Robin Herd 1939 - 2019

[charleselan]

Very sad to read this afternoon of the passing of Robin Herd at the age of 80 years.

A great designer and very interesting chap; just check out the list of cars that Robin designed and it is impressive and not in Formula One alone.

[René]

Yes I read it on Motorsport the other day. Sad news and a very interesting man indeed. He designed some iconic race cars, not the least the McLaren M6A!



...or the Cosworth 4WD car.



And the 6 wheeler March!

[Deleted]

It is indeed sad to hear that another F1 pioneer has passed away.
The cohort of designers, engineers, and owners from the early and innovative era of F1 (60's to 90's) is gradually thinning.
There is a fantastic interview with Herd on the Motorsport magazine site, from 2010. 'Porridge with Robin Herd', which gives many insights into the man, his motorsports career F1, many junior formula and Indy), the many motorsport legends he worked with, and his passions outside motorsport.

I'm also particularly fond of the March 711 that Frank Costin improved the aero, with the rounded nose and tea tray front wing (though less impressed by the fact March screwed costin out of payment - I'll put that down to Mosley rather than Herd)

And the beautiful Leyton house cars after March.

[Deleted]

Jun 7, 2019 14:14:04 GMT René said:

Yes I read it on Motorsport the other day. Sad news and a very interesting man indeed. He designed some iconic race cars, not the least the McLaren M6A!



...or the Cosworth 4WD car.



And the 6 wheeler March!

Bizarrely (for someone who has lived most of his adult life away from the European heartland of Motorsport) I've seen all three of those cars in the metal.
The McLaren M6 at the Skope Classic here in Christchurch
The Cosworth Four Wheel drive on a visit to the Donnington F1 museum,
and the March 6 wheeler at the Louwman Museum in Den Haag.

[René]

Jun 9, 2019 2:06:31 GMT @jakobusvdl said:

Jun 7, 2019 14:14:04 GMT René said:

Yes I read it on Motorsport the other day. Sad news and a very interesting man indeed. He designed some iconic race cars, not the least the McLaren M6A!

Bizarrely (for someone who has lived most of his adult life away from the European heartland of Motorsport) I've seen all three of those cars in the metal.
The McLaren M6 at the Skope Classic here in Christchurch
The Cosworth Four Wheel drive on a visit to the Donnington F1 museum,
and the March 6 wheeler at the Louwman Museum in Den Haag.

That's cool Jim. So you visited The Netherlands once. They have some nice cars in the Louwman Museum, haven't they?

[Carl]

Robin Herd was one of the original collection of geniuses assembled by the great Bruce McLaren.

Eoin Young related in Road & Track how aerodynamics were perfected on the M6A by Herd riding along at high speed, at times crouched facing backwards in the passenger seat, to observe the tufts of yarn blowing in the wind.

I always felt he belonged at McLaren and should have stayed.

Rest in peace

[Carl]

A great picture posted by Jim!  In the final Can-Am race of 1967, Denis Hulme is followed closely by Mark Donohue and possibly Peter Revson at Stardust Raceway, now replaced by Las Vegas suburban development.

                                                     

[Deleted]

Jun 9, 2019 10:22:01 GMT René said:

Jun 9, 2019 2:06:31 GMT @jakobusvdl said:

Bizarrely (for someone who has lived most of his adult life away from the European heartland of Motorsport) I've seen all three of those cars in the metal.
The McLaren M6 at the Skope Classic here in Christchurch
The Cosworth Four Wheel drive on a visit to the Donnington F1 museum,
and the March 6 wheeler at the Louwman Museum in Den Haag.

That's cool Jim. So you visited The Netherlands once. They have some nice cars in the Louwman Museum, haven't they?

Thanks Rene, I'd love to come back. We really enjoyed the little we saw (Amsterdam and Den Haag), and Louwman Museum was a highlight for me - though I did expect to see Dutch cars, only one Daf, and no Spyker or Donkervoort.