One Race Wonder

3798j · 01-03-2017, 11:41 AM

With the new formula for 2017 (with its wider tires etc.) just around the corner, I thought I'd bring up one of my least favorite eras...the 1978 "ground effects" season. This forum has a large number of savvy Formula 1 fans and as such, this story should have appeal...it's a good story.

Here's the car: Brabham BT46B Alfa Romeo "fan car"

This (5 min.) video of Bernie's Brabham team and Gordon Murray's design says it all:

Note how the car appears as if on rails. Because the fan speed was dictated by engine speed, Lauda had to keep the loud pedal buried.

The Swedish Grand Prix was its only race...it won straight out of the box, then was retired, never to race again.

NickyC · 01-03-2017, 04:25 PM

Hah, that's awesome. Thanks for sharing!

3GFX · 01-03-2017, 04:39 PM

Knew about that car already. Love the engineering and creativeness behind it.

overcoil · 01-03-2017, 05:33 PM

Not to hijack this thread, great original post.
But below is link to one of the better F1 article in a few years.

http://www.motor1.com/news/132445/gi...ola-interview/

3798j · 01-03-2017, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3GFX

Love the engineering and creativeness behind it.

Murray gave a lot of creativity credit to Texan, Jim Hall. Eight years earlier (1970), Hall came out with his Chaparral 2J to race in the SCCA's Group 7 (Can-Am Series). We watched (in awe) this car race in the Watkins Glen Can-Am. Jackie Stewart qualified some 2 seconds faster than the McLarens, the 917's, the Lola's and the Ferrari's (it dominated before brake failure forced its retirement). Later, Bruce McLaren and the rest got the SCCA to ban it.
Here it climbs the hill at Goodwood (49 seconds)....talk about dusting things up.

iamjamen · 01-04-2017, 05:06 PM

Bernie had Niki qualify on a full fuel load. Still managed P7. lol

EdM5 · 01-30-2017, 05:51 AM

Awesome car. Murray is a genius.
Nice to see Mario in the vid.

MKSixer · 02-04-2017, 10:17 PM

Great find!

Don't forget about the Lotus 88! Two chassis and unbelievable cornering capabilities. It was immediately made illegal!!

01-03-2017, 11:41 AM	#1
3798j Fleet Mechanic 13456 Rep 1,984 Posts Drives: E86 3.0si Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Susquehanna Valley iTrader: (0) Garage List '19 VW Golf R [10.00] '55 Ford F100 [0.00] '08 Z4 3.0SI [8.50] '66 Triumph TR4A [0.00] '85 Corvette [0.00] '64 Corvette [0.00] '68 Triumph GT6 [9.50]	One Race Wonder With the new formula for 2017 (with its wider tires etc.) just around the corner, I thought I'd bring up one of my least favorite eras...the 1978 "ground effects" season. This forum has a large number of savvy Formula 1 fans and as such, this story should have appeal...it's a good story. Here's the car: Brabham BT46B Alfa Romeo "fan car" This (5 min.) video of Bernie's Brabham team and Gordon Murray's design says it all: Note how the car appears as if on rails. Because the fan speed was dictated by engine speed, Lauda had to keep the loud pedal buried. The Swedish Grand Prix was its only race...it won straight out of the box, then was retired, never to race again.
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01-03-2017, 04:25 PM	#2
NickyC Lieutenant General 19542 Rep 11,296 Posts Drives: M4 CS. Former G82, x2 F82, F80 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Jacked out of my mind iTrader: (23)	Hah, that's awesome. Thanks for sharing!
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01-03-2017, 04:39 PM	#3
3GFX Captain 718 Rep 912 Posts Drives: 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	Knew about that car already. Love the engineering and creativeness behind it.
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01-03-2017, 05:33 PM	#4
overcoil Major General 3140 Rep 5,583 Posts Drives: M235i 6spd Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (0)	Not to hijack this thread, great original post. But below is link to one of the better F1 article in a few years. http://www.motor1.com/news/132445/gi...ola-interview/
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01-04-2017, 05:06 PM	#6
iamjamen First Lieutenant 132 Rep 319 Posts Drives: E90 335i, E70 35i, E83 3.0i Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: America's High Five (MI) iTrader: (5) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i [10.00]	Bernie had Niki qualify on a full fuel load. Still managed P7. lol __________________ \| 2009 E90 335i M-Sport 6MT \|
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01-30-2017, 05:51 AM	#7
EdM5 Colonel 4105 Rep 2,067 Posts Drives: G26 i4 M50 & E70 X5 Xdrive35d Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Amsterdam iTrader: (0)	Awesome car. Murray is a genius. Nice to see Mario in the vid. __________________ 2004 e87 118d (ret.), 2007 e92 330d (ret.), 2007 e87 130i M-sport (ret.), 2009 e92 M3 (ret.), 2010 f10 535d M-sport (ret.), 2015 f10 M5 CP (ret.), 2017 f82 M4 CP (ret.) 2022 g26 i4 M50 & 2009 e70 X5 35d
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02-04-2017, 10:17 PM	#8
MKSixer Lieutenant General 34164 Rep 11,637 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW i8, E63 M6, 328d Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Southeast United States iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 M4 GTS (Allotted) [0.00] 2013 BMW 328d [0.00] 2007 BMW M6 [10.00] 2015 BMW i8 [10.00]	Great find! Don't forget about the Lotus 88! Two chassis and unbelievable cornering capabilities. It was immediately made illegal!! __________________ Several actors have played James Bond, Sean Connery IS James Bond... Sir 7ewis, 7X FIA Formula One World Championship, World Driving Champion. 100 Wins. 101 Pole Positions. 54 Fastest Laps. Actual Rain Master. Leave me to it, Bono. One Race Win in each of his 15 years in F1. Most Laps Led in Formula One. The Centurion.
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