Bulletin

Of the british racing drivers’ club Bulletin Volume 30 No 1 • SPRING 2009 Of the british racing drivers’ club Volume 30 No 1 •

SPRING 2009 Sunday 27th May 1979 Lap one of the and already in his 312T4 is stamping his authority on the race and the World Championship as he leads the field from Casino Square past the tip top bar and Tiffany’s towards Mirabeau. As a Monegasque resident for some years, and winner for Wolf two years earlier, this is “his” circuit. He has arrived hot from his win at Zolder two weeks earlier which has taken him into the lead of the World Championship for the first time. In first qualifying on Thursday, Ferrari team-mate tops the time sheets but on Saturday Jody rises to the challenge and secures from Gilles by 0.07 sec which he then celebrates with a spectacular burn out from Tabac to the swimming pool. As Jody converts that pole into a lead which he will never relinquish, Gilles is outgunned off the line by ’s BT48-Alfa which has rocketed away from fourth on the grid. So it is ‘King Rat’ not Gilles who follows Jody for the first two laps while behind the second Ferrari are the JS11 of last year’s winner , his team-mate , ’s , Alan Jones in the Williams FW07 and ’s Arrows A1B. After 76 laps and the best part of two hours’ racing, Jody will win by just under 0.5 sec from a rapidly closing in the other Williams (well out of shot here down in 15th place) and those bars and night clubs will become the scene of much celebrating by drivers, team personnel and race fans alike. Ian Titchmarsh The British Racing Drivers’ Club

President in Chief HRH The Duke of Kent KG Volume 30 No 1 • SPRING 2009 President OBE contents Chairman Robert Brooks 04 PRESIDENT’S LETTER 44 rOAD TEST Directors 10 Damon Hill Behind the wheel of the Ross Hyett Stuart Rolt 09 neWS FROM YOUR CIRCUIT 48 BLAST FROM THE PAST Ian Titchmarsh The latest news from Silverstone Circuits Ltd The 1959 Tourist Trophy Nick Whale Club Secretary 10 seasON SO FAR 52 arMCHAIR COMMENT Stuart Pringle Tel: 01327 850926 Peter Windsor looks at the Formula 1 season Racing in email: [email protected] PA to Club Secretary 18 racing MEMBERS 56 unDER THE SPOTLIGHT Becky Simm Tel: 01327 850922 email: [email protected] A look at who has done what around the globe WTCC racer Rob Huff BRDC Bulletin Editorial Board 32 Ian Titchmarsh, Stuart Pringle, David Addison 20 gOING FOR GOLD 58 OBITUARIES Editor The early-season standings in the BRDC Gold Star Remembering deceased Members and friends David Addison Photography 21 silver DREAM RACERS 63 secreTARY’S LETTER LAT, Jakob Ebrey, Ferret Photographic An update of the BRDC Silver Star Stuart Pringle BRDC Towcester 24 sTARS OF TOMORROW 64 MEMBER NEWS Northants Meet the BRDC Rising Stars A round up of Club events NN12 8TN

Sponsorship and advertising 28 suPERSTARS 66 BETWEEN THE COVERS Adam Rogers Tel: 01423 851150 42 We look at the BRDC Superstars for 2009 Book reviews email: [email protected]

© 2009 The British Racing Drivers’ Club. All rights in and relating to 32 70 WHAT’S ON this publication are expressly reserved. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission from the Racer, broadcaster, motorbike lover. Meet Tim Harvey Club and regional events BRDC. The views expressed in Bulletin are not necessarily those of the editor, the BRDC or the publishers. 36 FATHER AND SON Front cover Design David and James Matthews From the ashes of rises Brawn GP. celebrates his Damion Chew second career Grand Prix win, with fellow Members Produced by 40 WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS and . Rubens has endured a fraught time to take second place Barker Brooks Media Ltd Barker Brooks House 56 A pictorial look at the Race of Champions in , whilst Ross Brawn’s emotions are on display as he relishes a 4 Greengate, Cardale Park Harrogate Grand Prix win for a car bearing his name. (Photo LAT) HG3 1GY Tel: 01423 851150 41 shOWTIME Back cover email: [email protected] A look at the highlights of Autosport international is enjoying a fabulous season in A1GP for A1 Team Ireland. www.barkerbrooks.co.uk Adam is pictured in Friday practice at in , where he 42 TIGA TIM finishes fourth in the Sprint Race but is eliminated on the opening lap of www.brdc.co.uk has done it all the Feature race after Fairuz Fauzy tangles with him. (Photo LAT)

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 3 damon hill obe President’s letter

ear Member, There is good news, too, for Jenson Button. The th Yet again the wheel has turned and we Brawn GP Team has had a hell of a winter, and Silverstone Sunday 12 July 1992 find ourselves at the beginning of a new has a mountain to climb just to survive the year. Our President’s first Grand Prix race has arrived. Already working D as the Williams test driver, Damon has secured a place alongside season. The BRDC Bulletin brings you articles on But if anyone can do it, it is the Brackley outfit Belgian in the declining Brabham team, on its last the new Formula 1 season, our Rising Stars and with Ross Brawn at the helm. I know this is so legs in what proves to be its last season. For five successive races, it has proved impossible to qualify but at Damon’s home circuit at last Superstars and a lookback at the first national important for the local motor sport community he is able to make the cut, pipping ’s M192- race meetings of the year to whet the appetite. in and around Silverstone. These will be testing by 0.08 sec in Friday qualifying for the last place on the grid. Saturday’s qualifying is a washout, so Damon is in the race I wish all BRDC members competing this year times for everyone in the UK, but I believe that with the V10-powered BT60B. Starting last, Damon finishes a terrifically exciting and successful campaign, the spirit that makes the UK world leaders in last in a totally uncompetitive car, crossing the line a few yards and four laps behind the hero of the hour and world champion elect, whether it is for the heady heights of World motor sport will be the same spirit which will get , in the dominant Williams FW14B- which Championship status, or the more modest thrill of us all through this crisis. UK motor sport can be Damon has helped to develop. For Damon, next year will be very different. He will be in a Williams (the FW15C) and leading the race. a club championship; it’s all the same when the an inspiration to the whole country. The BRDC The World Championship beckons. For the once dominant Brabham lights change! embodies and champions that spirit. team, the end is just two more races away. Yet again we have announced a strong line up Have a great year. Ian Titchmarsh for the BRDC SuperStars. I wonder which of these serious contenders will make it to the top one day in their chosen field. The BRDC is doing all it can to support them, but I wish we could do more. 2009 will be the last scheduled Grand Prix at Silverstone for the foreseeable future and I know the team at Silverstone is working flat out to make it the greatest ever. Last year was such a fabulous Damon Hill OBE success it will be hard to beat, but, for the first President, BRDC time, will be competing on home turf with the most prized on the car – number one. I bet that feels good!

4 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1

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EFGInt - Alfa - new mirror format request 264 x 183 - quadri - publication: British Racing Drivers Club (deadline 26.03.09) Sunday 18th May 1969 With only one World Championship and two non-championship races under their belts, Frank Williams and have arrived at Monaco with the small team, even by the standards of the late ‘60s, that is Frank Williams (Racing Cars) Ltd and the immaculate, dark blue ex-works Brabham BT26 which Frank’s persuasive powers have charmed out of David Bridges, its purchaser from the factory which is not keen on one of its cars running on Dunlop rather than Goodyear tyres. After first qualifying, the CSI has decreed that “in the interests of safety” following the serious accidents to the Lotus 49s of and at Montjuich Park, all rear aerofoils are banned for the time being. Piers qualifies ninth on a circuit where he has never had much luck in the past – like hitting the Tabac barrier while leading the F3 final in his three years earlier. Within very few laps, Piers has caught the works BT26 of and the two young chargers begin a battle, initially for fifth place but rising to second behind Graham Hill by lap 23 of 80. Third place would be good for his fledgling F1 team, and Frank signals Piers accordingly. Then a rear upright of the works Brabham gives way approaching the Tunnel with 30 laps to go. Piers, seen here heading into Mirabeau, is second and suffering from serious cramp in his feet, 23 seconds behind the leading Lotus. For the second time Frank signals Piers to settle for his position which he maintains to the end well clear of the Rob Walker of . There will be another second place before the end of the year, to Jochen at Watkins Glen, but it will be 10 long years before Frank’s team, reborn as Williams Grand Prix Engineering, takes its first Grand Prix victory. Ian Titchmarsh ® 20 PERFECTION LTD 20 YEARS YEARS 1989 Independent Automotive Detailers 1989 2009 2009 www.perfectiondetailing.co.uk Established in 1989 by Richard Tipper Perfection Detailing has been established as a professional and conscientious automotive detailing service for car owners, collectors and enthusiasts alike. SERVICES ARCHIVE • Paint Correction • evo Magazine issue 004 ‘Inside Job’ • evo Magazine issue 100. Meadons RS • Fine Finishing • Performance Tuner issue 003 ‘The • Concours d’Elegance Detailer’ • Show Support • Performance Car Oct 1997 Ferrari F50 ‘Best of Show’ • Corporate Events • GB. Goodwood FOS. • Training/Advice Event Support 2007/2008 • evo Active Track Days 2002/03/04 • Conventional Valeting Event support

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Perfection.indd 1 16/4/09 3:17:59 pm NEWS FROM YOUR CIRCUIT news from silverstone circuit

The inclusion of Silverstone in the 2010 MotoGP calendar means the circuit will be at the forefront of two and four-wheeled sport, as Richard Phillips explains.

am pleased to report that the Silverstone Development Brief has now passed the 12 week judicial review stage I and has been officially adopted by Aylesbury Vale District Council and South Northants District Council. We continue to market the site and are pleased with the level of interest received considering the economic climate. I look forward to keeping you updated. Whilst preserving the existing Grand Prix layout, the new plans to upgrade the circuits are progressing apace and it is envisaged that the final layouts will not only comply with Moto GP safety standards but will also enable licensing of the Southern circuit, enhance spectator viewing facilities and give us the scope to develop an open-air arena for music and motor sport events. We anticipate the bulk of these works will take place between November 2009 and March 2010. To further enhance our facilities, to support manufacturer activity and to fulfil our desire to run multiple licensed circuits we are updating and enhancing the Stowe circuit, adding a small pit complex, a low friction circle and low friction straight. The new design will also allow us to run the circuit both in a clockwise and an anti-clockwise direction. The pit building will feature at least seven garages and a reception area with a viewing balcony on the first floor. To replace the cabins currently servicing the Southern circuit, a new activity hub will be built which will vastly improve the experience for our retail and corporate customers. Building on recent successes emanating from business diversity, we are in a better position to invest in our core track-related infrastructure with an objective of attracting manufacturer business and a variety of new events including two and four-wheel motor sport.

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 9 FORMULA 1 Brawn supremacy

What a start to the Formula 1 season. Great racing, controversy and two Jenson Button celebrates a second win of the season (below) in the gathering remarkable wins for Brawn and Jenson Button. Peter Windsor reports. darkness in Malaysia. Conditions there were a complete contrast from Melbourne where Jenson gave Ross Brawn and his eponymous team their first win (right) write from a Starbucks in North Carolina, Jenson’s driving in Malaysia not far from the base of Team US F1, our I new F1 team. And here, where locals are was the equal of any superlative lining up by the dozen for their early-morning you care to mention. kick-starts, it easily falls into perspective. , that is, as in Formula One, “the will unquestionably go with the former. (I say world’s biggest sport”. Friends send me “links” this with particular reference to “the sports to websites on a daily basis, links to “critics” section”: remember that in the States there are who hate the new twilight F1 starts and/or the newspapers and then there are scandal sheets. lying, deceiving Lewis Hamilton, or who, on In the UK, we are blessed with scandal sheets another day, may gloat over the slight drop in that occasionally print news. The Sunday Times attendance figures at the opening races of the is a classic case in point: nothing, a few years season. ago, would steer them away from their “Drugs Over here, where entertainment is every- in F1” scandal story – not even the facts.) thing and optimism is up there with free Likewise the twilight starts. The drivers are enterprise and innovation, friends can’t resist merely the cast, mere players on the stage, so some input: in the States it would be the Director to whom “Why is F1 so down on itself?” or “No wonder you would speak if you really wanted to know F1 isn’t big over here.” if these new timings were successful. Of course And, with the perspective that only the drivers would like their lives to be perfect: of Atlantic Ocean can offer, I see their point. Take course they want a perfect car, perfect circuit, Lewis, for example. In the US, where they are perfect weather and perfect light. Sadly, life protective of their assets, as in the PGA being is imperfect, which is why, in a recession, in very protective of Tiger Woods, there’s no an innovative step towards sustaining TV doubt about which would be the bigger lead audiences, brought in twilight story in the sports section of the local paper: races. Were they successful? Of course they given the choice of “Lewis drives brilliantly into were: TV ratings were up and both races were the points with difficult car” or “Lewis lies!”, they spectacular. In a recession. You listened to a

10 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 FORMULA 1 photographer in Melbourne eulogising about is certainly the best thing the world’s highest- Button. We always knew that Jenson was up the light and the shade in a setting Australian paid designer has created this century. We there with , Lewis and sun and you heard everything you needed to know how awkward is the McLaren-Mercedes: Jarno when it came to foot-and handwork know about the beauty of twilight F1. managed to lose it on a full on slow and medium-speed corners but To detail: as expected, Lewis’s fingertip fuel load and cold tyres in both Australia and personally I was always a little unsure about driving of the difficult McLaren has to date in Malaysia. Yet Lewis, digging deeper than he’s Jenson’s ability on fast corners and in traffic. 2009 been matched only by the superb fluidity ever had to dig, somehow managed to make With grip comes confidence, however, and of Jenson Button and as they the thing look half-reasonable through a TV Jenson’s driving in Malaysia, where he excelled settle back finally to enjoy an F1 car with grip. lens. For me, his driving in these races was in virtually every condition a driver could face, Given all that passed in Malaysia, and given up there with ’s in 1966 (specifically was the equal of any superlative you care to the McLaren’s obvious problems with c of g when Jim was fighting the Lotus 43-BRM). mention. He was fabulously quick – quicker The new season blasts into life as (thanks to KERS), I was astounded to see Lewis Both the ING and the than Jarno! – in Q2, when sheer speed was the Brawn heads Williams, Ferrari and out-fumbling the excellent in the were won by essence; he took pole with perfect timing; he BMW, whilst Mark Webber makes wet, particularly as the 2009 car exactly the right man: Jenson Alexander Lyons wasn’t flustered by a messy start; he beautifully a move up the inside

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 11 FORMULA 1

quantum leap ahead of the opposition in this respect, although Newey’s excellent , with its beautifully-sculpted high nose and detailed rear aero section, was also in the /Williams-Toyota class. I write this with the Court of Appeal pending, and suspect that the Red Bull’s speed will, ironically, be the undoing of the protesters’ case. If the crash structure diffuser is such an advantage, a judge may ask, why is it that the Red Bull is so much faster than a Ferrari, or a McLaren-Mercedes? Good question. Ferrari, in both races, was nothing more than an amusing sideshow. In Melbourne, where the cars struggled with grip and reliability, you had to ask what Michael Schumacher had been doing over the winter. He is a mate of Ross Brawn’s, he can pick up the phone to both Bernie and Max whenever he likes…and yet Ferrari as a team had NO IDEA that Brawn, Toyota and Williams-Toyota were going managed his fuel and tyres in the dry; and Ferrari has struggled so far in he was supremely fast when finally he found 2009. The car lacked pace in some clear road, just before his first . Australia and blunders were made in both qualifying and Fittingly, he claimed a career-first fastest lap in the race in Malaysia. There Malaysia, but it’s also worth noting he was the was no debate about halting only driver to lap Sepang in under in the 1min the Malaysian race, however, 37s. the road, graphically, awash When the rains came he (a) made no (right). The early stoppage helped the BMW-Sauber of mistakes and (b) was always in control of his to take second race management and his emotions, even (pictured far right in the early, when he was having to make a rushed third or dry stages of the race), whilst fourth pit stop because of easing or worsening Williams-Toyota was a factor, conditions. He was complete in every respect, (far bottom right) led early on in Malaysia but was in other words, a driver who quite easily could overhauled by Jenson in the win this year’s world championship. first pitstops The Brawn cars? Thanks to its interpretation of the gearbox crash structure aero rules, in both races the “new” team held a significant grip advantage over the and Williams- Toyotas. All three teams were an inherent

12 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 FORMULA 1

Ferrari decided to mount full wet something like an over-ripe parmesan. on Kimi’s car when the track Then, on Saturday afternoon, despite the ongoing presence of Michael Schumacher on the Ferrari pit was still dry. Not intermediates. Not slicks. wall, headset on, face stern, the boys contrived to Full wets. keep in the garage late in Q1 when the track was quickly picking up grip in the falling ambient. By the time and Stefano forward with the gearbox diffuser. Why do I mention Domenicali realised what was happening it was Michael? Only because he is still on a healthy Ferrari much too late. How? Why? Michael was a part of contract and, in the past, has proved to have had a Team Massa in Malaysia, riding back to the Pan Pacific reasonable feel for what it is going on. Hotel with him in his , and generally “being Then came Malaysia, beginning with that incident around” the team, but of Michael’s famous racing on Friday morning, when Kimi’s KERS system brain there was, as I say, little to be seen. Maybe it suddenly lunched itself on the back straight. You had all been due to Ross after all… could read Kimi’s body language as clearly as you Finally, as a main event on Sunday, Ferrari decided could see the smoke pouring from the footwell area: to mount full wet Bridgestones on Kimi’s car when should he abandon ship or try to make it back to the track was still dry. Not intermediates. Not slicks. the pits so that he wouldn’t have to walk? What a Full wets. By the time it did rain (two laps later), Kimi dilemma. Kimi chose to stay with it – it was a hot day was nowhere. This sort of desperate decision-making – but you could smell the results soon afterwards: is born of mistakes like the one made on Saturday. the polymers of an exploded KERS battery smell The reality of Malaysia, I think, was that Ferrari had

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 13 FORMULA 1

The Lewis saga? Of course it was stupid; of course it was dumb quite a quick car there: Felipe should have qualified top five and both cars should have been in the points. Because they lacked Brawn grip, however, the were in a different world. A mid-field world. Having said that, I think Ferrari will win the 2009 Championship – and that they will probably do so with Felipe. The results may not office that the Stewards had not read the radio have shown it, but it has a quick car relative transcripts: why else would the Stewards be to BMW, McLaren-Mercedes and Renault; asking these questions? This is an important give Ferrari a bit of time and I think it will gain point, because none of what followed would momentum. have happened had the Stewards listened The Lewis saga? Of course it was stupid; of to the radio recordings in advance. As it was, course it was dumb. Jarno Trulli in Melbourne the issue suddenly changed from being a drove off the road behind the Safety Car – a discussion about Safety Car rules to one about huge mistake for which drivers in my view “lies”. should receive a penalty – and Lewis passed As a result of McLaren’s evidence Jarno Trulli him on the road. That should have been the was disqualified for passing another car under end of the story, the end of any discussion. P3 Safety Car conditions. It was at this point, of for Lewis, P4 for Jarno. course, that Dave should have realized the The thing is, the boys at McLaren are so depth of the problem and cleared up the nervous these days, so paranoid that they are mess. Jarno’s disqualification was in no way being watched from every angle, that they equitable to Lewis finishing third rather than had to make doubly-sure. Under pressure from fourth. Lewis, who wanted to know exactly what he Dave didn’t speak up, however: he’s a racing Dave was suspended from duty and sent home It was a sad day, I think, for our sport. I say should do, McLaren’s Sporting Director, Dave guy, and his priority was to his team. He on the next flight; Lewis, F1’s youngest World this not because of the incident itself (which Ryan, ordered Lewis to let Jarno re-pass him. wanted P3 for Lewis. The team left town. All Champion and in many ways our greatest asset, to my mind was nothing like as bad as Michael Minutes later, you can be sure, Dave would went quiet. had to undergo the indignity of convening his Schumacher blocking the track in Monaco have realised that he had made a major Then, magically, the Stewards heard the own press conference and apologising publicly in order to keep his pole position or Honda mistake: there had been no need for the re- radio playback or read the transcripts. With Ron in the presence of the FIA Stewards. cheating a few years ago with an illegal fuel shuffle. Lewis had been home and dry. Dennis on holiday and Martin Whitmarsh now Sombre faces filled the room. The British press tank) but because of the lack of grace shown In the Stewards’ office, I understand that in charge as Team Principal, the issue erupted was in hysteria, fuelled by the aforementioned by the media. The implication of their outrage Dave did the talking. “Did you slow down to let on the Thursday afternoon in Sepang. McLaren scandal-craving editors. There was no sympathy was that not only they as individuals had never Jarno re-pass you?” Answer: “No.” Technically, as a team was now disqualified from the for Lewis that afternoon in the media centre: told a half-truth but also that every other this was correct. Lewis had not “slowed down”; Melbourne event and Jarno was re-instated in the British press – and the Spanish, and the driver or team official in the pit lane is always he had “moved over”. It was also clear in that P3. Martin’s actions were commendably swift: French – were out for Lewis’s blood. completely open and honest. Ha!

14 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 FORMULA 1

The first talking point of the evidently still want - both Whitmarsh and season was the diffusers on Hamilton to resign and leave the sport. certain cars, with the FIA scrutineers having a good look I dare say that the thought of doing so is at the rear of the Williams probably quite attractive to both men. Since in Australia (far left). Lewis Martin took over as Team Principal (and as I Hamilton’s storming drive to third place at Melbourne was write, prior to ) McLaren has struggled gone a week later, forcing to hang on to the mid-field. From Lewis’s Martin Whitmarsh (above) to face the press in Malaysia. The perspective, all the pleasure and fun of racing attractive Red Bull of Mark as World Champion disappeared in the space Webber (right) was out of luck of about 21 days. As of now, the issue has in Melbourne, early damage after a clash with Rubens some chance of going away; whether it will Barrichello costing him a lap is another matter. I spoke to Lewis on the morning of the race in Malaysia and he said What you could say was this: Lewis didn’t something like, “Right now racing in America have to demean himself on the world stage seems pretty attractive”. That’s good news for but he did so nonetheless. For that he deserves the McLaren-Lewis haters in F1; for the rest some credit and some space. Yet he got none. of us it’s very bad news – and I say this in the On Sunday morning in Sepang – open and context of the hundreds of F1 people who accommodating as usual – McLaren’s Martin have committed sins far worse than Lewis’s Whitmarsh and Mercedes’s Norbert Haug over the past 25 years or so. again faced a blitzkrieg from a still-thirsty press I also think, given Lewis’s honesty and corps. To Martin’s credit, he refrained even from integrity, that this whole issue will affect him raising his voice, let alone from hitting anyone. far more than it would the average F1 person: To a man – and we’re talking 40-odd people he’s too decent a man for this to disappear here – the press wanted – and, as I write, quickly in the F1 passage of time.

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 15 SPBRDCV1300309.qxp 30/03/2009 17:36 Page 1

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RACING MEMBERS No rest for some! The expansion in motor racing circuits around the globe kept Members busy during the winter. David Addison looks at who did what.

lose season? Hardly! All the way through the winter months, Members were racing at C a variety of venues. , Bradley Ellis and Alex Mortimer were amongst seven drivers who were able to win the FIA GT3 European Championship at the in December although none could match the pace of the Corvette of James Ruffier/Arnaud Peyrolles which took the crown. Ian took fourth place in the race to end the season equal on points with Bradley (who was third sharing with Alex) but the greater number of wins for Ian gave him the higher championship position. Race two was cancelled after that most uncommon of UAE phenomena – a flooded track! The UAE-based Speedcar Series began at the same December event with aiming to retain his title. Fourth in Dubai was followed by a win in Bahrain and third in the Qatar night race. A further podium finish in Dubai keeps Johnny in contention, behind , for a second successive crown. Allan McNish and a points-scoring finish. A fine third place in Sepang is his best Kristensen who notched up a fifth Sebring win.Oliver The GP2 Asia Series began in China in October shared the R15 TDI (top) to result to date. Gavin’s Chevrolet Corvette took second in the GT1 class, win at Sebring on its debut. Bradley before moving to Dubai in December where Over in America, Members were part of the Rolex Daytona whilst the same weekend’s opening Star Mazda round was Ellis and Alex Mortimer (in car, James Jakes took 12th place for David Sears’ above) were part of a Magnificent Hours entry where and Alex Lloyd were won by BRDC Superstar Adam Christodoulou. Super Nova team. A disappointing brace of races Seven drivers in contention for last the best placed, taking ’s Riley-Lexus to fifth Adam Carroll has been racking up points for A1 Team followed in Bahrain but there were encouraging year’s FIA European GT3 title, as was place. Ryan Briscoe took sixth in the Penske Racing Riley- Ireland in A1GP, a win in the Malaysian Feature Race and signs for James in Qatar where he took two top 10 Ian Khan (right). Johnny Herbert Porsche, whilst Andy Wallace used his vast experience of New Zealand Sprint Race being backed up by a second (far right) is aiming to defend his finishes. He bagged ninth place in race one, from 24 hour races to bag eighth place in his Crawford-Pontiac. place in the Taupo Feature Race later in the day. With just Speedcar Series title 11th on the grid, and repeated the result in the Allan McNish took a third Sebring 12 Hours win in March, four races remaining, Ireland lay three points behind reigning second race although, frustratingly, missed out on Allan sharing the Audi R15 TDI (for its debut win) with Tom champions .

18 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 RACING MEMBERS

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 19 BRDC GOLD STAR

Adam Carroll’s success for A1 Team Ireland in A1GP puts him at the top ADAM AHEAD of the BRDC Gold Star points The so-called off season has been a busy time for BRDC GOLD STAR POINTS Members. Ian Titchmarsh explains. (as at 14 april 2009)

embers who have kept themselves busy racing around the 1. Adam Carroll A1GP 132 world over the European winter months have taken an early Ryan Briscoe took an IRL win at St 2. Johnny Herbert Speedcar 78 lead in the 2009 Gold Star points chase. In fact, given that the M Petersburg (above) whilst David 3. WTCC 56 scoring year started on 1st November it just catches the final Formula Brabham also took honours as he 4. Jenson Button F1 54 1 race of 2008. The saw Lewis Hamilton emerge gave the Acura LMP1 car a debut win triumphant as World Champion by virtue of scraping home in fifth 5. A1GP/ LMS 31 place, worth nine Gold Star points which may prove crucial later on, 6. Rob Huff WTCC 28 given the fantastic start to 2009 which Jenson Button is enjoying. 7. Ryan Briscoe GrandAm/IRL 26 With Shanghai and Bahrain running back to back, there will have =8. Allan McNish ALMS 21 been one or two more F1 races by the time this Bulletin appears but, =8. ALMS 21 even if Jenson wins them both, he will not yet have overhauled the 10. Dario Franchitti GrandAm/IRL 16 points which Adam Carroll has been racking up in the A1GP World Cup of Motor Sport series as the driver for Team Ireland. Adam’s 11. Lewis Hamilton F1 14 efforts have taken Team Ireland to the top of the A1GP table with four =12. Bradley Ellis FIA GT3 12 races, two of them at , still to run. =12. Alex Mortimer FIA GT3 12 Meanwhile in the Middle East, Johnny Herbert has been defending =12. Super GT 12 his Speedcar title, taking a win in Bahrain in January and podiums =12. Justin Wilson IRL 12 elsewhere. The final rounds of the series will be back at Bahrain =12. James Jakes GP2 12 supporting the F1 Grand Prix. Rather smaller “tin tops” contest the =12. Guy Smith ALMS 12 WTCC where Andy Priaulx’s start to the season improved in the second event with two podiums in his BMW at Puebla in Mexico. =18. . ALMS 10 Other winners of major races thus far have been Allan McNish =18. Rob Bell LMS GT2 10 in the new Audi R15 TDI at Sebring, sharing with his old mates =20. F3 9 Dindo Capello and Honorary BRDC Member Tom Kristensen; David =20. Ian Khan FIA GT3 9 Brabham, who gave the new Acura LMP1 its debut win at the St =20. ALMS 9 Petersburg street circuit in Florida, sharing with American Scott =23. Mark Webber F1 7 Sharp; and Ryan Briscoe, who has carried on where he left off in the =23. F3 7 IRL at the end of last year, by winning for Roger Penske’s team at St Petersburg after a hard battle with Justin Wilson. =23. Peter Hardman LMS 7 During the year it is intended that Motor Sport magazine will =23. Alex Lloyd GrandAm 7 follow the Gold Star in its pages so as to bring the Club’s most =27. Super GT 5 prestigious award to a wider audience. Weekly updates for Members =27. Ryan Briscoe GrandAm 5 should be available by email.

20 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 SILVER STAR

t the time of writing, the major British BRDC SILVER STAR POINTS motor racing championships which count (as at 14 april 2009) A towards the Silver Star are barely under way. There has been the opening British Touring 1. BTCC 44 early days Car Championship weekend at Brands Hatch, 2. BTCC 37 followed a week later over Easter by the first 3. BTCC 27 rounds of the British Formula 3 and GT series. The It may be early in the season, but the opening rounds of the 4. Aaron Scott British GT 18 accompanying points tables reflect this although, =5. BTCC 14 BTCC and British F3 International Series have shaped the by the time these words are read, there will have =5. BTCC 14 BRDC Silver Star positions. Ian Titchmarsh reports. been a second BTCC event at Thruxton. In the BTCC there were seven Members 7. BTCC 11 competing at Brands, six of whom scored points. =8. Phil Keen British GT 1 Former BTCC double champion and Silver Star =8. Lawrence Tomlinson British GT 1 winner Matt Neal had much the best start to the year of the three VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra drivers, taking a win and two thirds from the day. But it was his old sparring partner, Jason Plato, who stole the headlines, albeit his win in the third race was only declared after winner on the road, BRDC Superstar , had been penalised for inadvertently hitting Jason’s Chevrolet Lacetti in the back. Jason’s drive in the Lacetti had only been secured a few days before the race, courtesy of ’s RML outfit. Whether funds will permit further participation remains uncertain at the time of writing but Ray’s arrival on the BTCC scene meant that at Brands the team principals Aaron Scott (above) turned in of six teams were BRDC Members: Ian Harrison two good drives at over Easter in the British GT (VX Racing): Dick Bennetts (Team RAC): Steve Championship, where Lawrence Neal (): Mike Earle (Team Aon): Tomlinson tackled the GT4 class Marvin Humphries (Tech-Speed) plus Ray, of in a Ginetta G50 (right). The course, while Paul Ridgway is engineering the BTCC kicked off at Brands Hatch Maxtreme SEAT Toledo of teenage newcomer where Matt Neal bagged a win and two third places Liam McMillan. There are no Members in British F3 at the moment, Sam Bird and Alexander Sims having opted for the F3 Euro Series. In the British GT championship, entries are understandably down from 2008 but Aaron Scott in the ABG had one, and should have had two, podiums at Oulton Park.

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 21

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Our New Technical Centre: LEDA Technical Centre 20 Victoria Road Draycott Derby DE72 3PS New phone: 01332 871 821 New email: [email protected] www.leda.com We’re on track to help you win. BRDC RISING STARS Rising Stars

BRDC RISING STARS 2009 Sam Abay Callum MacLeod Aaron Steele British F3 International Series Spanish Formula 3 Championship Henry Henry Arundel FIA Formula 2 British F3 International Series Greg Mansell Sam Abay Henry Arundel Tim Blanchard 3.5 Kieran Vernon Tim Blanchard MSA Fujitsu V8 Development Series Michael Meadows Championship of Great Britain Tom Bradshaw Jeremy Metcalfe GB Formula Renault UK Nigel Moore Championship Robert Wickens Jay Bridger Matt Nicoll-Jones FIA Formula 2 British F3 International Series Oliver Oakes Ben Winrow Tim Bridgman British F3 International Series Porsche Carrera Cup GB Zamparelli Tom Onslow-Cole BARC Formula Renault Graham Carroll Championship Martin Plowman Leyton Clarke Phil Quaife Ollie Hancock FIA EUROPEAN GT3 CHAMPIONSHIP Formula Renault UK Adrian Quaife-Hobbs Formula Renault F3 Euro Series Hywel Lloyd British Formula 3 British Formula 3 International Series International Series Dean Smith Porsche Carrera Cup GB Leyton Clarke Ollie Hancock Brendon Hartley

24 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 BRDC RISING STARS

Tom Bradshaw Will Bratt Jay Bridger Tim Bridgman Graham Carroll

Hywel Lloyd Callum McLeod Greg Mansell Michael Meadows Jeremy Metcalfe

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 25 BRDC RISING STARS

Nigel Moore Matt Nicoll-Jones Oliver Oakes Tom Onslow-Cole

Dean Smith Aaron Steele Kieran Vernon

26 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 BRDC RISING STARS

Martin Plowman Phil Quaife Adrian Quaife-Hobbs Daniel Ricciardo

Lewis Williamson Robert Wickens Ben Winrow Dino Zamparelli

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 27 BRDC SUPERSTARS BRDC Superstars 2009

jonathan adam wayne boyd adam christodoulou

am delighted to welcome eight new drivers time as BRDC Superstars. drivers in the Le Mans Series and in the Porsche andy meyrick as BRDC Superstars for 2009. Alongside In these difficult economic times one of the Supercup, and in touring cars in the BTCC. I five drivers continuing for a second year, key services offered to Superstars is the access I would like to ask Members to look out for we have a total of 13 young British prospects to career and sponsor advice from me and this year’s Superstar drivers and give them who will benefit from a comprehensive other Members. I am particularly delighted every encouragement possible. This interaction development programme. Our intention was to have seen this facility result in Jonathan with Members, whether trackside or in the to have just 12 Superstars for this year but Adam, a double SEAT Cupra champion, Clubhouse, is a vital part of their development such was the quality of talent on our shortlist, getting his opportunity in the British Touring and network building. plus their desire to be a part of the Superstars Car Championship. Without the Superstars 2008 was a tremendous success for our initiative, that this proved impossible. programme this quite simply would not have Superstars with two champions and two runner- Sadly, we must say goodbye to nine of last happened and it is a perfect example of career ups in national championships. I am confident year’s Superstars. In no way is this a reflection enhancement as a result of being a BRDC the class of 2009 will continue to succeed at on their abilities or their potential to succeed, Superstar. the highest levels as a result of the Superstars rather that they have had the maximum We have a tremendous spread of talent this programme. assistance from their association with the year across our Superstar line-up. In single-seaters programme and we must make room for new we have drivers in Formula Renault 3.5, Formula Tim Harvey drivers. I wish them every success in the future 2, Star Mazda, F3 Euro Series, British Formula 3 Director, BRDC Superstars and trust that they have benefited from their and Formula Renault UK. In sports cars we have Email: [email protected]

28 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 BRDC SUPERSTARS

sean edwards stuart hall andrew jordan

jason moore alexander sims oliver turvey

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F1rv.com specialises in providing the highest quality American motorhome hire for all types of events and hospitality. Book now for: The Le Mans 24hr Silverstone Classic Goodwood Single race or full season hire Visit our website F1rv.com and see our current fleet of vehicles. Contact us about preferential hire rates for BRDC members on 0845 5000 430 Or e-mail [email protected] BRDC Recommended providing a perfect combination of luxury and style. Supplier Silverstone Saturday 19th July 1969 Some races are even more to be savoured when Jochen takes pole on Friday as Jackie makes the Beltoise. Legend, but not contemporary reports put into context. arrives at best of the spare Matra with its slightly inferior and lap charts, has it that the lead then changes Silverstone as winner of four of the preceding DFV. Once the flag has fallen there are only two many times. In fact Jochen leads from lap 16 to lap five Grands Prix in his Tyrrell Matra MS80. The drivers in it. Concerned about his clutch, Jackie 62 when the Lotus 49 slows and heads for the pits fifth gives Graham Hill his fifth Monaco Grand loses out at the start to Jochen and for the next 62 to have a detached piece of rear wing removed. Prix victory. But Graham’s new Lotus team-mate laps (out of 84) they produce one of Silverstone’s Although Jochen charges back into the race, still for 1969, Jochen Rindt, believes that he is the most epic duels at speeds which leave all the in second place, Jackie is long gone and is able to fastest man in Grand Prix racing but has yet to win other stars of the day totally outpaced. On lap six, score his fifth win of the season which will lead a GP which was the principal reason for leaving as they emerge from Chapel Curve, Jackie lines to his first World Championship. For Jochen, the Brabham for Lotus. Jochen has stamped his foot himself up to outbrake Jochen on the inside into furious pace of the race causes the Lotus to run and refused to drive ’s new baby Stowe, shown here. But it is a short-lived lead. low on fuel and a “splash and dash” second pit stop – the 4wd Lotus 63. Then Jackie suffers a blow out Breaking the lap record time and again, Jochen relegates him to a lapped fourth, far less than he at 150 mph through (pre-chicane) Woodcote in closes in on the Matra and takes advantage of deserves. second qualifying on Thursday and his intended a clutchless Jackie to retake the lead as they is damaged beyond immediate repair. are lapping the 4wd Matra MS84 of Jean-Pierre Ian Titchmarsh TIM HARVEY: LIFE AND TIMES Life and times In the first of a new series looking at Members’ lives, meet Tim Harvey, Member number 438 who joined in 1988.

hope this will be the first of a series of articles illegal or fattening, sounds boring, then skip this which will give an insight into the life and times article and hope someone more interesting will pop I of current Members, rather than their well-known up in the next issue! racing histories. I have drawn the short straw in The truth is I was born into a car mad family! My going first, but assuming my effort is deemed mother, Helga, and father, David, both competed worthy of this great tome, it will not be the last! extensively throughout my childhood, so it was This will be my 27th consecutive year of car almost inevitable that I would end up with four-star racing, so most of you only know me as Tim in my veins – or should that be E45 Biofuel now? My Harvey the racing driver. Before that there were elder brother Mark also shared the passion, so with 10 years of karting and motorcycling. If the sound three men in the family my poor mother must have of a motorcycling, golfing, water-skiing, Arsenal- struggled to move family conversation away from supporting man, who loves most things immoral, cars, though she probably did not want to.

I was born into a car mad family!

My father was a surveyor by profession and originally worked and lived in London where it would appear he mostly enjoyed doing property work for various motor racing folk including Graham Hill, John Pearce and many others. He was frequently loaned racing cars in lieu of payment, a most satisfactory arrangement I would say! This may of course have been a ruse to explain the various cars my father always had in lock-up garages near home. These were known as DTHs, short for ‘Don’t Tell Helga’ cars. I have adopted this system, although I

32 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 TIM HARVEY: LIFE AND TIMES

Tim’s future looked apparent at an early age (far left), but it wasn’t long before Tim was to be found at kart circuits as a competitor (right). Motorbikes were of more interest than cars were to a young Tim and they remain an integral part of his life

do prefer motorcycles to cars. Apologies to my important, has made me appreciate and enjoy wife Ruth for my DTRs, but she has my father greatly what I have been lucky enough to to blame! achieve in racing. I honestly started racing just During my childhood we lived in Kent. for the sport, but my competitive nature led Brands Hatch was only a few miles away, so me into a professional career. I am glad though when a Formula 1 race was scheduled there that I was lucky enough to grow up in an era Graham Hill, and their wives would when money was not everything. Reducing F1 stay with us. Weekends and holidays were budgets to £30 million in 2010 seems a move spent at hillclimbs, sprints, autocrosses or any back to the good old days! other club motorsport meetings. We would As a boy I was more interested in motorbikes pack a picnic into the boot of a Lotus Cortina than cars, a love which has continued to or whatever was about, drive to an event, this day. Some of my happiest memories are compete, and then drive home. Holidays summer holidays spent tinkering with field in Cornwall were not considered complete bikes and scramblers at a friend’s farm or in unless mother and father competed in at least our garage at home. Bikes are so much easier two events during the two-week holiday! We to work on than cars, although my mechanical would often set off on holiday in two cars, and skills were clearly limited at that time and both parents would then drive both cars at nearly caused serious injury to a good friend. various events. I had rebuilt the forks of his scrambler only for Growing up in this environment where them to fall off the bike complete with front the sport element of motor sport was so wheel while he was six foot up in the air from

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Please call or e-mail for a copy of our brochure + Wide range of specialist materials including 01604 493101 Titanium and MP35N e: [email protected] T & K Precision Limited + Complete ISO 9001-2000 accreditation, 9-10 Gatelodge Close fully computerised production systems Round Spinney and 10-year lot traceability of all Northampton NN3 8RJ bought-in materials TIM HARVEY: LIFE AND TIMES a jump! There were no Haynes manuals for gave me second-hand tyres, enabling me to the bikes we cobbled together but practice start racing in the Champion of Brands series makes perfect and I’m now quite handy, on in 1983. In only my sixth race I finished seventh bikes at least! I have continued to ride bikes in the final that year from both on road and on track, but mostly off-road 280 starters and was the only driver not in a in cross-country Enduro races throughout my current chassis in the final. As a result I was career as a driver despite the clauses in some nominated for the Austin Rover Daily Express of my contracts! This has meant entering Metro Challenge scholarship drive which I won events under pseudonyms and covering up in 1984. The rest, as they say, is history! the occasional injury with a feeble excuse but Throughout this period I was holding down touch wood I have never seriously hurt myself a number of jobs. I was a milkman for two on a bike. I try to ride within my limits and so weeks but resigned because they would not far have never missed a car race through a give me a petrol engine float, an estate agent bike-related injury! It was my brother Mark who got me into karting. He was not interested in bikes but when I tried the kart he was racing I was hooked. The fact that he was two years older, had a driving licence and could legally buy beer also helped! We travelled the length and breadth of the country in a Transit van, competing in British championship races as complete amateurs as well as racing at our local track at Tilbury. It was here that I first met Johnny Herbert who was an outstanding junior driver at the time. I did have to Tim’s recent success has come in admonish him when he started racing against the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. He but resigned after two years because I was me as a senior, punting me off in the ‘A’ Final won the title last year (above) sick of being public enemy number one, and in his first race as an adult! However it was but in 1992 it was BMW power an advertising salesman. The last job gave me impossible to be too cross as that impish grin that took him to the British grounding in sales and led to me starting my spread across his cherub-like face! Good to see Touring Car Championship own ad agency looking after motoring clients (left). These many years of that my fellow London Kart Club member has experience make Tim the and my own sponsorship and PR requirements. done so well for himself! perfect driver to coach BRDC This, combined with my burgeoning racing My introduction to cars came through the Superstars, like Jonathan Adam career, is basically what I have been doing for generosity of the now sadly deceased Ian (above left) the last 25 happy years. Blackman of Auriga Racing. He gave me a My combined roles of racing driver in the FF1600 test at Brands and once again I was Porsche Carrera Cup, ITV commentator for hooked. Subsequently he sourced a two-year- BTCC and Director of the BRDC Superstars old chassis which I purchased programme mean every day is a pleasure, with the proceeds of selling my karting gear - but my long suffering mother is still having to and most of my brother’s, too, as he had gone listen to car talk at family dinners! Long may it to medical school! Ian lent me an engine and continue...

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 35 FATHER & SON Business and racing David and James Matthews were successful drivers who have been James’s success in Formula Renault led to just as successful in the boardroom. Ian Titchmarsh spoke to them. a Formula 3 seat for Promatecme

outstanding young prospects in British motor racing, being nominated as one of the finalists for the McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award on the back of his first season in car racing – he’d finished as runner-up in the Formula Renault UK Championship and third in the European series. But by the end of 1996, James’s career as a driver had come to an end and he was at a desk in the City of London trading derivatives. David’s family had no motor racing background. In the 1960s he was working as an apprentice mechanic in a colliery village garage when he acquired a written-off for £35. BSCC in 1970 culminated in a class win in the final round as a prelude to a highly successful campaign the following year when David and David was becoming a the “little” Escort failed by a mere four points to favoured Ford driver match the total of Bill McGovern and the Bevan Imp in the l-litre class. you were at the 1973 British Grand Prix meeting at Silverstone, James Matthews, flanked by For 1972 David used two Broadspeed- probably your main lasting memory is the multiple pile-up at his father David (right) and This became his car and brought prepared cars under the Melton Racing banner John Booth stands by his the end of the first lap. It stopped the race almost before it had some success in special saloon car racing on – a 2 litre BDA Escort in the BSCC and a Ford If Formula Renault that took started, but, miraculously left only one driver, , him to 17 wins in 1994 the Northern circuits. Nothing much came of Capri 3000 GT in the newly introduced Britax with a significant injury, a broken leg. But in the preceding race that this but after a few years out of racing David Group 1 series. Chevrolet Camaros were the day, a round of the British Saloon Car Championship, an even more returned in 1970 with the first of a succession main opposition in both categories but David horrific accident had occurred which resulted in three drivers being of Ford Escorts backed by Yorkshire industrialist came very close to overall success on more hospitalised with very serious injuries. For one of them, David Matthews, Kevin McDonald and his Melton Racing Team. than one occasion. In particular he recalls a it was effectively the end of what had been a short but outstandingly The ex-Alan Mann/Frank Gardner Group race at Thruxton on Easter Monday where successful career in saloon cars, in which he had won his class and 5 Escort Twin Cam scored six wins at club he was all over Frank Gardner’s SCA Freight finished second overall in the BSCC in both 1971 and 1972. level to be joined by the ex-John Fitzpatrick Camaro, even drawing slightly ahead at the Twenty years later, in 1993, David’s son James emerged as one of the Broadspeed 1.3 Escort GT. Half a season in the Complex on the last lap, only for Frank to

36 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 FATHER & SON stick his elbows out and leave David to take up rallycross before dragging his battered car to the finish in a distant second. Another highlight of that season was a trip to Paul Ricard with the Escort where, sharing with , who was having his first ever international race, the pair finished fourth overall after six hours ahead of all the big and headed only by three Cologne Capris including one shared by the F1 Tyrrell drivers Jackie Stewart and Francois Cevert. By now David was becoming a favoured Ford driver and had the chance to drive a Cologne Capri in the 1973 BSCC with preparation again in the hands of Ralph Broad and a potent Weslake engine. After Gerry Birrell tragically lost his life in the Formula 2 Chevron at Rouen, David was very much in line for the works Ford contract but the Silverstone crash put paid to all that. The centrifugal force of the crash permanently affected David’s eyesight, also causing his heart to stop, in addition to which he broke both ankles and a shoulder

Both David and James feel honoured to be Members of the BRDC blade. David Brodie, in the middle of a side- by-side battle with Andy Rouse as they came into Abbey, could not avoid the Mini Cooper S of Gavin Booth, which had triggered the accident when it touched the rear of the Capri while being lapped, sustained a very serious leg injury while the unfortunate Gavin Booth sustained head injuries from which he never fully recovered. So instead of becoming a professional driver David concentrated on building up

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 37 FATHER & SON his motor business which evolved into one PLC after another to be listed in the LSE Top 500 Register. As a driver David had a quiet swansong sharing a couple of races with great friend and rival ‘Brode’ before calling it a day. However, his interest in motor racing was rekindled when James took up karting in the early 90s, winning the UK Super One Championship at the age of 13 in 1990. His karting successes won James a Renault Scholarship for the 1993 season and he repaid the faith by finishing second in the UK championship. Into 1994 James continued in Formula Renault with John Booth’s team and was utterly dominant, winning 17 races on his way to taking both the British and European titles. He was a Young Driver of the Year finalist again, but lost out to after running Ralph Firman very close the previous year. Two seasons of Formula 3 followed, first with David Sears Motorsport and then with Promatecme, with a win nearly achieved in only his second race at this level. James was leading into Thruxton’s Club Chicane on the last lap, with the chequered flag almost in sight, when he was taken out by ’s over-optimistic passing attempt. It was not until the end of that year that the After finishing runner up in his Yorkshire roots remained strong with the result that that earlier in the race Ralph, in only his third Grand Prix, results picked up again while 1996 was little the BSCC in the previous two he invested in Manor Motorsport: “John [Booth] showed was closing on his team-mate when a wheel fell off. better. By now James was working on the seasons with Broadspeed Ford me what Manor was worth at the time on the back of an As a successful businessman, who has made his own Escorts, David began 1973 at floor of the London International Financial Brands Hatch in March with the envelope. We didn’t argue about a penny- either then way from a small colliery village in Yorkshire, David Futures and Options Exchange and could see magnificent Cologne Capri, also or since.” Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen are just believes that the Club has adopted the right approach the possibility of a rewarding career away prepared by Broadspeed and two of the drivers to have won the Formula Renault UK to the affordability of a Grand Prix at Silverstone and from racing. “Busy days felt like qualifying high hopes of overall success. championship for Manor. the funding of the Club itself. For his part, James is sessions – full focus, eyes wide open, heart The project ended, though, Apart from funding the team from which World concentrating on building up a financial services business when David was seriously pounding – really good fun – and serious injured, and the car destroyed Champions have emerged, David also did a deal with in the City and has no immediate plans to return to money too when you got it right.” at the British Grand Prix which enabled Ralph Firman to move from racing although he continues to keep in close touch with By now David had moved into various meeting at Silverstone winning the Formula Nippon Championship into F1 in John Booth. Both David and James feel honoured to be other business interests, in particular the Eden 2003 as team-mate to . That was the Members of the BRDC and believe that its exclusivity must Rock holiday and residential development year of the rain-shortened Brazilian Grand Prix which was be preserved: “It’s surely not good enough to be a good at St Barths in the French West Indies but eventually awarded to Fisi but David has not forgotten lad or to have made a few bob.”

38 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 we make the same fuss over you.

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The second staging of the Race of Champions at took place in December, with , Jenson Button and Andy Priaulx taking on the international opposition. David did best, facing World Rally Champion Sebastian Loeb in the final, but it was the Frenchman who came out on top. As ever, it was a day of spectacular action as our pictorial report shows.

40 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL Show time! All roads led to the National Exhibition Centre in January for Autosport International, still known to many as the Racing Car Show. Members were bust throughout the show, whether competing in the Charity Karting event, signing autographs, being interviewed or doing business. was the speaker at the Watkins Lecture, whilst David Coulthard was afforded the honour of a display of his racing cars through his career. Our pictorial report picks out some of the highlights of four days in Birmingham.

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 41 TIM SCHENKEN

to wean themselves off what Jackie Oliver calls “the nicotine of racing.” Inevitably, a few stand on the sidelines and complain to each Tim hitches a lift from Graham Hill other that things ain’t what they used to be. (below) and powers the And one or two try to put back into the sport 505/38 around Watkins Glen (left) The all-rounder something of what they got out of it. One Now as a senior race official in Australia BRDC member in particular, living on the other he watches youngsters following in his Racer, team manager, constructor and now one of the sport’s respected footsteps (lower left) side of the world, has spent the last quarter of At lower right, Tim in his F3 days in 1969 a century doing exactly that. senior officials, Tim Schenken has done it all.Simon Taylor spoke to him. with the Sports Motors Brabham BT28 Aged 22, Tim Schenken left his native Australia for with an empty wallet and a burning ambition to make it to Formula 1. He got a job at Graham Warner’s Chequered Flag emporium in Chiswick, and used his meagre wages to learn the British tracks in a Ford Anglia and then an elderly . In 1968, when Formula Ford got properly under way, his innate talent and scrupulously professional approach produced an unprecedented string of victories in a Merlyn Mk 11. Within months he was in Formula 3 too, driving for the late Rodney Bloor’s Sports Motors (Manchester) team. In that sensational season he scored 38 wins, won the British F3 and FF championships, and took the major Grovewood Award for the year’s most promising young driver. Formula 2 followed, and by 1970 he was in Formula 1, joining Frank Williams’ De Tomaso operation after the tragic death of Piers Courage. In 1971, hired by Brabham as number two to Graham Hill, he held third place in the British GP until his gearbox failed with five laps to go, and then got a richly-deserved podium t’s interesting to look down the BRDC with third place in the Austrian GP. That made membership list and consider what racing him only the second Australian to score World I drivers do when they stop racing. Some Championship points, after Sir Jack. Along with attack the world of business with the same Alan Jones and Mark Webber, he is still one of competitive spirit that they displayed in the only four. cockpit, and become successful in various In 1972 he had an unhappy F1 year with walks of life. Others find ways of staying close Surtees, but made up for it with a works to the sport, as sponsors maybe, or team Ferrari drive in long-distance racing, sharing personnel or even media commentators, the shrieking 312P with his close friend

42 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 TIM SCHENKEN

Before becoming a constructor, . Out of nine World Sports Tim enjoyed success in sports Car Championship rounds they won two car racing, seen here sharing the Ferrari 312PB at the (Nürburgring and Buenos Aires), finished Nurburgring with Ronnie second four times (Daytona, Sebring, Brands Peterson. In single-seater racing he would go up against Hatch and Watkins Glen) and third twice Ferrari. In the 1971 Race of ( and ). Champions, his Brabham BT33 heads the Ferrari 312B2 Tim went on to drive for Jaguar in the of eventual winner Clay European Touring Car Championship in the Reggazoni. Tim finished fourth Broadspeed Jaguar XJ12Cs, and then for the Georg Loos Porsche team, winning the ‘Ring decided to return to the sunshine of his native including every round of the hard-fought V8 in our sport – marshals, club staff, medical 1000 Kms again in 1977. Meanwhile he had Australia. So he applied for a job with CAMS, Supercar series in Australia, New Zealand and people, race organisers, helpers at all levels become a racing car manufacturer, setting up the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport, Bahrain, and in 2008 he was recruited as Clerk behind the scenes. Without them, of course, Tiga with his long-time friend and neighbour, which is responsible for the government of the Course for the first night-race F1 Grand we’d have no motor racing to enjoy. Tim’s own and now BRDC Vice-President, . and administration of that country’s racing. Prix in Singapore. He has a reputation for being racing career lasted little more than a decade, Tiga went on to build nearly 400 single-seater Now CAMS’ Director of Racing Operations, he tough but fair. If you’re doing your job properly, but his involvement with the sport we all love and sports-racing chassis. He was also a team has served as Clerk of the Course for every he says, you can never be everybody’s friend: has lasted his entire adult life. owner and manager, running cars in F2 and Australian F1 Grand Prix meeting, starting all you can hope to do is earn their respect. F3, and heading up an IMSA sports car team in in Adelaide in 1985. So this year’s opening Tim, now a fit, wiry 66, shows no sign of Simon Taylor spent time in Melbourne with Tim Schenken the USA. World Championship round at Albert Park, slowing down. He’s a tireless, dedicated worker preparing a feature for his regular “Lunch With…..” series in th the monthly magazine Motor Sport. The full text of Lunch But in 1984 Tim and his German wife Brigitte, Melbourne, was his 25 in that role. His duties for Australian motor sport, and clearly he loves With Tim Schenken will appear in the August issue of now with a young son and twin daughters, have taken him to races all over the globe, what he does. There are many unsung heroes Motor Sport, to be published on July 1.

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 43 ROAD TEST Who hasn’t aspired to driving a Ferrari? Stuart Pringle lived the dream at the wheel of the F430.

he Bulletin makes no apology for achieved on track has helped Ferrari establish lowered yourself into the car is its sheer size. It focusing on racing cars. This is, after a reputation for reliability, build quality and is a big, wide car and whilst that may be fine T all, a Club of racing drivers. However, endurance that is more than certain previous on the track, it feels a bit daunting on the road periodically, the opportunity to review a road models can be credited with. initially. The width of the hind quarters has car of interest presents itself and as most of us That the marque has achieved this on-track one advantage as it is these prominent rear need something to go to work in, a review is success with a model that is approaching the haunches that have required the stylish wing considered to be of interest to the readership. end of its shelf-life and is due to be replaced in mirrors to extend so far as to require profiled The Ferrari F430 needs no introduction in the not too distant future – the current rumour twin mounting arms that channel the airflow terms of its achievements on track. The GT2 is at the Motor Show in September to the engine intakes! At 1450kg, the F430 is variant has racked up some notable successes – seems all the more remarkable. Not as certainly not the lightest supercar around, but in the last two years and overtaken Porsche to remarkable as driving the road-going version nor is it a porker. The Scuderia model – the become the car to beat in both international with this knowledge in mind, though, because stripped out, pepped up version – has shed and domestic GT racing. Several Members it seems inconceivable that this stallion is past an additional 100kg, and you can feel the have become recognised exponents of the it and is destined to be put out to pasture. difference. model and the success that the F430 has The initial impression once you have The 90-degree is wonderfully

44 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 visible through the Perspex rear hood and the was well behaved in traffic, where visibility was flat-plane crank makes for a memorable sound good and, even more unexpectedly, the fuel track once the engine has warmed up. Of economy was acceptable. That could quickly course, the car is quick – make that very quick be addressed when fun was required and – as you’d expect a car with 483bhp to be. You with the gearbox selector was set to ‘race’ and certainly sense the purposeful aerodynamic the accelerator remained planted as the box styling working at speed and the rear diffuser unbelievably flicked up through the gears in clearly bears more than a passing resemblance the blink of an eye, which must be what 150 to the one on its big F1 brother a few years milliseconds is. Driven like that, it drank like ago. The effect of the excellent front spoiler, Gerry Marshall after winning a long race on smooth underside and aforementioned rear a hot day, but it was worth every one of the end is a very impressive 150kg of downforce expensive trips to the increasingly familiar fuel over the rear axle. The enhanced stability is stations. much appreciated at speed and the car feels In short, as many have said before me, the incredibly planted right the way up the clock. F430 is great Ferrari and not just a great mid- The ceramic brakes simply made me wonder engined one at that, but rather a model that how on earth something like a 250 Testarossa I have no doubt will stand the test of time. was ever slowed down on drum brakes. It Indeed, given the market, I’d be tempted to doesn’t bear thinking about when you feel take half the amount of cash that would have the way these incredible modern bits of kit do been necessary a year ago to a dealer just after their job. they announce the new model. Prices of the What was particularly impressive to me F430 will take another unwelcome hammering was quite how usable the car was during our at that point and, however, good the new car brief acquaintance. The F1 paddle gearbox is, it just can’t be, say, £120,000 better than the was so placid and smooth once a slight lift on current model, as that will be approaching the changing up had been perfected. The 430 size of the difference.

The Ferrari F430 has enjoyed success in international and has a better build-quality than previous models. The car enjoys enhanced stability and comes with an F1-style paddle gearbox

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here have been 61 races run for the and . Stirling drove for 36 of the 44 valve on the first lap. Royal Automobile Club’s Tourist Trophy laps, broke the lap record on 16 occasions and The start was either very funny or a T and five of those races, including the retrieved the lead twice from way back. And it shambles, depending on your point of 2008 event, have been won by Aston Martins. was the lead story on the BBC 6 o’clock news view. The race was sponsored by the But was ever a victory more dramatic than that evening. News of the World whose Chairman, that which was achieved at Goodwood on Le Mans was very much mission Sir William Carr, was entrusted with 5th September 1959? It was the fifth and final accomplished for Astons with dropping the flag. Accompanied by round of the World Sports Car Championship and winning from their team- chief timekeeper ‘Lou’ Ebblewhite and was to be contested by Ferrari, winners mates Paul Frère and so to tap him on the shoulder at only at Sebring that year but leading on points the stage was set over two months later for the right moment, Sir William thanks to consistency elsewhere; the Goodwood TT showdown. There had took up position on the track with victories at the Nurburgring 1000kms and been some shuffling of drivers by both the at the head of the line, raised Le Mans; and Porsche who had wiped the floor Ferrari and Aston Martin teams with Roy the flag and Stirling on pole with Ferrari in the and were one Salvadori joining Stirling in the no 1 car which promptly ran towards his car. point behind the British manufacturer. Points the latter had put on pole position and Jack , about to have were scored 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 in those days. Fairman moving into no 2 with Carroll Shelby. his first race in England, 1959 was the year when Aston Martin When this was announced over the tannoy, for a moment looked somewhat under David Brown and John Wyer turned its a huge cheer went up; not only was Roy very bemused at this English interpretation of The News of the World attention to Formula 1 and the sports cars, popular with British fans but also he would the French method of starting races before added its name to the 24th specifically the DBR1, took a back seat apart be rather quicker than Jack Fairman as had setting off in pursuit as the penny, unlike Tourist Trophy which was a from Le Mans. But 1959 was also the year of been shown during practice. Ferrari’s game of the flag, gradually dropped along the line remarkable race. Left, takes a well-deserved the Cooper-inspired rear-engine revolution in musical chairs was merely a foretaste of what of drivers. With Stirling well on his way to drink before climbing back into Grand Prix racing, and the front-engined DBR4 was to follow in the race but for starters Tony firing up his car and setting off for Madgwick, the number two Aston Martin was obsolete before its first race. Stirling Moss, Brooks, who had qualified second fastest, was starter and chief timekeeper scuttled out of driving for Rob Walker in Formula 1 but for joined by Dan Gurney, in the no 9 Testarossa, his path with the flag at half mast. fire up after his SM-inspired jump start, and Aston Martin in sports car racing, persuaded moved into no 10 where he In just one lap Stirling’s Aston was already took 10 laps to make its way through the pack John Wyer to let him have a DBR1 for the found himself not with , as had been opening up a good lead over Carroll Shelby in ahead of the Lotus. 1000kms. In a drive which some would say ‘Plan A’, but with Cliff Allison, the only Ferrari the second DBR1. Graham Hill had his 2-litre After just over an hour’s racing Carroll Shelby surpassed all his other great performances driver apart from Tony Brooks who had raced in a strong third ahead of Taffy von brought his car in for the first routine stop Stirling won that race effectively single- at Goodwood previously. Phil found himself Trips in the best of the three Porsche RSKs. and the benefit of the Aston secret weapon handed after his co-driver had put the car in in Ferrari no 11 with Giulio Cabianca but little The better of the surviving Ferraris in the was revealed for the first time – the cars had a ditch and left them way behind the Ferraris good it did him since the engine dropped a hands of Dan Gurney, had been reluctant to been fitted with nitrogen-powered onboard

48 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 1959 TOURIST TROPHY

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 49 1959 TOURIST TROPHY

The start was either very funny or a shambles, depending on your point of view

jacks, the first time such a system had been used in Europe. Jack Fairman was on his way with fresh tyres and a full tank of fuel in 32.2 The number 1 Aston Martin seconds. A few minutes later in came Stirling caught fire in its second pit stop to hand over to Roy which took 41.5 seconds forcing Stirling to switch to the although shortly before the Ferrari mechanics number 2 car. The start was had turned round the Dan Gurney/Tony Brooks a talking point: Stirling took car in 39.2 seconds using manual jacks. Then advantage of Sir William Carr’s inexperience of flag waving and the third Aston was sent on its way, with Paul got the drop on the opposition Frère replacing Maurice Trintignant, in just 27.2 (right) seconds, greeted with a great cheer from the

50 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 1959 TOURIST TROPHY grandstands when it was announced. more or less on schedule, the car was serviced time in the number 2 DBR1. minutes to go. With 10 minutes left the gap Expectations were high when Roy brought and on its way again in less than a minute A win for Aston with Ferrari second would was seven seconds and as the cars crossed the number 1 Aston for its second stop - quite remarkable considering what had see the two manufacturers tie on points. The the line with two seconds between them, on just after two and a half hours’ racing. The occurred shortly before - and now with Stirling Tony Brooks/Dan Gurney Testarossa having the same lap as the Aston, it turned 6 o’clock car stopped, Roy was about to climb out, at the wheel. been delayed with brake problems, it was and they were given the chequered flag, when suddenly the car and Roy were on fire, The regulations permitted a driver to the third Ferrari which came into play. Having correctly under the rules of the time. Under followed immediately by the whole of the drive for up to five hours. Stirling had had been entrusted to Olivier Gendebien from today’s rules, they would have had the chance Aston pits. Roy leapt out of the car on the his hour off during Roy’s stint in the leading the start, Cliff Allison and then Phil Hill each to complete one more lap, the more powerful passenger side and rolled on the ground to car so now he could spend the rest of the took turns at its wheel before Tony Brooks was Ferrari might well have been able to pass the extinguish his personal fire while the circuit fire afternoon trying to win the race and the installed for a final fling to try to wrest second Porsche, and Ferrari might have tied on points brigade did an excellent job to stop the flames world championship for Aston Martin in his place from the ultra-reliable von Trips/Bonnier with Aston Martin for the championship. With from spreading beyond Aston territory. As the borrowed car. It was another classic Stirling Porsche. As if the excitement of Stirling’s mid- three wins to Ferrari’s one, Aston would have Aston team sorted itself out, having lost most Moss pursuit race which had the crowd race pursuit of Jo Bo had not been enough, taken the title anyway but a clear margin of of its pit equipment, the Taffy von Trips/Jo all round the circuit urging him on as he we now had Taffy being reeled in by Tony with two points was much better. Porsche were Bonnier Porsche had gone into the lead. Jack gradually reeled in Jo Bo until just before 3.30 Stirling in the leading Aston sitting between just one point behind Ferrari. Fairman came in just 10 minutes after the fire pm Stirling led the race once again but this them. The Ferrari unlapped itself with 15 It had been a truly memorable day.

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 51 RACING IN SOUTH AMERICA

Armchair Comment In 1968, a nervous young reporter asked his editor if he could go to Argentina. Andrew Marriott was that man. Here he revives his regular column in Motoring News in the 1960s.

icture the scene – the somewhat The reporter, whose only recognition in Argentina, four races, top drivers like Jochen Ferrari unexpectedly sending two cars, er,er... austere and untidy offices of Motoring the publications is the initials A.R.M. had Rindt, Piers Courage, two Ferraris, Jack Oliver, The great man held up his hand. “See Miss P News and Motor Sport back in the waited at this door once before. To request Clay Regazzoni, Pedro Rodriguez, Jo Siffert, Roberts, get the travellers cheques, book the early winter of 1968. A young reporter, his a pay rise from the pittance that admittedly Jean-Pierre Beltoise, and flights. That’s it boy.” words rehearsed many times over, waits at gave him an inside ticket to the world Jonathan Williams. The first part of the organisation was the end of the corridor more in hope than of International motor racing. It was an “Come in boy what do you want?” The an Aerolineas flight and that provided the anticipation. In front of him a door, behind unsuccessful request and the rebuttal was reporter explained: not much to fill the paper first of many laughs. Most of the British which sits at a large oak desk the Proprietor accompanied by the wave of sheaf of letters. with in December, great series, could take contingent were on the same flight. As soon of the said journals of motor sporting record “Look at these boy, they all want your job!” the photographs, new track with a flyover, er, as the seat belt light pinged off, a swarthy - the redoubtable Wesley J Tee. But this was worth a try, a month in er, er, cheap ticket on Aerolineas Argentina, chap who wasn’t part of the racing party

52 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 RACING IN SOUTH AMERICA

The El Zonda circuit is close to stood up in the 707 and gripped the parcel kits of parts and were still in the process Argentina’s border with Chile shelf above (no closable luggage containers of assembly as practice commenced. which Jochen Rindt reckoned then). His knuckles were white, his expression Another entrant of note was Ron Harris, was worth a visit while everyone pained. He was there for an hour and as we having parted ways with Colin Chapman. else was practising. But El Zonda is also a very hot wind which speculated on his problem. A terrible fear of He was running a pair of stubby Tecnos for Clay Regazzoni. Jack Oliver was in a lone Lotus On his way to his second win of the series, which clinched the title for him, created a dust storm of serious flying perhaps? Finally we concluded it must other local hotshoes, including a youngster 48 entered by the Irishman Gerry Kinnane Andrea de Adamich (left) dominated proportions when qualifying have been a particularly painful bout of South called and another for a and Ferrari, off the back of winning the final at the spectacular El Zonda circuit near was due to take place the American piles! man who certainly didn’t have the looks of round of the European season, brought two San Juan in his powerful Ferrari Dino next day. So no qualifying and 166 after seeing off the attentions of his Race one was scheduled for a 3.4 km Carlos Alberto. He, too, was a Carlos, Carlos of the glorious V6 Dino F2 cars unruly team-mate Tino Brambilla Jochen had to start from the version of Buenos Aires Autodrome, known as Marincovich, who we quickly nicknamed for Andrea de Adamich and Ernesto ‘Tino’ Jackie Oliver (above) had the oldest back of the grid after just eight car in the series, the original 1966/67 laps in the teeth of the storm. circuit No9 – a venue memorable not only for “Revver” due to his inability to change gear Brambilla, older brother of Vittorio. Lotus 48 run in Lotus colours under the “One of the greatest displays of both the track restaurant, which served some on the screaming FVA engine until the valves But the team to beat would surely be the Herts and Essex Aero Club banner, but determination, skill and bravery used it to great effect. Jackie O is seen of the best steaks in the world but also some were bouncing off the top of the pistons. Winkelmann Racing Brabham BT23Cs of Jochen here at Buenos Aires Autodrome on his ever seen in motor racing” wrote of the foulest smells from the vast and nearby Matra had two beautiful MS5s, all French Rindt, already an established Grand Prix star and way to second place in the second leg of ARM at the time. In the race, municipal rubbish tip. blue and the riveted monocoques for Jean- team-mate and team manager Alan Rees. the final round behind Piers Courage’s in calmer weather conditions, Brabham BT23C. Because of the “rather it was Jochen’s turn to create a Frank Williams was running Piers Courage Pierre Beltoise and Henri Pescarolo, the works They got quite a shock over the 70 laps odd scoring system” (ARM), Jackie’s and a clutch of Argentine hopefuls whose Tecnos were being driver by Jo Siffert and that day in early December 1968 with Ferrari consistently strong performances storm of his own as he charged throughout the series only earned him up to third by the end cars arrived in the Autodrome garages as Pedro Rodriguez and there was another for romping home to a magnificent one-two, sixth place in the final standings

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 53 RACING IN SOUTH AMERICA showing speed that hadn’t been apparent earlier Pedro Rodriguez (right) in in the year. Tino headed home Andrea with Jack one of the Ron Harris Tecnos leads the Pepsi Cola-liveried Oliver making up the podium in third place ahead works supported of Clay Regazzoni. Half the field failed to finish in the of the rapid and wealthy, sweltering conditions. Argentine-domiciled Italian rancher Andrea Viannini, Race two was 700 kms away at the Autodromo Oscar Piers Courage in the Frank Cabalen, a 3.2 kms track of which my main memory is Williams Brabham BT23C a bizarre episode about 30 minutes before the start of sporting the ‘Mk 3’ double- wing set up, and Henri the race. With drivers starting to pull on their helmets, Pescarolo’s Matra MS7 in the white coated waiters with matching gloves appeared early stages of the opening bearing silver salvers of sandwiches – complete with race at the Buenos Aires Autodrome the crusts neatly removed – and passed them around to the drivers and race personnel. This time there was no Ferrari one-two and Tino Brambilla’s motor faltered with ignition failure but Andrea raced to victory ahead of Jochen, Clay and JPB. of the country near the border with Chile. Foolishly, Director at the poolside and he promptly pushed me On race evening I made a decision which I was I declined. I had a Motoring News deadline to meet in fully clothed. But the main talk was of the Ferrari to regret for many years. After an excellent dinner I and needed to file the copy. What an idiot: I missed engines - were they really only 1.6 litres? Perhaps joined Jochen, Piers and their wives for a game of what would surely have been the drive of a lifetime. they might be using something a little larger... charades, which proved highly amusing. At the end Instead, I installed myself in the hotel, pounded the Jochen and Piers arrived a day later with tales of of the evening Piers told me that he and Jochen had typewriter for a few hours, found the telegraph office a great road trip. The track was only a year old and borrowed a car and were going to drive 600 kms or so in the town and despatched my Armchair Comment an incredible circuit in a narrow valley with huge across the pampas to the third track on the schedule, column via the telex ticker tape to Standard House. mountains rising behind it and a fly over at one end. the El Zonda Autodrome at San Juan in the far west Returning to the hotel, I located a certain BRDC Jochen decided it wouldn’t take much learning so he

From the back of the grid at El Zonda, Jochen Rindt in his bi-winged Winkelmann Racing Brabham BT23C charged through to third at the finish, setting a new lap record for this amazing circuit on his way. Here he has just passed Piers Courage for fourth place, the Frank Williams BT23C running with a “Winkelmann-type” front wing at the rear. Piers retired with a seized engine near the end

54 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 RACING IN SOUTH AMERICA

opted out of Friday practice to head off on of course, no Armco between the race another road trip into the Andes. track and pit lane and a hapless bystander Imagine if Lewis Hamilton decided he was felled by the Prancing Horse. was going to visit the Barossa Valley and In a model of efficiency, a low slung miss practice for the Australian GP! Team ambulance, based on some 60’s Yank Tank, manager and number two driver Alan was on the scene in seconds, the injured Rees was not impressed particularly when man placed on a stretcher and inserted Jochen turned up for final practice which into the ambulance. coincided with a massive sandstorm down Making a better start than Andrea, the the circuit. The rest of the field opted out clutch was dropped, the ambulance doors but with the grit and dust whirling round, flew open and the stretcher – which was Rindt gave us a display of his special magic on wheels – screamed out of the back of and qualified well up the field. It was one the ambulance and on to the unrelenting of the most impressive drives I have ever pit road. Amongst the yellow flags and witnessed. general chaos it was suggested, perhaps The race itself provided Andrea de unkindly, that the man’s broken leg was Adamich with win number two with caused by the second incident not the first. Jean-Pierre Beltoise finishing second with When the chequered flag fell, we were Jochen a fighting third in the green and able to celebrate a great victory for Frank silver Brabham ahead of ‘Seppi’ Siffert and Williams Racing Cars and Piers Courage Jack Oliver. with Jochen Rindt second, Jo Siffert Finally, with Christmas only a few third and Jack Oliver again driving to an days off, it was back to the Buenos Aires outstanding fourth place in the lone Lotus Autodrome for the fourth and final race, 48. Andrea recovered from his early dramas this time on the longer 4.2 km, No 6 circuit to finish fifth and take the Temporada title, which coincided with the wind blowing as team-mate Tino Brambilla again hit that municipal dump stench away for the mechanical problems. circuit. There was one final post-script. The The Ferrari over-sized engine accusations Argentine partners who had done the deal were out in the open now and the with Ron Harris were less than happy with atmosphere in the paddock was a little the performance of the Tecnos and invited frayed. Carlos Reutemann had been Mr Harris to a meeting close to the Buenos For much of the race at Cordoba, transferred into one of Frank’s , Aires docks. Mr Harris distributed films a battle raged for third place due to the unreliability of the Ron Harris when he wasn’t running a racing team and between the Frank Williams-entered Tecno, his natural talent already noted in they tended to have titles such as “Diary of Brabham BT23C of Piers Courage, Clay Regazzoni’s works Tecno and the high places. a Half Virgin” so he was a man who had his works Matra MS7s of Henri Pescarolo Again we witnessed another bizarre eyes open. But it didn’t stop him getting a and Jean-Pierre Beltoise seen here incident, this time at the start of the race. ducking in the somewhat putrid waters of in that order. By the end, with The bespectacled Andrea de Adamich, BA’s harbour – allegedly. Andrea de Adamich and Jochen Rindt whom I always found a most pleasant Finally the journey ended back in the securing the first two places, this quartet crossed the line with Pesca man, got his Ferrari sideways at the start UK on a crisp Christmas Eve and plenty of ahead of Regga, JPB and ‘Porridge’ – possibly all that extra power. There was, stories to tell as the turkey was served.

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 55 ROB HUFF Under the spotlight: rob huff One of the stars of the FIA World Touring Car Championship is Rob Huff. Ian Titchmarsh spoke to him.

wouldn’t be where I am today without the Rob Huff has quickly BRDC Rising Stars,” were amongst the first established himself as one words uttered by works Chevrolet driver of the stars of the World “ I Touring Car Championship. Rob Huff as we talked about his career. How A win at Macau (right) in a come? dramatic race last November At the end of the 2002 season, in which he was a highlight of his season had finished third in the Elf Clio Renaultsport UK Cup, Rob had enough funds from various sources to pay for a second year in Clios or the new SEAT Cupra Championship for which the top prize was a place with the works SEAT team in the British Touring Car Championship in 2004, a salary of £30000, and a flat in Monaco – the stuff which a young driver’s a lifetime opportunity and the only way to dreams are made of. The SEAT option was go. As I drove away from Silverstone I was tempting, but was it a step too far? determined to win the championship. I went Rob knew Clios and felt confident about everywhere looking for sponsorship.” winning the 2003 championship. Having just Rob won the second SEAT race at Croft and become a BRDC Rising Star, Rob thought he was rarely off the podium thereafter, winning would seek the Club’s advice. A meeting was the championship in the penultimate race arranged with then director Howden Ganley at Thruxton. “We had the most awesome to which 22-year-old Rob went with some night with Jason Plato afterwards,” which trepidation. “Howden could not have been must have set him up well for sharing the more helpful and pleasant. He is one of the Monaco apartment with Jason the following nicest guys I have ever met. He immediately year! That was the start of a friendship which put me at my ease, talked everything through has endured to this day, initially as Jason with me, and said that SEAT was a once in mentored Rob as team-mates in the SEAT

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600 car on a general test day at the circuit. “I had never sat in a racing car before and here I was on the track with F1 Tyrrells! I came out of the chicane and looked in my mirrors – nothing. I reached the end of the pits and looked again – nothing. I reached my braking point and looked – nothing. Suddenly, as I turned into Redgate, this car came past me at unbelievable speed.” For 1998 Rob signed up for the intensive course at the Silverstone Racing Drivers’ School, won all six races he Sport UK Toledos in 2004 and most recently, contested and in 1999 the Jim Russell World in something of a role reversal, with Jason Scholarship. This led to Formula Vauxhall, a on the ‘phone to Rob for advice throughout championship which Rob won in what was, the opening BTCC Brands Hatch weekend as as he concedes, a poorly supported year. Jason got to grips with Rob’s Macau-winning Half a season of Formula Renault was all WTCC Chevrolet Lacetti for the first time. that Rob could afford in 2001 and then he Brands Hatch was also the scene of Rob’s saw the Clio scholarship competition which first BTCC win. Having come close at his first had been set up by . Out of nearly visit, he took his revenge on the return visit. 900 entrants, Rob emerged as one of the six This time the safety car pulled off with one finalists at Croft. “It took the judges five hours

Rob won the inaugural SEAT I wouldn’t be where I am Cupra Championship (above left) and that in turn led to today without the BRDC Rising a BTCC works drive for the Rob has been a serial winner Stars Spanish manufacturer. His of motor racing awards last-lap lunge at Brands Hatch led to a hugely popular maiden touring car win racing lap left and Rob fourth. “Jason went (above). Rob remains keen to decide and it was 9 pm and very dark by sideways with Matt Neal at Paddock, then to drive John Wilshire’s MGB the time they came out and told me I had Yvan (Muller) dived down the inside of Jason (left), a car he has raced for won.” It was that fully funded Clio season at Druids only to run wide so I was able to nip the last 10 years which was the prize and is where we came in. through, take the lead and hold on to win.” As a serial winner of motor racing awards, This success was followed by a second win at Rob has indisputably risen to the top of Rob’s local circuit, Snetterton. by a combination of Rob ended his first season in the BTCC the new World Touring Car Championship, Although like most others Rob began sheer talent and hard work so that at 28 seventh in the championship and anticipated inviting him to join “One Swiss and one Italian in karts, they were not the very expensive years of age, he looks set to become a true continuing with SEAT Sport UK into 2005. driver” as the British member of the team. 100cc type but rather it was family fun with professional driver for many years to come. However, before anything was signed, a call At 24 years of age, and with no silver spoon his father, Peter, in endurance karting. A And if it doesn’t work out, there is always came from Ray Mallock’s company, who had or family background in motor racing, Rob competition run by the Jim Russell Racing John Wilshire’s MGB, a car which Rob has run the SEAT Toledos in 2004 and now had now found himself paid to race for a major Drivers’ School at Donington gave Rob his raced every year for the last 10 years to keep the contract to run the Chevrolet Lacettis in manufacturer on the world stage. first motor racing prize, a drive in a Formula in touch with his roots.

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 57 OBITUARIES Obituaries George Mackie 1916–2008 George Mackie, who died on December 7th, was the youngest son of a Shropshire doctor and had an idyllic childhood being spoiled by three half sisters and a half brother from George Senior’s first marriage. He developed an interest in things mechanical early in his life, and while attending Shrewsbury School bought a motorbike for two pounds which he and a friend renovated and sold for a handsome profit at 17 pounds 10 shillings! George Mackie finishing second in the 2nd He started driving cars at an early (illegal) Easter Handicap at Goodwood in 1949 in age, abetted by his mother telling him to sit the Rover Special up straight in order make himself look older at the wheel! had previously owned 90 PL 4, another the Marauder, with initial production taking Shortly before retiring he purchased one George joined the Rover Company in 1938 team car with a long history of successes, place in coachbuilder Richard Mead’s of the surviving Marauders for restoration after serving an apprenticeship at Leyland including 4th overall at Le Mans. yard, again in Dorridge. A new factory in (the car is now in the Gaydon collection) Motors, but the outbreak of WW2 saw him in George shared his competition enthusiasm Kenilworth was acquired but unfortunately , but his main hobby after leaving Rover uniform, and he spent most of the conflict in with Rover friends, colleagues and friends the introduction of double purchase tax, was woodwork engineering, with many the Western Desert. Spen King and Peter Wilks, and together they and the fact the car did not have the power beautifully constructed artefacts emerging He returned to Rover in 1945 and soon built a single-seater-special based on the to compete with cheaper cars such as the from his garden workshop. became the company’s factory representative remains of the Rover P3 prototype chassis Jaguar XK 120, meant the company ceased to George was a gentle, kind and generous in Europe, with an office in Brussels. During which had been languishing at the back of trade after only 15 cars were built. A tribute to man, with a great sense of humour and his time in Brussels he acquired a Type 37 the factory. This was assembled in a lock-up the quality of workmanship is the fact that at a tremendous memory for detail. He was to replace his 1930 Talbot 90 Team in the car park of the Forest Hotel in Dorridge, least 12 still survive nearly 60 years on. always bemused by the passion members of car GX 68 with which he had competed close-by refreshment being a prerequisite for George returned to Rovers, and by 1957 the Marauder Drivers’ Club have for their cars, enthusiastically in races both pre and post burning midnight oil! he was manager of Land Rover Technical but he supported the Reunion each year at war. Unfortunately economics had forced Encouraged by the racing success of the Sales (ultimately renamed Special Projects the Forest Hotel, and will be greatly missed. him to part with the Talbot in 1947 when he Special they decided to embark on building Department) and remained in charge of We offer our sincere condolences to his married Rosemarie. a Rover-based sports car, and in 1950 Wilks, this very important section of Land Rover widow, Rosemarie, and to all his family. He was a life-long Talbot enthusiast, and Mackie and Company was formed to produce business until he retired in 1981. Ian Glass

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Goodwood Festival in his Brabham, Jim Whitehouse restored by long-time mechanic 1921–2008 1921–2008 Eddie Pinto, and kept his hand in by Jim Whitehouse, was one of those engineers who was weaned in The Zimbabwean Formula One competing in vintage rallies in his the 750 MC racing era of the 50s. His skills, along with names like driver and BRDC member Sam Tingle two pristine Bentleys. He was also Broadley, Chapman, Costin, Duckworth and Mallock, fathered the passed away peacefully in Cape Town instrumental in the construction British motor racing industry in the 60s and 70s, which we have on 19 December 2008, aged 87. of the Donnybrook track in then today. They understood. Sam started racing just after the Salisbury in the early 1970s – being Jim and his lifelong friend and support, Norman Seeney, never war, in 1947, competing initially in hill- in the forefront of ‘giving something saw the point of buying in crankshafts, camshafts or even cylinder climbs with a J2 MG, being a founder back’ to the sport. heads – he simply made them himself, perfectly, in his small rural member too of the Sports Car Club of It is a measure of Sam that no-one workshop in Tamworth-in-Arden. And they worked. On the other South Africa. The MG was transformed I ever encountered had anything bad hand, his degreasing tank was the pig swill trough – this was the best into a racing-car after he rolled it in to say about him. To the contrary, cleansing agent he ever found, so he could not see the reason to buy Bompas Road in Johannesburg while their reflections speak only of a flash new one. he was undergoing his apprenticeship admiration and respect. It was wonderful to see him tackle a problem - he would look at with Hubert Davies. He progressed Sam Tingle on his way to 14th place with the Brabham-copy LDS Mk 3B- It was a pleasure to work with him it, think about it, light his pipe, puff away for ages thinking about it, to an ex-Roy Hesketh R-type single- in the 1968 in the production of Love First, Tingle and then with that wonderful twinkle in his eye come up with a most seater before bringing out ERA R12B Second! in 2006 just as I suspect it brilliant, simple, lateral thinking, solution. (Hanuman II) from the UK. He battled to sell the (now priceless) was a similar experience to race alongside him all those years It was no surprise to anyone who knew him, that the short stroke, ERA after only just three races, eventually swapping it for a second- ago. Despite the 40-odd year age gap, a mischievous twinkle fuel injected, 970 Cooper S, with eight-port alloy head and five-speed hand Ford Zephyr! He then purchased a Connaught A-type from at the ready, Sam connected easily across generations, a mine gearbox, all manufactured in that little workshop, would win the Dick Gibson in the mid-1950s, which he raced successfully until of information and anecdotes about an earlier, refreshingly less British Saloon Car Championship in 1969. Normally it would rev to Doug Serrurier built him a LDS-Alfa for the SAGP in December complicated age. He was meticulous in his records and facts, just 9000 rpm but, if you could get a tow from the big-engined , you 1961 and, for 1966, an LDS-Climax based on the Brabham BT11. as his preparation of his cars set the standard in Southern Africa could see 10,000 – not bad for a BMC ‘A’ series engine in the 60s. Sam was a five-time Rhodesian champion (1959, 1960, 1961, four decades ago. To drive for him you didn’t need pit signals, you just needed a 1963 and 1964). He also finished fourth overall in the SA F1 Men such as Sam Tingle, John Love, Peter de Klerk, , glimpse of his face when you passed the pits. That was enough to tell Championship (LDS-Alfa and LDS-Climax) in 1965; second overall Basil van Rooyen and Jackie Pretorius along with others including you all you needed to know. (LDS-Climax) in 1966 and (LDS-Climax); and third overall both in Cape Town’s Bill Jennings, Don Philp and Nigel Payne who were He was tickled pink with the consternation he caused in later 1968 (LDS-Repco) and 1969 (Brabham BT24). With team-mate gathered for Sam’s memorial service in Somerset West on 29 years when Toyota’s engineers in realised that the rally engines John Love, he made up Team Gunston from the end of 1967, their December, made a domestic Formula One series possible in South which he supplied to Toyota UK gave something in the region of 35% burgundy and gold livery at a stroke forever changing the face of Africa for over two decades – through a mix of dash, ingenuity (for more power than they had ever seen. international motorsport. Of the original Team Gunston of John which us southern Africans were once well known), mechanical He also drove very well himself. In pre ‘pseudo safety’ days before Love, Sam, Gordon Jones, Eddie Pinto, Joe Putter and Keith Starling, genius, hard graft and derring-do. Sam displayed all these qualities in Health and Safety ruled, nothing gave him more pleasure than to only Keith is still with us today. large measure, even after he stopped racing in 1970. take an unsuspecting guest to the BRDC Clubhouse. This was not a Sam remained a front-runner in domestic Formula One Murray Walker wrote of five-time World Champion Juan Manuel normal back road ride but a full-blooded thrash in his Ferrari Daytona. racing until a sticking throttle caused a big accident at Killarney’s Fangio that, “Out of the car he was calm and courteous, a unique He was a quiet but very proud member of the BRDC. Some Malmesbury corner in his World Championship-winning ex-Denny blend of charm, humility and tough acumen.” These words more suggested he was married to motor sport, but in reality he was Hulme, ex-Jochen Rindt Team Gunston Brabham BT24/2 in January than adequately describe Sam Tingle’s approach to life. He was the married to Triss, who with their daughters Vicky and Jill, supported 1970 (a car which today is housed in the Donington Museum). A true gentleman and always the sportsman, and will be sorely missed. him throughout, without question. We offer them our condolences, badly broken leg forced him to hang up his helmet. Sam started He is survived by Mary, his wife of 54 years, children Ann, Jeanne, as we have all lost a lovely, lovely man. the SAGP five times, with a best finish of eighth in the BT24 in 1969. David and John, and eight grandchildren. However, he returned to motorsport in 2001, appearing at the Greg Mills

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 59 OBITUARIES H A Lawrence V Mitchell Jackie Epstein 1923–2009 1934–2008 Lawrence, sometimes referred to as Horace, Mitchell was West Indies where he pioneered the chartering of yachts. Jackie, his only forename, was the youngest of an extremely modest man. In 1953, the last year in which Later he spent another decade in the Mediterranean the five children of legendary Sculptor Sir Jacob he competed, Autosport published an article entitled the dealing in gemstones. He returned to his farm in Epstein. He was pressured by his father to become “Elizabethans” in which they surveyed the future British Gloucestershire where he specialised in the production a painter and, as a child, to produce unwillingly a race driving talent. One can do no better than quote, “A of Christmas trees. He was also a keen photographer, picture each week. very up-and-coming young man, H.A. Mitchell, whose producing work of professional quality. His eventual reaction was to forsake the brush very spirited performances with a have made Our condolences go to his widow, Jackie, and daughter for engineering and to become a leading figure in him one of the best sports car drivers in Britain”. Lawrence Rebecca. the world of motor racing during the time when it gained his early rapid driving experience commuting from Brian Heath was mainly the sport of gentlemen and before its his home near Cheltenham to the family business, the character was changed by sponsorship and avarice. Sharing his Frazer Nash High Speed with the late Peter Scott-Russell, brewers Mitchell & Butler (where he was their youngest Lawrence finished 18th in the 1952 Goodwood 9 Hours Jackie was born in England in 1934 to one Director), in Birmingham in his 1949 High Speed model of Sir Jacob’s models and, on his mother’s early Frazer Nash (TME 924). On wet days he would use his 400 departure to Paris, was reared by the Sculptor’s first Bristol, fitted with rare Farina convertible coachwork. wife Margaret (nee Dunlop) on whose death in Lawrence competed extensively from 1950, TME 924 1949 he was taken by elder sister Billie Jean to live having benefited from the attention of Cheltenham based in America. Earlier, in 1939, Jackie was sketched and Brian Shawe-Taylor, of E.R.A. and Aston Martin fame, and also modelled in bronze by Sir Jacob. his ace mechanic Harold Pugh. At Le Mans, in 1953, he On his return to England, Jackie graduated as an co-drove the works entered Frazer Nash Le Mans coupe engineer at the Chelsea College of Aeronautical (YMK 5) with Ken Wharton. At first Ken regarded Lawrence and Automobile Engineering. In 1954 at the age of with grave suspicion, but this soon changed to admiration, 19, he competed with a borrowed 2-litre HWM-Alta when Ken discovered that his new co-driver could sports car in the opening race at Brands Hatch. consistently equal his lap times. In that year Lawrence He received practical help, for reciprocal services, finished equal second with Peter Gammon to Cliff Davis’s from Geoffrey Taylor whose Alta concern supplied two Tojeiros in the Motor Sport Brooklands Trophy when engines to the Connaught team which, in 1955, they split the prize money of £30. As a result of this he was won the first overseas Grand Prix for Britain for offered a test drive with Connaught, but declined as his three decades. mind was already made up to move on. The requirement of National Service then caught Lawrence, like many racing drivers from the immediate up with Jackie and he became involved with both post-war period, took up motor racing after having served jet and piston engines with the . The in the RAF in which he was a fighter pilot with extensive late 1958-1959 period found him running Palace experience of Typhoons, Tempests and Spitfires. He was Gate Garage in London and looking after the cars mentioned in dispatches and it is amusing to recall that in for racing customers. This led to his first drive at Le lieu of his service revolver, which all pilots were required Mans with Ed Nelson. to carry, he opted to take a 12-bore shotgun with him in In the early 60s came a period of contesting, in a the cockpit, claiming that he could inflict more damage Cooper, the classic Targa Florio. In his first attempt, with it upon the enemy. After his final motor race at Castle he finished third. The following year (1964) with Combe in 1953 in the works development Frazer Nash Le a Brabham BT8 he was burned in a practice crash Mans Replica (XMG6), he left the country and lived in the resulting from suspension failure.

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He then bought the ex-Tony Marsh BRM of up to 30 racing school and corporate day cars P57 V8 1.5 litre Formula 1 car and raced it in and helped to steady Mark Thatcher’s on-track 1964 finishing fifth and ninth respectively at activities. Thatcher eventually drove very well Snetterton and Syracuse. He decided, however, at Le Mans and was a winner at Brands in an that he preferred powerful sports cars to single- Epstein-inspired Formula Talbot which, in the seaters and for the next four years in middle of an early 80s fuel crisis, was converted LMs, Lola T70s and Ford GT40s competed in to run on methanol as a safeguard for the long distance classics around the world. continuance of motor racing should use of In addition to Le Mans he competed in North petrol be banned. America in the Can-Am series, South Africa In 1986 Jackie Epstein joined the Board in the Springbok, Australia at Surfers Paradise of Brands Hatch Leisure Plc, which by then and at Spa and other long-distance events in featured four circuits, to take charge of sales and Europe. engineering of its own generated racing cars, a It was no surprise therefore that after the Ford agency and four prosperous racing schools 1969 Kylami nine-hour race he forsook driving and corporate day businesses. He resigned in to direct his own and other teams. 1991 to become an independent engineering For the next two years Jackie ran the consultant and finally retired to at the powerful Lola T142 and T190 driven by Mike turn of the century. Hailwood and achieved several wins. He also Jackie was a lovable bear of a man who masterminded a Lola T70 and Ford GT40 for had no enemies. He was respected for his Australian Paul Hawkins until the latter’s death knowledge, kindness and practicality. His at Oulton Park. sense of achievement was not motivated by During 1969 he met John Webb, then pecuniary objectives. If he could help he would, Managing Director of Brands Hatch. Jackie, still particularly when assisting young drivers and independent, but with workshops at Brands, engineers to achieve their objectives. became the technical implementer of John’s Jackie is survived by his first wife Sheila and many entrepreneurial ideas involving new second wife Isabel and two sons David and formulae, championships and export motor Christopher. races. Thus in early 1970, John engaged him as Written with the assistance of John Webb Captain and Team Manager of a series of five The Jackie Epstein/Ed Nelson Lola T70 Mk 3 GT (left) at the export Formula Ford races in Brazil involving Esses during the 1968 Le Mans 24 hours long cross-jungle journeys, being shot at, and temporary arrest. In 1972 and 1973 Jackie ran his own two-car Six other Members who sadly passed team from Brands Hatch, winning away recently are: the European Drivers’ Championship with Gijs Peter Cooper Van Lennep. In 1973 (and for the next 15 years) Bill Grose Jackie supervised the operation of a fleet of 20 Harry Price Shellsport Brands Hatch Ford and Talbot saloon William Samengo-Turner Peter Stubberfield cars used for charity celebrity races involving Gordon Whitehead DJs, pop stars, Lords and Commons members A fuller appreciation will appear in the next Bulletin. and sports people. He also looked after a fleet

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 61 6th August 2006 Jenson Button in the Honda RA106 leads the closing stages of the Fisichella’s Renault and damaged his front wing, losing a lap in Hungarian Grand Prix and is heading towards his first Grand Prix the resultant pit stop, but Jenson is flying. He passes Felipe Massa, win. The weather has played a crucial part in deciding the outcome Giancarlo and Michael in the space of two laps and better is to come. of the race with a strange looking grid caused in part by tyre When Kimi crashes into the rear of Vitantionio Liuzzi (Torro Rosso companies not sending cold weather tyres. The weather in Hungary STR1), the safety car is deployed although Jenson opts not to pit. is miserable and cold for most of the weekend. The road is damp at He leaps up to second behind Fernando who then crashes out when the start of the race creating the first ever wet Formula 1 race at the his driveshaft fails. Jenson inherits the lead as Michael attempts Hungaroring, and pole-sitter Kimi Raikkonen takes the lead in his to defend his second place, now on unsuitable intermediate tyres. McLaren MP4-21 as (-03) and Michael Despite cutting a chicane he is powerless to stop his Ferrari being Schumacher (Ferrari 248-F1)battle their way through the field. Both overhauled by ’s McLaren and Nick Heidfeld who have been given a two-second penalty for overtaking under yellow gives BMW-Sauber its first podium. flags in qualifying, whilst Jenson qualifies only 14th in Honda. Fernando claims the lead although Michael clashes with Giancarlo David Addison SECRETARY'S LETTER secretary’s letter

here have been changes in the office perfectly efficiently. Key to this will be the with the British Motor Industry Archive and non-Members that may be present. at the BRDC to bring you up to date building up of a capable and reliable team at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, In keeping with the policy of financially T with. Emma Buxton, who has ably led assisting in the Clubhouse at weekends. Steph has joined the Club on a two year, supporting social functions with on the website redesign and 2009 Yearbook To that end, long serving and ever helpful full-time fixed-term contract. Her priority sponsorship, some of the BRDC Grand production, has come to the end of her Joan Collins will be joined behind the front is to complete the scanning and indexing Prix Ball sponsorship packages include four-month contract. I am grateful to Emma desk at the Clubhouse by Kate Ingram. of the photographic archive in order to tickets to watch the race with access to for the way in which she has developed Our new gateman, Andre Roberts, whom exploit the commercial opportunities that the Clubhouse. There will be a maximum these projects and improved the frequency I introduced to you in the last Bulletin will exist for such a collection. It is a big task, of 100 of these tickets in circulation. This and clarity of our regular newsletters. In her be joined by Mike Daniels who is also a SRC but one that we believe can be achieved in is up from 60 last year, but well down final month with us Emma suffered a very member of long standing. a cost-effective manner within two years. from the 240 of 2006 (and the preceding nasty car accident on her way home from One aspect of the Club office’s In due course, the Archive will become years) which were in the hands of non- work and, whilst her injuries were light, responsibility, where I have been unhappy available by appointment to Members and I Members (and for which the Club received I know that all Members will join me in about the progress which I have made look forward to announcing an open day to no income). The decision to increase the wishing her a speedy recovery. over the last two years, is the Archive. show the initial progress in due course. allocation available to sponsors this year Joining the staff at the start of April, Whilst there have been periodic bursts of I received a letter from a Member recently was considered prudent in the current Sarah Carnell comes from a journalistic attention in the past, the job has never who was concerned about the potential challenging economic environment for background with a lifelong passion for been fully completed and there remains for overcrowding in the Clubhouse at the sponsorship-seeking. It is a manageable motor sport. Most recently, Sarah, a local far too much of the history of the Club, Grand Prix this year. Understandably, he did number when considered against the girl, has been a staff writer on Motor Silverstone and British motor sport which not want to have a situation where, having 2,500 Members and Guests passes that Cycle News where she also ran their is unsorted, unidentified, uncatalogued paid a lot of money for additional Guest will access the Clubhouse compound on busy website. Time spent working for the and incorrectly stored. Completing the job, passes, he and his friends could not get Grand Prix Sunday and without the revenue Northampton Saints Rugby Club gave her whilst not the work of a moment, will not into the Clubhouse on a wet day because, they bring, there would be no party. Please exposure to the workings of a members’ actually be too costly, thanks to the work say, the maximum number of occupants be assured that I am very aware of the organisation and she has played a very done to date and the potential to unlock allowed under fire regulations had been sensitivities associated with this issue but I active role in the Silverstone Racing Club, of revenue streams within the Archive itself. met. Whilst the numbers of the passes in do feel that we have the balance correct. which she is a long standing member. As you will have seen in your 2009 circulation this year will be well known With Sarah joining Becky and me on Yearbook we have managed to find a thanks to the re-issue of the new passes, the staff, I am confident that the Club professional archivist with a real passion I think the question was in fact motivated Stuart Pringle office can run on a fulltime staff of three for motor sport, in Steph Sykes. Previously by concern over the number of sponsors Secretary

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 63 MEMBER NEWS

Occasion and remembrance Ian Khan decided to enliven the fading days of February with an impromptu BRDC Members lunch in the Beef Bar restaurant in Fontveille, Monaco. Needless to say there was a lot of banter and the eight members who attended, as usual attempted to put the world to rights as well as allowing Member News Allan McNish’s fellow Members to recognise his win at Le Mans last year. By Stuart Pringle The photo (below) shows, anti-clockwise, Ray Bellm, , Mike McKee, Johnny Herbert, Ian Khan, Henry Taylor, Allan McNish and the eighth East & West Midlands Social Lunch Member, Graham Gauld, took the photo. By the time Dave Brodie had screamed in late and The Club’s Scottish Members also had an enjoyable lunch during the unannounced, numbers at the combined East winter months as pictured, left. and West Midlands Regional lunch at Nuthurst Sean Walker organised a moving final tribute to his father, the late Ian Grange, near Solihull, had swollen to nearly 50. Walker, when the family gathered at Silverstone in late February to scatter The comfortable surroundings of this fine venue Ian’s ashes. The occasion combined two key aspects of Ian’s life, with the act contributed to the convivial atmosphere, which itself being performed during a high speed pass down the Hangar Straight was complemented by excellent food. by Sean driving one of the ex-Ian Walker Racing Lotus Elans. Bob Meacham introduced Adam Christodoulou, Just moments before, a Royal Air Force Hawk jet made a low pass down Superstar from the region and current Formula the Hanger Straight and over the assembled gathering, by way of tribute to Renault UK Champion, who briefed the assembled Ian’s time in the service. The aircraft was from 100 Squadron RAF, with whom group on the challenges of trying to get a budget Ian had served. Indeed, Ian was one of the few, or perhaps only, BRDC for F3 together in a recession. Adam was followed Members to have landed at Silverstone when it was an operational RAF by the guest speaker, none other than Club Director base during the war. Ian Titchmarsh, but appearing in his more traditional The winter months allowed guise as the most recognisable voice at this country’s Members a chance to enjoy race meetings. Ian highlighted his top 10 races – most a relaxed pace of life, not of which he had commentated on personally – with to mention good company! his incredible recall of fact and detail. At Silverstone (right), Ian A very enjoyable luncheon for all who attended Walker was remembered in a and thanks go to Bob Meacham for his hard work moving tribute organised by in organising. his son Sean

64 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 MEMBER NEWS

Members on track Over 60 Members, with more than 100 guests, attended the year’s first Club Track Day in March. As always, an eclectic mix of cars took part and it was great to see such a group of Members taking advantage of the opportunity The Mini 1275GTs from the 1979 to drive the Grand Prix circuit. British Saloon Car Championship Despite the arrival of rain at lunch time, took to the track again at the recent enthusiasm could not be dampened. A Members’ Track Day, Alan Curnow and behind the highlight for many was Willie Green having wheel. Below, Willie Green hustled a run in Sir Anthony Bamford’s Ferrari the Lancia Ferrari around with gusto D50, which was the car’s first outing since Jochen Mass inverted it at Goodwood last year. Another highlight was the reunion of Richard Longman and Alan Curnow with their Mini 1275 GTs from the 1979 Tricentrol British Saloon Car Championship season. Whilst standing in the Clubhouse, it was wonderful to hear Willie Green change down for Stowe! The second (and final) Members’ Track Day of 2009 takes place on 27th July on the Grand Prix Circuit.

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 65 BOOK REVIEWS

in the long-distance races with . He won the South African Formula 5000 title twice, drove a in the 1974 South African Grand Prix, and he won the Roof of Africa rally with Eddie Keizan in 1972, following Book reviews up with a second place in that event in 1973. The Bulletin team recommend worthy additions to your library Adding to his impressive CV, Paddy finished second in the Trans-Kalahari together with It is what it is and : started 246 races: “Paddy – Who? A Driver’s Life of , and then later he became the Published by: Orion finished second in the World Championship Bikes and Cars” South African Offroad Champion. ISBN: 978-0752874920 once (to Michael Schumacher in 2001) and third Published by: Ecurie Zoo Apart from Paddy’s career the book links him After 15 successive and on four occasions (the first of these in 1995, his ISBN: 1-919969-57-8. to many other characters from the different successful seasons at the first full season). Had it not been for the farcical Among the newest books worlds, his relationship and in most cases pinnacle of our sport, David tyre problem at Indianapolis in 2005, to be published in 2009 friendship, with so many of them. There are Coulthard’s Formula 1 DC would have started every F1 race from Brazil is another from the pen hundreds of photographs, and the forewords career came to an end last in 1995 until Brazil in 2008, a quite extraordinary of Greg Mills who has are by a group of star names including, Pauline November on the first lap achievement. produced works on several Hailwood, Damon Hill and Phil Read. This is of the Brazilian Grand Prix. If you want the inside track on DC’s relationship of the stars of South African certainly one of those must-have books for A disappointing end to an illustrious career but, with Ron Dennis, how he felt when asked to racing. In this case the anyone interested in car and bike racing from as the title of his autobiography implies, these make way for Mika Hakkinen not once, but twice subject is Paddy Driver, a the 1950s to the 1990s. things happen and It Is What It Is. – in the at Jerez at the end Life Member of the BRDC. The book is entitled IT First published in hardback during 2007, and of 1997 and then again in the very next race in “Paddy – Who? A Driver’s Life of Bikes and Cars”. now available in paperback, this book does not Melbourne at the start of 1998 – it’s in this book. Paddy Driver was born in 1934, had his first Morgan Maverick therefore quite take us to end of what was by The horrific plane crash in 2000, in which the (dirt track) race in 1953 and in the years from Published by: Douglas Loveridge Publications any standards a most impressive career. In the pilot and co-pilot lost their lives but David and then until 1996 he rode or drove in almost ISBN: 978-1900113045 interests of completeness that is perhaps a pity, his companions escaped only lightly injured, is every category of racing. As the title of his as is the lack of a table of career results, but the revealing; despite a couple of broken ribs DC was He is one of the very few men to have raced autobiography implies, way in which DC tells his story is not really too racing in the the following in the World Championships of motor cycling, Chris Lawrence’s name dependent on chronology. All aspects of his life, weekend. For aspiring Formula 1 drivers the sports car, and Formula One. Deservedly he is synonymous with both in and out of the cockpit, are covered in book should be something of an inspiration was presented with the South African Lifetime Morgans. However, as illuminating depth, sometimes as the subject for for it shows that it is possible to progress from Achievement Award in 2005. his very enjoyable book a whole chapter, sometimes by reference to his considerable success in the junior single-seater Now this 807-page book chronicles the makes clear, his life has career at a given time. categories, hit the financial barrier which any amazing life of Paddy, from his start in the embraced many more projects than those This is not a book which dwells on statistics, family’s limited resources will eventually impose, rough and tumble of South African motor involving the Malvern marque, not least a brief probably because statistics are not something and yet come out the other side as a top F1 cycle racing to his debut in European 500cc, foray into Formula 1. about which David is overly concerned. But it is driver with a hugely rewarding career. his switch to cars with a Lotus, Chris started competing in motor sport perhaps worth noting that he won 13 F1 races, A few other books and countless magazine and then back to bikes. There he finished third whilst in the Royal Navy as a Sub-Lieutenant including two British Grands Prix: was on the and newspaper articles have been written about in the 500cc World Championship behind the attending the Royal Navy Engineering College podium on 62 occasions, the last being for Red David’s career but the impression left by this all conquering MV Augustas of his great friend and the proud owner of a Morgan Super Bull in the 2008 : scored a book is that it is wholly authentic. Yes, that is Mike Hailwood, and Giacomo Agostini. Sports 3-wheeler, which, via an unsatisfactory total of 535 World Championship points to stand what it is. Following his retirement from bikes, Paddy Type 38 Bugatti, gave way to the Hillwood MG an all time fourth behind Michael Schumacher, IT enjoyed much success in cars, at times sharing Special and the MG NE Magnette ‘Porthos’.

66 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 BOOK REVIEWS

Fitted with a Mistral glassfibre body, Porthos Members with long memories will recall how little strange. That said, as the life story of a has scarcely been out of the British motor sport met its Waterloo in an encounter with a the Pearce-Lawrence Formula 1 adventure very talented engineer and driver, this is an limelight since. wayward backmarker while leading the went up in smoke at the far end of the Club absorbing read. What comes across from this book, and Fibreglass Trophy at Brands Hatch from Archie Straight on the night before the 1967 Daily IT the excellent and liberally used selection Scott-Brown’s works Elva in 1956. After an Express International Trophy meeting. of photographs, is Barrie’s irrepressible and interlude with an AFM, a two-year-old Morgan 1966 also marked the start of the Monica Whizzo insatiable appetite for cars, competing with Plus 4 TOK 258 was acquired in 1958 and Chris high performance road car project which Published by: TFM Publishing them, and for the people involved in the sport. As established himself as one of the leading seems to have occupied many of Chris’s ISBN: 9781903378625 most of you will know, quite apart from his racing sports car drivers in British national racing by waking hours over the next seven years and There are not many and activities, Whizzo was for a number winning the Freddie Dixon Trophy a year later. is covered in fascinating detail in the book’s racing drivers who have of years a director of the BRDC and today is the TOK 258 was developed into the car with longest chapter. Mk 6 Specials, racing become household names President of the British Motorsport Marshals’ which Chris and Richard Shepherd-Barron in historic events in California and then back within the sport without Club which has him sitting on the MSA’s Race won the 2-litre class and finished 13th overall to Europe first to oversee the Marcos LM600 competing in Formula 1 Committee. What may not be so well known is at Le Mans in 1962, sweet revenge for the project, which enabled Chris Hodgetts to and fewer still about whom why Barrie is called Whizzo; read the book and events of the previous year which had resulted win the British GT Championship, and then a book has been written. you will find the answer. in Richard’s LawrenceTune car XRX 1 being the creation of the Morgan Aero 8 saw Chris A third distinction for Barrie Williams is that he There are chapters on Barrie’s Top Ten races, excluded shortly before the start because it through to an active retirement. is almost universally known by all and sundry Top Ten cars, the BRDC, and his views on other was a “1939 model”. Chris writes in a highly readable and as Whizzo and this is the title of the book which drivers. One wonders how much had to be Despite his sports car successes, Chris entertaining style, not only about his was published last year as Barrie approached his excised by a legal blue pencil for Barrie likes to tell hankered after single seater racing which involvement with cars but also sailing, 70th birthday. it as he sees it. gave rise to the Deep Sanderson Formula interspersed with his personal life. He does Paul Lawrence, the book’s author, has acted ‘Whizzo’ is an entertaining account of the life Juniors, with the 104 version of which Chris not believe in pulling punches but tells it in effect as Whizzo’s amanuensis, so that there and times of someone who was once described won a minor FJ race at Oulton Park. A Deep as he sees it, at times being prepared rather is scarcely a page which fails to provide an as the BRDC’s oldest teenager. It may have taken Sanderson of a very different type, the 301 disarmingly to blame himself rather than anecdote in Barrie’s own breezy words. The book Paul Lawrence five years to produce but it is well GT car with Mini mechanicals, came close others when things went wrong. You also is far more than a string of stories, though. Paul worth the effort. to giving Chris another Le Mans class win in warm to someone who says; “When I got has not only put Barrie’s career in the context of IT 1963 but was excluded in the best traditions out of the Navy to go motor racing, I had the evolving British motor sport scene, of which of Le Mans officialdom in those days when it three ambitions……to drive at Le Mans, to he has been a part since the late ‘50s, but has Regga – The Extraordinary two seemed it might deprive French cars of victory be invited to join the BRDC, and to drive at also obtained the reflections of some of the Lives of Clay Regazzoni in the 1-litre class. Indianapolis”. Two out of three plus Formula 1 individuals who have aided and abetted Whizzo Published by: Haynes Publishing Into 1966 Chris found himself doing a deal instead Indianapolis is pretty close. in his always colourful career. ISBN: 978 1 84425 479 8 with JA ‘John’ Pearce (not to be confused with The principal criticism of the book is poor Even in the ‘50s there were Go Karts and as a Clay Regazzoni was the Jack ‘Kincraft’ Pearce) to compete in the new proof reading (Bruce McClaren is only the teenager mad keen on going racing Whizzo was archetypal racing driver. 3-litre Formula 1 with the ex-Bruce McLaren most glaring of many spelling mistakes) and in at the beginning, competing with a device Swarthy, wild, charismatic, 1964 Cooper T73 in which a Ferrari V12 sports some factual inaccuracies which could have designed and built by the family engineering and very fast. As the old car engine was installed. Two Grands Prix been easily checked. For example, the 1966 business and christened the Fastakart because it saying goes he, “looked fast were contested – the British and German British Grand Prix was not a two-part race, was. After a spate of sprints, hillclimbs and rallies just standing still”. His early – and a couple of British non-championship Chris having confused this event with the 1967 Barrie’s first race was at Rufforth with a Morris years in racing did not point races at Oulton Park and Brands Hatch. The Race of Champions which had two heats and Minor 1000 before an early 1071 Cooper S was to any major talent and it seemed that he whole episode makes fascinating reading as a final, nor did he ever take part in the Daily acquired and used to win the postponed 1963 was destined to spend his life working in his an insight into how a privateer could tackle Express International Trophy which makes the Welsh Rally in January 1964. It was this win which father’s panel shop. A chance to drive better the pinnacle of motor racing in the mid 60s. story on page 124 involving a brought Whizzo a national reputation and he machinery let him become a challenger, albeit

BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 67 BOOK REVIEWS with the wildest of styles. His reputation as a wild man second iteration of TOK 258, painted BRG although began to grow. Perhaps dangerous would be more apt. interestingly the film reveals that the car was painted Also available Gradually, Clay smoothed out his driving, moved from the same shade of red as TOK 258 Mark 1 for the Le F3 to F2 and then to Ferrari in Formula One, scoring his Mans Test Weekend that year. Richard’s pale blue Plus 4 From the Fells to Ferrari first victory at Monza in 1970. By 1980, Clay had made XRX 1 is the other star car of the show, the two Morgans Published by: Veloce Books 132 GP starts with five wins, five poles and 15 fastest taking on and beating assorted Porsche Abarths, A book which was published some time ago, but was to laps. Then came the accident at Long Beach which Abarths and Alfa TZs. some extent ignored is ‘From the Fells to Ferrari’ , and it is confined him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Naturally the focus of the film is the Morgan team listed as the official biography of Cliff Allison. The writing of So began the second life of Clay Regazzoni. Never but one of the fascinations of this DVD is the not the book had been started by a friend of Cliff , but following one to let anything beat him Clay set out to live as inconsiderable coverage of not only other cars in the Cliff’s untimely death the project was taken over by Graham normal life as possible, rallying on six continents, Sports and GT races but also in other events at the Gauld, with inspiration from Cliff’s sister Pat Smith and help from his widow competing in the Paris-, founding a driving same meetings. For example, the opening shots are of Mabel. school for the disabled. He was a regular at Grands the GT race at Oulton Park in April 1961 and the racing A Life Member of the BRDC, Cliff was one of the very few Englishmen to Prix, and all of the functions organized by the Club des debut of the Jaguar E-type, while the cluttered paddock drive for Ferrari. That had come about as a result of his success with Team Ancien Pilotes. at Aintree for the 1961 British Grand Prix meeting is Lotus, and thus Cliff had driven for two of the most influential people in Christopher Hilton has written the first English something to behold with Formula 1 cars appearing post war motor racing: Colin Chapman and , surely a measure language book on the amazing life of Regazzoni, a high to line up for scrutineering among the GT and Saloon of how highly Cliff was regarded. quality production of 250 pages with a large number of cars. A very mixed test day at Snetterton is filmed from At only 120 pages this is a relatively short publication but it contains wonderful photographs; a worthwhile addition to any the hairpin at the end of the old Norwich Straight, with some rare photographs and provides an insight into the life of a very library. Very appropriately the foreword is by Sir Frank some interesting cars and incidents, while Formula modest yet extremely talented racing driver. He drove with some of the Williams, for whom Clay scored the first of the many Juniors are also to be seen at Silverstone, Brands Hatch greats of his time including Phil Hill and Dan Gurney, who has written a Williams Grand Prix victories. and Goodwood. Remember the Veedol Trophy for most wonderful foreword. HG amateur sports car drivers, the winner of which (Bob Burnard) received a brand new FJ for the 1963 Silver Arrows in Camera Behind the pits season? Well, here it is, if only briefly, in full colour. Published by: Haynes Publishing This DVD could Members of the VSCC and VCC should be intrigued The final book in our review collection is Silver Arrows in not have come by the coverage of the 1962 Lyons to Le Mans Rally, Camera, a pictorial record of those charismatic racing cars at a better time the finish of which coincided with the Le Mans Test which dominated Grand Prix racing from 1934 to 1939. to complement Weekend. Compiled by Anthony Pritchard, there is a good amount Chris Lawrence’s There are nuggets galore in this delightful DVD which of text, and although the book concentrates on the racing autobiography, is none the worse for lacking a contemporary sound up until 1939, there is a section entitled ‘The post 1945 reviewed track and leaves the viewer free to concentrate on the story’ which covers, amongst other subjects, the equally dominant 1954 opposite. It has images. Richard himself provides a calm and informative and 1955 when Juan-Manuel Fangio and latterly Stirling Moss were so been compiled by Penny and Richard Shepherd-Barron commentary; there is no need for “hype” because he successful in both Grand Prix and sports cars. from colour film shot principally by Penny during the was there and knows what he is talking about. If you The photographic record of those pre-war years is comprehensive, and 1961 and 1962 racing seasons at many of the major are old enough to remember the E-type’s debut, you includes the record-breaking which was so important to German prestige, British GT and Sports Car races where the LawrenceTune will want this DVD, as you will if you own, or aspire to but which brought about the death of Bernd Rosemeyer in the Auto Union. Morgan Plus 4s competed plus Spa, the Nurburgring own, and race cars from this period. It is of just over 60 This is just a great historical compilation, including the technical and Le Mans, with Chris and Richard as the leading minutes duration and is available on line from www. specifications and subsequent fate, of those magnificent cars and deserves drivers. morgancars-dvd.com at a cost of £20.00 plus £2.00 post a place in the library of any serious student of pre-war motor racing. As is now part of the Morgan legend, Chris and and packing. HG Richard won the 2-litre class at Le Mans in 1962 in the IT

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APRIL 29 BRDC AGM Jimmy Brown Centre, Silverstone Contact Stacey on 01327 855104 or [email protected] for food ordering. Contact Becky Simm for meeting information or apologies Tel: 01327 850922 MAY 20 Monaco Regional Lunch lA Rascasse, Monte Carlo Contact Ian Khan Email: [email protected] JUNE 11 South Regional Lunch Gins, Royal Southampton Yacht Club, Beaulieu River Contact Rex Woodgate Tel: 02380 849264 or Brian Heath Tel: 01590 643408

19 – 21 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX

JULY 27 Members’ Track Day Silverstone Please contact Becky to book (free for Members/passengers and £200 per driving guest). DECEMBER Silverstone Sunday 9th May 1999 There is just one British car on the grid to contest closely matched supercars are seen here heading Beretta, to take their second of six wins en route 7 Annual Awards Luncheon the BRDC’s , the second round into Bridge Bend. When the Lister has all four to the championship title for Team . A year The Savoy Hotel, London of the FIA GT championship, among a mass of wheels changed at the first stop compared with later the tables are turned and Julian, sharing Chrysler Viper GTS-Rs and Porsche 911 GT2s, but the Viper’s two, the American car takes over a with Jamie Campbell-Walter, wins four races and from the start the 7-litre, V12 Jaguar-powered lead which it only loses back to the Lister around the championship for Lawrence Pearce and his is taken into the lead by . half-distance when the tyre change strategy Lister team. Julian has been pipped for pole position by Karl reverses. It is all in vain because, after 80 laps the Wendlinger in the 8-litre V10 Viper but is able to Lister suffers failure, leaving Karl stay ahead until the first round of pit stops. The Wendlinger and his Monegasque co-driver Olivier Ian Titchmarsh

70 BRDC Bulletin Vol 30 No 1 Brooklands Saturday 12th October 1929 The BRDC ran its first race meeting as an organising club at Brooklands, 80 years ago this year. The inaugural BRDC 500 mile race was held on 12th October and the driver change pictured is a wonderfully atmospheric observation on the attitude to Health and Safety in the pits of the day!

Stuart Pringle