23 replies to this topic

[Cranclive]

Through my personal and professional interests I am organising the first History of Motorsport Technology Conference at Cranfield University on 3 July during National Motorsport Week. Details are at www.motorsportconference.com We are developing the programme of speakers and I hope to have some excellent presentations covering technical developments and the context in which these took place. I am meeting Joe Saward next week here at Cranfield. In addition to the presentations we will have some interesting competition cars here. The lunch and dinner will be excellent networking opportunities and facilities such as Cranfield Impact Cente and Cranfield Motorsport Simulation will be open to visitors.

For further information please email motorsport@cranfield.ac.uk

[Cranclive]

Met Joe Saward and we hope to have Mark Hughes and David Tremayne present on 3 July at Cranfield.

[Cranclive]

By way of a special offer for VSCC, FJHRA, HSCC, BRDC, HGPCA and Group C members I have arranged the special price of £120 to attend both the conference and the dinner if the booking is made between now and the 2 July. You can either book online via http://www.motorsportconference.com or contact the Academic Operations Unit to reserve your place:
Academic Operations Unit
Cranfield University
Cranfield
Bedfordshire
MK43 0AL, UK

T: +44 (0) 1234 754176
E: shortcourse@cranfield.ac.uk
F: +44 (0) 1234 751206

Edited by Cranclive, 23 May 2012 - 14:37.

[Cranclive]

Updated programme for History of Motorsport Technology Conference

Atrium
09:00 - 09:30 Registration, tea and coffee. Exhibition open.
Auditorium
09:30 - 10:00 Welcome and Keynote address, Peter Wright, FIA and former Managing Director of Lotus Engineering and Technical Director of Team Lotus.
Session One
10:00 - 12:40
1. Ground effects from the 1920s - Charles Armstrong-Wilson
2. Technology and the Land Speed Record - David Tremayne
3. The major schools of motorsport engineering - Mark Hughes
4. The problem with secrets and lies - Joe Saward
5. Engineering insights from an innovator’s career: the remarkable Colin Chapman - Karl Ludvigsen
12:40 - 13:00 Question and Answers with the first session speakers
Atrium and outside
Motorsport conference networking lunch and exhibition
13:00 - 14:00 Conference networking lunch with poster presentations and exhibition. Posters and displays to include:
• Dr Mark Craig, Cranfield University - Coatings in motorsport
• Luke Crowley, Cranfield alumnus - Radial engagement gearboxes in motorsport: a history
• Craig Scarborough - technical illustrations
• Mick Hill - Bluebird LSR vehicles, Thrust II and 985 Lotus 97T
Auditorium
Session Two
14:00 - 17:00
1. F1 race car design and development in the 1960s and 1970s - Mike Pilbeam
2. Group C: a decade of change - Graham Humphrys
3. Impact testing of F1 cars since the 1980s - Brian O'Rourke
4. Race car simulator development - Graham Campion
5. Moto GP: Honda's RC211V; it was all in the metal - Neil Spalding
6. Motorsport Valley UK - past, present and future - Professor Mark Jenkins and Chris Aylett
17:00 - 17:30 Question and Answers with the second session speakers
17:30 - 18:00 Summary and presentation prize - the Bill Boddy OBE Award
Atrium and outside
18:05 - 19:15 - Exhibition and visits
Evening Programme
19:30 - Pre-dinner drinks, Mitchell Hall Bar
20:00 - Evening dinner, Mitchell Hall Banqueting Suite

[Cranclive]

Here are the cars that will be displayed at Cranfield on 3 July

Amilcar CGSs ‘Monoplace’ 1929
Bentley 3 litre long chassis vanden plas tourer – 1925
Alfa Romeo 6C – 1933
1935 Brooke ERA
Alta - 1938
ERA GP1 1938/9
Ferrari 500/625 – 1952
Connaught ‘B’ Type – 1955
Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta “Tour de France” – 1957
Cooper T56 – 1960
Lola Mk4 – 1962
Matra MS80 –1969
Dulon Porsche - Group 6 Sports Racing Car – 1971
Tiga GC286 Rover V64V – 1986
Ford Sapphire Cosworth – 1989
Williams Renault FW14B Grand Prix Racing Car – 1992
BAR 004 Honda – 2002
Ferrari 430 GT2 LM– 2009
Formula Renault – 2009
MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS F1 W03 – 2012

[David McKinney]

Cooper T56 – 1960

That'll either be a Cooper T52 - 1960, or a Cooper T56 - 1961 ;)

[Roger Clark]

Are any TNF members going?

[Tim Murray]

At least one is:

http://forums.autosp...howtopic=168046

[LittleBertha]

At least one is:

http://forums.autosp...howtopic=168046

...and another as I will be there - looking forward to it

[arttidesco]

Regrettably this is financially right out of my league, look forward to seeing the pix :-)

[La Sarthe]

Unfortunately I'm off-site on Tuesday , otherwise I would be having a good drool over the cars in my lunch hour. I have to say that this is the best collection yet.

[mariner]

Sounds great and to be fair Peter Wright is there but a " history of motorsports technology" with no Lotus single seaters present?

[Cranclive]

Sounds great and to be fair Peter Wright is there but a " history of motorsports technology" with no Lotus single seaters present?

Clive Chapman had hoped to bring an iconic Lotus but unfortunately Goodwood and the forthcoming GP somewhat prevented this.

[Cranclive]

Some images from the day

http://www.flickr.co...57630406232960/

[Cranclive]

That'll either be a Cooper T52 - 1960, or a Cooper T56 - 1961 ;)

Well observed but because a T56 first raced in late 1960 it has been listed by the Association as 1960 to run in the current FJ class for rear engine drum brake cars. With an aluminium body it is also similar to the prototype Mk 2 FJ Cooper of 1960 but it is probably a 1961 car originally supplied in kit form.

[PRD]

What were the criteria for the Bill Boddy Award?

[D-Type]

What were the criteria for the Bill Boddy Award?

On another forum it says the award was "for the best presentation at the conference" in memory of WB.

[Allan Lupton]

On another forum it says the award was "for the best presentation at the conference" in memory of WB.

That's also what the caption of this photo from Clive's set says!

[PRD]

On another forum it says the award was "for the best presentation at the conference" in memory of WB.

Really?

I'm surprised at the winner, I thought that Brian O'Rourke's presentation was the best

[tsrwright]

Proceedings?

[David McKinney]

Well observed but because a T56 first raced in late 1960

I don't recall that - was it a Boxing Day meeting?

[Roger Clark]

I believe that Henry Taylor had one at boxing Day Brands, but it failed on the grid.

[Cranclive]

Really?

I'm surprised at the winner, I thought that Brian O'Rourke's presentation was the best

If it had been my decision then I would have gone for Brian's presentation too. It was polished, technically very interesting and also heartfelt. Graham won because the judge felt he just pipped Brian as he brought into play how technologies extant elsewhere influenced Group C development.

[Cranclive]

Proceedings will not be published as a number of speakers did not want their presentations circulated in the form presented at the event. Instead it is hoped to secure publication of some of the papers in an academic journal. Conference booklets are available from motorsport@cranfield.ac.uk