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1961 Le Mans 24 Hour Race
The 1961 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 29th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 10 and 11 June 1961. It was also the 4th round of the 1961 World Sportscar Championship. Ferrari and Maserati were the main title contenders, with Porsche an outside chance for the Championship. Ferrari's competition soon wilted in the race – the Maseratis were fast but fragile. The Aston Martins, though reliable, couldn't match the Italian cars’ pace. In the end it was a race between the two works team cars and the NART entry, And when the Rodriguez brothers’ engine blew with just two hours to go, it was a clear 1–2 victory for the Ferrari works team. A privateer Ferrari GT was third with an American-run Maserati fighting it way back up to fourth, a full 22 laps behind the winner. Regulations The second year of the new FIA regulations did not see significant changes. The controversial windscreen rules regarding minimum height and width were also updated with a maximum slope, which close ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
24 Hours Of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans (french: link=no, 24 Heures du Mans) is an endurance-focused Sports car racing, sports car race held annually near the town of Le Mans, France. It is the world's oldest active Endurance racing (motorsport), endurance racing event. Unlike fixed-distance races whose winner is determined by minimum time, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is won by the car that covers the greatest distance in 24 hours. The cars on this track can go up to , and in prior events reaching before track modifications. Racing teams must balance the demands of speed with the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without mechanical failure. The race is organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). It is held on the Circuit de la Sarthe, composed of closed public roads and dedicated sections of a racing track. The event represents one leg of the Triple Crown of Motorsport, with the other events being the Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix. The 24 Hours of Le Mans was frequently part ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Giancarlo Baghetti
Giancarlo Baghetti (25 December 1934 – 27 November 1995) was a Formula One driver who raced for the Ferrari, Automobili Turismo e Sport, BRM, Brabham and Lotus teams. Baghetti is one of only three drivers to have won his first World Championship race, the other two being Nino Farina, who won the first World Championship race (the 1950 British Grand Prix) and Johnnie Parsons, who won the 1950 Indianapolis 500, just 17 days after Farina (the Indianapolis 500 was part of the World Championship from 1950 to 1960). Formula One career Baghetti was born in Milan. His father was a wealthy Milan industrialist.''Baghetti Of Italy Takes Auto Race'', New York Times, July 3, 1961, Page 11. He began racing in 1955 in production cars, moving up to Formula Junior in 1958. In 1961 he was selected by the ''Federazione Italiana Scuderie Automobilistiche'' (FISA), a coalition of independent Italian team owners who had agreed a loan deal with Ferrari for a 156 Formula Two car to run in non-Champi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cooper Car Company
The Cooper Car Company is a British car manufacturer founded in December 1947 by Charles Cooper and his son John Cooper. Together with John's boyhood friend, Eric Brandon, they began by building racing cars in Charles's small garage in Surbiton, Surrey, England, in 1946. Through the 1950s and early 1960s they reached motor racing's highest levels as their mid-engined, single-seat cars competed in both Formula One and the Indianapolis 500, and their Mini Cooper dominated rally racing. The Cooper name lives on in the Cooper versions of the Mini production cars that are built in England, but is now owned and marketed by BMW. Origins The first cars built by the Coopers were single-seat 500-cc Formula Three racing cars driven by John Cooper and Eric Brandon, and powered by a JAP motorcycle engine. Since materials were in short supply immediately after World War II, the prototypes were constructed by joining two old Fiat Topolino front-ends together. According to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ecurie Ecosse
Ecurie Ecosse (French: "Scotland Stable") was a motor racing team from Edinburgh, Scotland. The team was founded in November 1951 by Edinburgh businessman and racing driver David Murray and mechanic Wilkie Wilkinson. Its most notable achievement was winning the 1956 and the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team also raced in three Formula One races. Ecurie Ecosse's cars were always distinctive in their flag blue metallic paint. Formula One Ecurie Ecosse had four Formula One Grand Prix entries, over three seasons. The first was by David Murray himself, driving a Cooper T20 in the 1952 British Grand Prix. However, he retired with engine trouble early in the race. For the 1953 event, the team entered two cars: a Cooper T20 for Jimmy Stewart and a new Connaught A Type for Ian Stewart. Neither of the drivers finished the race; Jimmy spun off track on lap 79, and Ian retired with engine problems. The team's last F1 outing was at the 1954 British Grand Prix where the Connaught ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ron Flockhart (racing Driver)
Ron Flockhart (16 June 1923 – 12 April 1962) was a British racing driver. He participated in 14 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, achieving one podium finish and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans sportscar race twice. Racing career Flockhart was born in Edinburgh. He started competing in 1951 in a JP Formula 3 car. He purchased the famous ERA R4D from Raymond Mays and in 1953 had a very successful season, beating one of the works BRMs at Goodwood. He achieved podium finishes at Goodwood, Charterhall, Snetterton and Crystal Palace, as well as several hill climb successes. In 1956, driving for the Scottish team Ecurie Ecosse, he won the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans, sharing an ex-works Jaguar D-type with Ninian Sanderson. The following year he won again for the same team, this time sharing with Ivor Bueb, setting a distance record of .''The Times-Picayune'', New Orleans, 12 June 1961, p. 34. Record flight attempts and death In the early 1960s the United Dominions Tr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jim Clark
James Clark Jr. OBE (4 March 1936 – 7 April 1968) was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965. A versatile driver, he competed in sports cars, touring cars and in the Indianapolis 500, which he won He was particularly associated with the Lotus marque. Clark was killed in a Formula Two racing accident in 1968 in Hockenheim, At the time of his death, aged 32, he had won more Grand Prix races (25) and achieved more Grand Prix pole positions (33) than any other driver. In 2009, ''The Times'' placed Clark at the top of a list of the greatest-ever Formula One drivers. Early years James Clark Jr was born into a farming family at Kilmany House Farm, Fife, the youngest child of five, and the only boy. In 1942 the family moved to Edington Mains Farm, near Duns, Berwickshire, in the Borders. He was educated at primary schools in Kilmany and then in Chirnside. Following three years of preparatory schooling at Clifton Ha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1961 Targa Florio
The 45° Targa Florio took place on 30 April 1961, on the Circuito Piccolo delle Madonie, (Sicily, Italy). It was the second round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship, and third round of the FIA GT Cup. Report Entry The event attracted fewer cars than in previous seasons, with 64 racing cars were registered for this event, instead of the 78 in 1960, of which 57 arrived for practice. Only these, 54 qualified for, and started the race. Reigning World Champions, Ferrari had entered two of their Ferrari 246 SP and a 250 TRI 61 for their squad of drivers; Willy Mairesse, Ricardo Rodríguez, Wolfgang von Trips, Olivier Gendebien, Phil Hill and Richie Ginther. As like 1960, there was no other factory entrants in the S3.0 class, their main opposition would come from the works Porsche 718 RS 61s of Hans Herrmann, Edgar Barth, Jo Bonnier, Dan Gurney, Graham Hill and Stirling Moss, despite these were smaller engined cars and less powerful, the marque had won the last two Targa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Briggs Cunningham
Briggs Swift Cunningham II (January 19, 1907 – July 2, 2003) was an American entrepreneur and sportsman. He is best known for skippering the yacht ''Columbia'' to victory in the 1958 America's Cup race, and for his efforts as a driver, team owner, and constructor in sports car racing, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Early years Cunningham was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on 19 January 1907. The family were long-time residents of the Cincinnati area. Cunningham's grandfather had been involved in operating river boats and in shipping, then had gone into the meat packing business with son Briggs Swift Cunningham Senior. The meat packing business was eventually known as Evans, Lippencott & Cunningham. Cunningham Sr. later became founder and president of the Citizen's National Bank, as well as director of the Pennsylvania Railroad, among several others. Cunningham Sr. was also the chief financier of soap company Procter and Gamble. William Cooper Procter would be Cunningham's godfat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maserati 250F
The Maserati 250F was a racing car made by Maserati of Italy used in '2.5 litre' Formula One racing between January 1954 and November 1960. Twenty-six examples were made. Mechanical details The 250F principally used the SSG 220 bhp (@ 7400 rpm) 2.5-litre Maserati A6 straight-six engine, ribbed 13.4" drum brakes, wishbone independent front suspension, a De Dion tube axle, Borrani 16" & 17" wheels and Pirelli Stella Bianca tyres. It was built by Gioacchino Colombo, Vittorio Bellentani and Alberto Massimino; the tubular work was by Valerio Colotti. A streamlined version with bodywork which partially enclosed the wheels (similar to the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz W196 "Typ Monza") was used in the 1956 French Grand Prix.Grand Prix Data Book, David Hayhoe & David Holland, 2006 Racing history Maserati works team Aintree 1957.jpg, Works team at Aintree, 1957 Fangio & Maserati 250F.jpg, Fangio and 250F Maserati 250F Monoposto Competizione - 52029916773.jpg, Maserati 250F at th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maserati Tipo 61
The Maserati Tipo 60/61 (commonly referred to as the Maserati Birdcage) are a series of sports racing cars produced between 1959 and 1961 by Italian automobile manufacturer Maserati for privateers racing in sports car events including the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 2-litre and 3-litre racing category. It used an intricate tubular space frame chassis, containing about 200 chro- moly steel tubes welded together, arranged triangular formation at high stress areas of the chassis, hence the nickname "Birdcage". This method of construction provided a more rigid and, at the same time, lighter chassis than other racing cars of the time. By recessing the windscreen base into the bodywork, Maserati was able to reduce the effect of new Le Mans rules demanding a tall windscreen. The Camoradi team became famous racing the Tipo 61s but, despite being very competitive, the Birdcage was somewhat unreliable and retired from many races due to problems with the drivetrain. The road legal version of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ricardo Rodríguez (racing Driver)
Ricardo Valentín Rodríguez de la Vega (14 February 1942 – 1 November 1962) was a Mexican racing driver who competed in the 1961 and 1962 Formula One seasons. His elder brother, Pedro, was also a noted racing driver who had much success in sports car racing and Formula One. At the age of 19 years and 208 days when first racing for them at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix, he became the youngest Formula One driver ever to race for Ferrari, a title he still holds today. At this Grand Prix, he also became the youngest driver to start a Formula One race until the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix and the youngest driver to start from the first row until the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix, and at the 1962 Belgian Grand Prix he became also the youngest driver to score points in Formula One until the 2000 Brazilian Grand Prix. He was also the first Mexican driver ever to take part in a Formula One Grand Prix. Personal Rodríguez was born in Mexico City and was a child cycling champion who switc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pedro Rodríguez (racing Driver)
Pedro Rodríguez de la Vega (18 January 1940 – 11 July 1971) was a Mexican sports car and Grand Prix motor racing driver. He was the older brother of Ricardo Rodríguez. Both brothers started racing at an early age, first on motorbikes and then moving to cars. Following his brother's death in a racing accident in 1962, Pedro briefly considered retiring from racing, but decided to carry on. In sports car racing his first major win was with his brother Ricardo in the 1961 Paris 1000km, driving a Ferrari 250 GT. He won the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Ford GT40 and in 1970-71 he won eight races in a Porsche 917. He began his Formula One career in 1963, and won the 1967 South African Grand Prix in a Cooper and the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix in a BRM. He was killed at the Norisring in Nuremberg, West Germany, on 11 July 1971 driving a Ferrari 512 M in an Interserie sports car race. Personal life Rodríguez was born in Mexico City, Mexico, the second son of Pedro Natalio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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