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#21
11-22-2004, 01:29 PM
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What was the purpose of that fairing behind the driver's head? Streamlining? That doesn't seem feasible because in nearly every photo of those old cars, the driver's head is entirely above top of the fairing. And most of those cars would seem to have been a certain death trap in the event of a rollover....driver's head a foot above the top of the fairing and the windshield. A helmet would seem to be little protection against the weight of a 2000 pound car pushing down on the driver's head.
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#22
11-22-2004, 02:29 PM
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Fon's age
I believe he was killed in the mid-fifties, in the Mille Miglia. How old was he?
Bob Z.
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#23
11-22-2004, 02:48 PM
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although the scholarship re: aerodynamics was only a fraction of what it is today, I think that engineers of the day had a rudimentary understanding of "dirty air" and that there would be a lot less buffeting of the driver's head with a nacelle behind the driver's head to remove the big low-pressure zone that would result absent the nacelle. As for the height of it, that would obviously have depended on the driver. I guess de Portago was a lot taller that Porfirio Rubirosa whose head barely poked over the nacelle.
I don't think that driver safety even entered into their thinking in 1957 - not even the basic concept of seat belts had shown up in these cars yet. The support for the nacelle is nothing more than some small-diameter steel tubes. Looking at the construction of the sports racers, you were probably better off being thrown from the car - better than getting a steering column through the chest or an engine in your lap. There was literally nothing between you and the motor excpet a sheet of aluminum. The formula cars were worse since they wrapped the driver w/ fuel tanks. I remember reading a story about wiry little Masten Gregory and how he would put his foot up on the seat when he saw a shunt coming to spring himself out of the car.
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#24
08-07-2005, 11:10 AM
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de Portago
I was interested in Manel's post about writing about de Portago. I am engaged in writing such a book at the moment for a UK publisher. Perhaps he would like to contact me.
Thanks Ed McDonough
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#25
08-07-2005, 08:19 PM
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Manel or EdMcD, would you care to provide more information? I would be interested in having a copy of either one.
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#26
08-08-2005, 07:41 AM
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Quote:
http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=1 --Matt
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#27
08-08-2005, 09:51 AM
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Fon de Portago interview on Riverside records
Anyone intersted in having a copy of Riverside records interview
I have a very small quantity of the four driver records remastered on CD. these are are not bootleg copies, see advert
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#28
09-10-2005, 04:22 AM
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de Portago
It may be of interest to people on this thread that my book on de Portago will be completed by Christmas and published by a UK publisher. I am interested in hearing from those of you who have accurate lists of dates of races and other sporting events to check against my own. Also looking for unpublished photos, which will be credited etc. Any help greatly appreciated.
For your interest I have been in touch with members of the family including Portago's widow who I am going to interview shortly. Thanks very much, Ed McDonough If you want my CV or list of my other books, just ask.
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#29
09-10-2005, 07:11 AM
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Quote:
FYI I own the original police accident photos showing the MM 57 wreck in all detail. Marcel Massini
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#30
09-10-2005, 10:50 PM
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Thank you for the update and please keep us posted when there are future developments. It sounds like a great book.
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#31
09-11-2005, 01:22 PM
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Fon de Portago
Many Tks for your interest in my Fon's bio.
The wording, along with a good number of hard-to-find period images, are ready for printing. Now looking for these elusive action shots of his early horse, bobsleigh and car races.
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#32
11-26-2005, 09:28 AM
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de Portago
I am pleased to say I have just returned from the USA where I spent a day with the widow of Alfonso de Portago. It was fascinating and illuminating. I was able to have access to the family albums..never seen photos of his early years. 'Fon' made six large albums of his life himself.
Ed McDonough
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#33
11-26-2005, 10:01 AM
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Quote:
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#34
11-30-2005, 09:48 PM
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Quote:
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#35
12-01-2005, 10:09 AM
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Fon?
Do you mean Don Alfonso Antonio Vicente Blas Ángel Francisco Borija Cabez de Vaca y Leighton, Carvajal y Are, XVII Marqués de Portago, Marqués de Moratalla, XIII Conde de La Mejorada, Conde de Pernia, Duke of Alagon, Grande de España?
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#36
12-01-2005, 10:25 AM
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It's gonna need a damn big cover to get all that on............
;-) Look forward to the book Ed, I love 'Ferrari 156 Sharknose' and your stuff for Auto Italia. I've heard two versions of his last accident:- 1) Enzo is rumoured to have taunted Fon that Gendebien in the 250GT would beat him, and Fon wouldn't have a tyre change at his last stop due his impatience to prove Enzo wrong, despite a tyre rubbing on the bodywork - so it burst...; or 2) the cats-eyes in the centre of the road cut his tyre as he drifted across them, and the Italian government was said to have banned that type of cats-eye for years afterwards.......... Paul M
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#37
12-01-2005, 11:00 AM
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1956 Nurburgring
Hey guys thanks for sharing the information above - really wonderful reading.
Here are some amateur pictures of Alfonso de Portago in 290MM Spyder (0626) at the 56 Nurbergring. Didn't Fangio came in 4th @ the 56 Mille Miglia in this car several months earlier?
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#38
12-01-2005, 11:02 AM
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Quote:
Last edited by FerrariStuff.com; 12-01-2005 at 11:25 AM.
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#39
12-01-2005, 12:56 PM
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Quote:
Marcel Massini
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#40
12-02-2005, 04:57 AM
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#0626 in Mas du Clos
Here photos of the 290 MM #0626 when it was in the Mas du Clos Collection of Pierre Bardinon.
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