320 March Cosworth 761 2-4-0 (1976)
March Cosworth 2-4-0 761 (1976) Engine 2993cc V8 Ford Cosworth DFV
MARCH ENGINEERING SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623795892900...
ENTRANT: Anthony Smith
DRIVER: Jeremy Smith
Designed by Robin Herd, who had followed the Tyrell P34 six wheeled design closely. Herd had reasoned that though initially very successfull the Tyrell design with four front wheels was ultimately a blind alley. He reasoned that its improved frontal aerodynamice were somewhat negated by its standard 24 inch rear wheels which cost 30 to 40% of the cars drag. He also reasoned that the extra grip could be better employed through the use of four 17 inch rear driven wheels.
At the time March was at a finacial low point and the design was developed quietly. As a compromise measure, a 1976-design Cosworth DFV-powered March 761 was adapted by team engineer Wayne Eckersley using existing parts from the factory stores were possible.
Paramount to the design would be its transmission and an ingenius design was was required to minimise any frictional power losses. It would also have to be stronger (and hence heavier) to counteract the higher torsional and flexural stresses that the close-coupled four-wheel-drive system would generate. Herds original design for the gearbox casing specified a series of strengthening ribs to counteract the additional loading, but such a design would be both complex and expensive, so by way of cost cutting some strengthening ribs were removed from the blueprint. With the ammended design using a standard Hewland F1 gearbox for the first axle. To this, the new casing, gears and an extended pinion for the second axle were fitted. Practically, this meant that any 761 chassis could be easily adapted should the concept prove workable.
At the cars press test at Silverstone in late 1976 the gearbox casing flexed on the opening lap and the gears became unmeshed so the rear crown wheel and pinion were removed for the rest of the day's testing, leaving the car as a two wheel drive, but in the heavy rain driver Howden Ganley produced decent times and the press, non the wiser declared the test a success.. Unable to afford the modifications and developement programme the project was de-prioritised.
By February 1977 with a stronger gearbox the car ran again on Silverstone's Hangar straight driven by Ian Scheckter, again in the rain, with Scheckter reporting incredible traction. But this was the end of the cars Formula One history.
In 1979 the 2-4-0 concept was revived by British Hillclimb specialist Roy Lane. Lane had bought a March 771 chassis and with Robin Herd's blessing was loaned the improved 2-4-0 transmission unit. The fact that the 2-4-0 was originally an inexpensive workshop conversion of the standard March F1 chassis meant that Lane was easily able to fit the unit to his car.. With the advantage of four wheel traction Lane won a number of Hillclimbs, the first at Wiscombe Park but the car could be troublesome and line finally converted it back to four wheel configuration.
The March 2-4-0 story was not without a silver lining for the company that built it. As Max Mosley had surmised, the car was indeed a huge publicity magnet. Additionally, significant income was generated for the team when the Scalextric company purchased the rights to produce and market a best-selling 1/32 scale slot-racing replica. .
Shot the Goodwood Festival of Speed 30:06:2012 Ref: 87-320
320 March Cosworth 761 2-4-0 (1976)
March Cosworth 2-4-0 761 (1976) Engine 2993cc V8 Ford Cosworth DFV
MARCH ENGINEERING SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623795892900...
ENTRANT: Anthony Smith
DRIVER: Jeremy Smith
Designed by Robin Herd, who had followed the Tyrell P34 six wheeled design closely. Herd had reasoned that though initially very successfull the Tyrell design with four front wheels was ultimately a blind alley. He reasoned that its improved frontal aerodynamice were somewhat negated by its standard 24 inch rear wheels which cost 30 to 40% of the cars drag. He also reasoned that the extra grip could be better employed through the use of four 17 inch rear driven wheels.
At the time March was at a finacial low point and the design was developed quietly. As a compromise measure, a 1976-design Cosworth DFV-powered March 761 was adapted by team engineer Wayne Eckersley using existing parts from the factory stores were possible.
Paramount to the design would be its transmission and an ingenius design was was required to minimise any frictional power losses. It would also have to be stronger (and hence heavier) to counteract the higher torsional and flexural stresses that the close-coupled four-wheel-drive system would generate. Herds original design for the gearbox casing specified a series of strengthening ribs to counteract the additional loading, but such a design would be both complex and expensive, so by way of cost cutting some strengthening ribs were removed from the blueprint. With the ammended design using a standard Hewland F1 gearbox for the first axle. To this, the new casing, gears and an extended pinion for the second axle were fitted. Practically, this meant that any 761 chassis could be easily adapted should the concept prove workable.
At the cars press test at Silverstone in late 1976 the gearbox casing flexed on the opening lap and the gears became unmeshed so the rear crown wheel and pinion were removed for the rest of the day's testing, leaving the car as a two wheel drive, but in the heavy rain driver Howden Ganley produced decent times and the press, non the wiser declared the test a success.. Unable to afford the modifications and developement programme the project was de-prioritised.
By February 1977 with a stronger gearbox the car ran again on Silverstone's Hangar straight driven by Ian Scheckter, again in the rain, with Scheckter reporting incredible traction. But this was the end of the cars Formula One history.
In 1979 the 2-4-0 concept was revived by British Hillclimb specialist Roy Lane. Lane had bought a March 771 chassis and with Robin Herd's blessing was loaned the improved 2-4-0 transmission unit. The fact that the 2-4-0 was originally an inexpensive workshop conversion of the standard March F1 chassis meant that Lane was easily able to fit the unit to his car.. With the advantage of four wheel traction Lane won a number of Hillclimbs, the first at Wiscombe Park but the car could be troublesome and line finally converted it back to four wheel configuration.
The March 2-4-0 story was not without a silver lining for the company that built it. As Max Mosley had surmised, the car was indeed a huge publicity magnet. Additionally, significant income was generated for the team when the Scalextric company purchased the rights to produce and market a best-selling 1/32 scale slot-racing replica. .
Shot the Goodwood Festival of Speed 30:06:2012 Ref: 87-320