Member
Posted 24 October 2023 - 00:23
It's not Youtube and I can't find a recent post on Autosport where it was discussed, but I think it's fair to say a future World Champion's first Grand Prix win caught people by surprise...
U.S.A.: UNKNOWN BRAZILIAN DRIVER WINS UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX. - British Pathé (britishpathe.com)
Edited by FLB, 24 October 2023 - 16:17.
Advertisement
Member
Posted 25 October 2023 - 13:59
It's not Youtube and I can't find a recent post on Autosport where it was discussed, but I think it's fair to say a future World Champion's first Grand Prix win caught people by surprise...
U.S.A.: UNKNOWN BRAZILIAN DRIVER WINS UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX. - British Pathé (britishpathe.com)
I remember Fittitpaldi's Watkins Glen win in 1970, it definitely caught me by surprise!
The big story was whether Ickx would overtake Jochen Rindt's points total for the championship - Fittipaldi's win ensured that Rindt would be the posthumous WDC.
It was only Fittipaldi's 4th Grand Prix start, so I suspect a lot of people had not noticed him yet.
Member
Posted 25 October 2023 - 14:05
I remember Fittitpaldi's Watkins Glen win in 1970, it definitely caught me by surprise!
Administrator
Posted 25 October 2023 - 15:02
Shades of Crystal Palace 1964 - 'Unknown Australian beats Hill'. At least they got Emerson's nationality right!
Member
Posted 30 October 2023 - 00:52
Member
Posted 03 November 2023 - 09:33
One for those of us who have happy memories of watching racing "at the Palace". Not great quality film but a nostalgic look back to the last ever meeting at the circuit in 1972.
Member
Posted 03 November 2023 - 10:21
Thank you for calling it a "meeting" rather than a "meet".
(Apparently a Ferrari 250GTO "64" was a Daytona.)
Member
Posted 03 November 2023 - 21:41
One for those of us who have happy memories of watching racing "at the Palace". Not great quality film but a nostalgic look back to the last ever meeting at the circuit in 1972.
Sadly, the council (London Borough of Bromley) long ago buried the main straight in order to make a slope from the upper level into the park. Otherwise it would make a wonderful venue for Formula E, which currently holds its London race in a shed.
Member
Posted 03 November 2023 - 22:37
Otherwise it would make a wonderful venue for Formula E, which currently holds its London race in a shed.
Though they might struggle to beat Hailwoods lap record from 51 years ago 
Member
Posted 04 November 2023 - 11:51
Sadly, the council (London Borough of Bromley) long ago buried the main straight in order to make a slope from the upper level into the park. Otherwise it would make a wonderful venue for Formula E, which currently holds its London race in a shed.
It's somewhat ironic that the primary reason for the circuit closure was to make way for an expansion of the athletics arena which required encroachment on to what was the bottom straight, and now the athletics arena has fallen into a state disrepair.
Member
Posted 04 November 2023 - 13:39
Perhaps the track could be re-routed through the athletics stadium to form a Sarf Landon Peraltada type section ?
Member
Posted 04 November 2023 - 13:54
It's somewhat ironic that the primary reason for the circuit closure was to make way for an expansion of the athletics arena which required encroachment on to what was the bottom straight, and now the athletics arena has fallen into a state disrepair.
I remember that reason being given too, yet the bottom straight is still intact. Philip Parfitt's excellent "Racing at Crystal Palace" says "many reasons were put forward" for closure by the Greater London Council but doesn't say what they were. I've a feeling plans to expand the National Sports Centre were abandoned. I have spectated at an athletics meeting, but the sound just wasn't the same. Nothing could beat arriving during F3 practice to hear 1000cc screamers echoing beneath the railway canopy.
Was present at a meeting with the Mayor last month, but didn't harangue him about the Formula E idea. Next year's meeting, perhaps... They do allow noisy ICE cars to sprint at the circuit, using part of the pre-war loop, North Tower and The Glade, so the door is slightly open.
Member
Posted 12 November 2023 - 18:55
No idea if this has been mentioned here before.
Very interesting and with footage I had never seen before (especially from the 50´s) in remarkably good quality.
Im Krieg geformt - Lucky! S1E1 | DAZN - YouTube
Member
Posted 12 November 2023 - 20:08
In the latter years I have been at CP for the excellent weekend sprints organised by 7Oaks, including their last before Covid. Well run meetings with plenty of spectators, for many this their first exposure to motor sport as opposed to 'eff wun'- happly families with pics of their kids sitting in race cars - happy competitors with a level paddock and vast trailer park. Even better was cheap accomodation onsite in the block built for the sports centre, a short stroll up to Westow Street for food and ale.
Sadly the accomodation tower was 'clad' so ruled unsafe and now closed. Bromley moved the park to private management, always complicated for organising clubs who then need to establish new relationships whilst the large budget required to run this event could not be found from local business. At present motor sport is dormant, not assisted by ideas to ressurect the sports centre, although it will be interesting to see if the money is found. I'm sure if 7Oaks could find a wiling sponsor it would happen again.
Member
Posted 13 November 2023 - 22:00
I realise we're a bit off topic talking about Crystal Palace, but I went to the Sprint 10 years ago. Just in case anyone is worried the statue next to the track might not have been protected, here's the evidence that it was.
Member
Posted 15 November 2023 - 17:49
Member
Posted 15 November 2023 - 19:06
Member
Posted 15 November 2023 - 20:14
Interview with Ermano Cuoghi, Laura’s faithful mechanic. He explains very lucidly why Niki Lauda was so good… dito for Gordon Murray: https://youtu.be/7a4...ew3lmNrXDO2iJwU
Wonderful. Thought I 'd try the first couple of minutes, but 40 minutes later it finished and I wished it hadn't! Fascinating insights, an entertaining character, extremely open in talking about the people he knew and the experiences he had.
One detailed point: I've always thought Alfa Romeo have tended to prioritise design over engineering, and his stories about the ECU on the F1 engine tend to fit with that. Heart-breaking and funny at the same time.
Member
Posted 16 November 2023 - 10:40
Some interesting YouTube footage of Indy driver Pato O'Ward driving a 1969 McLaren M7C at Sonoma, as well some more modern McLarens.
Like any modern driver, he is clearly unused to an H gate stick shift Hewland , and the early laps show this , even on the upshifts . But he's a quick learner and given more time I'm sure he'd be zooming up and down the box with ease . (I mention this only to pre-empt snippy remarks from old farts like me - and yes , yes , of course Jim Clark's heel and toe was sublime but could Vittorio Brambilla ever have mastered the multi function steering wheel in Lando's 2023 McLaren? )
Watch this because it's a joy watching a 54 year old F1 car being driven bloody hard .
Edited by john aston, 16 November 2023 - 10:41.
Advertisement
Member
Posted 17 November 2023 - 22:43
Of all the drivers in my life I wanted to win Indy, Gary Bettenhausen might have been the one I wanted to the most.
That he turned out to be the teammate of a dear friend who didn’t quite get to the starting line in 1976 just adds to the lore.
Wonderful — and I believe, new — documentary on the Bettenhausen family:
https://m.youtube.co...mV0dGVuaGF1c2Vu
Superb. Thanks for posting this Eric. And loved the much missed Robin Miller at the end 
Edited by LittleChris, 17 November 2023 - 22:47.
Member
Posted 19 November 2023 - 21:32
1954 Carrera Panamericana
"THE FIFTH MEXICAN ROAD RACE" 1954 CARRERA PANAMERICANA AUTO RACING DOCUMENTARY 46314 - YouTube
Member
Posted 20 November 2023 - 03:31
© MOTORSPORT NETWORK 2024. All rights reserved. Community Forum Software by IP.Board
