22 replies to this topic

[Formula Once]

Am I right in thinking that no onboard camera footage exists of Gilles Villeneuve? Even in his F1-days camera's where fiited to many cars in practice or testing, often for promotional reasons (by Elf and Marlboro, if not on Ferrari's as far as I can remember). I find it rather strange (and a shame) that no one realised at the time that if anyone would provide spectacular footage, he would. Imagine being able to now see him lapping in the rain during practice at the Glen in 1979 for example... Not even at Montreal I believe they ever stuck one on his car. But maybe I am wrong and footage does exist.

[Speedy27]

I've never seen any in-car footage of GV.

As some minor consolation, in case you haven't seen it, have a look at this footage of a driver who enjoyed his racing with a similar passion - Patrick Depailler at Long Beach in Tyrrell 008:

Depailler at Long Beach

[Gabrci]

I'm fairly sure I remember seeing some onboard footage of him, I doubt though that I can find it unfortunately as I have no idea where and when I saw it

[Speedy27]

'just re-checked the contents of the Lap Of The Gods DVD - as I suspected, there is nothing there.

I don't remember seeing any on the video/DVD documentary of him - maybe someone who has watched it more recently can confirm whether or not it contains any on-board footage?

[Gabrci]

No, there is nothing of him in the Lap of the gods, I think it might have been some Italian documentary. But IIRC it was only a few seconds, no full onboard lap or anything like that.

[f1steveuk]

This is a little unfair, but it may help.

As I had pretty good access in the FOM library during my time there, I am 90% certain I have seen GV doing a few laps of Fiorano in "obc" footage. What makes me think I have seen it is obviously the helmet colours (although it is possible that it was someone using a GV helmet), and that I recall the car going over the bridge, which is a fairly unique feature (and it certainly wasn't the bridge at Ricard as it was a figure of eight circuit). It was a 126C, I think the 'Comprex' version as the feature was more to do with the engine, hence my concern it was a GV lookalike! That being the case, it should therefore be Brunswick of AFAVA footage, unless it was "in house".

Is that useful!!!?? Trouble is, whoever it was, they weren't pushing very hard!

[Formula Once]

Steve, I know quite some footage was shot at Fiorano at that time (early 1981). I have footage of Pironi with a camera fitted on the nose of a 126C and pointed towards his helmet. This was part of a piece done on the development of the Ferrari turbo. AFAVA I think did this. No GV included though.

[f1steveuk]

That's interesting. AFAVA was my hunch. The advantage with the FOM library is that BCE was usually given copies of the rushes as well as the finished programmes/edits. One question would be, who did the most test driving of the Comprex? Again, my hunch is that is was a GV helmet, but I recall thinking even then it probably wasn't GV in the car.

[bigears]

There was some onboard footage broadcasted in 2003 for the Nuvolari channel (in Italy I guess?)

[f1steveuk]

From that angle that's a T5?? But still, it's a video grab from some OBC footage!!

[LOLE]

I have two VHS video cassettes on Gilles Villeneuve and, although it is quite a long time ago since I saw them the last time, I'm sure there is some onboard footage on it. On of the cassettes is from the Italian magazine AutoSprint (titel "Gilles, come era") and a fantastic documentary...

[Formula Once]

Thanks LOLE. The film Come era I have (somewhere...) so I will look it up! Steve, what is OBC?

[Paul Taylor]

Originally posted by Formula Once
Thanks LOLE. The film Come era I have (somewhere...) so I will look it up! Steve, what is OBC?

OBC = Onboard Camera?

[john t]

The Depailler footage is from Lap Of The Gods and i agree, it's wonderful stuff.
I wasn't aware of the onboard GV footage. Not sure it is a T5 as i don't recognise the stripe on the left hand sidepod. Any ideas?

[f1steveuk]

Yes sorry, On Board Camera.

I can see what lloks like the flat deck behind the full width blade aerofoil, which suggested a T5, but I saw that stripe and thought, "don't remember that", glad I'm not the only one!

[bigears]

I can provide more screenshots later if you want to.

[f1steveuk]

I for one would like to see more, thanks!

[bigears]

The onboard footage is only for about four seconds.

[f1steveuk]

So, that's not a T5!!! Ooooops!

But on the other side of the coin, that does look like Fiarano?

[D82]

Isn't it the 1981 car?

[bigears]

Please ignore my filenames, I got no idea about the circuit and year. I purely guessed it was at Fiorano in 1980.

[Henri Greuter]

Originally posted by D82
Isn't it the 1981 car?

looks to me as a very early 1982 126C2 version. that had rockerarm front suspension with covers amalgating within the upper sidepod. I recall that I have also seen pictures of an early 126C2, fitted with the fullwidth front wing as was familiar on the 312T series.


Henri

[Arjan de Roos]

Originally posted by Henri Greuter


looks to me as a very early 1982 126C2 version. that had rockerarm front suspension with covers amalgating within the upper sidepod. I recall that I have also seen pictures of an early 126C2, fitted with the fullwidth front wing as was familiar on the 312T series.


Henri

Indeed!