-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Formula 1
HOBBS: The Development Curve
David Hobbs notes the efforts of Mclaren and Ferrari to get back on the pace, and recalls his own tribulations trying to improve poor chassis in the past....
Jackie Stewart flashes through the Montjuich Park scenery in the 1971 Spanish Grand Prix (LAT)
Spanish Grand Prix Photo Gallery HERE
Spain marks the start of the traditional “European” F1 season.
While the current F1 venue is in Montmelo, just outside Barcelona, I have memories of a quite different Barcelona circuit – the one that ran through the heart of Montjuich Park in the center of the city.
I raced at Montjuich Park in the 1966 Formula 2 race, when I finished 4th driving Tim “Bloody ‘ell, thought you woulda done better than that Dave” Parnell! I think I beat Graham Hill, who was driving the John Coombes BRM.
I vaguely remember the track, and it was great to drive. Very dangerous of course, as they all were, but it was tremendous fun because you really were driving through a parkland.
There was a modicum of guardrail, straw bales and such like, but if you went wide any where, you were straight into a normal street curb….which didn’t do the car or the driver much good…
Of course, the start of the European season is synonymous with teams bringing all manner of new parts for their cars, in the hope of making that big step in performance. I’ve known many instances of that myself, some more successful than others.
I suppose the worst example was in 1972, when I came off being the Formula 5000 champion in America, and Lola decided I was going to be their works driver in Can-Am, taking over from Jackie Stewart.
Lola founder and designer Eric Broadley had this very striking car. It was very wide, very long and very low, and the wing was mounted super low, with Eric’s big theory being that it would be an aerodynamic jet down the straight because of low drag, but have enough downforce because of the surface area to still be good around the corners.
Of course, like all of Eric’s projects, it ran very late, and we did our final test at Silverstone on the week of the second Can-Am event (we’d already missed the first one). At this test, believe it not, Eric had decided to let Frank Gardner drive instead of me, because he rated Frank’s skills as a test and development driver.
He was only lapping about seven seconds a lap slower than the Mclarens did prior to them going to the first race, which we hadn’t even shown up for. At this point, I did comment that this was rather a large gap to have to bridge, but Frank, in his laconic Australian way, just said “Dave she’ll be right mate, she’s not a bad little tool, you’ll soon be able to sort this out”.
Well of course, the first time I drove it was at Road Atlanta during qualifying for the race, at which point I realized the steering was impossibly heavy. Eric did mention that Frank had told him the steering was a bit difficult, but this was ridiculous.
Our Peter Windsor did mention during our Friday broadcast from Catalunya that he’d never seen so many people come to the garages with boxes of bits and pieces to bolt onto the cars. Well, Eric was famous for bring a holdall full of new parts with him everytime he came to the racetrack. Be it pick-up points, A-arms, or whatever…he had some new trick up his sleeve!
Spain marks the start of the traditional “European” F1 season.
While the current F1 venue is in Montmelo, just outside Barcelona, I have memories of a quite different Barcelona circuit – the one that ran through the heart of Montjuich Park in the center of the city.
I raced at Montjuich Park in the 1966 Formula 2 race, when I finished 4th driving Tim “Bloody ‘ell, thought you woulda done better than that Dave” Parnell! I think I beat Graham Hill, who was driving the John Coombes BRM.
I vaguely remember the track, and it was great to drive. Very dangerous of course, as they all were, but it was tremendous fun because you really were driving through a parkland.
There was a modicum of guardrail, straw bales and such like, but if you went wide any where, you were straight into a normal street curb….which didn’t do the car or the driver much good…
Of course, the start of the European season is synonymous with teams bringing all manner of new parts for their cars, in the hope of making that big step in performance. I’ve known many instances of that myself, some more successful than others.
I suppose the worst example was in 1972, when I came off being the Formula 5000 champion in America, and Lola decided I was going to be their works driver in Can-Am, taking over from Jackie Stewart.
Lola founder and designer Eric Broadley had this very striking car. It was very wide, very long and very low, and the wing was mounted super low, with Eric’s big theory being that it would be an aerodynamic jet down the straight because of low drag, but have enough downforce because of the surface area to still be good around the corners.
Of course, like all of Eric’s projects, it ran very late, and we did our final test at Silverstone on the week of the second Can-Am event (we’d already missed the first one). At this test, believe it not, Eric had decided to let Frank Gardner drive instead of me, because he rated Frank’s skills as a test and development driver.
He was only lapping about seven seconds a lap slower than the Mclarens did prior to them going to the first race, which we hadn’t even shown up for. At this point, I did comment that this was rather a large gap to have to bridge, but Frank, in his laconic Australian way, just said “Dave she’ll be right mate, she’s not a bad little tool, you’ll soon be able to sort this out”.
Well of course, the first time I drove it was at Road Atlanta during qualifying for the race, at which point I realized the steering was impossibly heavy. Eric did mention that Frank had told him the steering was a bit difficult, but this was ridiculous.
Our Peter Windsor did mention during our Friday broadcast from Catalunya that he’d never seen so many people come to the garages with boxes of bits and pieces to bolt onto the cars. Well, Eric was famous for bring a holdall full of new parts with him everytime he came to the racetrack. Be it pick-up points, A-arms, or whatever…he had some new trick up his sleeve!
Spanish Grand Prix
LATEST HEADLINES: FORMULA-ONE
-
F1: Frustrated Pirelli Still Awaiting 2014 Decision
Pirelli boss Paul Hembery is not sure how new season will unfold...… -
F1: Grosjean Quick But Hits The Wall In Monaco
Romain Grosjean had an eventful Thursday in Monaco... -
F1: We Need To Be More Competitive, Says Vettel
Sebastian Vettel was uncharacteristically quiet on Day One of practice… -
F1: Ferrari Leads Chase Of Mercedes In Monaco
Fernando Alonso hopes Ferrari can capitalize if Thursday's frontrunners… -
F1: Rosberg Quickest But Cautious On Mercedes Chances
Nico Rosberg paced both Thursday practices in Monaco... -
F1: Monaco Grand Prix Weekend Notebook (UPDATE 8)
Check back here for frequent updates throughout the Monaco Grand… -
F1: Alonso Tips Mercedes To Set Monaco Pace
Fernando Alonso's No. 1 priority in Monaco is beating his championship… - More News
