Roy Salvadori

Roy Salvadori's name came up in conversations at Monaco this weekend, and what has been said in this thread about his health, whereabouts, and his wife would seem to be true. Someone said that he lives in a place just above the start-finish line.

Vince H.

My last information was that Roy is being cared for in a home in, or near, Monte Carlo. I am not sure whether or not he is diagnostically Altzheimic, but certainly mutual friends have told me his intellect is brutally impaired... Spare a thought for his long-time partner and wife, Sue (nee Hindmarsh, daughter of Le Mans-winning Lagonda driver and Hawker test pilot John Hindmarsh), a very lovely lady.

DCN

London Trophy, Crystal Palace, 22 May 1961
Salvadori on pole, Lotus 18s of Marsh and Seidel behind
Salvadori won with Marsh third and Seidel fifth

I think this was the day Salvadori won something like five races in five different cars

(I think my dad is the person immediately behind (and obscured by) Mr. Salvadori):

Edited by Nigel Beresford, 14 May 2012 - 16:16.

More Yeoman Credit Coopers. My dad in Salvo's car in the background, Jimmy Potton (I think) in (I assume) Surtees' car in the foreground. Reg Parnell and the boys double tasking - snatching lunch while warming up the transmissions on jacks. I think this is about the sum total of the travelling personnel on an F1 team in those days.

Any where and when info greatly appreciated.

Thanks

According to John Thompson's FORMULA ONE RECORD book Roy also drove no.6 T53 F1-2-61 (also quoted by Doug in COOPER CARS) at the Aintree 200 on 22 April 1961 and the Silver City Trophy at Brands Hatch on 3 June 1961.

This does not look like Brands to me and note the cobbled up number 6 on the side of the car.

I hope this helps.

Edited by David M. Kane, 14 May 2012 - 17:03.

Isn't that an Australian flag in the background?

Edited by Nigel Beresford, 14 May 2012 - 17:12.

London Trophy, Crystal Palace, 22 May 1961
Salvadori on pole, Lotus 18s of Marsh and Seidel behind
Salvadori won with Marsh third and Seidel fifth

I think this was the day Salvadori won something like five races in five different cars

Yes, but my father never went to Oz, and I don't think the team did either(?).

Yes, but my father never went to Oz, and I don't think the team did either(?).

I suspect the power or phone lines along the pit straight give a better clue as to the location.

My intention isn't to drag this off topic, just to add some "colour" background and amateur pics to supplement the Salvadori thread. Often the amateur pics give much more of a feel of how it was to be there (no disrespect to the pros of course).

Please more!

Vince: Hope you get back safely from Monaco but just to correct you, Susan sold the appartment above the start and finish line some time ago and now lives in the same appartment block as John Coombs near the new Opera House

London Trophy, Crystal Palace, 22 May 1961
Salvadori on pole, Lotus 18s of Marsh and Seidel behind
Salvadori won with Marsh third and Seidel fifth

I think this was the day Salvadori won something like five races in five different cars

More Yeoman Credit Coopers. My dad in Salvo's car in the background, Jimmy Potton (I think) in (I assume) Surtees' car in the foreground. Reg Parnell and the boys double tasking - snatching lunch while warming up the transmissions on jacks. I think this is about the sum total of the travelling personnel on an F1 team in those days.

Any where and when info greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Could this be Brussels? Surtees' car had number 6 roughly painted there following a late change of numbers, see Motor Sport Pictorial Review, May 1961.

Edited by Nigel Beresford, 15 May 2012 - 08:37.

Salvadori appears to be laughing!

Looks to me like he's unlocking the driver's door!

At Aston Martin my dad built and worked on racing DB4GTs. This is from his collection, 1960 TT at Goodwood - Ireland and Salvadori. I think it captures the moment quite nicely.

Edited by Giraffe, 15 May 2012 - 21:58.

Roy went on to say that for most if not all professional drivers of his era, it was his livelihood, and that he knew he was taking his life in his hands every time he climbed aboard a car to race. A most highly skilled and professional driver of his era.

Indeed, the risks of his profession were brought home to him very early in his career when he had that frightening roll at Silverstone in the early 50s (captured on film). I seem to remember him saying in an interview that he had suffered from tinnitus ever since that accident.

In his book 'Roy Salvadori Racing Driver' (With Anthony Pritchard. Patrick Stephens.1985) Roy mentions that he remained deaf in one ear after his 1951 Silverstone crash and used extra plugs in his 'good ear'. This presented a problem with Le Mans type starts in later years, as he was never quite sure if the engine had fired up on the starter motor!. Roy received the last rites after that awful crash in May 51 but was racing again by early August with an XK120 Jaguar and raced his rebuilt Frazer-Nash at Castle Combe in September. A racing driver indeed!.

I hope to goodness that I'm wrong, but another web forum and wikipedia both say that Roy passed away today. Surprised to see nothing on here yet.

RIP one of the great all-rounders.

6 non-championship F1 wins and one Le Mans win, but although he never won a World Championship Grand Prix, Salvadori was surely one of the best drivers not to do so.
Unfortunately his poor health had been chronicled here, so it's no surprise, but coming so soon after not only his friend and colleague Shelby, but the likes of other 50's British racing personalities like Burgess and Leston, it's a bit hard to take.

What a magnificent ambassador he was for historic racing too which in recent years, served as an equally memorable legacy as his driving days.

I just wonder if his head injuries in 1955 in which he recieved the last rites led to his ill-health...

RIP, Roy.

Richard that is an interesting point; there is a big controversy here in America relative to head injuries in sports particularly football, soccer, etc. There seems to be a relationship between concussions and ALS, Dementia, etc.

There seems to be a relationship between concussions and ALS, Dementia, etc.

Edited by D-Type, 04 June 2012 - 17:26.

I like to think here's a little corner somewhere with Ron, Shel', John Cooper, Les Leston. et al reminiscing.

RIP Roy

Edited by Eric Dunsdon, 04 June 2012 - 09:26.

90 years young, a great racer; God speed RIP.

Unfortunately his poor health had been chronicled here, so it's no surprise, but coming so soon after not only his friend and colleague Shelby, but the likes of other 50's British racing personalities like Burgess and Leston, it's a bit hard to take.

I just wonder if his head injuries in 1955 in which he recieved the last rites led to his ill-health...

Edited by austmcreg, 04 June 2012 - 12:28.