|
|
Post by robmarsh on Aug 31, 2020 8:48:08 GMT
I had the experience of standing by the straight at Zwartkops Raceway in South Africa where somebody drove a Can Am McLaren M8D at full throttle. It was like a physical punch by a giant fist and I couldn't help taken a step back in fear the first time.
Another experience was standing by the straight at the new Kyalami, just before the kink when F1 cars were testing some 20 years ago. Another blast of, disturbed air, sound and fury.
It is moments like these when you realise how much energy is presented by these machines and if unleashed in an uncontrolled manner, what absolute mayhem it would cause. Your estimate of the driver goes up 100 fold.
|
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Aug 31, 2020 15:12:28 GMT
The sounds of F5000 V8 engines in Long Beach, echoing off the narrow confines of Pine Avenue as drivers gave full throttle toward Ocean Boulevard, were awesome. The smaller, less brutal but more sophisticated Formula One engines were a wonderful symphony angry octaves higher, most wonderful the 12 cylinders, most angry the Matras! The amplified echoes were magical as you watched (and listened) from the bottom of the steep hill.Carl, what a wonderfully descriptive paragraph. Pete Lyons better look out. Thank you, Rob  |
|
|
|
Post by charleselan on Sept 1, 2020 12:00:11 GMT
It is moments like these when you realise how much energy is presented by these machines and if unleashed in an uncontrolled manner, what absolute mayhem it would cause. Your estimate of the driver goes up 100 fold. I think another example of this is when something goes wrong, either a mechanical breakage or driver error and the car spears off course. It doesn't matter if it is a F1 car or something like a Touring Car the reality of its speed and velocity suddenly becomes very apparent in times like this. |
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Sept 1, 2020 17:44:55 GMT
It is moments like these when you realise how much energy is presented by these machines and if unleashed in an uncontrolled manner, what absolute mayhem it would cause. Your estimate of the driver goes up 100 fold. I think another example of this is when something goes wrong, either a mechanical breakage or driver error and the car spears off course. It doesn't matter if it is a F1 car or something like a Touring Car the reality of its speed and velocity suddenly becomes very apparent in times like this. Good point.
This is particularly frightening at high speed ovals with very close and solid barriers. Sebastien Bourdais was severely injured in 2017 during qualifying at Indianapolis as his car lost and suddenly regained traction when pointed at a section of wall lacking the extra safety barrier. He sat out the rest of the season and was lucky to be alive.
Indy veterans say the instinct to counter steer in a slide is the opposite of what a driver should do on a high-speed oval. When road racer Gordon Smiley counter-steered during qualifying in 1982, the sudden regaining of traction propelled him instantly to the right and a gruesome accident.
Veterans habitually avoid counter-steering and hope to lose momentum as they slide toward the infield where walls are more distant, but no response offers a guarantee. Hope for good luck with eyes closed is not uncommon.
-Carl
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisb on Sept 3, 2020 6:37:07 GMT
hoping for good luck with eyes closed happened to me yesterday as I overtook a large truck on a narrow road, that was an 'interesting' moment- fortunately I was on the bike
two instances when the sheer speed was overwhelming, firstly at the Isle of Man TT< the first time at the top of Bray Hill when they go past you at 180mph is just mind-boggling and incomprehensible, and the second at Indy for the 500 when the noise, the speed, the turbulent air was just - jaw dropping, that was fast
|
|
