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Hi Joel
You've definitely convinced me into trying an Ebbro kit. My wallet is safe for the moment, though, because the "Jim Clark" Lotus 49 is out of stock everywhere I've looked over here. I will get it as soon as I can, though.
It's fun reading the comments about how F1 is losing touch with those of us who want to see pure racing again. The BBC has just run an article about how the "powers that be" behind F1 are trying to produce a template for cars in the 2020/21 season that will overcome the aerodynamic problems and allow closer racing:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/47422390
I've got to wonder if they're aren't still missing the point; '60s style F1 racing was simply far more exciting to watch. So - obviously, include all the safety measures that have been developed since then - but, perhaps?..., they need to strip off most of the aerodynamics and get back to the basics; four wheels and a powerful engine - and a driver with the skill to pull it all together without so much communication/control from his team.
All the best
Rowan
Rowan,
the non-passing issue plagues every form of racing these days to some degree. Indy Cars has been working overtime to get the cars to the point of side by side/over taking again as it also got to the point of follow the leader till the pit stop strategy where all things being equal on the track decided who won and who lost. They've made great strides, but still have a long way to go.
Nascar because they run more and more on 1-2 mile tracks needed to create their own form of aerodynamics to keep the cars glued to the track, especially during an accident and not parts flying into the packed stands. It has gotten to the point that they have the opposite effect by tucking up to the car in front of them, which disturbs the air flow off that car, and it has to check up in high speed corners. Then there is a new concept called side drafting that lets the passing car use the air moving along the side of the car their over taking to gain an advantage. And finally Nascar has gotten rid of those stupid restrictor plates for Talledaga and Daytona where through not enough HP it's conga lines and huge pile ups.
IMSA seems to have a better control over these issues as 2 of the classes are based off of "street cars" and two are prototypes that do suffer similar problems.
I've long been a proponent of going back to the sucker ground effects and limiting the downforce that way. Front and rear wings go back to what they were at some earlier point just to keep the cars safe to drive. Now you can race, draft, and pass. It worked before, and it can work again. The other issues is limiting HP and torque and the various compounds by track. Back in the season of seasons: 1967, one set of tires went the whole distance as did fuel load. The whole concept of pit stops was to reduce the fuel load for safety concerns, but has turned out to be the only true racing concept these days.
Only time will tell for sure, but it's something at least when every major racing series is now addressing these issues.
As for the Ebbro Lotus 49 of Clark and Hill, I bought mine as soon as it came out. Why I haven't built it as yet makes zero sense. But sooner or later you'll get one. I do see them on ebay all the time.
Joel