Atlas F1 Magazine: The Fuel Stop

ATLAS F1 - THE JOURNAL OF FORMULA ONE MOTORSPORT

The Fuel Stop
Investigative Journalism at its Best

By Reginald Kincaid, England
Atlas F1 Correspondent

As this is my 1000th Fuel Stop, it is considered prudent to take a deep breath and look back at what one has accomplished. I pride myself to have always been the first with breaking news and to have written about subjects that other motor racing journalists have been simply too afraid to even talk about.
The 1950s was an exciting decade not only in the history of motor racing, but also in my professional life, as that was the time when I first packed my typewriter instead of my driving goggles and headed out into the unknown.
With that in mind, I would like to present a selection of some of my best-known news items published in the 1950s.
Take care, my dear readers,

Ferrari's 1954 challenger the perfect racing car, "no further improvement possible," says management

Ferrari design department closed as optimal car designed

The Ferrari 625 is designed after nature's aerodynamic wonder, the Nordic sperm whale Modena, Italy. The Ferrari car company today closed its design department and sacked all its employees after announcing that they had developed and produced the perfect Formula One car.

"The Ferrari 625 is the optimal racing car and it would just be a waste of resources to try to make it go any faster," said proud Ferrari manager Gianni Pomposa. "Our competitors in the 1954 Formula One season will be trampled to the ground by this Mona Lisa of racing cars."

Ferrari, who dominated the 1953 season, are sure that the 1954 challenger is an even bigger leap forward than last year's model. Calculations revealed that a faster car would only be possible by rocket propulsion, which is illegal according to Formula One regulations.

"We tested a Ferrari 635 extensively on public roads in Milano and managed a world shattering top speed of 162km/h," said former Ferrari engineer Carlo Tombosi. "I'm sure that we could have managed even more than that but unfortunately our test driver had to hold onto his hat with his left hand due to the enormous speed of this beast of a car."

The 1953 Season Safety Overview

The 1953 Formula One season promises to be the safest ever, so let's take a look at some of the new regulations the FIA has put in place to promote safety in the sport.

Helmet

Helmet
Must be placed gently on the driver's head so as not to crack.
Hides baldness.

Goggles

Goggles
Protect the driver's eyes from dirt, bugs and flying pedestrians.

White Tyres

White Tyres
If a driver loses control of his racing car these new safety tyres provide ample protection. The out of control car's wheels will trip over the safety tyre and catapult the driver in a graceful arc into the grandstand where a doctor is very likely to be present.

Hay Hay
Specially bound hay can withstand a collision with a Formula One car at speeds of up to nearly 5km/h without catching fire.

Cost savings
Exotic materials plastic and hemp banned from 1953 season and onward

Rolex Timing
Today's qualifying times:
J.M Fangio: 12 minutes
S. Moss: 14 minutes
T. Brooks: 15 minutes

Sir Terry Rowduck
"Safety goggles? In the old days Rosemeyer raced with a monocle."

Collins and Fangio
Fans applaud brilliant Ferrari team-ordered switch

Nino Farina gains 40kg in preparation for the 1951 season

World champion thanks his personal chef for increased strength, weight

Rome, Italy. 1950 World Champion and Ferrari driver Nino Farina is reportedly better prepared than ever for the start of the Formula One season, as the heavily built Italian driver is supposed to have gained a hefty 40kg of muscles and fat over the winter.

"The amount of food consumed by Farina and the resulting weight increase will allow Nino to turn the steering wheel faster," said Formula One Scientist, Dr. Heinz Brueller. "Not only that, but cornering speeds will increase as the extra 40kg will help the car stick to the ground better."

Nevertheless, Ferrari management are said to be worried about Farina's teammate Juan Manuel Fangio's puny stature and have instructed the Argentinean to eat more and exercise less.

New scientific method of "Aerodynamics" to lower lap times by minutes

Scientists say harnessing of "Air" will lead to spectacular racing in the 21 century

Aerodynamics-enhanced F1 car

Berlin, Germany. Scientists at the Flugen institute of Berlin announced today that a new discovery called "Aerodynamics" might lower lap times in Formula One in the future.

"What we have discovered is that 'air' can not only be used for breathing but also as a way to change the behavior of the car," said Dr. Curt Jurgens. "During a normal Grand Prix a lot of air passes unused over the car - air that could be used to make the car go quicker."

Dr. Jurgens then demonstrated to reporters how a sail placed on top of a driver's head could increase the speed of the car. "It is amazingly simple really," he continued. "Our shipping fleet has used Aerodynamics for centuries with great success and we expect magnificent gains in the world of Formula One when this technique will get implemented next century."

About the author:
Reginald Kincaid was born on 30th November 1912. Following graduation from the Royal Military College in Sandhurst he was commissioned in the Forth Hussars in February 1931. While stationed in Egypt with his brigade in 1934, he led the famous "Elgar" high speed camel expeditions that explored and documented the vast sand seas of Libya. In his own words he soon after became addicted to the "fine art of travelling fast" but exchanged camels for cars. Kincaid's exploits in European motor racing became legendary after being documented in his best selling biography "Racing with a stiff upper lip". Reginald Kincaid retired in 1991 and has been covering motor racing ever since. He now lives in Surrey, England, and tends to his hobby of beekeeping.

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