"He used to build cars so they needed a complete rebuild after every
race, but that was precisely the idea. He'd say they only need to do 250 miles so if they
break down after 260 then we're doing it about right. Of course what happened was they
very often broke at about 240..."
Peter Warr former Lotus team manager
"If Colin had a failing it was that he always looked
for the next thing no-one had rather than develop what he had."
Peter Warr
former Lotus team manager
"... he would guide a junior through
the needs and constraints of the current problem until his pupil reached the key to
it." Then he'd say "you see, it designs itself!" and walk
away.
Hugh
Haskell, former Lotus engineer
"Formula 1 should be the pinnacle of
motor racing. It should have the minimum of parameters controlling performance. There are
only four parameters which control a racing car; one is the power from the engine; the
second is the aerodynamical download it can produce; the third is the amount of grip which
can be obtained by the tyres and the fourth is the weight."
Colin
Chapman
"I think that Jimmy was the only real
friend that Colin had. Everybody else was a business associate."
