| Author | Message | ||
| James Selevan (Jselevan)
Member Username: Jselevan Post Number: 395 Registered: 6-2002 |
Standard size. Perhaps a rather large rollbar/air intake cowling. Small tires alter the appearance. More to come. Jim | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 2456 Registered: 8-2002 |
Selevan, i didn't see your response, before, sorry-- you got me on the two front tires, i didn't pick up on the word "two" in your initial question... i guess their attempt to lower wind resistance and increase rubber/concrete contact was successful since James said it set the record... Please don't stop posting pictures, these are really cool... On the 4ELF car, is it just because the four front wheels are really small, or is the car really bigger than F1 cars i'm used to looking at pictures of...? Thanks for the clarification of the width of those other wheels, it makes sense, now...  | ||
| James Selevan (Jselevan)
Member Username: Jselevan Post Number: 394 Registered: 6-2002 |
The front tires are standard racing tires. The rears are space-saver type tires used as temporary tires for rolling to the pits. It is easier to un-mount the space-saver tire when mounting a rain or dry tire. This is all happening before race time. Also, as James suggested, the trailers were not wide enough to accommodate the car with the wide tires on. | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 2455 Registered: 8-2002 |
Oh, ok, thanks, James, but i'm still confused as to the difference in tire widths... | ||
| James Selevan (Jselevan)
Member Username: Jselevan Post Number: 393 Registered: 6-2002 |
DES - If someone asked you to change the two front tires, your response should be, "Which side." Look at the car, it had 6 wheels; 4 front wheels. This was an attempt to lower wind resistance by reducing the size of the leading tires, while at the same time increasing the area of rubber/asphalt contact. The skinny tires were used to get the cars from the garage to the pits while waiting to see what the weather would do. They brought out both slicks and rain tires, and would use the appropriate choice at the last moment. These are the same as space-saver spare tires. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 651 Registered: 10-2002 |
Des Those aren't race tires. Those are used to transport the car on and off the trailer and in the pits before the race tires are mounted. Best Jim | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 2453 Registered: 8-2002 |
Bill, you have a certain way of DEScribing memories as you recall them; very cool stories, thanks... James-- what would be my first question or what would be my next question...? 'Cause i'm not sure i would know what my first question would be... Wouldn't i need one of those hand gun bolt remover thingies...? You've really stumped me, here... Also, in your thread # 391, look at the picture on the bottom of the other two; look at the tires on that car- why are the rear tires so thin- thin to the point where the look almost like bicycle tires...? & not only that, but why are the front tires so thick...? Was this a gag...? | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 699 Registered: 2-2002 |
Damn! I've been caught! Actually, I wasn't much of a bog person, although we would go by and watch the crazys go at it. Remember the tour bus that was burned? A bunch of Brazilians came to watch Fittipaldi and the bus driver left the bus running. When he got back it was gone. Everyone lost their luggage, clothing, airline tickets--whatever was on the bus was toast. I can remember sleeping in the car because the ground was so soggy you couldn't pitch a tent. In the later years, after I graduated from college, we stayed in a motel in Sayre, PA. Back when we were camping my budget for the entire weekend--gas, tickets, food, trinkets--was $60. Tickets were $15. Times have changed. Back in those days the Canadian GP at Mosport was run a week before the Glen. We'd go to both, leaving Detroit at midnight on Friday and driving straight through, then getting back on the road as soon as the checker fell and returning home. My first year at Mosport--and my first GP--was 1971. It was really foggy and they almost didn't start the race. Someone decided that some track action might move the fog out so Jackie Stewart started circulating slowly in his Tyrrell, gradually increasing his speed as the fog lifted. What a relief! We almost didn't see our first GP. A couple years ago at an autograph session for Ford's racing centennial I asked Stewart about that day. He was surprised that anyone remembered... | ||
| James Selevan (Jselevan)
Member Username: Jselevan Post Number: 392 Registered: 6-2002 |
Right you are, Bill. It rained all through practice sessions and cleared on race day. That was 1977. It rained on race day in 1976. I remember thinking how it always rained at the Glen. I remember seeing you there. You were the one with the muddy sneakers. Remember the "Bogg"? Jim | ||
| Bill Sawyer (Wsawyer)
Member Username: Wsawyer Post Number: 698 Registered: 2-2002 |
James: I went to every GP at the Glen from 1971-1980. Your pictures are great. I have some too, but mine were taken from outside the fence. I remember being there in the rain. It rained so hard on Saturday that no one was going out on the track. Then Vittorio Brambilla--the crazy man--went out and others felt they had to follow. I'm not sure if it was 1976 or not, but it sure was raining that year. Most of my friends were so sure it was going to rain all weekend that they drove home to Michigan on Saturday night. They should have stayed. Sunday turned out to be dry. | ||
| James Selevan (Jselevan)
Member Username: Jselevan Post Number: 391 Registered: 6-2002 |
Lauda - pre-burns, along with Gilles Villenueve's car in the pits. I believe Carlos Reutemann at speed, but I cannot confirm this. Watkins Glen - circa 1976. BTW, mean traction on those rear tyres. If you have never seen a grand prix in the pouring rain, make it a life event. Unbelievable. They were trying to decide whether to use rain tyres or paddle wheels.  | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Intermediate Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 1051 Registered: 8-2002 |
Great photos! Keep them coming. | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 646 Registered: 10-2002 |
Look at the wing on Dan's car it's already tilted to the left! | ||
| James Selevan (Jselevan)
Member Username: Jselevan Post Number: 390 Registered: 6-2002 |
Wayne - got it - Oct. 1968. I am having sooo much fun. Hope I'm not hogging the site. Let me know when to stop. Jim | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Intermediate Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 1048 Registered: 8-2002 |
Jim, October 1968. Look at the photo's edge. | ||
| James Selevan (Jselevan)
Member Username: Jselevan Post Number: 389 Registered: 6-2002 |
I didn't know that he sold it to Steve McQueen! Sorry for the quality on this one - In those days we used a pin-hole camera. Jackie Stewart followed by Dan Gurney on their way to pit row from the garage - Watkins Glen, circa 1968. Jim S.  | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 645 Registered: 10-2002 |
James Once again she's looking at that engine. I saw that car in person at Goodwood. It set the record that day up the hill. I think Martin Brundle was driving it. The owner was a nice guy. No trailer gueen that one. The one at Goodwood had Citi livery.May have been the same car. Best Jim | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Intermediate Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 1045 Registered: 8-2002 |
Jim, the red car is the same one in the B&W pic in your previous thread. This is it: 1953 375 America Vignale coupe s/n 0301AL. According to the Massini Vignale book, the history of this car is as follows: Oct 1953, Shown at the Paris Motor Show 1. Harry Kiser, New York, NY 2. James Chapman, USA 3. Steve Mcqueen, Hollywood, CA 4. Sal de la Torre, Pismo Beach, CA (1964-1989) plate "GJS 959" 1989 For sale by de la Torre 1992 Displayed by Top Cars/Erich Schulz at Essen/D | ||
| James Selevan (Jselevan)
Member Username: Jselevan Post Number: 388 Registered: 6-2002 |
DES - this one is for you. If someone asked you to change the two front tires, what would be your next question? (Watkins Glen - circa 1976) Jim S.  | ||
| James Selevan (Jselevan)
Member Username: Jselevan Post Number: 387 Registered: 6-2002 |
Another one of Jim Chapman's cars. He owned this one before I knew him. More race photos to come. Jim S.  |