21 replies to this topic

[midgrid]

F1 is breaking with tradition this week: not one full race, but highlights of two.  No public vote either (Bernie would be proud!).

 

A tribute to the late Niki Lauda will see extended highlights (I think these would be about one hour each?) of the 1984 Portuguese Grand Prix - scene of his third title triumph - and the 1985 Dutch Grand Prix, the venue of his final win.

 

Some things don't change: seven pm UK time tomorrow evening.

[Spillage]

Sounds like an interesting idea. It's a shame that they can't show highlights of one of his races for Ferrari, but I'm guessing the archives don't stretch back so far.

[Risil]

If you want an illuminating detail about the kind of life I lead, I was thinking in the shower the other day "I really hope F1 shows a replay on Youtube of the Lauda/Prost duel at the 1985 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, but I don't think they ever will". Well done F1!

[PayasYouRace]

I'm a bit tired of doing the spotter guides, and don't really have the time this week, so handing that duty back over.

[absinthedude]

Sounds like an interesting idea. It's a shame that they can't show highlights of one of his races for Ferrari, but I'm guessing the archives don't stretch back so far.

 

Then they should ask me. I have several. Though the only one for which I have the full live race in those years is 1976 Austria, for which Lauda was in hospital and Ferrari withdrew due to throwing their toys out of their pram regarding James Hunt's Spanish win being reinstated.

 

But I have lots of race highlights on VHS and some on super 8mm film (professionally produced)

 

The real problem is that Bernie didn't consolidate the video/broadcast rights to his company until 1981 or 1982....prior to that usually each individual country's broadcaster owned the rights to each race and to the recordings. In most cases the tapes still exist, certianly from the mid 70s onwards, but the rights are not owned by FOM.

Edited by absinthedude, 19 May 2020 - 18:39.

[midgrid]

1984 Portuguese Grand Prix spotter's guide:

 

[Risil]

That Williams sure is a hard car to love.

Thanks Midgrid!

[Risil]

Anyone know why the Toleman in the Senna image looks so different from the Toleman of Johansson's? The engine covers and rear wings specifically. Different car designs?

 

I love the swoopy front wing endplates on the Toleman too. There's so much variety and inelegance on display here, it's wonderful.

[midgrid]

The photo of Johansson is from the Nürburgring - I believe they were in the same configuration at Estoril. Unfortunately I don't have suitable photos of all of the entrants from the correct meeting.

[PayasYouRace]

Toleman ditched the double rear wing concept for the more common variation with side extensions that the other teams were using. The engine cover is the same I think. Just it looks weird from the different angles.

Also Senna had the unique red-stripe livery in Portugal.

[midgrid]

1985 Dutch Grand Prix spotter's guide:

 

[ezequiel]

Love the Ligier

[Risil]

Williams has a better livery now, but the car shape is still a bit lumpy.

Best looking car Renault ever made.

[Spillage]

I think the Tyrrell was rather good looking too. 

 

Why did Lauda struggle in qualifying in Estoril? If one of the protagonists qualified 11th in the title decider nowadays the title race would be considered over. Very different reliability back then though.

[selespeed]

both races piquet pole position and finishes a lap down...both races ayrton senna 3rd

[midgrid]

Well, that was a bit feeble. I hardly think that less than 50 per cent of the race counts as extended highlights.

I preferred the 1985 Dutch Grand Prix.

[Spillage]

Thought it was OK, but I'd have preferred to see the full rerun of either race to highlights of both.

[Collombin]

Why did Lauda struggle in qualifying in Estoril? If one of the protagonists qualified 11th in the title decider nowadays the title race would be considered over. Very different reliability back then though.

Hey, that was an improvement on the previous race!

In Estoril practice he had engine issues, and made a couple of mistakes. It didn't help that it was Prost's turn to have the spare car that weekend too.

[Risil]

Thought it was OK, but I'd have preferred to see the full rerun of either race to highlights of both.

 

I wonder if the words and pictures exist for the full re-run. BBC Grandstand didn't normally stick with a live Grand Prix in its entirety until the 1990s. You could probably track down a complete broadcast but it would be an odd experience for Murray and James to go quiet for half the race, or be replaced by commentators in a different language.

[Viryfan]

I wonder if the words and pictures exist for the full re-run. BBC Grandstand didn't normally stick with a live Grand Prix in its entirety until the 1990s. You could probably track down a complete broadcast but it would be an odd experience for Murray and James to go quiet for half the race, or be replaced by commentators in a different language.

Yeah BBC only broadcasted full season live from 1995 onwards.

[Spillage]

Good point. In that case they've done the best the can, but it's a little disappointing all the same. You'd expect the BBC to at least have broadcast the full 1984 title decider live!

I suspect Murray and James would still have been commentating in case anything happened when they were off air which could be used in the highlights broadcast, but it would be a bit like they did in the ITV years when they cut to an ad break. Probably wouldn't make for great viewing and there may not be any copy of the discarded footage anyway.

[William Hunt]

I'll take those '84 & '85 F1 grids any day over the current one...more cars, nice liveries, unpredictability and some really epic drivers