Front wheel drive
#1
Posted 01 May 2010 - 12:52
I have found
1907 Christie
1927 Alvis that didn't start a GP
1928 Cooper-Miller in the Italian GP
1935 Trossi Monaco that never raced
1955 DB that ran at Pau
Does anyone know of any more?
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#2
Posted 01 May 2010 - 12:59
193. Chevallier Bol d'Or
If they count....
#3
Posted 01 May 2010 - 14:51
#4
Posted 01 May 2010 - 15:09
The Ferguson was Four Wheel Drive.1961 Ferguson
There were some Front Wheel Drive Millers at Indy in the thrities,but then they don't come under the title of this thread.
#5
Posted 01 May 2010 - 16:36
So it didn't have front-wheel drive as well as rear?The Ferguson was Four Wheel Drive.
#6
Posted 01 May 2010 - 18:14
Of course but the thread title (and Duncan's question) implies front drive only.So it didn't have front-wheel drive as well as rear?
As I wrote elsewhere, front-drive is inherently unsatisfactory for cars with high (or even good) performance and Walter Christie's car was the nearest a FWD car has got to being successful in GP racing as his cars were built at a time when the whole business of racing car design was in its early stages.
#7
Posted 01 May 2010 - 19:49
I realise thatOf course but the thread title (and Duncan's question) implies front drive only.
That's why I put the smiley after the entry
It was a joke
Geddit?
#8
Posted 01 May 2010 - 19:52
It was a joke
Geddit?
Some people have no sense of humour round here these days.
#9
Posted 01 May 2010 - 21:52
Woof!Some people have no sense of humour round here these days.
#10
Posted 01 May 2010 - 21:58
The main success of the Christie was that it was spectacular on loose surfaces and was a useful member of the Barney Oldfield "Motor racing show" at the state fairgrounds as a foil to Barney's Blitzen Benz. A similar role to the Washington Generals or the New York Nationals playing the Harlem globetrottersOf course but the thread title (and Duncan's question) implies front drive only.
As I wrote elsewhere, front-drive is inherently unsatisfactory for cars with high (or even good) performance and Walter Christie's car was the nearest a FWD car has got to being successful in GP racing as his cars were built at a time when the whole business of racing car design was in its early stages.
#11
Posted 01 May 2010 - 22:21
The second took advantage of the IMSA rule that a car produced as FWD by the manufacturer could have its motor rotated 90 deg and converted to RWD.
#12
Posted 02 May 2010 - 02:25
Dig out your old Road & Track magazines, fellas, and look up the German GP at the Ring circa 1963-64. I distinctly recall a passage from correspondant, Henry Manney III, commenting on sector times through the Karousel(sic)for the GP cars of the day and how a 2-cycle FWD DKW or Auto Union puddle-jumper beat the best of them. He speculated, no doubt tongue in cheek, as to whether FWD was the coming thing.
Edit: How the deuce could I remember that from 45+ years ago and not recall what I had for breakfast this morning?
Edited by Manfred Cubenoggin, 02 May 2010 - 02:28.
#13
Posted 02 May 2010 - 07:09
Edit: How the deuce could I remember that from 45+ years ago and not recall what I had for breakfast this morning?
This is a rather common affliction from which this particular forum benifits greatly, Manfred!
#14
Posted 02 May 2010 - 08:21
Not sure if someone who's the third try at a simple name would have his own opinions.Dig out your old Road & Track magazines, fellas, and look up the German GP at the Ring circa 1963-64. I distinctly recall a passage from correspondant, Henry Manney III, commenting on sector times through the Karousel(sic)for the GP cars of the day and how a 2-cycle FWD DKW or Auto Union puddle-jumper beat the best of them. He speculated, no doubt tongue in cheek, as to whether FWD was the coming thing.
The Karussell is a special case, being a banked section which can be taken flat-out in a low-powered touring car with good ground-clearance but a 1½ litre racing car set up to work well on all the other corners might have to take care not to ground under the extra g at the Karussell. If the owner of the DKW lived within the 'Ring he'd have plenty of practice and know just how it could be done - I remember chasing an NSU Prinz round there in 1959: I was gaining on him fast until the Karussell. Saw the car later in a driveway in Nűrburg village . . .
Edited by Allan Lupton, 02 May 2010 - 08:27.
#15
Posted 02 May 2010 - 12:17
#16
Posted 02 May 2010 - 13:10
#17
Posted 02 May 2010 - 13:27
and Thora Hornung's book celebrating the 'Ring's half-century and my 1929 Langenscheidt's pocket dictionary....or Karussell according to Google Translate and, more importantly, to my big Collins G/E dictionary
No umlaut anywhere, Duncan.
#18
Posted 02 May 2010 - 17:42
Karussell 149 000
Carousel 114 000
Karussel 42 600
Karousel 2260
Karrussell 1 320
Karousell 366
So we have a clear winner
Now, back to front wheel drive ...