16 replies to this topic

[amaurosisbrown]

I am going to make a 1/24 Porsche 917k to celebrate Porsche's first Le Mans win 40 years ago.
I plan to include a driver figure, and would like to know what colour helmet and suit Attwood wore in 1970.
Did he drive with an open-face helmet?
I am finding it difficult to find any period photos of the #23 917k at the 1970 event. Google searches are only showing me the classic one of the car enveloped in spray, and all other images are from recent events.

Many thanks in advance.

(As an aside, am I alone in having a stronger bond with the champions of the year I was born? Rindt and Attwood appear higher up my personal 'best-ever-drivers' list because they triumphed in my birth year)

[d j fox]

He raced with a white open face-Bell type helmet with a white peak with his usual (Eton?) broken black stripe.
From the photos I have he wore white overalls. There was a dark stripe down both arms--but I only have b&w photos so can't confirm what colour it actually was –possibly Goodyear blue, as the car ran on these tyres.
Hans Hermann also wore white overalls with a silver Bell open face with a white peak

David

[Duc-Man]

Webfind! Hope it helps.

[amaurosisbrown]

Thanks so much. That photo is brilliant. I knew this forum would deliver
What does the broken black stripe appear as? Is it like a series of dashes?

cheers

[LOLE]

Thanks so much. That photo is brilliant. I knew this forum would deliver
What does the broken black stripe appear as? Is it like a series of dashes?

cheers

Here is a picture where you can see all the details required...

[hipperson]

Attwood was educated at Harrow not Eton

Being pedantic here....the Harrow colours are quite a dark blue and white.
Was his helmet bearing those school colours ?

Edited by hipperson, 05 November 2010 - 14:30.

[amaurosisbrown]

Once again, many thanks.
That should give me all the detail and info I need.

(Might be modelling the '71 Martini Porsche after that, so wait til I need Gijs Van Lennep's helmet colour.
Perhaps I will stick with Michael Delaney's Gulf 917)

[mfd]

Thanks so much. That photo is brilliant. I knew this forum would deliver
What does the broken black stripe appear as? Is it like a series of dashes?
cheers

Helmet : Thick black stripe, thinner white, black pinstripe, thinner white, thick black stripe etc.
Suit: Two black stripes on each sleeve. Large Goodyear on back of overalls.
I won't post a photo here - PM me

Edited by mfd, 06 November 2010 - 16:15.

[markpde]

These should help too (double click on them to bring them up to full size)...



The last one would be the most useful. Notice the weathering on the nose paint, and how the headlamp covers are fogged up - 023 finished the race like that (the plexiglass used for the headlamp covers and cockpit windows was always slightly yellow, btw, even when new, due to a strengthening additive called 'Plexi 10', as Kevin Jeanette explains in this video (you can watch the rest as well, if you haven't seen them - just don't blame me if you're up all night!))...

http://uk.youtube.co...WCWse9xE&sdig=1

Also, in the other photos, the tape over the rear body section shut line would be a nice touch on the model - AFAIK the tail section was never lifted throughout the race.

'917 023' in the Porsche museum is actually 917 001, but it's been restored to represent 023. The real 023, as seen at the Rennsport Reunion, has wider rear wheels, rear body section and sills than when it won Le Mans in '70.

One last photo to inspire you - RAIN!!!

Re. your 'aside', I was born in '56, but '70 and '71 were like my 'first years' - the years I got interested.

Edited by markpde, 06 November 2010 - 16:42.

[jonnylayze]

Attwood was educated at Harrow not Eton

Being pedantic here....the Harrow colours are quite a dark blue and white.
Was his helmet bearing those school colours ?

Piers Courage wore a helmet along similar lines but using the Eton colours on a dark silver blue background colour.

[Tom Glowacki]

I am going to make a 1/24 Porsche 917k to celebrate Porsche's first Le Mans win 40 years ago.
I plan to include a driver figure, and would like to know what colour helmet and suit Attwood wore in 1970.
Did he drive with an open-face helmet?
I am finding it difficult to find any period photos of the #23 917k at the 1970 event. Google searches are only showing me the classic one of the car enveloped in spray, and all other images are from recent events.

Many thanks in advance.

(As an aside, am I alone in having a stronger bond with the champions of the year I was born? Rindt and Attwood appear higher up my personal 'best-ever-drivers' list because they triumphed in my birth year)

The December issue of Road & Track arrived today, with a color picture of Attwood at this year's Revival in a very period looking driver's uniform on pagge 79.

[Jager]

Here's a nice clear picture of the helmet and overalls with Goodyear logo on the back. The gloves and goggles on the car might make an interesting touch for your model :

[mfd]

...and overalls with Goodyear logo on the back.

Not clearly visible on the above photo, but the stripe on the sleeve is actually yellow with two thin blue lines each side.
Note: either side of the engine intake Goodyear on the driver side but there is both Goodyear & Shell on the other side

Edited by mfd, 07 November 2010 - 14:04.

[amaurosisbrown]

Once again, many thanks for the info and great photos.
Much appreciated.

[mfd]

Once again, many thanks for the info and great photos.
Much appreciated.

Check your messages - just sent the details

[markpde]

Forgot about this - http://einestages.sp...l#featuredEntry - I posted it on the 'YouTube' thread a while ago - a video of the 1970 race from SPIEGEL TV. It features 023 heavily towards the end - you'll see Dickie Atwood getting out of the car during what was possibly its last pit stop - he's wearing his Nomex scarf around his chin, below his mouth, as in LOLE's photo, and has his goggles around his neck. Nice close-ups of the car with Hans Herrmann getting in too. As it draws up at the end, after taking the chequered flag, you'll see the headlight covers are still fogged up!

Just wish there was a similar video of the 1971 Le Mans. Must be out there somewhere, but I've never seen it, just bits and pieces - glimpses of the 917 Long-tails behind the 911 pace car - it was the first ever rolling start at Le Mans.

[amaurosisbrown]

That Spiegel TV footage is great. The number and quality of the cars starting is extraordinary.

Perhaps Steve McQueen should have just made a documentary of the '70 race, fact always seems to trump fiction in motorsport.

Thanks for the message, MFD.