9 replies to this topic

[smarty]

A friend of mine mentioned about a 6-wheeled Tyrell of the past with 4 in front and 2 in rear. Is it true? Under which rule was it banned? Was it successful?

A 6-wheeled car must be slower because of the increasing friction, but may have a better grip. True?

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SMARTY

http://www.istanbulcityguide.com

[Keith Sawatsky]

Smarty...

Yes, it's true...and it was quite bizzare looking because of the small size of the 4 front wheels. I don't know if there were any advantages to it, nor do I know if and why it may have been banned.

[Christiaan]

If you look in the history of the faq sections of Atlas you will find all the details. Tyrell made one which was quite successful. There wasn't nescessarily more friction, but there was more contact area and so the car was horrendously fast arounf the corners. The tyres themselves were also small and fitted just behind the wing making the car's front virtually closed wheeled.

Tyrell abandoned it because the tyre manufacturers were not developing the small tyre fast enough for it to be competetive.

If you find the faq there is also an outrageous car with 4 rear wheels.

[Elio]

Yes, seasons 76 and 77 saw the Tyrrell P34, the idea was reduce the frontal area (less drag) with small front wheels. Four tyres were used to provided the same cornering ability as standtard wheels.
Six wheels were banned in 1983, when Williams was developing a four rear wheel car. March also made one in the 70's.

[Rev Counter]

The Tyrell was not the only four wheeled car. Williams started to develop a six wheeled varient of the FW08 in 1982-3. It differed from the Tyrell in that it had four driving wheels at the rear rather than four steering. Wind tunnel tests sugested that this would give the same level of traction as two large driving wheels but with much less drag because of the lower area of cross section. (Sir) Frank Williams hoped to get Alan Jones to change his mind about retirement with the idea. Unfortunately for him the rules were changed to state that cars shoud have only four wheels. If anybody is interested I have a picture (black & white) of this.

[This message has been edited by Rev Counter (edited 09-15-1999).]

[Pascal]

Thanks to www.forix.com (this site is a Bible), here are some pictures of the Tyrrell P34:



Strange beast indeed...

[Christiaan]

There is a picture of the 6 wheeled Williams somewhere in the FAQ section. Does anybody care to dig it up and post it? I am too lazy to read the instructions on how to post a pic

[This message has been edited by Christiaan (edited 09-15-1999).]

[BRG]

Wasn't there a six wheel March as well? I seem to remember one with four rear wheels that was used in hillclimbs in Britain in the 80s.

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BRG

[JimE]

Rev Counter

Your right about the Williams and I would love to see your picture, March also built a six wheeler in 1977 with 4 small wheels at the rear giving 4 wheel drive. Despite encouraging test results budget restraints prevented development.

As for the Tyrrell P34 the 1976 version finished in the points in most of the GP's that year but the following year's rebodied cars were to heavy and uncompetitive.

The P34's first win since the Swedish GP of 1976 came earlier this year at Brands Hatch when Martin Stretton in a restored 1977 car now running on specially made Avon tyres since Goodyear no longer make the small front tyres came home first in an Historic race.

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JimE

[Yelnats]

The P34 I watched at Mosport in 77 was quite competitive in that race (qualified 4th?) and in the hands of Deppalier and Peterson, was more capable than most cars in the field. The company lacked Stewarts developmental and testing skills and Tyrrell slid quickly down the ranks of manufactures afterwards. It was one of the last sucessfull designs from that company and seemed not at all the dead-end design that the banning turned it into.