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Post by mikael on May 23, 2021 12:41:46 GMT
A massive car indeed, compared to the others (but a beautiful model car!). Perhaps the cars from the early- to mid-90's (before the introduction of "grooved" tyres) had the most harmonious dimensions of all generations of cars?
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Post by charleselan on Aug 31, 2021 10:54:51 GMT
Over the weekend I finally took delivery of the unique Lotus 21 model that Jim Clark used at the 1962 Course d'Ollor-Villars Swiss Hill Climb meeting. Made by Spark the model is in 1/43rd scale and is a really good little model of a car that illustrates Jim's desire to drive just about any car in any event such was his passion for completion driving and cars. The photo attached below is a promotional photo from Spark and not my own model as it's display case is still wrapped in cellophane as it comes from the factory and thus makes it less ideal for picture taking.  |
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Post by René on Aug 31, 2021 17:06:23 GMT
Yes that is a fantastic little model. And what a colour!  |
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Post by charleselan on Aug 31, 2021 19:27:13 GMT
Yes that is a fantastic little model. And what a colour! It is a sweet little model of a very unusual car for Jim Clark to have driven. I believe that "Seppi" Siffert actually raced the car in some Grand Prix races that year, and Spark have also released that model as well. Interestingly Spark have a great catalogue of future releases in store and I am keeping my eye out for when some become available as the shame of all this is the fact that the speculators on eBay soon up the price from the initial RRP to something ridiculous. This just ruins the hobby in my opinion but such is the greedy world we live in today. |
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Post by Carl on Aug 31, 2021 23:01:16 GMT
Yes that is a fantastic little model. And what a colour! It is a sweet little model of a very unusual car for Jim Clark to have driven. I believe that "Seppi" Siffert actually raced the car in some Grand Prix races that year, and Spark have also released that model as well. Interestingly Spark have a great catalogue of future releases in store and I am keeping my eye out for when some become available as the shame of all this is the fact that the speculators on eBay soon up the price from the initial RRP to something ridiculous. This just ruins the hobby in my opinion but such is the greedy world we live in today. John and René, Rob Walker wrote about having to get to the airport from Siffert's mountain home over snow-covered roads, becoming very nervous as their flight left in one hour and the drive took an hour when the roads were dry. In his Porsche 911, his Grand Prix driver had them at the airport and checking in in 45 minutes. Jo Siffert was one of my favorite drivers, a very cool character who sported one of the best helmet designs. Cheers, Carl
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Post by charleselan on Sept 1, 2021 11:55:47 GMT
It is a sweet little model of a very unusual car for Jim Clark to have driven. I believe that "Seppi" Siffert actually raced the car in some Grand Prix races that year, and Spark have also released that model as well. Interestingly Spark have a great catalogue of future releases in store and I am keeping my eye out for when some become available as the shame of all this is the fact that the speculators on eBay soon up the price from the initial RRP to something ridiculous. This just ruins the hobby in my opinion but such is the greedy world we live in today. John and René, Rob Walker wrote about having to get to the airport from Siffert's mountain home over snow-covered roads, becoming very nervous as their flight left in one hour and the drive took an hour when the roads were dry. In his Porsche 911, his Grand Prix driver had them at the airport and checking in in 45 minutes. Jo Siffert was one of my favorite drivers, a very cool character who sported one of the best helmet designs. Cheers, Carl
Brilliant work Carl, That was the very car that Jim Clark used at the Swiss Hill Climb and in these pictures we see "Seppi" driving it in Grand Prix. It was basically a Lotus 21 with Coventry Climax 4 engine but had this very unique Lotus 24 engine cover fitted for some reason, it was also somewhat modified to accommodate the four carburettors that stuck out the left side of the engine. What tale from Rob Walker and i agree that Siffert was a fabulous driver who spent far too long in privately entered cars, his one year in the Yardley BRM P160 showed just what he could do, and all to end in tragedy. |
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Post by charleselan on Oct 31, 2021 17:08:52 GMT
Last night I had a quick perusal of the Spark Model cars web site and could not believe my eyes as it appears that they are going to be releasing a 1/43rd scale model of the Vollstedt Ford that Jim Clark drove so spectacularly at the end of season 1967 Riverside USAC race meeting.
I have hoped someone would produce this car for quite some time now, goodness knows when it will hit the shops/dealers as there seems to be a big backlog of models that have been promised but not arrived. Probably the world shipping delays are a contributing factor where an awful lot of things are delayed.
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Post by Carl on Oct 31, 2021 19:17:37 GMT
Last night I had a quick perusal of the Spark Model cars web site and could not believe my eyes as it appears that they are going to be releasing a 1/43rd scale model of the Vollstedt Ford that Jim Clark drove so spectacularly at the end of season 1967 Riverside USAC race meeting. I have hoped someone would produce this car for quite some time now, goodness knows when it will hit the shops/dealers as there seems to be a big backlog of models that have been promised but not arrived. Probably the world shipping delays are a contributing factor where an awful lot of things are delayed. John, Here are two photos of the innovative  at Riverside, showing different approaches to rear downforce.
At the entrance of Turn 7 
In the esses approaching Turn 6  |
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Post by René on Nov 3, 2021 16:32:57 GMT
Never heard of that car! Fascinating to actually see Jim Clark drive a car with a rear wing! Is it known what he thought of it, driving with (a bit of) downforce? Here's the Vollstedt Ford at Goodwood:
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Post by charleselan on Nov 3, 2021 18:20:52 GMT
Very good photos René and I believe that is Dario Franchitti driving the beautifully restored Vollstedt Ford at Goodwood.
Here is a very good 36 minute highlight of the race in question, maybe not the best quality film compared with a lot around but very watchable especially considering it was done in 1967. So good to see Jim & Dan duelling together, for my money the finest two drivers of that period and possibly Graham should be ins there too.
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Post by Carl on Nov 3, 2021 18:31:59 GMT
Never heard of that car! Fascinating to actually see Jim Clark drive a car with a rear wing! Is it known what he thought of it, driving with (a bit of) downforce? Jim Clark exits 7A onto the back straight  René, According to this Hemmings' analysis and brief race report, he was very pleased. Clark almost took pole position from hometown favorite Dan Gurney and led the race until overrevving the engine on lap 25. Brock Yates wrote in Car and Driver magazine that Clark had driven the Vollstedt "faster than was thought capable by a mortal man."
Cheers, Carl
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Post by mikael on Nov 3, 2021 20:12:20 GMT
Nowadays, it is of course not really possible for Formula One drivers to challenge other categories; but rather than to race 20+ Grand Prix per year, I imagine that the "racing life" of the stars of the 60's and 70's would have been more developing (as a driver, i.e., in terms of racing/driving skills), since they almost continuously had to adapt to new cars, sometimes to a new one every single week; and sometimes to one which, according to modern standards, would be considered as "undriveable".
Will be looking forward to watching that 1967 race movie!
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Post by René on Nov 4, 2021 10:26:36 GMT
Very good photos René and I believe that is Dario Franchitti driving the beautifully restored Vollstedt Ford at Goodwood. Here is a very good 36 minute highlight of the race in question, maybe not the best quality film compared with a lot around but very watchable especially considering it was done in 1967. So good to see Jim & Dan duelling together, for my money the finest two drivers of that period and possibly Graham should be ins there too. Fantastic! |
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Post by René on Nov 4, 2021 10:27:22 GMT
Never heard of that car! Fascinating to actually see Jim Clark drive a car with a rear wing! Is it known what he thought of it, driving with (a bit of) downforce? Jim Clark exits 7A onto the back straight René, According to this Hemmings' analysis and brief race report, he was very pleased. Clark almost took pole position from hometown favorite Dan Gurney and led the race until overrevving the engine on lap 25. Brock Yates wrote in Car and Driver magazine that Clark had driven the Vollstedt "faster than was thought capable by a mortal man."
Cheers, Carl
Thanks for the link, Carl. A great read! |
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Post by charleselan on Nov 4, 2021 11:42:01 GMT
Talking of the aerodynamic aids on the Vollstedt it is interesting to note that Team Lotus tried similar nose mounted fins in practice at the 1967 Belgian GP in practice but did not use them for some reason. It was also reported that during the 1967/68 Tasman series that Lotus fitted part of a helicopter propellor as a vestigial rear wing in testing, but unfortunately there appears to be no photos of the experiment. I wonder if Jim took this idea wit him after driving the Vollstedt and suggested it to his mechanics while in Australia and New Zealand.
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at Riverside, showing different approaches to rear downforce. 
