F1 comes to bathurst

bert (Brett) · #1 22-03-2011, 06:40 PM

As many would have heard from the media, vodaphone put on a show at mount panorama bringing Craig Lowdnes in his V8 supercar and Jensen Button in a mclaren f1 car. Approximately 20,000 people turned up for the spectacle.

As a resident of bathurst I have seen a lot of cars go around this track, and you tend to get a feel about how fast the cars are going. All I can say is WOW!

Up until today the lap record was held by Lowdnes at
2 minutes 6 seconds. The announcers made it clear that no timing gear was to be used, which brought out my phone and its stop watch function....

Jenson Button was first up in the f1 car. Remebering that he had travelled around the track only 5 times in a road car at the 60kmh limit. First lap he reeled of a 1:54, smashing the lap record by 12 seconds. His second lap was 1.48. He then was taken out of the car. The f1 car is soooo loud compared to a 'normal' race car and could be heard all the way around the track from the top of the mountain. Also to the f1 diehards (gary!) the Mclaren was on the rev limiter in top gear from about halfway down conrod straight. With proper gearing the f1 car would most likely be able to lap the mount in 1.30's.

A lot of people were speculating how the car would handle the dipper, it did that fine. Jensen commented that the hardest part of the lap was actually the straights, because the bathurst track has a hump in the middle, he found that he was fighting the car on the straights, there was talk that 350 k's was reached on conrod but I cannot confirm this.

It was then time for the V8 super cars to do a couple of laps, Lowdnes did a 2:10 which is a pretty good time. Jensen was then put in the V8 and reeled of a first lap of 2:20, then a 2.16 which I think is a remarkable effort considering he did not know the track and had never driven a V8 super car.

Lowdnes was then back in the mclaren. Lowdnes had never driven an f1 before but reeled of a mid 1:50's and then 2 laps at 1.49. You should have seen his smile! Both Jensen and Craig commented on how easy the car to drive across the top of the mountain. Craig also mentioned how the 700 horsepower v8 in comparison to the f1 cars tends to labour climbing the mountain!

I had a great time up on the mount and to add icing on the cake, I got a call from my office to tell me an autmated 2.3 meter dome had just been dropped of at my workshop!

Cheers
Brett

ps I would have posted pics, but my canon dslr decided to pack it in!

MrB (Simon) · #2 22-03-2011, 07:19 PM

Pics? No I want VID!

MrB (Simon) · #3 22-03-2011, 07:22 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqUKLBwBtrc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY7R73cQ6lo

*Drool*

And for a rough idea what it would be like... a 1:37 lap on a PS3(?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qURfDKvodlY

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #4 22-03-2011, 07:42 PM

It's not just the spectators that get excited.
I'm kinda friends with Craigs wife.
This is what she posted this morning.

I have one very excited CL on the phone!!! LOL... Guess it really is every boys dream to get in one of those F1's... LOL...

Button did a 2min 15 in CL's V8, and really enjoyed it too...

gary · #5 22-03-2011, 09:06 PM

Hi Brett,

Thank you for your post and I know the IceInSpace F1 aficioandos are living through
your vivid description.

And thanks for that unofficial lap time.

1 minute 48 on only the second lap in the McLaren. And might do better if they changed
the gear ratios. My goodness!

I had read they were going to use a MP4-23, which was the 2008 model and
its V8 can rev at an astonishing 19,000 rpm. So little wonder you could hear it
all the way around the track. It must have been screaming once it hit the rev limiter.
(I also just listened to the sound of it on the link that Simon posted!)

And interesting to hear the hill proved no challenge which I had been curious about.

Many of us will have to live through the descriptions of those who will be lucky enough
to be track side at Albert Park this coming Fri/Sat/Sun.

F-ducts and double diffusers are out. KERS is back. Then there is the new adjustable
rear wing control, which is armed automatically by the track timing system only at
a certain point on the track and only when you are trailing the car in front by a
second, but then is finally activated by the driver. It looks like the cockpit
could get a little busier. There's new rules on Q1 qualifying for a race start which
could be a joker in the pack.

I noticed yesterday that Pirelli have a new color coding system for the tyres this year
that we will have to get familiar with -
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...1/3/11829.html

Thanks again for the fabulous description and with the arrival of the dome, it sounded
like the end to a perfect day.

Simon - thanks for the YouTube links! What a sound!

MrB (Simon) · #6 22-03-2011, 09:31 PM

New vids:
Crappy quality but great audio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z14GrslTXJU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odiNA4SkZME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfmKxLEra1A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQVF_twMD80

bert (Brett) · #7 22-03-2011, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gary

Hi Brett,

Thank you for your post and I know the IceInSpace F1 aficioandos are living through
your vivid description.

And thanks for that unofficial lap time.

1 minute 48 on only the second lap in the McLaren. And might do better if they changed
the gear ratios. My goodness!

I had read they were going to use a MP4-23, which was the 2008 model and
its V8 can rev at an astonishing 19,000 rpm. So little wonder you could hear it
all the way around the track. It must have been screaming once it hit the rev limiter.
(I also just listened to the sound of it on the link that Simon posted!)

And interesting to hear the hill proved no challenge which I had been curious about.

Many of us will have to live through the descriptions of those who will be lucky enough
to be track side at Albert Park this coming Fri/Sat/Sun.

F-ducts and double diffusers are out. KERS is back. Then there is the new adjustable
rear wing control, which is armed automatically by the track timing system only at
a certain point on the track and only when you are trailing the car in front by a
second, but then is finally activated by the driver. It looks like the cockpit
could get a little busier. There's new rules on Q1 qualifying for a race start which
could be a joker in the pack.

I noticed yesterday that Pirelli have a new color coding system for the tyres this year
that we will have to get familiar with -
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...1/3/11829.html

Thanks again for the fabulous description and with the arrival of the dome, it sounded
like the end to a perfect day.

Simon - thanks for the YouTube links! What a sound!

Thanks Gary,

In the commentary at the track today they said the car was 2
years old.

I havent looked at the rules for this year, so thanks for the heads up. This is my first look at a f1 car and its whetted my appetite, I am lucky enough to be going to the f1 round in malaysia in 2 weeks time. Can't wait!

Brett

DavidTrap (David) · #8 22-03-2011, 09:54 PM

I think the chopper pilot in the 2nd video of the last post is having just as much fun...

DT

bert (Brett) · #9 22-03-2011, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidTrap

I think the chopper pilot in the 2nd video of the last post is having just as much fun...

DT

The pilot was nuts!

He was actually LOWER then the height of the track in some parts. He also had a hell of a time keeping up with the f1 car. At one point up mountain strait following the car he was flying in between the trees!

Brett

gary · #10 22-03-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bert

This is my first look at a f1 car and its whetted my appetite, I am lucky enough to be going to the f1 round in malaysia in 2 weeks time. Can't wait!

Brett. Many of us will be envious! Now that is a track with some great straights.
We're looking forward to hearing what it was like to actually be there.
Have a fantastic time and don't forget to pack the ear plugs!

P.S.

Hope you get the DSLR back in operation before the trip.

Exfso (Peter) · #11 22-03-2011, 10:42 PM

Wow, those clips were great. Brings back memories of watching the F1 at Adelaide, the noise from those engines is mind boggling.

Thanks very much

Kal (Andrew) · #12 22-03-2011, 10:52 PM

They say an F1 car driven at speed will drive upside down it has that much downforce. With that in mind, I wonder how it felt to fly over the crest while going up mountain straight?

gary · #13 23-03-2011, 08:51 PM

Story on the McLaren F1 car at Bathurst in today's Sydney Morning Herald here -
http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/f...322-1c4tm.html

gary · #14 25-03-2011, 06:14 PM

Watching the coverage of P1 & P2 sessions today at Albert Park,
the new Pirelli tyres certainly left behind a lot of marbles on the track.

Quite a few offs and it would be interesting to hear from the drivers how
the track is rubbering in or whether most of the rubber is just forming
marbles.

Webber said everything went to plan during the sessions and when
questioned about some offs said with a wry simile he simply ran out
of talent. He did follow-up by commenting about the temperature range
window of the new tyres takes a bit of getting use to.

The McLaren's, Red Bull's and Ferrari's looking quick again this year.