Revelations!

No, nothing to do with religion, chaps. Unless, of course, you hold motorsports perhaps a little too dear.

The chosen title for the thread is to have the membership post on topics of drivers, cars and events where TNF was instumental in changing their views, opinions and/or facts-based knowledge. I know that as a member for some nine years, I've learned plenty where I thought black was white and vice versa. The seemingly bottomless pit of knowledge and information here on TNF must have swayed some of your thoughts. What revelations would you care to reveal?

Well, it was here that I was finally convinced that the 3-litre supercharged GP Mercedes-Benz of 1938-39 were all W154s, having been led astray for years.

1939 European Championship outcome and the debunking of the 1934 Mercedes paint-scraping story are top of my list

Agreed. Next up on my list are:

The 'Sokol 650' had no real links to Auto Union

Ed Hugus co-drove the 1965 Le Mans winner

Rosemeyer's death probably caused by mechanical failure, not a wind gust

Agreed. Next up on my list are:

The 'Sokol 650' had no real links to Auto Union

Ed Hugus co-drove the 1965 Le Mans winner

Rosemeyer's death probably caused by mechanical failure, not a wind gust

It is noticeable how many of the leading posters on those threads no longer post on TNF.

It is noticeable how many of the leading posters on those threads no longer post on TNF.

Yes, sad. I come here nearly every day since 2000 or so - nearly everything I know about F1 I have learnt on or through TNF, so I could just post http://forums.autosp...hp?showforum=10 as my 'revelation'.

Some more minor ones:

Nuvolari turning off his lights to win the 1930 Mille Miglia

The 1933 Tripoli GP "fix"

Hamilton and Rolt going on a bender before the 1953 Le mans

Indianapolis 1964

The various questionable car histories: Alfa Romeo GTZ, Healey, Maserati 2459, etc

Edited by D-Type, 17 August 2011 - 22:40.

The power of TNF. As far as I know, this forum may have been the first place that such items as the false history of the McLaren M8F of Mr. Hughes, and the Mecum Auction offering of a completely bogus Maserati T-61 as real were initially exposed and debunked. In both cases, after the initial exposure here, the word spread world wide and the truth won out. I am impressed with the power of this forum.
Tom

The vast amount of knowledge that has given me so many valued and appreciated insights into the rich history of this great sport we share a passion for.

To quote, or at least paraphrase myself: I come here for a nourishing daily dose of Humility and Edification.

Most sincere thanks to all, even to the ... well, never mind.

The English lessons have been marvelous.......I was concerned about leaving school at 15 [1956], however, thanks to TNF, I'm now gradually catching up!

Edited by GMACKIE, 19 August 2011 - 01:11.

The power of TNF. As far as I know, this forum may have been the first place that such items as the false history of the McLaren M8F of Mr. Hughes, and the Mecum Auction offering of a completely bogus Maserati T-61 as real were initially exposed and debunked. In both cases, after the initial exposure here, the word spread world wide and the truth won out. I am impressed with the power of this forum.
Tom

There might be another new story here.
Not such a high profile car, but.....

Gosh where to start on the TNF Book of Revelations ?

Every day is a learning day on TNF starting with early morning lessons in the English language all the way through to such fascinating details as probably no one will ever know the true identities of the Alfa Romeo 179's that raced in the 1981 season from Spanish GP on. There are three cars which have a claim to parts of the history of 917 021 two cars which allegedly have a claim to parts of the history of 908/2 and now above something similar with Osella PA 1 07.

The whole gearfob special scene has been an equal revelation, that one should not take a nice paint job at face value, all this and more including a mind spinning number of unpublished quality period photographs.

But having met some TNFers the real revelation has been what an engaging collection of chaps and chapesses I share a passion with, since joining TNF I have met Tim Murray who heavily influenced my decision to join the Bristol Pegasus Motor Club, taken part in, and won, a production car trial, marshalled at a sprint, visited Prodrive, Race Retro, had a thoroughly good time at Mallory meeting Phil Rainford, Simon Arron, Ted Walker and many more, visited Colin Bennett's workshops on an fabulous day out thanks to Mr Giraffe, hooked up with Simon Lewis who has kindly put me on the guest list at Castle Combe on several occasions, met Peter Connew thanks to Barry Boor whom I hope to meet at Oulton next Sunday and look forward to meeting a few more TNFers in the fullness of time.

Thanks to each and every one of you near and far who has contributed to reawakening my interest in all things motor racing with a vengeance

Bu**er! D Type beat me to it on all points!

The "discussion" over the provenance of XKD558 was revealing--the local who claims ownership no longer talks to me--and the Lotus Nineteen thread is worth the entry fee...

Sorry, Arti, I'm only there on Monday. I thought I told you that weeks ago.

Your absolutely right Barry it is Bank holiday MONDAY I am looking forward to

I especially enjoyed the thread about Mickey Thompson's roller skates.
Consumed a lot of my reading time!

ZOOOM

1939 European Championship outcome and the debunking of the 1934 Mercedes paint-scraping story are top of my list

 

Certainly these, but I have also place the revelations regarding early US racing which led to a complete shift of research focus and interest.

We still need a lot more on the US Specials theme, Don...

Very little has ever been posted here about some of the pre-war cars of the early Collier era.

Welcome back, I will have to catch up with you again some day!

...What revelations would you care to reveal?

Who came up with the Auto Union alfabet?

Well, I guess I'm still not convinced that there wasn't a kernel of truth in the Mercedes paint-removal story. Just that it didn't happen exactly as Neubauer related it.

Well, I guess I'm still not convinced that there wasn't a kernel of truth in the Mercedes paint-removal story. Just that it didn't happen exactly as Neubauer related it.

 

I have probably spent far more time on this topic than it warrants, but I have yet to find much in the ways of kernels that would support any reason for Neubauer's tale. There are, as always, more than likely some things that either we don't know or are overlooking or simply lack hard. firm reliable data for, such as the likelihood that just perhaps one of the W25s was painted white at some point in the May timeframe before either becoming or returning to silver. This is the only really likely scenario that might make sense given what we know based upon the available documentation. This, plus some possible issue regarding the weight of the W25s while being developed, could easily have fired the very active imagination of Don Alfredo in later years. Of course, there are also times when mysteries simply remain mysteries no matter how much we poke and prod them.

Over the years I've become more and more convinced that the origin of the paint scratching story is purely down to the previous existence of von Brauchitsch's Flying Cucumber in unpainted form.

 

And I'm still worrying away at 1939 from time to time - particularly the way the Swiss GP final unfolded and Axis press reaction to the result and the EC 'problem'. La Stampa came up with a particularly clever double-edged pun in their headline and there's the odd little nugget in German and Czech papers ...

A minor one that seems to have stayed below the collective radar is that the 1947 Swedish Winter Grand Prix was run to Formula 1 rules not Formule Libre as has been generally assumed making it the first Formula 1 race and hence Reg Parnell in an ERA the first winner of a Formula 1 race.
http://forums.autosp...er#entry7449836

Edited by D-Type, 11 October 2016 - 21:31.

The power of TNF. As far as I know, this forum may have been the first place that such items as the false history of the McLaren M8F of Mr. Hughes, and the Mecum Auction offering of a completely bogus Maserati T-61 as real were initially exposed and debunked. In both cases, after the initial exposure here, the word spread world wide and the truth won out. I am impressed with the power of this forum.
Tom

That was some really good work, Tom.

You many have saved someone a bundle, not to mention loads of heartache and embarrassment.