Gordon Murray: "Winning By Design"

[Peloton25]

Haven't read it all yet, but this looks to be a great piece.

This is a case study of the working methods of one particularly successful designer in a highly competitive design domain, Formula One racing car design. Gordon Murray was chief designer for the very successful Brabham and McLaren racing car teams in the 1970s and 1980s. His record of success is characterized by innovative breakthroughs, often arising as sudden illuminations, based on considering the task from first principles and from a systemic viewpoint. His working methods are highly personal, and include intensive use of drawings. Personality factors and team management abilities also appear to be relevant. There are some evident similarities with some other successful, innovative designers.

.PDF link

It's a 4MB PDF and from the original source URL it was a slow DL for me. If you have the same issue I rehosted a duplicate copy via MediaFire.com here.

Enjoy!

>8^)
ER

[McF1]

Looks very interesting indeed!
Thank you Peloton!

[amy@af]

excellent! I'll share this on AF's face book page. thanks!!

[McF1]

I just read it and it is very instructive and highly inspirational.

Some time ago I was wondering whether Gordon Murray ever posted on this forum as he must most certainly be aware of it.
Anyway, I would like to put here the thought that came to my mind recently:
If we contacted Gordon Murray about the F1, what would be the one question you would ask him?

[teflon]

Originally Posted by McF1

...If we contacted Gordon Murray about the F1, what would be the one question you would ask him?

How do you improve upon the F1?

Greg A

[hurstg01]

2 F1's

[McF1]

I don't quite know how to formulate it, but my question would be the following.
Let's imagine that of the ultimate road car was imagined by G.Murray in 2008, not 1988.
What would be the main differences compared to the actual F1?
Still a big capacity normally aspirated engine?
Still no drivers aids? it is a driver's car, remember.

[Sami Aaltonen]

Originally Posted by McF1

I don't quite know how to formulate it, but my question would be the following.
Let's imagine that of the ultimate road car was imagined by G.Murray in 2008, not 1988.
What would be the main differences compared to the actual F1?
Still a big capacity normally aspirated engine?
Still no drivers aids? it is a driver's car, remember.

Very difficult to say. I think he is the only one who can answer this one.
But if I have some thoughts; brakes defenitely carbonceramic, and possible there wouldn't be manual gearbox.
What comes to the engine....very difficult to say.

[hurstg01]

GM's thought processes would probably have been the same - lightweight, driver-involved, no driving aids, NA engine. Cost may have been more of an issue though....

[McAlice]

Originally Posted by McF1

I just read it and it is very instructive and highly inspirational.

Some time ago I was wondering whether Gordon Murray ever posted on this forum as he must most certainly be aware of it.
Anyway, I would like to put here the thought that came to my mind recently:
If we contacted Gordon Murray about the F1, what would be the one question you would ask him?

Actually there are two: 1. Where is the cooling for engine and cabin. 2. Where is the downforce produced by ground effect system??

[McF1]

Hello McAlice,
I think the members of this forum will be able to answer your question.
1. For what concern the engine cooling, the radiators are located in the front of the car. Are you looking for specific information? I do not know more about the cabin cooling
2. Regarding the downforce, the rear diffuser generates the ground effect, aided by the suction generating fans (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...ht=fan+suction).
Does anyone have any figure about the amound of downforce produced at given speeds?

[Peloton25]

He was being a troll (again). You'll notice from the status under his name he is no longer with us (again).

If he doesn't like the F1 that is certainly his right, but to continue coming back here to make snide comments (like this & this) and be a disruption to the purpose of this discussion forum will simply not be tolerated.

>8^)
ER