F1 Legends: Throwback Tuesdays & Thursdays

Assuming the engine was dry, otherwise there would be oil streaks on the wall. Beautiful bit of kit though.
Jo was one the last of the breed. F1 was a genuine sport in those years.

 

In addition to being one of the last of the breed, Jo Bonnier was one cool dude. During qualifying for the 1963 Monaco GP I was sitting with a schoolmate 10 feet above the track on a stone wall at the entrance to the Station Hairpin (the wall is still there, the station is gone replaced by the Loews then Fairmont hotels). The cars passed directly under our feet and we could see into the cockpits and watch the drivers downshift into the turn. Along comes Jo Bonnier in his Cooper-Climax, but instead of his Dunlap drivers suit he was wearing a blue LaCoste polo jersey. I can’t remember what I had for dinner last night but recall the image of him downshifting in the polo jersey as if it was yesterday. Apparently Jo was late arriving for the qually session so he just jumped into the car wearing his street clothes. As I said, he was one cool dude.

 

I was there, too, I rode my bike to it (Schwinn).
I lived 4 miles dead west of the track.
The school I went to was 3 miles from it, I used to
ride my bike out there after school nearly every day
for the 3 weeks leading up to the race.

I have stories....

 

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"Gold Leaf Team Lotus"

Rgds

 

The beginning of the end for the privateers.

 

I recall that Sid Watkins--though a great friend of Ayrton--refused to ride with him because he drove so fast and aggressively.

 

Clay Regazzoni, Monza 1975

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Which is pretty obnoxious, considering the goal should always be to arrive safely, especially when you have a passenger in the car. What's fun for you is terrifying and uncomfortable for those not in control.

 

Once again the mighty "tea kettle".
1976 South African GP with Jacques Laffite piloting the
Ligier JS5 Matra.

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I was at the Glen in 1976 and 1980 at the boot. The Glen at the boot was wild!! I believe Giacomelli in the Alfa led in 1980 then broke, and Alan Jones won.

 

A photo I took in the boot during a practice session in 1980. I was taken by the unique "echelon formation" that the three cars made. Gilles, Mark Surer and Hector Rebaque.

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Unforgettable sound.

 

Looking at the size (width) difference between the fronts and rears, I wonder if todays cars would be faster with tires more like those in the picture than the ones we have today.
a) The rears would withstand more acceleration without overheating
b) the center of gravity can be moved backwards to balance front/rear grip
c) the lighter fronts would be more responsive to the steering wheel

 

Jim Clark's final victory. The 1968 South African Grand Prix.

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Look, no wings !!!

 

And no tobacco advertising, yet.


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Finally, a properly sized race car.

 

Mario Andretti, Parnelli VPJ4, US Grand Prix West, Long Beach 1976

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And by season’s end, he was winning a Grand Prix for Lotus!


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Jack O'Malley incredibly on pole.

 

I always liked that "Jack O'Malley" tag. "Funny, you don't look Irish."