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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Monaco, 1961
I've got Lotus 18s on the brain today (it's a long story), so I thought I'd take a look at what might be the car's greatest victory, as piloted by Sterling Moss, for the Rob Walker team. The introduction to the race featuring Monte Carlo native Louis Chiron is worth watching in and of itself, as is the POV lap of the track with points of interest including the chicane where "Albert Ascary" went off track, and into the harbor. that said, there's also a lot of wonderful vintage footage, and drivers from Moss and Brabham, to Hill, Von Trips, Hill, Gurney, and Ginther and cars like the Porsche 718, and Ferrari 156... even if it does mis-identify Bruce Mclaren as being from Australia.
There's a nice piece in here where Maston Gregory talks about the changes to the cars for 1961.
It's interesting to note that many of the same controversies in F1's present day can be found as far back as '61 (and much further if you look hard). The same misplaced goals of cost cutting, and increased safety through slowing down the cars, are responsible for the decrease from 2.5 to 1.5 liters for 1961, and the ever changing aero-rules and engine freezes of today. these measures were as controversial, and effective as those being implemented by the current FIA administration, and had the same net effect of stirring up the pot, and bringing different talents to the fore. If the current rule changes end up producing racing anything like this, they may well have been worth it after all... but don't hold your breath.
Phill Hill talks about the Ferrari, and Bonnier (for some reason not Gurney) talks about the Porsche.
At last, the race has actually started.
As many things as are similar to today's F1 circus, one major difference stands out. The presence of three young, talented Americans, Californians in fact, all sitting at the sharp end of the driver pool, one of whom would go on to be champion in 1961. Today, no such hope really exists. The last American in F1 (also the first in more than a decade) left two years ago after one turbulent, and unproductive season. Ginther would lead from the start at that fir4st GP of the 1,5 liter formula in Monaco, but failed to hold off Moss, and so his debut (and only) f1 victory, would have to wait until the last race of the Formula, in Mexico, in 1965. But that's another story.
There's a nice piece in here where Maston Gregory talks about the changes to the cars for 1961.
It's interesting to note that many of the same controversies in F1's present day can be found as far back as '61 (and much further if you look hard). The same misplaced goals of cost cutting, and increased safety through slowing down the cars, are responsible for the decrease from 2.5 to 1.5 liters for 1961, and the ever changing aero-rules and engine freezes of today. these measures were as controversial, and effective as those being implemented by the current FIA administration, and had the same net effect of stirring up the pot, and bringing different talents to the fore. If the current rule changes end up producing racing anything like this, they may well have been worth it after all... but don't hold your breath.
Phill Hill talks about the Ferrari, and Bonnier (for some reason not Gurney) talks about the Porsche.
At last, the race has actually started.
As many things as are similar to today's F1 circus, one major difference stands out. The presence of three young, talented Americans, Californians in fact, all sitting at the sharp end of the driver pool, one of whom would go on to be champion in 1961. Today, no such hope really exists. The last American in F1 (also the first in more than a decade) left two years ago after one turbulent, and unproductive season. Ginther would lead from the start at that fir4st GP of the 1,5 liter formula in Monaco, but failed to hold off Moss, and so his debut (and only) f1 victory, would have to wait until the last race of the Formula, in Mexico, in 1965. But that's another story.
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