The McLaren F1 Owner's Club

[hurstg01]

Does Ray or anyone else have some info on this owners reunion party from around the time of the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix?

[bucciali]

Welcome back to the forum, Mr. Bellm! It's a pleasure to have you here.

Originally Posted by bprchamp

I look at the list of cars on your various ownership lists and there are quite a few out of date. you need to work harder.

There you have it guys....What we have done, simply is not good enough....

The last part got me

[Peloton25]

The only people working harder to keep track of the world's inventory of McLaren F1s have their paychecks signed by Ron.

Still, we had a decent amount of outdated info being presented in threads that purported themselves to be accurate, so in that sense Ray was quite correct.

= = =

Speaking of working - I'm about 80-90% done with the new 'UK F1 fleet' thread. A few more photos to filter in and some polishing of the descriptions and I think we'll be set unless someone knows something "new"?

>8^)
ER

[bucciali]

Originally Posted by Peloton25

The only people working harder to keep track of the world's inventory of McLaren F1s have their paychecks signed by Ron.

Still, we had a decent amount of outdated info being presented in threads that purported themselves to be accurate, so in that sense Ray was quite correct.

= = =

Speaking of working - I'm about 80-90% done here. A few more photos to filter in and some polishing of the descriptions and I think we'll be set unless someone knows something "new"?

>8^)
ER

Both your observations are true. Downside of forums is that focus is mostly on the most recent posts, taking away 'attention' from the start/OP, where in our case the most up-to-date info should be. Ah well, it shouldn't be too easy, now should it

[cabrio92]

Hopefully, there will be more than 20 F1s

[PatrickT82]

and hopefully we can attend the meeting

[drewwtms]

Originally Posted by Peloton25

The goal of the events that Ray will organize are set to gather as many of the F1s together as possible for somewhat more public outings...

If there is an event in the USA it might be worth flying to. Assuming it would be open to true enthusiasts as well as owners. But I understand if owners want privacy during their F1 'vacation'.

[basman007]

This is very interesting news. And the idea to create a 2oth anniversary meeting is excellent!

Originally Posted by PatrickT82

As a huge F1 fan (as you may all know) I would drive to anywhere in Europe if I may attend the 'meeting' next year.

Pretty much the first thing that popped into my mind! I'll try my hardest to attend as well

[bprchamp]

i am happy to answer questions on the 1995 and 1996 seasons, no problem, good memories!

[Peloton25]

Hi Ray- good to see you've found some free time for our discussion group.



That's #02R crossing the finish line in 1st at Jerez in 1995 - the start of something very special.

Going into the season how much confidence did you have in the F1 GTR's reliability over race distances (especially the 24 Hours at Le Mans) and did you know already how dominant they would end up being?

>8^)
ER

[Sami Aaltonen]

Hi Ray!

Well I have two questions; who's idea were to took JJ Lehto onboard in 1996 Le Mans, Zhuhai and Suzuka?

I also would like to know; who's idea was to invite JJ behind #01R's streering wheel in 1995 Le Mans, do you know anything of this?
I know it was McLaren who found the other drivers to the car, Dalmas and JJ; who's idea that was to get JJ?

I have tried to ask this many different sources but still no full answer.
Hope you could give me some new facts.

[cabrio92]

Very good questions, not to add for the moment

[bprchamp]

Ok here we go - i could write a book about this.
In 1994 when racing the Porsche in BPR I had on order chassis 046 road car and said to Ron D that I was going to use it as a race car. He said I couldn't, I said once I have got it I can do anything. After senna's death i was sitting with ron in my garden and we discussed a race car. He said he would build me a one off for $1m. I said i couldn't afford it so we agreed I would find 3 buyers. hence Lindsay Own jones Thomas Bscher and myself went to Magny Cours in 1994 and signed contracts for 3 cars - 02R, 03R and 04R. I knew from that moment it would be a winning car and had input on the driving position for tall people and in car ventilation whilst they were building 01R. I knew it would win because we were front runners in the Porsche in 1994 and this was a massive step forward
Michael cane had run our porsche out of Lawrence Bristow's Cranleigh workshops and we were sponsored by Gulf. when I bought the car in 1994, I was phoned up by Gulf and they asked me if they could sponsor us, I of course agreed in the first meeting. It was a three year deal and in year 1 we received £500k which more than run the car. interestingly by 1997 it was £1m to run a car instead of £500k 2 years earlier. We were also blessed by Lindsay owen jones wanting to run his car out of our workshop, so we provided Gulf with a two car team
In Jerez it was wierd because the car was quick out of the box, but Sandro Sala really struggled with the car and in the race we lost a lot of time, so i double stinted the last 2 stints and caught up with Jarier in his Porsche and won, but not easily.
By Ricard we had the measure of the car and won more easily. Basically the car has the most wonderful engine but is nervous to drive as its wheelbase is not that long and had zero downforce. The road car steering rack was poor and too heavy so we had a faster rack that lightened the steering input. We got mark Blundell in for Le Mans - cost £25k, and he and Sala were great. it was one of my poorer races as I crashed whilst second just after Andretti crashed in the Porsche Curves about 100m further on. We lost 8 laps in the pits but came 4th only 4 laps behind the leaders. That tells you how well Blundell and Sala drove. The car was frightening in the wet as it had no grip at all. Lehto was absolutely amazing in the wet and the following year when we had him in our car I understood why. More later. we won the Suzuka 1000kms that year and it was very memorable as it finishes in the dark. In 1996 when we won it again, I apparently went into the history books as the first guy to win it back to back. I'm sure it's been done since. By the end of 1995 we knew the car intimately and could wring its neck.
So the 1995 car which is still only 10 minutes from where I used to live in the Uk was driven by myself, Blundell and Sala. although we didn't win the BR Championship it won more races than any other car - 6 I think and was 4th at Le Mans and won the Suzuka 1000k's - not a bad start.

[hurstg01]

Originally Posted by bprchamp

Ok here we go - i could write a book about this.

I'm in for one if you do!

Great write up, thanks!

[bprchamp]

The 1995 line up at Le Mans in 01R was arrived at within Mclaren. It was in the contract between the 3 owners and Mclaren that they could not run a works car. This was deemed not to be and caused a row between myself & Ron. Ueno clinic wanted to sponsor a car with Sekiya in it. Mclaren took the money and entered 01R under the banner and direction of Paul Lanzante - one of my best friends to this day. I believe Lehto and Dalmas were chosen by Jeff Hazel. at the race there were Mclaren personnel all over the 01R pit, but to be fait it was told to stay behind customer cars until they hit trouble. Was it a works car. yes - because the trophy is at Mclaren, the drivers were paid by Mclaren, and the car is still owned by Mclaren, but you know what it's good for the history of the car. I know JJ's manager of that time - Didier Coton who looks after Mika Hakkinen. during the winter break I agreed with Didier a deal to have him in the car in 1996 wherever we needed a third driver. We had telemetry. at Le Mans I could see and still have the overlays to see where he gains time. He was mega into corners under breaking, sometimes taking two tenths out of James Weaver and myself. At the chicanes down the Mulsanne he braked 50 metres after us and I tried it and went straight on. His control in the wet amplifies his ability under barking. By the way, James was the best co driver I ever had in my days of endurance racing. A real gentleman and we were very well matched in lap times.
I still have the records of our cars in the Gulf Team of every lap of every test and race day from the start to the end of 1997!!