Wheel Men...Drivers of the Lotus 49

[Lou Drozdowski]

I love it when a story comes together...

This past weekend Bob Dance visited our local Lotus Pals group here in Pennsylvania...I could not make the show. Fortunately, Glen...aka "Certified Lotus" had made a video available for our viewing pleasure. I mention this because Bob recalls the conversation of Mario and Colin at Watkins Glen in 1968..."When do you want me to put it on pole"

And, like a cat amongst the pigeons, Mario delivered for the team. 

[Bainford]

The second photo is classic Mario. Thanks for posting.

[BDA]

I recently received a request for guestions for an upcoming Lotus Ltd. interview with Mario. I couldn't think any questions but if anybody has any good questions, contact Lotus Ltd. or post them here and I'll submit them for consideration.

[4129R]

Question for Mario Andretti:-

"Does he think the current F1 regulations and the F1 governing body prevent innovations, such as the blown rear diffuser, by banning any innovations quite quickly,  if any team starts to gain an advantage by using that innovation".

[BDA]

I'll submit this question but I would guess the subject matter of the interview will center on Andretti's experience with Lotus.

[4129R]

Lotus aka Colin Chapman, were/was the innovator supreme.

Would his innovations have been banned today?

Have the new rules/hierarchy prevented innovation like CC managed in his time?

The Lotus 72 was quite different (the JPS car), and therefore very successful.

Do the new rules/heirarchy choke innovation?

Would CC have been as successful if the restrictions had been so great?

Do the current  rules/heirarchy prevent any major thinking outside the box?

CC thrived on outside the box innovation.

I think you get the idea.

[BDA]

Got it! I'll pass them on.


Anybody else have questions?

[Lou Drozdowski]

BDA...Although Mario's exposure was limited in the 49, I would like to ask him about the time with Colin during the development of the Lotus 78 and 79 chassis. I recall reading or hearing about Colin's complete control of even the smallest changes made to the car without his awareness.

Case in point...I believe it was when Mario asked to have some extra fuel added before the start of a race, the mechanics responded and dumped a few more gallons into the car. Colin went bananas...and had the fuel removed, only to have Mario loose the lead  that day...running out of gas on the last few laps.

What if?...Mario had any gripes about Colin's management style...what would he like to see different.

[BDA]

I'll add that, Lou. I also think I remember that Mario demanded expanded safety tesy like (extra?) strength testing of suspension components. I guess there's a question in there too.

[Lou Drozdowski]

Can you imagine a modern F1 car of today, rolling out of the workshop and racing the next day!!!

Well that's exactly what took place on July 14th 1967. One day before the British GP, chassis R3 was finally completed and trusted to the hands Graham Hill. Still going strong at fifty years old.   

[4129R]

The problem with the modern F1 rules is that the engines are far too complicated for 4 different engine manufacturers to come up with engines producing the same power and reliability so there is decent competition between several teams.

[Bainford]

I guess that's what some people call progress. I prefer cars that do not require a bank of satellite computers just to start and run (actually, I prefer cars that make no use of computers whatsoever).

[Lou Drozdowski]

As any software geek will tell you...be sure to back up your files.

 So, like a good little soldier every once in a while I run a copy to support my stuff and picture library. Well, as is the case while performing some usual laptop cleanup earlier this week...#*%#@^?...crash!

Got it going again but, everything down the tubes, besides...it was as if the machine was a virgin!
 No recovery, no prior restore dates, all web info gone, links the whole shooting match.

 OK...I spent the better part of the last two days reconstructing everything from browsers, sites and passwords, printers and devices, last item on the agenda was to re load my old photo files. So I go to collect the disc rack and find it has some how grown legs and was moved to a spot where it had been solar irradiated!

Needless to say, It will take me some time to bring back the lost treasures, so be patient.
Thankfully, I have this site and the other threads to start once again.   

[BDA]

Boy, that's bad luck! Good luck with restoring your collection and thanks for the nice Clark/49 picture!

[Certified Lotus]

Lou, sorry to hear about your system crash and total loss of data. I have gone through this twice in my lifetime and finally got smart to install automatic and full sytem back ups my my computers. Let me know if you want a strong recommendation.