Motorsports Trivia Thread!

[Liquid]

No, I'm being straight. I'd never heard of a McLaren MP4/T5

 

[Roo]

No, I'm being straight. I'd never heard of a McLaren MP4/T5

For the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the early 00s. 2 soapbox racers at a time would race down the hill. In theory there was a £1000 limit, but some entrants got around that by using technology they had for free - like CAD design and windtunnels. The Soapbox races were banned after 2004 because they kept crashing, but they did demo runs last year.





The McLaren:

 

[TenEightyOne]

In theory there was a £1000 limit, but some entrants got around that by using technology they had for free - like CAD desgin and windtunnels.

It's how you explain it... the team members worked for pride and the CAD systems/wind tunnel were already there! Cost caps in F1 never ever work

@Justin's go, he was the Most Right

 

[Liquid]

Which was the only year where Ligier didn't have at least one French driver?

 

[Dotini]

Which was the only year where Ligier didn't have at least one French driver?

'93, Brundle and Blundell.

 

[Liquid]

Correct! Your turn.

 

[Dotini]

I am the first man to win 5 consecutive F1 races. Who am I?

I am the first man to win 6 consecutive races in the World Championship era. Who am I?

 

[Liquid]

Alberto Ascari.

 

[Dotini]

Alberto Ascari.

I asked two questions. Which one did you answer?

If you meant to answer them both, then you are "technically" incorrect.

 

[Liquid]

Ascari's famed run of nine actually ground to a halt after I think... seven, with the 1953 Indy 500. Hm, is this including non-championship races then?

 

[Dotini]

Ascari's famed run of nine actually ground to a halt after I think... seven, with the 1953 Indy 500. Hm, is this including non-championship races then?

Ascari's great successes came at a time when Formula One cars no longer contested the WDC. In '52 and '53, the WDC was for Formula Two cars. The Indy 500 cars of the 50's were very similar to the '50/'51 Formula 1 specifications.

So Ascari is correct for the first man to win 6 WDC races in a row in one season (1952). Not only was Ascari a great driver, but his greatest rival, Fangio, was out injured for most of that year, and Ascari's Ferrari 500 was one of the handiest GP cars ever.

So who is the first to win 5 consecutive proper F1 races in one season?

 

[Carbonox]

So who is the first to win 5 consecutive proper F1 races in one season?

Jack Brabham, 1960.

 

[Dotini]

Jack Brabham, 1960.

Correct!
His rear-engined 2.5 liter Cooper-Climax was more reliable and quicker than his front-engined opposition.

 

[Liquid]

Forgot about the F2 regulations. Whoops.

 

[daan]

The McLaren MP4-T5 was powered by what?

When did the F1 teams build soapbox racers?

Back in the day, they used to hold races across the rowing lake in Montreal by making makeshift boats out of the stuff that was lying around in the garage/paddock. I can't find any images online though.

Williams and Lotus had a go at bringing it back in 2010.

But the real highlight for many was the mechanics' rowing race that took place on Saturday evening – although only Williams and Lotus opted to lodge entries.

Williams obviously showed that experience counts for a lot in F1 when mechanic Mark Pattinson crafted a fine ship out of a front wing travel case. Skippered by his team-mates Matt Webb and Nick Matthews in the race, the craft proved much quicker than Lotus' machine – which developed a steering problem and seemed to spend more time going sideways than along the course.

The Williams duo even managed to avoid a sabotage attempt from the Lotus boys – who steered into them and jumped onboard to capsize them – before coming home in front and claiming the Grove-based team's first victory of the season.

 

[Liquid]

I remember the boat races from the late 90s at least. Always looked like good fun. Jordan were supposedly one of the best.

 

[Carbonox]

So, I would guess I'm up. (And for the first time in ages, it happened because I actually answered a question)

What's the last F1 season in which (all of) the World Champion's teammate(s) finished outside the top 10 in points?

 

[Liquid]

Schumacher in 1994; Verstappen, Lehto and Herbert.

 

[Carbonox]

Schumacher in 1994; Verstappen, Lehto and Herbert.

Not quite. Verstappen's 10 points were sufficient for a 10th place finish overall.

 

[Liquid]

Then I would say Emerson Fittipaldi in 1972. His teammates were given sub-standard cars and were nowhere near as effective. I don't think it's happened in between 1972-1994.

Edit: Rosberg in 1982. Reutermann retired after two races, Andretti had one race and Daly wasn't good enough for top 10.

 

[Carbonox]

Then I would say Emerson Fittipaldi in 1972. His teammates were given sub-standard cars and were nowhere near as effective. I don't think it's happened in between 1972-1994.

Edit: Rosberg in 1982. Reutermann retired after two races, Andretti had one race and Daly wasn't good enough for top 10.

That's a correct answer if I ever saw one.

 

[Liquid]

Since its inaugural season in 1958, how many different manufacturers have won the British Touring Car Drivers Championship?

That is, distinct marques and not parent groups such as British Leyland or General Motors.

 

[Roo]

Since its inaugural season in 1958, how many different manufacturers have won the British Touring Car Championship?

The driver's title, presumably? So for example this year would count BMW, not MG?

 

[Liquid]

The driver's title, presumably? So for example this year would count BMW, not MG?

Correct. I've edited the question.

 

[Liquid]

No-one willing to take a guess?

 

[Dotini]

No-one willing to take a guess?

I know nothing about it, but I'll guess 15.

 

[Liquid]

I know nothing about it, but I'll guess 12.

Not a bad start. But there's been more than that.

 

[Dotini]

Okay, I go 18.

 

[DK]

This is just a wild guess, I honestly haven't looked at Wikipedia or the BTCC website, so...13?

 

[Liquid]

Okay, I go 18.

I will give you that. I have it down as 17 not including Morris because John Love's 1962 title was in an 'Austin Mini' except one round where he drove a 'Morris Mini'.

Austin
[First: 1958, Last: 1979]

Ford
[First: 1959, Last: 2000]

Lotus
[First: 1964, Last: 1964]

Sunbeam
[First: 1970, Last: 1972]

Chevrolet
[First: 1972, Last: 1972]

Hillman
[First: 1974, Last: 1974]

Triumph
[First: 1975, Last: 1975]

Chrysler
[First: 1976, Last: 1977]

Mazda
[First: 1980, Last: 1981]

Toyota
[First: 1982, Last: 1987]

Alfa Romeo
[First: 1983, Last: 1994]

Rover
[First: 1984, Last: 1984]

BMW
[First: 1988, Last: 2014]

Vauxhall
[First: 1989, Last: 2008]

Renault
[First: 1997, Last: 1997]

Volvo
[First: 1998, Last: 1998]

Nissan
[First: 1999, Last: 1999]

Notes: 7 from the UK, 3 from the USA, 3 from Japan, 1 from Italy, 1 from Germany, 1 from France and 1 from Sweden.

Your turn, Dotini.