Epic 1970's pictures, well they're epic!!

iaind · 24 Oct 2009 at 16:31

These photos really are awesome - from back in the day when you needed real talent to get good photographs!

My late grandfather was a photographer back in these days and covered a few motorsport events - I've got a huge task to scan in his life's work (a few suitcases) but will post any car related ones up here if anyone's interested

weta · 24 Oct 2009 at 17:01

thecremeegg said:
I never knew of it until just now and I've watched F1 for a few years

There were several six wheelers, the Tyrrell P34 was the only one that ever raced. Ferrari, March and Williams all experimented with six wheeled designs which had four wheels at the back.

iaind · 24 Oct 2009 at 17:04

weta said:
There were several six wheelers, the Tyrrell P34 was the only one that ever raced. Ferrari, March and Williams all experimented with six wheeled designs which had four wheels at the back.

I'm sure I remember playing with a 6 wheeler scalextric car when I was a kid

Housey · 24 Oct 2009 at 17:06

iaind said:
I'm sure I remember playing with a 6 wheeler scalextric car when I was a kid

That was the March

weta · 24 Oct 2009 at 17:16

I'm pretty sure Ferrari's car used dual wheels, similar to a tractor (or truck).

Housey · 24 Oct 2009 at 17:18

Ferrari, March and Willams all built 6 wheel F1 cars, none of which actually raced and they were running 4 wheels at the rear rather than front. All 6 tyres were the same size I believe and gave aerodynamic benefits over the cars of the time due to the smaller size of the rear tyres.

SHEDDER1uk · 24 Oct 2009 at 17:20

and looked stupid

Housey · 24 Oct 2009 at 17:27

March

Williams

Different, but not stupid.

Cybermyk · 24 Oct 2009 at 17:35

weta · 24 Oct 2009 at 17:48

Housey said:
Ferrari, March and Willams all built 6 wheel F1 cars, none of which actually raced and they were running 4 wheels at the rear rather than front. All 6 tyres were the same size I believe and gave aerodynamic benefits over the cars of the time due to the smaller size of the rear tyres.

I'm pretty sure all of the rear wheeled designs shared the front tyres and your images seem to support that. While the P34 used special (smaller) tyres on the front.

Housey · 24 Oct 2009 at 17:58

There was a lot of experimentation with small wheels in racing in the 70's as the Shadow Mk1 CanAm car shows well.

iaind · 24 Oct 2009 at 18:01

That looks like the worlds most awesome go kart

Housey · 24 Oct 2009 at 18:04

With 700bhp too!

Skeeter · 24 Oct 2009 at 18:06

The March 6 wheeler was never intended to race. It was a publicity stunt. I think the Williams was planned to race, but never did get there did it?

I was clearly born 30 years too late!

iaind · 24 Oct 2009 at 18:11

Housey said:
With 700bhp too!

Thats crazy - just look at how exposed the driver is. I wish I lived in the days before H&S became so prevalent

Housey · 24 Oct 2009 at 18:16

Skeeter said:
The March 6 wheeler was never intended to race. It was a publicity stunt. I think the Williams was planned to race, but never did get there did it?

I was clearly born 30 years too late!

It wasn't quite a publicity stunt it was more of a failed test bed but it was hill climbed I think by the recently late Roy Lane sometime in the 70's. The Williams 6 wheeler never raced as I believe 6 wheel cars were outlawed in the early 80's but it did run up the hill at Goodwood a few times, Palmer really made if fly and I hear that Williams is now considering entering 2 versions into the Historic F1 series next year which will be interesting and I think it might have raced once in a Historic race in the past, but might be wrong.

Ev0 · 24 Oct 2009 at 19:24

mm I'm gonna get the album out and see if I can take any decent pics to stick them up, not having a scanner = fail

rmuir · 24 Oct 2009 at 21:05

Housey said:
Some big air!

just wow

there are some amazing photos in this thread, but those 2 took my breath away.

Keep 'em coming

utajoker · 24 Oct 2009 at 21:30

Housey said:
Some big air!

so worthy of canvasing

Housey · 24 Oct 2009 at 21:30

Some Cevert, one of the lost talents of the era.

With his mentors wife

Hans J Stuck