Friday 7th August 2020

The racers that stopped the world | Time for Tea?

Both Dewis and Sir Stirling were key to the C-Type's success - here they talk about how it was done

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This week would have marked Norman Dewis' 100th birthday, a milestone the former Jaguar test driver never got to reach having passed away last June. This year we've also lost Sir Stirling Moss, but tonight a new documentary will air that celebrates one of the achievements they're known best for: pioneering the disc brake.

Called 'The Racers That Stopped The World', the show premieres on Sky tonight with a star cast including Derek Bell, Sir Jackie Stewart and Murray Walker alongside Moss and Dewis discussing the impact the Jaguar C-Type and its disc brakes made on motorsport. This short trailerpreviews it, and the show certainly looks worth a watch. It was back in 1952 that disc brakes were first used in a C-Type, Dewis testing incessantly with Dunlop over the winter and getting a car on the Goodwood grid that spring, with Moss using it to set the fastest lap - making it clear Jaguar was onto something.

In 1953 came the C-Type's crowning moment; with further Dunlop-Dewis testing, the team went to Le Mans. Not only were the C-Types lighter than '52, they had improved discs brakes. The result, as you may well know, was a one-two for Jaguar, with Tony Rolt and Duncan Hamilton taking the victory and the second placed car piloted by Moss and Peter Walker. It was also the first time that Le Mans had been won with an average speed of more than 100mph. There was no going back from disc brakes now...

This is what the documentary will cover, in addition to the Mille Miglia exploits, with apparently unseen footage as well. It sounds like an ideal way to spend a Friday night as a car nut, remembering perhaps Jaguar's greatest contribution to motorsport and two of the best-known names associated with the brand. It's going to be broadcast at 8:20pm tonight, then available on demand soon after. Enjoy!

[carl_w]

Premiers tonight? I watched this on NOW TV earlier in the week.

[Gad-Westy]

That second photo is fantastic,

[Matt Bird]

carl_w said:

Premiers tonight? I watched this on NOW TV earlier in the week.

Good to know! Maybe just broadcast on old fashioned tv? I'll change the story though, make it clear you can watch whenever.

[dinkel]

At the 2010 Portimao Algarve Historic


At 2013 Spa 6 Hrs


At 2010 Spa 6 Hrs, I believe this is Will Arif hauling his C through La Source

[PistonBroker]

Matt Bird said:

carl_w said:

Premiers tonight? I watched this on NOW TV earlier in the week.

Good to know! Maybe just broadcast on old fashioned tv? I'll change the story though, make it clear you can watch whenever.

Premieres tonight on Sky Documentaries but has been available on demand since earlier in the week. I follow Al Clark on Insta, spotted I didn't have to wait until Friday, and went for it on Monday.

Great prog.

[sideways man]

Any program with Norman Dewis, I’m in.

[driftingphil]

Lets be realistic about this, no racer(s) has "stopped the world", what a ridiculous title..

[ettore]

driftingphil said:

Lets be realistic about this no racer has "stopped the world", what a ridiculous title..

er...the doc's abut the development of disc brakes?

[dinkel]

ettore said:

driftingphil said:

Lets be realistic about this no racer has "stopped the world", what a ridiculous title..

er...the doc's abut the development of disc brakes?

The article is also about it eh?

[Maldini35]

driftingphil said:

Lets be realistic about this, no racer(s) has "stopped the world", what a ridiculous title..

Oops

[Maldini35]

Great little film!

[Antj]

Sir Alan of Clark's vid, that lads done well for himself,

[snoopy25]

Just watched this, brilliant programme!

[Skyedriver]

Immensely enjoyable

[theshed]

I'm sure the sport was more dangerous back then, but it was more about Driver skill than £££ spent.
Great watch.
'Do you recall taking the competitors door off ?'
Moss. Oh did I ?

Class. 😁

Edited by theshed on Sunday 19th July 18:03