The Mechanic's Gallon

I came upon the phrase ‘the mechanic’s gallon’ a while ago. Teams in the 60’s were trying to save weight and make the car as light as possible, inc. putting as much fuel in the car at the start of the race so that it lasted JUST to the end. This generally worked but a few times ran out of fuel with a few laps to go. So unbeknownst to Colin Chapman, the mechanics when fuelling the car would add an extra gallon, just to make sure it was enough, hence the ‘mechanic’s gallon’!

https://mechanicsgallon.blogspot.com/

Eine durchschnittliche Folge dieses Podcasts dauert 33m. Bisher sind 21 Folge(n) erschienen. Dieser Podcast erscheint täglich.

Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 2 hours

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Doug Garner on Lotus and F1, recorded September 2021


In the first of a new series of interviews Gary talks with Doug Garner who was at Lotus from 1966 working on the Lotus Elans, moving into the race workshop at the end of 1967 and was straight at work on the Lotus 56 turbine Indycar! His first race car. A


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 September 23, 2021  n/a
 
 

Pete Briggs Part 2


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 March 14, 2020  n/a
 
 

Pete Briggs Part 1


Pete Briggs started off 1968 helping out around the workshop of the Winkelmann Racing Formula 2 team. Gradually working his way up to through 1969 and by a roundabout way into Formula 1 in 1970 with the fledgling March Racing team. 1971 was in Formula 2 followed by a switch to the Matchbox Team Surtees F2 team. Then it was back to Formula 1 with March in 1973 before returning again to Team Surtees in 1976 all the way to the teams demise in 1979...


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 March 12, 2020  n/a
 
 

Eammon Fullalove


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 February 8, 2020  n/a
 
 

Beaky Sims Part 2


Part 2 starts with a quick look at 1972 but then we dive back into the late 60's and his experiences with Jim Clark and Jochen Rindt, then it's on to 1971 with March Racing but in F5000 in the States with Skip Barber. Beaky then moved to Hesketh Racing in 1974, so we finish up with a few stories of James Hunt. Download the recording here At our recording session, Beaky on the left and me on the right.


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 January 23, 2020  n/a
 
 

Beaky Sims Part 1


In this exclusive interview you’ll learn how Beaky started, his entry into racing with a friends’ Formula Junior car, his interview at Team Lotus and subsequent work with the Lotus Cortinas, Formula 2 and then Formula 1 cars at the time of the teams’ greatest success, including working with legends like Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Mario Andretti. Download the recording here At our recording session, Beaky on the left and me on the right.


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 January 23, 2020  n/a
 
 

Pete Kerr Part 3


Part 3 : 1972 through to 1978 and his work with March then on to Shadow and finally into R&D with Arrows. Download the recording here Monaco 1970 and Pete Kerr (right) tends the STP March 701 of Chris Amon. Chris retired the car after 60 laps with broken suspension.


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 January 23, 2020  n/a
 
 

Pete Kerr Part 2


Part 2 : Is 1969 to 1971 and takes us through his time with Jochen Rindt and the F2 Brabhams at Winklelmann, the 1970 and into Formula 1 with the fledgling March team. Download the recording here. Monaco 1970 and Pete Kerr (right) tends the STP March 701 of Chris Amon. Chris retired the car after 60 laps with broken suspension.


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 January 23, 2020  n/a
 
 

Pete Kerr Part 1


Part 1 ; 1950 to 1968 takes us through Pete’s early interests growing up in his native New Zealand, getting involved with saloon car racing, Lotus Cortinas, his move to the UK and working for the Winkelmann Racing team in Formula 2. Download the recording here. Monaco 1970 and Pete Kerr (right) tends the STP March 701 of Chris Amon. Chris retired the car after 60 laps with broken suspension.


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 January 23, 2020  n/a
 
 

Cedric Selzer


Here you’ll hear Cedric tell us how his interest in all things automotive started growing up in South Africa, his move to the UK in 1961 and his start as a race mechanic (although he knew nothing of race cars) with Ian Raby, his move to Team Lotus (first race with them in Formula 1 was Spa 1961 and the Lotus 21’s), in 1962 he was mechanic on Trevor Taylor’s car, in '63 he moved over to be main mechanic for Jim Clark, his short F1 career finished in 1964! Download the recording here.


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 January 23, 2020  n/a