The Lotus 49 was introduced in the 1967 for 3 liter Formula One with Jom Clark winning its first race (and his last). Colin Chapman wasn't happy with the heavy and unreliable BRM engine that year so he convinced Ford to produce an F1 engine and the very successful Ford Cosworth DFV was born. The lightened rear was causing high speed lift and after using a duck tail shaped body piece on the rear of the now Lotus 49B, he chucked that body piece for this high wing configuration. Graham Hill and Jochen Rindt had some spectacular wins and some spectacular crashes with the high wing 49B with it two spindly un-triangulated supports failing with down force instantly translating to lift. Chapman could only see the wins and wouldn't change the set up. This crash (Graham Chapman shown) also included Rindt in the pile up.
Here's Chapman checking on a bloodied Rindt in the same accident:
Rindt was furious with Chapman and in a long open letter gave his thoughts:
“1 Wings have nothing to do with a motor car. They are completely out of place and will never be used on a road-going production car. Please note, I mean wings and not spoilers, which are incorporated into the bodywork… after all F1 racing is meant to be a serious business and not a hot rod show.
2 Wings are dangerous, first to the driver, secondly to the spectators. When wings were first introduced to F1 racing at Spa last year they were tiny spoilers at the front and the back of the Ferraris and Brabhams [for whom Rindt was driving at the time.] They had very little effect except at high speed, when they were working as a sort of stabiliser. This was a very good effect and nobody thought any more about it until…”
Ironically, Rindt survived the 49B but died crashing a Lotus72 that was bereft of wings. Chapman's experimentation with wings went on through the 1970 season. Variants included adding a supplemental front mounted high wing and jury rigs driver controls for the pitch of the wing... they were all major safety hazards. Model by Exoto.
Another interesting post Rich. I can’t say enough about you continued fine output of great models displayed with eye catching photography accompanied with interesting history.
@rich-sufficool Well, that's all fine & dandy.... but I rarely, if ever, take/post a pic without thinking, "OK, so it's not as good as something Rich would post, but at least it's notblurry." Like I've said, I could bust out my "A-level-Sony stuff," but I'm way too lazy for all that.... I just use my phone.
The commitment you've shown by sharing, time & time again, year after year, outstanding pictorial layouts/posts, regardless the subject matter, is truly worthy of high praise and I thank you.
I will not be intimidated or be drawn into a pixel war by the likes of you!
HA!
So far, the ONLY time I've had to go into "combat" was when I submitted an article & pics for the magazine Diecast X. At the "behest" of my dear friend, Marlowe Johnson, I contacted the editor who then requested "A-level pics," as it's the only way to ensure a quality, professional look required for publication. When Marlowe submitted his pics, I'm sure he just used his "$5,000 iPhone." 😏 😏 😏 When I bought my cell phone, Verizon paid me! 😀 😀
