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Post by René on Jul 4, 2018 12:49:43 GMT
The British Grand Prix, almost halfway the season and for many teams the home base. As with the race in Austria, difficult to make a prediction but Mercedes will be extremely fast again. And Lewis will be motivated more than ever after the Spielberg debacle to go for the win in his home Grand Prix. But will it be enough to hold off the Ferraris and the Red Bulls and can Haas continue its strong form as best of the rest? On the tail end it will be painful again to see Williams and McLaren struggle, certainly on home soil. I sincerely hope both teams will find their way up as they are so much part of the history of F1.
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Post by chrisb on Jul 4, 2018 20:38:49 GMT
having been at fortress Silverstone in 70 to see the magnificent Clay win Williams first GP and how wonderful that day was to nearly 40 years later [ouch] when it is embarrasing just how poor they are now, as for the mighty McLaren with msr Boiler now departed - maybe they should both get Sam back? looking like a team without direction or optimisim - let alone hope,
incidentally I have just discovered an AP coloured clip of the 1965 race, even 1.5ltrs sounded great
I have gone for Bottas - on the principal I still don't have a clue,
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Post by Carl on Jul 4, 2018 21:30:45 GMT
Silverstone would be even more wonderful if the go-kart section was bypassed. The circuit should have been left alone and the cars modified to alleviate extreme speeds.
Only those privy to alternative history know that motor racing was anticipated in the religious canon of the medieval monks resident on the site and I wonder if their souls haunt the old Abbey and Woodcote Corners, joined on occasion by the great drivers who traversed Woodcote with such spectacular artistry.
I have chosen Vettel and will donate my lederhosen prize to charity.
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Post by Carl on Jul 5, 2018 1:35:33 GMT
Rene,
That's a great photograph of one of the finest Grand Prix cars well driven by Peter Revson at the 1973 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, soon forever altered after Jody's assault on Team Surtees.
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Post by charleselan on Jul 5, 2018 14:15:08 GMT
I have no doubt mentioned this to repetition but there was a time when my stomach would begin to knot by this time before a British GP, the pictures from René and Carl have reminded me of that fact way back from 1973. The planning would be done as to every detail; from what time I would rise early on the Saturday morning getting to the circuit hopefully avoiding huge traffic jams. That year was something, I was staying with my Aunty & Uncle who lived at that time in nearby Buckingham and their youngest daughter was getting married that very day, don't think she has ever forgiven me for giving the GP priority, seriously no contest . Came into the circuit via the Stowe entrance in the early hours and set my camping chair up on the outside entrance to Club Corner. I sat alongside a great bloke somewhat older than me and we spent hours telling many stories, all the while the banking was filling up with a huge volume of spectators, it was a very large crowd that year in particular. As usual there were groups of fans who came with scaffolding and planks to erect their very own viewing towers, they were fantastic times. The practice/qualifying days on Thursday and Friday were far less crowded in those days so one could walk around the circuit and go into the Grandstands free of charge. Photos were taken on those two days with my recently acquired Zenith E 35mm SLR camera with basic telephoto lens'; my very first SLR camera. It was on the Friday afternoon that I found myself in the Woodcote Grandstand and saw first hand my heroes stunning pole lap; Ronnie in his absolute prime driving the beautiful Lotus 72E. I have little doubt that the pole lap was more driver than car, as the sensational looking Yardley McLaren M23's were a faster car that weekend. From my vantage point I could see the black & gold Lotus appear over the rise from Abbey Curve and approach Woodcote at unabated speed, Ronnie did not lift the throttle just pitched the car into the bend flat in top and held the most beautiful power slide imaginable. From above I could see that his hands were just so calm at the wheel, no sawing away that less talented drivers would do in such circumstances, pure poetry in motion. For race day Ronnie was surely going to win, but Saturday was a very strange day indeed, and with high drama. The support races were as usual excellent, Ecclestone & Moseley had yet to bring about their destructive influence upon the sport. From my position at the opposite side off the circuit to the start we waited in anticipation with the circuit commentary keeping us posted. One could hear the cars as they set off for the "first" start and then the crowd cheer and gasp as JYS pulled off the most fantastic overtake into the lead. I could just see the cars as the swept down Hanger Straight into Stowe Corner, and then burst into clear view coming down to Club. It looked set for another Stewart Silverstone Special, but then the unthinkable happened when all hell broke out on the exit of Woodcote as Jody lost his M23, the commentators screaming of the carnage. Obviously we could not see anything from our position but the commentary was superb and it was very fortunate that there was no fatalities except for Andrea De Adamich sustaining a broken leg. The Surtees team were wiped out completely and Big John was very angry and upset, it was carnage. After a long delay a much smaller field attended the restart. JYS did not manage a repeat of his initial start and when he attempted to do similar Ronnie was not having it a second time and the Scot spun into the wheat field in the centre of the circuit, at one point only his high airbox was visible. The race settled down with four cars pulling clear of the rest, Ronnie leading comfortably with Denny Hulme and Reter Revson in the Yardley McLaren's following along with the mighty impressive James Hunt in the Hesketh March 731. As the race moved into the later stages it did appear to rain a little, and some say that Ronnie lifted off which enable Peter to overtake him, other say that the Swede had sustained a very slow puncture which affected the handling. I personally doubt it was the former as Ronnie would have been the last to slow in such conditions. So "Revvie" went on to win a much deserved victory, although upset that Ronnie did not win I was pleased that a very fine driver had won his first GP. More support races followed the GP, and then it was a case of settling down to allow the huge crowd dissipate before heading home. Sadly these days there is no knot in the stomach and I am uncertain whether I will bother to watch the race on TV as I detest what they have done to the old place, they have taken its personality and the "new" start and pits are the worst thing imaginable as they have ruined that once great corner at Club.
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Post by René on Jul 5, 2018 16:12:41 GMT
Fantastic story JC. I wish I could like your post more than once!
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Post by Carl on Jul 5, 2018 16:18:55 GMT
Brilliantly told, John Charles.
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Post by charleselan on Jul 5, 2018 16:24:10 GMT
Thank you René & Carl, it was just seeing those photos from 1973 that got me feeling very nostalgic, and fortunately the memories burn very bright, its as if it were only yesterday.
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Post by chrisb on Jul 5, 2018 20:46:24 GMT
beautifully told JC, and a story I can resonate with, from my place in Kent leaving at 04:00 to try and get there before the maddening crowd and so looking forward to it, acting the child with turbo-charged excitiment - driving whomseover I was with nuts with my enthusiasm, I did like Silverstone in those days, it was fast, flat and Abbey just plain exciting, now, a bit like you say JC not sure I would even watch it on TV,
have you kept all your programmes chaps? I have mine in the loft - sometimes it is the only way I remember which race I have been to! must double check again
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Post by charleselan on Jul 5, 2018 21:08:44 GMT
beautifully told JC, and a story I can resonate with, from my place in Kent leaving at 04:00 to try and get there before the maddening crowd and so looking forward to it, acting the child with turbo-charged excitiment - driving whomseover I was with nuts with my enthusiasm, I did like Silverstone in those days, it was fast, flat and Abbey just plain exciting, now, a bit like you say JC not sure I would even watch it on TV, have you kept all your programmes chaps? I have mine in the loft - sometimes it is the only way I remember which race I have been to! must double check again Yes Chris I have them all, even my old 1950's motorcycle Scramble/Motocross ones, and all of the Press Packs I picked up when working as a photographer, there were some beauties back in the 1980's especially from the WEC Group "C" meetings. It was amazing what the Press were offered back in the 1980's.
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Post by mikael on Jul 6, 2018 0:15:23 GMT
JC, your words evoke a clear image of Ronnie Peterson going, pedal to metal, smoothly through a corner. A pleasure to read.
The McLaren M23 must have been truly brilliant and well ahead of its time. To imagine that a car introduced for the 1973 season can win the Championship (Driver's Championship) in its fourth season, in 1976, at a time when new technical ideas came thick and fast - that's amazing indeed.
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Post by Carl on Jul 6, 2018 2:21:44 GMT
JC, your words evoke a clear image of Ronnie Peterson going, pedal to metal, smoothly through a corner. A pleasure to read. The McLaren M23 must have been truly brilliant and well ahead of its time. To imagine that a car introduced for the 1973 season can win the Championship (Driver's Championship) in its fourth season, in 1976, at a time where new technical ideas came thick and fast - that's amazing indeed. Mikael, The M23 was indeed brilliant and well ahead of its time. Before ground effects and turbochargers, new technical ideas arrived at a more steady pace, allowing an extra season or two for brilliant designs and more time for fans to be amazed. The Lotus 49 was still competitive into its fourth season, Jochen Rindt setting a race lap record almost a second faster than Stewart's pole in 1970 and winning at Monaco. That was one hell of a swan song, as was 1976 for the M23.
Cheers, Carl
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Post by robmarsh on Jul 6, 2018 6:42:56 GMT
Lovely memories Charles. Like you my stomach used to get into a knot before the British GP, along with the South African GP. The reason for me being that those two GPs were on a Saturday afternoon in those days and therefore featured snippets of live commentary throughout the three hours until 1800 local time. They were the only Grand Prix I could follow live. No TV pics but I had a pretty vivid imagination so all was good.
I still look forward to the British GP these days, I guess old habits die hard. I suppose it is for the same reason why I support the English football team at the World Cup. They won in 1966 when I first became passionate about football.
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Post by René on Jul 6, 2018 15:30:53 GMT
have you kept all your programmes chaps? I have mine in the loft - sometimes it is the only way I remember which race I have been to! must double check again I don't have them all but I still have most of them. Unfortunately not from my first two Grand Prix I attended in 1979 but I still have the tickets and the Marlboro stickers!
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Post by René on Jul 6, 2018 15:36:35 GMT
It looks like it is going to be close between Mercedes and Ferrari. It is also warm in the UK and that could be better for Ferrari. Lewis fastest in FP1 and Seb in FP2. Red Bull a bit further behind (with Max's car in the wall). Good pace so far for Alonso.
©Autosport
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