Pictures.....

Those were new to me as well, great find!

Not South Africa, but certainly Africa.

BMW took XP1 to Namibia for hot weather testing in the desert. Unfortunately that's where the car was accidentally destroyed at the hands of the guy wearing shorts in photo #15.

>8^)
ER

Good guess Erik, but that guy in shorts was actually one of the Mctechies and categorically did NOT crash XP1:nono: ; the BMW appointed test driver DID !:smile:

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i196/payso-f1/ex%20pics/th_4519798b-2.jpg (http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i196/payso-f1/ex%20pics/4519798b-2.jpg)
Anyone know whats that silver wheel cover (or whatever it is) on the black F1?[/quote]

It's a heat-reflector, made of an aluminium foil-type mylar material, similar to those used for reflecting the solar effect through car windscreens when parked.

It was used to prevent excessive heat build-up in the tyres during hot weather testing in Namibia.

Don't recall seeing this pair before - they come from the unlikely source of BusinessWeek magazine actually, in an article on Gordon Murray Design that I posted a link to here (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=936816).

I'd hang a poster of the first one on my wall, without a doubt!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/Peloton25/McLaren%20F1%20G/7_f1-le-mans-winner.jpg


>8^)
ER

This is an official Mcphoto, one of a sequence taken outside Genesis on the return from the 1995 Le Mans race. Note the "dirty" state of the car - further confirmation of the timing of the photograph.

The "pots" are the 24 Hour overall race-winner, winning driver, winning manufacturer and class win trophies !

Good guess Erik, but that guy in shorts was actually one of the Mctechies and categorically did NOT crash XP1:nono: ; the BMW appointed test driver DID !:smile:

You know, now that I go back and read the captions included with those four photos (DA - pg 156) I see the portion that refers to the driver doesn't actually relate to the image at the top. Thanks for the correction on that.

Looking at the 2nd and 3rd photos, it is pretty amazing that the driver lived. It appears he's not wearing a helmet in the second shot, and knowing just how compact the cabin area is and then factoring in all the equipment they have included, it is really quite amazing that he wasn't seriously injured or killed in the crash. Wonder where that guy is today?

I did know the #01R photo was dated. This is just the first time seeing it for me. :)

>8^)
ER

...(DA - pg 156)...

I remember clearly, probably 9 years ago now, I was in Barnes & Noble and I picked up Driving Ambition and flipped to this page and read it. The part about XP1 being destroyed and then it's remnants being buried in a box near the factory really stuck with me. I didn't buy the book that day (it was ~$65 I think), but I knew it was a truly special book about a truly special machine. I never saw Driving Ambition in the store again (damn) and I ended up getting it used off Amazon a while later.

With it apparently nearing $300 (http://www.amazon.com/Driving-Ambition-Official-Inside-McLaren/dp/1852278412) used on Amazon, it's easy to forget that at one time it was available at bookstores pretty much everywhere. :)

McLaren are currently offering copies of "Driving Ambition" at £59.95 (or £49.95 if you join their little club) right here (https://www.mclarenshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10551_-1_25151_VMM190) for anyone who needs one, or possibly another one. :)

>8^)
ER