42 replies to this topic

[Skellen]

As a petrolhead, I was always interested in cars not only used in racing, but also those used as a pace/safety ones. Which one did you like the most or hated? (F1 and any other kind of auto racing).

[Afterburner]

The current one. The SLS AMG is simply an amazing car.

[SCUDmissile]

used for the Ferrari Challenge and Corse Clienti events.

[midgrid]

Lamborghini Countach, used as a course car for the 1981 Monaco Grand Prix.

[Andrew Hope]

1996 Indianapolis 500.

[Les]

On the 96 season review last night the safety car at one of the races (can't remember which one) was a Renault Clio!

[Andy865]

The SLS is pretty sweet.

Dramatic loser is the Toyota Auris NASCAR uses. Nothing like a nice sporty model to sell your brand. I would rag on the indy Honda Accord, but those things have looked awesome since the 09 bodykit. Shame they're only driven by people who are too old for a license.

[halifaxf1fan]

The first:



"In 1973, the F1 safety car was introduced at the Canada GP in Mosport. The Porsche 914/6 had a whopping 110hp 2 liter flat 6 derived from the 1969 911T. It was driven by former F1 driver Eppie Wietzes. Due to ineptitude, unfamiliarity with the rules, and the lack of computer timers, the yellow Porsche drove in front of the wrong car and set half the field one lap behind-- incorrectly. It took three hours post-race to determine the true winner."

The worst:



"The slowness of the safety cars showed its dark side at the 1994 San Marino GP. Due to an early accident, a safety car proceeded to take over. The bone stock Opel Vectra's brakes were completely worn out after just two laps. It was abysmally slow. The competitors' tires turned ice cold. The great Ayrton Senna crashed and lost his life soon after the Opel pulled into pit lane because of the cold tires. Ironically, it was the safety car that caused Senna's demise. (This issue is very controversial and subject to heated debate.)"

My favorite (I owned a couple of Prelude's and remember seeing it in this race):



"Having not learned any lessons from the San Marino incident, the 1994 Japan GP at Suzuka was led by a stock appearing silver Honda Prelude."

The funniest:



"In 1995, it was a marshal's car in Hungary that grabbed headlines, and the collars of blooper show producers worldwide. Poor Taki Inoue, a hapless Arrows driver, had already been hit in Monaco while his car was being towed. In Hungary, after stepping out of his Arrow, Taki was hit at low speed by a marshal driving a Tatra 613, a feat of Slavic engineering."


"After all these weird, scary, and tragic incidents, F1 began using a series of AMGs capable of sustained high speed driving, cornering, and heavy braking. Since 2000, the safety car has been driven by the very competent Bernd Maylander."




http://karakullake.b...16_archive.html

Edited by halifaxf1fan, 31 March 2012 - 17:47.

[SeanValen]

Lamborghini Countach, used as a course car for the 1981 Monaco Grand Prix.

Having a Lambo or Ferrari as safety car in the 80s really gave the safety car some exceptional tv attention moment.

The countach's lines at the time were just head and above the coolest looking car around along with say the testarossa.



The positive echo of the 80s still going strong today. Word up

As a petrolhead, I was always interested in cars not only used in racing, but also those used as a pace/safety ones. Which one did you like the most or hated? (F1 and any other kind of auto racing).

Skellen Legend
This is perhaps the most obvious thread that no one in my memory has done in this forum in the last 10 years. Thanks for creating it, well done and super super job. An interesting and original topic.

Brilliant.

Edited by SeanValen, 31 March 2012 - 17:26.

[jimjimjeroo]

On the 96 season review last night the safety car at one of the races (can't remember which one) was a Renault Clio!

I saw that too, also at one race there was an Escort cosworth!

[Victor_RO]

I saw that too, also at one race there was an Escort cosworth!

Clio was Argentine GP '96, Escort Cosworth - British GP '93 I believe.

[Rob]

Poor Taki Inoue, a hapless Arrows driver, had already been hit in Monaco while his car was being towed.

The driver of the course car that hit Inoue's Arrows was Jean Ragnotti, ex rally ace. He was just a bit too enthusiastic and flipped the Arrows into the barrier.

[Wander]

Lamborghini Countach, used as a course car for the 1981 Monaco Grand Prix.

+1. My favourite Lambo.

[midgrid]

Porsche at the 1995 Belgian Grand Prix.

[Nikos Spagnol]

It took a while for F1 sort out the safety car problem. In the first years after its reintroduction, each race provided their own safety car and also medical car. I remember a FIAT Tempra being used in the Brazilian Grand Prix as the safety car, obviously too slow to keep F1 tires warm enough.

[rage2]

My favorite, shot at the 2006 Canadian GP:



Fell in love with the car. 4 years later, even though the car wasn't legal for import in Canada, I got a house in the US so I could own one and drive it up to my house in Canada.



Funny story, when I stumbled upon the SC in 2006, Bernd Mayländer was there with the car. One of the track side girls asked to sit in the car to get pictures, and he was happy to oblige. When I asked him afterwards, he said no. I asked him why, and he said it was because I don't have tits.

Edited by rage2, 02 April 2012 - 05:14.

[Jaybools]

Slightly off topic, but I've always wondered why they don't get Keiichi Tsuchiya in the safety car for some impromptu SLS drifting, would make SC periods alot more fun. If only I was in charge of the FIA...

Or at least if the drifting meant the F1 cars a too slow then during red flag periods, get the japanese crew and their RX7's/Silvias/Driveshaft eliminated GTR's and Evos out on the track!!!

Edited by Jaybools, 02 April 2012 - 05:21.

[Speedoholic]

Edited by Speedoholic, 02 April 2012 - 05:36.

[rage2]

Slightly off topic, but I've always wondered why they don't get Keiichi Tsuchiya in the safety car for some impromptu SLS drifting, would make SC periods alot more fun. If only I was in charge of the FIA...

Or at least if the drifting meant the F1 cars a too slow then during red flag periods, get the japanese crew and their RX7's/Silvias/Driveshaft eliminated GTR's and Evos out on the track!!!

Well it'd be kinda dangerous during the SC period lol.

Bernd does have some fun though once in a while...

[Jaybools]

Well it'd be kinda dangerous during the SC period lol.

Bernd does have some fun though once in a while...

It wouldn't be dangerous! Bernd is competent enough to do a few slides here and there for shits and giggles

[CoolBreeze]

used for the Ferrari Challenge and Corse Clienti events.

Awesome. I would have liked the SLR as well.

[Jackmancer]

this one

[karlzy1]

this one

Can you provide details of this strange indecent?

[Rob]

Can you provide details of this strange indecent?

[Baddoer]

Well it'd be kinda dangerous during the SC period lol.

Bernd does have some fun though once in a while...

Why he wears Jensons helmet?

[BRG]

Can you provide details of this strange indecent?

Indecent is the word - this was one of the most disgraceful bits of organisers' incompetence I have ever seen.

[IceSkyrim]

[Skinnyguy]

Since 2000, the safety car has been driven by the very competent Bernd Maylander."

That long already? I don´t remember him messing up even once, that´s very good considering he drives full speed.

[betafan]

I loved the Tatras at the Hungarian GP, they were great cars and very rare!
Nowadays I'd prefer something much faster than the SLS, it's not one of the fastest cars around Nurburgring or Top Gear's tracks, so may I'd love to see some Ferraris as safety cars. Tire temperatures are a big serious safety issue and at times F1 drivers have voiced their disapproval of the pace of various AMG branded cars. The future 458 Scuderia would be my choice, fantastic looks! But as Mercedes is the official supplier, may be a future SLS Black Series. The current SL Black Series is also fast and I love how it looks.



It has some nasty looks as well!

[halifaxf1fan]

That long already? I don´t remember him messing up even once, that´s very good considering he drives full speed.

That guy has the best job in the world!

[Rob]

Indecent is the word - this was one of the most disgraceful bits of organisers' incompetence I have ever seen.

Have a look at this one, also due to a safety car.

Edited by Rob, 02 April 2012 - 21:43.

[tremolo]

The current medical car is my fave - anyone who's been to a GP will no that thing is just about the loudest, most obnoxious sounding thing out there! Love it.

Edited by tremolo, 02 April 2012 - 23:33.

[bennyo]

Nowadays I'd prefer something much faster than the SLS, it's not one of the fastest cars around Nurburgring or Top Gear's tracks, so may I'd love to see some Ferraris as safety cars. Tire temperatures are a big serious safety issue and at times F1 drivers have voiced their disapproval of the pace of various AMG branded cars. The future 458 Scuderia would be my choice, fantastic looks! But as Mercedes is the official supplier, may be a future SLS Black Series. The current SL Black Series is also fast and I love how it looks.

I was thinking about this too - whenever I see an AMG Mercedes coming up on Top Gear, I cringe a bit, knowing that its going to be all crazy wheelspin and Jeremy will love it but say that it's not really practical or even that fast.

Even though the SLS looks and sounds great it is a heavy car that isn't that quick round the corners. In the Malaysia GP, Brundle commented that in the wet weather the SLS couldn't go fast because its on pretty much road tyres too.

I know there is no chance whatsoever due to the sponsorship nature, but it would be great to see an MP4-12C there to see how quick that could go. A Ferrari is a more realistic option of course, especially as Fiat Group have plenty of other brands to supply the medical cars and even the FIA Trucks which are currently Mercs.

[Exar Kun]

The current medical car is my fave - anyone who's been to a GP will no that thing is just about the loudest, most obnoxious sounding thing out there! Love it.

Yep, I love it. Sounds better than the SLS! It was getting massively sideways in the wet on Friday in Australia this year too.

[Murraytastic]

Why he wears Jensons helmet?

Despite the description, I am sure it is Jenson and not Bernd driving the SC in that clip. It says it's from the end of Saturday at Silverstone 2010...we sat on the (old) pit straight at the end of the day and saw Jenson taking some lucky people out for a spin in the SC.

[Fulcrum]

[Manneken3000]

Took this few years back...can you tell me who is on the passager seat??

Edited by Manneken3000, 03 April 2012 - 06:59.

[antifozy]

The current medical car is my fave - anyone who's been to a GP will no that thing is just about the loudest, most obnoxious sounding thing out there! Love it.

Wow that's awesome sound. Much cooler than the SLS.
I have always thought that the pace car should have a AWD, since it very often has to do its duty in the rain.
Sponsorship aside, would like to see an STI or a GTR leading in any of the races, not necessarily F1.

[betafan]

Hahah, Felipe:) Cool RS4. Some tracks have pretty cool safety cars! I think Imola still has a Ferrari 348.

@antifozy GT-R is the safety car of GT1 I believe! Doing great job.

[wewantourdarbyback]

[Baddoer]

they race each other somethimes
http://www.youtube.c...feature=related
"Got some tow down to the first corner, safety car breaks very late and misses the corner and the medical car stays ahead!"

Edited by Baddoer, 03 April 2012 - 07:22.

[antifozy]

Hahah, Felipe:) Cool RS4. Some tracks have pretty cool safety cars! I think Imola still has a Ferrari 348.

@antifozy GT-R is the safety car of GT1 I believe! Doing great job.

Yeah RS4 look nice. The RS6 Avant is my dream car.
Went seaching for GTR pace car clips on youtube. Saw one where they had a 350z in 2010. One clip of GTR in silverstone last year. But found this one interesting.
They had an Xterra leading GT1 lol, and driver did a good job keeping it on the road:

[CoolBreeze]

I think the FIA should allow, or invite various manufacturers to have a go and supply their own SC at different events. Imagine a Ferrari 458, an Aventador, Audi R8, a Porsche, being SCs in various races of the calender..