Tag Archives: Formula One

F1 exhibition crosses the finish line but what’s next???

2 November 2009 – 3.27pm

Staff at the museum waved the checkered flag for the Formula One – The Great Design Race exhibition this morning, having closed to the public on Sunday.  The exhibition was seen by over 52,000 people and preliminary visitor market research shows that 1/4 of visitors surveyed were first time visitors to the museum!

The Ferrari F2004 will be going back to Bridgestone in Australia

The Ferrari F2004 will be going back to Australia. Thanks Bridgestone for securing this car for the exhibition! Image © Te Papa.

So now the cars will be wheeled out and the Visa Platinum Gallery will undergo another major transformation for the Australian blockbuster exhibition, A Day in Pompeii, opening on Saturday 19 December.

Featuring more than 250 authentic objects from the famous buried city, the exhibition details daily life in Roman times and the dramatic explosion of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD that caused life to be frozen in time.

As soon as the exhibition arrives in Wellington, we’ll be posting behind-the-scenes photos on flickr, facebook and twitter so keep an eye out!

In the meantime, here’s one of my favourite treasures from A Day in Pompeii…

Medallion with couple from A Day in Pompeii exhibition

Medallion with couple. Painted plaster. Pompeii, House of the Gold Bracelet. Source – Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei

By janekeig | Posted in Exhibitions | Also tagged | Comments (2)

The 73 most beautiful F1 cars of all time… Yeah right

1 November 2009 – 6.20pm

Well… today is the LAST DAY to see Te Papa’s Formula One the Great Design Race exhibition, in fact as I write this, its the LAST HOUR to see these sexy beasts. I’ve loved the cars we’ve been fortunate to be able to display – it would’ve been brilliant to have fifty more, but sadly physically impossible… *sigh*…

But something has been niggling me the entire time, a minor disagreement I have…

© Te Papa, 2009.

© Te Papa, 2009.

On the far wall near the Ferrari there is a visual checkered feast of images of what a group of 17 experts (mostly photographers) consider to be the 73 most beautiful – in terms of looks – F1 cars of all time up to & including the 2004 season. Each was allowed to choose their top 10 in order of beauty from 1 to 10, and after the scores were number crunched and organised – these 73 cars were the result.

Some of our cars on display are on the list – the Ferrari F2004 was 9th, the McLaren M7A was 24th equal with the McLaren MP4-4, the McLaren MP4-19B, the Tyrell 006, and the Ferrari Dino D236. The Williams FW14B was 29th equal with the Brabham BT26-A, and the Tyrell P34

© Te Papa, 2009

© Te Papa, 2009

But I don’t agree with a lot of them – including their number one, its the Mercedes W196 (1954-55). I truly don’t understand what is beautiful about it, well – to be number one anyway. I think it looks like a manta ray, flat and wide with a huge wide mouth that feeds on the seafloor – and I don’t mean it to be a compliment.

It got me to thinking – was it just me? Is it because I’m just a girl and ‘don’t get it’?

I don’t jolly think so.

So I started asking some Kiwi experts what they consider to be their hottest (in terms of beautiful) F1 car. Because I don’t do maths or number crunching, they didn’t have to give me their top 10.

Here’s my panel:

Sam Robinson has just got his Suzuki Swift and will be racing in the 2009-10 Suzuki Swift Sport Cup. Sam’s choice was the 91 Jordan – not crowded or fussy.

Jono Lester  drives a Porsche GT3 and won the Hamilton 400 Trophy at the Hamilton 400 V8 Supercar event. Jono’s favourites are the 1984 JPS Lotus and he liked the simplicity of the 91 Williams.

John Fowke from the Toyota Racing Series group liked the 72 Lotus and the McLaren MP4-4.

Jan McLaren the younger sister of  Bruce McLaren, loves the front engined Maserati 250F driven by Fangio – and I’ve got to agree with her.

and then I asked these chaps when they were here:

Michael, Chris, Bob, and Greg at the 'Ask the Boys' event on Te Marae. © Te Papa, 2009.

Michael, Chris, Bob, and Greg at the ‘Ask the Boys’ event on Te Marae. © Te Papa, 2009.

Michael Clark is a motorsport historian and his columns can be  found in New Zealand Classic Car. His most beautiful is the  navy blue 1967 AAR Eagle driven by Dan Gurney. I’ve just googled it and have to agree, its a fine car.

Chris Amon - after much egging on by the others to ask him, it turns out , does NOT like the March 701. He thought the 1968 Ferrari 312/68 and the Maserati 250F were the most beautiful.

Bob McMurray (who may have been the one who got me to ask Chris if the March was his favourite, cheers Bob) can’t get past the McLaren MP4-4. He didn’t even have to think about it – he said it’s bulky but beautiful. He’s jolly lucky I didn’t write that he thought the 1971 BRM P160 was the most beautiful.

Greg Murphy also thought that the Mp4-4 was the best – it looks fast even when its standing still. For him its the epitome of an open race car.

And just because I aint biased I’ve included my twin bro’s opinion too – Patrick’s most favourite (no surprises as he’s a Ferrari man through and through) is the F2004.

Whats mine? You know – I still don’t know. I love the old F1 cars – especially the ones with the spoked wheels. I like the shark nose of the Ferrari 156, and I’ll always love the Wiiliams FW14B. I do know I’ve really enjoyed having these amazing cars here at Te Papa.

I’ll also be up this morning at 2am to watch the Abu Dhabi race - the final one for the 2009 F1 season :) Its been a bit of a mission to get mates who have Sky Sports to let me into their houses at all hours…

By emmab | Posted in Exhibitions | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Proof is in the … pic of you in the car!

1 October 2009 – 11.49am
View of the TRS showcar on Level 2, from Level 4. © Te Papa, 2009.

View of the TRS showcar on Level 2, from Level 4. © Te Papa, 2009.

The Te Papa events are rockin! There are so many people are having a blast – seeing the F1 cars up in the exhibition on Level 4, checking out the big Toyota Racing Series transporter truck parked out front, marvelling at the curious 2-seater (there aint that many 2-seaters around the world I can tell ya) and getting to actually sit in the TRS showcar and get your pic taken (gotta have proof you did it, eh!) once you’ve shown staff your ticket to the exhibition.

These are the current times we are working to with regards to being able to sit in the showcar and get your pic taken:
11.00-11.30
12.00-12.30
1.30-2.00
2.30-3.00
4.00-4.30
The times are a bit of a moveable feast but they’re what we’re aiming to – this is so we can be more positively reactive to changes in visitor interest and numbers as well as making sure the amazing people working in these areas get well-deserved breaks :)

You can collect your free photo in the following hour after you get it taken in the first place from the HP Photocentre near the showcar on Level 2.

Anyone who can fit in it can get in it! © Te Papa, 2009.

Anyone who can fit in it can get in it! © Te Papa, 2009.

By emmab | Posted in Events, Exhibitions | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Even more cars in the building!

29 September 2009 – 5.03pm

As of tomorrow until next Tuesday (2 October) we have even more racing cars on display to add to the wonderful mix that are already upstairs in our Formula One™ – The Great Design Race  exhibition.

Toyota Racing Series have brought with them their big transporter truck (way too big to get inside the building – hence being parked out front :) and four of their series racing cars. Two are actual cars used in races, one is a showcar (no engine – but thats the one you can sit in and have your photo taken if you show staff your F1 exhibition ticket) and the other is a specially-made two-seater.

They came to Te Papa today to unload and set up – but we’re running out of room! Janelle ran around trying to find where we could park two of the cars (where our bigs goods lift has access to as well)

ooh – shes a smart cookie…

Where do you reckon we put them? © Te Papa, 2009.

Where do you reckon we put them? © Te Papa, 2009.Single seater is on the left. © Te Papa, 2009.

Single seater. © Te Papa, 2009.

Compare the front wings with the MP4-21. © Te Papa, 2009.

They’ll all be wheeled out tonight ready for you tomorrow – 2 inside and 2 outside.

By emmab | Posted in Exhibitions | Comments (0)

School Holidays and Formula One

29 September 2009 – 4.38pm

Goodness me, Te Papa is a veritable seething mass of children and their families… YEP the school holidays are back on. We’ve got some very cool stuff for you to come and see and do!

Go and see the F1 beauties in Formula One™ – The Great Design Race, Level 4 – there are floor talks by the experts such Bob McMurray and Craig Russell – you can ask them all sorts of questions. These talks are especially for kids and their families and are on this Thursday at 1.00-2.00, Friday at 1.30-2.30, and Saturday, 1.00-2.00.

From tomorrow, Wednesday 30 September until Tuesday 6 October we have the Toyota Racing Series team visiting  Te Papa. THIS MEANS that they’ll have heaps of things on display like their transporter truck parked out front with a pit paddock set up.

The Toyota Racing Series transporter truck. © Toyota Racing Series

The Toyota Racing Series transporter truck. © Toyota Racing Series

Inside Te Papa on level 2 you’ll be able to see their 2 seater car – this isn’t one of their normal racing cars (although being a co-driver in it would be very cool!) but one they use only very occasionally to give a very lucky person a ride.

For all those who’ve been into the Formula One™ – The Great Design Race exhibition – keep your tickets, go down to Level 2 and at you’ll be able to sit in the TRS showcar and not only get your photo taken but a little while later be able to collect the proof you were there – the photo printed at our HP station for free. This will be at certain times throughout the day so I will keep you posted about the times.

Once you’ve used your ticket to get your free photo – write your name and contact details on the back of it and put it into the lucky draw to win a Toyota Racing Series hospitality pack  for 4 to see the 55th New Zealand Grand Prix  at Manfeild 12 -14 February, 2010. I was looked after by Toyota at Manfeild earlier this year and believe me they’ll look after you! I had so much fun – I’ll be back at Manfeild to see the races again next year.

By emmab | Posted in Exhibitions | Comments (0)

Installing Reactive Architecture exhibition

7 September 2009 – 5.25pm

It’s not often we have an urgent request from the exhibition installers for help with Javascript!

But last week one of the project managers came, ashen face, asking if anyone could help her with javascript. Of course my team of developers leapt to help and so we became acquainted with the weird world that is currently being installed on Level 4 at Te Papa.

Installation of Reactive Architecture

Installation of Reactive Architecture

The exhibition is Reactive Architecture: smart buildings respond to the environment. It opens on Saturday 19 September.
More about Reactive Architecture

Even though it was just being installed it looks amazing. It has bicycles that power racing cars, umbrellas that open and close with light and I never did find out how these anemome shapes are going to move . I only know that hundreds of tiny plastic parts were carefully being assembled by a team of four.

Installation of Reactive Architecture

Installation of Reactive Architecture

And just in case you are curious, my team helped Uwe Rieger, one of the architects involved in the show, debug a movement sensor being installed on his spectacular umbrella installation. My photos don’t do it justice, I am IT not photography. They look so beautiful and I didn’t even see the piece going.

Installation of Reactive Architecture.

Installation of Reactive Architecture.

If you go up onto the bridge on the way from Level 4 to Toi Te Papa you might be able to spy some other great installation shots!

Personally I can’t wait to have a go on the bikes that power the toy cars. There are two so I reckon we might stage a few races. What is is about Te Pepa and racing cars at the moment!
Formula 1

By lucyhoffman | Posted in Art, Exhibitions | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)

Bob, Chris and Michael give their views

5 September 2009 – 2.54pm

Te Papa is thrilled to have former Formula One great, Chris Amon along with commentator Bob McMurray (who was with McLaren for a number of years) and motorsport historian Michael Clark sharing their vast knowledge and views on Formula One as well as particular tidbits on the cars (and sometimes their drivers) featured in the Formula One exhibition.

These excellent floortalks are within the Formula One exhibition – this morning’s one had a captivated crowd:

The floortalk fans surround the experts and the M7A. Copyright Te Papa 2009.

The floortalk fans surround the experts and the M7A. Copyright Te Papa 2009.

- it was an interesting thing to watch as the crowd moved to each car in turn, like a circular swarm of bees. The experts discussed the development in the designs of F1 cars, as well as engineering, materials, latest developments of the time, how they drove, choice of colour…

The papaya-orange McLaren M7A. Copyright Te Papa 2009.

The papaya-orange McLaren M7A. Copyright Te Papa 2009.

You’ve got the Cooper & the Lotus in their traditional British racing green, red for Italy’s Ferrari (or though I did learn that over the years the particular shade of red has been gradually changed until today it is the same shade red as the company who sponsors Ferrari has on their product – never noticed!) and ORANGE for the McLaren M7A.  You have to type in caps when you write ORANGE in this instance – its the brightest car in the exhibition – I love it!

There are various explanations floating around as to why it is that excellent shade, including something about the McLaren family having their roots in Ireland, orange being the colour associated with that country. This is not so, according to the experts. It was decided to use a colour that made the CanAm McLarens stand out  more on the track - the ORANGE was then used in their F1 cars as well.

Bob, Chris, and Michael dicussing the MP4-4. Copyright Te Papa 2009.

Bob, Chris, and Michael dicussing the MP4-4. Copyright Te Papa 2009.

After berating the BRM somewhat (not the most handsome car you’ll have to admit) the three turned to the 1988
MP4-4. They discussed the choice McLaren made that year not to look ahead and incorporate some of the new changes implemented in the F1 rules, but instead decided that as turbo’s would be outlawed in 1989  they would focus on working with Honda and fit out the cars with reliable & great engines. So Prost & Senna were lucky to have turbocharged Honda RA168E V6 engines in their MP4-4s. Even under F1 restrictions each engine could deliver up to 900bhp – but Bob said that at times up to 1500bhp was delivered!   Mention has been made that maybe turbo’s might be allowed back into F1 … do you think they will or if it does happen will it simply become an advantage that the teams with more resource would have over the lesser-resourced ones? McLaren dominated that 1988 season – 15 wins out a possible 16.

Bob McMurray & Michael Clark at the Ferrari F2004. Copyright Te Papa 2009.

Bob McMurray & Michael Clark at the Ferrari F2004. Copyright Te Papa 2009.

I enjoyed the floortalk as anybody has the opportunity to get up close with the experts, gain insight into the nuts and bolts of F1 as well as hear their personal views & experiences. Questions were also welcomed and answered. I will say that it was mentioned how women ask very good, insightful questions :)

There were two floortalks today but if you missed them then tomorrow morning is the exclusive Father’s Day Formula One brunch where you will meet three Formula One experts in an informal setting – Chris Amon, motorsport writer Eoin Young, and Michael Clark. As of this morning there were only a couple of tickets to this left, so be quick.

Also at 2-3pm tomorrow on the Marae we’ve got ‘Ask the Boys’  where you can test the motorsport experts, in a no-holds-barred question and answer session. With Chris Amon, Greg Murphy and Bob McMurray. Chaired by motorsport writer Michael Clark. This is a free event, so get the rubber burnin and get on down!

By emmab | Posted in Events, Exhibitions | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (3)

Black Beauty is here…

4 September 2009 – 7.35pm

I’ve been quiet on my blogs as I’ve been away for a while, but heard a lovely rumour at work this afternoon about a new car in the building – an A1GP car! So a camera was borrowed (thanks Norm!) and off I went in search…. walking smartly coz you shouldn’t run ;)

Not in the dockway… hmmm, where was was it? It had to be back of house because Te Papa hadn’t closed yet – where was it?

Happily (through experience of moving the F1 cars for the F1 exhibition) I know which doors and lifts are big enough for the A1GP car to fit through… and there she was:

Black Beauty back of house - no nose but still hot! Copyright Te Papa 2009.

Black Beauty back of house – no nose but still hot! Copyright Te Papa 2009.

And as you know – taking the nose cone off for moving it around is a good thing, its  pretty nose too. A little different (to my untrained eye) to the F1 noses and wings but thats all I’ll say – you’ll need to come check it out for yourself and compare.

Black Beauty nose cone, back of house. Copyright Te Papa 2009.

Black Beauty nose cone, back of house. Copyright Te Papa 2009.

I have to confess – seeing an gorgeously shiney, all black A1GP car with NZL on it’s nose made me just a teensy bit proud:

Copyright Te Papa 2009.

Copyright Te Papa 2009.

Simon from the NZ A1GP team wheeled it through the exhibitions – it isn’t often you’d see a top level race car beside a life-sized model of a blue whale heart, but hey – that’s Te Papa for ya

NZL A1GP car wheeling past the blue whale's heart model in NatureSpace. Copyright Te Papa 2009.

If you want to come see this car and partake of all the very cool events happening this Father’s Day weekend (so they are extra special events!) – come on down to Te Papa

She’ll  be there waiting for you, bring your camera

The NZL A1GP car in the Wellington Foyer, Level 2. Copyright Te Papa 2009.

The NZL A1GP car in the Wellington Foyer, Level 2. Copyright Te Papa 2009.

By emmab | Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (2)

F1 fans win a piece of Ferrari history

4 September 2009 – 3.55pm
Signed Ferrari shirts - thanks Shell V-Power!

Signed Ferrari shirts – thanks Shell V-Power!

Today was the day we gave away two signed Ferrari shirts to lucky Formula One™ – The Great Design Race  visitors.  We were not really sure what to expect so were thrilled that close to 130 people turned up!

The shirts, signed by Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa, and Kimi Räikkönen, were given to us by Shell V-Power and have a pretty interesting story  – you can read about in my previous blog.

To narrow the field a bit, I asked two questions: how many steering wheels are in the exhibition (11) and how many tyres (37).

Dan and Sean with their signed shirts in front of the Ferrari F2004. Copyright Te Papa.

Dan and Sean with their signed shirts in front of the Ferrari F2004. Copyright Te Papa.

Sean came up with the steering wheel answer and was sent home with the Schumacher shirt.  He has a Schumacher-signed Ferrari cap at home so all needs now is a pair of trousers for the set! Dan won the Massa/Räikkönen shirt (he was a lot happier than he looks below!).

Dan won by correctly answering how many tyres are in the exhibition - more than you may think! Copyright Te Papa.

No one left empty-handed though – the hosts gave all the visitors Ferrari model cars to take away! It was so successful that we hope to run another event soon so keep checking facebook , twitter and the blog for more chances to win.

And, if you are Welly this weekend, come down to Te Papa for an awesome F1 weekend of events featuring Chris Amon, Greg Murphy, and NZ’s A1GP car ‘Black Beauty’!

By janekeig | Posted in Exhibitions | Comments (0)

Signed Formula One shirt giveaway

21 August 2009 – 2.15pm

A special delivery had some staff pretty excited yesterday – you need to be into Formula One racing though!

Exhibition principal partner Shell V-Power has secured exclusive Ferrari polo shirts signed by legends of F1 racing,  Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa, and Kimi Räikkönen.  We are giving them away to luckyFormula One™ – The Great Design Race exhibition visitors!

Signed Ferrari shirts

Signed Ferrari shirts – thanks Shell V-Power!

The shirts were signed by the drivers at this year’s Hungarian Grand Prix in late July.  Regrettably, this race was overshadowed by Massa’s terrible accident during the qualifying lap that left him with a fractured skull.  Massa’s teammate Kimi Räikkönen, the 2007 world champion, placed second in the race getting Ferrari’s best placing in the season at that time.

Massa’s untimely departure from the Ferrari team led to Schumacher contemplating leaving retirement to race for Ferrari but this was not to be.  A neck injury sustained earlier in the year during a German Superbike test left him unfit for F1.

The Ferrari F2004 in the Formula One™ – The Great Design Race exhibition

The Ferrari F2004 in the Formula One™ – The Great Design Race exhibition

For the F1 enthusiast, these shirts will be like gold!  Further details about the giveaway are on our website – I can’t give you any more information just yet, but clues will be posted to Te Papa’s facebook page, on our Twitter feed, and our website and blog.  Good luck!

By janekeig | Posted in Exhibitions | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 282 other followers