Why you are McLaren F1 fan?

[Sami Aaltonen]

I have been wondered this a long time now. Here is couple of true experts of McLaren F1. Everyday wondering how much someone can know about the car and history. So now dare to ask this for you all.

Why you are McLaren F1 fan?
Where everything began? What happended that you've loved the car?

My story is quite usual I think.
I was just about 13 years an old, when I saw first images of the Clinic model. Loved straight away. So beatifull, so different and compact. Then there came the test drive articles, and ofcourse I read them all when I just got them on to my hands. And then, there was that Need For Speed game, Intro of the McLaren F1 was stunning and ofcourse I drove it alot in that game.

But the true love started when I saw the first images of GTR versions. Just, knockout. The car was perfect, whit that rearwing, those new wheels gave the car extreme agressive look and the new aerodynamics and frond end of the car made the car in my eyes perfect. Back then, Eurosport was a free channel so I watched closely GT races and everything else motorsport programs. But allways remind specially FIA 1997 Season, when it was on live at Eurosport.

Anyway, J.J Lehto got change to take a part 1995 Le Mans, and he won it. The GTR came familar on the pages of Finnish magazines and yes, back then I started to find an Internet images, stories and videos of this perfect racing car. And the sound ofcourse was the climax. I think, if it would have been V8, the attraction would be much less.

1996 Helsinki Motor Show, there it was. I did not knew beforehand that there is a GTR at the show. I was shocked again, standing there longside of #16R. (which I found it here, what GTR it was). The most adore racing car was front of my eyes and I could not believe it what I saw. Fortunately I took some images. The car was now real thing to me. Seen it!

And then... The McLaren F1 GTR Longtail came to Helsinki. 1997, FIA GT race. I saw, hear, saw and hear and mazed about the car looks, sound, and speed. The car was true, seen it now on the track! REAL! Not anymore just some images or videos. I loved it.

And here I'm now, collect serval GTR's (Thanks Greg!) on to my collection, which ones I would defenitely bought if I just would found them here at Finland over 10 years ago. But luckyly I bought the #01R back then. I had to make a choise. UT basic F1 roadcar or this Ueno Clinic Race car, Le Mans winning GTR. Fortunately I choosed right and just many years later I reliazed what I have got.

Even today, I don't know any perfect racing car to be exist. 95-96' GTR is probably the most beatifullest racing car to me, ever made. Everything is perfect and it has really stunning history. How everything was developed back then 1995.

There is a few cars, which have got me a permanent brain damage back then when I was junior kid. Lamborhini Countach, Diablo and McLaren F1 GTR/LM. I allmoust lost them, but about one year ago I found them again and don't know where I'm going to be end these cars.

THis is my story; how I came to McLaren F1 fan. Hope you managed to read this long.....not so good English text but really wanted to ask this and share my feelings about it. Hope you liked!

And PLEASE, YES. DEFENITELY tell your own story here!

[wilsonc]

When I was about 7 or 8 my brother put this game on my computer called "Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2". I wasn't interested in actually playing through the game, I just wanted all the cars. So I used cheats and unlocked all the cars. Scrolling through the car list I came upon the McLaren F1. It was unlike any car I had ever seen. For some reason it sparked a huge interest for me in the car. It was something about the craziness of the car I really liked. 3 seats, a supercar that is actually usable, the fact that it was so small. As I learned more about it the more I liked it.

Eventually though I forgot about it and became uninterested in cars. Then about a year ago my interest in cars sparked up again, and I remembered the McLaren F1. I became even more obsessed with it than when I was with Need For Speed. I searched all over the web for videos and reviews and stuff. I seriously could not get enough of this car. Eventually I found this forum by searching something like "McLaren F1 owner" or something else along those lines.

[dbsf1]

Originally Posted by wilsonc

...and became uninterested in cars.

whaaaaaaaaaaat? how can thaat happen?

[F1GTRUeno]

Growing up in the 90s with all the insane, excessive cars like the XJ220, F40, F50, EB110, Diablo, etc and the F1 was always the most exotic, most expensive, most hyped, fastest and so on.

I remember watching Tiff's review of it when I was about four or five (XP4?) and just hearing it and listening to him talk about it whilst he's flinging it around Goodwood, it was absolutely mental.

I'm a huge F1 fan, and growing up you obviously know McLaren are one of the major forces in F1, so the fact that they made a car was intriguing. I remember watching Le Mans and the BPR/FIA GT series from 95-98 as well and being in love with all GT1 cars but especially the F1 GTR.

Also had a supercars book with an LM on the cover, and I got bought a FINA GTR Pencil case when I was younger as well, my grandad had a Gulf one so I always had something to do with the F1 around me when I was younger.

[Sami Aaltonen]

Great stories from you all! Unbelievable how similar these stories are if I compare it my case.
GREAT!

I have to say about these supercars, Lamborghinis are me somekind of "holy" thing. Especially Lamborghini's carburator V12. It's more than words can be said.

Lamborghinis are to me much murch more bigger case than any Ferrari, they always have been. I'm very lucky to seen Countach on live and Diablo, here at Finland. We really don't have cars like these.

And It's impossible to compare McLaren F1 and these two Lamborghinis; Countach - Diablo, because other one is allmoust perfect desinged roadcar ever; and other ones have wild and hot Italian soul.

But Hurstg1 and Erik....I'm waiting your story....

[murraydeschot]

I could simply say "Because I don't tolerate compromise".

My fixation on the F1 stems from a long term interest in supercars and F1 - attending my first Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1979 and witnessing the Williams’ team’s first ever Grand Prix win at the hands of the late Clay Regazonni in a FW06.

I recall, as a child, marvelling at the likes of the Aston Martin Lagonda being launched, the Panther Six appearing, and many other exotica coming and going. I too, like many I’m sure, had a few pubescent masturbatory dreams over the ubiquitous Fire Engine Red Lamborghini Countach that’d grace almost every advert of the time; promoting probably everything from Alpine stereos to shampoo and hair care products – the latter category remains and shall remain a long-defunct necessity in my life, however!

As I reached my late 20’s, Formula One had metamorphosed from being a friends and family collection of teams utilising Ford’s DFV engines against the Ferrari and Renault-powered ‘factory’teams into a leading edge, aerodynamic-obsessed, MEGA buck sponsor ‘friendly’, aerospace-like industry.

I started hearing about Gordon Murray working on a street car project … this is interesting was my initial thought. What’s going to appear? What started to appear in the press REALLY sparked my interest. Peter Stevens design was sublime. The car was hot, Hot, HOT!

Anyway, in the two or three years following the F1’s launch and the Le Mans victories of 1995, I got to know a car collector/connoisseur in my native Scotland that was shipping in a Jaguar XJR15 (another sublime Stevens’ design, but pretty much undriveable) from a private Japanese collection, a ‘factory fresh’ TWR XJS from Bathurst in Australia, etc. to add to his “toy box”. I kept saying to him, “When are you going to get an F1?”

One day he appeared and said “Meet me at Knockhill Circuit next Saturday”. En route to Knockhill, I noticed at a petrol station in Dundee a Mercedes van with a trailer parked and on the trailer, a glorious looking Papaya and Silver McLaren F1GTR (07R) sitting on it. The memories of driving around Knockhill in 07R and hanging out with Dario Franchetti and his brother, Marino on a sunny and hot (Yes! Scotland occassionally is blessed with warmth!) Saturday afternoon in the pits will follow me to the grave!

Along the way of my interest of the F1 I’ve furnished my home with approximately 100 precision scale models of F1’s – from 1/84th scale to 1/12th scale – and countless other ephemora surrounding this ‘cult classic’.

And why? "Because I don't tolerate compromise".

MdS

[Sami Aaltonen]

Great story, it makes sence, defenitely when you reached the #07R at Knockhill. This story is brilliant way to start a weekend!

[hurstg01]

My F1'itis started when I was at Goodwood and #01R turned up for the first time; since then I have been setting my F1 goals -

See as many F1's as I can, and take my own pics
Get to take alot of photos when the opportunity arises (#013)
Store as many pics of all the cars in the public domain
Try to learn more about the cars and pass everything I find on to here so others can learn as well
Buy F1 memorabilia with a view to it appreciating in value so my son can enjoy them when he is older hence my XP5 luggage and Le Mans edition of Driving Ambition...

....and get a passenger ride in one.

Not all of these goals have been attained yet, but you never know - I'm only 35, so there are a few more years for me to try to reach them all.

[murraydeschot]

Greg, have you not been driven in an F1 yet?

[hurstg01]

No. I know of at least 5 people on here that have, but I am not one of the lucky ones. It gives me something to look forward to

[rr_ww]

Been a fan for it's no compromise design ethic. Also as its British talent behind it. But I think the real moment when I became a big fan was when I saw it in Park Lane and then got a copy of Driving Ambition as a present.

[Mpowered]

I was seduced by the design. I became interested in the vehicle because of its heart - the BMW powerplant. There are many things now which hold my fascination with the TOTAL package. Over the years I have come to recognize that the overall design of the vehicle was brilliant. The center driving position, no power steering, no power brakes, no compromise design philosophy and pioneer use of carbon fiber. I am not a fan of bloated designs and the F1 is almost a compact supercar. It is just one sweet package. It's like a truly beautiful woman, the older she gets the better she looks. 15 years later you can still pull the F1 next to a Veyron or Ferrari and it's still the best looking one of the bunch.

Timeless lines.

[Sami Aaltonen]

OK! Nice stories for everyone! Really superb to hear how peopple have been found this great car. Brilliant!

Hurstg1:
What was the year when you saw the #01R first time?!

[hurstg01]

I originally thought it was 1995 straight after Le Mans, but now think and have been told it was later in the 90's

[carbuilder2002]

I was hooked as soon as I first saw the design brief and 1st clinic model pictures, everything about the car was either so inovative or just purely simplistic. Started making plans to build up funds for one late in 1993, granted I hoped it would not rocket into stellar figures on the second hand market, well I could dream. I has already had some very nice vehicles, restored an ex le-mans racer and built a few replicas all of ex Led-mans machines and when the GTR was anounced well that clinched it. Hoped tobuild my business up enough to enable purchase but it just didn't grow enough so a couple of years back decided to sell up to realise my ambition. Sods law and the bottom fell out of the monetary market but not enough to make an F1 any more affordable. Still got my for sale sign up so a miracle may just happen yet before 16R dissapears the way 11R did.
Its just a totlno compromise package with amazing packagung and practicality, well in road going form anyway, but I cant help being drawn to the untamed beast of the racer, totally impractical (even Mr bridger will admit that) but on the right road, right time and right frame of mind nirvana, at least that's what I want to believe lol.