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Post by chrisb on Jan 14, 2019 21:46:07 GMT
to me a true reflection of the genius of some and why they rise above others is how they race in conditions such as these - Gilles that day at Watkins Glen drew such comments - genius doesn't really do that drive justice, it really was out of this world driving, anyone who thinks Gilles only capable of outlandish driving or fighting a beast needs to see this drive and realise why we speak of him in such revered terms
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Post by Carl on Jan 14, 2019 23:51:37 GMT
A great race by one of the greatest drivers ever. Scuderia Notes: It's interesting that Villeneuve's 20 second tyre change is seen as impressive. The Scheckter Chicane was added after Francois Cevert's fatal crash and situated just before the very fast uphill esses where he lost control. Was Jody embarrassed by so many chicanes bearing his name after his shunt-filled 1973? Vittorio Brambilla takes flight in 1975 
I feel somewhat vindicated, having been corrected after writing "English Grand Prix" in an earlier posting, by Murray Walker calling this the "American Grand Prix" 
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Post by René on Jan 18, 2019 13:29:28 GMT
Today Gilles Villeneuve would have turned 69. One of the great legends of our sport. Jamais oublié!    |
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Post by chrisb on Jan 18, 2019 21:19:05 GMT
that is a lovely if poignant photo of the 126C and the helicopter
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Post by Carl on Jan 18, 2019 22:56:13 GMT
Gilles Villeneuve was a mid-70s sensation in Formula Atlantic, a wonderful series.
I remember seeing him race in the pictured car at Ontario Motor Speedway in May of 1976, qualifying almost a second ahead of Bobby Rahal and driving away from the entire field as Jim Clark would do.
Here is his 1973 Quebec championship Formula Ford  |
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Post by René on Jan 18, 2019 23:47:05 GMT
Great photo Carl of Gilles's Formula Ford with the Alouette snowmobiles sponsoring!  |
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Post by mikael on Jan 19, 2019 4:04:20 GMT
The formula car-like snowmobile is interesting. One comes to think about Rolf Biland's BEO sidecar from the late 70's which likewise was much more a formula car than it was a motorcycle. (And it was so dominant that it resulted in the development of a new class for these non-motorcycles.) Perhaps Biland got some inspiration from Villeneuve's snowmobile ...?
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Post by René on Jan 19, 2019 11:29:17 GMT
The formula car-like snowmobile is interesting. One comes to think about Rolf Biland's BEO sidecar from the late 70's which likewise was much more a formula car than it was a motorcycle. (And it was so dominant that it resulted in the development of a new class for these non-motorcycles.) Perhaps Biland got some inspiration from Villeneuve's snowmobile ...? That's cool Mikael. That side car does look more like a racing car! How I love the seventies styling! |
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Post by René on Apr 26, 2019 18:00:49 GMT
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Post by René on May 7, 2019 22:43:57 GMT
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Post by Carl on May 7, 2019 23:55:37 GMT
The year is 1980 and although I don't recognize the building in the background, I think it's the final turn onto Ocean Boulevard at Long Beach, the steepness of Pine Avenue being the clue.
Pine Avenue approaching Ocean Boulevard in the 1950s  |
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Post by chrisb on May 8, 2019 4:34:24 GMT
and people wonder why he has so many fans, even the great drifters of the 50'swould have been impressed, that is an amazing photo of an amazing talent and just brings a sad smile of wonderment - how did he do it?
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Post by René on May 8, 2019 14:40:59 GMT
I made this one at Zandvoort 1979. Gilles in the T4.  |
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Post by charleselan on May 8, 2019 15:14:59 GMT
The year is 1980 and although I don't recognize the building in the background, I think it's the final turn onto Ocean Boulevard at Long Beach, the steepness of Pine Avenue being the clue.
Pine Avenue approaching Ocean Boulevard in the 1950s
That my friends is how a Grand Prix car should be driven. Someone with that level of talent and ability should not be disadvantaged by the quest for aerodynamic downforce. These days we hear the likes of Coulthard extolling the virtues of keeping all of the wheels in line for maximum efficiency; however back in the past driving like Gilles in the photo above was a sure sign of a guy "pressing on". |
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Post by Carl on May 9, 2019 5:00:39 GMT
One great feature of the early Long Beach track was the use of Ocean Boulevard and the severe first turn drop onto Linden Avenue, which led into Turns 2 and 3, and the longer, equally abrupt uphill along Pine Avenue to the final turn, back onto Ocean Boulevard. In this photograph, Gilles Villeneuve has just crested the steep hill and is on the throttle as early as he can, even before the car is fully settled. This vintage photograph of Pine Avenue in the 1950s is the same section F5000 and Formula One later used and is much steeper than it appears in the picture. The car slowly turning right beneath the Budweiser billboard is making the same turn as Villeneuve. When racing began, the newer buildings along Pine were taller and the echoed sound was incredible!
This is a very cool short of Patrick Depailler during practice in 1978. When waved onto the track, he immediately comes onto the Linden Avenue downhill just past the first turn and at 1:20, he's onto the Pine Avenue uphill. |
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