Colin Chapman , 25 Years on.
Discussion
I first met Colin when he started out behind the Tophouse in Hornsey. My dad had a engineering firm in Tottenham and we were the agents for the J.A.P speedway engines. Coopers used to use these in their hillclimb cars so we allways had different racing guys popping in .We used to do some of Colins engine work before Keith started Cosworths down the road in Edmonton.
The trouble is folk tend to base judgements on you as you are in later years and not the whole span.For Colin to go from a ramshackle garage to being World champions took some doing.
Frank Williams had a arthur dailey site at Heathrow way,Bernie was selling cars at Highgate and Ron was on the spanners,look where they are now.
I was lucky enough to race against Ronnie Superswede at a Int kart meeting at Rye House ,He pulled one of his last of the late braker moves on me and ripped my throttle pedal off. I went gunning for him in the pits after but he got his dad to weld it for me and we had a laugh about it.
I went up to see him at a F3 race at Cadwell were he was debuting a new car
and a had a long conversation with one of the guys behind the new company, a charming chap and banter was flying about between him and Charlie Lucas,Indeed one of the lads.
Who would have thought he would one day be in charge of the FIA!!
The trouble is folk tend to base judgements on you as you are in later years and not the whole span.For Colin to go from a ramshackle garage to being World champions took some doing.
Frank Williams had a arthur dailey site at Heathrow way,Bernie was selling cars at Highgate and Ron was on the spanners,look where they are now.
I was lucky enough to race against Ronnie Superswede at a Int kart meeting at Rye House ,He pulled one of his last of the late braker moves on me and ripped my throttle pedal off. I went gunning for him in the pits after but he got his dad to weld it for me and we had a laugh about it.
I went up to see him at a F3 race at Cadwell were he was debuting a new car
and a had a long conversation with one of the guys behind the new company, a charming chap and banter was flying about between him and Charlie Lucas,Indeed one of the lads.
Who would have thought he would one day be in charge of the FIA!!
The great thing about racing in those days was everything was so laid back and relaxed,None of the commercial pressures we have now. Thats one thing that can be layed at Colins door, His involvement with Players started the flood gates .
One day we were driving along the back road into the pits at Brands for the GP when we held up by some marshals,Next minute a old Land Rovers clattered into sight towing Rob Walkers 49 trying to get it to fire up. Which they did in the end and Jo Siffert won the race in it with the for ever Brides Maid,Chris Amon,Second.
Over the last half century i have watched some of best drivers in the best cars driving on circuits that so unforgiving, that makes a total mockery of F1 today and i would not missed a minute of it.
When you have watched Pedro driving the wheels of his Porsche 917 playing catch up at Brands nothing else comes close.
One day we were driving along the back road into the pits at Brands for the GP when we held up by some marshals,Next minute a old Land Rovers clattered into sight towing Rob Walkers 49 trying to get it to fire up. Which they did in the end and Jo Siffert won the race in it with the for ever Brides Maid,Chris Amon,Second.
Over the last half century i have watched some of best drivers in the best cars driving on circuits that so unforgiving, that makes a total mockery of F1 today and i would not missed a minute of it.
When you have watched Pedro driving the wheels of his Porsche 917 playing catch up at Brands nothing else comes close.
Just to show how GP racing was far more relaxed in those days.
At that same 68 GP at Brands i was in the paddock on one of the practice days watching the BRM mechs changing yet another engine in Pedros car. He had been having a terrible season with only one points scoring finish to show.
Pedro was sitting over the back of the garage looking bored.
Near by Colin was talking to Tony Rudd who at that time was still at BRM.
They were then joined by Seppi and soon having a right old natter.
In the mean time Pedro, who must have been waiting for his chance for his mechs to be distracted ,raided the nearest toolbox and crept out the back of the garage with the purloined tools.
Seppi must of seen this for shortly after he beckoned Colin and Tony to follow him. Being nosey i joined the trio and we followed Pedros route out the back.
There we were confronted with the sight of Pedro plunged deep in the engine comparment of his Bentley tinkering away.
Seppi duly crept up on him and scared the life out of him causing him to bash his head on the bonnet.
We all collapsed on the floor with laughter much to his chagrin.
Later in their Gulf Porsche days Pedro would say of Seppi " Every time we get on the track the little baxxxd still trys to kill me".
May be he still remembered that day at Brands.
Now days when i hear of drivers like Alonso kicking doors of his motorhome because things did not go right for him in practise it makes me want to weep!
At that same 68 GP at Brands i was in the paddock on one of the practice days watching the BRM mechs changing yet another engine in Pedros car. He had been having a terrible season with only one points scoring finish to show.
Pedro was sitting over the back of the garage looking bored.
Near by Colin was talking to Tony Rudd who at that time was still at BRM.
They were then joined by Seppi and soon having a right old natter.
In the mean time Pedro, who must have been waiting for his chance for his mechs to be distracted ,raided the nearest toolbox and crept out the back of the garage with the purloined tools.
Seppi must of seen this for shortly after he beckoned Colin and Tony to follow him. Being nosey i joined the trio and we followed Pedros route out the back.
There we were confronted with the sight of Pedro plunged deep in the engine comparment of his Bentley tinkering away.
Seppi duly crept up on him and scared the life out of him causing him to bash his head on the bonnet.
We all collapsed on the floor with laughter much to his chagrin.
Later in their Gulf Porsche days Pedro would say of Seppi " Every time we get on the track the little baxxxd still trys to kill me".
May be he still remembered that day at Brands.
Now days when i hear of drivers like Alonso kicking doors of his motorhome because things did not go right for him in practise it makes me want to weep!
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