71 replies to this topic

[Option1]

Oh man, Shaun's right McLaren have painted a giant target on themselves.

The helmets look like someone took a prop helmet from Star Wars and shoved a fart cushion over the top of it and then said (with a pronounced lisp and a very limp wrist), "There you go my darling boyth - aren't they just thuper?"

Like others, I'm wondering about the "cooling" tubes apparently running into the suits in the, um....ahhh.... bottom region. Possibly designed by the same boy-in-a-black-turtleneck that designed the helmet? Definitely designed for maximum enjoyment - if you're into that sort of thing of course. Mind you they may not be really for cooling, but possibly the Maclaren designers have been the first to breed a minature gerbil for maximum enjoyment for the man on the go.

Personally I think it's all so terribly terribly trendy. Translation = ghey

In the end I think what it boils down to is that Ron Dennis has now finally drifted off to lala land permanently and there he strongly believes every day is April Fools Day.

Neil

[Menace]

You guys are really pathetic. What the hell is wrong with making the crew feel more comfortable????

Some of the comments on this thread are unbeleivable, and clearly just Mclaren bashing!

[tinman]

Quote

Originally posted by Menace
You guys are really pathetic. What the hell is wrong with making the crew feel more comfortable????

Some of the comments on this thread are unbeleivable, and clearly just Mclaren bashing!

Yeah you're right there's nothing wrong with the intention but I think the solution is rather absurd. Maybe RD should have installed ac units in their pit garage instead. Anyway, the pitcrews are only out for barely a minute during pitstop sequences.

[Williams]

These suits are probably a very efficient way of generating publicity for McLaren's sponsor's. How many magazine articles, website speculations, and newpaper photos were generated, showing the backback with the big McLaren-West Mercedes logo on the back ?

More publicity=happy sponsors=more/longer sponsorship=more funds=faster car. Sometimes I think Ron Dennis is a mad genius.

[Woking]

I have asked this before but most of you guys hold a negative point of view. Yet I am still pondering it:

WILL DC/KR BE SOON WEARING THIS DURING A HOT RACE?

Losing 4% of your body water cause 40% down of your body performance. If Mclaren crew could wear this cool suit, why can't Mclaren drivers? IMO it's just a matter of time.

[Woking]

Quote

Originally posted by tinman



Yeah you're right there's nothing wrong with the intention but I think the solution is rather absurd. Maybe RD should have installed ac units in their pit garage instead. Anyway, the pitcrews are only out for barely a minute during pitstop sequences.

I do not agree with this. Pit crew should be ready for pitstop ANYTIME during a race as the car may come in any minute. Ever seen what a fuss was going on when a team of pit crew wasn't ready for an unexpected pitstop?

[Noctua]

I don't think the comfort of the crew has been deeply thought about.

How comfortable will it be when the crew is inside the box
and looking for a chair to sit on

The design department will now have to create special chairs.

It looks very futuristique and sophisticated but rather stupid as well.



Isn't this the same team that was the laughing stock in the paddock for their teamclothes
a few races earlier and the crewmembers revolted if they had to wear it

And now the "Fart Regulator"
How embarrashing to be a McL crew member

[confucius]

Quote

Originally posted by Woking
I have asked this before but most of you guys hold a negative point of view. Yet I am still pondering it:

WILL DC/KR BE SOON WEARING THIS DURING A HOT RACE?

Losing 4% of your body water cause 40% down of your body performance. If Mclaren crew could wear this cool suit, why can't Mclaren drivers? IMO it's just a matter of time.

There'd be no place to put the water reservoir. It would take up precious little space there is on the car.

[Dmitriy_Guller]

Oh, my, if that isn't a sign that the top of F1 is flooded with obscene amount of money, more money than they know what to do with, then I don't know what is. I have an idea for the next invention: have you ever noticed how much effort is required to exit an F1 car? You have to undo that steering wheel, and then you have to pick yourself up with your arms. Now, would YOU want to stress your driver's shoulder muscles during a GP weekend? Neither would I. My solution to this dillemma is to installed a robot in the pits that would undo and remove the steering wheel when the driver parks his car in the pits. You will also need to install a strap on the driver's suit, around a collar region. After the steering wheel is removed, the hydralic crane hooks on to that strap, lifts up the driver, moves him several feet away from the car, and gently lowers him onto the floor, on his legs. Think of all the physical exhertion you saved to your drivers.

[Option1]

Quote

Originally posted by Menace
You guys are really pathetic. What the hell is wrong with making the crew feel more comfortable????

Some of the comments on this thread are unbeleivable, and clearly just Mclaren bashing!

Oh come on, you honestly expect us to take pictures of men in silver suits wearing funny hats and having hoses disappearing up their butts seriously???? Next you'll be telling me there really are aliens at Rosewell, that the X Files was a documentary or that DC's head is naturally that shape.

Lighten up lad and invest in a sense of humour.

Neil
















Mind you McLaren are so awfully easy to bash.

[andy_bee]

this thread is a good read

although I am not involved with McLaren anymore, I think its a clever project and the heat the old 3 layer nomex uniforms were always a major problem,,,not a wet Silversone, but somewhere like Malaysia in heat and high humidity.

The units as mentioned in the press release were developed with the help of the ESA and Hugo Boss. There is a dedicated team, away from the race team that work on these projects, in another building and produced by non-F1 parts of the company and/or outside companies/partners etc etc so if doesnt have an effect on car design, build or running. Its also a 9 month long project and with the investment and attention to detail at McLaren I am sure that sitting down has been considered and resolved.


....if McLaren were short of money, then yeah, I'd agree that its a bit ironic, but their not, so I dont see it this way.

dont forget that loads of things McLaren has introduced in the pitlane has been copied by others....

[andy_bee]

as a side issue, its also recieving lots of publicity, mostly positive which is exactly what McLaren, West, Mobil and others are after.

They have also got around the West/Team issue that suits have (you normally have two suits, or replacment patches than can and in Williams case do fall off) so now you just replace the sticker on the backpack. This is normally a major pain in the a*** ( no pun intended) for all tobacco branded teams.

[confucius]

What did you use to do with McLaren, Andy? Apart from something to do with their old helmets.

[stuck-in-first-gear]

PR STUNT - nothing else...

[Menace]

Quote

Originally posted by andy_bee
this thread is a good read

although I am not involved with McLaren anymore, I think its a clever project and the heat the old 3 layer nomex uniforms were always a major problem,,,not a wet Silversone, but somewhere like Malaysia in heat and high humidity.

The units as mentioned in the press release were developed with the help of the ESA and Hugo Boss. There is a dedicated team, away from the race team that work on these projects, in another building and produced by non-F1 parts of the company and/or outside companies/partners etc etc so if doesnt have an effect on car design, build or running. Its also a 9 month long project and with the investment and attention to detail at McLaren I am sure that sitting down has been considered and resolved.


....if McLaren were short of money, then yeah, I'd agree that its a bit ironic, but their not, so I dont see it this way.

dont forget that loads of things McLaren has introduced in the pitlane has been copied by others....

[andy_bee]

mostly pit equipment,,, such as overhead modules, fuel, water, oil trollies, Lista tool cabinets, front wing covers, truck cab bodykits, bits on the motorhomes and trucks, various other bits used in the pits.

Also did some livery work, most of the F1 GTR's in 95 and 96

[Mrv]

Lets hope they don't leak like there multimillion dollar mobile home. It could be an embarrassing situation.

[Mrv]

I just think that Ron has to get back at building a good car and leave all these homes, suits etc out of the F1 picture. Mclaren are off track.

[palmas]

Next episode we will see Williams with all mechanics in a control room (environment controled), controling the robots that refuel and change tyres. Oh, there is a problem with the mechanism that is supposed to cleam DC helmets visor: the hidraulic piston stroke not enough!

[AyePirate]

Quote

Originally posted by AyePirate


oh, man. The rig looks like "Dr. Evil gets a colostomy"

That is so funny.

I saw "Austin Powers- The Spy Who Shagged Me" last night on TV.
It was hard not to think of the Mac pitcrew.

[RayBo]

The packs are parachutes. If they mess up the pit stop and Ron D boots them in the ass they can pull the rip cord and make a soft landing.
Worked as designed last Sunday
RayBo

[Enkei]

Anyone ever heard of them again? Racing-Line had a feature about them in the latest issue