31 Mar Rear-view Mirror
A regular look back at old motoring and motor sport items…
Now that the Formula 1 Grand Prix season is under way, the importance of well planned and hassle-free pit stops has already come under the microscope. Red Bull still appear to be consistently the quickest, and although refuelling is not part of the procedure – it was banned at the end of the 2009 season – in the early days of grand prix racing, while tyres usually lasted the distance, refuelling was usually necessary.
The photo shows the Hon Peter Aitken making a stop in his supercharged 1486cc ERA R11B during the 5th South African GP held at the Prince George Circuit on 2 January 1939. By modern safety standards it is a scary scene, and actually surprising no-one is smoking, which was often the case!
The race was the first SAGP to be run under the then international voiturette formula, which limited engine size to 1500cc. Aitken went on to finish 7th in the race that was won from pole position by Luigi Villoresi in his supercharges Maserati 6CM.
(NB: No copyright infringement is intended with any of the images used to illustrate these articles.)