PH Blog: Attwood plays it cool
When it comes to role models you can't help but respect the old school
Made a mint selling it, still gets to drive it. Hm.
I came across this video of Attwood talking about 'his' 917 at the Porsche a little while back at Hedingham Castle. It's among a host of stuff on the Porsche Origins page well worth a look at, though I challenge you to watch Jay Kay talking about his 2.7 RS and not turn a vivid shade of green. Like that other car loving Jay, Kay just about manages to carry off a Leno-like credibility based on (well funded) passion and heartfelt geekery. Though he treads a very fine line.
But Attwood. The very definition of cool. As if having driven some of the most fantastic racing cars ever wasn't enough - Ford GT40, David Piper-era Ferrari 250LMs, Alfa T33 and Porsche 908 among the sportscar highlights alone - he's also modest, quietly steely and drily down to earth, famously knocking about in an old 405 estate with several hundred thousand on the clock. I think they call that not having to prove anything.
Don't watch if prone to jealousy...
Obviously these guys are pros and can tell pretty quickly whether you're half competent or a liability and deliver their instruction and/or hand to the wheel intervention accordingly. Attwood? Didn't say a word.
Which was even more terrifying.
"Try fourth not third here..."
So as well as trying to come to terms with the 4.0 I was nervously glancing at my silent chaperone, alternating between 'holy crap, that's Richard Attwood' and 'is he bored or terrified?' when I should have been concentrating on what I was doing.
After a few laps, and as recounted in my review of the car here on PH, he leaned forwards a tad and murmured "try keeping it fourth there rather than downshifting to third" before relaxing back into his seat and looking out of the side window. We arrived at the next corner some 20mph faster than before. Or so it felt. There was the barest flicker of approval and then, a couple of corners later, "the faster driver is always the one in the higher gear." And that was the sum total of my instruction from Richard Attwood.
Anyway, watch Jay Kay talk about his 2.7 if you can stomach the envy. And then marvel at Attwood and his understated description of winning Le Mans for the first time in the 917.
Dan
As passionate as Evans, but lacks his down to earth attitude at times.
does have exceptional taste in cars thou
so a bellend with nice cars
As passionate as Evans, but lacks his down to earth attitude at times.
does have exceptional taste in cars thou
so a bellend with nice cars
Massive fan of Evans though
Couldn't believe his daily drive was a Pug 405 at the time.
Couldn't believe his daily drive was a Pug 405 at the time.
SS7
Atwood, got to admire a man in cords and a cloth cap.
The coolest driver I ever saw was on a Wheeltorque track day at the 'ring. Older chap with his Maserati 250F (I think). Beautiful, bright red - he was wearing the shiny white overalls, when he got out of the car he's slip on a bespoke tweed jacket. I followed him (quite by accident) out onto the public road - me in my caterham, he in his 250F. He stuck he right arm out straight like he was doing his cycling proficiency test and pulled into the petrol station. Brilliant.
Attwood is a lovely chap. I sat with him at the Cayman launch at Silverstone and asked him for an autograph. We had nothing handy to write on so he said he'd speak to one of the hosts there. A few days later a package of Porsche corporate bits&bobs arrived with his moniker on them. BTW he does the driving stuff at Porsche Experience because he enjoys it - he's a wealthy man in his own right.
SS7
As passionate as Evans, but lacks his down to earth attitude at times.
does have exceptional taste in cars thou
so a bellend with nice cars
Coolest driver I have seen was at the RM auction in Monaco 2 years ago where Chris Evans was selling his 250 SWB and a 250 California Spider.
The place was packed with some seriously rich people all done out in their finery with women walking around drinking Champagne wearing jewellry that was worth more than my house.
Just before Evans' 250 SWB came up a little Italian who looked to be in his late 50's came in wearing his dirty racing overalls, carrying his helmet and gloves, hair all over the place and obviously a bit hot and sweaty.
He picked up a bottle of water and went and sat in the front row. A few minutes later he has successfully bid £2.25M then just got up and walked out to carry on with his practice session.
Amazing
After the talk I got to chat to Richard for a while and he's both entertaining and an original British gentleman.
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