F1- Silverstone-what a race, what a finish

R

Ron Ketcham

Active member
For those of you who only think that "cars" can go down a drag strip or "round and round", you probably don't follow Formula One racing, so this race today you never saw.

F1 is something else, and requires a true understanding of many things that fly by the average American motor sports fan.(the engineering and such of these cars is beyond what most are aware of)

This was one of, if that the best races, that I have watched in a number of years.

No Ford's, no Chevy's, No Toyota's(although they have made a few million dollar runs at competing in F1), no Dodge's, etc and drivers that the rest of world respect and know their talents are few of many.

Great race, great driving, lots of action, (sorry for those who are not fans, no "big one" crashes), just talent of the drivers and the manufacturers, the pit teams, the engineers.

Been a great weekend, the Nationwide race, the Cup race, the Continental series and the F1!

I love motor racing and don't get my panties in a bunch on one series over another.

Grumpy
 
I know what you mean Grumpy. Race car drivers are some of the most conditioned athletes in the world. Most people think they just drive a car around in circles, but you need to consider the g-forces on their bodies, the heat they have to endure, the concentration they must have to go 200 mph inches apart. I heard that an Indy driver on a long straightaway cannot even blink his eyes because in the time it takes to blink, they travel the length of a football field and they can miss a critical moment in that blink of their eye. I love all forms of motorsports as well and have much respect for those guys (and girls). Can you imagine the g-force a Top Fuel driver endures going 0-300+ in 4 seconds, and then slowing back down to 0 in such a short distance? And the hits those nascar drivers take head on into the wall at 200mph and then climb back into a car the next day? Amazing when you think about it.
 
Regarding the "drag racing" G forces, that is why Garlits can no longer go beyond a certain speed, he would go blind. (age, time, accidents, etc) Long time friend with Force, and he told me 15 years ago that he was concerned about what the G's and such were doing to his eyeballs.

Today, for those saw the F1, in the "corners", and keep in mind that they never really got over aprox 150 MPH, the G force in the "many, many corners of a 3 and half mile+ track, exceeded 4.5 G's.

The new neck braces, constuction of the chassis, crush zones, the new seats, the new restraints, keep these drivers alive vs the "old days".

Grumpy
 
"Oh to be in England now that F1 is here" - F1, Wimbeldon, what a week-end, now all we need is for the rain to stop ;)
 
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