Wheel Men...Drivers of the Lotus 49

[Lou Drozdowski]

Continuing with the wing evolution...yes, the very fragile looking 49b.
 Hill and Oliver with the high mounted foils and a rare shot of Jo Bonnier in Germany 1969 with the lower pylon version. ld 

[BDA]

Great shots (again)! Thanks Lou!

It's kind of odd seeing that oil cooler sticking out on a sleek race car! I noticed that they hadn't started running slicks yet. Do you remember when they did? It must have been soon after these pictures.

[Rosco5000]

Those are some great photos!  I love the old stuff.  Interesting looking at the tires and how they fitted on these old race cars.  They are stretched a lot almost like how the dub scene guys stretch their tires lately, lol. 

[Lou Drozdowski]

Had to add this one to the collection.
After reviewing this one closely, I realized that Monty Python was a part time track steward.

Tales from down under!   ld

[BDA]

ROTFLMAO! He certainly looks like the well dressed steward to me! 

[Lou Drozdowski]

Great shots (again)! Thanks Lou!

It's kind of odd seeing that oil cooler sticking out on a sleek race car! I noticed that they hadn't started running slicks yet. Do you remember when they did? It must have been soon after these pictures.

Oil coolers, yes...before and after the "wing ban" debacle...

The 49b has it's first semblance of a full engine cover with cooler duct and tail wing to tidy things up a bit. ld 

[BDA]

Back in the  day, a good car could be updated for the next year (or two or three or four or five).

It's always interesting to see how they morph over time!

[Lou Drozdowski]

Those are some great photos!  I love the old stuff.  Interesting looking at the tires and how they fitted on these old race cars.  They are stretched a lot almost like how the dub scene guys stretch their tires lately, lol. 

I will always try to post those rare and hard to find photos and yes...they are forever great to look at again! ld

[Lou Drozdowski]

I wonder if they gave this chap hazard duty pay...I would have done it for free...Atwood blasts by in Monte Carlo.

Interesting use of color and B/W for Graham. ld


ps...You may be curious about all the recent activity...undergoing chemo can get you wired, can't wait to get to post #250.   

[Lou Drozdowski]

Watkins Glen...The old pits were along the down hill (just after the now turn one right hander). A candid shot of Clark in the famous Kendall garage. I remember how easy it was to get so close to the teams and drivers. A chain link fence separated the individual stalls, with a passageway between each. Many a moment when you could actually overhear the conversations of all involved...ld

[BDA]

Completely different atmosphere now! From what I can tell, you'd be very lucky to get anywhere near an F1 driver now.

[Lou Drozdowski]

Today, he would have been 80...Happy Birthday to the "Flying Scott"...ld

[BDA]

80!!! He'll be forever young to me!

 

[Lou Drozdowski]

A few nice shots of Jochen Rindt in the 49b...

The first time he used a full face helmet at Spa in 1970...sales for the Bell Star took off!...everyone started using them.

The Germany 69 photo shows the single rear wing (later developed into the triple element version)

Winning at the Glen in 69...ld

[BDA]

I wonder what the little tab on the nose does that cranking the canards a little steeper wouldn't.

It's interesting that he seemed to have different color helmets in '69!