As wasn't it nice having Uncle Bernaughty back in
Formula One's Paddock, kibitzing with the Bahraini Prince, and perhaps he'll be
whispering in some Big Shot Russian's ear shortly...
Interesting how this story seems to have come
and Done Flown by... Regarding the upcoming sale of Brazil's Interlagos
circuit, with none other than F1 Chairman Emeritus Bernard Charles Ecclestone's
name being thrown into the mix, albeit the always mischievous Uncle Bernaughty
hasn't publicly decided whether or not he's going to bid upon the racetrack officially
known as Autódromo José
Carlos Pace yet.
As reportedly the sale into private hands
would lead the way for circuit upgrades, new hotels and even a proposed museum
named in honour of the late Ayrton Senna. With other Brazilian legends wares
sprinkled in.
One of the drivers mentioned in the proposed
racing museum named after the triple F1 world champion - besides Saint Ayrton's
Bosom Buddy Nelson Piquet; Hya! Is Brazil's first F1 world champion Emerson
Fittipaldi, who seemingly is making a comeback from his previous financial
difficulties.
As EMMO' has now moved onto designing his
first production car with the help of the revered Italian Coachwork design
house Pininfarina, for a vehicle named the EF7.
"Racer
Emerson Fittipaldi has accomplished much in his life. In 1972, at age 25, he
won five of 12 races with Lotus to become the youngest world champion in
Formula 1 history. He won a second championship, with McLaren in 1974, and went
on to win the 1989 CART championship and two Indianapolis 500s, in 1989 and
1993. But that was all using other people's hardware. One thing
Fittipaldi had never done is build and design his own race car."
while I typically enjoy the stories written
by Tony Markovich for Car and Driver magazine, perhaps
I'm splitting Hairs? But I immediately GROWLED OUT LOUD! what about the Copersucar
Fittipaldi
Formula 1 cars!
As this outburst
reverberated thru Thy Cranium upon reading Mr. Markovich's story's opening
lines 'bout Emerson never having competed in his own race car, originally
published on Valentine's Day eve.
Taking this rant a
Wee bit further, even funnier yet, the self-titled F1 chassis were the products
of Fittipaldi Automotive and designed by Richard Divila, a longtime
collabourater of the Fittipaldi brothers, who reportedly began working for them
50yrs ago at The Brothers Fittipaldi's Fitti-Kart company.
For which the
story's subsequently been revised, simply deleting this erroneous sentence; so
guess I wasn't completely off my rocker, eh?
For those who don't know, Emerson shocked the
Formula 1 world at the end of 1975by leaving McLaren who were on their own
downslide, before The Ronster's', nee Ron Dennis and his Marlboro backed
Project 4 arrival at the end of the 1970's; sound familiar?
As EMMO' took his legendous' Mutton Chops to join
the Copersucar
Fittipaldi concern set-up with his elder brother, the lesser
known Wilson, Jr. - who's son's name is Christian.
As Wilson had driven the debutant Copersucar
FD01 Ford/Cosworth designed by Divila, presumably what the letter D in the
chassis designation stands for? With Wilson having mixed results during the '75
season.
From 1976-82, Wilson relinquished driving and
took over team management of their Fittipaldi Automotive F1 Team, where Emerson
would have varied results before becoming challenged by a team-mate named Keke
Rosberg! And ultimately retiring from Formula 1 at season's end of 1980,
ironically at Watkins Glen, New York.
Yet without droning on 'bout EMMO' drinking OJ at
Mother Speedway... As we A-L-L know, Emerson was coaxed out of retirement to
have a very successful IndyCar career, winning the Indy 500 twice, along with
the '89 CART/IndyCar championship for Pat Patrick and thou Cheepster', nee Chip
Ganassi. And subsequently returning to chauffer the Pace Car for the '08 event...
