A great (and lengthy) interview about historic and modern F1 is
up at planet-f1.com, and while that alone is interesting enough,
the author is actively looking for feedback about the article.
Quote from an email I just received from him: "I really would
appreciate your feedback so that I can pass it on to John".
www.planet-f1.com/features/balfe/balfe.html/f1/ENG?balfe=balfe
This is the third part, links to the first two installments are at the
bottom. Don't miss it!
Blaze
Great article, thanks for the link.
--
don
New GPL Programs for the Converted Tracks:
http://www.ianparker1.freeserve.co.uk/gpl/index.html
His views on Senna rang true though . I still remember that European GP at
Donington when it poured with rain . Senna started at 5th on the grid (IIRC)
and scythed through the field on the first lap as if he was racing amateurs
. The man had incredible talent .
I'd always believed that Senna had an air of immortality about him so when
he died it was such a shock that , possibly the greatest racer ever , died
from an accident . Looking back through racing history though one finds a
long list of great drivers who died on the track .
Andrew
<snip>
Certainly the man himself seemed to believe that sometimes as well,
judging by some of his behaviour...
Ooooh. If anyone else notices that comment this could be a *loooong*
thread :-) (My top 5 would be Clark, Prost, Fangio, Senna, Stewart BTW.
Nuvolari would be in as well if you allow pre-F1 drivers.)
Which means what? A lot of not-so-great drivers were killed on the
track as well. I'm not sure that the proportion among the greats is any
higher than among the lesser lights - it's just that they tend to be
better remembered.
--
David. (GPLRank handicap: +19.68)
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really."
(Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)
so true.
(My top 5 would be Clark, Prost, Fangio, Senna, Stewart BTW.
are we talking "great" drivers or winning drivers? cause if its the
first....I would leave Senna off your list completly. He was careless
too many times for me to consider him in the same ranking with the
others you mentioned.
**ElfKing**
T'was in a kingdom long ago and far away......
I'd have to disagree with him on Mansell. He won something like 42
FFord races from 51 starts in 1976-77 (no wings, diffusers, rock solid
tyres etc), and didn't impress too much in the full ground effect era
from about 1980-82, though largely because de Anglesis was his
teammate. I'm not sure how the turbos made the cars particularly
physical to drive - acceleration isn't a problem physically as far as
I'm aware. I do know that in 1986 - the year Mansell lost only due to
a tyre blowout in the last race - the engines were at their most
powerfull, the Honda producing in the region of 1000bhp in race trim,
the BMW perhaps 1500 in qualifying. According to Berger it was
impossible to floor it anywhere at Monaco, which suggests a great
degree of finesse was required, and that's actually where Mansell was
really good. He trail braked as per Jim Clark and took pretty unique
approaches to lines etc, so technically he was actually very good.
Joe
