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Track testers the truth


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#1 EDWARD FITZGERALD

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 13:47

The Piper Hales case has set me thinking , have the journos driven the cars that are featured in the magazine articles , most have but not all Hans Tanner couldn't drive but he wrote great articles from the passenger set , so let the stories begin .

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#2 arttidesco

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 18:29

I'm pretty sure Alan Henry testing an Arrows or Shadow made the front cover of MotorSport once.

#3 Sharman

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 18:51

...a stop watch and a deerstalker.

#4 arttidesco

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 19:26

...a stop watch and a deerstalker.


Something to do with John Bolster perhaps ?

I believe there was another journalist who used to frequent the F1 paddock who had a deer stalker but it was a bit before my time.


#5 Doug Nye

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 19:36

Alan Henry was pretty well wired up as a driver. Sadly he never made the most of that ability, or never had the opportunity to do so.

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#6 kayemod

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 19:42

Alan Henry was pretty well wired up as a driver. Sadly he never made the most of that ability, or never had the opportunity to do so.

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He impressed the Renault team when they had a journalists' F1 session at Paul Ricard (I think) some years ago, most of the others spun off at some point.


#7 Tim Murray

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 19:45

Talking of deerstalkers, newer members may not be aware of the deerstalker page of TNFers Luc and Carlos Ghys (Pedro 917 and LOLE):

http://www.carlosghy...eerstalker.html

#8 bradbury west

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 19:55

ISTR that Simon Taylor was always regarded as both very quick and safe in the wide range of cars which he tested when he was at Autosport. If you check the old mags he seemed to be out in something quick on a regular basis, up to F1 cars, plus he was v swift in his Mallock mk6 in good company, at a time when Clubmans meant something
Roger Lund.

#9 arttidesco

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 20:03

Talking of deerstalkers, newer members may not be aware of the deerstalker page of TNFers Luc and Carlos Ghys (Pedro 917 and LOLE):

http://www.carlosghy...eerstalker.html


Aha they are the ones I was thinking of Tim ! So they were just a celebrity stalkers and not a journalists, nice one Pedro 917 and LOLE, blagging a ride around Silverstone with Ronnie in a Europa is going to take some beating :clap:

#10 Nigel Beresford

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 20:17

At an ALMS race late in the noughties the Porsche guys were telling us about a press test they had just had at Weissach, for selected journalists to drive the 2006 spec RS Spyder. That car was difficult for even seasoned professionals to get the best out of - a typical, capable Porsche factory GT pilot would struggle to get anywhere near the limit of the car, because it had SO much grip compared to the GT2 car they were used to driving. People like Luhr, Dumas and Maassen grew with the Spyder as it was developed, and could exploit its performance as it was enhanced, but it was a different kettle of fish for someone from a GT background to come in and drive it once it was developed.

The Porsche engineers and mechanics were pretty underwhelmed as hack after hack had a go, until some grey old guy got in and really wheeled a lap in the thing (and Weissach is not a place for the faint hearted). He'd never driven a car with a paddle gearshift or carbon brakes, but they were staggered by the performance as he pretty much blew them all away. Most of the engineers and mechanics were youngish, and had never even heard of the 70 year old called Brian Redman...

Edited by Nigel Beresford, 24 January 2013 - 23:36.


#11 Bloggsworth

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 20:36

Raymond Baxter could handle a car, having done the Monte Carlo 12 times, 6 of them as a works BMC driver. I well recall him demonstrating the new TR4 on television, really chucking it about. Mind you, he was a more than averagely competent Spitfire pilot.

#12 GMACKIE

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 20:57

Anyone from 'Down Under' remember Clyde Hodgins, and his efforts in the Daimler SP-250? I saw him once, at Catalina Park.....someone else can comment. :rolleyes:

Just remembered Clyde's classic....."..famous Irish F1 driver, Jack O'Malley".

Edited by GMACKIE, 24 January 2013 - 23:01.


#13 gfastr

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 21:08

And then there was the CanAm car track test conducted by Car & Drivers Charles Fox

http://www.virhistor...n/lola-art.html




#14 Alan Cox

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 22:32

Don't forget the wonderful track tests which John Blunsden carried out for the much-mourned Motor Racing, a collection of which was published in book form.
http://www.abebooks....;tn=track tests


#15 PCC

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 22:41

He impressed the Renault team when they had a journalists' F1 session at Paul Ricard (I think) some years ago, most of the others spun off at some point.

Was that the famous occasion when Nigel Roebuck managed to spin while driving in a straight line?

#16 kayemod

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 23:23

Was that the famous occasion when Nigel Roebuck managed to spin while driving in a straight line?


That's the one. Eoin Young went up to a blushing Nigel and thanked him for writing his next column for him.


#17 Pat Clarke

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 00:01

What about the Ferrari GTO vs Pontiac GTO 'comparison' test done by one of the American comics (R&T or C&D) many years ago? Of course, they showed the 'goat' was the better car ;-)

Pat

#18 Ray Bell

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 00:36

Originally posted by GMACKIE
Anyone from 'Down Under' remember Clyde Hodgins, and his efforts in the Daimler SP-250? I saw him once, at Catalina Park.....someone else can comment.

Just remembered Clyde's classic....."..famous Irish F1 driver, Jack O'Malley".


Saw him a few times, I think he shared that car with Brian Lawler...

But that 'Jack O'Malley' thing wasn't half as funny as he wrote about an upcoming Warwick Farm event. He told how an Englishman would be driving a Lola T70, a bloke named Archie Scott-Thomas!

Clyde was a victim of how the Fairfax organisation worked, a regular journo doing a specialist job because it was his turn.

Pat, do you remember what drivers the magazine used? Or was it in Sports Car Graphic and they had Jerry Titus on the strength?

Of course, Phil Hill played driver/journo at times, drove some lovely stuff right back to pre-war and up to ground effect.

#19 David Birchall

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 00:37

Michael Bowler was a very good writer/driver who inspired many people to get into racing with his wonderful reports in "Thoroughbred and Classic Cars". (Including me).
Mick Walsh on the other hand...

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#20 Pat Clarke

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 00:50

Pat, do you remember what drivers the magazine used? Or was it in Sports Car Graphic and they had Jerry Titus on the strength?


Ray, I think the whole thing was a work of fiction! I remember the cars were depicted in a painting on the cover. I am pretty sure it was in Car and Driver!
Though it is so long ago and lost in the mists of memory.

I do recall an outburst of indignation from the purists.

A quick Google search found this http://www.caranddri...s-gto-road-test

Pat

#21 john aston

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 07:57

Roger Bell, Steve Sutcliffe , Chris Harris, Simon Taylor, Tony Dron are/were all more than handy behind the wheel - and the maligned Andrew Frankel is no slouch either. And against the charge of journos being poor drivers-well they may be but as few racing drivers have the ability to write much more than cliched drivel it cuts both ways. And yes , there are exceptions before I am ..err ..flamed,,,

#22 David Lawson

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 09:22

Marcus Pye of course.

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#23 RCH

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 09:29

i seem to remember that Jenks commented that he learned far more about a car by having a top driver at the wheel and him sitting alongside.

#24 Odseybod

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 09:42

There used to be a nice institution called Motor Show Test Day, when muttering rotters were invited to drive some of the latest models from all manufacturers, usually around Silverstone - not really a good location for revealing much about a car in ordinary road use but at least you could find out if the steering andf brakes worked.

I was allowed to join my Dad at one in the early '70s and we were circulating quite briskly in a Daimler Double-Six when a piddly little Vauxhall Viva came sailing around the outside of us at (I think) Becketts and vanished into the distance with a cheery wave - an occasional journo called Paul Frere at the wheel.

Of course, at the same event in a different year, a certain Mr L.G.K. Sparkplug got it all wrong and made a terrible mess of an E-type at Woodcote. There's some as can, and ...


#25 ensign14

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 10:24

For all the critique of Pat Bedard being a rentadriver who was at Indy in some sort of fantasy fulfilment, he out-qualified Emmo there in 1984 and twice made the 33 when there were a lot more than that trying.

#26 Graham Gauld

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 10:49

Roger Bell, Steve Sutcliffe , Chris Harris, Simon Taylor, Tony Dron are/were all more than handy behind the wheel - and the maligned Andrew Frankel is no slouch either. And against the charge of journos being poor drivers-well they may be but as few racing drivers have the ability to write much more than cliched drivel it cuts both ways. And yes , there are exceptions before I am ..err ..flamed,,,



Don't forget Peter Dron , very talented and even raced TVR Tuscans

#27 Alan Cox

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 10:53

Don't forget Peter Dron , very talented and even raced TVR Tuscans

Indeed, Graham, and an occasional poster here.

#28 arttidesco

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 10:57

What about the Ferrari GTO vs Pontiac GTO 'comparison' test done by one of the American comics (R&T or C&D) many years ago? Of course, they showed the 'goat' was the better car ;-)

Pat


R&T also ran a Ferrari 358GTS against a GMC Syclone pick up and found the latter was quicker away from the lights :smoking:

#29 hamsterace

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 11:11

At an ALMS race late in the noughties the Porsche guys were telling us about a press test they had just had at Weissach, for selected journalists to drive the 2006 spec RS Spyder. That car was difficult for even seasoned professionals to get the best out of - a typical, capable Porsche factory GT pilot would struggle to get anywhere near the limit of the car, because it had SO much grip compared to the GT2 car they were used to driving. People like Luhr, Dumas and Maassen grew with the Spyder as it was developed, and could exploit its performance as it was enhanced, but it was a different kettle of fish for someone from a GT background to come in and drive it once it was developed.

The Porsche engineers and mechanics were pretty underwhelmed as hack after hack had a go, until some grey old guy got in and really wheeled a lap in the thing (and Weissach is not a place for the faint hearted). He'd never driven a car with a paddle gearshift or carbon brakes, but they were staggered by the performance as he pretty much blew them all away. Most of the engineers and mechanics were youngish, and had never even heard of the 70 year old called Brian Redman...


I'm not 100% sure on detail, but wasn't the late Paul Frere once offered a drive in one of the works Audi R8s Le Mans cars- presumably as some sort of track test? I seem to recall that, even at the age of (well) over 80, he impressed all present with his pace, feedback and willingness/ ability to adapt to technologies a world a way from those employed in his time as a professional driver. Something is telling me it was an end of season test/ media session at Paul Ricard - perhaps someone more knowledgeable than I can confirm?

What's the saying? Form is temporary, class is permanent?

#30 alfaronny

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 12:53

Pierre Dieudonné for Autohebdo
Had a nice racing CV also.

#31 john aston

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 15:21

R&T also ran a Ferrari 358GTS against a GMC Syclone pick up and found the latter was quicker away from the lights :smoking:

They should have run a F355 GTS then...

#32 AAGR

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 17:38

Slightly Off Topic, but I am reminded about Keith Duckworth's take on a famous aphorism :

Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.

To which Keith added :

And those who can't teach - write about it ....

#33 ensign14

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 17:47

Pierre Dieudonné for Autohebdo
Had a nice racing CV also.

His talent was God-given.

#34 john winfield

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 18:05

His talent was God-given.


..unlike your wit, which surely must be the devil's work.... :)


#35 bigears

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 20:47

The Piper Hales case has set me thinking , have the journos driven the cars that are featured in the magazine articles , most have but not all Hans Tanner couldn't drive but he wrote great articles from the passenger set , so let the stories begin .


It was a Benetton in 1989.

#36 LittleChris

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 21:47

Harald Ertl didn't do too badly

#37 Ralliart

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Posted 26 January 2013 - 04:11

Denise McCluggage (sp?) comes to mind as a journalist/race car driver. Walter Cronkite was another - he was part of CBS' coverage at Daytona or Sebring, I think, and, surely, in his long career, featured motor racing in a special or three and, I believe, was an an early member of NASCAR. Automobile's David E. Davis should be recognized, too.

#38 EDWARD FITZGERALD

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Posted 30 January 2013 - 13:33

Apologies for my time mising in action ,computer maladies forced a layoff while the computer paid a vist to A&E all is now well , my interest was in finding discovering gems about track tests that were conducted from the passenger seat or the pit road by way of interview , I know of one track test of an Irish racing saloon which was conducted from the rear passenger area of the saloon , the driver couldn't risk the car so the journo rode in the back ,so I hope the stories will flow

#39 Doug Nye

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Posted 30 January 2013 - 13:59

I'm quite proud of my 'Classic & Sportscar' impressions test of an Alfa Romeo T33 Stradale which was conducted from start to finish on the end of a tow-rope behind Geoff Goddard's camera car. Noise level was amazingly refined.

DCN

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#40 Mallory Dan

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Posted 30 January 2013 - 14:33

Murray Taylor in MN used to test F2 cars quite quickly IIRC

#41 bradbury west

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Posted 30 January 2013 - 18:43

I'm quite proud of my 'Classic & Sportscar' impressions test of an Alfa Romeo T33 Stradale which was conducted from start to finish on the end of a tow-rope behind Geoff Goddard's camera car. Noise level was amazingly refined.
DCN


Didn't Basil Cardew have an even more relaxed test process for his road tests?
Roger Lund

BTW I think we are due a reprint of your FIAT Mefistofele ets article.........

#42 Stephen W

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 08:30

ISTR that Simon Taylor was always regarded as both very quick and safe in the wide range of cars which he tested when he was at Autosport. If you check the old mags he seemed to be out in something quick on a regular basis, up to F1 cars, plus he was v swift in his Mallock mk6 in good company, at a time when Clubmans meant something
Roger Lund.


Posted Image

Simon Taylor tests an F2 March at Silverstone

Posted Image

... and blasting off the line at Shelsley in his weekend transport.