Unusual racing cars
Discussion
How about the fan cars? eg Gordon Murray's Brabham BT46B? www.f1mech.co.uk/bt46.htm
I believe some other teams thought about developing them to catch up with the ground effect Lotus' but never "took off" so to speak due to the Brabham being banned almost immediately after its one and only race/victory in Sweden
Regards
Iain
I believe some other teams thought about developing them to catch up with the ground effect Lotus' but never "took off" so to speak due to the Brabham being banned almost immediately after its one and only race/victory in Sweden
Regards
Iain
Eric Mc said:
Chaparall were first with a fan car. And the Brabham was never banned. It was withdrawn by Bernie Ecclestone before a ban was imposed. The principle of fan assisted downfoerce was banned later - but not the BT46B specifically.
Granted...initialy all complaints where thrown out which allowed the car to race and win in Sweden.
On the subject of unsual cars there was a motorsport artical in December 2001 of heroic Can-Am failures "Dynosaurs"... For example the 1970 Mac's-It Special, with a 2cyl 2stroke at each wheel, with CVT transmission's and centrafugal clutches...
Regards
Iain
D-Angle said:
There were practical reasons for doing that, the estate had better aerodynamcs than the saloon.
The other one has bells on... Volvo used the estate because it was better PR.
Eric Mc said:
The principle of fan assisted downfoerce was banned later
Wasn't there already a rule that any aerodynamic component must be 'fixed' to the sprung part of the car, therefore making fan-assisted downforce illegal? Gordon Murray got around it by arguing that the fan's main function was engine cooling so it wasn't primarily an 'aerodynamic component'.
The eventual ban on fans was implemented by the apllication of the "non-moveable aerodynamic device" rule. Of course, that rule had been introduced in 1969 as a measure against adjustable wings which had been in use from mid 1968 up to the infamous 1969 Spanish GP. The rule had not envisaged the use of fans or other engine driven suction devices.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Friday 12th November 08:17
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Friday 12th November 08:17
I remember from my youth - not that long ago! in Hillclimbing a 250 kart modified with a 500cc motor, roll cage etc which caused a massive stir in the sport in the late 80's. It was called the Trackstar, built and driven by a guy named Phil Jeffries.
He broke all the hill records and the car was eventually banned because it didn't have "proper" suspension - I think he argued that chassis flex was the suspension. I havn't been able to find any pics but I'm sure some of you will remember it. Other wierd and wonderful cars I remember include Nic Mann's twin turbo, 3.5l nitrous Morris Minor and a Formula Ford where the driver lay in an enclosed pod - i'll try and find the pics - very unusual indeed!
>> Edited by andrewm on Friday 12th November 08:53
He broke all the hill records and the car was eventually banned because it didn't have "proper" suspension - I think he argued that chassis flex was the suspension. I havn't been able to find any pics but I'm sure some of you will remember it. Other wierd and wonderful cars I remember include Nic Mann's twin turbo, 3.5l nitrous Morris Minor and a Formula Ford where the driver lay in an enclosed pod - i'll try and find the pics - very unusual indeed!
>> Edited by andrewm on Friday 12th November 08:53
FourWheelDrift said:
No he means the March 711
Ah, the great Ronnie Peterson. Never saw him race, but heard so much about him. From Motor Sport magazine: (something like this
"Once, at Monza I saw him testing. Before he went out, he was compklainign about understeer.
When I saw him through the Ascari curves, he was on full-lock oversteer!!! I asked him what waa wrong, and didnt he know the difference between over and understeer. His reply:
"Of course. I was getting so much understeer I had to oversteer the car just to get a decent time.
A legend. Does anyone know any good videos where I can see his style for mnyself?
I remember watching the 1974 Monaco GP live on BBC. Lauda and Regazzoni shot off into the lead in their Ferrari 312Bs until mechanical problems forced both out. Rinnie inherited the lead in his obsolete Lotus 72 John Player Special and won the race.
A priviledge to watch.
There is a lovely video clip I've seen from time to time of Ronnie in a full on power slide through the old Woodcote in the 1973 British GP - again in the Lotus 72.
A priviledge to watch.
There is a lovely video clip I've seen from time to time of Ronnie in a full on power slide through the old Woodcote in the 1973 British GP - again in the Lotus 72.
williamp said:
A legend. Does anyone know any good videos where I can see his style for mnyself?
Peterson was a hero, and by all accounts a nice chap too. In 1978 he was better than ever, and if he'd been allowed to race Mario might have had his hands full...
There's good vid called 'If you're not winning, you're not trying' which follows JPSTL during the 1973 season when they won the Constructors' Cup but didn't win the driver's title.
Ronnie, Niki and Clay were my F1 70s heroes. My brother was into James Hunt - who knows him - and he even fought me when I tore his Monaco poster . . . Later Watson and Mansell and that Fin guy who was the last winner in a Cosworth powered car . . .
And now F1 is - sorry - dullish, even when a dutch guy comes in and does well and I'm supposed to be enthusiastic 'bout it . . . . WRC all the way, the inside cameras are great fun to watch.
But back to topic.
And now F1 is - sorry - dullish, even when a dutch guy comes in and does well and I'm supposed to be enthusiastic 'bout it . . . . WRC all the way, the inside cameras are great fun to watch.
But back to topic.
Andrew Noakes said:
[quote=dinkel]that Fin guy who was the last winner in a Cosworth powered car . . .
Keke Rosberg was the last worldchamp with a Cosworth V8 . . . 1982. And after that alot of turbo violence.
Edit to say: v8!!! and then some new eras.
>> Edited by dinkel on Monday 15th November 08:14
dinkel said:
Keke Rosberg was the last worldchamp with a Cosworth V8 . . . 1982.
Ah, apologies. I interepreted 'winner' as race winner not championship winner.
Eric Mc said:
What about Schumacher in the Benetton Ford in 1994. As I said earloer, were these Ford engines built by Cosworth?
Yes, the 1994 Benettons ran Zetec R V8s, designed and built by Cosworth. Johnny Herbert's win in the 1999 European GP in the Stewart was powered by a Cosworth Racing CR-1 V10 - I think that was the last Cosworth engine win in a GP.
Andrew Noakes said:
Yes, the 1994 Benettons ran Zetec R V8s, designed and built by Cosworth. Johnny Herbert's win in the 1999 European GP in the Stewart was powered by a Cosworth Racing CR-1 V10 - I think that was the last Cosworth engine win in a GP.
Apart from Fisichella, Jordan-Cosworth, Brazil 2003. The 1990s Ford engines (aka EB series) were not part of the DF series
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