Motorsport nostalga and memories
Discussion
Not sure if this will take off, but i would be interested in hearing other PH'ers motorsport memories, and nostalgic tales, it could something simple like 'remeber when the Demon Tweeks catalouge can through and was worth looking at, not full of car stereos and tat' or going to a race meeting an seeing something spectaular or new. Just a couple from my mind:
Any one remeber the old hermit guy that lived in the bottom corner at Lydden Hill, i remeber seeing him at every meeting i went to with my father, like a feature of a circuit that was a bit behind the times, after a long break from going there, i attended a sprint for the Maidstone motor club, and he wasn;t there any more. Any one know any thing about him?
Another was watching Jim Tiller steer his bright orange Allard up the hill at Valance school hill climb; an ecentric motorsport character powering an monstorus car up an increadably tight course, the noise, speed, and smell was increadable.
I hope others will share ther memories, as i'm sure there is a wealth of knowledge an memories to be shared about past events, and all things motoring, also interesting to see how many of us were at the same events?
Apologies in advance for any spelling/grammer errors!
Any one remeber the old hermit guy that lived in the bottom corner at Lydden Hill, i remeber seeing him at every meeting i went to with my father, like a feature of a circuit that was a bit behind the times, after a long break from going there, i attended a sprint for the Maidstone motor club, and he wasn;t there any more. Any one know any thing about him?
Another was watching Jim Tiller steer his bright orange Allard up the hill at Valance school hill climb; an ecentric motorsport character powering an monstorus car up an increadably tight course, the noise, speed, and smell was increadable.
I hope others will share ther memories, as i'm sure there is a wealth of knowledge an memories to be shared about past events, and all things motoring, also interesting to see how many of us were at the same events?
Apologies in advance for any spelling/grammer errors!
As a starter, going to Silverstone in the late 60's early 70's for GP and International Trophy practice on a Friday afternoon and if you paid an extra 5 bob (25p) you could watch from the stand over the pits they still had the elevated pits then. 25p was about an hours wage for an apprentice toolmaker so to me it wasn't cheap. One of these days I'll find some of my photo's taken in '74 and scan them into the PC so I can post then up. Also watching on the pit straight in '73 when Jody Scheckter spun the Mclaren and took out the entire Surtees team among others,Ricky Von Opal was out of his Ensign even before it had stopped on the apron on the inside of Copse.
With over 30 years as marshal I could go on for ever on this one.
from my dad who didnt realise he was on my account, older generation just arent up to scratch with this technology
With over 30 years as marshal I could go on for ever on this one.
from my dad who didnt realise he was on my account, older generation just arent up to scratch with this technology
Edited by lewis1 on Saturday 21st November 00:30
Mallory Park in the sixties. Watching Sid Taylor in, I think, a Lola with a huge V8, sideways up the grass on the pits straight. Then returning later that season to see the same car driven by Denny Hulme. My first lesson in the difference between a brave driver, Taylor and a quick driver Hulme. Watching F5000, having climbed up a tree, for a good view of the back straight, just before the esses and realizing that any fantasies about being a top racing driver, were just that, fantasies. They were doing things I would have never had the balls to do. Jackie Ickx in a mark two Lotus Cortina in the rain at the hairpin. Lap after lap, sideway, to the same spot on the track before a throttle induced flick around the corner. All for about 7/6d in old money.
ginettajoe said:
GAjon said:
Watching the TVR SEAC at Oulton Park, light years ahead of all opposition.
That would be the bight yellow one that Steve Cole raced?? In The 1275 GT Centre/ Howley Racing Sports & Saloon Challenge, the race I sponsored at that time. I remember well the old guy at Lydden Hill and his cats too. Started going there for the international Rallycross in 1975 and the turbo Volvos, the Stratos, John Welch and John Smith in the Lois Jeans Escorts, John Taylor in the Haynes of Maidstone Escort, Martin Scanche in his turbo Escort and the crazy Finns in the 911s. I also remember the old paddock when it rained and the fabulous bread pudding and home made pies from the cafe under the commentary box. And Arthur Debenham who is still going strong.
Brands Hatch in 1964? Jim Clark won the Formula 2 race, drove a Cortina later on too, as did Graham Hill. There were grandstands all the way around Clearways as I seem to recall sitting with a really good view all the way down the main straight and into Paddock Hill bend too.
My best memory is starting going to Le Mans in 1981, long before they demolished the fantastic old pits and terraces, and sitting with my feet dangling over the top of the pit boxes only feet from the action. Taking a pee in the old toilets behind the pits, next to the old Drivers' Cafeteria and recognising the scene from Le Mans and thinking "wow Steve McQueen probably peed here". Talking to Derek Bell and John Fitzpatrick in the paddock and simply mixing with all the drivers and mechanics. Seeing Derek Bell and David Hobbs at the restaurant on the straight before it became a Chinese place and getting deep into conversation with them (more than once as well). The chaos in the restaurant as everyone descended on it for first practice for their dinner and the waiting staff being so accommodating and making sure that pretty much everyone got a meal somehow. And getting window seats on Wednesday night second practice and watching the 956s, the lobster claw March, the Nimrods and so on thundering past and shaking the whole bloody place every time. And no catch fencing so could you just lean out of the window between mouthfuls to see who was coming next. And not a drunken chav in sight.............
Brands Hatch in 1964? Jim Clark won the Formula 2 race, drove a Cortina later on too, as did Graham Hill. There were grandstands all the way around Clearways as I seem to recall sitting with a really good view all the way down the main straight and into Paddock Hill bend too.
My best memory is starting going to Le Mans in 1981, long before they demolished the fantastic old pits and terraces, and sitting with my feet dangling over the top of the pit boxes only feet from the action. Taking a pee in the old toilets behind the pits, next to the old Drivers' Cafeteria and recognising the scene from Le Mans and thinking "wow Steve McQueen probably peed here". Talking to Derek Bell and John Fitzpatrick in the paddock and simply mixing with all the drivers and mechanics. Seeing Derek Bell and David Hobbs at the restaurant on the straight before it became a Chinese place and getting deep into conversation with them (more than once as well). The chaos in the restaurant as everyone descended on it for first practice for their dinner and the waiting staff being so accommodating and making sure that pretty much everyone got a meal somehow. And getting window seats on Wednesday night second practice and watching the 956s, the lobster claw March, the Nimrods and so on thundering past and shaking the whole bloody place every time. And no catch fencing so could you just lean out of the window between mouthfuls to see who was coming next. And not a drunken chav in sight.............
Going to the Spa 1000km the first year the new circuit was used, the place was not finished at all, no fencing and no security. Remember leaning on the armco at Blanchimont within touching distance of 956's (or was it 962's) flashing past. The old bar at La source was still open then as well, and you could sit in the garden with a Tubourg or 2 right on the outside of the hairpin in the days before the bus stop was put in.
Dont even get me started on Eau rouge and being able to drive it in your road car as they didnt bother to put the barriers in on the Saturday night when the roads re opened after practice.
Dont even get me started on Eau rouge and being able to drive it in your road car as they didnt bother to put the barriers in on the Saturday night when the roads re opened after practice.
Mike Thackwell, March F2, Silverstone, Easter, pissing it down. Every year. Out of sight of the rest of the field.
Andrea De Crasharis stuffing whatever he was driving at the time top of the mountain at Cadwell.
Whizzo sideways everywhere in the mini at Croft.
The first Festival of Speed. Right on the inside of Molcomb at the apex, watching Marc Surer.
And the top one.
Grizedale Forest. Dawnish. Quattros.
Andrea De Crasharis stuffing whatever he was driving at the time top of the mountain at Cadwell.
Whizzo sideways everywhere in the mini at Croft.
The first Festival of Speed. Right on the inside of Molcomb at the apex, watching Marc Surer.
And the top one.
Grizedale Forest. Dawnish. Quattros.
Just to add bit more about Gerry.
Testing at Silverstone, pissing down, so we didn't go out much.
But I stood on the pit wall, as were many others, watching Gerry come out of Woodcote and half way along the pit straight..............so sideways he was looking out of the side window!
When asked why he was out there (he didn't really need to be) he just said "it was good fun".
Testing at Silverstone, pissing down, so we didn't go out much.
But I stood on the pit wall, as were many others, watching Gerry come out of Woodcote and half way along the pit straight..............so sideways he was looking out of the side window!
When asked why he was out there (he didn't really need to be) he just said "it was good fun".
watching "babs" lap silverstone from th pit wall at one of the friday practice sessions of the coys historic festival in the early/mid 90s. we watched it fire up in the pit lane and the driver was getting covered in petrol as it ticked over, then it took off up towards the pit exit, three minutes later it came thundering down the pit straight with fire coming out of every exhaust...
loads from combe, watching the dave appleby metro 6r4s in the combe gt series in the early 90s, off the start line they were truly bonkers.... the gavin wills/kevin mills ff1600 battles, the brian fisher skoda rapide, the Erling Jenson(?) crash at camp corner in the lotus esprit, watching the British GT race from Folly truly gobsmacked at the speed of the Mosler...
loads from prescott/shelsley too, andy priaulx's first season in a V8, the emergence of GW Jr, dave kimberly in that red caterham sideways through ettores, the occasional(!) rain shower presenting some "interesting" top 12 runoffs, a 500cc honda motor reputedly once in a wayne gardner gp bike now in a jedi which made a very nice noise indeed...
loads from combe, watching the dave appleby metro 6r4s in the combe gt series in the early 90s, off the start line they were truly bonkers.... the gavin wills/kevin mills ff1600 battles, the brian fisher skoda rapide, the Erling Jenson(?) crash at camp corner in the lotus esprit, watching the British GT race from Folly truly gobsmacked at the speed of the Mosler...
loads from prescott/shelsley too, andy priaulx's first season in a V8, the emergence of GW Jr, dave kimberly in that red caterham sideways through ettores, the occasional(!) rain shower presenting some "interesting" top 12 runoffs, a 500cc honda motor reputedly once in a wayne gardner gp bike now in a jedi which made a very nice noise indeed...
I grew up in South Africa so mine are probably a bit obscure to most members of PH. They include:
Kosie Swanepoel heroically oversteering his yellow, old and outclassed E30 to 15th place or a sandtrap in any SA Touring car championship race he entered. Spectacular.
The twin turbo Glenwood Alfa GTV leaving the American V8s and turbocharged 4WD Audis for dead at Swartkops until it had turbo failure, which slowed it down so much that it finished second..
The BAR F1 team testing at Kyalami before the start of their first year. I was standing behind the pits. I could hear the car coming, then it would appear from behind the pitane wall, on the start / finish straight, going so fast that my eyes couldn't keep up.
Kosie Swanepoel heroically oversteering his yellow, old and outclassed E30 to 15th place or a sandtrap in any SA Touring car championship race he entered. Spectacular.
The twin turbo Glenwood Alfa GTV leaving the American V8s and turbocharged 4WD Audis for dead at Swartkops until it had turbo failure, which slowed it down so much that it finished second..
The BAR F1 team testing at Kyalami before the start of their first year. I was standing behind the pits. I could hear the car coming, then it would appear from behind the pitane wall, on the start / finish straight, going so fast that my eyes couldn't keep up.
Watching Saturday Grandstand with Des Lynham, going 'And now over to Brands Hatch for the Rally Cross Grand Prix', Will Gollop and Martin Shanca etc going for it.
Visiting the first Goodwood FOS, not nowing what sort of event it was going to be, and standing behind the 1.5ltr twin supercharged Alfetta GP car, as they warmed it up. Also watching Caterham driver Dick Stephens take the utterly bonkers Caterham JPE up the hill, thrashing all the other assembled suppercars.
Visiting the first Goodwood FOS, not nowing what sort of event it was going to be, and standing behind the 1.5ltr twin supercharged Alfetta GP car, as they warmed it up. Also watching Caterham driver Dick Stephens take the utterly bonkers Caterham JPE up the hill, thrashing all the other assembled suppercars.
Too many to mention, especially my own, but the one that stands out particularly as I was about 10 at the time, was the 1970 ish Easter F2 Race at Thruxton, with Graham Hill, and Ronnie Peterson driving Qually laps for the entire 50 lap race 
Not sure how many times they swapped places, it was awesome to watch and made a big impression on me.
Apparently Bette Hill was in tears watching, as they were both pushing so hard. Graham won.
Another was when I was about 6/7 standing on a fuel drum on the outside of clearways at Brands, watching a saloon car race. Light blue Mustang with 2 x Orange and grey [ I think ] Anglia’s snapping at its heels the whole race.
I remember this as a Frog Eyed Sprite crashed right in front of me making me fall off the fuel drum into a muddy puddle, Mum was not pleased!
And another, whilst Testing at Brands in the early 80’s, during the Lunch brake, Keke Rosburg came out in the DFV Williams F1 car, no warming up, just strait on it, fantastic to watch. I think he was lapping in around 36 secs!
Not sure how many times they swapped places, it was awesome to watch and made a big impression on me.
Apparently Bette Hill was in tears watching, as they were both pushing so hard. Graham won.
Another was when I was about 6/7 standing on a fuel drum on the outside of clearways at Brands, watching a saloon car race. Light blue Mustang with 2 x Orange and grey [ I think ] Anglia’s snapping at its heels the whole race.
I remember this as a Frog Eyed Sprite crashed right in front of me making me fall off the fuel drum into a muddy puddle, Mum was not pleased!
And another, whilst Testing at Brands in the early 80’s, during the Lunch brake, Keke Rosburg came out in the DFV Williams F1 car, no warming up, just strait on it, fantastic to watch. I think he was lapping in around 36 secs!
rlw said:
My best memory is starting going to Le Mans in 1981, . And getting window seats on Wednesday night second practice and watching the 956s, the lobster claw March, the Nimrods and so on thundering past and shaking the whole bloody place every time. And no catch fencing so could you just lean out of the window between mouthfuls to see who was coming next. And not a drunken chav in sight.............
No 956s in 1981Last ever Le Mans for a 917 though
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