|
|
Post by robmarsh on Oct 22, 2021 14:18:56 GMT
Rene, I used to have the Tamiya 1/12 scale many years ago but it is not really one of my favourite Ferraris despite the drivers. No sweat Rob. The T4 has always been my favorite for sentimental reasons but also because it looked so different. I also love the 1990 car which is also not one of your favs if I remember correctly...  Yep Rene, despite my love for Ferrari the cars from 1989 to 1993 with the exception of the 643 were not my favourite. I quite liked the 1994 car, loved the 1995 car, disliked the 1996 car and liked the rest up until the end of 2009 after which they have really got rather ugly for my taste even if the standard of finish is brilliant. Modern F1 cars are hugely functional but not beautiful to my eyes. |
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Oct 22, 2021 18:17:28 GMT
René Two simple changes would have made a world of difference. Just two! Had Adrian Newey been barred from motorsport, passing would have remained more often on the track and not by carefully timed pitstops. Forbidding ecclestone would have prevented corrosive corruption and opened a world of possibilities beyond hedge fund predation. Otherwise, change is almost always good for the sport.
Cheers, Carl
Of course Carl, there is a lot that could be a lot better. But it's still my sport, my only sport as I am not really a football fan or other sports for that matter.
You are right about bernie but Adrian is just a brilliant design savant who only needs a millimeter room for another brilliant idea. It's the governing body that should have put a lid on more and more downforce years ago.
René, Motor racing is the only sport for me too. Years ago I lost interest in what are called stick and ball games, even my longtime favorite, basketball. As played today, the goal should be a foot higher. I used to have great fun in half-court games at playgrounds, stealing passes and making long shots, but chronic ankle sprains sat me on the bench. 
I agree that Adrian Newey's aerodynamic genius should have been moderated instead of allowed with few restraints. The essence of racing is the ability of drivers to pass, not a scientific rabbit hole down which turbulent wakes discourage close pursuit.
Mary Shelley wrote a novel about another scientific genius with a similar narrow focus in which the need for moderation was ignored. Both geniuses would have achieved greater results and deserved greater respect without any help from Igor and the poison dwarf.
Cheers, Carl
|
|
|
|
Post by René on Apr 25, 2022 23:09:29 GMT
1978 British Grand Prix. The two mighty Lotuses leading the way early on…. but they didn’t win.
|
|
|
|
Post by charleselan on Apr 27, 2022 13:31:32 GMT
1978 British Grand Prix. The two mighty Lotuses leading the way early on…. but they didn’t win. If you were gutted last weekend René just imagine how I felt at that Grand Prix wishing for my Lotus cars to win and if possible Ronnie getting first but that would not have happened if Mario had also finished such were the agreed team orders. The first few laps were bliss with the two black beauties singing along the pit straight which could be seen from my vantage point on the inside of Surtees Corner, and then they were out and I lost a lot of interest at that point. I did have the satisfaction of seeing Ronnie do his amazing pole lap the day before which was something very special. |
|
|
|
Post by chrisb on Apr 27, 2022 15:21:28 GMT
My sentiments exactly JC, I was on South Bank with two friends and a small beer barrel - which was empty on departure having drowned my sorrows, but I had seen Ronnie in the 'flesh' so to speak and I know your memory is better than mine JC - but did Ronnie drive the 78 on the Friday or the Saturday when his 79 broke down? I seem to recollect he set the pole position time in the 79 and watched practice and qualifying on the pit straight as I was just blown away by the sheer beauty of my beloved Loti and of course Ronnie, although Mario after he pitted first time was pretty impressive as he carved his way back through the field, what a beautiful if frustrating day though,
|
|
|
|
Post by charleselan on Apr 27, 2022 17:51:17 GMT
My sentiments exactly JC, I was on South Bank with two friends and a small beer barrel - which was empty on departure having drowned my sorrows, but I had seen Ronnie in the 'flesh' so to speak and I know your memory is better than mine JC - but did Ronnie drive the 78 on the Friday or the Saturday when his 79 broke down? I seem to recollect he set the pole position time in the 79 and watched practice and qualifying on the pit straight as I was just blown away by the sheer beauty of my beloved Loti and of course Ronnie, although Mario after he pitted first time was pretty impressive as he carved his way back through the field, what a beautiful if frustrating day though, Ronnie did indeed drive the Lotus 78 during practice Chris, due to problems with his 79. I took quite a few photos of him in that car and was actually quite displeased at the time he hadn't been in the 79. However he got into the 79 when it mattered on the Saturday afternoon. |
|
|
|
Post by René on Apr 30, 2022 11:17:16 GMT
1978 British Grand Prix. The two mighty Lotuses leading the way early on…. but they didn’t win. If you were gutted last weekend René just imagine how I felt at that Grand Prix wishing for my Lotus cars to win and if possible Ronnie getting first but that would not have happened if Mario had also finished such were the agreed team orders. The first few laps were bliss with the two black beauties singing along the pit straight which could be seen from my vantage point on the inside of Surtees Corner, and then they were out and I lost a lot of interest at that point. I did have the satisfaction of seeing Ronnie do his amazing pole lap the day before which was something very special.
Yes of course, I can imagine the disappointment from a British perspective. I would have been very happy of course had I been there  ... but the sight of those two beautiful 79s leading the race is magnificent.
One of the earliest races I saw on TV and can still remember vividly is the 1978 Dutch Grand Prix and I do remember how impressed my brothers and I were by the two black and gold Lotusses. Even if I was already a Ferrari fan back then...
|
|
|
|
Post by charleselan on May 2, 2022 11:10:32 GMT
I actually re-watched this film on my large TV screen last night and the quality is superb and brought back so many memories. I have never forgotten the sound of the Lotus 79's as they ran in tandem along the pit straight, the then unique exhaust note from the tailpipes mounted close together was sensational and totally different from the usual DFV note. Ronnie according to Murray Walker was running "shot gun" for Mario but looked to have so much more speed available, such a shame about the fuel line breaking so early as I think with Mario's issues he would have walked the race. Interesting to see that the 79's did not pull away very quickly from the amazing battle behind; obviously driving in very conservative fashion. After the Lotii had gone Jody drove a stunning race and was very unlucky as I think he had the measure of Niki all race and was really pressing on. AJ looked very quick until he retired, but Carlos drive a conservative race until it mattered and that overtake on Niki must have felt sweet. When Ronnie was interviewed by Barry Gill after he retired he did not sound at all happy and was surprisingly looking in a very bad mood which was unusual for him, maybe Colin's antics in practice had really begun to grate. The interview with James Hunt after he spun on the straight was hilarious and pretty obvious that James was taking the Michael out of the interviewer as he claims he spun on the straight due to all the tyres being the wrong size . |
|
|
|
Post by René on May 2, 2022 19:23:05 GMT
Ronnie according to Murray Walker was running "shot gun" for Mario but looked to have so much more speed available, such a shame about the fuel line breaking so early as I think with Mario's issues he would have walked the race. I remember from the Dutch Grand Prix I mentioned it was the same. Mario leading but Ronnie looked faster all the time. Or was Mario not giving it all because of the team orders? I know Ronnie was the faster driver but Mario was clever. |
|
|
|
Post by charleselan on May 3, 2022 13:33:03 GMT
Ronnie according to Murray Walker was running "shot gun" for Mario but looked to have so much more speed available, such a shame about the fuel line breaking so early as I think with Mario's issues he would have walked the race. I remember from the Dutch Grand Prix I mentioned it was the same. Mario leading but Ronnie looked faster all the time. Or was Mario not giving it all because of the team orders? I know Ronnie was the faster driver but Mario was clever. At Zandvoort Mario had an issue with his car and Ronnie was getting very worried about the cars behind getting too close so often would get very close to Mario to hurry him up. If it hadn't been for the team orders Ronnie would easily won that race but he was a man of honour and kept his word. I am certain that at Brands they were running very conservatory as they had serious brake issues with the Lotus 79 and Brands would have exposed that badly, as it was neither finished anyway due to other matters. Mario was a clever driver no doubt but he made mistakes in his years racing in F1, a little too rash at times and even in his later years, sometimes failed to see the bigger picture. |
|
|
|
Post by René on Jun 21, 2022 21:38:37 GMT
1966 Monaco Grand Prix. Amazing footage that was shot for the movie "Grand Prix" of course. But most of the footage, except the inboards, is from the actual race. Thanks to John Frankenheimer and his crew we can see 1960's racing in full HD. I know you've all seen it a million times but it's still wonderful to watch.  Enjoy!  This is a short Duke movie from the same race in the quality that you would normally expect from this period. I love the detailed shots of the (now vintage) Longines timekeeping equipment! Very cool. |
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Jun 22, 2022 17:10:15 GMT
1966 Monaco Grand Prix. Amazing footage that was shot for the movie "Grand Prix" of course. But most of the footage, except the inboards, is from the actual race. Thanks to John Frankenheimer and his crew we can see 1960's racing in full HD. I know you've all seen it a million times but it's still wonderful to watch. Enjoy! This is a short Duke movie from the same race in the quality that you would normally expect from this period. I love the detailed shots of the (now vintage) Longines timekeeping equipment! Very cool. Brilliant! Thanks, René Those were wonderful days for racing, when Monaco was still classically beautiful and the course essentially original. I still miss the gasometer hairpin, now poorly replaced by the trendy hotspot Rascasse. A pack of Gauloise cigarettes and everyone smoking in the timekeeping enclosure. Unlike today, crowds were allowed to gather overlooking the Station hairpin. And there was no damn swimming pool to get in the way! The 1.5 Grand Prix cars were wonderful and the move to 3 litres may have been unwise, but I suppose F1 had to remain fastest overall. But the danger! Whoever decided haybales were safe? All they protected were the walls and lightpoles on the other side. Eight of the drivers (half of the grid) died in a racing car. Jackie Stewart was correct to offend the traditionalists. Every aspect of the camera work in "Grand Prix" was brilliant. The cinematographer, Lionel Lindon, deserved to be nominated for an Academy Award, along with the film editors, but I suppose the excellence was collaborative. Cheers, Carl |
|
|
|
Post by René on Jun 25, 2022 18:43:30 GMT
The 1979 Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. My first Grand Prix visit and therefore an everlasting memory for me.   |
|
|
|
Post by mikael on Jul 25, 2022 11:38:25 GMT
Apropos of Niki Lauda, I came across these two very interesting and entertaining movies:
|
|
|
|
Post by René on Oct 14, 2022 19:44:55 GMT
|
|
... but the sight of those two beautiful 79s leading the race is magnificent. 
