RE: Me And My Car: John Watson

[Mermaid]

heebeegeetee said:

Biker's Nemesis said:

Voted 10.

I used to watch John Watson on a Sundy night as I was baby siting. Most races would seem to see him spin off into the dust but I didn't care, he was an English driver who I hoped every race weekend would win the race.

Nice article.

Hmm. I used to watch a Northern Irish driver called John Watson, who IIRC often used to start at the back and finish at the front. He was the best overtaker in the business for a time, and won the first GP we ever went to. (1981, Silverstone).

[grumpy52]

saw him win the British GP,crowd went bonkers !Top bloke always a real gent,his point on weight and power are very apt having been lucky enough to go in an escort with 380BHP 875 kilos over 400 lbs ft also driven loads of "supercars" I know what was quicker !!!

[Furyblade_Lee]

That was one of the most enjoyable articles I have ever read on PH, well done everyone involved. A superhuman F1 driver who is also one of us. Top bloke. I bizzarely for no apparent reason have always known John Watson had a 1974 2.7 , and because of it being a 74 wrongly assumed it was an impact bumper jobbie. The text seems to explain the connotation with him getting it new in 74. A trivial anoraky 911 point to me BUT a MASSIVE difference for him if he ever fancied selling it being a '73 car.... :-) £200,000??????

[Biker's Nemesis]

Mermaid said:

heebeegeetee said:

Biker's Nemesis said:

Voted 10.

I used to watch John Watson on a Sundy night as I was baby siting. Most races would seem to see him spin off into the dust but I didn't care, he was an English driver who I hoped every race weekend would win the race.

Nice article.

Hmm. I used to watch a Northern Irish driver called John Watson, who IIRC often used to start at the back and finish at the front. He was the best overtaker in the business for a time, and won the first GP we ever went to. (1981, Silverstone).

I should've said British.

I was a fan of his even though I would have only been 13/14 in 1980/81.

[Jerry Can]

The Sunday times did a very similar feature in the 1980's. A highlight for me was when they interviewed Tony Pond in about 1989.
They also interviewed several other random celebs of the day.

It would be quality if PH can talk with the Times and reproduce the old articles - well the obvious car enthusiast ones anyway.

[FM]

Very nice article, nice to see John still enjoying life in his later years, a real understated gent who delivered fine performances in F1 at a dangerous & very challenging time when many talented big names were campaigning.

[Mike Wood SST]

Great feature, lovely to hear of John Watson and his 911.

It does remind me of the wonderful features that Cars & Car Conversions (RIP) used to do up until the late 1980s, such as the one on Ayrton Senna testing rally cars, see: http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/featur...

Cheers
Mike

[Jerry Can]

this feature died a death then...? LOL

[cjb1]

I'm a bit late to the party but that was a great article.

[Ahonen]

cjb1 said:

I'm a bit late to the party but that was a great article.

Me too - I don't recall seeing it when it was first published.

Great article. No silly wise cracks or attempts at humour, just a proper bloke talking about his proper car.

Shame there aren't more stories like this on PH.

[coppice]

John Watson was always just a bit different to most GP drivers- introspective and very much his own man . Great driver- first saw him in F2 in early 70s and was there to see him win British GP in 81; best memory was him in the sublime Brabham Alfa whose Flat 12 sounded astounding. Worst memory Brands 83 (was it?) when he looked out of his comfort zone in the McLaren TAG turbo car.Very very funny guy- check him out on Motor Sport magazine podcast for terrific Lauda impersonation..

[daytona111r]

Even though it's not as fashionable, I find that Touring sooo much more desirable than a Lightweight.

[DreadUK]

adycav said:

ettore said:

adycav said:

Dear Mr Watson,

If you ever decide to get shot of your car, I think that you should donate it to a PHer.

Obviously you need to select the appropriate person for receipt of this fine car. Therefore, there needs to be some strict criteria. May I suggest:

1) Member of PH for five years
2) Born during the same year that the car was registered (1973)
3) A current owner of an air cooled 911

I wonder if there's anyone eligible...

or:

1) Member of PH for 8 years
2) Born the year after
3) A current owner of an air cooled 911

Sounds much better.

Arm wrestle?
Chilli eating contest?
Raffle?

1) I was born much earlier
2) never driven a cooly far less owned one
3) I'm too poor to ever afford one

I'm surely the most deserving.

[Pork]

Can I have his plate then? I believe he has/had JW 1 which is my ultimate plate.

[xxxscimitarxxx]

John.....I want buy your car (really)

[shoestring7]

DreadUK said:

adycav said:

ettore said:

adycav said:

Dear Mr Watson,

If you ever decide to get shot of your car, I think that you should donate it to a PHer.

Obviously you need to select the appropriate person for receipt of this fine car. Therefore, there needs to be some strict criteria. May I suggest:

1) Member of PH for five years
2) Born during the same year that the car was registered (1973)
3) A current owner of an air cooled 911

I wonder if there's anyone eligible...

or:

1) Member of PH for 8 years
2) Born the year after
3) A current owner of an air cooled 911

Sounds much better.

Arm wrestle?
Chilli eating contest?
Raffle?

1) I was born much earlier
2) never driven a cooly far less owned one
3) I'm too poor to ever afford one

I'm surely the most deserving.

Not even close. Not only have I been here for ages but:

1/ I used to live in Watson's old house
2/ I kept a 1973 911 in the same spot as he did

Pics and an article here:


https://www.flickr.com/photos/37571417@N05/7975728...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37571417@N05/7975728...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37571417@N05/7975732...


SS7

[sideways man]

Read this article when it first appeared and really enjoyed it.
Second time around, just as good.

Pretty please with icing on top, PH can we have more like this.
There are loads of car mad celebs around with a great story to tell.

[dinkel]

Some words from one of the masters of the wheel.