Motorsports: History and Legacy Discussion Thread
#721
AZ Community Team
The Man Formula 1 BANNED For Life
Speaking of cheating, then here's the biggest cheat of all Flavio Briatore
#722
Moderator
^ Ban overturned in Jan 2010
From Wiki:
From Wiki:
On 5 January 2010, the Tribunal de Grande Instance overturned the ban and granted him €15,000 in compensation.[33] The tribunal declared in particular that "the decision of the World Council was presided over by the FIA president, who was well known to be in conflict with Briatore, with Mr Mosley having played a leading role in launching the inquiry and its investigation in violation of the principle of separation of the power of the bodies".[34] The FIA announced that it would appeal the decision issued by the French court, but the two parties reached an out-of-court settlement the following April.[35][36]
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Briatore said that he is sure that he will not return to Formula One, despite having his ban overturned.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Briatore said that he is sure that he will not return to Formula One, despite having his ban overturned.
#723
Senior Moderator
Briatore is back working with F1 with an official capacity.
#724
AZ Community Team
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/14602...fia-again.html
Flavio Briatore and the FIA, that is not a good combination. After the flamboyant Italian was once banned from the sport by the motorsport federation (which has since been reversed), the relationship between the two parties is anything but pleasant.
A week after Briatore took a swipe at the FIA for its performance in Singapore, he is already angry about the next incident. Seven days earlier, there was the anger that the FIA had thought far too long about a possible penalty for Sergio Perez. This time there was anger over the penalty for Charles Leclerc at Suzuka. One reason for the outburst? According to Briatore, the FIA had imposed a penalty on him far too quickly, after barely three minutes of deliberation.
A week after Briatore took a swipe at the FIA for its performance in Singapore, he is already angry about the next incident. Seven days earlier, there was the anger that the FIA had thought far too long about a possible penalty for Sergio Perez. This time there was anger over the penalty for Charles Leclerc at Suzuka. One reason for the outburst? According to Briatore, the FIA had imposed a penalty on him far too quickly, after barely three minutes of deliberation.
#725
AZ Community Team
^ I watched the whole video and it gets into the FIA/Flavio relationship at 22:20
#726
AZ Community Team
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00TL-P3.2 (11-07-2022)
#727
Moderator
tittles
#728
AZ Community Team
^
Kinda surprised John Barnard wasn't there, the MP4 was his creation as well as first using carbon fiber for the chassis.
I wasn't expecting Ron Dennis as the current relationship with him and McLaren.
Kinda surprised John Barnard wasn't there, the MP4 was his creation as well as first using carbon fiber for the chassis.
I wasn't expecting Ron Dennis as the current relationship with him and McLaren.
Last edited by Legend2TL; 11-07-2022 at 08:45 AM.
#729
Moderator
Chuckle aside, a nice reunion.
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Legend2TL (11-07-2022)
#730
Senior Moderator
He's starting to look like Emerson.
#731
AZ Community Team
Weissach Lap Record…
https://primotipo.com/tag/ron-dennis/
The cusp of greatness as McLaren's great 2.0 era is about to begin mid-1983. The first test laps of the TAG/Porsche TTE PO1 at Weissach setting lap record in a MP4/1 test mule/hack chassis.
Guessing most of the people there are McLaren and Porsche staff watching. Some pretty neat pics without the typical fanfare of a F1 race, neat to see a variety of Porsche race and production road cars just parked nearby. The test track lacks alot of safety features of modern tracks, currious how much the track has been updated today.
In the middle pic there is a rare shot of the Porsche 956 and the McLaren MP4/1 test mules, both with the TTE PO1 Turbo V6 1.5l F1 engine. Both Watson and Lauda described the 956 as like a "truck" to the Porsche engineers
Two of the pics near the bottom are famous Porsche engine designer Hans Mezger talking to John Watson in the test car, in a only a few months he'd lose his drive to Prost. Then surprisingly team principal Ron Dennis helping out working on the car, though he started his career in F1 working as a mechanic for Brabham so I guess old habits are hard to forget.
One of the biggest bets of McLaren's history and just a small bet for Porsche (they were paid mostly by TAG) that paid off tremendously, 3 straight WDC and 2 WCC from 1984-1987.
The cusp of greatness as McLaren's great 2.0 era is about to begin mid-1983. The first test laps of the TAG/Porsche TTE PO1 at Weissach setting lap record in a MP4/1 test mule/hack chassis.
Guessing most of the people there are McLaren and Porsche staff watching. Some pretty neat pics without the typical fanfare of a F1 race, neat to see a variety of Porsche race and production road cars just parked nearby. The test track lacks alot of safety features of modern tracks, currious how much the track has been updated today.
In the middle pic there is a rare shot of the Porsche 956 and the McLaren MP4/1 test mules, both with the TTE PO1 Turbo V6 1.5l F1 engine. Both Watson and Lauda described the 956 as like a "truck" to the Porsche engineers
Two of the pics near the bottom are famous Porsche engine designer Hans Mezger talking to John Watson in the test car, in a only a few months he'd lose his drive to Prost. Then surprisingly team principal Ron Dennis helping out working on the car, though he started his career in F1 working as a mechanic for Brabham so I guess old habits are hard to forget.
One of the biggest bets of McLaren's history and just a small bet for Porsche (they were paid mostly by TAG) that paid off tremendously, 3 straight WDC and 2 WCC from 1984-1987.
Last edited by Legend2TL; 11-10-2022 at 10:23 AM.
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00TL-P3.2 (11-10-2022)
#732
Senior Moderator
Great photos.
This one is interesting from a commercial standpoint. Ebel was a sponsor on the car with a TAG engine. Must be just before TAG bought Heuer.
This one is interesting from a commercial standpoint. Ebel was a sponsor on the car with a TAG engine. Must be just before TAG bought Heuer.
#733
AZ Community Team
^ From Wiki it says TAG bought Heuer in 1985
FWIW that car the MP4/1D is truly a hack/mule. The chassis is MP4/1-1 with rocker arm front suspension, first prototype for the 1981 season, the top bodywork is from the 1982 season with the sidepod tops opened for more cooling. Guess McLaren/TAG wanted the TAG logo on the engine cover.
Lauda went behind Dennis and Barnard and pleaded with Marlboro exec's McLaren had to race the new engine in 1983 in order to prepare for 1984. Dennis and Barnard were furious as the team was hard at work designing and developing the new MP4/2 chassis (developed specifically for that motor) for 1984 and didn't want to race the new motor in 1983, but supposedly Marlboro held up funds so McLaren took two MP4/1C's which were designed for Cosworth DFV's and integrated the V6 twin turbo which became MP4/1E.
It paid off as alot of engine problems were discovered in the last 4 races of 1983 which were solved. Guessing Barnard and Dennis eventually forgave Lauda, as McLaren won 12 out of 16 races in 1984 with both titles.
FWIW that car the MP4/1D is truly a hack/mule. The chassis is MP4/1-1 with rocker arm front suspension, first prototype for the 1981 season, the top bodywork is from the 1982 season with the sidepod tops opened for more cooling. Guess McLaren/TAG wanted the TAG logo on the engine cover.
Lauda went behind Dennis and Barnard and pleaded with Marlboro exec's McLaren had to race the new engine in 1983 in order to prepare for 1984. Dennis and Barnard were furious as the team was hard at work designing and developing the new MP4/2 chassis (developed specifically for that motor) for 1984 and didn't want to race the new motor in 1983, but supposedly Marlboro held up funds so McLaren took two MP4/1C's which were designed for Cosworth DFV's and integrated the V6 twin turbo which became MP4/1E.
It paid off as alot of engine problems were discovered in the last 4 races of 1983 which were solved. Guessing Barnard and Dennis eventually forgave Lauda, as McLaren won 12 out of 16 races in 1984 with both titles.
Last edited by Legend2TL; 11-14-2022 at 09:22 AM.
#734
AZ Community Team
“I never considered early on that Niki could beat me to the championship. That was a
FWIW, long read but alot from Barnard, Prost, and Lauda about the 1984 season and everything going on.
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...ip-was-mistake
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...ip-was-mistake
#735
Senior Moderator
Went to the IMS museum over the weekend. Haven't been at the museum in about 40 years!
I had a great time. Lots of historic cars and artifacts.
The rotating exhibit side of the museum was currently showing cars that came in second. Some very famous second place cars were there, including Scott Goodyear's Lola and lost by a whisker to Al Unser Jr., Michael Andretti's Lola that lost to Rick Mear's Penkse, and even Dan Gurney's super clean Eagle.
As good as the cars were, I was expecting more. I was expecting a lot more cars honestly. The museum seems stuck in the 60's. Probably due to years of mismanagement by IMS and lack of funds.
I had a great time. Lots of historic cars and artifacts.
The rotating exhibit side of the museum was currently showing cars that came in second. Some very famous second place cars were there, including Scott Goodyear's Lola and lost by a whisker to Al Unser Jr., Michael Andretti's Lola that lost to Rick Mear's Penkse, and even Dan Gurney's super clean Eagle.
As good as the cars were, I was expecting more. I was expecting a lot more cars honestly. The museum seems stuck in the 60's. Probably due to years of mismanagement by IMS and lack of funds.
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00TL-P3.2 (12-05-2022)
#736
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Great trip and pics, thanks for sharing @F-C I was at Indy 5x and never went to the museum, too tied up heading out to F1 parties and such. IMS will be getting a serious do-over now that the Captain owns it. He has approached my brother about revamping the infrastructure of the facility to get it in line with the times. Michael doesn't know if he will some day grab those reins but we shall see.
#737
Senior Moderator
Great trip and pics, thanks for sharing @F-C I was at Indy 5x and never went to the museum, too tied up heading out to F1 parties and such. IMS will be getting a serious do-over now that the Captain owns it. He has approached my brother about revamping the infrastructure of the facility to get it in line with the times. Michael doesn't know if he will some day grab those reins but we shall see.
I remember when Penske took over the place he outlined some immediate fixes to the place. It'd be interesting to see a 5-10-15 year plan for the facilities. I heard on some other boards that some of the infrastructure was in pretty bad shape, and amenities just aren't close to being up to modern international standards. Take the museum as an example, it's super clean, but I'm almost certain that the fixtures and finishes are original vintage 60's. They could easily double or quadruple the floor space. For a place with a 100 year history, there's so much more stuff they need to show. And the merchandising in the gift shop is also pretty poor to be honest. The place has so much potential if they only had the right people managing it.
#738
AZ Community Team
Nice pic of Michael Andretti's T91/00 Lola from 1991. Despite 3 decades old it still looks so cool and sleek in 2022. Curious if it was recently acquired from the Newman/Haas auction that occurred.
https://www.motorious.com/articles/h...-winning-lola/
https://www.motorious.com/articles/h...-winning-lola/
#739
Senior Moderator
Nice pic of Michael Andretti's T91/00 Lola from 1991. Despite 3 decades old it still looks so cool and sleek in 2022. Curious if it was recently acquired from the Newman/Haas auction that occurred.
https://www.motorious.com/articles/h...-winning-lola/
https://www.motorious.com/articles/h...-winning-lola/
All the cars in the museum are in fantastic condition. They all look brand new. Even the Marmon Wasp looks great.
Last edited by F-C; 12-08-2022 at 03:30 PM.
#740
AZ Community Team
The 1988 Prost / Senna McLaren MP4/4 - Disassembling The Greatest F1 Car With The Men
Amazing to see three of the McLaren individuals highly involved with the creation and racing showing off the internals of the famous MP4/4
The 1988 Prost / Senna McLaren MP4/4 - Disassembling The Greatest F1 Car With The Men Who Made It
#741
Moderator
#742
AZ Community Team
On the MP4/4 video (it's over a hour long but worth watching) some interesting notes
- I liked how the driver's remembered the front sway bar adjuster setting "hard going in, soft going out"
- amazed that the total weight of the paint was 7kg (~15 pounds), the red color is "rocket red", and how Ron Dennis disapproved the carbon layup for the Marlboro to save weight and ordered black paint used.
- the steering column was offset slightly to the left to allow a bigger opening for the mechanics to work on the front suspension
- I knew of the front damper/spring roller track instead of a lower rocker (which typical pullrod suspensions used)
- I liked how the driver's remembered the front sway bar adjuster setting "hard going in, soft going out"
- amazed that the total weight of the paint was 7kg (~15 pounds), the red color is "rocket red", and how Ron Dennis disapproved the carbon layup for the Marlboro to save weight and ordered black paint used.
- the steering column was offset slightly to the left to allow a bigger opening for the mechanics to work on the front suspension
- I knew of the front damper/spring roller track instead of a lower rocker (which typical pullrod suspensions used)
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00TL-P3.2 (12-20-2022)
#743
Senior Moderator
Do current day F1 cars still use paint? Or do they just use film wrap to save on weight?
The Williams didn't fully paint their cars this year to save weight, so I guess they still use paint???
The Williams didn't fully paint their cars this year to save weight, so I guess they still use paint???
#744
Moderator
Maybe a combination of both, base paint & vinyl for the logos/sponsors?
#745
Senior Moderator
Yeah. I'm going to guess that film wraps don't "pop" on tv as well as glossy or matte paint.
#746
AZ Community Team
The primary difference between the MP4/4 and modern cars if the front monocoque "tub" is the bodywork where there is no bodywork covering it so the bare chassis itself is painted.
IIRC Williams were the first to do that with the FW14.
#747
AZ Community Team
Ayrton Senna's first F1 car 🇧🇷🏎️ | The Story of Toleman Director's Cut 🎬
Amazing they have Rory Bryne and Pat Symonds as part of this documentary.
FWIW back in 2000, me, my older brother and two friends as a group tried to buy Senna's Toleman TG184-02 when it was for sale in England. A small classic race car company owned it and wanted ~$400K for it, it was intended as a investment and not going vintage racing. Never could get our act together as there was ALOT of paperwork (even the NTSHA gets involved) at the time to export and import the car from England to Maryland. I was a rank amateur and despite a handful of calls to the owners and one to Benetton (whom never called back), was never going to happen unless one of us flew to Britain and sorted it out in person which was also not guaranteed. Also none of our wives (of us married) were also not into the investment idea either.
In 2018 the car sold for $1.8M euro. It looks like it went through a decent restoration since it was not in this condition in 2000 from the pics I saw. Curious what a investment it would have been and the wives were right, it was only a gain of 3.25 which is only 6.8% annual accounting for inflation
https://www.bonhams.com/auction/2495...s-no-tg184-02/
FWIW back in 2000, me, my older brother and two friends as a group tried to buy Senna's Toleman TG184-02 when it was for sale in England. A small classic race car company owned it and wanted ~$400K for it, it was intended as a investment and not going vintage racing. Never could get our act together as there was ALOT of paperwork (even the NTSHA gets involved) at the time to export and import the car from England to Maryland. I was a rank amateur and despite a handful of calls to the owners and one to Benetton (whom never called back), was never going to happen unless one of us flew to Britain and sorted it out in person which was also not guaranteed. Also none of our wives (of us married) were also not into the investment idea either.
In 2018 the car sold for $1.8M euro. It looks like it went through a decent restoration since it was not in this condition in 2000 from the pics I saw. Curious what a investment it would have been and the wives were right, it was only a gain of 3.25 which is only 6.8% annual accounting for inflation
https://www.bonhams.com/auction/2495...s-no-tg184-02/
Last edited by Legend2TL; 01-17-2023 at 03:49 PM.
#748
Senior Moderator
Beautiful car
#749
AZ Community Team
Bruce McLaren with female admirer in the pits, 1967 Italian Grand Prix.
#750
Moderator
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...f2mwBiAtT.html
Jean-Pierre Jabouille, the two-time Grand Prix winner who claimed Renault’s first F1 victory, has died at the age of 80.
Frenchman Jabouille made 49 starts across an F1 career that began with Williams in 1974 and ended with Ligier in 1981 – via spells at Surtees, Tyrrell and the aforementioned Renault.
Two years after joining Renault, Jabouille scored a landmark home win for himself and the team at the 1979 French Grand Prix, held at Dijon, leading home Ferrari rival Gilles Villeneuve and team mate Rene Arnoux, who were involved in a remarkable and now legendary skirmish for the runner-up spot.
Jabouille and Renault secured another triumph together at the following year’s Austrian Grand Prix – the Paris-born racer also taking six pole positions and ending his F1 career with 21 points.
Alongside F1, Jabouille claimed the European F2 title in 1976 and collected four podium finishes at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Speaking of Jabouille’s passing, Formula 1 CEO and President Stefano Domenicali said: “I am saddened by the news that Jean-Pierre Jabouille has passed away. He gave so much to motorsport and F1 and we cherish his memory and achievements. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.”
The current Alpine team – backed by Renault – released a statement saying they were “incredibly saddened” to hear of Jabouille’s passing, describing him as “a humble racing driver, brilliant engineer, and a pioneer of our sport”, along with being “a true racer”.
Their message continued: “He spearheaded Renault’s journey into F1 in 1977 with his resilient and dare to do attitude. He was Renault’s first Grand Prix winner in 1979, a landmark moment in Renault’s journey in Formula 1.
“His determination and dedication to succeed inspired many, and these values remain central to the current team in its now blue colours of Alpine.
“We are where we are today because of Jean-Pierre and his legacy lives on. We’d like to extend our most sincere condolences to his family and close friends.”
Frenchman Jabouille made 49 starts across an F1 career that began with Williams in 1974 and ended with Ligier in 1981 – via spells at Surtees, Tyrrell and the aforementioned Renault.
Two years after joining Renault, Jabouille scored a landmark home win for himself and the team at the 1979 French Grand Prix, held at Dijon, leading home Ferrari rival Gilles Villeneuve and team mate Rene Arnoux, who were involved in a remarkable and now legendary skirmish for the runner-up spot.
Jabouille and Renault secured another triumph together at the following year’s Austrian Grand Prix – the Paris-born racer also taking six pole positions and ending his F1 career with 21 points.
Alongside F1, Jabouille claimed the European F2 title in 1976 and collected four podium finishes at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Speaking of Jabouille’s passing, Formula 1 CEO and President Stefano Domenicali said: “I am saddened by the news that Jean-Pierre Jabouille has passed away. He gave so much to motorsport and F1 and we cherish his memory and achievements. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.”
The current Alpine team – backed by Renault – released a statement saying they were “incredibly saddened” to hear of Jabouille’s passing, describing him as “a humble racing driver, brilliant engineer, and a pioneer of our sport”, along with being “a true racer”.
Their message continued: “He spearheaded Renault’s journey into F1 in 1977 with his resilient and dare to do attitude. He was Renault’s first Grand Prix winner in 1979, a landmark moment in Renault’s journey in Formula 1.
“His determination and dedication to succeed inspired many, and these values remain central to the current team in its now blue colours of Alpine.
“We are where we are today because of Jean-Pierre and his legacy lives on. We’d like to extend our most sincere condolences to his family and close friends.”
#751
AZ Community Team
^ like Bruce McLaren, Alan Kulwicki, and others, Jabouille was a engineer who also drove race cars Was on Prost's Instagram this morning
#752
AZ Community Team
Why Senna Was WRONG
#753
Moderator
#754
Moderator
#755
Moderator
2014 was the year I started watching F1 again, and Bahrain 2014 was a great fight, even if the MB were miles ahead of 3rd.
#756
AZ Community Team
VIDEO: Prost with his 1984 McLaren in Bahrain
https://www.gpfans.com/fr/f1-actuali...-1984-mclaren/
Prost did some laps in his 1984 MP4/2 in Bahrain, currently owned by some very wealthy Mideastern gentleman
Prost did some laps in his 1984 MP4/2 in Bahrain, currently owned by some very wealthy Mideastern gentleman
#757
AZ Community Team
'Ultimate expression of teamwork': how McLaren created the MP4/4
New article about the MP4/4 development, still one of the greatest race cars of all time
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...v=7516fd43adaa
The entire McLaren F1 team design group 1984 only 8 people
Old article but still somewhat amusing
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...v=7516fd43adaa
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...v=7516fd43adaa
“I was the project leader composite/monocoque designer at the time,” he explains. “That was my sort of speciality in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. I was also put in charge of the front suspension, which we decided would be pull-rod.
“After moving around various options, we came the idea of putting the spring dampers in vertically, behind the driver’s feet.
“It made great packaging sense, kept it low, and there was space to do it – but the problem was this now meant there wasn’t space for a conventional sort of rocker [connecting the strut, as with a standard pull-rod suspension].
“I had one of those of coffee discussions with Dave North, when he suggested using tracks instead of a rocker, similar to what was used when he was at Brabham. I thought, ‘That’s an interesting idea.’
“However, it was very much my responsibility to deliver the rising rates that Steve wanted, and design a completely new type of front anti-roll bar because the packaging meant it was [a] pretty weird [space] for a conventional one.”
Jeffreys has now turned his creative nous to painting incredibly detailed profiles of iconic F1 cars in addition to his engineering work – with many prints signed by legends of F1 such as James Hunt’s former team boss Lord Hesketh.
It’s fitting that the first car he turned to paint was the MP4/4 a car he he “knew a lot about dimensionally – so I was able to draw it pretty accurately!”
Back in 1987, Jeffreys was tasked by Nichols to use his artistic eye in creating technical drawings to style the bodywork areas not affected by aerodynamic restraints.
Nichols told the JayEmm on Cars YouTube channel that he agonised over the diameter of the front nosecone so as to maintain a McLaren “family resemblance”, but that the rest of the responsibility went to Jeffreys in making the car aesthetically pleasing....“Having said that, it was mainly Dave North who did the detail and design of it.”
“Obviously, the aerodynamics, the engineering and the science is the most important thing,” Jeffreys says.
“But there are some areas which the aerodynamicists say aren’t sensitive – it doesn’t make a difference. In which case, if you’re going to come up with a shape, you might as well make it look nice! That was our philosophy.
“Steven and I think along similar lines – literally, in some respects – in terms of what looks good and what doesn’t, the sense of proportion of things.
...
“The narrow nose came about because the drivers [in their seating position] went backwards in effect, relative to the front of the car.
“Steve was keen to have a sort of flowing shape, or two rather – the angle of the cam covers and the fuel tank, and the drivers shoulders, which sort of follow through in the body work at a sort pleasing sort of angle.
“Once that was drawn up, Colin Smith, a design draughtsman, would then meticulously create the bodywork, first producing a wooden buck – essentially a full-scale model – section by section.
“With a full-size car appearing before your eyes, you can see if it looks a bit weird or whatever – this is how we adjusted the nose.”
Completing the design was an old associate of Gordon Murray’s to help with the car’s unique packaging.
“Where Gordon did contribute was that he brought in Pete Weisman to work on the step gear that was required for gearbox, because the crankshaft was low,” says Jeffreys.
Getting it all to work together though, and in such a short period of time, wasn’t quite so simple though....
“I’d be at the factory till 10:45pm every night – because that’s just before McDonald’s closed!” laughs Nichols.
“Everybody was so good on every level. The manufacturing guys, the laminating, the race team, the huge amount of effort that went into the testing programme and the Japanese test team, they threw everything at it – it was phenomenal.
“It was such a blessing for all people to be donating their time, coming in on the weekend to get it done, doing it for free because they wanted to. The MP4/4 was, to me, the ultimate expression of teamwork.”
It certainly could be argued to be just that. 15 wins out of 16 races in the 1988 season, garnered during an epic title duel between Senna and Prost making it statistically the most successful F1 car of all time. Design creativity that, in 1988, couldn’t be beat..
“After moving around various options, we came the idea of putting the spring dampers in vertically, behind the driver’s feet.
“It made great packaging sense, kept it low, and there was space to do it – but the problem was this now meant there wasn’t space for a conventional sort of rocker [connecting the strut, as with a standard pull-rod suspension].
“I had one of those of coffee discussions with Dave North, when he suggested using tracks instead of a rocker, similar to what was used when he was at Brabham. I thought, ‘That’s an interesting idea.’
“However, it was very much my responsibility to deliver the rising rates that Steve wanted, and design a completely new type of front anti-roll bar because the packaging meant it was [a] pretty weird [space] for a conventional one.”
Jeffreys has now turned his creative nous to painting incredibly detailed profiles of iconic F1 cars in addition to his engineering work – with many prints signed by legends of F1 such as James Hunt’s former team boss Lord Hesketh.
It’s fitting that the first car he turned to paint was the MP4/4 a car he he “knew a lot about dimensionally – so I was able to draw it pretty accurately!”
Back in 1987, Jeffreys was tasked by Nichols to use his artistic eye in creating technical drawings to style the bodywork areas not affected by aerodynamic restraints.
Nichols told the JayEmm on Cars YouTube channel that he agonised over the diameter of the front nosecone so as to maintain a McLaren “family resemblance”, but that the rest of the responsibility went to Jeffreys in making the car aesthetically pleasing....“Having said that, it was mainly Dave North who did the detail and design of it.”
“Obviously, the aerodynamics, the engineering and the science is the most important thing,” Jeffreys says.
“But there are some areas which the aerodynamicists say aren’t sensitive – it doesn’t make a difference. In which case, if you’re going to come up with a shape, you might as well make it look nice! That was our philosophy.
“Steven and I think along similar lines – literally, in some respects – in terms of what looks good and what doesn’t, the sense of proportion of things.
...
“The narrow nose came about because the drivers [in their seating position] went backwards in effect, relative to the front of the car.
“Steve was keen to have a sort of flowing shape, or two rather – the angle of the cam covers and the fuel tank, and the drivers shoulders, which sort of follow through in the body work at a sort pleasing sort of angle.
“Once that was drawn up, Colin Smith, a design draughtsman, would then meticulously create the bodywork, first producing a wooden buck – essentially a full-scale model – section by section.
“With a full-size car appearing before your eyes, you can see if it looks a bit weird or whatever – this is how we adjusted the nose.”
Completing the design was an old associate of Gordon Murray’s to help with the car’s unique packaging.
“Where Gordon did contribute was that he brought in Pete Weisman to work on the step gear that was required for gearbox, because the crankshaft was low,” says Jeffreys.
Getting it all to work together though, and in such a short period of time, wasn’t quite so simple though....
“I’d be at the factory till 10:45pm every night – because that’s just before McDonald’s closed!” laughs Nichols.
“Everybody was so good on every level. The manufacturing guys, the laminating, the race team, the huge amount of effort that went into the testing programme and the Japanese test team, they threw everything at it – it was phenomenal.
“It was such a blessing for all people to be donating their time, coming in on the weekend to get it done, doing it for free because they wanted to. The MP4/4 was, to me, the ultimate expression of teamwork.”
It certainly could be argued to be just that. 15 wins out of 16 races in the 1988 season, garnered during an epic title duel between Senna and Prost making it statistically the most successful F1 car of all time. Design creativity that, in 1988, couldn’t be beat..
Old article but still somewhat amusing
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...v=7516fd43adaa
Last edited by Legend2TL; 03-08-2023 at 11:59 AM.
#758
Senior Moderator
Love these old stories. Modern F1 is just too bloated.
#759
Senior Moderator
RB7 on a real race track!
#760
AZ Community Team
FULL TRANSCRIPT: Read every word from four-time world champion Alain Prost's insightf