13 replies to this topic

[ExFlagMan]

As the Oulton Park Gold Cup 2010 has informed us that 2010 is the 25th anniversary of the Sinclair C5 I thought it might be an appropriate time to post the following 2 images.



They where taken at the Silverstone GP in 1985, probably on the Thursday.

I am not sure if they are appropriate for TNF but I think they qualify as nostalgia on 3 counts.

1. Some people get nostalic about Senna
2. There are probably some who get nostalgic about the C5
3. It takes me back to the pre Stalag Silverstone days when the marshals at the GP used to camp on the circuit infield and could wander round the pitlane and paddock in the days leading up to the GP without any hassle.

I have tried looking on Google for Senna and C5 and can only come up with one other image - that on Jim Bamber's website http://www.thejimbam...bamberblog/?p=4

I have managed to find the third photo of Senna in the C5. I think it is the best of the three.

Edited by ExFlagMan, 19 January 2010 - 09:30.

[rallen]

Wow JPS livery makes everything look cool!

Thanks for posting!

Edited by rallen, 15 January 2010 - 14:36.

[Stephen W]

They where taken at the Silverstone GP in 1985, probably on the Thursday.

Wasn't the reason for the run in the C5s due to the early morning fog stopping the Medical Helicopter getting airbourne? With a major delay JPS Lotus started to muck about with the C5s so the spectators up at the start/finish had something to watch!

[bradbury west]

Lovely archive stuff, away from the mainstream items. Many thanks
Roger Lund

[ExFlagMan]

Wasn't the reason for the run in the C5s due to the early morning fog stopping the Medical Helicopter getting airbourne? With a major delay JPS Lotus started to muck about with the C5s so the spectators up at the start/finish had something to watch!

I cannot remember if they ran on any of the live circuit days but I would have been out on post at the time - waiting for the fog to lift - as an alternative to watching the paint dry

[RWB]

The view from the stands was a real hoot with the JPS mechanics "racing" C5s up and down the pit lane. Happy days.

[Stephen W]

They where taken at the Silverstone GP in 1985, probably on the Thursday.

I cannot remember if they ran on any of the live circuit days but I would have been out on post at the time - waiting for the fog to lift - as an alternative to watching the paint dry

I think your initial comment is right. The Friday would be the first practice day & I think that was when they were racing up & down the start/finish straight.

I must have at least one photo somewhere!

[John Ginger]

I am not sure if they are appropriate for TNF but I think they qualify as nostalgia on 3 counts.

Certainly nostalgic shots of Silverstone

[P.Dron]

One bitterly cold winter's day, probably the same year that those photos were taken, I watched from a window in Surrey House, then an IPC tower in Sutton, as Motor did a C5 photo shoot in the park opposite. The then Road Test Editor, Lawrence Pearce, drove the stupid thing round and round a frozen fountain, the inside rear wheel constantly about three inches off the icy tarmac. The photo shoot was over, but then the photographer (no names...) obviously said that he wanted a go. He did half a lap before flipping Mr Sinclair's piece of crap and landing on his backside. The expression "unsafe at any speed, except in the hands of a skilled driver (and even then...)" came to mind. There was also an amusing competition to see who could brake latest along the 13th floor corridor without hitting the swing doors at the end. The skid marks were still there when IPC vacated the building.

[richie]

One bitterly cold winter's day, probably the same year that those photos were taken, I watched from a window in Surrey House, then an IPC tower in Sutton, as Motor did a C5 photo shoot in the park opposite. The then Road Test Editor, Lawrence Pearce, drove the stupid thing round and round a frozen fountain, the inside rear wheel constantly about three inches off the icy tarmac. The photo shoot was over, but then the photographer (no names...) obviously said that he wanted a go. He did half a lap before flipping Mr Sinclair's piece of crap and landing on his backside. The expression "unsafe at any speed, except in the hands of a skilled driver (and even then...)" came to mind. There was also an amusing competition to see who could brake latest along the 13th floor corridor without hitting the swing doors at the end. The skid marks were still there when IPC vacated the building.

I bought a forlorn C5 12 years ago from someone's garden hoping to pay £50 for it, ended up paying £100. I spent a £100 repairing it and sold it for £300. I drove it 2 miles on the pavement but the Hoover motor was so weak I had to peddle three quarters of the way and was utterly knackered on arrival. I wasn't impressed.

[MCS]

I've often wondered how many people were injured in the C5. Does anybody remember the Spitting Image sketch?

I read somewhere recently that Sinclair refuses to use the internet.

[ExFlagMan]

I have managed to find the third shot of Senna in the C5 and added it to the initial post.

[Peter Morley]

I've often wondered how many people were injured in the C5. Does anybody remember the Spitting Image sketch?

I read somewhere recently that Sinclair refuses to use the internet.

Sinclair is probably waiting for the imminent arrival of his new improved version of the internet before he will use it!!

[P.Dron]

I read somewhere recently that Sinclair refuses to use the internet.

Perhaps that is because he has attempted to connect with it via one of his own computers, which is probably even more difficult than trying to tell what time it is with a Sinclair Black Watch on your wrist.