Review of John Tipler’s book “Lotus 78 and 79: The Ground Effect Cars”, a book devoted to the stunning first wing cars, the Lotus 78 and 79.
British author John Tipler is a talented writer who has specialised in automotive books. His 192-page book about the first wing cars ever raced in Formula 1 is extremely well documented and superbly illustrated.
To document his book, Tipler was given access to the Lotus archives and also spent a lot of time talking with former Team Lotus engineers (including vehicle engineer Martin Ogilvie and aerodynamicist Peter Wright), fabricators, race mechanics and drivers, such as Mario Andretti and Carlos Reutemann.
The JPS-sponsored Lotus 78 was the car that started the ground effect revolution in Formula 1. By means of sidepods and flexible skirts, the air that passed under the car was used to create a zone of low air pressure underneath the car that literally sucked it to the ground.
Its successor, the stunning 79, was a true "wing" car, the car Mario Andretti drove to the World Championship in 1978.
The book also devotes some pages to the ill-fated Lotus 80, the car that was designed to run without front and rear wings.
The book is very entertaining with several anecdotes and notes about what really happened during those days where aerodynamics was stila form of black art.
“Lotus 78 and 79: The Ground Effect Cars”
by John Tipler
Crowood Press (UK)
photo:Ford
British author John Tipler is a talented writer who has specialised in automotive books. His 192-page book about the first wing cars ever raced in Formula 1 is extremely well documented and superbly illustrated.
 |
To document his book, Tipler was given access to the Lotus archives and also spent a lot of time talking with former Team Lotus engineers (including vehicle engineer Martin Ogilvie and aerodynamicist Peter Wright), fabricators, race mechanics and drivers, such as Mario Andretti and Carlos Reutemann.
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| Lotus 78 |
The JPS-sponsored Lotus 78 was the car that started the ground effect revolution in Formula 1. By means of sidepods and flexible skirts, the air that passed under the car was used to create a zone of low air pressure underneath the car that literally sucked it to the ground.
 |
| Lotus 79 |
Its successor, the stunning 79, was a true "wing" car, the car Mario Andretti drove to the World Championship in 1978.
The book also devotes some pages to the ill-fated Lotus 80, the car that was designed to run without front and rear wings.
The book is very entertaining with several anecdotes and notes about what really happened during those days where aerodynamics was stila form of black art.
“Lotus 78 and 79: The Ground Effect Cars”
by John Tipler
Crowood Press (UK)
photo:Ford