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 A Short History of the Formula
1 Universe
Steve Sawicki 04/26/04
Our automotive columnist is a Formula 1
aficionado and thinks you should be too. Here's the first of three articles on the past, present and future of "the best in
the world of automotive racing" and how technology goes from the track to the street.
Links: Official F1 Website
/ Formula One Free /
Planet F1
Twenty teams, 18 races, 5 continents, 16 countries; formula one epitomizes
the best in the world of automobile racing. Over the next few articles I’ll take a look at the history of formula one. This article covers the origination of the sport, the next article will cover the modern era and the final article will cover the current status of the sport. Future articles will take looks at what the future possibly holds as well as the technology that has, will and might make it’s way into the vehicle that sits in your driveway.
How it all began
Grand prix racing is broken into two historic periods; the early years, which encompass the time period from the 1890’s through the 1940’s, and the modern era, which began in 1950. The first race using the Grand Prix name was the French Grand Prix in 1901 held at LeMans. The race was 700 miles long and the cars averaged 63 miles per hour. The race was won by Renault In the early years the cars were heavy, not very fast and very unreliable. For many years drivers had to take along their mechanics so the car could be repaired during the race wherever it broke down. Tracks were pretty much non-existent as races were held from city to city. Even when dedicated tracks came into existence the lengths were absurdly long, epitomized by the still existing Nurburgring in Germany, a 14+ mile long drive through the Arden forest. (You can still drive the Nurburgring today with whatever vehicle you happen to be sitting in for just a few Euros.) In 1908 pits were introduced; holes dug alongside the track where mechanics could stand and work on the cars without having to jack them up. In 1914 the Daimler-Benz Mercedes took the top three places at the French Grand Prix at Lyons competing on the 23+-mile circuit for twenty laps. This was the first race where drivers received signals from the pits. The 1933 Monaco Grand Prix was the first race where grid positions (starting formation) were decided through the use of qualifying. An Alfa Romeo won that race.
In 1934 Adolf Hitler, in efforts to further showcase German superiority, threw massive financial support behind the cars produced by Auto Union (now Audi) and Mercedes-Benz. These cars were powerful and introduced aerodynamics into Grand Prix car design
as well as running on exotic and secret brews of fuel. The rise and fall, of the German cars mirrored the rise and fall of the Third Reich and racing was halted across the world as resources were
diverted to support the massive requirements of both Axis and Allied war efforts.
During this time drivers raced wearing nothing more than street clothes and goggles and drove for the sheer joy of going fast. Needless to say, many drivers as well as spectators lost their lives as the cars went faster and faster on roads that became less and less suited to the speeds and forces exerted upon them.
The stage was set for a technological
revolution not only in engines and suspensions, but in safety, ergonomics,
and highway design as well.
Next time we look at the modern era. |
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