Six-wheeler racing cars

[Roxxy]

Does anyone remember a brief period in the late '70s / early '80s when some Formula 1 racing cars had 6 wheels? There were 4 front wheels and two rear ones, as oppose to the usual four-wheel format we are used to today.
I have a Scalextric Elf Tyrell model of a 4x2 Formula 1 car- I'm not sure what the advantage of four front wheels was meant to be, maybe greater road-holding or something. At all events, these racing cars had vanished from the circuit by about '85- maybe ruled illegal by Formula 1's governing body, who also outlawed computer-controlled suspension in the late '90s. Ring any bells?

[Richard1978]

Re: Six-wheeler racing cars

The Tyrell P34 was the model with 6 wheels.

It was responsibly competitive in 1976, scoring 1 win and enough points to get 3rd place in the constructors championship.

In the long term the weight of another set of suspension & sourcing suitable non-standard tyres lead to a less successful 1977, & the cars were withdrawn.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrrell_P34

March & Williams built 6 wheeled experimental cars with 4 wheels at the rear, but neither of them were raced competitively.

Eventually the rules were changed so that only 4 wheels were allowed.

[chris]

Re: Six-wheeler racing cars

IT Was on TV LAST WEEK MATE - there was a motoring programme on BBC2 all about "GLORIOUS GOODWOOD" Motor racing nostalgia weekend, from Goodwood house - its a full weekend of racing and parade laps of modern and classic racing bikes and cars from all over the world right from the 1920,s brookland racers - up to the modrn day ferrari and mclaren F1 - And yes mate the tyrell elf 6 wheeler was there in all its glory - it did a solo run up the hill - and it did a few laps of classic racing against niki lauders and james Hunts 1970,s racers - it looked and sounded awesome - you can buy a DVD of the event, or better still book yourself a ticket and get yourself there next year .

[big kid]

Re: Six-wheeler racing cars

[DSCOMAN]

Re: Six-wheeler racing cars

Andretti, Laffite, Mass, Reuteman, Regazoni, Fittipaldi....good days

[DSCOMAN]

Re: Six-wheeler racing cars

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