I Look Like Kevin Costner
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Well, well, well, time for our home race and for the golden jubilee of Silverstone as a grand prix venue. The British race shares the distinction with the Italian GP of being the longest continually run GP in the world. The first British GP’s were held pre war at Brooklands, but it was in 1948 that Silverstone held the first post war event at the former World War Two airfield in Northamptonshire. Luigi Villoresi won on the circuits set on the perimeter track and runways (the standard three runway layout giving the outlining basic shape). It was the 1950 race that saw the start of the F1 World Championship (won by the first world champion Farina). The curcuit used dispensed with the runways and then remained unchanged for 25 years!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOm2U6zjQGQ
By the end of the fifties Silverstone had competition as a venue from Aintree (yes the Grand National circuit alternated with Silverstone between 1955 and 1962) and from the mid sixties to the mid eightes, alternating with Brands Hatch. British winners at all the venues included Stirling Moss, Tony Brooks (sharing with Moss), Peter Collins, Jim Clark (bar 66, from 62 until his death in 68), Jackie Stewart (68 and 71), Hunt the Shunt, John Watson and Mansell’s first win in 86. As speeds grew the first chicane was put in at Woodcote corner after an massive accident in 1973 started by Jody Sckechter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C4WYqvlq40
The tracks open sweeping corners and long straights had always allow Silverstone to vie with Monza as the fastest track on the calender, and Keke Rosbergs 1985 qualifying lap of 160 MPH was the fastest speed that at GP car had lapped a curcuit until Montoya suppased it at Monza, 16 years later.
Silverstone won the right from Bernie to exclusivily hold the event in 1987 and it has been held there ever since. A proper chincane at the transfer bridge replaced the Woodcote, however 87 is remembered for the stunning pass Nige made over Nelson Piquet in the sister Williams Honda into Stowe during the penuatlimae lap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8nGaXoxaHI
Mansell was always strong there, being second in 88, 89 and retiring in 90 while having led after another beautiful pass of Senna's Mclaren MP4-5B in his Ferrari 642.
The track had major alterations in the winter of 90/91. The profile of Corpse corner from the main straight was changed as was Maggots , becoming the entrance to the Becketts Complex of sweeping curves exiting out of the Chapel corner and onto the Hanger Straight. Stowe corner was tightened and a new feature called Vale , replace the old striaght into Club corner. The straight from Club ran into the Abbey corner (coverted into a chincane in 94) and then down to a monster corner known as Bridge that led into the Priory / Brooklands / Luffield complex before rejoining the old circuit for Woodcote and the finishing line. Mansell and the Williams FW14 /14B combo’s were awesome in 91 and 92, winning with ease.
Prost took an easy win from Schumi in 93 , Hills leading FW15 having retired with engine failure while in the lead but Damon won the gold trophy (his father never had) , the following year after Schumachers black flag debacale. 1995 saw Johnny Herbert break his GP duck and the end of the decade was David Coultards turn with a double in 99 / 00 , including the ridiculously timed Easter GP mudbath and in the previous year, Schumi's worst accident in F1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2W4cP6QaNI&feature=related
The most wins is shared by Clark and Prost with 5, while the Silverstone record is the Frenchmans as all his wins occurred at the track. The most sucessful team record is jointly held by Ferrari and Mclaren with 13 wins each. The present lap record is held by Michael Schumacher of 1 minute18.739 seconds set in 2004 (having won the race 3 times in 98, 02 and the year of the lap record). Aryton Senna only won the race once! He is more famously known at Silverstone for parking his car at Club corner 3 years in a row and being picked up the first time by Mansell's Williams victory taxi! I saw (very happily) all Senna’s Club parking antics with my own eyes (as Club was my favourite spot!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8dfNvAvHTA
Well that’s the History, who is going to win this year’s 191.755 mile, 60 lap race??
Well, all the fast sweeping corners that are similar in characteristics to Magny-Cours should make the red cars overwhelming favourites. Kimi Räikkönen won easily from the Mclarens last year. Hamilton was on pole, but he made his first mistake of 2007 on his first pit stop. This mistake would not have made any difference as the Ferrari’s long wheel base balance and better use of the Bridgestone’s compared to the Mclarens won the day then, and all things being equal probably be the same this year. The podium should be the Ferraris and Hamilton. The midfield battle should be very tight again. Kubica was consistent in France but the BMW didn’t seem to like Magny very much. Will it have problems at Silverstone too? Can Nick H actually complete with his team mate? The Red Bulls seemed to lose race pace in France compared to qualifying but I would expect DC to do well in what is his 15th and possibly last British race. It will be a brave man that bets against Ferrari increasing their championship lead in both title battles!
Getting in and out of the circuit is a lot easier since the dualling of the A43 and the crowd limitations have reduced the ridiculous times it took to leave (In 91 it took me 5 Hours!)
Off TopicA good place to go before the race on a Saturday evening is the Old Towcestians beer tent (near the Club corner entrance). A great meeting place and open to fairly late. Watched the Brazil v Holland World cup game of 94 there. What an atmosphere. Most people were supporting the land of Senna for some reason! The circuit is also good for "chopper spotting" over the weekend!
Off TopicOh.. I forgot this fact. Some low flying jet aircraft propably will overfly the place on race Sunday. Can the part time experts that frequent PPRuNe, recognize what these are??
DT_Xtremez_31:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RH0xquuweI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOm2U6zjQGQ
By the end of the fifties Silverstone had competition as a venue from Aintree (yes the Grand National circuit alternated with Silverstone between 1955 and 1962) and from the mid sixties to the mid eightes, alternating with Brands Hatch. British winners at all the venues included Stirling Moss, Tony Brooks (sharing with Moss), Peter Collins, Jim Clark (bar 66, from 62 until his death in 68), Jackie Stewart (68 and 71), Hunt the Shunt, John Watson and Mansell’s first win in 86. As speeds grew the first chicane was put in at Woodcote corner after an massive accident in 1973 started by Jody Sckechter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C4WYqvlq40
The tracks open sweeping corners and long straights had always allow Silverstone to vie with Monza as the fastest track on the calender, and Keke Rosbergs 1985 qualifying lap of 160 MPH was the fastest speed that at GP car had lapped a curcuit until Montoya suppased it at Monza, 16 years later.
Silverstone won the right from Bernie to exclusivily hold the event in 1987 and it has been held there ever since. A proper chincane at the transfer bridge replaced the Woodcote, however 87 is remembered for the stunning pass Nige made over Nelson Piquet in the sister Williams Honda into Stowe during the penuatlimae lap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8nGaXoxaHI
Mansell was always strong there, being second in 88, 89 and retiring in 90 while having led after another beautiful pass of Senna's Mclaren MP4-5B in his Ferrari 642.
The track had major alterations in the winter of 90/91. The profile of Corpse corner from the main straight was changed as was Maggots , becoming the entrance to the Becketts Complex of sweeping curves exiting out of the Chapel corner and onto the Hanger Straight. Stowe corner was tightened and a new feature called Vale , replace the old striaght into Club corner. The straight from Club ran into the Abbey corner (coverted into a chincane in 94) and then down to a monster corner known as Bridge that led into the Priory / Brooklands / Luffield complex before rejoining the old circuit for Woodcote and the finishing line. Mansell and the Williams FW14 /14B combo’s were awesome in 91 and 92, winning with ease.
Prost took an easy win from Schumi in 93 , Hills leading FW15 having retired with engine failure while in the lead but Damon won the gold trophy (his father never had) , the following year after Schumachers black flag debacale. 1995 saw Johnny Herbert break his GP duck and the end of the decade was David Coultards turn with a double in 99 / 00 , including the ridiculously timed Easter GP mudbath and in the previous year, Schumi's worst accident in F1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2W4cP6QaNI&feature=related
The most wins is shared by Clark and Prost with 5, while the Silverstone record is the Frenchmans as all his wins occurred at the track. The most sucessful team record is jointly held by Ferrari and Mclaren with 13 wins each. The present lap record is held by Michael Schumacher of 1 minute18.739 seconds set in 2004 (having won the race 3 times in 98, 02 and the year of the lap record). Aryton Senna only won the race once! He is more famously known at Silverstone for parking his car at Club corner 3 years in a row and being picked up the first time by Mansell's Williams victory taxi! I saw (very happily) all Senna’s Club parking antics with my own eyes (as Club was my favourite spot!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8dfNvAvHTA
Well that’s the History, who is going to win this year’s 191.755 mile, 60 lap race??
Well, all the fast sweeping corners that are similar in characteristics to Magny-Cours should make the red cars overwhelming favourites. Kimi Räikkönen won easily from the Mclarens last year. Hamilton was on pole, but he made his first mistake of 2007 on his first pit stop. This mistake would not have made any difference as the Ferrari’s long wheel base balance and better use of the Bridgestone’s compared to the Mclarens won the day then, and all things being equal probably be the same this year. The podium should be the Ferraris and Hamilton. The midfield battle should be very tight again. Kubica was consistent in France but the BMW didn’t seem to like Magny very much. Will it have problems at Silverstone too? Can Nick H actually complete with his team mate? The Red Bulls seemed to lose race pace in France compared to qualifying but I would expect DC to do well in what is his 15th and possibly last British race. It will be a brave man that bets against Ferrari increasing their championship lead in both title battles!
Getting in and out of the circuit is a lot easier since the dualling of the A43 and the crowd limitations have reduced the ridiculous times it took to leave (In 91 it took me 5 Hours!)
Off TopicA good place to go before the race on a Saturday evening is the Old Towcestians beer tent (near the Club corner entrance). A great meeting place and open to fairly late. Watched the Brazil v Holland World cup game of 94 there. What an atmosphere. Most people were supporting the land of Senna for some reason! The circuit is also good for "chopper spotting" over the weekend!
Off TopicOh.. I forgot this fact. Some low flying jet aircraft propably will overfly the place on race Sunday. Can the part time experts that frequent PPRuNe, recognize what these are??
DT_Xtremez_31:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RH0xquuweI
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