Pick a Grand Prix
#1
Posted 13 January 2012 - 12:18
"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.
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#2
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.
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
Posted 13 January 2012 - 12:46
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
Posted 13 January 2012 - 12:51
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
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.
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
Posted 13 January 2012 - 13:10
Alternatively, the very first, with a colour camera and copious film.
#7
Posted 13 January 2012 - 13:12
#8
Posted 13 January 2012 - 13:18
#9
Posted 13 January 2012 - 13:33
#10
Posted 13 January 2012 - 13:48
#11
Posted 13 January 2012 - 14:01
#12
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
Posted 13 January 2012 - 14:24
I'm sure many will know why.
#15
Posted 13 January 2012 - 15:08
#16
Posted 13 January 2012 - 15:44
#17
Posted 13 January 2012 - 15:57
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
Posted 13 January 2012 - 15:58
#19
Posted 13 January 2012 - 16:40
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
Posted 13 January 2012 - 16:50
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
Posted 13 January 2012 - 17:08
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
Posted 13 January 2012 - 17:13
Spa, Gurney, Eagle
#23
Posted 13 January 2012 - 17:20
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!!
#24
Posted 13 January 2012 - 17:30
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
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!
#26
Posted 13 January 2012 - 18:03
#27
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
Posted 13 January 2012 - 18:56
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
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
Curiously if someone else is picking up the tab I'd always be thrilled to go to the next one
#29
Posted 13 January 2012 - 20:01
Btw, I'm curious as to why the starting point should be 1904? Shirley shome mishtake, is it?
#30
Posted 13 January 2012 - 20:21
#31
Posted 13 January 2012 - 20:26
I, too wish I'd been there for Francois' first and only win.USA GP, Watkins Glen 1971.
I'm sure many will know why.
My vote would be Monza 1971... provided I was at the Finish Line.
#32
Posted 13 January 2012 - 21:02
AndThe 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.
Monaco 1933 - one of the most intense duels ever and at Monaco you would see it all
#33
Posted 13 January 2012 - 22:28
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
Posted 13 January 2012 - 22:33
PAR
#35
Posted 13 January 2012 - 22:36
Okay... I'm a backtracking, a waffling, and a flip-floppin'.Monaco 1970 and 1981 ( Jochen and Gilles )
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
Posted 13 January 2012 - 22:39
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....Btw, I'm curious as to why the starting point should be 1904? Shirley shome mishtake, is it?
#37
Posted 14 January 2012 - 00:35
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
Posted 14 January 2012 - 02:53
#39
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
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
Posted 14 January 2012 - 10:01
Love 'em.... 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.
Edited by E1pix, 14 January 2012 - 10:01.
#42
Posted 14 January 2012 - 11:24
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
Posted 14 January 2012 - 16:25
Jarama 1981.
Donnigton 1983.
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#44
Posted 14 January 2012 - 16:40
#45
Posted 14 January 2012 - 16:41
What do you mean? After the chloroform wore off?... he used to wave to her every time he came round.
#46
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
Posted 14 January 2012 - 18:07
#48
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
Posted 14 January 2012 - 18:35
Seven Maseratis and seven Ferraris - heaven.
#50
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...
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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.