gp weekend

[Dave Eaton]

with all the talk of vw using skoda to enter f1, i have just returned from
the aussie gp. the highlight of which, apart from meeting jackie stewart,
and rubbing shoulders with michael schumacher, eddie jordan, jean todt, jack
brabham and stirling moss (all in the immediate tables around where we were
in the gp ball), was the chance to tour the jaguar pit while they were
preparing for the race sunday.

the guys were stripping the radiators off one engine in the engine area of
the pits, and it was interesting to see how small and well packaged the
engine was.  the guy pulling the exhaust manifold off the cosworth was using
1/4 drive tools, apparently all the fasteners require no more than 1/4
sockets.  the radiators themselves were surprisingly big, and obviously
mounted at a very oblique angle to the air-flow.

had a good look at pedro's car, the diffuser is a complex device, gearbox
very small, electronics everywhere, and little concession to access for the
front suspension.  the aero work around the front suspension was simply
breathtaking in the quality of the carbon fittings.  brakes small, as you'd
expect, funny seeing only 28mm or close on the front discs, with a diameter
suitable for a 13" wheel.

the other impression was of electronics.  these were everywhere.  of the
total pits area, at least 60% would be devoted to electronics, with banks of
monitors (at this point looking at traces from the mornings warm-up), and
then other sections, more screened off, where guys were pouring over laptops
and looking at race-day strategies.

the few examples of mechanical fabrications which i saw were not of
aero-space grade, they looked better than that, beautifully built.

the guys in the pits were very nervous of cameras, and insisted that my
photos were from the front of the pits, looking in (slightly ironic given
the fact that i'm not sure the rest of the paddock is desperate to learn
jaguar's secrets).  nevertheless, the guys were very tolerant of strangers,
and happy to accommodate the "kid-in-a-candy-store" kiwi.  a real highlight,
and pleasing to see eddie get a 4th, with not an oil puddle in sight....

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q