Racing Car Technology

[René]

Dec 6, 2019 16:42:18 GMT Carl said:

Dec 6, 2019 10:13:47 GMT mikael said:

The "old" racing-style tachometers ("rev-counters") with "'chronometric movement'" have always been a point of fascination for me. The more limited amount of information they conveyed - in comparison with a standard tachometer - was, apparently, in line(*) with the modern approach of just a row of LED-lights on the steering wheel: the driver doesn't need to know the exact, real-time RPM, but he needs to know that he's in the right RPM-range (where the engine has its max-HP) - and that he doesn't "over-rev" the engine.

(*) Of course, it's rather the other way around; that the new system is in line with the old one.

P.S. They're really "going for it" in those costly, irreplaceable collector's item-cars.

Wonderful to see a classic racing car being "thrown" through the famous "Corkscrew" like that!

Source:

Mikael,

             Great film and commentary by Brian Redman!  Like you, I am fascinated with analog tachometers and have never liked the modern row of lights.  Although I understand the system more easily informs the driver of when to shift, it functions like a video game feature on the dashboard which detracts from the essential challenge in the same way bypassing the coordination of hand and foot when changing gear does.

Cheers, Carl

    

I also agree on the analog tachometers. I like new technology but somehow those analog meters also look more cool and racy.

I work with Apple computers every day but I never warmed to the Apple watch. I much more prefer my analog chronograph watch. Much cooler!

[chrisb]

what a brilliant piece Mikael, and the tape was excellent as well, so good to see Brian in action and he must have been a fair age when he drove that - so pleased Jamie and I were able to see a bit of him at Race Retro, he really is a legend

this computer is an Apple and much prefer it to his competitor but my watch will always be an analogue, I did have a golf watch but an 'accident' occured when I disagreed with it and it is sadly no more- there was a big fashion thing last year with 'fitbits' - everyone seemed to have one, and now they seem somewhat discarded, if you are out of breath, perspiring and knackered you are exercising - why do I need a number telling me this?

[mikael]

Regarding the racing 'Chronometric Movement' tachometer: here's the text from the YouTube link:

"Not many of us get a chance to see a 10K Chronometric Mechanical VDO gauge in action. These are very rare instruments indeed. A VDO Tachometer with a Smiths Chronometric movement. They appeared primarily in Factory Porsche and BMW race cars during the 60's and 70's.

"These VDO racing gauges behave nothing like the electronic tachometers found in most other race cars, they increment/decrement in steps through the RPM range on the dial. A handful of companies around the world can repair and restore a period chronometric tachometer today and less have tried to reproduce these early chronmetric tachs for a series of 906, 908 and 917 Porsche Replica's being made."

From the movie it seems that it increments in larger steps at (for the driver) non-important RPM-ranges (e.g. between 2000 ad 5000 RPM), and thus it averages - or limits - non-important information, which a standard analogue tachometer would uncritically show. Considering that it's a cable-driven, completely mechanical instrument, a lot of thought and intricate design work must have gone into it. It's a bit like a complicated mechanical watch movement.

[Carl]

Dec 7, 2019 1:51:25 GMT mikael said:

Regarding the racing 'Chronometric Movement' tachometer: here's the text from the YouTube link:

"Not many of us get a chance to see a 10K Chronometric Mechanical VDO gauge in action. These are very rare instruments indeed. A VDO Tachometer with a Smiths Chronometric movement. They appeared primarily in Factory Porsche and BMW race cars during the 60's and 70's.

"These VDO racing gauges behave nothing like the electronic tachometers found in most other race cars, they increment/decrement in steps through the RPM range on the dial. A handful of companies around the world can repair and restore a period chronometric tachometer today and less have tried to reproduce these early chronmetric tachs for a series of 906, 908 and 917 Porsche Replica's being made."

From the movie it seems that it increments in larger steps at (for the driver) non-important RPM-ranges (e.g. between 2000 ad 5000 RPM), and thus it averages - or limits - non-important information, which a standard analogue tachometer would uncritically show. Considering that it's a cable-driven, completely mechanical instrument, a lot of thought and intricate design work must have gone into it. It's a bit like a complicated mechanical watch movement.

Mikael,

            I never fully understood that the incremental positions are tailored to each engine so the horsepower curves are shown at the most meaningful times, which, as you say, must demand the precision of a fine watch. The needle's sudden change of position would confuse a casual driver unaware of the meaning, but be quickly embraced by a race car driver wanting only essential information.

-Carl

[mikael]

Carl,
yes, it looks a bit puzzling at first sight, and I guess it would take some time to get used to. In this on-board footage with Jim Clark, one can see that Lotus used the same kind of 'chronometric movement' rev-counter. (As the text to the earlier video said that German VDO used a Smiths movement, it (the movement) may be identical to that in the Porsche.)
M.



Link:


Here's a better footage (onboard at 1:30 and at 2:18):


Link:

[Carl]

This is a good bottom 10 list from the online remnant of Autoweek. Started in 1958 and for years actually published weekly, it degenerated when Leon Mandel's incompetent son succeeded him as publisher. Even luxury watch features and expensive cigar promotions cannot save determined mediocrity, and editorial quality and morale suffered. Joe Saward nonetheless remains knowledgeable about the sport.

Among the original stalwarts were Chris Economaki and Denise McCluggage, a fine writer, fast driver and very attractive woman. By consensus the staff chose to honor Jean Behra with a profile of his helmet as the magazine's logo after his fatal accident.

 

                                                                                       

                          




www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/g30314117/the-10-biggest-formula-1-disappointments-of-the-decade/

[Carl]

A well done Ford promotional film with some great camerawork on the occasion of the Lotus 49's debut at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix. Jim Clark drove brilliantly to win his first time driving the car.

[charleselan]

Dec 26, 2019 23:19:45 GMT Carl said:

A well done Ford promotional film with some great camerawork on the occasion of the Lotus 49's debut at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix. Jim Clark drove brilliantly to win his first time driving the car.

This is a beautiful bit of film Carl, one of three excellent movies from the 1967 Grand Prix season that featured the Cosworth Ford DFV and the Lotus 49.

It is amazing to see how simple things were then compared to nowadays. Seeing the Team Lotus mechanics topping the oil up and re-fueling the Lotus in a rudimentary open paddock just like a club race scene; today it is like a laboratory. A rag wrapped around the oil filler to catch any spills, can you imagine that now.

To think also that the great man had not even sat in that car until the first day of practice as he was tax exiled from the Uk at the time and Graham Hill did the initial test runs, and few of those also. The Lotus 49 was night and day different from the cars Jim and Graham had driven in previous seasons, the difference in power must have been shocking even if Graham made light in his first test at Snetterton when he said "it's got some poke"!

[charleselan]

Dec 26, 2019 22:40:07 GMT Carl said:

This is a good bottom 10 list from the online remnant of Autoweek. Started in 1958 and for years actually published weekly, it degenerated when Leon Mandel's incompetent son succeeded him as publisher. Even luxury watch features and expensive cigar promotions cannot save determined mediocrity, and editorial quality and morale suffered. Joe Saward nonetheless remains knowledgeable about the sport.

Among the original stalwarts were Chris Economaki and Denise McCluggage, a fine writer, fast driver and very attractive woman. By consensus the staff chose to honor Jean Behra with a profile of his helmet as the magazine's logo after his fatal accident.

 

                                                                                       

                          




www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/g30314117/the-10-biggest-formula-1-disappointments-of-the-decade/

There is quite a lot one can resonate with in that "top ten" Carl and it is good that someone had the balls to actually write it. Ecclescake should hang his head in shame as should the ginger haired barrister for what they brought upon this once great sport. Apparently the former turned down the possibility of getting knighthood in the UK, that is according to him. Mind you far greater than him turned down something similar; a truly awful example of the stupid UK archaic class system in full flight.

I quite liked Joe Saward when he was the Autosport European Touring Car correspondent back in the mid 1980's, but find him to be pompous and unbearably rude these days having visited his "Blog Site" a few years back, only as an observer and not a commentator I hasten to add.

Back in the 1980's when I was doing my press photography work I came into contact with many of the so called UK motor sport press corps, young or old they were mainly arses of the highest order, full of their self worth which no doubt was imbedded in them at the various private schools they gained their "education".

[René]

Dec 26, 2019 23:19:45 GMT Carl said:

A well done Ford promotional film with some great camerawork on the occasion of the Lotus 49's debut at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix. Jim Clark drove brilliantly to win his first time driving the car.

Fantastic film. Beautiful quality and some great angles to capture the speed and the drifting.

Maybe not as fast as today's rocket ships but gosh they were beautiful! And keeping the power under control without downforce is just so great to watch.

[charleselan]

Dec 27, 2019 16:03:49 GMT René said:

Dec 26, 2019 23:19:45 GMT Carl said:

A well done Ford promotional film with some great camerawork on the occasion of the Lotus 49's debut at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix. Jim Clark drove brilliantly to win his first time driving the car.

Fantastic film. Beautiful quality and some great angles to capture the speed and the drifting.

Maybe not as fast as today's rocket ships but gosh they were beautiful! And keeping the power under control without downforce is just so great to watch.

A bit like the difference between magnet assisted slot car racing and non magnet.

[René]

Dec 27, 2019 17:09:07 GMT charleselan said:

Dec 27, 2019 16:03:49 GMT René said:

Fantastic film. Beautiful quality and some great angles to capture the speed and the drifting.

Maybe not as fast as today's rocket ships but gosh they were beautiful! And keeping the power under control without downforce is just so great to watch.

A bit like the difference between magnet assisted slot car racing and non magnet.

Real men don't use magnets in slot cars!

[mikael]

Dec 26, 2019 23:19:45 GMT Carl said:

A well done Ford promotional film with some great camerawork on the occasion of the Lotus 49's debut at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix. Jim Clark drove brilliantly to win his first time driving the car.

Thank you Carl.

Of all of the F1 history, there's nothing more pleasant to watch than races from this era, back to power with the new 3-litre regulations, before arrival of wings, and with Jim Clark showing the way.

It has been mentioned before, but still, curious to watch the brand-new, state-of-the-art Formula One machinery being rolled out in the sand/dirt, to be prepared there for the race.

[chrisb]

I first saw this at the National Film Theatre and to see this in a cinema is just extraordinary, sadly this is just a one-off and maybe the Silverstone Experience may well read these notes and perhaps start showing these brilliant tapes on a cinemantic scale,

Although this is a brilliant DVD [ a copy funny enough I possess] I prefer the sister DVD, 9 days in Summer, a much more comprehensive version of the 1967 GP season, although skips the South African and Monaco GP's as Ford Cossie wasn't there, with the exception of the arty Canadian GP camerawork it really is a testament to a great season,

Mikael, the development from the old-style paddocks where people and teams were far more accessible and open to today's clinically rich do not pass paddocks, has been, for me both good and bad, today is just too distant from fans and reality, whereas in the 60's a bit too dangerous 

[charleselan]

Dec 28, 2019 11:21:12 GMT René said:

Dec 27, 2019 17:09:07 GMT charleselan said:

A bit like the difference between magnet assisted slot car racing and non magnet.

Real men don't use magnets in slot cars!

Maybe real men don't use aero .