RIP Derek Gardner

[timbo]

[donskar]

He was a very fine engineer in the days when the rules allowed for some very original designs.

[Richard]

First car had 4WD
Second car on pole
Forth car won WDC and WCC

Awesome! In the days when design teams were smaller and an individual designer made a difference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Gard ... orsport%29
http://www.google.com/search?q=derek+gardner

[autogyro]

Rest In peace Derek.
I still remember some very interesting meetings at Borg Warner Letchworth.
This guy was a true gentleman and one of the best engineers Britain has ever had.

[marcush.]

the guy had balls..Even if allowed who would build something as outrageous as a sixwheeler todays?
to be recognized as a genius todays you need only reinvent pullrod , ebd and wingflex...(Icould not resist that provocation)
that guy had all reason to say :did that.
[-o<

[donskar]

the guy had balls..Even if allowed who would build something as outrageous as a sixwheeler todays?
to be recognized as a genius todays you need only reinvent pullrod , ebd and wingflex...(Icould not resist that provocation)
that guy had all reason to say :did that.
[-o<

Of course in his time the rules allowed genius to express itself. Now "genius" often means ability to interpret rules to your benefit. Remember the ex-BRM designer (Pilbeam?) who said, on leaving F1, something like, "Today in F1 all you need to do is change a bracket or two and you call it a new design"?

Gardner designed during the period when different F1 cars looked different.

[marcush.]

I hear you but I don´t think that just because everyone seems to go along those lines inventions are not possible or yielding big benefits...
Barnard came up with Carbonfibre tubs and not long time after this you had to havit.
same with semiautomatic gearboxes.
same with his cokebottle rearend.

or Migeots raised nose..

genuine inventions are possible.

[donskar]

I hear you but I don´t think that just because everyone seems to go along those lines inventions are not possible or yielding big benefits...
Barnard came up with Carbonfibre tubs and not long time after this you had to havit.
same with semiautomatic gearboxes.
same with his cokebottle rearend.

or Migeots raised nose..

genuine inventions are possible.

Agree that some inventiveness is still seen in F1 (thankfully). It's just that all the major breakthroughs you mention were introduced, what 20-25 years ago?