Found a couple of old F1 pics...

[Mike]

Found these hidden away in a box in the loft, the 70's is a bit of a blur but do remember sitting in the back of a van while John Watson tested the new, I thought MP4,
McLaren. I remember it as he kept nudging my feet with the nose of the car..... not sure where that is, maybe Brands with the trees but don't recognise the corner.







I say I thought it was the MP4/1 Watson was driving, the first carbon tub in an F1 car, but not sure looking at it now. Weird it has no front wing, maybe they didn't
trust us with it for the photo shoot and ran it without, looks like it might say MP3 on it, an old nose on the new car?

The two portraits were taken earlier, again maybe Brands, Race of Champions perhaps. Watson with the Martini decal on his helmet I'm guessing is in a Brabham Alfa....

[inaglasshouse]

Wow. Anything else from the loft? Thanks for sharing these.

(Perhaps related to the 70s blur) I'm not sure about your eyesight. To me, that Watson photoshoot car definitely says MP4 on the nose.

[DustyM]

Great shots Mike, do post up more if you find them

[dragonfly]

Great shots, thanks for sharing them

[Tosh]

Fantastic shots.
If you can remember the 70s...

[Mike]

I'm not sure about your eyesight. To me, that Watson photoshoot car definitely says MP4 on the nose.

Tricky one, if it's a 4 it's a weird one and if it's a 3 it's got a dragons type tail to it....



...and no the car's not cracking up, it's the glaze on the 38 year old print!

[hot66]

Great photos mike

[Mike]

As I think back I recall how the McLaren couldn't just sit behind the van for the picture, no way it could run that slow, so Watson would accelerate from way behind then brake at the last moment aiming to touch my shoes, he'd then drop back again and take another run at it. He'd then shoot past and come round again, so maybe a few chances a lap and I think we had just a couple of laps in the van.

Motor drives very primitive in those days, so a few frames coming in and then the same dropping back, so at least a few goes to get it right.

[bjmullan]

Great pictures and I think it's a MP4-B from the 1982 season. Here's a picture of Niki Lauda in a MP4-B at Long Beach 1982.

[murph2309]

Wow - you took those! That is big cool points. Nice one, thanks for sharing!

[smallspeed]

I think its the run down from Druids to Graham Hill at Brands..

[Bootsy]

Wonderful pictures

[revo]

You forget how far forward these guys were sitting, great pics

[Tp81]

Great pictures, nice to get an idea of what was involved as well. Thanks for posting, brilliant.

[Mike]

I think its the run down from Druids to Graham Hill at Brands..

No don't think so, that's a pretty steep downhill run. If it's Brands then I think coming out of one of the right handers at the back of the old international circuit, so either Hawthornes, Westfield or Sheene Curve?