Lotus F1 "The tobacco years" type 72

[Bainford]

Bog???

I think I need to do some googling.

[BDA]

Here are some pictures, Trevor: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=watkins+glen+bog&atb=v78-3__&ia=images&iax=1

[Bainford]

Thanks much for the pics. I did some reading on this, too.  Crazy times!

[Lou Drozdowski]

Track limits...make a mistake and pay dearly...Dave Walker avoids the rock wall at Charade France,

Ronnie Peterson improvises a simple prehistoric device to keep his neck from fatigue.
   
 

[BDA]

With the recent instances and controversies about exceeding track limits, I thought the solution is to make it disadvantageous to exceed them rather than having to decide which instances of exceeding track limits warranted a penalty. That mountain is an EXTREME example!

Super Swede's head restraint leaves a lot to be desired!

Here's a video of the driver's meeting for this year's Mexico GP about track limits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpZ8q8l0HV4

[Certified Lotus]

I was at the Watkins Glen 1974 Grand Prix when they burned the bus at the bog . It was very wild when the bus arrived at the bog as there were hundreds of very very drunk people around the bog watching cars and motorcycles run through the bog (or get stuck) cheering wildly along with a couple of cars already burning.   Attached is a short write-up and photo (by me) of the bus the morning after.....

Somewhere I have many more photos including a number of passed out guys caked in mud next to the bog (the morning after).  It was a crazy night and totally out of control. The security force and police stayed away.  I think they were worried of what might happen in the night if they tried to stop what was going on (think about it, hundreds of guys who had been drinking all day long and now ramped up to party.  It was a scary sight).

[Lou Drozdowski]

Some shots of the Rob Walker entry 72...,
An extreme measure to reduce the rear wing influence, just remove the top sail...DRS!

[BDA]

Interesting! I wonder if those mods made it a better car... I'm guessing no.

[Lou Drozdowski]

One of the many distinctive features during the 70's era was the high air boxes...
Seems most every weekend, teams were trying to find that something a little extra, either on the power side or aero balance. As a fan of the original small anvil on the 72, this seldom seen periscope version as raced has started to grow on me.

[BDA]

I think I prefer the old 'anvil' style air box but I wonder if Ferrari didn't have the better solution where the air intake ducts were at the cockpit level and thus not disturb the air to the rear wing.

[Lou Drozdowski]

I think I prefer the old 'anvil' style air box but I wonder if Ferrari didn't have the better solution where the air intake ducts were at the cockpit level and thus not disturb the air to the rear wing.

It took a while (1977) for Chapman to finally incorporate Ferrari's cockpit sided intake design...

[BDA]

Wow, Lou! Very interesting! You really have quite a reservoir of interesting old pictures! On second thought, I guess the fact that those ducts weren't used for long is evidence they haven't been used more recently.

[Roger]

Airboxes taller than rollover bars were banned in 1976. Ferrari's flat 12 wasn't as suitable as the Ford DFV.
Later airboxes incorporate the rollover structure, modern F1 cars have them.

[BDA]

Good point, about Ferrari's flat 12 engine! I should have thought of that. That makes the Ferrari-type air ducting on the Lotus Lou posted even more interesting.

[Lou Drozdowski]

Happy Birthday !!! Ronnie Peterson 2/14/44...