Someone else's trip to BAR's factory
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 10:32 pm
[QUOTE=pythonScott]Well, long story short, this last year as I lived in Germany I was able to make some connections on the BAR-Honda Formula 1 race team. After hanging out in the garage post-race after Hockenhiem, Monza, and Spa, I was invited to stop by the factory if I was ever up in England. I took a week vacation and drove up to the UK from Germany back in October. I stopped by the factory in Brackley, England and got to see all around the race shop and see where everything was engineered, built, fabricated, machined, etc, etc. I didn't get any pics inside the shops, because, as you know, what goes on is kept fairly secret, but I did get a few from the grounds and of 2 old V10's and a test car from last year that were in the main reception area.
I just realized I never posted my pics from the Monza and Spa paddock. I'll get those up too if you're interested.
A new wind tunnel is on the way !
here's the building in progress
Here's the main building of the many "where it all happens". The main office where all the designers and engineers work, including Geoff Willis' office is here. Pretty much all the metal parts (except the engine) are machined here. The autoclave that cooks all the composite parts is here. If you go through the garage door directly behind that first truck it puts you at the begining of the corridor to where all the race and test cars are prepped. Many of the doors that take you into the rooms where things like hydraulic systems are prepped or wire harnesses are made are off if this corridor.
Hey, nice Civic Type R! Reception is that-a-way ---->!
At the reception desk my dad and I each had one of these made up for us... a personalized visitors pass! a souvenir like that is just too cool.
Since I couldn't get pics "inside" here are some pics of a test car and 2 V10's they had for your browsing pleasure in the reception area.
A few different views of one V10:
Me by the car and a few more of the car. I was told it was a test car from last year and it looks like last years' 006 but the newer sposorship things lilke Showa and ENEOS threw me off.
pics of the RA004E V10...
While I was in the country I also toured the Lotus factory and got to see where every road going Lotus has ever been built. Because of many various reason no photography is allowed on the grounds of the factory (one of the reason being that much of Lotus' business comes from doing engineering work for others, so they dont want spy shot getting out of things that you might happen to see while on the grounds there)
The only cars that are currently built there is the Elise and Exige and its very cool to see these cars still assembled by hand. Here's some quick pics from that
dont miss this little sign on your way to the factory or you'll drive right by it!
the entrance and one of the 2 major buildings there at the factory
theres a dealership about 5 miles away from the factory where my dad and I went and "tried on" the Elises and Exiges. Once you're in, its not bad at all space wise. these are a few of the cars that were there.
Modified by pythonScott at 3:25 AM 12/4/2005[/QUOTE]
I just realized I never posted my pics from the Monza and Spa paddock. I'll get those up too if you're interested.
A new wind tunnel is on the way !
here's the building in progress
Here's the main building of the many "where it all happens". The main office where all the designers and engineers work, including Geoff Willis' office is here. Pretty much all the metal parts (except the engine) are machined here. The autoclave that cooks all the composite parts is here. If you go through the garage door directly behind that first truck it puts you at the begining of the corridor to where all the race and test cars are prepped. Many of the doors that take you into the rooms where things like hydraulic systems are prepped or wire harnesses are made are off if this corridor.
Hey, nice Civic Type R! Reception is that-a-way ---->!
At the reception desk my dad and I each had one of these made up for us... a personalized visitors pass! a souvenir like that is just too cool.
Since I couldn't get pics "inside" here are some pics of a test car and 2 V10's they had for your browsing pleasure in the reception area.
A few different views of one V10:
Me by the car and a few more of the car. I was told it was a test car from last year and it looks like last years' 006 but the newer sposorship things lilke Showa and ENEOS threw me off.
pics of the RA004E V10...
While I was in the country I also toured the Lotus factory and got to see where every road going Lotus has ever been built. Because of many various reason no photography is allowed on the grounds of the factory (one of the reason being that much of Lotus' business comes from doing engineering work for others, so they dont want spy shot getting out of things that you might happen to see while on the grounds there)
The only cars that are currently built there is the Elise and Exige and its very cool to see these cars still assembled by hand. Here's some quick pics from that
dont miss this little sign on your way to the factory or you'll drive right by it!
the entrance and one of the 2 major buildings there at the factory
theres a dealership about 5 miles away from the factory where my dad and I went and "tried on" the Elises and Exiges. Once you're in, its not bad at all space wise. these are a few of the cars that were there.
Modified by pythonScott at 3:25 AM 12/4/2005[/QUOTE]