
The perfect race car crosses the finish line in first place and then falls to pieces
#1
Posted 23 November 2003 - 12:52
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#2
Posted 23 November 2003 - 18:10
I was curious, so I did some checking... and I found this reference:
"Famous Quotes From F1"
... in '59 I ran out of brakes four times -- and I don't mean they didn't work very well, I mean I had none. Like the main oil line had sheared. You know, so that oil, you know, when you put your foot on the floor, the oil just went squirting out into the atmosphere. I'd always believed that Colin was close to genius in his design ability and everything, if he could just get over this failing of his of making things too bloody light. I mean, Colin's idea of a Grand Prix car was it should win the race and, as it crossed the finishing line, it should collapse in a heap of bits. If it didn't do that, it was built too strongly.
-Innes Ireland
#3
Posted 23 November 2003 - 18:36
Originally posted by rdrcr
Like the main oil line had sheared.
-Innes Ireland [/B]
"like"?????
I thought Innes spoke much more elegantly...that sounds like a modern British teenager.
#4
Posted 23 November 2003 - 20:24
#5
Posted 23 November 2003 - 21:30
(The full page can be found at http://www.formula1....nfo/11/467.html)The engine and transmission of a modern Formula One car are some of the most highly stressed pieces of machinery on the planet, and the competition to have the most power on the grid is still intense. The development of racing engines has always held to the dictum of the great automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche that "the perfect race car crosses the finish line in first place and then falls to pieces. " Designing such engines is always a balancing act between the power that can be extracted and the need for enough durability to get to the chequered flag.
I'd just trusted the source and I can see that Innes Ireland states it was a Chapman ditto. Perhaps Colin was quoting Ferdinand, perhaps he was the author himself, I'll try to get more info. I've googled a little with no success.
Anyway, this quote fits my thoughts regarding 'racing' like a hand made tailored suit...

Thanks for that; I have neither the knowledge nor the background you do have here at TNF, but I'll ask for my TNF badge after that, it made me very proud!Originally posted by Roger Clark
The TNF member Panzani ...
#6
Posted 23 November 2003 - 21:43
Originally posted by David Beard
"like"?????
I thought Innes spoke much more elegantly...that sounds like a modern British teenager.
Quite so David.
In fact - and I may be wrong here - Innes Ireland always sounded rather like Roy Salvadori to me.
Bring back those elegant tones I say - Neville Hay at Goodwood is a beacon in this regard!
PdeRL
#7
Posted 24 November 2003 - 02:06
From Road & Track, 1973, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche;
While touring Harrah's immense 1400-car auto collection in Reno, his guide apologized for the complete absence of Porsches. "I understand," the doctor replied, "My cars were built to be driven and they're still on the road."

#8
Posted 24 November 2003 - 02:29
Originally posted by David Beard
"like"?????
I thought Innes spoke much more elegantly...that sounds like a modern British teenager.
Yeah, good point there...

I've contacted the source where I linked that finding and perhaps we'll see some sort of response as to his source. I could have sworn I've read that from quote from Ireland before, but in my brief searching could find no other reference.
#9
Posted 24 November 2003 - 06:43
#10
Posted 24 November 2003 - 07:49
Originally posted by rdrcr
Yeah, good point there...![]()
I've contacted the source where I linked that finding and perhaps we'll see some sort of response as to his source. I could have sworn I've read that from quote from Ireland before, but in my brief searching could find no other reference.
I have an interview on tape of Innes on that occasion and you have reported him virtually word perfect - he was a bit agitated remembering how Chapman's car put him close to death on many occasions , so his phrasing was a bit uncharacteritic - but you are quite correct.
#11
Posted 24 November 2003 - 12:46
Hoo-yeahOriginally posted by RTH
I have an interview on tape of Innes on that occasion and you have reported him virtually word perfect - he was a bit agitated remembering how Chapman's car put him close to death on many occasions , so his phrasing was a bit uncharacteritic - but you are quite correct.


Thanks for the confirmation on that Richard....
#12
Posted 24 November 2003 - 13:01
Originally posted by David Beard
"like"?????
I thought Innes spoke much more elegantly...that sounds like a modern British teenager.
It's much more widespread than that! I saw an Open University programme on TV a couple of years ago


#13
Posted 24 November 2003 - 13:11
#14
Posted 24 November 2003 - 13:13
How often do you see them slow dramatically as they approach the finish line and swerve across towards the pit counter?
Presumably mechanical failure prevents them from maintaining full pace until they cross the finish line.

#15
Posted 24 November 2003 - 13:53
Perhaps he was just following Porsches' principle, perhaps it was his principle, but anyway I'll leave my signature without the ownership for a while...
#16
Posted 24 November 2003 - 15:26
Sorry, I don't have the time to go and check the details right now. I think it's probably been discussed on TNF in the past. A search might turn it up.
#17
Posted 24 November 2003 - 23:21

#18
Posted 26 November 2003 - 16:22
Thank you for your email. According to our sources, Porsche is correct.
No doubt many people, including quite possibly Chapman, have used the quote
since, as it is such an excellent quote.
formula1.com
Even though they confirm Porsche as the author they do not share their sources...
I'll try to dig a litte more on this.
#19
Posted 26 November 2003 - 17:13
Originally posted by dolomite
At the 1967 USGP Jim Clark's Lotus 49 had a rear suspension link break on the last lap and he crossed the line to win with that wheel almost falling off. One of the newspaper reports the next day is supposed to have included a photo of this, captioned 'The ultimate race car - it breaks at the finish line!'
A picture of the event is on Doug Nye's "Theme Lotus" (probably the best motor racing book I ever read)
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#20
Posted 26 November 2003 - 18:29

Here we have the following paragraph:
The unwritten Formula One asserted itself above all else at the beginning of the post-war Grand Prix era, and was formulated as follows with regard to racing car construction by the genius german constructor Ferdinand Porsche: "The perfect racing car crosses the finish line first and subsequently falls into its component parts. " The philosophical background to this surprising piece of wisdom is that if the car is still functional after having done its work, then the constructor was guilty of using over-dimensioned components...
I've found also this link.
Now we have three sources [AtlasF1, F1Live.com and formula1.com] stating the quote pertains to Ferdinand Porsche.
My signature was just updated.

#21
Posted 26 November 2003 - 18:38