26 replies to this topic

[Dunc]

Sitting here freezing my cajones off in northern Scotland has got me thinking, has there ever been a grand prix where it has started snowing?

Does the FIA/teams have any contingency plan for what to do if it does snow? I'm guessing the race would be abandoned.

[SAFC09]

Sitting here freezing my cajones off in northern Scotland has got me thinking, has there ever been a grand prix where it has started snowing?

Does the FIA/teams have any contingency plan for what to do if it does snow? I'm guessing the race would be abandoned.

I haven't got a clue if there's been a snowy Grand Prix

I think it would just be a wet race unless the snow starts lying on the ground

[flyboy]

I was at an F-1 race at Watkins Glen in early October in the 70's when there was rain, followed by snow showers. This was just after practice on Saturday, the race on Sunday was clear and cold.

[dank]

A grand prix it most certainly wasn't, but didn't it tip it down with snow in early 2005 when they were testing at Silverstone?

[santori]

There was a Swedish Winter Grand Prix a couple of times in the '30s (and Wikipedia says it was held in 1947 also) but I'm not sure how much crossover there was with the races which led to F1. Caracciola did race there, though.

[juicy sushi]

I seem to remember that Gilles Villeneuve's win in the Canadian GP came at a race which experienced snowfall. Although I could be wrong.

[Lukin83]

A grand prix it most certainly wasn't, but didn't it tip it down with snow in early 2005 when they were testing at Silverstone?

Yes, picture in the link below:
http://www.formula1....005/2/2611.html

[potmotr]

Wasn't there an Aurora Series race in the 70s conducted in the snow.

[Peat]

http://www.loughrigg...es/eauRouge.jpg
http://img21.imagesh...5310/40125j.jpg

Whoops, i see Lukin just beat me to it...... Ah well.

Edited by Gilles4Ever, 05 January 2010 - 19:32.
unless they are your pictures please use links

[Risil]

The Champ car race at Nazareth in 2000 was famously called off because of snow...

Also, I believe there were 'flakes in the air during the 1973(?) International Trophy at Silverstone?

Otherwise, a quick search of TNF turns up these. Old people are invaluable at times.

http://forums.autosp...w...487&hl=snow

http://forums.autosp...w...474&hl=snow

[Tract1on]

They could put spikes on the tires, kimi and heikki would love it

[Risil]

Does the FIA/teams have any contingency plan for what to do if it does snow? I'm guessing the race would be abandoned.

The FIA doesn't have a contingency plan for when it rains in a tropical climate at the most likely time of year for heavy rainfall to occur! Instead, they schedule races to make the event of rain as disastrous as possible! It's a good thing no one cares about F1 in Malaysia, if they tried to pull that trick anywhere else...

Edited by Risil, 05 January 2010 - 20:13.

[Jackmancer]

Not a race but there have been many demo's on snow, such as Nick Heidfeld here
http://pictures.tops...no-2_460x0w.jpg

[chdphd]

I went to an F1 test in February 2006 at Silverstone and it was snowy. Only one car came out all the time I was there. Takuma Sato in a Super Aguri did one lap. I missed taking a photo as I was changing my camera batteries as he went past

Some photos

[Ferrim]

Sitting here freezing my cajones off in northern Scotland

Just wanted to point out that the correct spelling of the Spanish word you mean is "cojones", not "cajones". "Cajones" are drawers, as you'd find them in a piece of furniture.

[Rob G]

The 1933 Pau Grand Prix must have been a sight to see. It's not a place where you'd expect snow.

[Jackmancer]

The 1933 Pau Grand Prix must have been a sight to see. It's not a place where you'd expect snow.

Aye, I searched the report, it can be found on the bottom of this page:
http://www.kolumbus....lman/gp3301.htm

Pretty interesting read, would kill for some photo's.

[JdB]

Mika drove his wife in the threeseater McLaren in the snow (not really a race, but an F-1 car in the snow)
Snowy McLaren

gr.Jeroen

[stevewf1]

It was sometime in the early 90s when practice at the opening day at IMS was delayed because of snow showers. And this was early May!

[jeze]

Well, I think the only thing motorsport does is stopping the snow from coming

[LOTI]

There was the Eiffellrennen [spelling?] Formula 3 race at the Nurburgring back in 1966 [as far as I can remember] when they raced in the snow. They shared the meeting with some motor bikes, now that was scarey!

[Risil]

It was sometime in the early 90s when practice at the opening day at IMS was delayed because of snow showers. And this was early May!

1992? That would at least be consistent with the weather at the race itself. What a strange event that was.

Edited by Risil, 06 January 2010 - 12:30.

[Dunc]

Just wanted to point out that the correct spelling of the Spanish word you mean is "cojones", not "cajones". "Cajones" are drawers, as you'd find them in a piece of furniture.

You can tell I did French at school, though I'm sure my furniture is also feeling the chill too

[Suzy]

Not been to a Formula One race in the snow but I've attended several Silverstone race meetings where it's been snowing. It's at that point that I snuggle up under several blankets,dressed in goodness only knows how many layers of clothing, perch myself in the least windswept bit of the grandstand and think "Now what the £*%^ am I doing here???".

[Terry Walker]

I once rode my BMW motorbike home from work when it was snowing. Exciting. (Also bloody cold).

F1 in snow? Event off. Force Majeure clause! (Except I'm sure I spelled it wrong). Seriously, a metre of snow, the snowplows would win the race. And if they dumped rock salt all over the track to melt the snow (aka "gritting"), how much of the alloy parts of the car would still be there at the finish?

I can't wait!

[Alexis*27]

Just wanted to point out that the correct spelling of the Spanish word you mean is "cojones", not "cajones". "Cajones" are drawers, as you'd find them in a piece of furniture.

The phrase 'freezing my drawers off' would also work though!

Drawers = slang for underwear

[scheivlak]

There was actually a F1 race were the drivers were surprised by snowfall during the race: the non championship Daily Express International Trophy race on April 8, 1973 at Silverstone.

There was a thread on TNF about this picture:



http://forums.autosp...w...805&hl=snow

Edited by scheivlak, 06 January 2010 - 16:32.