Keith Duckworth R.I.P.

Another genius dead.

I have a set of new Cosworth conrod bolts that I never used, which can only be described as a work of art.

Not much of a tribute, but he did produce beautiful bolts and fantastic engines. The Cosworth head was always out of my reach.

sad news - there is not enough appreciation of engineering in this country. Thanks for the post

count.d quite right - and two posts with the same time!

What would motor sport have been without this man?
Not a class that had not felt his genius.

I have a 3 litre DFV piston,a work of art.

RIP.

Howard

Wow, they were just showing a program about Lotus on the Speed Channel and I was waxing lyrically to Mrs Andy about the DFV!

At least he was aknowledged in the circles that were important to him and retired a 'wealthy man at 55'

Andy

Was it the first engine to win an F1 race on its first outing?

Jono

THe Lotus 49 with the DFV (for which it was designed) won on its first outing. Whether that satisfies your question as well I'm not sure. It's probably the cheapest though.

Howard

Although I remember the days when the DFV won almost everything in F1, my best memories of Cosworth power are of Escorts with various "BD" series engines (essentially half of a DFV)screaming though the forests.

........"Although I remember the days when the DFV won almost everything in F1, my best memories of Cosworth power are of Escorts with various "BD" series engines (essentially half of a DFV)screaming though the forests."

I remember the first rally I went to back in '84. It was in an old RAF Bomb storage area in a norfolk woods. I said to my well seasoned rallying friend "It sounds like someone's thrashing their motorbike in the forest."
My mate put me right, then to confirm what he'd said a sideways MKII Escort appeared absolutely screaming its head off. I was hooked.
I think most MKI and II Escorts use Vauxhall engines now. Shame.

Tony

quote:

Although I remember the days when the DFV won almost everything in F1

The DFV gave 'normal' people the ability to build a car and go F1 racing and win, leading to the modern constructors we have today.

Poor old Enzo Ferrari would rage against what he called "garagists".

Andy

PS Tony I had a similar conversion to 'bobble hat' status, only mine was in the forests of North Yorks on the Lombard RAC and it was the fire belching Group B cars that did it. I was hooked at 3am in the pouring rain, cold, wet and covered in mud!

quote:

PS Tony I had a similar conversion to 'bobble hat' status, only mine was in the forests of North Yorks on the Lombard RAC and it was the fire belching Group B cars that did it. I was hooked at 3am in the pouring rain, cold, wet and covered in mud!

The sound of Pondy in a 6R4 in the forest really was one of 'those moments' for me. That unique sound resonating, instant throttle response, the strange smell of the fuels those cars used.... Magic.

Tony

PS. Just off to play a bit of Rallying's Greatest Years: The 80's before I go to work!

quote:

I think most MKI and II Escorts use Vauxhall engines now. Shame.

Yes, but the Vauxhall engine in question is the old Astra/Calibra 16V unit and the head was designed by .....Cosworth!!

Memories of The Lombard RAC rally:

Getting lost each year in the middle of forests, pitch black and freezing.

Beautiful snow scenes in the Lake District, then driving home to miserable concrete jungle.

Opel Manta, BDA & BDG Escorts, 6R4, RS200, Quattro Sport and the Lancia Delta.

Pond in the Rover.

Standing next to Ari Vatanen & Markku Alen.

Michele Mouton, the perfect woman in the perfect car - the Audi Quattro Sport.

The look on our faces when we saw the Quattro Sport for the first time on a stage.

Frantically driving to the next spectator stages in the Lakes, then getting brake fade, yikes!

Wrapped up in "fit for Everest" mountaineering gear and surviving on a flask of soup.

The amazement at one of our friends using a mobile phone in the forest, in the 80's.