So I was reading an article on Niki Lauda's early career and I was struck by caption that said he reset the Formula Vee record to under 10 minutes. This was on the old 14.17 mile circuit that included the stadium section.
The average speed to do that means a 9 minute 6 second lap for the current 12.9 circuit. Considering Lauda did this in 1969 in a 55-60hp car, yes FVs are only 1000lbs with driver but the tires of the day are nowhere as grippy as today's
Needless to say I was mightily impressed. The other driver who managed sub 10 minutes was a guy named Helmut Marko.
Adjust the brakes loose, then never use them.
One time at Roebling Road. I'm in an older FC car. Hitting about 140 before Turn 1. Barely averaging 100 mph per lap. A guy shows up in a Pennsyvania hillclimb car (like an A-mod) with more wings than a 747. His top speed is like 105 (so much aero drag). He goes out and averages around 103 per lap, with me gapping him on the straights.
We talk later, he says he just stands on it and never touches the brakes. It was insane how he went thru T4 and T5.
True enough but back then the cars had a top speed of maybe 110 mph and he was averaging 85 mph. The other fun fact from the article is 3 weeks later he was driving a Porsche 910, talk about polar opposites.
In all my years of working with pro racers... there are some that are pure talent. Some of the best never make the big time because their Daddies just were not rich enough.
I'm pretty sure Niki was one of those with the pure talent.
I was hoping for video.... If only Lauda had a go pro on his helmet.
Purple Frog said:
In all my years of working with pro racers... there are some that are pure talent. Some of the best never make the big time because their Daddies just were not rich enough.
I'm pretty sure Niki was one of those with the pure talent.
Back when I was racing at Waterford in the late 90s, the rumor was that Jimmy Vasser tested there once when he was an up-and-comer in Formula Fords and took something like 3 seconds off the lap record.
Pro drivers are like another species.
I started following F1 via Road & Track and I think it was the second race report I ever read was Lauda's infamous accident. I was floored that the guy was back in a car weeks later.
What impressed me about the 85 mph lap average, is having driven a few Vees over the years I know how mind blowing that kind of lap really is.
As for Pros yeah I get it; I once came back in from practice, looked at the time sheets to see that I was .5" seconds under the Showroom Stock C lap record while at the same time noticing that a young guy named Alex Gurney was .5 faster than me. He'd never been to the track before. Fortunately I'd already had the experience of having Scott Russel come past me on his factory Superbike and briefly following him through Willow Springs turns 4 & 5.
@anthonyGS I'd love to see some on board as well as it would be damn impressive.
Anthony how about this
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8BndqNQ3GGI
It's the south course, which was allegedly more dangerous but it gives you a feel for what it must have been like.
was that lap in the 1200cc FV or the 1600 Super Vee ?
Wiki says Super Vee started in 1970 but it might have been a prototype in 1969 .......
The lap was in a 1200cc Formula Vee.
Ages upon ages ago I drive an air cooled Formula Super Vee; I think they were something like 130hp, in comparison to a Formula Vee it felt like a rocket!!!
I have posted this before,. but I'm going to post it again, because wringing the most of out of very little is interesting to watch.
Under 10 BTG in a 52hp E36 M3box. I do not use the term "E36 M3box" lightly as some people do.
No, it's not 9 minutes, and it's BTG and not a full lap, but it's also an amateur (with a lot of practice!) in a car with maybe 3x the frontal area.
