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Post by charleselan on Aug 1, 2020 16:16:59 GMT
I am on a roll chaps, just ordered the Ronnie March 721X Race of Champions version and the Geoff Lees F2 Championship winning Ralt-Honda RT6 from 1981. Just had to have both models, Ronnie obviously. The Geoff Lees car as I always rated him highly and saw it race a few times. Bet they do a Mike Thackwell version too which will be hard to resist, even though he was only in it for a short while before his terrible leg breaking testing accident in it. Haha, way to go JC! Keep on buying those model cars and don't forget to show them here!  Don't encourage me René   . Once I have the models I will upload some photos, no worries. |
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Post by René on Aug 1, 2020 18:58:00 GMT
Haha, way to go JC! Keep on buying those model cars and don't forget to show them here! Don't encourage me René . Once I have the models I will upload some photos, no worries. I will keep encouraging you! You need those cars!  |
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Post by charleselan on Aug 1, 2020 19:59:33 GMT
Don't encourage me René . Once I have the models I will upload some photos, no worries. I will keep encouraging you! You need those cars! I will aim to please  . |
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Post by charleselan on Aug 9, 2020 17:02:46 GMT
On Friday lunchtime La Poste delivered my two new Spark 1/43rd scale models. The Ronnie Peterson March 721X looks absolutely superb in its far more attractive Race Of Champions configuration, they have even got the little yellow peak on Ronnie's helmet spot on. Also the Geoff Lees F2 Ralt Honda RH6 was in the package and this is also beautiful in the 1981 Pau GP set up, and looks far better than the publicity pictures produced from Spark. They have also got Geoff's dark blue overalls correct and his "Darth Vadar" white helmet of that period. I must get some photos done of the se two and Jim Clarks 1960 Aston Martin DBRI 300. Very pleased with all three models, no absolutely delighted with them . |
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Post by René on Aug 9, 2020 17:59:45 GMT
On Friday lunchtime La Poste delivered my two new Spark 1/43rd scale models. The Ronnie Peterson March 721X looks absolutely superb in its far more attractive Race Of Champions configuration, they have even got the little yellow peak on Ronnie's helmet spot on. Also the Geoff Lees F2 Ralt Honda RH6 was in the package and this is also beautiful in the 1981 Pau GP set up, and looks far better than the publicity pictures produced from Spark. They have also got Geoff's dark blue overalls correct and his "Darth Vadar" white helmet of that period. I must get some photos done of the se two and Jim Clarks 1960 Aston Martin DBRI 300. Very pleased with all three models, no absolutely delighted with them . Looking very much forward to the photos! |
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Post by mikael on Aug 11, 2020 21:54:02 GMT
I have become infected too, it seems. Well, on bargain - from Germany ...
I whatever way, a couple of very interesting cars with great histories!
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Post by René on Aug 12, 2020 11:54:22 GMT
Fantastic Mikael!
Yes, both very nice cars with great histories. The GT40 is a real classic, certainly in the Gulf livery but my heart goes out to the Mazda as I was actually there to see it win in 1991. The one and only time I went to Le Mans. Great memories and the Mazda win was a real surprise but that made it all the more special. That car sounded fantastic and it was the first win for a Japanese car!
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Post by charleselan on Aug 12, 2020 15:41:47 GMT
Mikael,
In the Uk they would say that you have "caught the bug" with regard to collecting model cars, or whatever else it could be. Two very good models of iconic Le Mans cars.
Like René mentions above I was also there in 1991 (also 1990) and the Mazda victory was quite an emotional experience. The change in regulations that year helped the Mazda a little more, but it was a great victory especially for Johnny Herbert.
The Mazda in the "Charge" colour scheme just looked amazing and has since become something of an icon. The noise from that Rotary engine just had to be heard to be believed; if one tried to get some sleep during the night and you were close to the track you could hear those things nearly all around Le Mans, truly deafening.
What more can one say about the Gulf JW Automotive Ford GT40's, just brilliant cars and yet another classic colour scheme.
Might you be moved to collect a few more models at a reasonable price?
JC
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Post by mikael on Aug 12, 2020 21:02:44 GMT
JC and René, it really must have been a unique experience to have listened to those Mazda 787B's at "full song". I recall reading, some years ago, a report (or perhaps rather, an article) by Paul Frère about his test drive of the car (at a time when he was already in his seventies!) He wrote, I recall, that Mazda had told him to keep it below 7000 rpm at any time, to make the engine last. So it seems that listening to the engine at "true full song" was something that could be experienced for the last time at the 1991 Le Mans - and never again (at demo runs, etc.), not "in earnest".
JC, yes it's never a good idea to try to translate an idiom of any country directly (as I did) - it's almost certain that it will fail. Likewise, with "on bargain" I meant to write "on sale". The post was written at too late an hour in the evening ...
On returning to the 787B, yes, that colour scheme really was a hit. Those orange and green nuances match so well together. In relation to this, I found that "Renown" - a Japanese clothing company(*) - apparently has gone bankrupt just this spring, with the corona pandemic giving the company a final blow. (But the first of the two articles below indicates that the brand might perhaps "rise from the ashes" again, after all.)
(*) "Charge" is a sportswear/sporty-wear sub-brand owned by Renown.
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Post by Carl on Aug 12, 2020 23:16:02 GMT
JC and René, it really must have been a unique experience to have listened to those Mazda 787B's at "full song". I recall reading, some years ago, a report (or perhaps rather, an article) by Paul Frère about his test drive of the car (at a time when he was already in his seventies!) He wrote, I recall, that Mazda had told him to keep it below 7000 rpm at any time, to make the engine last. So it seems that listening to the engine at "true full song" was something that could be experienced for the last time at the 1991 Le Mans - and never again (at demo runs, etc.), not "in earnest".
JC, yes it's never a good idea to try to translate an idiom of any country directly (as I did) - it's almost certain that it will fail. Likewise, with "on bargain" I meant to write "on sale". The post was written at too late an hour in the evening ... Mikael, Both are gorgeous and iconic. It's interesting that 55 and 77 have been favorite Mazda numbers for some time. The only rotary race engine I've heard was the RX-7 of Pete Halsmer, who won several IMSA GTO championships. Not the same level of glorious, but still a wonderful sound!
I enjoy the varied expressions, oftentimes clear and creative, that emerge from translation. However, a tobacconist should always beware of Hungarian tourists attempting to speak English.
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Post by chrisb on Aug 13, 2020 8:17:45 GMT
Win Percy used to race a rotary TWR RX7 in the pre -whatever saloon car championships and it was loud, I mean loud, not sure I saw [or rather heard] the 787B must check, I only went to Le Mans once and that was in the early 80's but wasn't it based on the Jag or something?
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Post by robmarsh on Aug 13, 2020 12:21:55 GMT
Win Percy used to race a rotary TWR RX7 in the pre -whatever saloon car championships and it was loud, I mean loud, not sure I saw [or rather heard] the 787B must check, I only went to Le Mans once and that was in the early 80's but wasn't it based on the Jag or something? I thought so too Chris but according to Wikipedia it was by Nigel Stroud. DevelopmentThe initial design of the 787 was an evolution of the 767 and 767B designs that had been used by Mazda in 1988 and 1989. Many mechanical elements of the 767 were carried over by Nigel Stroud when he designed the 787,[2] but with some notable exceptions. Foremost was the replacement of the 767's 13J Wankel rotary engine. In its place, the brand new R26B was installed. The custom-built R26B featured a nearly identical layout and displacement, but included new design elements such as continuously variable intakes and three spark plugs per rotor instead of the 13J's two along with carbon fibre apex seals and variable length trumpets. This allowed for a maximum power output of 900 hp (670 kW), which was limited to 700 hp during the race for longevity[citation needed]. Porsche's five-speed gearbox manufactured by Porsche was retained.[3] Other modifications made to the 787's design included a relocation of the radiators. Initially placed beside the cockpit on the 767, a new single radiator was integrated into the nose of the 787. Air moved from the blunt nose of the car underneath the bodywork and through the radiator before exiting in front of the windshield. A Gurney flap was located at the radiator exit to increase front-end downforce. This new radiator location also meant a redesign of the doors of the car, where the old radiator design had been located. The intake in front of the door and exit behind were no longer necessary and were thus not included, giving the 787 a smoother bodywork design on top. To aid in rear engine and brake cooling, intakes were placed on the side bodywork, immediately above the exhaust cooling vents. As before, Stroud's monocoque design was built from carbon and kevlar by Advanced Composite Technology in the United Kingdom. Carbon fiber body panels were affixed to the two initial chassis that were built in 1990.[3] |
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Post by charleselan on Aug 13, 2020 14:20:16 GMT
I would say that the confusion around the design of the Mazda 787B is created by the fact that the car they used after the Rotary engine was made redundant due to regulation changes was in fact a TWR Jaguar. This car was basically the car that TWR used in the initial years of the 3.5 litre Group "C" rules and was a Ross Brawn inspired two seat F1 car powered by the F1 Ford engine. Mazda are of course partners with Ford worldwide and it made practical sense.
Changing tack slightly I remember all press guys at Le Mans in 1991 were trying to get Press Packs and other material from Mazda, it was much sought after and I don't think I had much success as it was in quite short supply.
The Mazda 787B was very loud, but funnily enough it was the year earlier when they really became annoying with their noise. I have heard many of the Mazda touring car engines like the one Chris pointed out; Win Percy's TWR RX7 and way back before then with some in the 1970's, they were nothing like the Le Mans car though.
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Post by chrisb on Aug 14, 2020 15:51:19 GMT
wow thanks chaps, doesn't it make you think just how many great designers were involved in that brilliant era of Group C cars, we really were spoiled weren't we?
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Post by charleselan on Aug 14, 2020 17:08:13 GMT
Below Win Percy's TWR Mazda RX7.  Lady racer Wendy Markey in her Mazda RX3 which had a twin rotor Wankel motor.  The legendary Tony Lanfranchi leading a group in his Mazda RX3 at Silverstone in 1975.  |
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