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Pick a Grand Prix


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#1 Stephen W

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 12:18

At last night's TNF NW gathering Roger Clark asked the following question:

"If you could attend just one Grand Prix from 1904 up to the current date which one would you pick?"

So this morning it has been suggested that a new thread be started so here it is!

I'll start the ball rolling with my choice:

The 1938 Donington Park GP - I have chosen this as it was the first GP that my father went to and I would have loved to have been around to see the mighty Silver Arrows.

:wave:



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#2 blackmme

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 12:27

At last night's TNF NW gathering Roger Clark asked the following question:

"If you could attend just one Grand Prix from 1904 up to the current date which one would you pick?"

So this morning it has been suggested that a new thread be started so here it is!

I'll start the ball rolling with my choice:

The 1938 Donington Park GP - I have chosen this as it was the first GP that my father went to and I would have loved to have been around to see the mighty Silver Arrows.

:wave:


What a super question! I suspect my answer will be a little contraversial but I would go for something really quite recent.
Brazil 2008.

I imagine that race will enter into sporting folklore. For me it wasn't just the drama of it but the way that every lead protaganist that day seemed to drive to their very utmost. No silly crashes no dodgy moves just sheer bloody talent in rapidly changing conditions with so much at stake.



#3 Mallory Dan

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 12:46

I took the liberty of slightly changing Roger's question to, which 'meeting' rather than GP race would you have liked to be at.

My answer was the '73 Silverstone meeting. Great and dramatic GP, before after and during Scheckter. Also top F3 and FAt races, and the dramatic G2 event too.

#4 D-Type

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 12:51

The key question here is attend. I feel that attending, say, the 1957 German GP you wouldn't really know what was going on.

On that basis, I'm trying to make up my mind between

Donington 1937 - for the sheer spectacle and culture shock
Reims 1953 - a Brit winning a hard-fought race
Monaco 1961 - To spend a whole race on the edge of my seat, biting my nails down to the quick wondering whether he could hold his lead
Monza 1967 - Seeing the world's geatest driver playing 'catch up'
Monza 1969 - ditto
Monza 1971 - just for the finish
etc

I'll give an answer when I've had time to think about it.


#5 kayemod

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 12:57

I'll start the ball rolling with my choice:

The 1938 Donington Park GP - I have chosen this as it was the first GP that my father went to and I would have loved to have been around to see the mighty Silver Arrows.

:wave:


That's the one I'd pick as well, and for much the same reason. Coincidentally, both of my parents attended that event as well, though separately, they didn't meet until later that year.

My mum's interest in motor racing back then was limited a mild crush on one of the British drivers, he used to wave to her every time he came round.


#6 ensign14

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 13:10

Nuvolari, Alfa, Ring, Huhnlein's telegram.

Alternatively, the very first, with a colour camera and copious film.

#7 charles r

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 13:12

1967 Italian Grand Prix, for Clark's recovery drive alone.

#8 stuartbrs

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 13:18

1986 Australian Grand Prix... somewhere I would be aware of the drama that was unfolding... McLaren pit, Williams pit??

#9 Vitesse2

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 13:33

I can't decide between Germany 1938 - Seaman's greatest moment - and Switzerland 1939: still so many questions after years of research!

#10 Bauble

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 13:48

Caen Grand Prix 1957. (Look it up for why?)

#11 David McKinney

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 14:01

Because only one works team was in attendance, and thus able to win?

#12 Bauble

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 14:14

Because only one works team was in attendance, and thus able to win?


Not very nice David! I thought we were friends.

At Aintree the week before Leston and Fairman had been abysmal, and giving us supporters no hope for the future, then Jean took one to France (well two actually) and showed what could be done by a committed driver. Sure, it was a pretty small beer in the overall scheme of things, but it was a 'giant step' for BRM fans.

Nurburgring 1935.
Reims 1953
Spa 1970

I forgive you.

bauble.

#13 Longtimefan

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 14:24

USA GP, Watkins Glen 1971.

I'm sure many will know why. :)



#14 Duc-Man

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 14:27

Monza 1971 for the tightest race in F-1 history.
Zeltweg 1977 for the pricegiving with the drunk guy playing Happy Birthday or whatever on a trumpet. Just listen:here!

Edited to add youtube link.

Edited by Duc-Man, 13 January 2012 - 14:38.


#15 ChrisJson

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 15:08

Belgian GP 1977 for obvious reasons!!

#16 Andretti Fan

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 15:44

Spa 67. American driver, American car. Great day for the USA. :)

#17 Amphicar

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 15:57

1965 Monaco Grand Prix - to see Graham Hill's fight back to win after having to take to the escape road to avoid Bob Anderson's ailing Brabham and to see Paul Hawkins's impromptu swim.

Or, one I did attend - the 1968 German Grand Prix. Only this time I would watch it from a helicopter that could fly in rain and fog - so I could keep dry and actually see something.

#18 longhorn

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 15:58

I attended Monza 1971 & Silverstone 1973, which have been proposed by others but my choice would be Monaco 1933.

#19 cheapracer

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 16:40

I'm wondering if Monza '71 would be so great when it wasn't the big stars doing it?

Also wonder about being at the 'Ring to see a handful of cars every 8 minutes for a few moments just a few times? (and surprised '57 hasn't been mentioned yet).

Too many races for too many reasons but Calder Park 1980 Australian GP was very special, imagine people who had never seen or heard a (modern) F1 car before in anger and seeing the spectacle come past you every 60 seconds (as well as seeing the cars for the whole track), a great race for the lead (Jones and Jack O'Malley(!)) and lapping the cream of F5000's while driving around the outside of them!

Edited by cheapracer, 13 January 2012 - 16:41.


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#20 Roger Clark

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 16:50

I will offer two.

The 1914 Grand Prix has often been described as the greatest ever, and it had everything. A large field, technical interest, a wonderful circuit and a superb race. Georges Boillot had won the race in the previous two years and was a genuine French national hero in the d'Artagnan tradition. Battling single handedly against superior forces; he was ultimately beaten, but more glorious in defeat than in victory. Grand Prix racing was never the same again.

During 1957, the Vanwalls had finally shown that a British car could beat the rest. They won at Aintree and Pescara but Monza was the home of Maserati and Ferrari. The front row of the grid would have been enough but the opening laps saw Fangio and Behra show what tiger in a racing driver really means and the green cars driving them into the ground. Ferrari were well beaten from the start. In the closing stages, Moss was cruising round with a lap in hand over Fangio, and time to make a precautionary pit stop. Denis Jenkinson wrote: a lot of people got very drunk that night.

If forced to choose, it would be Monza.

Edited by Roger Clark, 13 January 2012 - 16:53.


#21 Russ Snyder

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 17:08

1937 Vanderbilt Cup

The only time the pre WW2 German teams came to american soil...and dominated!

American Rex Mays, in an outdated Alfa, keeping with the German teams of Auto union and mercedes into 3rd place and having Nuvolari openly ask if Mays might have won with a newer car.

Wilbur Shaw getting his first chance driving a Maserati, going from 24th to 9th while having difficulty sitting so low and breathing exhaust fumes.

I never asked my Dad why he and my grandfather did NOT attend this race (they lived in Jersey City NJ at the time, a hop skip and jump from Long island).... they sure attended their share of INDY 500's...but I wish i did.


#22 snettertonesses

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 17:13

add my name for Belgium 1967
Spa, Gurney, Eagle

#23 Eric Dunsdon

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 17:20

[quote name='Bauble' date='Jan 13 2012, 14:14' post='5478396']


At Aintree the week before Leston and Fairman had been abysmal, and giving us supporters no hope for the future.


To make matters even worse for us BRM supporters that day, a Vanwall won!! :cry:

#24 Eric Dunsdon

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 17:30

An impossible task for me to pick just one I'm afraid, there are so many. There are any number of pre-War races that I would have loved to have seen. And also in my own long lifetime, but these ones stand out.

1953 Albi Grand Prix.
1953 Italian Grand Prix. Monza.
1956 Italian Grand Prix. Monza,
1957 Grand Prix of Caen.

The 1956 British Grand Prix also stands out, but I am lucky enough to have seen that one!.

Edited by Eric Dunsdon, 13 January 2012 - 17:31.


#25 RemcoHitman

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 17:53

Nuvolari, Alfa, Ring, Huhnlein's telegram.

Alternatively, the very first, with a colour camera and copious film.



My thoughts exactly! :clap:


#26 john aston

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 18:03

At the risk of being a bit modern the British GP 1987- monster turbo power, nail biting fist fight at end between team mates and Australian GP 1986- a bit ..ermm..unpredictable.Was at former- and would love to see itagain. Had best seat in house at Stowe. Belgian 67, Italian 71 obviously too.Oh ....and Austrian 75.

#27 Tuboscocca

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 18:21

Monza 1971 for the tightest race in F-1 history.
Zeltweg 1977 for the pricegiving with the drunk guy playing Happy Birthday or whatever on a trumpet. Just listen:here!

Edited to add youtube link.



Duc-Man --absolutely great: like Monty Python!!
That's ''Ein Prosit, ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit'' what's the guy is trying to play (famous song on the Oktoberfest in Munich) and the song with the piper is from the 6 days race for bicycles called 'Sportpalast-Walzer' (yes Sportpalast (Berlin) famous for bicycles racing and more dark: Nazi-gatherings).

Thank you for sharing.

Michael

#28 arttidesco

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 18:56

Hmm... seeing John Cooper completing 11 laps of the 1979 International Gold Cup at Oulton in his March 792 would have been quite something but as for the Grand Prix meetings....

French 1906
German 1957
French 1979
Spanish 1981

are four that spring to mind add Germany 1968, Monza 1971 or even Hungary 1989 gosh it's a difficult question :eek:

I think I'd go for the French 1906 you can't go wrong with the people or food in France even though I hardly speak a word of the lingo :blush:

Curiously if someone else is picking up the tab I'd always be thrilled to go to the next one :wave:

#29 Michael Ferner

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 20:01

Would have loved to have been at one of the great Paris races at the turn of the century (19th to 20th, that is); reading about the atmosphere before the start in the wee hours in Gerald Rose's seminal book is absolutely mesmerizing. But, to really 'attend' these races you had to have been a competitor - certainly not a bad thing to have had that experience, but probably not really in the spirit of this thread. So, I chose the 1914 (French) Grand Prix, for pretty much the same reasons Roger has outlined. On the other hand, the (American) Grand Prize of 1908 wouldn't have been a bad choice, either. Or the 1924 (French) Grand Prix. Or Germany 1937, or...

Btw, I'm curious as to why the starting point should be 1904? Shirley shome mishtake, is it?

#30 midgrid

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 20:21

The 1988 Italian Grand Prix - the perfect race for a Ferrari fan.

#31 E1pix

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 20:26

USA GP, Watkins Glen 1971.

I'm sure many will know why. :)

I, too wish I'd been there for Francois' first and only win.

My vote would be Monza 1971... provided I was at the Finish Line.

#32 D-Type

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 21:02

The key question here is attend. I feel that attending, say, the 1957 German GP you wouldn't really know what was going on.

On that basis, I'm trying to make up my mind between

Donington 1937 - for the sheer spectacle and culture shock
Reims 1953 - a Brit winning a hard-fought race
Monaco 1961 - To spend a whole race on the edge of my seat, biting my nails down to the quick wondering whether he could hold his lead
Monza 1967 - Seeing the world's geatest driver playing 'catch up'
Monza 1969 - ditto
Monza 1971 - just for the finish
etc

I'll give an answer when I've had time to think about it.

And

Monaco 1933 - one of the most intense duels ever and at Monaco you would see it all


#33 chdphd

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 22:28

The 1956 Italian Grand Prix held on the full 10km Monza circuit with the high banking. Moss wins, but Fangio becomes champion.

Edit: Here's a video of it:

There's a very short onboard clip on the banking.

Edited by chdphd, 13 January 2012 - 22:39.


#34 Phil Rainford

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 22:33

Monaco 1970 and 1981 ( Jochen and Gilles :up: )




PAR

#35 E1pix

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 22:36

Monaco 1970 and 1981 ( Jochen and Gilles :up: )

Okay... I'm a backtracking, a waffling, and a flip-floppin'. :)

Since it seems it could be a Grand Prix we did attend — ? — I'll take one I did, watching my Hero Gilles Villeneuve win his first GP, in Canada, and the first-ever for that Nation.

It was awesome.

[ — 33 years on, hair stands up on neck just thinking about it — ]

Edited by E1pix, 13 January 2012 - 22:39.


#36 Roger Clark

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Posted 13 January 2012 - 22:39

Btw, I'm curious as to why the starting point should be 1904? Shirley shome mishtake, is it?

Mr Wilkinson's. I said 1906 but to have been at Versailles at the start of the town-to-town epics would have been an experience. To have watched the cars leave for Madrid and then to hear the dreadful news filtering back....

#37 LittleChris

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 00:35

Belgian Grand Prix 1970.

Sat high up on the field / bank between Burnenville & Malmedy from where I'd have been able to see the cars exit the kinks after Haut de la Cote drop down under the bridge at the entry to Burnenville then around that mighty curve before disappearing to my left at top speed before hitting the brakes (out of my sight) for the silly chicane. Would then pick them up visually about a third of the way down the Masta Straight (back to top speed) until just before the Ess / Kink.

#38 Rob G

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 02:53

As much as I would have loved to see the Silver Arrows race at the Ring or Spa, I would have to go with the 1933 Monaco GP.

#39 BritishV8

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 06:18


Mosport 1967 if I could be part of the Brabham team.

Monaco 1971 if I've got a press pass, connections, and money.

Sweden 1973 if I'm just a spectator. (Swedish girls!)



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#40 doc knutsen

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 09:42

Mosport 1967 if I could be part of the Brabham team.

Monaco 1971 if I've got a press pass, connections, and money.

Sweden 1973 if I'm just a spectator. (Swedish girls!)


French GP 1953!

As for Anderstorp 1973, an open-air rock concert Saturday night featured a little-known group called ABBA (before fame hit them)...with the two girls wearing skin-tight silvery outfits that could have come straight from the paint shop.

#41 E1pix

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 10:01

... As for Anderstorp 1973, an open-air rock concert Saturday night featured a little-known group called ABBA (before fame hit them)...with the two girls wearing skin-tight silvery outfits that could have come straight from the paint shop.

Love 'em.

Edited by E1pix, 14 January 2012 - 10:01.


#42 Ristin

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 11:24

Silverstone 1977.

Watching a certain young Canadian spinning his way through practise session and being the only one who knows that he was not massively overwhelmed by this whole Formula 1 thing, but had found a very effective way of getting used to a powerful car and new circuit in time lapse mode...

#43 Bruno

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 16:25

Monaco 1992, and I was. a finish extraordainaire

Jarama 1981.
Donnigton 1983.

t

#44 Tim Murray

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 16:40

In addition to some of those already mentioned, I'd love to have seen the Brauchitsch - Caracciola battle at Monaco 1937.

#45 Tony Matthews

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 16:41

... he used to wave to her every time he came round.

What do you mean? After the chloroform wore off?

#46 kayemod

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 16:57

What do you mean? After the chloroform wore off?


I'll have you know, my mother was a fine looking woman!


#47 Tony Matthews

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 18:07

So was mine, and she was there too! Taken by a boyfriend in his Bugatti, but she never divulged more...

#48 kayemod

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 18:12

So was mine, and she was there too! Taken by a boyfriend in his Bugatti, but she never divulged more...


That can't have been too comfortable, unless it was a Royale of course...


#49 Rob Miller

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 18:35

Argentina 1957

Seven Maseratis and seven Ferraris - heaven.

#50 DOHC

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Posted 14 January 2012 - 18:56

Sweden 1973 if I'm just a spectator. (Swedish girls!)


Well, I was happy enough to be there, "just as a spectator," watching the cars, of course... Here's my picture from the grid, just before the flag drops. Good seat in the grandstands, and with my trusted Pentax Spotmatic. Those were the days...

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us


Otherwise, I would have chosen to go to Monza 1967. I would have loved to see Clark's pole-paced chase to make up a lost lap. :up: