Who wrote this unattributed article?
Looking back on our first season in the very competi-
tive world of Formula 1, we find that "learning by doing"
is a slow, but essential, ingredient in the new formula for
progress and eventual success.
Since many of you may not be aware of the nitty-
gritty details, let's take a quick glance back at 1973 for
the UOP Shadow.
Since new kids on the block are not readily accepted
one of the first problems we encountered was one of hav-
ing to ship our cars to South America without the benefit
of support from the Constructors Association. Skip
South America and test at Paul Ricard. On the way to
South Africa the plane develops engine problems, and the
cars arrive several days late for the planned testing sess-
ions. Then the hot South African sun soaks into the
black coachwork and softens it up enough to cause
Oliver's car to shed its skin at speed. Tony Southgate
(designer of the UOP Shadow) commented that we would
have never learned this "in ten years of testing in England
....too bloody cold there". Next the great Cosworth
vibration will cause the engine mountings to pull loose
from the bulkhead and the instruments to vibrate to bits.
After reinforcement of both cars, George Follmer finishes
6th in the first race for both the car and the driver, to
earn one well deserved point in the standings. George ran
sixth again in a snowstorm at the non-championship race
at Silverstone and then strong third at Spain, while
"Pitty Patty" won on a flat tire and Peterson's gear box
packed up. At Belgium, Jackie got involved in the
Formula 1 "junkyard" that was to account for five or six
cars on the outside of one turn alone! This crash began a
long string of totaled and damaged cars that really set us
back with having to build new cars just to make the next
race, let alone find time to test. At Monaco, Merzario
helped George write off his car in the last five minutes of
Saturday qualifying, and at Sweden a brake fitting failed
on George's car, sending him into a catch fence and a post
that had not been sawed half through as it should have
been. At the British GP, George got caught up in the
Sheckter (sic) aftermath, and Jackie hit Lauda on the start.
The Italian GP marked the first time that both cars finish-
ed, and the Canadian was a real highlight in our first seas-
on, as both qualified well, and Jackie drove an inspired
race (the first time a UOP Shadow had seen "P1" on the
pit board) to lead the race and finish a close third behind
Fittipaldi.
A final 1973 season recount shows the UOP team with
two thirds, two sixths, one eighth and three tenths.
1974. Good new for the UOP team and American
racing fans alike, as Peter revson has signed as "number
one" for the '74 F1 season. The personable Revson brings
experience, dedication and talent to the UOP effort. The
second driver has not been named as of this writing.
The '74 Shadow will be finished by the time this story
is in print. The Tony Southgate designed car is all new
but similar in appearance to and evolved from refinements
on the '73 car. The new car will feature an all new
monocoque with a longer wheelbase, the driver in a more
forward position, a narrower more sleek profile and
numerous mechanical improvements and innovations.
With a year's experience behind the team, the addition
of Revson and a new car developed from the lessons learn-
ed last year, we are optimistic and looking forward to a
great season for America's only Formula One team.
FORMULA magazine, December 1973, Vol. 1, no. 3, Pages 12, 19.
Keyword: Scheckter
RGDS RLT
