ago when I stopped racing there. I don't think i have been around since. Not sure of total laps, I think in the 1,800-2,000 range.
I would like to go back, yes, but my understanding is that the tourist driving scene out there is even worse than it used to be, which would make it unsafe, frustrating, and I don't like the position of being responsible for other drivers (especially bikers) who don't know the circuit and keep putting themselves in harm's way. Excluding tourist driving, that would leave me with just the option of returning to racing, which I have often considered, but I just don't have the time to do it.

There is a third option available to you!

Private track days. They're not that expensive.

[mikiec]

Well that was most of April reading all these volumes! I’m impressed by your willingness to answer just about every question, especially with many being repeats. Couple that popped into my head:

You mentioned looking to get a design done by GM & CC, are you willing to elaborate on this with the specifications or parameters. Also was it just to be a one off or in the back of your mind could it have developed into a sales run if the stars aligned?

Also if you were restricted to a single car to use what would you get/ keep?

Many thanks for maintaining such an interesting thread, although I am quite relieved you settled on your blue

[flemke]

mikiec said:

Well that was most of April reading all these volumes! I’m impressed by your willingness to answer just about every question, especially with many being repeats. Couple that popped into my head:

You mentioned looking to get a design done by GM & CC, are you willing to elaborate on this with the specifications or parameters. Also was it just to be a one off or in the back of your mind could it have developed into a sales run if the stars aligned?

Also if you were restricted to a single car to use what would you get/ keep?

Many thanks for maintaining such an interesting thread, although I am quite relieved you settled on your blue

The car project with Chris and Gordon would have been another single-seater (but with no passenger seat behind the driver's) with similar classic styling. The main difference was going to be a different drive-train, either a Ducati or BMW bike engine with shaft-drive, for more torque and less maintenance. There were going to be two cars, one for Gordon and one for myself. I had no interest in turning it into a business venture.

If I had to pick one single car for everything, I think I'd have a Porsche 911, probably a turbo. Sporty character, enjoyable to drive, not too large to be practical, good reliability and build quality, and finally and crucially that rear seating area to accommodate a third person or a bunch of parcels or luggage.

[Pericoloso]

You don't seem too keen to drive in a Touristenfahrt on the Ring ,watching the many crash vids would put many off but

the short evening sessions during the week are so much better than a weekend all dayer.

I took my FIAT round on a Friday evening session in July 2016 and it was fine ,apart from the Audi S3 being gutted by fire.

[DuckAvenger]

Flemke,

This might be very stupid question but is there some special batch of P1's? This is from Nico Rosbergs video where he drives one special P1
https://youtu.be/40oSH-ABYow?t=54s (One out of Eleven)

[thegreenhell]

DuckAvenger said:

Flemke,

This might be very stupid question but is there some special batch of P1's? This is from Nico Rosbergs video where he drives one special P1
https://youtu.be/40oSH-ABYow?t=54s (One out of Eleven)

Judging by the VP (Validation Prototype?) sticker we saw on the car, I'd guess it's one of the prototypes that was recycled and sold after the main run of cars.

[DuckAvenger]

thegreenhell said:

Judging by the VP (Validation Prototype?) sticker we saw on the car, I'd guess it's one of the prototypes that was recycled and sold after the main run of cars.

Oh I see. There's no power difference at all or is there some other quirks that other models don't have?

[flemke]

Pericoloso said:

You don't seem too keen to drive in a Touristenfahrt on the Ring ,watching the many crash vids would put many off but

the short evening sessions during the week are so much better than a weekend all dayer.

I took my FIAT round on a Friday evening session in July 2016 and it was fine ,apart from the Audi S3 being gutted by fire.

I used to go out there all the time for TF. Once I started racing there, the TF sessions were less appealing. Then the TF crowds started to increase, they changed the parking lot traffic flow pattern from slightly awkward to completely dysfunctional, the red flags became common, they ruined the on-site cafe, and doing TF made almost no sense. These days I have almost no time to travel out there anyhow.

[flemke]

DuckAvenger said:

thegreenhell said:

Judging by the VP (Validation Prototype?) sticker we saw on the car, I'd guess it's one of the prototypes that was recycled and sold after the main run of cars.

Oh I see. There's no power difference at all or is there some other quirks that other models don't have?

As thegreenhell says, this is just a recycled prototype. AFAIK all the prototypes were rebuilt with the visual carbon-fibre bodywork, which this car appears to have. The visual carbon bodywork was always an option on the normal production cars, but McLaren Automotive gave the rebuilt prototypes a special name to try to deflect attention from the fact that they were breaking their promise on build numbers.
Apart from the bodywork, there was nothing different about the recycled cars.

[CanAm]

Flemke, you have a lot of background knowledge; can you offer any insight into the Gurney/McLaren connection? In CanAm Dan drove the spare M8b and of course stepped into the breach after Bruce's tragic death. They both drove each other's F1 cars; what are the chances of that happening these days? (Even if the rules allowed it)

[flemke]

CanAm said:

Flemke, you have a lot of background knowledge; can you offer any insight into the Gurney/McLaren connection? In CanAm Dan drove the spare M8b and of course stepped into the breach after Bruce's tragic death. They both drove each other's F1 cars; what are the chances of that happening these days? (Even if the rules allowed it)

I don't have any knowledge that is not in the public domain. Back in the '60s the racing community was a lot more integrated and the drivers' commitments were less rigid than today.

Also bear in mind the Antipodean affinity. Jack Brabham was Bruce's teammate at Cooper for 4 years. Jack went off to start his own team, and Dan drove for Brabham for 3 years. For the last 2 of those years, Dan's teammate was Denny Hulme, who then left Brabham to join McLaren. All these guys were pals, as well as, by virtue of coming from either the southern hemisphere or the western hemisphere, fellow outsiders in the Eurocentric world of Formula One and sports car racing. Also, Bruce and Dan had been teammates (but not co-drivers) for Ford at Le Mans.

AFAIK, the first time that one helped the other out with a car was midway through the '67 season, when McLaren were struggling with their F1 entry and for three races Bruce drove an Eagle. That same year, the McLaren M6B dominated Can-Am, and to start the 1968 season Dan bought a M6B, modified the suspension and put a Ford engine into it, and campaigned it in Can-Am. Then of course Bruce was killed at Goodwood early in the 1970 season, and Dan, who had semi-retired, came back to help in both Can-Am and F1. Unfortunately, I think he had a disagreement with Teddy Mayer, who was running McLaren after Bruce's death and who reputedly was not the most user-friendly guy one could ever meet, and Dan left McLaren and driving to concentrate on developing All-American Racers.

Could that extent of mobility and helping out happen today? No, not with Formula One drivers.

[AlmostUseful]

A good friend of mine has just done the pre-delivery detailing on the old Blu Alfa P1. What a lovely looking car.

https://instagram.com/p/Bh9Vb9bhqYG/

[bobo79]

AlmostUseful said:

A good friend of mine has just done the pre-delivery detailing on the old Blu Alfa P1. What a lovely looking car.

https://instagram.com/p/Bh9Vb9bhqYG/

I do like the styling of the P1 (silly banana headlights aside) but why do Mclaren (and all car companies actually) insist on using such tasteless typography for dials and switches?

[AlmostUseful]

Oh Christ don’t come in here talking about fonts, you’ll set Flemke off again!


In fairness, I find them quite inoffensive, what’s the problem?

[flemke]

bobo79 said:

AlmostUseful said:

A good friend of mine has just done the pre-delivery detailing on the old Blu Alfa P1. What a lovely looking car.

https://instagram.com/p/Bh9Vb9bhqYG/

I do like the styling of the P1 (silly banana headlights aside) but why do Mclaren (and all car companies actually) insist on using such tasteless typography for dials and switches?

Because the typography and logos are usually drawn by car designers, not by calligraphers or lettering designers.
Would you want a car designed by a calligrapher?

[flemke]

AlmostUseful said:

Oh Christ don’t come in here talking about fonts, you’ll set Flemke off again!

[bobo79]

flemke said:

Because the typography and logos are usually drawn by car designers, not by calligraphers or lettering designers.

Perhaps they should... shoddy typographic choices are an industry wide problem and genuinely quite bizarre considering how important appearance is to the car market. Why do Mclaren feel using a typeface from a tacky computer game score board is appropriate on the switch gear of a million pound car?

[Dr Gitlin]

bobo79 said:

Perhaps they should... shoddy typographic choices are an industry wide problem and genuinely quite bizarre considering how important appearance is to the car market. Why do Mclaren feel using a typeface from a tacky computer game score board is appropriate on the switch gear of a million pound car?

You'd have to ask Ron that; that font is used throughout MTC as well as on the cars.