Cars of the GPd2014

[Dave Wisdom]

The grid entry is now complete. Cars and drivers assembled in the rear paddock area for the teams group photo earlier this afternoon:

[David Lawson]

Just for the sake of historical accuracy could Mark or Chris please change Matt Ryder's caption to 1967 Honda rather than 1968.

Thanks
David





Corrected. Thanks for catching that David..


MH.

[Taffy]

Thank you Dave, for all these magnificent and close pictures. I´m really proud, that my Matra is part of a field like this!

[Mark Huber]

GPd2014 Most Esoteric Car Award

This wasn’t a formal competition for this award because I didn’t announce it to any of you before or doing the series. Of course, I'm just announcing it now, after the fact.

But I have a special fondness for unusual, rare or esoteric cars, and I applaud those who take the time to make a car that is not well known. So, what constitutes esoteric?



My arbitrary but binding criteria for selecting candidates from the field of 20 cars were as follows:

1) There was only one prototype built, 
2) The shorter the race career the better, 
3) Tie breaker: Only a true “petrol head” would say, “Of course I've heard of that car”.


Based on the above there were 5 possible candidates for the award:

1. The Eagle Climax TIF. One prototype. 11 Championship starts (including one DSQ) from 1966 through 1969. Driven by Dan Gurney, Bob Bondurant and Al Pease.


Chris' Eagle Climax TIF


2. The Brabham BT19. One prototype 10 Championship starts and 4 victories from 1966 to 1967. Driven by Jack Brabham and Denny Hulme (1 race).


Alan and Stu's Brabham BT19


3. The Honda RA300. One prototype. 4 Championship starts and 1 victory in 1967 and 1968. Driven by John Surtees.


Matt's Honda RA300


4. The Matra MS9. One prototype. 1 Championship start in 1968. Driven by Jackie Stewart.


Taffy's Matra MS9


5. The Shannon SH1. One prototype. 1 Championship start in 1966. Driven by Trevor Taylor.


Phil's Shannon SH1


I eliminated the Eagle Climax, Brabham BT19 and Honda RA300 in the 'preliminary round'. True only one prototype was built of each.  But while the Eagle Climax never won a race, it had the most starts across 3 seasons. Sir Jack’s “Old Nail” BT19 won 4 races and a World Championship, and is quite well known.  While the RA300 had a short career, it won the first time out and is also well known as the “Hondola”.

That leaves the Matra MS9 and the Shannon SH1 both with just one official Championship F1 start.

Let’s take a closer look at each.

The Matra MS9:  Jackie Stewart storms off to a short lived lead in the 1968 South Africa Grand Prix with his pea green prototype powered by the Cosworth DFV V8.  

The Shannon SH1:  Trevor Taylor (the Yorkshireman with the yellow overalls remember?) appears in the 1966 British Grand Prix in the...”What did you say it was called again? And it was powered by what?”


Case closed. The GPd2014 Most Esoteric Car Award goes to:



Congratulations Phil!

[Mark Huber]

PS.

There is no prize for Most Esoteric Car. Just the Organizer's appreciation for building an obscure car.

[Dave Wisdom]

The cars (with the exception of Thomas's Brabham) were all dispatched yesterday. Once I have received your return address Thomas I will post your car ASAP.

Dave

[Taffy]

Dear Dave,

I have sent Thomas a reminder.

[David Mitcham]

Hi Dave

The T81 arrive back in the post this morning in perfect condition. In fact there is no evidence it has been racing at all apart from a little tyre wear and a much freer drive train (I think so anyway as its seems such a long time since I last had it in my hands). Many thanks for packing it so well and returning it so quickly. Also thank you for the Immense Minatures Jim Clark heads: I have a couple of long running Lotus 25 builds going on so they will be ideal.

Roll on next year!

Best Regards

David

[Dave Wisdom]

Hi David.

Thank you for letting me know your car has arrived home safely.

Best regards
Dave

[abbo]

My Lotus arrived safe-and-sound this morning too. Many thanks

Marc

[Dave Wisdom]

Hi Marc. Many thanks for letting me know your car is safely returned.

Nov 17, 2014 20:01:33 GMT -5 Mark Huber said:

A number of folks in the UK have already received their cars.

There is a small participation prize in each box.  Please make sure you all search your boxes carefully, there's more than just your car inside.

More to follow, but I wanted to get this announcement on the Forum right away.

The cars have all been well packaged, so as Mark says; please check the box and packaging carefully when unwrapping.

Thanks.
Dave

[David Lawson]

I brought my car home with me from the last race at Cuckoo Pines and it has already had its post series paint touch up around the nose, the race numbers on the flanks had both disappeared with someone's oily fingers... which did me a favour as I have also now removed the nose race number and it will revert to the correct 19868 Monaco GP number.

I received my participation gift separately and has been put to good use on my V12 Maser. Thank you very much Mark.

David

[Taffy]

My Matra arrived well packed and safe today, proudly accompanied by Mr. Alfred Neubauer (thank you very much, Dave and Mark!)

David L. wrote about oily fingers... well, I call it a kind of patina, that is honestly acquired . But I will change the #, too...

[Bryan King]

My BRM arrived home nice and safely thanks to Dave's generous use of bubble wrap - thanks Dave.

And a Neubauer figure for me too! - thanks Mark.

Bryan 

[Dave Wisdom]

Thank you Taffy & Bryan for letting me know your cars have arrived home safely.

Dave