Want to get an idea of what it's like to drive a modern Formula One car?

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ElFenix

ElFenix

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Mar 20, 2000
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how does someone get started in racing, anyway? it's not like football or baseball where any first grader can just go sign up and any youth league around the country.
 
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swtethan

Diamond Member
Aug 5, 2005
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Originally posted by: ElFenix
how does someone get started in racing, anyway? it's not like football or baseball where any first grader can just go sign up and any youth league around the country.
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no, usually these drivers have been racing since they could walk.
 
overst33r

overst33r

Diamond Member
Oct 3, 2004
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I loved that episode. The prowess of those cars and the skill it takes to harness those machines is mind blowing to me. I mean Hammond has more experience/ability than most of us will ever achieve and he couldn't even go fast enough to keep the tires warm! Makes me really appreciate what those guys on the track do.
 
overst33r

overst33r

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Oct 3, 2004
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Originally posted by: ElFenix
how does someone get started in racing, anyway? it's not like football or baseball where any first grader can just go sign up and any youth league around the country.
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Well in most cases the parents are loaded...

What interests me is why motor sport is so popular in Brazil and why there are so many (good) drivers from there...
 
JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
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Originally posted by: ElFenix
how does someone get started in racing, anyway? it's not like football or baseball where any first grader can just go sign up and any youth league around the country.
Click to expand...

Karting is a good way to get started. You really have to start young though. Really, nobody goes into F1 later than their early 20s unless they have been racing for years and either come up through the junior series or from CART in the US. Lewis Hamilton started racing karts at age 8...he turns 23 on Monday.
 
JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
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Originally posted by: mariok2006
Originally posted by: ElFenix
how does someone get started in racing, anyway? it's not like football or baseball where any first grader can just go sign up and any youth league around the country.
Click to expand...

Well in most cases the parents are loaded...

What interests me is why motor sport is so popular in Brazil and why there are so many (good) drivers from there...
Click to expand...

Most are but not all. Anthony Hamilton (Lewis' Dad) sometimes worked 2 or 3 jobs at a time to support his son's racing career. Hell, I don't think there was a single race this season where I didn't see him wandering around down in the pit area or in the garages.
 
JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,544
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I love the comment from the Renault guy, "I've never let a complete novice go out in one of our cars before" after Hammond spins the Formula Renault car...a racing car with a 2.0l 4 cylinder engine making slightly less than 200hp. I also loved Hammond's comment, "now I know what proper brakes are, it's like hitting a wall" also in the Formula Renault car.
 
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fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
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That is frickin' amazing. Thanks for the vids - I had no idea!

"OH MY GOD OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!!!!!!" :D
 
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fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
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"It's absolutely the most glorious machine in the world."

"Wait until you get into 2nd."

:laugh:
 
J

Jahee

Platinum Member
Sep 21, 2006
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Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: ElFenix
how does someone get started in racing, anyway? it's not like football or baseball where any first grader can just go sign up and any youth league around the country.
Click to expand...

Karting is a good way to get started. You really have to start young though. Really, nobody goes into F1 later than their early 20s unless they have been racing for years and either come up through the junior series or from CART in the US. Lewis Hamilton started racing karts at age 8...he turns 23 on Monday.
Click to expand...

If you have $20 - 24k a year to spare.. My friend used to do karting when he was younger.. But the cost of the kart, mechanics, training, maintenance etc is just too much for people earning average money to afford.. Sponsors help towoards the cost but its a very expensive sport still.
 
J

Jahee

Platinum Member
Sep 21, 2006
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Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I love the comment from the Renault guy, "I've never let a complete novice go out in one of our cars before" after Hammond spins the Formula Renault car...a racing car with a 2.0l 4 cylinder engine making slightly less than 200hp. I also loved Hammond's comment, "now I know what proper brakes are, it's like hitting a wall" also in the Formula Renault car.
Click to expand...

They still reach 100 in about 5 seconds..
 
U

Umberger

Golden Member
Apr 13, 2005
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I can't even imagine what it must be like to drive those things. I am on the Formula SAE team (Virginia Tech) and our car is unlike anything I have driven in my life... I haven't driven anything particularly impressive, a C5 Z06 is probably the most powerful car I have driven, but still... driving the formula car on race compound tires is completely unlike anything else I have done.

It's amazing how much the car can beat you up if you fight it... my first few times out, I was pushing with my knees against the inside of the cockpit to keep myself stabilized in turns... I didn't realize how much energy that took until I got out of the car and almost fell over. I eventually learned that the harness is there to keep you in place, and you don't need to push and fight with the car. I know exactly what they mean about your neck getting tired, mine is usually sore for a few days after driving. Keep in mind that this is a joke when compared to F1. No aero on the car, and the best we ever see is about 1.4 G in a corner.

Link to pic. Forground is new 2008 car, back is 2007 car that competed last year.
 
JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,544
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Originally posted by: Umberger
I can't even imagine what it must be like to drive those things. I am on the Formula SAE team (Virginia Tech) and our car is unlike anything I have driven in my life... I haven't driven anything particularly impressive, a C5 Z06 is probably the most powerful car I have driven, but still... driving the formula car on race compound tires is completely unlike anything else I have done.

It's amazing how much the car can beat you up if you fight it... my first few times out, I was pushing with my knees against the inside of the cockpit to keep myself stabilized in turns... I didn't realize how much energy that took until I got out of the car and almost fell over. I eventually learned that the harness is there to keep you in place, and you don't need to push and fight with the car. I know exactly what they mean about your neck getting tired, mine is usually sore for a few days after driving. Keep in mind that this is a joke when compared to F1. No aero on the car, and the best we ever see is about 1.4 G in a corner.

Link to pic. Forground is new 2008 car, back is 2007 car that competed last year.
Click to expand...

Cool. Yeah, the most I've done is some karting and those things beat you up too.

An F1 car will pull almost 5 G in a corner and a good 4 G under braking. Hell, acceleration is only about 1.5 G...the real pounding your body takes in an F1 car is in the corners and under braking. You watch a driver approaching a corner and he hits the brakes and you can see his body compress in the cockpit. Imagine doing that over 60-70 laps, 10-15 times per lap.

I thought it was interesting how he commented on not going fast enough to get enough heat in the tires to generate grip. You have to go faster to get the aero and grip of the tires to work.
 
X

Xyclone

Lifer
Aug 24, 2004
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"Give him his due, he did go full throttle in an F1 car... for 0.2 seconds." :laugh:

Imagine WOT in an F1. :Q
 
JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,544
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Originally posted by: Xyclone
"Give him his due, he did go full throttle in an F1 car... for 0.2 seconds." :laugh:

Imagine WOT in an F1. :Q
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It's nothing compared to turning left or right or braking in an F1 car.
 
L

LordMorpheus

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2002
6,871
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Originally posted by: swtethan
Originally posted by: ElFenix
how does someone get started in racing, anyway? it's not like football or baseball where any first grader can just go sign up and any youth league around the country.
Click to expand...

no, usually these drivers have been racing since they could walk.
Click to expand...

yeah, but if you're interested get a small sports car (miata, old porsche, kit car, whatever) and start going to track days. Get some lessons and then you can enter races.

Build a caterham or a westfield in your garage, there are plenty of single-make races for these cars that aren't too expensive for joe average to get into and would be a ton of fun.
 
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imported_Truenofan

Golden Member
May 6, 2005
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Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I had no idea about the engine needing to be heated up to even run.
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its just like your normal car. you should never go and drive your car untill its warmed up. its not good for the engine otherwise.


btw. he sounds like he's having a real blast in that car.
 
F

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
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Originally posted by: Truenofan
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I had no idea about the engine needing to be heated up to even run.
Click to expand...

its just like your normal car. you should never go and drive your car untill its warmed up. its not good for the engine otherwise.


btw. he sounds like he's having a real blast in that car.
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You're slightly off. You shouldn't beat on your drivetrain until it is warmed up, especially with turbo's. You can start your car and drive off whenever you like.

I do still cringe when people crank the engine up, immediately throw it in gear and drive off. I mean like the engine is still revving from the initial fire-up and they've already got it in gear and roaring off. *shudder*
 
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