Who said this, and when?
Discussion
". . . we have witnessed the changes which have taken place in Grand Prix racing, and unfortunately seen what was fair competition between sportsmen degenerate into power struggles and political manoeuvrings between manipulators and money men attempting to take more out of the sport than they put into it . . . if one does not clean it up, Formula 1 will end in a quagmire of plagiarism, chicanery and petty rule interpretation forced by lobbies manipulated by people for whom the word sport has no meaning."
FourWheelDrift said:
Bernie Ecclestone after leaving the Brabham team to go full time FOM/FOA?
Well, it involved Eccs in one way. Brabham was cheating with a variable height adjustment in their car so that when it was measured in hard-standing it would be raised a few centimetres. When it was out on circuit it could be lowered via a massive lever inside the car. The car was found to be legal despite the fact that the skirts actually touched the track at times. It was this that got up the nose of the speech maker.forsure said:
Colin Chapman?
If it related to ride height/ground effect I'd guess 1979.
Yes, it was Chapman after the 'dual chassis' Lotus 88 was banned after being declared legal by the ACCUS for Longbeach. The thing that got me was the similarlity between then and now. Not to mention the $100,000 fine arbitarily imposed by Balestre on Chapman for a 152 infringement. And this at a time when the Brabham was felt to be legal despite the fact that the skirts quite clearly tubbed along the track.If it related to ride height/ground effect I'd guess 1979.
Plagiarism, chicanery and petty ruel interpretation . . . manipulate by people for whom the word sport has no meaning. Many would suggest that he wasn't a long way from the truth.
forsure said:
Colin Chapman?
If it related to ride height/ground effect I'd guess 1979.
Beat me to it!If it related to ride height/ground effect I'd guess 1979.
It is quite ironic overall isn't it. The only thing is that at least Chapman felt able to speak out, it would be wonderful to know the real thoughts of team owners now but for too many commercial and political reasons I guess we won't know.
The dual chassis Lotus 88 was run in 1981 I think.
The adjustable height Brabham was also 1981 as that was the year flexible skirts had been banned. As a result, teams were looking for ways and means to maintain a constant low ride height without the ability to carry the skirts. Lotus' answer was a twin tub chasis (which did not contravene the rules) and Brabhams was an adjustable ride height operated through hydraulics (which did contravene the rules).
The adjustable height Brabham was also 1981 as that was the year flexible skirts had been banned. As a result, teams were looking for ways and means to maintain a constant low ride height without the ability to carry the skirts. Lotus' answer was a twin tub chasis (which did not contravene the rules) and Brabhams was an adjustable ride height operated through hydraulics (which did contravene the rules).
FourWheelDrift said:
Eric Mc said:
The dual chassis Lotus 88 was run in 1981 I think.
One practice session at Long Beach, but was not allowed to race IIRC.I remember that the 87 and the 88 looked identical to me. It ran in Essex colours and looked rather nice but I don't think it did much that season although didn't Nigel lead a race? I've got a photo of it at Silvestone but if memory serves both cars dropped out and Watson, who up to then, and it has to be said, afterwards as well, I never rated, won the race. The talk in the stands was all about the 88 and what a nasty man Balestre was and how his resentment must be due to the fact that the French couldn't put a car together. Of course the Renault turbo had just won the French GP which made things worse. Still, Renault finally admitted they couldn't design anything with four wheels and put their engine in proper cars.
There was an awful lot of resentment though, even from the old boys who, in those days, were there just for the race.
EDITED TO ADD:
I've just looked it up and I was indeed wrong. The car was excluded from the race and the 87s were run instead. Should have looked it up before. The trouble with getting old is that you forget that you forget.
Edited by Derek Smith on Sunday 15th June 20:15
rubystone said:
The twin chassis car has just been restored to racing condiiton IIRC - may even have had a run-out this season?
Did it ever run in this country? I've got a feeling I saw it once, probably at Brands, in red. white and blue Essex livery. My programmes have been relegated to the loft so it would take an awful ot of effort to check.Derek Smith said:
rubystone said:
The twin chassis car has just been restored to racing condiiton IIRC - may even have had a run-out this season?
Did it ever run in this country? I've got a feeling I saw it once, probably at Brands, in red. white and blue Essex livery. My programmes have been relegated to the loft so it would take an awful ot of effort to check.Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff