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New P69 Ford Sports Airfoil

BRENTWOOD, Eng., April 7 - upper surface of the car. engine and transmission oil cooler
Ford’s new P69 sports prototype The prototype has a maximum as well as the rear brakes and fuel
will make its debut at the 1969 speed in excess of 200mph and is injector trumpets.
BOAC International 500 race at 15 inches shorter, 5 inches lower, Suspension is fully independent
Brands Hatch, April 13. and 2.5 inches wider than the P68 with double wishbones at the front
Drivers will be Frank Gardner prototype—a closed car—which first and double wishbone trailing arms
and Jack Brabham. raced last year. at the rear. The ventilated Girling
The research vehicle is designed disc brakes are 11.5 inches in
as an integral airfoil study, BAILEY DESIGN diameter and are carried three
according to Ford. Use of airfoils Len Bailey, Ford of Britain’s top inches inboard of the hub carriers.
on Formula One cars has been high performance engineer, MONOCOQUE
increasing in recent years and the designed the car and it was built
P69 continues the study to the under the supervision of Alan Mann As with the closed-model sports
sports-prototype field. at Byfleet in Surrey, England. prototype, the P69 is of
Ford is also currently working Castrol and Goodyear engineers monocoque construction. The skin
with the Jim Clark Foundation on a reportedly cooperated in its is .03 mallebable aircraft alloy
F/l airfoil study, using a 1968 development. which is both riveted and bonded.
Lotus chassis. “We have set out to promote The doors are hinged at their
UNIQUE AIRFOIL positive downward lift forces with a leading edges and fold forward to
permit access for driver and
minimum of drag,” Bailey said.
The P69 integral airfoil utilizes a “Later it is envisaged the rear flap passenger.
system of interconnected, will serve as an air brake which will Ford has conducted both wind
adjustable airfoil wings mounted at be directly controlled by the tunnel and road tests of the new
front and rear. Action of the two driver.” prototype. Wind tunnel tests were
wings is controlled both undertaken by the Motor Industry
mechanically and hydraulically Power is supplied by the Ford Research Assn, at Nuneaton while
with the pitch angle being governed 3-liter F/l engine mounted behind Gardner completed a
directly by air pressure bearing on the driver and rated in excess of comprehensive test at Goodwood,
the wing surfaces when the car is in 420hp and driving through a according to a Ford spokesman.
motion. Hewland 5-speed transmission. The P68 closed Ford sports
The front airfoil is mounted low The engine radiator is mounted prototype which was raced last year
down between the extended front in a special duct at the rear of the will continue for certain events
fenders. The rear airfoil is car while ducts are cut into the side during the 1969 season, including
attached by its leading edge to the and underside of the car for the the BOAC 500, he added. Overhead view of new P69 shows how forward wing nestles between front
fenders and full tonneau cover.
Seattle Track Seeking USAC Date;

Reopens For Practice Sessions

By Dee Norton The USAC event, tentatively set
SEATTLE, Wash., April 8 - for mid-September, was found to
Seattle International Raceways, be too close to the scheduled Oct. 5
formerly Pacific Raceways, has SCCA Trans-American Sedan race.
been reopened for practice sessions. Donner said the problem involves
The track’s closure to practice finding a USAC date which will not
when new operators took over a conflict with SCCA events in this
month ago incensed many area and with Canadian-American
Washington, Oregon and British Challenge Cup races in other parts
Columbia competitors accustomed of the country.
to frequent practice and test “We don’t want to compete for
periods at the Kent facility. driver’s for our formula (July 6
Bill Donner, track manager for Continental Championship) and
Alan Green, Bob Yeakel and Tom USAC events with the CanAm,”
Friedkin, said fees now will be $7 Donner stated.
for each weekday and $10 for each He also explained that the new
Though using airfoils, the new Ford P69 prototype still has a “clean appearance. Driver s head just barely sticks up for Saturday the track is not in other operators of the track "hold a
viewing roadway. ____________ (David Phipps photos) use. two-year lease on the 2.25-mile,
- A _ 1 £___ + with rpnpu/fll