Motorsports Trivia Thread!

[ClydeYellow]

Was it one of the McLarens?

Correct, but I'd like to know the specific model.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Your mother was classmates with that Denise McCluggage?

Correct! They were together at Mills.

As a McLuggage aside, pic related:

 

[Dotini]

As a McLuggage aside, pic related:

View attachment 601710

Denise McCluggage: 1927-2015

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[ClydeYellow]

As a McLuggage aside, pic related:

View attachment 601710

Har har.

(I originally mispelled it that way; luckily I caught that blunder before pressing the "Post Reply" button...)

 

[dingodile_r89]

Correct, but I'd like to know the specific model.

Was it the McLaren M23 that Fittipaldi won the championship in?

 

[ClydeYellow]

Was it the McLaren M23 that Fittipaldi won the championship in?

Nope. It's a much older car.

 

[Liquid]

A Yardley McLaren. But I don't know what the connection to Concorde is.

 

[dingodile_r89]

Nope. It's a much older car.

M19A? Or M7A?

 

[ClydeYellow]

A Yardley McLaren. But I don't know what the connection to Concorde is.

Nope. The Yardley sponsorship appeared well into the era of sponsored cars, after the Golden Leaf Lotus cars. I'll give you a hint, tho: it was a much subtler deal...

M19A? Or M7A?

Both guesses are wrong... Letter and number wise.

 

[Dotini]

Hm.

This car was the first to race in F1 painted in colors decided by a sponsor external to the team which fielded it, and it was related to the Concorde supersonic airliner. Which car is it?

M2B. Raced in "Yamura" colors, white with green stripe, as dictated by movie "Grand Prix". Related to Concorde by virtue of designer Robin Herd being recruited from the Concorde project with its technology and knowledge.

 

[dingodile_r89]

Aw man, I had a nice question lined up and everything

 

[ClydeYellow]

M2B. Raced in "Yamura" colors, white with green stripe, as dictated by movie "Grand Prix". Related to Concorde by virtue of designer Robin Herd being recruited from the Concorde project with its technology and knowledge.

Correct. The M2B was originally supposed to race with a silver-on-green livery designed by the British illustrator Michael Turner; however, McLaren was running short of money and struck a deal with the makers of Grand Prix which'd see the M2B play the role of the fictional Yamura car on racing footage (the car used in paddock scenes was, IIRC, a BRM).
Robin Herd had worked for the Royal Aircraft Establishment on the Concorde project for four years, rising to the rank of Senior Scientific Officer, before moving to McLaren in 1965, where he'd be extremely influential in the development of the M2A development car and M2B GP racer (which used Mallite, an aeronautic alluminum alloy). He'd eventually go on to become one of the founders of March in 1969.

Back to you, Dotini!

 

[Dotini]

The winner of my trivia question will adequately address the advent and development of one and two cylinder Grand Prix cars beginning in 1950. A discussion of notable constructors, engines, displacements, drivers and races will be required. Reference to non-championship GP's is mandatory.

Edit: I will set the pace with entries on a projected list of at least ten. In fact, I find no fewer than 27 instances.

1) 1950, Harry Schell, Cooper T12, J.A.P. V2, 1100cc, GP de Monaco
--------------
8) 1953, Mike Christie, Kieft, J.A.P. V2, 1100, Lavant Cup Goodwood
9) 1953, Donald Bennet, Cooper T18, Vincent V2, 998 cc, Coronation Trophy Crystal Palace
---------------
20) 1953, Stirling Moss, Cooper T12, J.A.P. V2, 1100, Joe Frye Memorial, Castle Combe (Moss rolled, broke his shoulder)
22) 1954, Bernardo Taraschi, Giaur, Giannini*/Fiat I2 DOHC, 750 cc s/c, GP de Roma (*Moto Guzzi engine designer)
25) 1954, Les Leston, Cooper T26, J.A.P. V2, 1100 cc Crystal Palace Trophy
26) 1955, Claude Storez, Deutsch-Bonnet, Panhard I1, 750 s/c, GP de Pau
27) 1955, Paul Armagnac, Deutsch-Bonnet, Panhard I1, 750 s/c, GP de Pau

Note: In 1954 Ferrari, acquiring lackluster results with their 4 in-line cars, developed a 2 in-line for use in 1955 on tight circuits such as Monaco. This engine, referred to as the 252/F1, or Tipo 116, measured 2493 cc and developed as much as 170 hp at about 5000 rpm,and was to be used in a new, much lighter chassis. The project was dropped, as Ferrari acquired the entire fleet of D50 V-8's developed by Lancia.

2nd Edit
Give me two more entries and I will declare the new winner.

 

[ClydeYellow]

Hm. The 1100 cc J.A.P. v-twin engine found its way in many F3 Cooper cars in the early years of F1, especially in the 1952-1954 period, when FIA decided to run all races of the World Championship to F2 regulations, thus making those F3-cars-on-steroids effective (if not competitive) in non-championship races in the UK, where Ferrari didn't partecipate officially. Then there's Deutsch-Bonnet which used Panhard engines in their DB750, which raced in the 2500cc era.

As for the Lampredi-designed Tipo 116, I believe it was scrapped before Ferrari acquired Lancia's racing programme because of its awful tendency to disintegrate due to extreme vibrations.

I will leave the exercise of compiling a list of entrants of J.A.P.-Coopers to those who have a question at the ready.

P.S: what the Japanese hell, GTPlanet?

 

[Dotini]

Two more entries and we can move on. If not, I'll ask a more interesting and easier question.

 

[dingodile_r89]

 

[Jimlaad43]

MRW I have to write an essay as a Trivia answer

 

[Dotini]

Okay, I'll cancel my question and ask a new one.

What was the first appearance of a Lotus in an F1 race (any kind).

Please cite the driver, car, engine, race and circuit.

 

[ClydeYellow]

22) 1954, Bernardo Taraschi, Giaur, Giannini*/Fiat I2 DOHC, 750 cc s/c, GP de Roma (*Moto Guzzi engine designer)

Damn, I totally forgot about the Giaur! Uncompetitive as a F3 and even more uncompetitive as a F2, but you gotta give it credit... The 750cc engine was based on the two-cylinder found in the 500 "Topolino", I believe - most GP cars at the time used the inline-4 1100cc engine from the Fiat 1100. Taraschi's name was Berardo (without a "n"), anyways.
Taraschi also built a F2 car in 1948 - the Urania - which was powered by a supercharged 500cc BMW boxer engine... But I don't think that ever raced in a GP race.

Wasn't the 1956 Vanwall car essentially a Lotus? If that's the case I'd say it was the 1956 non-championship International Trophy at Silverstone (which it won).

 

[dingodile_r89]

Okay, I'll cancel my question and ask a new one.

What was the first appearance of a Lotus in an F1 race (any kind).

Er... 1953 Mk6?

 

[Dotini]

Er... 1953 Mk6?

Please cite the driver, car, engine, race and circuit.

 

[dingodile_r89]

Please cite the driver, car, engine, race and circuit.

@ClydeYellow also provided an answer. I just remember the Mk6 having a Ford engine. No further details

 

[Dotini]

@ClydeYellow also provided an answer. I just remember the Mk6 having a Ford engine. No further details

I find both your answers to be incorrect.

 

[ClydeYellow]

@ClydeYellow also provided an answer. I just remember the Mk6 having a Ford engine. No further details

Which is wrong, because a Lotus raced in 1955... D'oh.

 

[dingodile_r89]

Lotus 12, Climax engine, Allison & Hill at Monaco?

 

[Dotini]

Lotus 12, Climax engine, Allison & Hill at Monaco?

Egads no! Much earlier than that.

 

[dingodile_r89]

Egads no! Much earlier than that.

Well, screw it. You're all not worthy of my question. Back to my whiskey, then.

 

[Dotini]

Well, screw it. You're all not worthy of my question. Back to my whiskey, then.

Oh don't be a quitter. I want to know your question. Hold onto it for just a little, okay?

 

[dingodile_r89]

It's a little obtuse, but I like it as a question.

E: enough off topic, I reckon. Don't want to clutter my favourite topic on here.

 

[ClydeYellow]

Three years earlier a Lotus 10 with a Bristol engine was entered by a Mike Anthony in the 3rd Daily Record Trophy at Charterhall, Scotland. However I am not sure this is the answer you are looking for, as that car...

...was a closed-wheels sportscar.

(The car did well in the first heat of the race, placing first, but retired from the finals with what are reported as gearbox problems)