Look Mom, no buttons!

©TheCahierArchive

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©TheCahierArchive

Back in 1984 - in the good old days of turbo thunder - a Formula 1 car's steering wheel was an unsophisticated and simple component that featured only its hub attachment and screws.

No buttons, rotary knobs, switches or digital read out..

And it was that way because the driver's job back then was to... well, drive. (Insert a sigh of nostalgia here.)

This is Manfred Winkelhock by the way, sitting in his ATS at the 1984 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.