Motorsports Trivia Thread!

  • Thread starter Cap'n Jack
  • 7,183 comments
  • 336,965 views
Which driver was the first to lead the F1 World Championship after the first race, by finishing in second place...

and as a bonus which driver won the first race of the season but didn't top the world championship table after round 1.
 
Some brief history:

Although the first generally recognized Grand Prix was the French Grand Prix of 1906 at La Sarthe, the Formula One series is said to have originated with the European Grand Prix racing of the 1920s and 1930s. Formula One was a new formula agreed upon after World War II during 1946, with the first non-championship races being held that year. A number of Grand Prix racing organisations had laid out rules for a world championship before the war, but due to the suspension of racing during the conflict, the World Drivers' Championship was not formalised until 1947. The first world championship race was held at Silverstone in 1950.

Formula 2 was introduced in 1947 to enable drivers who could not get a seat in Formula 1 to compete internationally. In 1952-53 Formula 2 counted for the Drivers World Championship.

In 1954 a new Formula 1 was promulgated based on F2 cars enlarged to 2.5 liters. The previous F2 largely disappeared, but was reborn in 1957 for 1500cc production based engines.

In 1959 and 1960, almost (but not quite) all F1 races were thoroughly dominated by the 2.5 liter Coventry-Climax FPF. This engine was evolved (primarily with double cams and displacement increases) from the Coventry-Climax FW ("feather weight") portable fire pump engine of 1950. My father, a geologist, used one of these FW engines in the Texas oil patch of the fifties. The quickest sports-racing cars of the day, the Cooper Monaco and Lotus 19 Monte Carlo used the Climax FPF, and Jack Brabham used one to score highly at Indy in 1961. I watched Dan Gurney whip a field of V-8s with his 2.7 Lotus 19-Climax in 1962, and he still used this engine in his Eagle F1 as late as 1967.


Two trivia questions, one hard, one easy:

1) What was the first appearance of a Coventry-Climax engine during an F1 Grand Prix weekend?

2) What was the first appearance of a Coventry-Climax engine during an F1 race?
 
Dotini
Some brief history:

Although the first generally recognized Grand Prix was the French Grand Prix of 1906 at La Sarthe, the Formula One series is said to have originated with the European Grand Prix racing of the 1920s and 1930s. Formula One was a new formula agreed upon after World War II during 1946, with the first non-championship races being held that year. A number of Grand Prix racing organisations had laid out rules for a world championship before the war, but due to the suspension of racing during the conflict, the World Drivers' Championship was not formalised until 1947. The first world championship race was held at Silverstone in 1950.

Formula 2 was introduced in 1947 to enable drivers who could not get a seat in Formula 1 to compete internationally. In 1952-53 Formula 2 counted for the Drivers World Championship.

In 1954 a new Formula 1 was promulgated based on F2 cars enlarged to 2.5 liters. The previous F2 largely disappeared, but was reborn in 1957 for 1500cc production based engines.

In 1959 and 1960, almost (but not quite) all F1 races were thoroughly dominated by the 2.5 liter Coventry-Climax FPF. This engine was evolved (primarily with double cams and displacement increases) from the Coventry-Climax FW ("feather weight") portable fire pump engine of 1950. My father, a geologist, used one of these FW engines in the Texas oil patch of the fifties. The quickest sports-racing cars of the day, the Cooper Monaco and Lotus 19 Monte Carlo used the Climax FPF, and Jack Brabham used one to score highly at Indy in 1961. I watched Dan Gurney whip a field of V-8s with his 2.7 Lotus 19-Climax in 1962, and he still used this engine in his Eagle F1 as late as 1967.


Two trivia questions, one hard, one easy:

1) What was the first appearance of a Coventry-Climax engine during an F1 Grand Prix weekend?

2) What was the first appearance of a Coventry-Climax engine during an F1 race?
Click to expand...
Was that the short answer...nice summary!!!
 
Last edited:
two pix today.... Dotini will get the first... the second is rather obscure, But was critical in the development of a huge number of great drivers.
IMG_5108.JPG


WWWW both cars

IMG_5117.JPG

WWW
 
Dotini
Some brief history:

Although the first generally recognized Grand Prix was the French Grand Prix of 1906 at La Sarthe, the Formula One series is said to have originated with the European Grand Prix racing of the 1920s and 1930s. Formula One was a new formula agreed upon after World War II during 1946, with the first non-championship races being held that year. A number of Grand Prix racing organisations had laid out rules for a world championship before the war, but due to the suspension of racing during the conflict, the World Drivers' Championship was not formalised until 1947. The first world championship race was held at Silverstone in 1950.

Formula 2 was introduced in 1947 to enable drivers who could not get a seat in Formula 1 to compete internationally. In 1952-53 Formula 2 counted for the Drivers World Championship.

In 1954 a new Formula 1 was promulgated based on F2 cars enlarged to 2.5 liters. The previous F2 largely disappeared, but was reborn in 1957 for 1500cc production based engines.

In 1959 and 1960, almost (but not quite) all F1 races were thoroughly dominated by the 2.5 liter Coventry-Climax FPF. This engine was evolved (primarily with double cams and displacement increases) from the Coventry-Climax FW ("feather weight") portable fire pump engine of 1950. My father, a geologist, used one of these FW engines in the Texas oil patch of the fifties. The quickest sports-racing cars of the day, the Cooper Monaco and Lotus 19 Monte Carlo used the Climax FPF, and Jack Brabham used one to score highly at Indy in 1961. I watched Dan Gurney whip a field of V-8s with his 2.7 Lotus 19-Climax in 1962, and he still used this engine in his Eagle F1 as late as 1967.


Two trivia questions, one hard, one easy:

1) What was the first appearance of a Coventry-Climax engine during an F1 Grand Prix weekend?

2) What was the first appearance of a Coventry-Climax engine during an F1 race?
Click to expand...

I would hazard a guess that it's first appearance would have been on the back of a fire engine at the circuit. No idea on date or circuit though
 
Dotini
the second is rather obscure, But was critical in the development of a huge number of great drivers.
Click to expand...

Now i've noticed this bit of important text...

I'd say its probably the very first Formula Ford race in 1967 (Brands, naturally, since that's where it all started)
 
TheCracker
Now i've noticed this bit of important text...

I'd say its probably the very first Formula Ford race in 1967 (Brands, naturally, since that's where it all started)
Click to expand...
Formula Ford shook the racing world because it was CHEAP . I bought my first one from the Jim Russell School at Willow for 3k. A new car was around 6, just silghtly more than a 67 Shelby Mustang. They ran forever. Tires lasted a couple of seasons, and they raced in packs of over 30 at every SCCA race. They were the door opening for many race car driver wanna bees.
 
Fastest of the Fastest - Quick buzzer round - no peeking in books or asking Doctor Google!

  • 1 - Which Brazilian Driver has the most Fastest Laps for a Driver born in ... Brazil.
  • 2 - Which country has the most Fastest Laps - Italy or Austria
  • 3 - Which country has the most Fastest Laps - The United States of America or Argentina
  • 4 - Which country has the most Fastest Laps - South Africa or The United States of Mexico
  • 5 - Which driver born in North America has the most Fastest Laps

Nelson Piquet with 23
Italy 51 to 49
The Argentine with 37 to 36
Mexico with 6 to 5
Jacques Villeneuve with 9 (Mario Andretti was born in Europe)
 
Today would have been Seppi's 81st Birthday
IMG_5134.JPG


Note: this didn't get posted due to a finger problem but I thought that the image was too good to not post.
name the cars/models/years
 
Last edited:
Recently in some other threads has begun the beginning of a conversation over what was the first Formula 1 race. I had always thought (based on reading old books) and casually asserted, that it was the Swiss GP of 1947. But notables @TenEightyOne and @prisonermonkeys prefer Turin, 1946. I'm now in the midst of more research, and may need to modify my opinion!
 
The rules for Formula One, that is to say, the first and highest precedent formula of racing of the then-CSI governing body and hence the name, were certainly created and codified in 1946 but as to the evidence of a first race being run to these Formula One rules as opposed to Formula Voiturette I cannot offer anything certain.

Interestingly, I do know that going off the same logic above of this particular formula being the highest formula, the first formula, it was invariably known as Formula One, Formula A and Formula I in the embryonic years of the late 1940s.
 
Liquid
The rules for Formula One, that is to say, the first and highest precedent formula of racing of the then-CSI governing body and hence the name, were certainly created and codified in 1946 but as to the evidence of a first race being run to these Formula One rules as opposed to Formula Voiturette I cannot offer anything certain.

Interestingly, I do know that going off the same logic above of this particular formula being the highest formula, the first formula, it was invariably known as Formula One, Formula A and Formula I in the embryonic years of the late 1940s.
Click to expand...

You mention the CSI. But my information is that the AIACR (by usage the FIA), was the governing body for the formula rules. And that Formula A was indeed what was originally promulgated, and that Formula 1 or One was adopted later by common usage and consent.

With respect to the GP at Turin in '46, I have the question of why or how it was the first race to be run with all the cars corresponding to the voiturette formula and without any of the 3 liter supercharged cars on the grid, as had previous races in '46.

The easy answer is that Wimille and Sommer, usually dominating with their Alfa 308 and Maserati 8CL, were enticed into the fabulous Alfa Romeo factory team of 158s running for the first time at Turin. And so by happenstance or default, the field was suddenly all "F1" as it later would come to called instead of "voiturette", meaning cars of 1.5 liters supercharged or 4.5 liters normally aspirated.

But it easily could have been because the AIACR ruled that from Turin forward all races would be run to Formula 1, or Formula A, as it was at first. I would have to know of the official publication or announcement of the pertaining AIACR rules to be convinced that Turin '46 was an F1 race by rule rather than merely by happenstance of falling under rules officially promulgated for the following season, 1947.
 
Jimlaad43
Having just watched the edit, it wasn't actually broadcast.

After the chequered flag, Hulkenburg pulled off at the end of the pit wall and got out, leaving the car there. I helped push it back towards the pitlane.
Click to expand...
What's your official role at the track?

I'm a former Flag Marshall.
 
Jimlaad43
I was an incident marshal, so I had to clear any cars that stopped or debris off the track. I was on the start straight this year.
Click to expand...
Oh well done.

I remember being a Marshall as having the best seat outside of the driver's seat.
A boiling hot day or, heavy rain coming at you sideways can make you question your enthusiasm some days but, free entry, free lunch & access into most if not all areas is the other side of the coin.
 
So, you like trivia do you?

Well, even though it is the worst Formula One game of all time, Formula One 98 did have one redeeming feature; some interesting facts under the Driver Information sections on the driver select screen.

Mika Häkkinen
Career Highlights: Pole at Nürburgring on my birthday
Worst Career Moment: Imola 1994 and Adelaide 1995
Favourite Circuit: Monaco
Least Favourite Circuit: Montreal
Favourite Driver: I haven't got one
Dream Car: Ferraris and Mercedes
Personal Car: Mercedes V-Class and an SLK

David Coulthard
Career Highlights: Victory at Melbourne 1997
Worst Career Moment: Accident in the Opel Lotus at Spa in 1990
Favourite Circuit: Spa
Least Favourite Circuit: Budapest
Favourite Driver: Clark, Prost, Mansell and Senna
Dream Car: McLaren F1
Personal Car: Mercedes M-Class and an SLK

Michael Schumacher
Career Highlights: Victory in Spa 1992 and standing on the podium at Monza 1996
Worst Career Moment: Imola 1994
Favourite Circuit: Spa
Least Favourite Circuit: None
Favourite Driver: Ayrton Senna
Dream Car: It doesn't exist yet!
Personal Car: Ferrari 550 Maranello, Ferrari 355, Fiat transporter and a Mercedes SL

Eddie Irvine
Career Highlights: 1987 Formula Ford Festival win at Brands Hatch
Worst Career Moment: 1994 Brazilian Grand Prix
Favourite Circuit: Suzuka
Least Favourite Circuit: Silverstone
Favourite Driver: Senna
Dream Car: None
Personal Car: Ferrari 355

Jacques Villeneuve
Career Highlights: Jerez 1997
Worst Career Moment: Halifax - Formula Atlantic and Phoenix 1994 where my car broke in two
Favourite Circuit: Elkhart Lake
Least Favourite Circuit: Detroit
Favourite Driver: I don't have a hero
Dream Car: Dodge Viper
Personal Car: Renault Safrane

Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Career Highlights: Monza 1995 and Imola 1997
Worst Career Moment: 1989 Macau F3 race and the 1997 F1 season
Favourite Circuit: No perfect circuit
Least Favourite Circuit: Imola
Favourite Driver: Senna, Prost and Mansell
Dream Car: Mercedes 600
Personal Car: Renault Safrane

Giancarlo Fisichella
Career Highlights: 1997 Belgian Grand Prix
Worst Career Moment: Accident at Mugello in 1993
Favourite Circuit: Imola
Least Favourite Circuit: I don't have one
Favourite Driver: Ayrton Senna
Dream Car: Porsche RS Turbo
Personal Car: Renault Safrane

Alexander Wurz
Career Highlights: Le Mans 1996
Worst Career Moment: Austria 1992
Favourite Circuit: Spa, Laguna Seca and Nürburgring
Least Favourite Circuit: Circuits like Diepholz
Favourite Driver: No one
Dream Car: A car that runs without petrol
Personal Car: Renault Laguna estate

Damon Hill
Career Highlights: Silverstone 1994 and Suzuka 1996
Worst Career Moment: Imola 1994
Favourite Circuit: Brands Hatch and Macau
Least Favourite Circuit: Montreal
Favourite Driver: Alesi and Häkkinen
Dream Car: Porsche Turbo
Personal Car: Honda Shuttle

Ralf Schumacher
Career Highlights: Podium finish in Argentina 1997
Worst Career Moment: Spa and Monaco 1997
Favourite Circuit: All circuits, especially Monaco
Least Favourite Circuit: None
Favourite Driver: Nobody
Dream Car: Porsche Carrera RS Turbo
Personal Car: Honda Prelude

Johnny Herbert
Career Highlights: Silverstone 1995 and Le Mans 1991
Worst Career Moment: F3000 accident at Brands Hatch 1988
Favourite Circuit: Spa
Least Favourite Circuit: Hockenheim and Mount Fuji
Favourite Driver: Gilles Villeneuve
Dream Car: Aston Martin DB7
Personal Car: Ford Escort Cosworth and a Jeep Cherokee

Jean Alesi
Career Highlights: Phoenix 1990 and my scuffle with Senna
Worst Career Moment: Imola 1994
Favourite Circuit: Monza
Least Favourite Circuit: Budapest
Favourite Driver: Alain Prost
Dream Car: None
Personal Car: Mercedes M-Class and a Fiat 500

Olivier Panis
Career Highlights: Monaco 1996
Worst Career Moment: Imola 1994 and the accident at Montreal 1997
Favourite Circuit: Paul Ricard
Least Favourite Circuit: None
Favourite Driver: Prost and Senna
Dream Car: Lamborghini Diablo
Personal Car: Peugeot 406 coupe

Jarno Trulli
Career Highlights: Hockenheim 1997 and Austria where I led the race for over 30 laps
Worst Career Moment: Budapest 1997
Favourite Circuit: Hockenheim
Least Favourite Circuit: Monte Carlo
Favourite Driver: Niki Lauda
Dream Car: I don't have one
Personal Car: Peugeot 406 coupe

Rubens Barrichello
Career Highlights: Monaco 1997
Worst Career Moment: Imola 1994
Favourite Circuit: Interlagos
Least Favourite Circuit: None
Favourite Driver: Senna
Dream Car: Ferrari
Personal Car: Ford Explorer V8

Jos Verstappen
Career Highlights: Schumacher's team mate after only my 50th car race!
Worst Career Moment: n/a
Favourite Circuit: n/a
Least Favourite Circuit: n/a
Favourite Driver: n/a
Dream Car: n/a

Mika Salo
Career Highlights: First F1 race in Japan
Worst Career Moment: Can't think of any
Favourite Circuit: Suzuka
Least Favourite Circuit: Mount Fuji
Favourite Driver: James Hunt
Dream Car: A car with space that goes very fast
Personal Car: Volvo 760

Pedro Diniz
Career Highlights: Nürburgring and Spa 1997
Worst Career Moment: F3 1991
Favourite Circuit: Barcelona
Least Favourite Circuit: None
Favourite Driver: Ayrton Sena
Dream Car: Ferrari 550
Personal Car: Volvo 760

Tora Takagi
Career Highlights: I am not a person to store such memories
Worst Career Moment: All my retirements
Favourite Circuit: Suzuka
Least Favourite Circuit: Circuits where I have no hope of winning
Favourite Driver: I try not to dream of such things
Dream Car: Such a car does not exist
Personal Car: Honda Shuttle

Riccardo Rosset
Career Highlights: Kartin victory in Brazil and F3000 season 1995
Worst Career Moment: The farce with Lola in 1997
Favourite Circuit: Spa and Barcelona
Least Favourite Circuit: Budapest and Buenos Aires
Favourite Driver: Senna
Dream Car: Ferrari 355
Personal Car: Mercedes C36

Shinji Nakano
Career Highlights: 1997 British GP even though I had to retire
Worst Career Moment: Driving in F3 and F3000 at the same time in 1992
Favourite Circuit: Suzuka and Silverstone
Least Favourite Circuit: Imola
Favourite Driver: None
Dream Car: None
Personal Car: Ford Escort Cosworth

Esteban Tuero
Career Highlights: Monaco F3 1996
Worst Career Moment: None
Favourite Circuit: Monaco and Buenos Aires
Least Favourite Circuit: None
Favourite Driver: Fangio, Gonzalez, Senna, Prost and Mansell
Dream Car: A Ferrari
Personal Car: Honda Accord

Interesting things to note:

- Some drivers, those of the Williams, Arrows, McLaren, Jordan and Ferrari teams, seemingly get a car as a sweetener from the engine supplier; in Arrows' case, their TWR links to Volvo.

- Both Frentzen and Trulli hate the track they got their debut wins at

- Trulli loves old Hockenheim but Herbert hates it
 
Last edited:
Liquid
Interesting things to note:

- Some drivers, those of the Williams, Arrows, McLaren, Jordan and Ferrari teams, seemingly get a car as a sweetener from the engine supplier; in Arrows' case, their TWR links to Volvo.

- Both Frentzen and Trulli hate the track they got their debut wins at

- Trulli loves old Hockenheim but Herbert hates it
Click to expand...
And:

- Tora Takagi gives a great interview
 
I found the fact Schumacher, Salo, and Diniz all seem to have driven cars that don't exist slightly amusing.

Unless, of course, Volvo 670 is a typo and they actually meant 760, which would be more on the disappointing side in a 'we'll give you an 8-year-old company car' sort of way.
 
I have an interesting but easy to answer question. In 1980, Rod Osterlund hired a young promising rookie driver named Dale Earnhardt to drive his car that season. Usually Rod would only field one car but for the season opener at Riverside he fielded a second. He felt that Earnhardt needed some guidance at the twisting Riverside Road Course and hired a former winner at the track to guide him. Who was the second driver?
 
Legro
I found the fact Schumacher, Salo, and Diniz all seem to have driven cars that don't exist slightly amusing.

Unless, of course, Volvo 670 is a typo and they actually meant 760, which would be more on the disappointing side in a 'we'll give you an 8-year-old company car' sort of way.
Click to expand...

That hadn't occurred to me but it should have; I already had to correct the lazy programmers thinking Irvine won the FF in 1997 as opposed to 1987.
 
RazorSharkz
I have an interesting but easy to answer question. In 1980, Rod Osterlund hired a young promising rookie driver named Dale Earnhardt to drive his car that season. Usually Rod would only field one car but for the season opener at Riverside he fielded a second. He felt that Earnhardt needed some guidance at the twisting Riverside Road Course and hired a former winner at the track to guide him. Who was the second driver?
Click to expand...

Dan Gurney?
 

Similar threads

TobbeGTE
Holden Torana SS (A9X) 1978
Replies
4
Views
2K
TobbeGTE
TobbeGTE
Cristobal1234
Porsche 963 LMDh Porsche Penske Motorsports 2023
Replies
1
Views
3K
Cristobal1234
Cristobal1234
S
  • Locked
50th anniversary for Australia's famous Bathurst 1000
Replies
6
Views
7K
daan
daan
S
  • Locked
5oth Anniversary for Australia's famous Bathurst 1000
Replies
2
Views
7K
daan
daan
S
  • Locked
50th anniversary for Australia's famous Bathurst 1000
Replies
11
Views
7K
Mike Rotch
Mike Rotch

Latest Posts

Back