Classic Motorsport Photos

[Roo]

Spa-Francorchamps, pre-Eau Rouge:

Construction of Eau Rouge, 1939:

From Raidillon:

Possibly a pre-circuit shot of La Source, but I'm not certain:

And many more.

 

[Whodoyouthink]

Spa-Francorchamps, pre-Eau Rouge:

Construction of Eau Rouge, 1939:

From Raidillon:

Possibly a pre-circuit shot of La Source, but I'm not certain:

And many more.

I saw this recently too! I'm nowhere near enough of a Spa-nerd to recognize all the corners/sections of the track shown in the photos. It is amazing to try and visualize mostly trees and dirt roads existing before the circuit existed. To think of some of the construction done just to make space for the circuit, it makes for some interesting thoughts (I suppose this applies to nearly any circuit, as well as most structures in general).

 

[Liquid]

It makes me think about the farm that was already there and what they must have thought when a racetrack came and uprooted them.

 

[Dotini]

It makes me think about the farm that was already there and what they must have thought when a racetrack came and uprooted them.

Was Spa constructed as a race circuit? I thought it was all public roads.

 

[Liquid]

Was Spa constructed as a race circuit? I thought it was all public roads.

I'm not disputing that but at some point the farm-come-rural homestead at Eau Rouge was removed as the circuit evolved.

 

[Dotini]

I'm not disputing that but at some point the farm-come-rural homestead at Eau Rouge was removed as the circuit evolved.

There are surely many great B&W photos from the genesis era of Grand Prix racing, 1906-1913. I bet they would reveal some distinctly bucolic scenes. As the baseline purpose of GP racing back then was for manufacturers to show off the new-fangled automobile to the hicks in the sticks, likely many of the spectators crowded against the rickety wooden fences were the local farmers and their sons.

 

[TheCracker]

It makes me think about the farm that was already there and what they must have thought when a racetrack came and uprooted them.

If you're talking about the white/exposed black beamed building in that third photo 'Panarama de l'Eau Rouge', then it's still very much there. Think it's a hotel or restaurant now. Looks as if at least one of the other two buildings in the photo are still there too.

If you look on google maps you can still see that original loop of track/road from the pre eau rouge days.

 

[Liquid]

Classic Nürburgring Collection

 

[24HuresdeLoL]

Suzuka c.1960's

 

[Liquid]

No final chicane? God, the approach to that first corner must have been so fast and dangerous that it puts Thruxton's Church corner to shame.

 

[Pete05]

No final chicane? God, the approach to that first corner must have been so fast and dangerous that it puts Thruxton's Church corner to shame.

Love it. Would’ve sorted the men from the boys.

 

[ScottPuss20]

Suzuka c.1960's

Hasn't changed much!

 

[Cap'n Jack]

No final chicane? God, the approach to that first corner must have been so fast and dangerous that it puts Thruxton's Church corner to shame.

The kinked entry to the hairpin, following the then-high speed Degner curve would’ve been pretty insane too.

 

[TheCracker]

The kinked entry to the hairpin, following the then-high speed Degner curve would’ve been pretty insane too.

I wonder why they altered Degner the way they have. It's not like it really created any overtaking opportunities

 

[Pete05]

I wonder why they altered Degner the way they have. It's not like it really created any overtaking opportunities

My guess is a few cars may have run wide/off on the exit of Degner & been met with the footings of the overpass

 

[LeGeNd-1]

In a modern F1 car it would probably be flat from the exit of Spoon all the way to the first corner Just imagine that.

I wonder why old Suzuka has never been modded into games. It's not as stark as old vs current Fuji but you would thought people would've done it by now. Heck I don't think I've ever seen a Suzuka non-chicane version (even though the slip road is already there and all you need is just reprogram the barriers).

 

[Dotini]

John Hugenholtz designed the Suzuka circuit as a test track for Honda in about 1962, using his own imagination and natural road circuits to go by. Back then the state-of-the-art F1 car had little more than 175 hp, and probably never went much faster than 160 mph.

 

[RACECAR]

In a modern F1 car it would probably be flat from the exit of Spoon all the way to the first corner Just imagine that.

I wonder why old Suzuka has never been modded into games. It's not as stark as old vs current Fuji but you would thought people would've done it by now. Heck I don't think I've ever seen a Suzuka non-chicane version (even though the slip road is already there and all you need is just reprogram the barriers).

I think Old Suzuka is far more obscure so not as many people are aware, Granted Fuji's Alteration involving Tilke only served to highlight the difference as opposed to Suzuka pretty much having minor changes (seemingly the least changed of the many circuits still hosting F1).

 

[Liquid]

John Hugenholtz designed the Suzuka circuit as a test track for Honda in about 1962, using his own imagination and natural road circuits to go by. Back then the state-of-the-art F1 car had little more than 175 hp, and probably never went much faster than 160 mph.

And I'd still say that flying into turn one approaching 160 mph with no aero was bloody scary.

 

[Dotini]

And I'd still say that flying into turn one approaching 160 mph with no aero was bloody scary.

I believe Hugenholtz also designed the Zandvoort circuit, and was retained by Mr Honda because of his knowledge of many classic (and dangerous!) European circuits which the enthusiastic Honda wished to emulate. Back then, all racing cars bar some in the US ran without seat belts and rollover bars. Masten Gregory was celebrated for his ability to stand and leap from the scuttle of blazing racing cars in the last desperate instant before crashing. Stone bollards, ditches and barbed wire commonly bordered European circuits such as Spa. Mercifully, Hugenholtz dispensed with those anachronisms.

 

[Liquid]

Pininfarina Jaguar

A special Jaguar F1 painted by Pininfarina to reflect the airflow forces impacted upon a Formula car.

 

[24HuresdeLoL]

Start @ Estoril, 1995, with Coulthard's williams leading Damon Hill and Micheal Schumacher

 

[Liquid]

And a massive startline flip and roll for Ukyo Katayama shrouded by the dirt cloud behind.

 

[Liquid]

Roberto Ravaglia & Gerhard Berger, Zolder 1985

 

[24HuresdeLoL]

1980 Belgian Grand Prix Didier Pironi (Ligier JS11/15-Ford Cosworth)

 

[Liquid]

Keke Rosberg

 

[24HuresdeLoL]

René Arnoux, ELF Renault RE30B, 1982 Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort F1 Crash,

 

[SVX]

Nelson Piquet, Benetton B191, 1991 Canadian Grand Prix.

 

[24HuresdeLoL]

Andrea de Cesaris and Stefan Johansson (Österreichring 1987)

 

[Pete05]

Andrea de Cesaris and Stefan Johansson (Österreichring 1987)

Cop that Stefan.

In your face!