win percy stepping

ONE OF 'S GREATEST VICTORIES CAME AT SPA IN 1984 (OPPOSITE). A SIGN OF THE AFFECTION FOR WIN - MOTOR RACING out GREATS DICK JOHNSON, ALLAN GRICE AND KEVEN BARTLETT GATHERED WITH WIN ON THE GOLD COAST. RUSSELL INGALL JOINED TOO. win percy is perhaps the best driver to race a twr xj-s, and is also extremely well liked. WE MET UP WITH HIM AGAIN RECENTLY AND FOUND HE IS NOT ONLY FULL OF HUMOUR BUT BACK ON HIS FEET.

EDITION 143 JAGUAR MAGAZINE 61 win percy stepping

ONE OF WIN PERCY'S GREATEST VICTORIES CAME AT SPA IN 1984 (OPPOSITE). A SIGN OF THE AFFECTION FOR WIN - MOTOR RACING out GREATS DICK JOHNSON, ALLAN GRICE AND KEVEN BARTLETT GATHERED WITH WIN ON THE GOLD COAST. RUSSELL INGALL JOINED TOO. WE MET UP WITH HIM AGAIN RECENTLY AND FOUND HE IS NOT ONLY FULL OF HUMOUR BUT BACK ON HIS FEET.

EDITION 143 JAGUAR MAGAZINE 61 WIN PERCY

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62:1 This was the beginning for Win Percy - his unlikely Anglia provided successes which brought him to the public's attention. 62:2 He moved on through Datsun, and Ford - but Tom Wakinshaw protested the registration plate! 62:3 They joined TWR to race .

TOP LEVEL MOTOR RACING 1985, then returned in 1990 with the and he came to realise he still has good is a cut-throat business. There are TWR owned team he set up friends to go with the memories. Against not always a lot of smiles and the in Melbourne. His co-pilot was Alan the odds, he is able to walk again with competitive attitude is obvious. Grice, the Australian he shared a Group the aid of two walking sticks, and while Win Percy is different. His is an C with at Le Mans in 1988, and he gets tired quickly, he can get around enthusiast who loves his sport, is his Nissan team mate in the World under his own steam. Doctors refused to enormously naturally gifted, and Touring Car Championships. perform operations to assist his mobility, despite being fi ercely competitive Win has had his share of serious set saying his age and problems made it a behind the wheel, leaves the driver’s backs, but prefers to display his relaxed waste of time and money. Win Percy seat with a smile. He sad: “I never and chirpy demeanour. “Look, things defi ed them. dreamed of being a professional racing have been bad at times, but how lucky After the long weekend at Bathurst driver. That was the domain of the am I? Jaguar is the pick of the bunch, at he relaxed at the home of friends Ian 'After rich and I was just a garage mechanic. 66 it is lovely to still be accepted. You and Val Maudsley on the Queensland Bathurst In the late 1950s the only Jaguar I have to look at the bright side.” Gold Coast where industry and racing ever knew was an XK140 owned by a he Everybody remembers that crash at icons including Kevin Bartlett, Russell customer.” relaxed at Le Mans at 240 mph, later he and his Ingall, Dick Johnson, Alan Grice and However, Win succeeded where the home wife Rosemary’s only son was killed, John Crawford joined him. most fail. His achievements are of friends a tragedy which must have been Win refl ected: “I honestly love too numerous to mention, but Joe Ian unspeakably painful, and of course, in Australia, and if we hadn’t lost our son Saward of Autosport magazine once and Val 2003 a botched relatively minor back Matthew I think we would have stayed described him as being "often regarded Maudsley operation left him a paraplegic at the here. Rosemary needed to be close as the world's number one touring car on the age of 59. That was when he had more to the family then and we had a huge driver". He was British Touring Car Gold drive offers than he could satisfy. hole in our lives. Then she got chronic Champion three times, and remains Coast Many people wonder how Win is fatigue syndrome and was just getting on the most successful non-Antipodean coping, so it is delightful to fi nd that his top of that when I had my problem. Our where driver ever to compete in the Bathurst optimistic attitiudue is still there. He daughter was in England so I understand industry 1000 km race. He is also the only was ’s guest at Bathurst why she needed to go back. After the driver from that TWR XJ-S squad to and in 2009 when the team Win founded operation I was on many painkillers, drive the Jaguars, racing in 1990 again won the 1000 kilometre but when we went to Spain I reduced usually the exclusive domain of icons race. Returning there again was a huge them by 50% because of the climate, former F1 drivers. He fi nished third joined morale booster. He had not travelled so we moved there. I drive an X-Type at Bathurst with Tom Walkinshaw in him.' that far since the bungled operation, Estate, but would like to upgrade to an

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63:1 In 1983 Win Percy teamed with TWR and for the Spa 24 hour race after leaving the outfit as British Touring Car Champion. Now TWR raced works entered V12 Jaguar XJ-Ss, but the Spa race was unhappy. He would return in 1984 and win the classic.

XF diesel because the XF is such a good car.” on my car. It just grew from there, and I have name he had not heard of. “After the race we He was thrilled that David Blackall and Chris never had a manager nor have I had to ask for were all very happy and I was chatting with Lidis at Jaguar Australia not only offered him a drive or any sponsorship.” owners of the car, Pride and Clark, when this a new 3.0 litre XF diesel to use, but they had it In 1964-65 Win came to the attention of burly fi gure barged his way in and said ‘Win, fi tted out with hand controls and allowed Win the wider public when he won sixteen events that’s a funny name.’ I told him it was Winston to use it in an historic speed event in Tasmania outright with other podium placings, still in the actually, but they call me Win. He said: ‘That and Classic Adelaide. He has been associated Ford Anglia which was his means of getting to was your fi rst race in the Championship wasn’t with the former event for many years and said work! In 1966 he won the South of England it?' I said yes, and he went on: ‘You are very the XF was perfect for it. Rally special stage championship over eight good. I will have my own team one day, and Win was born in 1943 near the Dorset village events, then backed it up the next year by taking you will drive for me!’ We shook hands then of Tolpuddle. Until he came along it was only eight fi rst places and four seconds in the Players he walked away, so I had to ask who that was! famous as the home of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, No.6 National Autocross Championship. The They explained it was Tom Walkinshaw the a group of 19th century agricultural labourers Anglia was now out to 1650 cc and ran a twin fellow I had just raced against and who had who were arrested and convicted of swearing cam engine on Webers! just piped me. We remained friends, but I fi led a secret oath as members of a friendly society! His hobby became more serious, and his that conversation away to see what the future That was deemed to be an illegal version of fi rst year of circuit racing was in 1971 with would bring!" In his category Win won ten a trade union and in the 1830s seven were an MG Midget. In 1972 he won all three of the eleven rounds that year, took the class sentenced to transportation to Australia. televised World of Sport Rally Cross events championship and was second outright. He He was apprenticed as a motor mechanic driving a Datsun 180B SSS, and in 1974 and also won his class in the 500 km Silverstone at the local garage, then in the early 1960s he now the proprietor of the garage in Tolpuddle, Tourist Trophy, then backed it up in 1975 with and Rosemary attended a local stock car race he turned professional and won the British the same result in the works Toyota. In 1977 meeting where organisers invited spectators to Modifi ed Sports Car Championship with a he moved on to a Ford Capri and won two bring their cars onto the track and race against Datsun 240Z. other races in an Aston Martin DB5. the clock for a trophy. Win drove his standard In those days being a professional driver He has never had instruction in race driving, Ford Anglia 100E – and cleaned up! in Britain meant being paid £2000 or £3000 his talent is truly natural, and in 1978 he “I had never driven a car sideways, but a year, but in 1975 he contested the British formed his own team and took thought: ‘How good is this’! I joined the local Touring Car Championship, an event he would out second in class in the BTCC. He also car club, then began to modify the Anglia. At dominate in years to come. Driving a works competed for distributor AFN in the nights I would sit in front of the fi re and work Toyota Celica twin cam he encountered Tom Porsche 924 British Championship claiming on the engine. I entered more speed events Walkinshaw in a Ford Escort in the class above third in the series. including grass autocross, then local business him. That was at and while it Things became even busier in 1979 when he owners asked if they could put their stickers was Win’s debut, he diced with the Scot whose was back in a works Toyota, won three races

EDITION 143 JAGUAR MAGAZINE 63 WIN PERCY

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64:1 Win, Tom Walkinshaw and teamed to win at Spa. 64:2 In 1984 he chalked up wins in , Donington and Spa. 64:3 Win was back in a Jaguar at Bathurst with Tom Walkinshaw in 1985. Win begins his first stint as a stone guard is fitted.

in the BMW323i championship, took the by trying to assert himself over his new British international motor racing since 1956. Win ‘Commanders Cup’ setting a distance record in Touring Car Champion. He told Win when stayed with Toyota, won the Snetterton 24 a Porsche 924 in the 24 hours race partnered by he drove in he didn’t have a seat for him in hours race again in a factory backed Porsche Tony Dron and , then retired his the TWR Rover team next season! Win was 928S and partnered Martin Brundle in a TWR Capri while leading the race! devastated, and walked off down the pits XJ-S at the Spa 24 Hour race until forced out. He recalls with affection: “I was a works with a long face which puzzled his old Toyota The TWR Jaguars were making headlines Toyota driver under contract while Tom was team members who congratulated him on his around the world, and just missed taking the running the Pentax backed . During triumph. When he explained the situation, European Touring Car Championship crown qualifying at Silverstone Eddie Hinkley, one Mike Copeland immediately offered him a seat in 1983 by the merest margin. In the fi rst two of the fi rst people to work for TWR, rushed up for 1982, so Win shook hands right then. Jaguar seasons Tom Walkinshaw was partnered and said: ‘ can’t get here, can When he returned to the TWR garage Tom primarily by ‘Chuck Nicholson’ who brought you race it?’ I said that we running in different told Win they should go to his motor home and precious resources to the rapidly growing TWR classes, I was a contracted Toyota driver and discuss arrangements for the next season. Win outfi t, and proved a very capable support driver. couldn’t do that. However, Mike Copeland, said: “What do you mean; you told me you TWR's Jaguar entries grew from an initial the Toyota boss, overheard the conversation didn’t have a drive for me. Tom said he was single car in 1982, to two at the end of that and leant over saying: ‘Go on, get out and joking, but I told him I shook hands with the season and all of 1983 – then three brand new enjoy yourself …’" works Toyota team – and wouldn’t unshake. and very special cars which were dedicated race In 1980 Tom Walkinshaw proved true to his That was it for me with TWR in 1982 except for shells. The previous vehicles had all been either word. “He came to me at the end of 1979 and a drive in the XJ-S at Spa in the 24 hours race road-going former engineering development said: “I will pay you £6000 a year – but added when it retired early with differential failure. cars or a prototype Group 2 racing project car! with a smile - if you don’t win I don’t know Tom learned that I was a man of my word, and Win became a full time member of the TWR if I will pay you!” Win would drive a works 1982 turned out to be a great season. I won all Jaguar team in 1984, but had originally tested rotary engined TWR RX7 in the BTCC eleven races and took out the Sunday Observer with Tom for Spa. The stocky Scot had the and took ten of the eleven rounds. Tom was newspaper’s Sports Personality of the Year Award. driver's seat fi xed to suit his driving style and well on the way to establishing TWR, and Tom showed his other side again by protesting shorter stature. For the test Win would not be in 1981 Win emerged as British Touring Car the ‘WIN 1’ registration plate I always ran on told how quickly he was lapping. However, he Champion in the TWR Mazda after winning the front of my cars then. He claimed it was and team member Colin Marriott agreed to a nine of ten events. He took out the all-comers an ‘aerodynamic aid’ - which was immediately secret ‘thumbs up’ if he had been successful. touring car race at Zolder in , again in dismissed - but I didn’t forget it.” Tom seemed happy, and Win had seen the the TWR RX7, retired in the Spa 24 hours and TWR moved onto the Jaguar XJ-Ss in sign, but when he asked if the seat could be was awarded the BRDC Silver Star. 1982, but in 1983 they became offi cial works moved he was told: ‘If you want to drive for However, Tom Walkinshaw make a mistake entries, the fi rst time had entered me the seat will not be changed.' Win adds:

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65:1 At Le Mans in 1987 Win became the only member of the XJ-S team to drive the very fast Group C Silk Cut Jaguars. 65:2 His drive there in 1987 though has gone down in history after he survived a massive crash at night. 65:3 The wreckage of his car back in the workshop.

“I had arms and legs fl ailing all over trip to Australia when he accompanied ability to speak so comfortably on the the place and the whole thing was very Tom who had teamed with John Goss Seven Network’s live in-car television uncomfortable, but I told Tom: “On in that desperately ill fated drive which broadcast in his laid-back fashion refl ection, that is just perfect!” saw Goss’s XJ-S, with Tom at the wheel, while leading, yet driving quickly and Winning on the bigger stage with rammed from behind when the clutch incredibly smoothly. Chuck as his main partner became a broke at the start. Ironically, the Jaguar He eventually raced in the Bathurst regular occurrence with victories at was hit by a Camaro and the Toyota 1000 km enduro no less than ten times, Donington and Austria in the 500 km Celica of Peter Williamson – Win’s race winning in 1990 with Allan Grice in events, then his greatest win to date, the car in the BTCC in 1983!!! the TWR owned Holden team he prestigious Spa 24 Hour race alongside Jaguar didn’t contest the 1985 ETCC: founded. Win is the most successful Tom and Hans Heyer. “Chuck wasn’t “Which was a bit sad because they pulled European driver to ever contest the the fastest driver in our team,” Win the pin on the Jaguars,” he refl ects, “… Bathurst race - not to mention the best recalled, “but he was quick enough but it was probably correct because the loved. The popularity of his return to and very gentle on the car. That is the XJ-S had already been around for ten 'TWR's the ‘Mountain’ in 2009 is proof. main reason we won at Donington. All years and our programme had been Jaguar At the end of 1985 both Tom and the other cars suffered brake problems, very successful for sales and marketing. entries Win drove one of their Rovers into and that Donington victory was the TWR was producing good looking XJ-S grew from third place at Pukokohe in New physiological turning point for me. Tom body kits then formed JaguarSport with a single Zealand over 500 very gruelling was hard on a car, all butch, and Team Jaguar Cars. Going out on top was the car in kilometres, but by now TWR had Manager Paul Davis told a reporter right choice for Jaguar.” 1982, to developed and was racing the green when Tom and I drove together that In 1985 Win partnered Tom in a two at and white works Group C Jaguar he could always tell who had last been works TWR Rover 3.5 Vitesse V8 the end V12 sports cars against the might behind the wheel ...” winning at Donington and Silverstone, of Porsche and others. They would of that “At Spa in 1984 we had only two the two Austrian rounds, both races in quickly morph into the Silk Cut and season Jaguars, remembering TWR was also and in France. Tom and Win were /Bud Light IMSA racers. running the works Rovers. We planned runners up in the driver’s title to BMW’s and all Win wanted desperately to drive to stay on the leading lap with the BMWs , and Win partnered of 1983 - the Jaguars at Le Mans, but Tom until dawn and then assess the situation, Tom at Bathurst in the only 1985 outing then three only tested once in the Group C cars however, the fog came in and the two for the TWR XJ-Ss. brand before deciding they were the domain leading BMWs crashed. They got going They fi nished third after taking new of Formula 1 aces. However, Win is again, but we inherited the lead and pole and leading, but Win gained a special not one to be put off, and continued never lost it.” Win squeezed in his fi rst legion of Australian fans because of his cars.' to pester Tom for a test, which was just

EDITION 143 JAGUAR MAGAZINE 65 WIN PERCY

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66:1 Win's final appearance at Le Mans as a works driver came in 1993 when he drove a TWR prepared XJ220C. 66:2 Three Jaguars were entered that year and scored a class victory - only to be disqualified later for not running a catalytic converter.

as often refused. end of the straight! Imagine that …” size of the fi re if they had done that! The At the end of the trip to New “I got back in on the Wednesday best thing was to get me to use up some Zealand though Tom said: “We are when it was teeming rain and nobody fuel and take the pressure off the bag! It not going straight home, we will drop else wanted to drive. Water poured in could have been BBQ Win though! off at Paul Ricard (in France) – and everywhere and I was drenched, but The most spectacular thing Win will for Le Mans, would you like to try out loved it. If I have a regret, it is that I always be remembered for is surviving with ? It doesn’t mean didn’t try Group C earlier. Later I drove that monstrous crash at Le Mans in 1987 you will do Le Mans, we will see, and many Group C Jaguars in historic events, when his Silk Cut Jaguar exploded at remember, you can say no at any time.” and never lost a race." 2.40 am on the Mulsanne Straight - at Win recalled with immense pride: “I Win raced the Silk Cut Jaguars fi rst 240 mph! Nobody else has survived a was never going to refuse, but hadn’t at Le Mans in 1986 and was running crash at that speed there. “It was huge driven a real racing car before. second when a drive shaft failed. and I was very lucky to get away with "Everything I had driven was based However, things could have been a lot that,” Win grimaces. “Tom didn’t want 'He told on a production car, and all of the top worse: “I was doing a triple stint when I me to drive that year. I don’t know why. drivers were there including Martin me I came in for a pit stop so left the belts on. He told me I wouldn’t be needed, and I Brundle, , John Watson, wouldn't While they were refuelling there was a was asleep in the caravan when he came , and be loud bang and I felt this massive pain in in at about 2.00 am and told me John . I couldn’t believe it. needed my back. I radioed Tom and asked what Watson didn’t want to drive there any “I remember being strapped in, ... then he that was all about. Then the same thing more at night. going through all the checks, and came in happened and he got a panicked look “Tom made me go thorough the then starting the engine. The noise at 2.00 then started waving me out of the pits. medical checks and usual safety routine, when that burst into life, am and “I put it into gear and drove off asking but when Jan (Lammers) brought it in and the vibration, was extraordinary. told me what the problem was and was told to and while we made our change there was a crash at Indianapolis (Corner). I thought: ‘Winston, if ever you were John just get going. When I came past the going to say no, this is the time,’ but I pits the fi rst time everything seemed I went around on my fi rst lap and I am Watson put it into fi rst and drove off. OK, but I found the fellow holding the sure I picked up a puncture from some didn't “I did quite a few laps, and when I vent bottle had forgot to put it in and debris. We used tyres with a carbon came in found I had been doing the want to the rubber bag tank was overfi lled to the fi bre casing which didn’t show up a slow same times as the other drivers! It was drive point that it began to crack the carbon puncture, and there was nothing on the fantastic. Later that day I went out there any fi bre body behind my back! I asked Tom tyre temperature gauge which indicated again when was testing his more at why he hadn’t released some fuel in the a problem. I was also fresh into the car Formula 1 car – and I passed him at the night.' pits, but he said he couldn’t imagine the and didn’t get a chance to really feel

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67:1 Win's most successful historic racing car is the reworked chassis XKD505, the chassis number and drove to victory at Le Mans in 1955. Win won three races there with it in one day. 67:2 Win was delighted to be back in Australia and mobile. unusual vibrations, but at the Les Hunaudieres no gearbox and no glass. There was 90 litres though including living in Australia where he 24 Hour Restaurant early into the Mulsanne of fuel though! I undid the belts and crawled established the TWR Holden team, contesting Straight, on the fi rst lap people reported out as Martin Brundle went past. I gave him the Australian Touring Car Championship later they had seen sparks under my car as it the thumbs up and he radioed back that he and then winning Bathurst. bottomed. That makes it appear likely the had just driven though Silk Cut bodywork so He fi nished third in an XJR15 in a support tyre was low then. something bad had happened to one of our race to the Belgian Grand Prix, tested the “However, I couldn’t sense anything until cars. XJR14 for Le Mans in 1992, gave the XJ220 about 400 metres before the kink when there “I found the Japanese TOMS Toyota its fi rst race victory, and became Mazda’s was a massive explosion in the entire car with mechanics from Alan Jones’ car were right Motorsport Manager in the UK for the massive vibrations - and that was it. I knew there because their car had retired and they BTCC. exactly what had happened. The tyre had came out to look at the race. They asked if I He also thoroughly enjoyed historic racing, burst at full speed and taken the rear body off wanted a lift back to the pits, which I accepted, especially the D-Types, Group C Jaguars and along with the wing. We just took off and I and when I got back Tom was a white as a cup. E-Types. The Jaguars remain his favourite thought, ‘goodnight Win'. I knew it was going He asked if I was OK and I said yes so was racing cars, and the best tracks are Bathurst, Le to hurt, and I was probably going to die, but there another car I could go out in? He told Mans, Spa, the original Nurburgring, original everything became perfectly quiet and calm as me to get to the caravan because the shock Brno, Silverstone and the GP I saw the night sky when we went above the was going to come over me very soon. I am circuit. trees. The Jaguar was rotating backwards so pleased to say that 22 years later I still have While things could seem so bad he looks I crouched down, tucked in my arms and legs not felt anything from the accident, but I do on the bright side. “Jaguar is the pick of the and waited for it to come down. know that if I wasn’t in a carbon fi bre bodied bunch, and it is lovely to still be accepted. “Jo Gartner had been killed there the year car I would never have lived.” Nigel Webb, who owns the D-Type I drove before in a Porsche, so organisers had put in an Win raced a Group C Nissan at Le Mans in mostly, reckons he will fi t it out with hand extra layer of Armco fencing making it triple, 1988 with Alan Grice after Tom Walkinshaw controls and I will race again. I won’t because but we just obliterated it all. The Silk Cut refused to put his friend’s life at risk there again I just don’t have enough feeling in my body Jaguar smashed and tumbled from one side of in one of his cars, but did give him a drive in the now, but I am the driving standards offi cer at the road to the other, but the impacts started XJ220C at that circuit in 1993. “The the , and good friends with to get less and I thought I might get away with were fabulous cars too and could have been the likes of Norman Dewis and so many people it. Suddenly the side of my head started to get much better than they showed. Unfortunately, at Jaguar – so I am bloody lucky.” The world of hot as the helmet ground down to the lining, the Japanese engineers wouldn’t talk to each motor racing is bloody lucky to have had Win so I pulled it up and eventually the wreckage other and put things on which made it like a Percy. He is one of those rare people. He is stopped right way up. There was nothing left. parachute in the wind. not only a humble and talented driver, but as a No wheels, no doors, front and rear bodywork, There was much more in store for Win man he far exceeds his public profi le ...

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