Favourite Racing Car
Discussion
The interesting thing about Soper was that Berger and BMW were dead against him being at Le Mans un that car and the McLaren which was heavily inked to BMW obviously, it was his team mates who really pushed the team into it, but he was still expected to really set times and be close to guys like Lehto et al, which he did, but he said it was pushing himself to a limit he did not know was there. He still hails Lehto as the quickest guy he drove with.
I have cars I like for lots of reasons, noise, looks. I like brutal cars, so most of the 84-86 turbo F1 cars were my thing, the Spirit Honda, I also like quirky stiff like the Kausen F1 car and the Eifelland, some of the early 80's Le Mans aero cars were odd and unique
I have cars I like for lots of reasons, noise, looks. I like brutal cars, so most of the 84-86 turbo F1 cars were my thing, the Spirit Honda, I also like quirky stiff like the Kausen F1 car and the Eifelland, some of the early 80's Le Mans aero cars were odd and unique
Brabham BT46B - the fan car.
Possibly the biggest loophole ever found in the F1 regulations, thanks to Gordon Murray,
It was so good it quietly got buried after only one race, when Niki Lauda blew away the competition - because team owner Bernie didn’t want to rock the boat with the other teams, while he was trying to create what became Formula One Management.
Possibly the biggest loophole ever found in the F1 regulations, thanks to Gordon Murray,
It was so good it quietly got buried after only one race, when Niki Lauda blew away the competition - because team owner Bernie didn’t want to rock the boat with the other teams, while he was trying to create what became Formula One Management.
It was indeed clever exploitation of the rules , but my favourite example was the Renault 1.5 V6 . The supercharged option was viewed by most F 1 teams and followers as an historical anomaly , and nobody even made turbocharged cars when the rules were introduced in 1966 - apart from the near forgotten Chevy Corvair ISTR . I saw the Renault RS 01 make its debut at Silverstone and it was generally regarded as a brave experiment, but doomed . We weren't saying the same thing two years later...and the decade from 1984 to 1993 remains my favourite F 1 era - bonkers turbos , then screaming V10 s and V12s in cars like this baby 
Sandpit Steve said:
Brabham BT46B - the fan car.
Possibly the biggest loophole ever found in the F1 regulations, thanks to Gordon Murray,
It was so good it quietly got buried after only one race, when Niki Lauda blew away the competition - because team owner Bernie didn’t want to rock the boat with the other teams, while he was trying to create what became Formula One Management.
But not original - Possibly the biggest loophole ever found in the F1 regulations, thanks to Gordon Murray,
It was so good it quietly got buried after only one race, when Niki Lauda blew away the competition - because team owner Bernie didn’t want to rock the boat with the other teams, while he was trying to create what became Formula One Management.
coppice said:
It was indeed clever exploitation of the rules , but my favourite example was the Renault 1.5 V6 . The supercharged option was viewed by most F 1 teams and followers as an historical anomaly , and nobody even made turbocharged cars when the rules were introduced in 1966 - apart from the near forgotten Chevy Corvair ISTR . I saw the Renault RS 01 make its debut at Silverstone and it was generally regarded as a brave experiment, but doomed . We weren't saying the same thing two years later...and the decade from 1984 to 1993 remains my favourite F 1 era - bonkers turbos , then screaming V10 s and V12s in cars like this baby
Turbochargers had been around (on aircraft) since the 1930s. They had been used on Indycars in the 50s and 60s. They weren't even covered in the F1 regulations when Renault decided to build an F1 engine which complied with the SUPERCHARGER regulations.They were objected to by (mostly) the British teams because they felt that Renault were exploiting a rule incorrectly. But, FISA, being run by the French, decided that "supercharged" and "turbocharged" were the same thing - which they aren't.
I know the history Eric , but I prefer to applaud Renault's innovative approach than to blame FISA jingoism. The DFV hegemony was long overdue for disruption and Renault triggered the beginning of one of the most exciting eras ever in Grand Prix history , and one I was delighted to witness first hand . Imagine Renault's UK then equivalent firm , BL , committing to not only F1 but also Le Mans (turbo victory again in 78 with the Alpine 442) . Instead we got ..err .. the bad joke that was the semi works Broadspeed XJ S , sundry SD 1s and the sweet sounding but outpaced Metro 6R4
coppice said:
I know the history Eric , but I prefer to applaud Renault's innovative approach than to blame FISA jingoism. The DFV hegemony was long overdue for disruption and Renault triggered the beginning of one of the most exciting eras ever in Grand Prix history , and one I was delighted to witness first hand . Imagine Renault's UK then equivalent firm , BL , committing to not only F1 but also Le Mans (turbo victory again in 78 with the Alpine 442) . Instead we got ..err .. the bad joke that was the semi works Broadspeed XJ S , sundry SD 1s and the sweet sounding but outpaced Metro 6R4
I never liked turbo cars. Despite their power they always sounded strangulated. The current cars have a similar issue. I loved the DFV and the various 12 and 16 cylinder normally aspirated engines that were once common. And I love the whine of a supercharger.The old breed sounded great , I thought , or at least some of them did. The Ferrari V6 , BMW and Hart fours sounded pretty white noise, but the Honda and Renault V6s sounded mighty , with the TAG V 6 being a little muted but still sounded lovely. For some reason , the Renault engine in the Ligier sounded wonderfully belligerent.
Not sure about the current crop as TV doesn't even begin to convey the live experience. I am at qualifying at Silverstone next week , my first exposure to the hybrid V6s ,so we will see.
Not sure about the current crop as TV doesn't even begin to convey the live experience. I am at qualifying at Silverstone next week , my first exposure to the hybrid V6s ,so we will see.
The Belly tank racers of the 1950's are still an exercise in less is more and the beauty of purpose.
In my opinion the greatest looking endurance racer of all time was this, the 333SP.
1988-1994 was without doubt the pinnacle of F1, beautiful cars, developing technology, clean aerodynamics. I really liked this, the unlucky Simtek from 1994 with that beautiful dark purple and the MTV sponsorship. Also without doubt the 1991 Jordan and the Ferrari 641 were breathtaking.
I'll add this just for the hell of it:
Good thread
For me it has to be Tim Lewis’ Alfa Sprint.
I think it had something like 350-400 bhp.
It looked good and went great.
https://youtu.be/hVpOwqhuWII
Not sure what happened to it. I’d love to know if it’s still around.
For me it has to be Tim Lewis’ Alfa Sprint.
I think it had something like 350-400 bhp.
It looked good and went great.
https://youtu.be/hVpOwqhuWII
Not sure what happened to it. I’d love to know if it’s still around.
coppice said:
Not sure about the current crop as TV doesn't even begin to convey the live experience. I am at qualifying at Silverstone next week , my first exposure to the hybrid V6s ,so we will see.
What did you think? I was there on the same day and thought they sounded VERY underwhelming. Can't believe it's F1 really.I thought they sounded very, very different to any predecessors , and much quieter too (Lotus 56B apart ..) but under load they were fine , if a little reedy on overrun. But watching cars spear though Copse at 160mph, or whatever they do, was amazing and the sheer grunt out of the slower corners was mighty. The best noise was that lovely wailing , howling NA V6 in F3 - how I'd love to see a UK series for them . Having had my ears damaged by 50 years of V8s, 10s and 12s , Eighties' turbo V6s and so on it was actually a welcome relief in many ways.
The bigger difference was the crowd - lots more women and girls , often in family /friend groups and every single one was a Norris fan it seemed .He might only look 13 , but (with Verstappen) he was the most impressive driver from trackside in the quick stuff. If I can sell a kidney I might do all 3 days next year . Back in a month's time for 3 days for the more familiar vibe of the Classic.
The bigger difference was the crowd - lots more women and girls , often in family /friend groups and every single one was a Norris fan it seemed .He might only look 13 , but (with Verstappen) he was the most impressive driver from trackside in the quick stuff. If I can sell a kidney I might do all 3 days next year . Back in a month's time for 3 days for the more familiar vibe of the Classic.
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