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Author Topic: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72  (Read 44970 times)

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Offline Lou Drozdowski

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #240 on: Friday,May 15, 2020, 01:06:42 PM »
A little tidbit on the story of "Gold"...

When Colin secured sponsorship and the color scheme was discussed, the ultimate decision to mirror a pack of John Player fags (cigarette's) was the way to go. Colin hired a local painter to do the car in real gold leaf foil...A lengthy and quite expensive task no doubt.

I remember an interview video with Peter Warr & Peter Windsor, where Warr recounted how the mechanics and the drivers were at odds every time a new nose or panel was to be repaired and leafed. Delays, costs and frustrations mounted. The techs would blame the drivers for bashing body parts, slowing turn around.

Colin got it from all sides...it costs too much!...How can I push the car and risk the lack of spares!...the poor bloke painter could not keep up with demand and complained about extended hours and loss of family life.

Well, the writing was on the wall... real "Gold" had to go. The following seasons a regular pin stripe tape was phased and in most cases was lacquered over. Frugal to say the least, but leave it to Colin to have 24 karat as his initial option.
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Offline BDA

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #241 on: Friday,May 15, 2020, 03:24:51 PM »
Real gold leaf!!! Yikes! That's insane!
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Offline Bainford

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #242 on: Tuesday,May 19, 2020, 11:04:59 AM »
Very interesting, I had no idea. It explains some texturing anomolies I have seen in the graphics of some early period photos.
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Offline Lou Drozdowski

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #243 on: Thursday,June 04, 2020, 02:23:01 PM »
 "The # 1 car I ever drove in my career "...Emerson Fittipaldi
 
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/piola-fittipaldi-lotus-72-special-video/4403813/

A must see video with the famous technical artist Giorgio Piola and Emerson, discuss the type 72

https://us.motorsport.com/f1/video/giorgio-piola-classics-emerson-fittipaldi-on-lotus-72/446636/

Article link...and just video link
« Last Edit: Thursday,June 04, 2020, 02:35:09 PM by Lou Drozdowski »
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Offline BDA

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #244 on: Thursday,June 04, 2020, 03:59:12 PM »
Nice drawings and talk with Emmo! It's interesting that Emmo said a front half-shaft breaking was the cause of Rindt's accident and death. The people interviewed in the movie, 1 said it was the fact that Rindt wanted to run without wings. John Miles said that for him, the 72 without wings was completely underivable and the only time he was truly afraid in a car. Maybe Rindt's accident was caused by a combination of no wings and failing front half-shaft...
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Offline Lou Drozdowski

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #245 on: Thursday,June 04, 2020, 05:04:30 PM »
Quote from: BDA on Thursday,June 04, 2020, 03:59:12 PM
Nice drawings and talk with Emmo! It's interesting that Emmo said a front half-shaft breaking was the cause of Rindt's accident and death. The people interviewed in the movie, 1 said it was the fact that Rindt wanted to run without wings. John Miles said that for him, the 72 without wings was completely underivable and the only time he was truly afraid in a car. Maybe Rindt's accident was caused by a combination of no wings and failing front half-shaft...

BDA...Agree that with no wings the car was a hand full...

Emmo's earlier practice crash was due to the exact same half shaft failure. He mentioned the issue with heat treatment and different materials used and only when Jochen applied some braking into Parabolica. I have to side with the opinion that Chapman and the team were aware of the misgivings of all the shafts in use at the time. Following their return from Monza, an intensive analysis and redesigned shafts were phased in.
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Offline BDA

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #246 on: Thursday,June 04, 2020, 05:20:02 PM »
Yeah, I take no position either way. I have to trust the people who were there. I only mention it because Miles only mentioned wings and Emmo only mentioned half-shafts. It was an interesting divergence of opinion and like I say, both could have contributed.
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Offline Lou Drozdowski

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #247 on: Saturday,June 13, 2020, 07:24:05 PM »
 Miles and Rindt at work...note the subtle change to Jochen's rear wing.   
« Last Edit: Saturday,June 13, 2020, 07:29:32 PM by Lou Drozdowski »
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Offline BDA

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #248 on: Saturday,June 13, 2020, 07:30:01 PM »
Pretty sophisticated wings for back then!
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Offline Bainford

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #249 on: Monday,June 15, 2020, 08:51:10 AM »
Some interesting stabs at attempting to manage air flow.
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The Twin Cam plays the symphony whilst my right foot conducts the orchestra. At 3800 rpm the Mad Pipe Organ joins in.

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Offline Lou Drozdowski

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #250 on: Saturday,June 20, 2020, 04:39:05 PM »
Spain 1973...Montjuic Park

It was Ronnie's weekend but Emerson got the trophy. As the teams returned to the Barcelona inner city circuit, the talk of the paddock was how much faster the cars would be since their last visit in 1971. The existing lap record of 1.25.1 set by Jacky Ickx in the BRM, was to be smashed by Peterson in successive practice sessions, with a blistering qualification of 1.21.8.

The race would deal Ronnie a bitter pill. Having led from the start, his pace would see him lap the field up to third place. Comfortably ahead on lap fifty six, his gearbox failed, leaving him to ponder what could have been. Emerson, who started seventh, stayed in touch with the leaders and by mid race, benefited from the retirements of Stewart and Reutemann found himself leading at the end.

The podium celebrations included Francois Cevert in the sister Tyrell and the first championship points for George Follmer in the USA Shadow DN1 entry.

     
« Last Edit: Saturday,June 20, 2020, 04:48:22 PM by Lou Drozdowski »
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Offline BDA

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #251 on: Saturday,June 20, 2020, 05:23:29 PM »
Sad day for Ronnie. I think he was much better than his record would imply.

Of course Emmo deserved his win.

Nice also to have a US team score some points.
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Offline Lou Drozdowski

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #252 on: Friday,July 10, 2020, 08:10:32 PM »
Ronnie engages with the Brazilian fans...

Simon says...off with your shirt

Simon says...hands on hips

Simon says...give me a push
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Offline BDA

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #253 on: Friday,July 10, 2020, 08:22:47 PM »
Lucky spectators! There sure seems to be a lot of paint chipped off those canards!
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Offline Bainford

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Re: Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72
« Reply #254 on: Wednesday,July 15, 2020, 08:48:50 AM »
Cool photo.
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The Twin Cam plays the symphony whilst my right foot conducts the orchestra. At 3800 rpm the Mad Pipe Organ joins in.

Trevor
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