Footage of Fangio demonstrating the saddle-tanked D50 in the following video

[Justin McArdle]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9-BZ0NbriI

[lancialulu]

Brilliant. Shame about the prancing horse. I loved also the "Lancia shaped" ashtray he was holding.

[stanley sweet]

Yes, it is a shame someone drew a funny horse on a Lancia. Great video, love it when he drifts out towards a line of parked cars. I know the Alonso's of this world are great drivers but you just don't see them working anymore, just part of a head above the cockpit. It's so good to see Fangio winding on opposite lock approaching the tunnel. I'd also like to know what that watch is he's wearing? It's not a 30 bob Timex that's for sure.

[fay66]

Pure artistry, I'd love to see our top drivers today in cars like these, and see just how good they really are without all the gadgets, Gizmo's and computer, and where you have to do everything for yourself.
Much prefer this version of the D50 before Ferrari fully faired in the side tanks to the body.

Brian
8227

[DavidLaver]

Ken Block is the name to look for on YouTube for a modern driver "at work".

David

[Richard Fridd]

Yes, it is a shame someone drew a funny horse on a Lancia. Great video, love it when he drifts out towards a line of parked cars. I know the Alonso's of this world are great drivers but you just don't see them working anymore, just part of a head above the cockpit. It's so good to see Fangio winding on opposite lock approaching the tunnel. I'd also like to know what that watch is he's wearing? It's not a 30 bob Timex that's for sure.

I also would be interested to know about the watch. Probably not this one though?                           

[stanley sweet]

That's a beautiful watch Richard. You're not lucky enough to have picked it up in an auction are you?? The one in the film seems to have a dark coloured window at the '3'. Possibly showing previous, actual and next date like a modern IWC? David, I'll have a look for Ken Block. I know Alonso has demonstrated an old Ferrari in recent years and was drifting it beautifully so he at least isn't fazed by 3 pedals and a gearstick. Pleeeaaassseeee Ferrari, build him a car to match his talents!

[Richard Fridd]

 No chance. 185000.00 is mentioned at http://collectorstudio.com/index.cfm/ID/34/

[stanley sweet]

Shouldn't have posted that link.........that'll be a morning gone!

[Richard Fridd]

Good therapy I think

[DavidLaver]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8sMsLel92c

Its been a while since I'd seen this one.  I remembered the bumps and how much wheel movement and the drifts.  What I'd forgotten was that even on an airfield they have some really nasty looking kerbs for him to skim.  They look like they'd pull the suspension off as much as flip the car.  Lots of sturdy looking bushes to get under the car and give it a proper launch as well.

David

[stanley sweet]

That is indeed scary. I found myself holding my breath as he skimmed those high curbs as you said. They wouldn't even run a sprint on that surface these days. The difference was the drivers had great respect for the tracks and each other. These days it's almost becoming a computer game where you just come back on unscathed. I read a book years ago where a journalist laid by the side of the track watching Fangio. He placed a matchstick in a crack just where Fangio passed by and said that lap after lap Fangios' tyre just missed it by the same distance.

[DavidLaver]

I'm no so sure that surface wouldn't be used today, its just that it would be called "a rally".  When I look at Aurelias on loose surfaces up mountains I think of Pikes Peak.

A quick google gave me this:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e7NUnd1KM1U/UbeDxgwfMiI/AAAAAAAAIEw/0QCA5hQpGkA/s1600/gal_450_STR_03zardini.jpg

David

[Richard Fridd]

That is indeed scary. I found myself holding my breath as he skimmed those high curbs as you said. They wouldn't even run a sprint on that surface these days. The difference was the drivers had great respect for the tracks and each other. These days it's almost becoming a computer game where you just come back on unscathed. I read a book years ago where a journalist laid by the side of the track watching Fangio. He placed a matchstick in a crack just where Fangio passed by and said that lap after lap Fangios' tyre just missed it by the same distance.

in a Stirling Moss book which I have read, there is mention of Fangio clipping the same straw protruding from a bale at the edge of a course, observed by Stirling Moss. So rather consistent.

[adrian donovan]

..so the cars parked at the side of the road in Monaco would be no problem at all.....