BOC Golden Helmet Formula Ford Championship

The British Oxygen Company sponsored the British Formula Ford Championship in the early seventies and awarded a Golden Helmet Trophy to the championship winner.
The Trophy was the crash helmet and goggles which Stirling Moss wore when he won the 1957 British and European Grand Prix at Aintree. This was the first all British win (with Tony Brooks ) in a World Championship Grand Prix.

The helmet and goggles were painted gold and mounted in a perspex case.

Does anyone know when the trophy was first awarded, and to whom, and also the last recipient ?

Or any other information for that matter.

I must declare an interest as I have owned this trophy for many years but due to a house move my archive is in storage at present !

I hope to reunite this helmet with Mr Motor Racing at Silverstone this weekend.

The British Oxygen Company sponsored the British Formula Ford Championship in the early seventies and awarded a Golden Helmet Trophy to the championship winner.
The Trophy was the crash helmet and goggles which Stirling Moss wore when he won the 1957 British and European Grand Prix at Aintree. This was the first all British win (with Tony Brooks ) in a World Championship Grand Prix.

The helmet and goggles were painted gold and mounted in a perspex case.

Does anyone know when the trophy was first awarded, and to whom, and also the last recipient ?

Or any other information for that matter.

I must declare an interest as I have owned this trophy for many years but due to a house move my archive is in storage at present !

I hope to reunite this helmet with Mr Motor Racing at Silverstone this weekend.

Possibly Syd Fox and his Hawke?.

Edited by alansart, 21 July 2009 - 16:07.

The Trophy was first awarded in 1971 to Bernard Vermillio, and Tony Brise was runner-up. 1972's winner was Ian Taylor.

Edited by Giraffe, 21 July 2009 - 16:22.

Probably not the same Golden Helmet - but even more probably meant to be the same - is the modern day version.
James Beckett [ex BRDC] I thought initiated, but probably resurrected the idea not too long ago. I think the first recipient was Peter Dempsey in about 2005 or 2006
The award was to be a crash helmet - painted gold - for the winner to wear with pride.
The 2009 race was run only last Sunday at Knockhill as part of the 4th Scottish Speedfair and Classic Festival. The latest winner of the Golden Helmet was Scott Malvern in a Ray GR08 Formula Ford 1600
There was also the David Leslie Trophy for the Driver of the Day and the Sir Jackie Stewart Trophy awarded after this [one of six FF1600 races on the day].
I'm not sure who won these, but can make an inspired guess, as Scott walked back to his awning clutching one trophy, whilst Rory Butcher was juggling three trophies - these other two plus 2nd in the Golden Helmet perchance.

"The 2009 race was run only last Sunday at Knockhill as part of the 4th Scottish Speedfair and Classic Festival. The latest winner of the Golden Helmet was Scott Malvern in a Ray GR08 Formula Ford 1600"

And a good race it was. Just a pity that the efforts of the organisers were not rewarded by a good turnout from the English drivers.

"The 2009 race was run only last Sunday at Knockhill as part of the 4th Scottish Speedfair and Classic Festival. The latest winner of the Golden Helmet was Scott Malvern in a Ray GR08 Formula Ford 1600"

And a good race it was. Just a pity that the efforts of the organisers were not rewarded by a good turnout from the English drivers.

No doubt due to clashing MSA British FF championship at Donington?

BOC Golden Helmet Championship 1973

1st Don McLeod Merlyn-Scholar Mk11/!1A & Van Diemen-Scholar RA72-106pts

Edited by Rob29, 22 July 2009 - 16:42.

So David, re the info you are looking for. we are so-far upto:

Inaugural Season 1971: Winner Bernard Vermillio. ( Runner-up Tony Brise).
Season 1972: Winner Ian Taylor.
Season 1973: Winner Don McLeod.

Now I don't recall it running much later than this, as we are then into Townsend Thoresen territory?

Any more winners, chaps???

So David, re the info you are looking for. we are so-far upto:

Inaugural Season 1971: Winner Bernard Vermillio. ( Runner-up Tony Brise).
Season 1972: Winner Ian Taylor.
Season 1973: Winner Don McLeod.

Now I don't recall it running much later than this, as we are then into Townsend Thoresen territory?

Any more winners, chaps???

Was BOC in 1974 National Organs in 1975-Richard Morgan seems to have been last winner of the Golden Helmet

No doubt due to clashing MSA British FF championship at Donington?

Different Formula Fords Rob.
The F3 / GT support class FFs' are Duratec engines.
FF Kent engines are the proper ones that go back over 40 years
and have made Formula Ford such a wonderful, worldwide, class
for such a long time.

"The 2009 race was run only last Sunday at Knockhill as part of the 4th Scottish Speedfair and Classic Festival. The latest winner of the Golden Helmet was Scott Malvern in a Ray GR08 Formula Ford 1600"

And a good race it was. Just a pity that the efforts of the organisers were not rewarded by a good turnout from the English drivers.

Probably due to cost of travelling. There weren’t any Scottish-based drivers when it was held at Castle Combe last year (they missed a cracking race though) .

First winner of the modern Golden Helmet in 2005 was Peter Dempsey at Silverstone, then
2006 Noel Dunne (Kirkistown)
2007 Peter Dempsey (Knockhill)
2008 Ed Moore (Castle Combe)


Back to the original topic.
BOC final year was 1974, and was won by Syd Fox, as suggested by alansart in post #2

Source: Mike Kettlewell’s Pace Motor Racing Directory, which also confirms the other winners.

The BOC Championship was one of the major national FF1600 championships of the time, run by MCD (Motor Circuit Developments) and ran in parallel with the BARC and BRDC Championships.

MCD
1968 (Guards) Tim Schenken
1969 (Les Leston) Dave Walker
1970 (Les Leston) Colin Vandervell
1971 (BOC) Bernard Vermilio
1972 (BOC) Ian Taylor
1973 (BOC) Donald MacLeod
1974 (BOC) Syd Fox
1975 (National Organs) Geoff Lees
1976 (Townsend Thoresen) David Kennedy
1977 (Townsend Thoresen) Chico Serra
1978 (Townsend Thoresen) Kenny Acheson
1979 (Townsend Thoresen) Terry Gray
1980 (Townsend Thoresen) Roberto Moreno

BARC
1972 (Sunbeam Electric) Syd Fox
1973 (Wella) Ted Wentz)
1974 (Wella) Richard Morgan
1975(British Air Ferries) Geoff Lees
1976 (DJM Records) Rod Bremner
1977 David Leslie
1978 (Phillips Car Radio) Kenny Acheson
1979 (P&O Ferries) David Sears
1980 (P&O Ferries) Tommy Byrne

BRDC
1972 (Daily Express) Ian Taylor
1973 (STP) Derek Lawrence
1974 (STP) Patrick Neve
1975 (Brush Fusegear) Geoff Lees
1976 (Brush Fusegear) Jim Walsh
1977 (Brush Fusegear) Nigel Mansell
1978 (Esso) Peter Morgan
1979 (Esso) Jim Walsh
1980 (Esso) Jim Walsh

David Kennedy won the first official British Formula Ford championship in 1976, subsequent winners being:
1977 Trevor van Rooyen
1978 Kenny Acheson
1979 David Sears
1980 Tommy Byrne

Back to the original topic.
BOC final year was 1974, and was won by Syd Fox, as suggested by alansart in post #2

It's worrying that I can remember some titbit of info after 35 years but can forget what I was doing 15 minutes ago

Edited by alansart, 23 July 2009 - 10:03.

It's worrying that I can remember some titbit of info after 35 years but can forget what I was doing 15 minutes ago

Snap!

It's worrying that I can remember some titbit of info after 35 years but can forget what I was doing 15 minutes ago

I know who finished fifth in the 1962 Italian GP ......but where did I put last week's winning Lottery ticket

PAR

Snap!

Same here-could possibly name the grid for 1955 British GP-but not that of 10 days ago

Same here-could possibly name the grid for 1955 British GP-but not that of 10 days ago

What Grand Prix 10 day's ago?

The British Oxygen Company sponsored the British Formula Ford Championship in the early seventies and awarded a Golden Helmet Trophy to the championship winner.
The Trophy was the crash helmet and goggles which Stirling Moss wore when he won the 1957 British and European Grand Prix at Aintree. This was the first all British win (with Tony Brooks ) in a World Championship Grand Prix.

The helmet and goggles were painted gold and mounted in a perspex case.

Does anyone know when the trophy was first awarded, and to whom, and also the last recipient ?

Or any other information for that matter.

I must declare an interest as I have owned this trophy for many years but due to a house move my archive is in storage at present !

I hope to reunite this helmet with Mr Motor Racing at Silverstone this weekend.

I couldn't help but notice in the latest edition of Motor Sport magazine that the trophy went at auction recently at Bonhams for £23,000! That's a most generous contribution to Stirling's pension fund, David!

I'm working on my own pension fund these days Mr Long Neck, especially after the comments in Manchester yesterday !

Loads more memorabilia where that came from, now where is that light switch in the attic...

Looks like we need a thread entitled:-

The most memorable thing I have kept... and why...