Interesting F1 photos from the past

[FB]

Ah, the story of the Lotus 88. Colin Chapman didn't appreciate FISA banning sliding skirts so when told they couldn't be used designed a car with two chassis. The inner one held the driver, engine etc, the outer one had all the aero bits on it and was hung on the inner one in such a way that it slide along the ground when the car was moving recreating the effect of the sliding skirts.

It was banned on the grounds that FISA said the word chassis was a singular, Colin Chapman argued that chassis was both singular and plural and therefore his car could have two of them. The RAC, who organised the British GP, at first let the car run but when threatened by FISA black flagged the cars and the technology was banned.

Here's a peculiar thought, with the engine, suspension, brakes etc on a separate chassis it would be possible to create a car almost comfortable for the drivers to sit in and drive without interrupting the aerodynamics. Then, and now, we have cars sprung so stiffly if they hit even the tiniest bump they get thrown off course.

 

[FB]

Here's what it looked like under the skin.

 

[FB]

Those old snub-nosed F1 cars scare the bejeebus out of me. Why on earth would you climb into one? Yes, I'm viewing it with hindsight, but those cars leave no space at all for driver protection, and place the driver's feet and lower legs in a very vulnerable position.

If you look carefully you will see that Mansell is further forward than de Angelis. This is because Lotus had to build a special section between the fuel tank and the seat to accommodate Mansell's inflated ego.

 

[cider_and_toast]

The problem with the 88 FB was Lotus realised that among many of its issues, the inner chassis had no aero loading on it at all. So, while the outer chassis was suspended directly on the suspension uprights via small springs which compressed at the cough of a mouse when air passed over the car, they transferred their load directly to the tyres. The suspension loading was almost non existent so the inner chassis would bounce around all over the shop and give the drivers no real feedback. Elio described the cars handling as spooky.

A couple of stories that have grown up around this car that always make me smile is that while the car was being designed, Enzo Ferrari was convinced that Chapman was building a car without a suspension system at all. He was so concerned that he had FISA insert in to the 1981 technical regulations that all cars must have a suspension. A rule that remains in place today.

Also, when Lotus first tested the car (they built a test version dubbed the Type 86) they ran it on a damp track at the same circuit where Alfa were also testing their new car. The Lotus was apparently almost 2 seconds faster than the Alfa, hence the panic. It wasn't just the FISA backed teams who complained though. Frank Williams stated 'if those cars are alowed to race, I will withdraw my team'. So much for unity among FOCA members in their spat with FISA.

The fact of the matter is that as soon as FISA issued their infamous rule clarification on moving aero about it having no degree of movement and rigidly fixed to the entirely sprung part of the car, the car was doomed. Chapman was trying to be too clever and in the final analysis the car didn't work any way.

 

[FB]

On suspension, I watched a video a while ago from 1980/81 following a test session with Williams where they took out the damping system from the care entirely and sent Alan Jones out for a couple of laps. Suffice to say that was all he did...

 

[KekeTheKing]

Here is Stefan Johansson in his Onyx at Canada 1989 about to be disqualified for leaving the pits with the Air Gun still attached to his car.

 

[Dario Resta]

Here is Stefan Johansson in his Onyx at Canada 1989 about to be disqualified for leaving the pits with the Air Gun still attached to his car.

View attachment 9722

That will stop 'em overtaking.

 

[Incubus]

Not made of ice after all...

Just before being shoved to the ground by him photographer Paul-Henri Cahier still managed a good picture of Kimi Raikkonen on the grid at the british GP2008:

 

[KekeTheKing]

Rindt winning on the 72C's debut at Zandvoort. Now that's a rear wing.

 

[KekeTheKing]

This is how Peterson's Lotus ended up at Mosport 1973

 

[KekeTheKing]

Rupert Keegan trying to qualify his RAM - Penthouse Williams FW07 at Hockenheimring 1980. He did not do so.

 

[ZakspeedYakspeed]

Love this cars sponsors ....

 

[Incubus]

Niki Lauda's first test with the Ferrari:

Forghieri: "So... what do you think?"
Lauda: "Not much to be honest".
Forghieri; "Er... no you can't say that to Mr ferrari".
Lauda: "Why not, the car's awful. It's a pile of shit".
Forghieri (flustered): "No-no-no, we can't say that to him".
Lauda: "tell him the car's an absolute piece of crap".
Forghieri: "No! No!" say something else!"

Etc...

 

[Olivier]

Senna vs Lauda

A few laps? after Senna would muscle Lauda out of track and would go on to win the first race in the new 'ring

 

[Incubus]

That race was also the first on-track battle between Senna and Prost (what should have been the first would have been at the Monaco GP earlier that year, which as we all know was cut short).
Prost was on pole his race didn't last very long as he was punted off the track in the first lap... by Senna!

A few years ago Prost commented on the incident. Prior to that the only rintroduction he'd had with Ayrton was when he gave him a lift to a Grand Prix on his Mercedes on an occasion when they both happened to be in Switzerland that day. Commenting on the first-lap tangle Alain reflected "hmm, well that's a good start!" (to their relationship)

 

[Incubus]

Need a lift matey?...

 

[Wombcat]

It was banned on the grounds that FISA said the word chassis was a singular, Colin Chapman argued that chassis was both singular and plural and therefore his car could have two of them.

Actually the FIA had a very good point, since the french version of the rules said "le chassis" and not the plural "les chassis".
At least that's what I once read in Heinz Pruller's "Grand Prix 1981".

 

[teabagyokel]

Which language takes preference? If there's a conflict between the Irish and English versions of the Irish constitution, then the Irish text supersedes the English.

I was under the impression that the first language of the Sporting Regs was English, although why that would be the case for an organisation based on Place de la Concorde, I cannot explain.

 

[Wombcat]

According to Pruller at that time the french language took preference.

 

[Dartman]

I believe most read it in English and refer to the English but the rules are in French and theoretically translated into English, though actually they are discussed in English decided in English but written in French. There is an English translation which may or may not actually state what was originally thought was decided. Unfortunately I believe Colin Chapman was trying to pull his fast ones with Jean-Marie Balestre as the president so he had no chance as I believe Ferrari called the shots a touch more openly then