8 replies to this topic

[Lost Boys]

My first thread, so please be gentle with me!

I was watching Motors TV last night, about 11pm, when they do the F1 onboard programme. One of the tracks they featured was Monza (I forget the driver or the year) but as he headed down to the 2nd Lesmos corner I noticed a grandstand on the outside. In 2001 when I was there, the grandstand had definately gone.
Does anyone have a record or any pictures of this stand and any information as to when it was pulled down? it does also feature on the computer game Microprose Grand Prix (can't remember if it is the 1990 or the 1994 version.

Any info would be great.

[Andrew Kitson]

Not sure when it came down but they had to make room for more run-off as is the norm with modern F1.

[Twin Window]

Originally posted by Lost Boys

One of the tracks they featured was Monza (I forget the driver or the year)...

Jacques Laffite, Ligier Matra, 1978 perhaps?

[fausto]

If I remember well the Lesmo grandstand went down in summer 1994, before the Italian GP, to make room for the modified Lesmos, it was there for sure in the late 80s, I remember seeing different races from that point....

[MonzaDriver]

Yes Lost boy,
it was pulled down in the summer of 1994. To enlarge the run-off area.
Senna's death, and the fact that Berger doesn't like to wake up early, have a great part in this.
We all know that Senna's steering column broke, and they modify Monza's run-off and bends and layout ??? ???
Berger was the person in charge to indicate what and where modify.
I remember very well the footage of that unfortunate morning, he really looked half asleep,
and probably in a bad mood. And he was giving the indications of what to do.
That grandstand, was not only a grandstand, it was like to have a royal box, and look at a bend
that was an University of driving. Better than a royal box.
It was also a steep grandstand you looked at the cars from an elevated position.

What a pity that Berger like to stay in bed in the morning.
Maybe with someone not half asleep, Monza could retain his fascination.
MonzaDriver.

[Lost Boys]

Originally posted by Twin Window
Jacques Laffite, Ligier Matra, 1978 perhaps?

That could have been him. When was the Roggia chicane put in? that was definately on the track at the time of the video.

[LittleChris]

Roggia chicane was created in 1976, I think at the same time as the double chicane was put in on the start finish straight to replace the Monaco look alike one used from 1972 - 1975

[MonzaDriver]

[i]
That could have been him. When was the Roggia chicane put in? that was definately on the track at the time of the video. [/B]

Like Little Chris wrote here before, it was 1976.
The chicane after the start was named GoodYear becasue of a beautiful gigantic billboard
that dominated the scene. Fantastic.

I think everyone remember that beautiful and difficult chicane.
Well it was much more safer then the stupid ones is in place now.
They say it was Michael Schumacher's idea.
In this chicane if someone loose control of his car during the braking area, he will slide at very high
speed over the grass, until he will cross the path of another car some position ahead.
If this happen the shunt is terrible.
This braking point, this braking area, is at the end of one of the fastest straight of ever.

With the chicane like it was on the 1976, this kind of accident, was nearly impossible.
The persons who designed that chicane in1976 were much more " professional"
than Michael Schumacher.
MonzaDriver.

[Lost Boys]

That is a problem with the new chicane. There is a tendensy (sp?) for cars from the pit straight to be more tightly bunched together into the first corner. I don't know what it was, but the old chicane seemed to have more room to it, although it still wasn't good enough for Hakkinen!