Willow Springs is a road racing track (fastest road in the west) in Southern California. They list one of the fastest laps ever done there as Nigel Mansell in a F1 Lotus on March 31st, 1982. I assume a test right before Long Beach, which happened in early April. In a book I just picked up at the track, there are pictures of Prost, Arnoux, Giacomelli, De Cesaris, Rosberg, Andretti, Daly (Theodore) and Guerrero testing that day. Mansell actually crashed his car. Questions are as follows:
Were any of you guys there?
Was it anounced before hand that F1 teams were going to be there?
Were the teams there a few days, or just March 31st?
Did Autosport, AutoSprint or someone else cover the test?
Were these pre-Long Beach test the norm at Willow Springs? At least Jones and Tambay tested in 81.
Also, there is a picture of Stefan Johansson standing by a crashed Spirit at Willow Springs. Meaning there must have been a test in 1983, and not close to Long Beach as the Spririt Honda came out months after LBGP....Any word on that?
F1 testing at Willow Springs in 1982
Started by
Fiorentina 1
, Jan 11 2007 03:25
7 replies to this topic
#3
antonvrs
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Posted 13 January 2007 - 09:31
I was there in '82. Watched them unload cars from rented trucks using 2 liftgates back to back. Saw one of the team principals land in his light twin aircraft on the front straight. Spent most of the day there. Very relaxed atmosphere, talked to mechanics, looked at cars- had to leave before anybody went fast. Fun, though.
Anton
Anton
#4
andrea
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Posted 13 January 2007 - 13:43
Originally posted by antonvrs
I was there in '82. Watched them unload cars from rented trucks using 2 liftgates back to back. Saw one of the team principals land in his light twin aircraft on the front straight. Spent most of the day there. Very relaxed atmosphere, talked to mechanics, looked at cars- had to leave before anybody went fast. Fun, though.
Anton
Can you put some pictures from this event?
Forza Andrea,
#5
antonvrs
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Posted 13 January 2007 - 19:21
Sorry, I didn't have a camera that day.
Anton
Anton
#6
Fiorentina 1
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Posted 13 January 2007 - 20:06
landing a plane on the front straight! That's brilliant......
Rented trucks, unloading cars lift-gate back to back is something unheard of in f1 now-a-days! Things have definately changed in 20 years....
Rented trucks, unloading cars lift-gate back to back is something unheard of in f1 now-a-days! Things have definately changed in 20 years....
#7
Sc. Serrenissima
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Posted 14 January 2007 - 00:51
Originally posted by andrea
Can you put some pictures from this event?
Forza Andrea,
Please, can you put the pictures from this event on this topic ?
Thanks.
#8
eldougo
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Posted 14 January 2007 - 02:24
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Fiorentina 1
Just found you thread and to answer a few of your questions.
[B]Willow Springs is a road racing track (fastest road in the west) in Southern California.
Were any of you guys there? ..........Not that year but in 1978.
Was it anounced before hand that F1 teams were going to be there?
No F1 do not let the public know what there doing.Good God they above that!!!
Were the teams there a few days, or just March 31st?
It used to be a 1 day test to shake down new parts after being down in South America for 2 race they up rated parts Etc for the coming European season.And Low budget teams would jump at any chance to test ,some thing that we never did much off.
Did Autosport, AutoSprint or someone else cover the test?
NO they where never invitedfrom what i can remember,This is F1 every thing is a secret.
Just found you thread and to answer a few of your questions.
[B]Willow Springs is a road racing track (fastest road in the west) in Southern California.
Were any of you guys there? ..........Not that year but in 1978.
Was it anounced before hand that F1 teams were going to be there?
No F1 do not let the public know what there doing.Good God they above that!!!
Were the teams there a few days, or just March 31st?
It used to be a 1 day test to shake down new parts after being down in South America for 2 race they up rated parts Etc for the coming European season.And Low budget teams would jump at any chance to test ,some thing that we never did much off.
Did Autosport, AutoSprint or someone else cover the test?
NO they where never invitedfrom what i can remember,This is F1 every thing is a secret.
