Creeping / Jump Starts (1970’s / 1980’s)
Discussion
Having googled this topic a number of times over the years, I have not found an answer just yet.
When I see clips of old F1 race starts on YouTube from this era, it appears that the drivers are often rolling forward off their grid positions before the lights change.
Was this a thing or were they just more relaxed about this back then?
When I see clips of old F1 race starts on YouTube from this era, it appears that the drivers are often rolling forward off their grid positions before the lights change.
Was this a thing or were they just more relaxed about this back then?
Just wasn't thought to be so critical as now. However, the accident that killed Ronnie Peterson in 1978 was partly caused by the rear of the grid starting off before the front, which caused a concentration of the pack as they approached the section of the start/finish straight where it funnelled in. It was from that moment on that methods were looked at to ensure there were no more jumped starts.
Eric Mc said:
Just wasn't thought to be so critical as now. However, the accident that killed Ronnie Peterson in 1978 was partly caused by the rear of the grid starting off before the front, which caused a concentration of the pack as they approached the section of the start/finish straight where it funnelled in. It was from that moment on that methods were looked at to ensure there were no more jumped starts.
The flag was dropped before the rear of the grid had taken their grid spots, it was the fact that they were already rolling because they hadn’t stopped that caused the bunching. A slow start by Peterson compounded things.
Many changes were made as a result of that day, including starting procedures and medical arrangements. I don’t think there was anything specifically about jumping the start came from it at that time.
Maybe not quite a jumped start but it was a very messy start - and that was very common at many GPs until the later 1980s. Tracks like Brands Hatch were notoriously difficult to manage because the grid was on a hill - so preventing cars from rolling due to gravity was extremely difficult. Mechanical factors like clutch creep also made life difficult.
Different times etc.
Different times etc.
covboy said:
glazbagun said:
Sliggtly OT, but when did LeMans drivers stop running to their cars at the race beginning?
Can’t remember when, but it think it was the year after Jacky Ickx strolled across to his car at the start in protest , and still won the raceEric Mc said:
Just wasn't thought to be so critical as now. However, the accident that killed Ronnie Peterson in 1978 was partly caused by the rear of the grid starting off before the front, which caused a concentration of the pack as they approached the section of the start/finish straight where it funnelled in. It was from that moment on that methods were looked at to ensure there were no more jumped starts.
Agree along with poor circuit design and Hunt over reacting to what was going on then blaming Patrase for the ensuing carnage. Even in the 80s especially in single seaters races the trick was to try and keep rolling. To keep this in check at Brands the organizing clubs had "observers" many of which were retired marshals who struggled to see the other side of the circuit!Thundersports said:
Eric Mc said:
Just wasn't thought to be so critical as now. However, the accident that killed Ronnie Peterson in 1978 was partly caused by the rear of the grid starting off before the front, which caused a concentration of the pack as they approached the section of the start/finish straight where it funnelled in. It was from that moment on that methods were looked at to ensure there were no more jumped starts.
Agree along with poor circuit design and Hunt over reacting to what was going on then blaming Patrase for the ensuing carnage. Even in the 80s especially in single seaters races the trick was to try and keep rolling. To keep this in check at Brands the organizing clubs had "observers" many of which were retired marshals who struggled to see the other side of the circuit!Eric Mc said:
Just wasn't thought to be so critical as now. However, the accident that killed Ronnie Peterson in 1978 was partly caused by the rear of the grid starting off before the front, which caused a concentration of the pack as they approached the section of the start/finish straight where it funnelled in. It was from that moment on that methods were looked at to ensure there were no more jumped starts.
I was gutted when Peterson died. Childhood hero of mine. A completely unnecessary death. Three pedal cars, with H pattern manual boxes.
No handbrakes.
Clutches that were very delicate and temperamental, and failed frequently.
I think that the drivers of these monsters in this era did well to launch their cars at all, and only with the benefit of hindsight from the cars of today do we view their formations as being less organised / creeping.
Penalties were still given, of course, however lets just say that the driver would have needed to have been taking the piss considerably more than today to justify a penalty ..... the observations were far more "human" than electronic, and inevitably having some subjectivity.
No handbrakes.
Clutches that were very delicate and temperamental, and failed frequently.
I think that the drivers of these monsters in this era did well to launch their cars at all, and only with the benefit of hindsight from the cars of today do we view their formations as being less organised / creeping.
Penalties were still given, of course, however lets just say that the driver would have needed to have been taking the piss considerably more than today to justify a penalty ..... the observations were far more "human" than electronic, and inevitably having some subjectivity.
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