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Post by charleselan on Apr 27, 2018 18:20:40 GMT
John, you beat me by a few years my fiend, My first 'live' event that I can recollect was 1964 - but it wasn't a bad start, the British GP at Brands, climbing under the fence with my patient brother and sneaking in Chris, It was the May of 1957 and I was the impressive age of 6 years. The sound of factory BSA Goldstar's and the aromatic perfume of Castrol "R" all added to the addiction. My first attendance at a car race came much later; the Friday practice for the 1969 British GP at Silverstone. What a year with JYS in the brilliant Matra MS80 and Jochen in the GLTL Lotus 49B. Colin Chapman had been adamant that they would run the 4WD Lotus 63's but was persuaded otherwise and bought back the 49B's he had sold to Jo Bonnier; Jo Bo having to run a 63 as compensation. I can also say that I saw all of the 4WD cars run except for the Cosworth which Trev Taylor had been entered to drive. John |
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Post by René on Apr 27, 2018 19:11:04 GMT
I have been mulling over whether to make a comment or not......... JC, your comments, opinions and knowledge are essential to this forum even if you decide to never watch a car race again! Never hold back! |
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Post by Carl on Apr 27, 2018 23:45:46 GMT
I have been mulling over whether to make a comment or not......... JC, your comments, opinions and knowledge are essential to this forum even if you decide to never watch a car race again! Never hold back! John Charles, I agree with Rene. Be assured that very few see you as a fiend.   - Carl (nightclub beast) |
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Post by chrisb on Apr 28, 2018 4:40:57 GMT
JC [and Carl's eagle eyes] sorry mistype - you are a friend not a fiend!! amended appropriately- apologies...
and hear hear Rene/ Carl
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Post by mikael on Apr 28, 2018 5:48:24 GMT
JC,
Yes, it’s interesting that the smells also are an important part of the pleasures of motor racing, in addition to the sights and sounds.
I remember also loving the smell associated with Castrol R. The variant I knew was R40, which might have been milder (in the smell) than earlier variants, up to the original Castrol R.
In particular, R40 was used in speedway in the 70’s and 80’s. Those (4-stroke) engines (mostly Jawa and Weslake at that time) must have consumed a good deal of that oil, because the smell of it was strong!
R40 was also used as "2-stroke oil" in karting (at least in the late 70’s and early-mid 80’s) for the gearless 100cc and 130cc engines. It was said that using normal 2-stroke oil would lower the octane number (of the gasoline) too much. The fact that gasoline and R40 didn’t really mix (it didn’t become a stable, homogeneous mixture) implied that the octane number decreased only very little with R40 added. It was also said that no ordinary 2-stroke oil could withstand the 20.000 RPM that those engines ran – but R40 could. The smell of the exhaust fumes that the R40-mixture produced was just wonderful!
In motocross, an American all-synthetic 2-stroke oil called Bel-Ray became very popular around 1980. That actually also generated quite nice-smelling exhaust fumes – but that smell was nowhere near as “charismatic” as the smell of Castrol R40.
Mikael
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Post by robmarsh on Apr 28, 2018 6:08:25 GMT
Hi Mikael
You are so right about the smell, especially Castrol. The first motor race I attended was in Bulawayo December 1968. As we got out the car, near the fence and close to the track, a group of motorbikes went by and my old man said to his friend "you can really smell the Castrol". I was hooked from then on.
I also remember at Kyalami in 1983 the very pungent smell of brake and clutch linings as the cars rounded the final corner and accelerated away on to the straight.
Magic
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Post by charleselan on Apr 28, 2018 8:24:01 GMT
JC [and Carl's eagle eyes] sorry mistype - you are a friend not a fiend!! amended appropriately- apologies... and hear hear Rene/ Carl Chris, no apology needed. I did notice at the time but knew what you really meant, these typo's are sometimes unavoidable for various reasons, I often end up editing my comments over and over again due to brain fade or predictive text interference. JC |
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Post by René on Apr 28, 2018 8:36:35 GMT
Mikael, Rob, yes of course the smell of motor racing. The smell of fuel and burned rubber are like an 'eau de Cologne' for petrol heads. A good motor race is an extreme stimulation of all your senses; sight, smell and hearing. That is what makes it so special to visit a race track.
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Post by chrisb on Apr 28, 2018 9:11:39 GMT
having a Grandfather who worked for Castrol for most of his life there will always be that soft spot for Castrol R and GTX - and whilst the likes of Millers, Morrisons, Penrite, Valvoline and Duckhams are all great oils, Castrol R will always have that bit extra, fond memories,
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Post by chrisb on Apr 28, 2018 9:14:25 GMT
thanks JC,
interesting what we speak of motor sport aromas, it is something underestimated I sense, the Cosworth days and the Turbo days are my strongest memories and i have no idea if the current crop smell or not?
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Post by Carl on Apr 28, 2018 15:32:27 GMT
JC [and Carl's eagle eyes] sorry mistype - you are a friend not a fiend!! amended appropriately- apologies... and hear hear Rene/ Carl Chris, no apology needed. I did notice at the time but knew what you really meant, these typo's are sometimes unavoidable for various reasons, I often end up editing my comments over and over again due to brain fade or predictive text interference. JC And I apologize for needlessly stirring peaceful waters. After a few strong whiskeys, a nightclub beast is drawn to inappropriate behavior. Cheers, Carl |
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Post by charleselan on Apr 28, 2018 16:58:46 GMT
Chris, no apology needed. I did notice at the time but knew what you really meant, these typo's are sometimes unavoidable for various reasons, I often end up editing my comments over and over again due to brain fade or predictive text interference. JC And I apologize for needlessly stirring peaceful waters. After a few strong whiskeys, a nightclub beast is drawn to inappropriate behavior. Cheers, Carl As with Chris no apology needed Carl, it was all in fun and taken as such. Keep up the good work and continue keeping the nightclub peaceful. |
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Post by charleselan on Apr 28, 2018 17:13:51 GMT
JC, Yes, it’s interesting that the smells also are an important part of the pleasures of motor racing, in addition to the sights and sounds. I remember also loving the smell associated with Castrol R. The variant I knew was R40, which might have been milder (in the smell) than earlier variants, up to the original Castrol R. In particular, R40 was used in speedway in the 70’s and 80’s. Those (4-stroke) engines (mostly Jawa and Weslake at that time) must have consumed a good deal of that oil, because the smell of it was strong! R40 was also used as "2-stroke oil" in karting (at least in the late 70’s and early-mid 80’s) for the gearless 100cc and 130cc engines. It was said that using normal 2-stroke oil would lower the octane number (of the gasoline) too much. The fact that gasoline and R40 didn’t really mix (it didn’t become a stable, homogeneous mixture) implied that the octane number decreased only very little with R40 added. It was also said that no ordinary 2-stroke oil could withstand the 20.000 RPM that those engines ran – but R40 could. The smell of the exhaust fumes that the R40-mixture produced was just wonderful! In motocross, an American all-synthetic 2-stroke oil called Bel-Ray became very popular around 1980. That actually also generated quite nice-smelling exhaust fumes – but that smell was nowhere near as “charismatic” as the smell of Castrol R40. Mikael Mikael, The aroma of Castrol "R" can never be bettered in my opinion. That combined with the freshly sheared grass of the motocross bikes knobbly tyres was the most inspiring I have ever come across. My father used to mix the Castrol "R" with petrol for my 250cc DOT bike, and I remember it was quite a thick looking substance and he used to shake the container vigorously before pouring it into the bikes fuel tank. I am not certain what the young lads & lasses use in their 2 Stroke scooters/mopeds here in France but I always noticed that it smelt nothing like that used in the UK; a very strange smell if you ask me. As the other guys have noted the smells at car race meetings are equally compelling, the hot brakes and clutches as well as the oil and fuel. Nothing mind you comes close in car terms to that of the special brews used back in the 1980's when the turbo's were at their peak. I can still smell the large fuel drums behind the Brabham BMW pit garages at Brands Hatch as the mechanics dispensed the concoction ready for fuelling the cars. As I have said so many times before it had an aroma of cellulose paint thinners; based apparently on BMW WW2 rocket fuel. But for me the aroma of Castrol "R" is the very essence of the ultimate assault on the senses. My yearning to smell it once more almost makes me want to go out and buy an old classic scrambler and blast it around my paddocks  . JC |
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Post by robmarsh on Apr 29, 2018 6:28:39 GMT
JC I think toluene was one of the components in that BMW rocket fuel. The WW2 rocket fuel was so potent that it would dissolve humans. There was more than one test pilot who ended up as a sticky residue due to violent contact with that stuff.
On to happier senses. I recall the 1992 SA Grand Prix which was probably one of the most boring races on TV to anybody but the most devoted Mansell fan. I attended every session plus the GP itself and was enthralled for almost the whole time. The slowing down lap with Mansell waving and preparing his "jeepers it was difficult out there" speech left me cold, especially as one of my friends was prancing around in glee. Anyway, it was the total impact on the senses, aural, visual, physical and smell that kept me in raptures for the whole three days.
Things took a turn for the worse on my return home when I discovered my neighbours had plastered Mansell's name, number 5 and a union jack on my gate!
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Post by Jamie on Apr 29, 2018 6:50:29 GMT
JC I think toluene was one of the components in that BMW rocket fuel. The WW2 rocket fuel was so potent that it would dissolve humans. There was more than one test pilot who ended up as a sticky residue due to violent contact with that stuff. On to happier senses. I recall the 1992 SA Grand Prix which was probably one of the most boring races on TV to anybody but the most devoted Mansell fan. I attended every session plus the GP itself and was enthralled for almost the whole time. The slowing down lap with Mansell waving and preparing his "jeepers it was difficult out there" speech left me cold, especially as one of my friends was prancing around in glee. Anyway, it was the total impact on the senses, aural, visual, physical and smell that kept me in raptures for the whole three days. Things took a turn for the worse on my return home when I discovered my neighbours had plastered Mansell's name, number 5 and a union jack on my gate! Ha ha, Mansell was a card wasn't he....loved a bit of acting. One hell of a racing driver though. |
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