Graham at the Palace

I am not a memorabilia collector. However, I do have one item that lies gathering dust in the loft.

When my cousin Peter was working for John Surtees, he had occasion to go to the Firestone factory in west London. He saw an old wheel laying in the corner of one area and asked about it. He was told that it had come off Graham Hill's F2 Lotus at Crystal Palace. Knowing of my racing interest, he asked if he could have it and they were more than happy to get rid of it. I have always thought the incident happened in 1968 but now I'm guessing it may have been 1969.

What I do know, however, is that the Autocourse book from the relevant year has a picture of the wheel departing from the Lotus. It can be seen very clearly that one of the small spokes in the centre of the wheel has broken off shorter than the other 3 and its relevant position to the valve makes confirmation that this is the same wheel very positive.

I sold my Autocourses years ago, so I wonder if some kind soul might scan the picture for me as I would like to have the confirming evidence, in case I ever decide to sell the wheel.

If posting the picture on the forum is likely to lead to problems, perhaps someone could e-mail it to me as an attachment.

Thanks!

Picture is in your e-mail Barry ;)

Barry

There is also a picture of this (1968) incident in Graham's book 'Life at the Limit'.

If the pic sent by kpy is not the one you require drop me a line and I'll mail you the pict from Graham's book.

Regards

Rob

Thanks both. The picture IS the one I remember. Oddly enough, it wasn't how I remembered it, until I saw it.

I wonder if a very high res. scan on the wheel itself will show up the spokes better?

I've got a French version of the Graham Hill's book. It's called "Au seuil du danger" (free translation: on the threshold of danger).

It includes that picture of Graham losing the right rear wheel of his F2 Lotus at Crystal Palace. His car have the number 12 so it's 1968 (anyway the 1969 F2 race at Crystal palace was cancelled). It's June 3, 1968.

There was one terrifying picture of the crash at Watkins Glen in 1969...

Thanks, Marcor. I always thought it was 1968. And that IS the very wheel I have!

Well that's good, Barry. Looks like you've got the wheel thing.

Vanwall.

Best I could do Barry - crap scanner!

Rob

Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when.... (couldn't allow Vanwall to get away with the only awful pun in this thread!)

I'm tyred of this!

Chris

Thanks for that, Rob.

I would like to say that I have really enjoyed all the puns. I Would LIKE to say it........

Hmm this thread seems to be going round in circles.