Proof that when it comes to the F1, I am pedantic beyond belief...

[Peloton25]

I've been sick the past three days and it spoiled my New Years Eve party plans this evening. I'm just starting to feel better, but didn't want to risk a relapse being out late in the cold air. So, I am sitting at home tonight browsing the web on my favorite subject, and locate this blog posting titled A look at the McLaren F1 and I'm thinking - neat, don't mind if I do take a look. After reading it, I don't think I have ever been irked as much by a single piece of content on the F1 as this one. Maybe I am just grumpy since I'm stuck at home when I should be out kissing random girls under the mistletoe though? Hehe...

In my response, I only left out the misspelling of Gordon's name at the beginning, since it was spelled correctly later on, but I am pretty sure I dinged them for all the rest. I was also bothered by the sentence "He came up with this idea after attending the 1988 Italian Grand Prix." as it sort of implies Gordon just had this epiphany one day and decided to build the F1, but I couldn't really come up with a concise way of resolving that one so I let it be.

You can have a read of the original for yourself if you like, but here's what I felt the need to pull together in response. I really believe the writer needed to be informed of all these errors so perhaps they'll try to do a more thorough job next time.

I realize blogs are somewhat unprofessional by their nature, but there are really a lot of mistakes and misinformation here. I'll try to address them in the order they occurred and be as clear as possible to set the record straight.

It was the Koenigsegg CCR that took the top speed crown away from the McLaren F1 on February 28, 2005 at a speed of 387.37 km/h achieved at the Nardo Ring in Italy. Because of the constant radius of that track and the banked surface, it was said that the CCR could have actually gone faster on a straight and flat road like the F1 used in Germany for its top speed run.

The Veyron took the title away from the CCR a few months later at that same German track with a speed of 408.47 km/h, on April 19, 2005. Since then, the title has changed hands once more, and now rests with the SSC Ultimate Aero at a speed of 413 km/h achieved during testing on September 13th, 2007.

Koenigsegg has released a more powerful version of their car called the CCX and claim it is capable of 419 km/h, but this figure has yet to be officially verified.

Back to the F1 - of the 42 additional variants you mention, the breakdown was 28 F1 GTRs - 9 built in 1995, 9 more in 1996 with slight changes to boost performance, and another 10 for 1997 which featured the radical longtail bodywork and further improvements under the skin.

There were a total of 6 F1 LMs - the one prototype you mentioned and then 5 production versions for customers. There were also three F1 GTs - a true road car featuring the longtail bodywork of the 1997 GTRs and a more luxuriously finished interior.

The remaining 5 cars out of that total of 42 were the original prototypes for the F1 road car. Gordon Murray is the current owner of the 3rd prototype built, and it is the earliest F1 still in existence today.

Moving on, the first production McLaren F1 was completed in December 1993. The first running prototype using the F1 chassis had been built one year earlier. When you talk about production years for the F1, it should be 1993 through 1998.

The styling mockup of the F1 was shown in Monaco May of 1992, not 1991. That car, known officially as the "Clinic Model" did have front indicators, but they were mounted within the side view mirror housings and in some markets this would not have been legal, hence why they were relocated to the more traditional location on the nose of the car.

Unveiling the "Clinic Model" was just one step in the overall development process of the F1, and it wasn't expected to represent their final product in each and every way. In fact, it had no drivetrain fitted as all of the mechanicals for the car were still being sorted. There was still a lot of work to do at that point but unveiling the Clinic Model allowed them to officially promote the car, and also pave the way for testing of real prototypes without the worry of spy photographers getting the scoop on their design.

Model collectors would not enjoy building the kit from DDR Motorsport because that is an actual 1:1 scale, full-sized kit car. It would need a garage, not a shelf with a glass display case.

There are resin models of the F1 from Provence Moulage, Studio27, and Modeler's in addition to many diecast offerings, some of which are still being produced today.

In your specifications section you list the HP at 550, when it was actually 627 for the standard F1 road car. You also list the engine as a 5.7L V12, when they really measured 6.1L.

The final error comes in the photo section, where the image in the middle of the top row is of a Pagani Zonda F and not a McLaren F1.

I don't mean to be harsh, but there is a lot of misinformation about the McLaren F1 in circulation and I do my best to find ways to correct it. I really love these cars and want to do what I can to promote their interest to others, but it needs to be done accurately.

Thanks!

>8^)
Erik

Fair criticisms I think, and I did try to be polite about it.

After submitting my response I have refreshed the page a few times, but it did not appear. I suspect the blog owner has them set to be approved first, so it will be interesting (to me at least) to see if it ever gets published, or if perhaps the article is corrected which would really be what I would prefer to see happen.

Anyway, feel free to poke fun at me for bothering to care this much about some random blog. I can take it, and I probably deserve it too.

Also, a very Happy New Year to all of you.

>8^)
ER

[Mpowered]

Let me be the first to wish you a Happy and prosperous New Year. Hope you get to feeling better soon. I didn't get to sleep before midnight and my neighborhood turns into a war zone when the fireworks go off to ring in the new year. Hopefully they'll end soon and I'll be off to bed.

It is helpful if you get the facts straight and your the main facts straightener-outer (is that a real word). I don't post much, but I do visit often and continue to follow the forum and the best looking supercar ever built. Park it next to any of the newcomers and it's still a match for 'em after all these years. Let's face it, everything that is being built is still compared to the F1. The ORIGINAL Supercar.

Have a great New Year.

[hurstg01]

Nicely done Erik, and get well soon!!!

[carbuilder2002]

No one should fear or mind being corrected, Happy New Year everyone

[Peloton25]

This sort of thing has happened before though...

The Cartorialist: McLaren F1 LM

Perhaps I should seek some help?

>8^)
ER

[Sami Aaltonen]

Erik; Hope you get well soon!
Thanks for good historic F1! Nice to read!

Even today there is many quicker cars on the market, McLaren F1 will always be for me the most ultimate road car ever made. There is so many things which are just right, no one else has done it better or wiser or simplier.
I don't care is some else car is faster on the straight line speed or more power on the engine; these does not have the compact magical looks, details, and sound what F1 has.

This car, F1 / LM / GT or GTR is totally it's own class.
Second place is Lamborghini......

[hurstg01]

Originally Posted by sami aaltonen

this car, f1 / lm / gt or gtr is totally it's own class.
Second place is Aston Martin Vantage Zagato......

EFA

[carbuilder2002]

Hmm you have taste Hurstg you would like Mr Atkinsons catalogue of previous cars.

[Peloton25]

Ahh, a useful diversion for this thread. Great!

Second place for me is and will always be the Ferrari F50 (and F50 GT, of course). I would keep the GT red since that was the only color that was made and they're kinda special, but the standard F50 would need to be silver to really suit my preferences. Leave the hard top on all the time and paint the headlamps to match the car, just like the one in this photo:



If silver were unavailable, I'd also be willing to settle for this one which has been repainted in Grigio Silverstone. Wow!



If you've never heard an F50 on the move it's sheer aural pleasure and this is a great video offering some exposure to that.

I also love the F50 because they're really quite pure and not full of techno-gadgetry like Ferraris more recent offerings. The F50 is really a lot like the F1 in spirit, but slightly less civilized of course.

>8^)
ER

[Sami Aaltonen]

Originally Posted by Peloton25

If you've never heard an F50 on the move it's sheer aural pleasure and this is a great video offering some exposure to that.

I also love the F50 because they're really quite pure and not full of techno-gadgetry like Ferraris more recent offerings. The F50 is really a lot like the F1 in spirit, but slightly less civilized of course.

>8^)
ER

I agree 100% this one!
Old cars, old sport cars or supercars. Erik! You took my words!

Personally my self; I I should buy a sports car not to spend too much money;
it must have a manual gearbox, also open gate gearshift would be nice. It should have carburators and nothing ESP or anything today's hot stuff on to help drivers mistakes....
Example, Lamborghini Countach LP400/LP400S/LP5000S or even Quattrovalvole would be very nice, or hmm perhaps early 90-93' Diablos, hmm or maybe just Ferrari 308 GTB from early 80's or late 70's would satisfied the need also...
But of course, McLaren F1 LM or GTR; is the ultimate dream, impossilbe one.

It's just what you respect for, some one else would be this kind of thinking old fashioned, but these are opinion questions.

And what comes the basic McLaren F1 roadcar; I forgot to say this late yesturday evening that the manual qearbox was one thing, which some reason took my attention when the car was lounched. The basic frame is perfect some like me, who has always kept the big capasity non turbo charged V12 engine with basic manual gearbox one of the "must have" things when speaking of supercars. McLaren F1 is everything that to me.
It's in own class like I have said before. No other can be compared. Even Bugatti Veyron or any. No. NO. NO NO.

And what comes to F50. To me it has been one of the last real Ferraris, not too technogadgetry anyway. After that, like Enzo it's way too much of that. No thanks. And do not forget the F40. Or 288 GTO..OR....

[svxit]

Originally Posted by Peloton25

Ahh, a useful diversion for this thread. Great!

Second place for me is and will always be the Ferrari F50 (and F50 GT, of course). I would keep the GT red since that was the only color that was made and they're kinda special, but the standard F50 would need to be silver to really suit my preferences. Leave the hard top on all the time and paint the headlamps to match the car, just like the one in this photo:



If silver were unavailable, I'd also be willing to settle for this one which has been repainted in Grigio Silverstone. Wow!



If you've never heard an F50 on the move it's sheer aural pleasure and this is a great video offering some exposure to that.

I also love the F50 because they're really quite pure and not full of techno-gadgetry like Ferrari's more recent offerings. The F50 is really a lot like the F1 in spirit, but slightly less civilized of course.

>8^)
ER

Peloton, interesting points on the F50. To me, I've always thought the 288 GTO was closer, spiritually, to the F1. Like the F1, it has no power steering, power brakes or anti-lock (the latter two I **think** the F50 has, but am not sure) or traction control. Also, the GTO has always seemed to be the most useable of the supercars. Compared to the F1, it's way down on horsepower and luggage space but, from what I've read, those two seem like a closer match.

On the article, many thanks for clearing up the blog posting. I don't think they'll ever post your response though: You did blow decent-sized holes through their article.

[Peloton25]

The big problem with the 288 GTO for me is the turbochargers. I much prefer a normally aspirated linear power delivery which the F50 would have to match the F1s. Also, both F50 and F1 share the carbon fiber chassis design, unlike the tube frame 288GTO. Some think the F50 is an ugly duckling and would never consider it, but I've got no issues there.

The 288 GTO is a very fine car though, and certainly makes for a more suitable road car than the F50 would. I've seen far fewer of them in real life than I have F50s or McLaren F1s, that's for sure. If you really like the 288, there's a 230+ page thread on FerrariChat.com about them that is certainly worth your time.

>8^)
ER

[Sami Aaltonen]

288 GTO is almoust like looking an art. It looks stunning, very clean and beatifull. It looks much more cruel than 308's which share quite much same styling than 288 GTO has. Same side lines if you look it quick.
The engine is very special, I don't like the turbo thing. But still have and need to respect it even it's not my favorits.

Even Ferrari's are very beatifull and clean; it's missing what Lamborghini's have.
Sorry if I talk just a Lamborghini's but I lost every word on my mind when I saw this car back on year ago. And the sound....
One of the best moments ever to me. Car which I never expected to see in FINLAND!

[carbuilder2002]

Sorry to burst your illusions Sami but I actually owned a Countache some 20 years ago and it was totally incontinent, leaking fluids all over my garage floor. Despite many hours in the hands of the specialist I eventually gave up and traded it in for an Aston Martin V8 Vantage with Richard Williams 7Ltr conversion.

[countachal]

Originally Posted by Sami Aaltonen

but I lost every word on my mind when I saw this car

Absolutely right sami nothing comes close to a countach nothing, it just blows ones mind!

Yeah i know this is an F1 forum but hey check my posting name!