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Post by charleselan on May 26, 2018 17:42:07 GMT
While searching for some repair details on YouTube for my Kubota mower I came across this absolute gem of a film(s). Much of Part 3 we have seen before as it was posted on the MS Forum some while back, however Parts 1 & 2 are superb with cameos of Grand Prix drivers of the time out of the cockpit. Some lovely footage of Jim Clark walking his Collie in the countryside that resonates so much for me, and of Colin Chapman at home, in the Lotus factory and climbing into his airplane with Jim Clark.
Wonderful material for us all to enjoy.
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Post by Carl on May 26, 2018 22:37:16 GMT
John Charles,
Those are wonderful films showcasing a wide variety of venues, events and national pride. Thanks!
Great scenes of English trials! In the faster variation, my favorite was the Bug-eye Sprite boasting Cosa Nostra black hand sponsorship which may not ever have lost.
As you wrote, the scenes of Jim Clark relaxing on his family farm, of Jack Brabham and Colin Chapman in their sleek and fast airplanes, of Chapman having curiously decided not to notice his family, and Graham Hill paying close attention to his, are wonderful to see. All are gone now.
The producers were certainly connoisseurs of beauty! What did Princess Grace have to say about the all-girl marching band? Those were different times!
And to see Jim Clark at Brands Hatch is to glimpse pure genius. Those were also better times!
Cheers, Carl
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Post by mikael on May 27, 2018 6:49:22 GMT
Very enjoyable - thank you, JC.
The way the film conveys the whole atmosphere of F1 of that era is very interesting.
It's interesting to note the instruments in the on-board footage (part 3, from 3:40 to approx. 3:50), the damped tachometer where the needle moves in "jumps" only; and the wildly flickering needle in the instrument to the left of the tachometer - maybe oil temperature?
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Post by René on May 27, 2018 8:48:26 GMT
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I very much enjoyed this.  |
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Post by charleselan on May 28, 2018 16:01:51 GMT
It would be hard not to enjoy this film, and I am delighted that those who have seen it gain pleasure form the experience. It was a different time, no doubt about that, but as Carl says all the better for that fact.
I also like Carl's comment about Car Trials, a somewhat simplistic category of motor sport but the skills involved are as great as in any other discipline. It is very much the same today and has Lord be praised kept the noxious influence of electronics and aero at bay.
Wouldn't it be great if the FIA grew some and banned all forms of wings and such like from all categories, so that we could all start from a new playing field. Also put a "Tzar" in charge of everything and if he/she (hows that for political correctness) does not like something, ban it!!
I also remember Mikael's observation on the MS Forum about the out of centre steering wheel position of Jim's car on the in car footage from Brands Hatch. Having given that a bit of thought, could it be that for that circuit Jim chose to have it that way, there are a lot more right hand bends on he GP circuit and it might have helped him set the car up for the corners and changing gear.
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Post by mikael on May 31, 2018 6:53:43 GMT
Ref. the offset neutral steering wheel position in Clark's car.
JC, I think you are right in your observation and idea. Looking through part 3 again, it seems clear that Clark consequently let the positions of his hands be dictated by the position of the spokes of the steering wheel. (He's gripping atop of the spokes.) Then, on this clockwise circuit he might have felt that he, generally, was crossing his arms too much to the right. It might have been tiresome (it was a long race) or he might have felt that he wanted more steering sensitivity in the many right-hand bends and that he could get that through more neutral arm positions.
In this relation, I came to think about Japanese motorcycle speedway. They use peculiarly crooked handlebars which give an awkward riding position when going straight - but in the corners it is, apparently, just right.
P.S. Related to "auto race" (as this kind of speedway is called in Japan), this video is interesting:
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Post by chrisb on May 31, 2018 15:47:07 GMT
Mikael, wonderful and as someone who has very little interest in visiting the Far East with the sole exception of Japan, I do find it such a fascinating culture - one day...
JC, aren't they wonderful! must confess tp seeing them several times previously but they never fail to interest, although and i'm sorry of i have missed it but the films of Jimmy are more than one race interlinked i reckon, i know he did some demo work at Oulton with a camera over his shoulder but am not sure of that is used there, i do remember being there [very vaguely with my older brother and climbing under the wire to get into the circuit and then on the exit having a policeman stop the traffic to let my brother and i cross the road for our Mother to pick us up] with all the traffic roaring about mmm different days
One driver i never really got a great deal of info on, other than the basic was Bob Anderson, I know about the motorbikes, the VW converted van and the accident at Silverstone but little else
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Post by charleselan on Jun 1, 2018 16:50:37 GMT
Mikael,
That is fascinating material featuring the Japanese Speedway machines, goodness me they look rather weird, but they are pretty quick judging by the film you have attached. Contrary to conventional Speedway the riders sit very upright and over the rear of the bike, whereas our Speedway riders sit well forward weighting the front.
Chris when one considers the archaic systems they used to use to mount the movie cameras in Jim's era the footage is quite remarkable. It resembled a scaffold tower mounted behind and above the drivers head, and the cameras themselves were great big lumps, nothing like the amazing Go-Pro's of today.
The footage of the grid for the 1964 Brands Hatch GP was fantastic, so clear and crisp and fantastic to see those greats of that era in close up, especially the quite rare shots of Bob Anderson. He was a very good driver and a true privateer in every sense, who really deserved more, and such a sad end testing his car at Silverstone. Quality bike racer before that as well.
JC
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2018 2:39:32 GMT
Wonderful post about the Japanese speedway, and those crooked handlebars. Form follows function.
That girl is a proper heir to the samurai tradition.
Beautiful. Thank you Mikael.
PS: Just watched the video. Amazing, on a tight track they would give hard time, if not beat, a MotoGP bike. Different ways to skin a cat.
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Post by mikael on Jun 2, 2018 5:34:54 GMT
That girl is a proper heir to the samurai tradition. Lucio,
her name is Mayo Sato and she's actually a professional rider. Presently, there is a handful of prof. female riders.
There is a portrait of Mayo Sato here (slightly old; from Jan. 2011):
Seven years later (and now aged 26), she's still active.
Best wishes M.
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Post by chrisb on Jun 2, 2018 6:11:52 GMT
brilliant Mikael, why is it there are not so many female riders or racers? there is a very good one in the WSB feeder series and there have been a few in Moto3 but wouldn't it be great to see the likes of Mayo in more international racing -
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Post by mikael on Jun 2, 2018 6:34:16 GMT
Chris,
Japanese speedway (or "auto race", as it is called) is now a gambling sport, just like horse racing. Due to this, there are some strict rules regarding how the riders may interact with other people during races, in order to avoid "race fixing". Also due to the gambling aspect, mechanics are not allowed; the riders have to be their own mechanics! Thus I guess girls have to be, say, tomboy types, in order to get into this game. (Mayo does not appear to be a tomboy at all, but she might be one nonetheless ...)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2018 23:54:16 GMT
While searching for some repair details on YouTube for my Kubota mower I came across this absolute gem of a film(s). Much of Part 3 we have seen before as it was posted on the MS Forum some while back, however Parts 1 & 2 are superb with cameos of Grand Prix drivers of the time out of the cockpit. Some lovely footage of Jim Clark walking his Collie in the countryside that resonates so much for me, and of Colin Chapman at home, in the Lotus factory and climbing into his airplane with Jim Clark. Wonderful material for us all to enjoy. That was delightful to watch thank you Charles. So those would have been the 1.5 litre engines, in light weight streamlined cars, with treaded tyres and no seat belts! Motorsport, and many aspects of life, was very much different in the 60's. One wee nugget I did read about from the 1965 British GP has echos in today's racing (specifically this years Monaco GP). Towards the end of the race Jim Clark was losing oil pressure, so was cutting the engine in fast corners to avoid seizing, while trying to maintain his lead over a Graham Hill (who was probably having tyre graining problems, lol). |
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Post by Carl on Jun 4, 2018 0:29:39 GMT
While searching for some repair details on YouTube for my Kubota mower I came across this absolute gem of a film(s). Much of Part 3 we have seen before as it was posted on the MS Forum some while back, however Parts 1 & 2 are superb with cameos of Grand Prix drivers of the time out of the cockpit. Some lovely footage of Jim Clark walking his Collie in the countryside that resonates so much for me, and of Colin Chapman at home, in the Lotus factory and climbing into his airplane with Jim Clark. Wonderful material for us all to enjoy. That was delightful to watch thank you Charles. So those would have been the 1.5 litre engines, in light weight streamlined cars, with treaded tyres and no seat belts! Motorsport, and many aspects of life, was very much different in the 60's. One wee nugget I did read about from the 1965 British GP has echos in today's racing (specifically this years Monaco GP). Towards the end of the race Jim Clark was losing oil pressure, so was cutting the engine in fast corners to avoid seizing, while trying to maintain his lead over a Graham Hill (who was probably having tyre graining problems, lol). It's crazy that drivers are instructed to slow down, and then slow down further, to finish in a good position. Formula One needs to outlaw radio tutorials, Pirelli needs competition, and car control needs to be placed back in the drivers' hands. |
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Post by chrisb on Jun 4, 2018 4:28:37 GMT
Jim, Graham's problems were down to his brakes but still managed fasteest lap, Jenks said it best when he remarked had Graham driven like this earlier Jimmy wouldn't have been so far in front in the first place, ah the power of psychology
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