Coachlines - February 2025
27.02.25 The Clerk Lt Col Craig Hallatt
Clerk’s notes February 2025
This month I thought I might offer a slightly different take on my contribution to Coachlines.
As we approach our Automotive Dinner on 20th March, what better way to kick-off our automotive month than celebrating one of the most significant anniversaries in the sphere of motor cars; that of the 75th anniversary of Formula 1.
Formula One automobile racing has its roots in the European Grand Prix championships of the 1920s and 1930s, though the foundation of the modern Formula One began in 1946 with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) standardisation of rules, according to Elite Racing Legends.
The early years of Formula 1 (1950-1970s)
The first-ever Formula 1 World Championship race was held on 13th May 1950, at Silverstone Circuit in the UK, which marked the beginning of what would become the pinnacle of motorsports. While many people confuse Juan Manuel Fangio as the first F1 champion, it was actually Giuseppe Farina who won the first championship in his Alfa Romeo. In these early years, F1 was all about raw speed and bravery, with drivers risking everything to claim glory. No power steering, no ABS, and the wheels were just a bit wider than a modern bicycle tyre.
During the 1950s, races took place mostly in Europe, on tracks such as Silverstone, Monaco, and Monza. Most racers participating in those races were nothing more than simple farmers, businessmen and just adrenaline junkies. Of course, F1 saw experienced drivers participating too, but until the new motorsport series became big enough for marketing – it was purely a form of fun.
However, these races in Europe were tough, with narrow tracks that pushed cars and drivers to their limits. Though the cars were simple compared to today’s standards, the drivers’ courage made each race an exhilarating event. Can you imagine driving for two hours in what essentially is a cardboard box with wheels, at speeds going well past 150mph? It’s no wonder that this kind of racing laid the foundation for F1’s growing popularity around the world.
Dominance of Italian teams
In its early decades, Italian teams such as Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati dominated Formula 1. Enzo Ferrari’s vision of building the fastest cars on the planet made Scuderia Ferrari a household name. With an incredible track record in endurance racing, it didn’t take long for Ferrari to become World Champions in Formula 1. Its first championship win came in 1952 with Alberto Ascari, who went on to win again in 1953. The red Ferrari became a symbol of F1 excellence, and to put it in Sebastian Vettel’s words, “even if you’re not a Ferrari fan, you’re a Ferrari fan.”
Maserati and Alfa Romeo, while smaller names today when compared to Ferrari, also played a big role in the success of Italian motorsport. Juan Manuel Fangio, one of the greatest drivers in F1 history, drove for each of these three teams, and gave them World Championship titles.
Technological shifts
The 1960s brought big changes to Formula 1, transforming car design and competition. The introduction of the mid-engine layout by the Cooper team was a major breakthrough. Unlike the older front-engine cars, newly designed cars had better balance and handling, giving drivers a clear advantage over teams that have not adapted this concept. Eventually, though, mid-engine cars became the norm in Formula 1, leading to faster, more agile cars and in turn, faster lap times.
Another key development came from Colin Chapman’s Lotus team, which focused on aerodynamics to boost car performance. Chapman introduced wings that increased downforce, allowing cars to corner faster and more safely. The Lotus F1 team in the 1960s was a pioneer of innovation – Colin Chapman and his team of engineers also tried incorporating a sequential gearbox into their F1 cars. Taken from a motorcycle, the concept of sequential gear shifting in cars we see today was already tested in the 1960s. Unfortunately, it was highly unreliable, postponing the debut of such gearboxes until 1991.
With these innovations in the 1960s, Formula 1 started to become more and more reliant on engineering and technical imagination. Driving skills were still one of the core elements in a team’s success, though.
Rise of iconic teams and drivers (1980s-1990s)
The 1980s and 1990s saw a period in Formula 1, when the biggest names in the sport were battling each other. If you’d put down a list of drivers that have the legendary status in the history of Formula 1, the majority of those names would be of drivers for this specific period. Perhaps the most notable rivalry in this era, which is mentioned frequently even today, is Ayrton Senna versus Alain Prost.
Senna, known for his passion and skill, became a legend with three World Championships. His rivalry with Prost, who won four titles, was fierce and thrilling. Their battles, especially when they were teammates at McLaren, captured the imagination of fans worldwide and remain some of the sport’s most memorable moments.
Innovations in car design and technology
The 1980s and 1990s also brought significant advancements in car technology. Teams experimented with turbocharged engines, active suspension, and electronic driver aids. Turbo engines, capable of producing more than 1,000 horsepower, made the cars incredibly fast but challenging to control, which in turn sparked some ideas at Williams’ garage for driver aids.
Williams pioneered active suspension, which automatically adjusted the car’s settings for optimal performance. This technology gave drivers a huge advantage on the track. Telemetry also became crucial, allowing teams to gather data from the car in real time, which improved race strategy and performance.
Ferrari brought back the sequential gearbox concept – it was still heavily unreliable, but when it worked, it worked beautifully. These innovations made F1 cars faster and more sophisticated than ever before.
The dawn of the hybrid era
The 21st century brought a focus on sustainability, leading to the hybrid era in 2014. This new era introduced turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 engines with hybrid energy recovery systems. The goal was to maintain speed while reducing environmental impact. Mercedes-AMG Petronas adapted quickly, dominating the hybrid era with a series of championship wins.
Lewis Hamilton, driving for Mercedes, became the face of this new era, breaking numerous records. His consistency and skill, combined with Mercedes’ advanced technology, helped him surpass Michael Schumacher’s record for the “most wins in F1 history.” The hybrid power units showed that F1 could evolve while keeping its thrilling edge.
Data-driven strategies
In today’s F1, data plays a crucial role. Teams collect huge amounts of data from their cars during races and practice sessions. This data helps them refine strategies and improve performance. Real-time telemetry allows teams to monitor everything from tire wear to fuel usage, helping them make quick decisions during a race.
Artificial intelligence is also becoming important in F1, helping teams analyze data to predict race outcomes and develop better strategies. This data-driven approach has transformed F1 into a sport that is not only about driving skill but also about engineering and smart decision-making. The use of technology ensures that F1 stays at the forefront of innovation, both on and off the track.
Rush the music
The movie Rush is one of the greatest motor sport films of all time. The winner of a multitude of awards, even Niki Lauda who was portrayed as the somewhat evil player in the film, thought it was an excellent representation of his on and off-track battles with James Hunt. According to many critics the film is rooted deep in reality, and like almost any such film, its makers used truth as a starting point. But the finished article has to work as entertainment that mass audiences can appreciate; otherwise, it would not have been made in the first place. The composer of choice for the film was, unsurprisingly double classic Brit Award-winner, Hans Zimmer.
What does the music sound like?
Rush tells a story from nearly four decades ago. Songs are presented but these are mostly from the early 1970s and it allows Zimmer to step away from musical trends and focus on narrative. Zimmer is and always has been a rock-and-roller at heart, with his own instincts leading him to guitars and percussion. And Rush is the perfect vehicle (pardon the pun) for Zimmer to exploit his rock roots, get a band together and just have fun.
The album opens with a mostly atmospheric cue, 1976, which instantly brings back memories of a Zimmer from the early 2000s. Some subtle car racing sounds make way for the gentlest of string chords. Faint guitar effects come in followed by rhythmic guitars, in such a way you may remember from Mission: Impossible 2 So far it’s pleasant, it’s very well done but it’s also what we were probably expecting. Then, most surprisingly, out of nowhere a cello comes in with the most gorgeous theme. So warm and heartfelt, it could have come straight out of Gladiator.
The rock sound throughout is beautifully executed, the synthesised sounds so well placed that the album is a constant joy of sonic discoveries. Zimmer’s scores so often get bogged down with layer upon layer of indistinguishable sounds that it’s wonderfully refreshing to have such transparency in this score.
Nürburgring is filled with dread. The first couple of minutes are eerily quiet, and when the action kicks off there is no excitement. Just impending doom, as the story moves towards Lauda’s accident. Inferno seems to move in slow-motion as we witness the accident and its aftermath. Deep rumbling noises seem to resemble the sound of fire; and the main theme makes a subtle appearance. Mount Fuji and For Love maintain a very serious atmosphere, even if the latter does pick up the pace again with Zimmer’s typical percussion and the arpeggiated guitars. With Reign the score slowly returns to its energetic self again; and again features a very brief nod to the main theme.
Is it any good?
It’s easily amongst the best, and most satisfying, scores of Zimmer’s career. There is a genuine energy and enthusiasm here, it is the old Zimmer that did Days of Thunder, The Fan and An Everlasting Piece – not that Rush sounds much, if at all, like any of those. But what they do have in common is that you can hear the composer having fun with the material and with his fellow musicians. The result is that the audience can have fun with this score. The guitars and drums may not be to everyone’s taste; and Zimmer’s certainly not written this score to please his audience.
If you would like to listen to a selection of music from the film here is the link: https://youtu.be/kz32dtlO39Y?si=cYq2IzaSAnVU23eK
Coachmakers’ events
The Coachmakers’ Charity and Fundraising Banquet – tickets on sale next week
Celebrating The Jet Age – 95 years on from Sir Frank Whittle’s first patent for a jet engine registered on 16th January 1930.
Sir Frank Whittle, the inventor of jet propulsion, obtained his first patent for a turbo-jet engine in 1930, and in 1936 he joined with associates to found a company called Power Jets Ltd. This year is the 95th anniversary of an invention that changed the world forever.
Be part of a celebration of this and other feats of engineering by joining the Company at the prestigious Coachmakers’ Charity and Fundraising Banquet at Mansion House, the home of the Lord Mayor of London Alastair King, who will be in attendance alongside the Lady Mayoress and Sheriffs, to raise funds for the Coachmakers’ Charity to invest in young people forging careers in our industries on Monday 9th June 2025.
In what promises to be a spectacular evening of celebration, fun and fundraising, we will also have musical entertainment from military musicians and the world-renowned Military Wives Choir.
Exciting guest speakers will include the Lord Mayor, whom we are privileged to have attend and there will also be a Prize Draw on the evening with some mouth-watering prizes.
Come and join the Master Coachmaker and friends from across the Coachmaker family on Monday 9th June 2025 commencing at 6pm.
Dress: White-tie preferred, black-tie optional.
There are still a few remaining tickets for the Automotive Dinner at Grocers’ Hall on 20th March 2025 – click here to book.
Affiliated Service Units: HMS ACTIVE update
From Commodore Robert JA Bellfield CBE ADC DL Royal Navy, Naval Regional Commander
Good Morning Master Stephen,
I am delighted to hear that the Court unanimously approved the proposal to affiliate the Company with HMS ACTIVE. It is certainly extremely encouraging, and I hope this will be a wonderful affiliation for all parties, for many years to come.
We would normally move forward with drafting a Memorandum of Understanding but HMS ACTIVE is currently a rapidly growing ‘lump of steel’ (plus many other materials) and does not yet have a ship’s company.
Here is an interesting press release on the keel laying.
https://www.navylookout.com/keel-laid-for-second-type-31-frigate-hms-active/
Conclusion: The enduring legacy of F1
Formula 1’s history is a story of innovation, rivalry, and unyielding ambition. From its humble beginnings in 1950 to the high-tech marvels of today, F1 has grown into more than just a sport—it is a global phenomenon that inspires millions of fans. As F1 continues to push the boundaries of speed, safety, and sustainability, it remains at the forefront of motorsport and technology.
F1’s legacy is built on pushing limits. With new technologies and emerging talent, the future of Formula 1 looks brighter than ever, promising to keep fans on the edge of their seats for years to come… much akin being a member of the Coachmakers!
(Source: https://eliteracinglegends.com/)