127 replies to this topic

[Cam2InfoNeeded]

Mr. Hamilton got caught doing burn outs in his Mercedes in Australia (his street car, not his race car). I'm sure this happens a lot with guys who race cars for a living. Do you have a good story about our race car legends getting caught breaking the laws we mere mortal must obey?

[VAR1016]

Mr. Hamilton got caught doing burn outs in his Mercedes in Australia (his street car, not his race car). I'm sure this happens a lot with guys who race cars for a living. Do you have a good story about our race car legends getting caught breaking the laws we mere mortal must obey?

Not exactly, but I do recall a tale about a bloke who was testing his ERA on a public road - obviously many years ago as today it would probably be something stupid like a "hate crime"

Some old lady was so annoyed about the colossal racket that she telephoned the police:

"There's someone driving very fast down my road making a terrible noise"

"Right, madam, did you get his number?"

"Yes, it was number 6."

[jjordan]

Worked for years with Greg Weld (USAC Sprint Nat Champ and sometime Indycar driver). Was a notorious speeder and got pulled over one day by a cop who Greg recognized as an old high school classmate. Greg "chatted the guy up" after handing over his license and registration in the hopes of getting off, but the cop just looked at him stone faced without saying a word. After about five minutes of Gregs solo efforts the cop looked at him dryly and said: "that was a long time ago." Greg reached out and snatched his license and reg out of the cops hand and said: "It wasn't THAT long ago." and drove off! Must have made some impression because the cop never came after him!

Edited by jjordan, 26 March 2010 - 22:43.

[Lee Nicolle]

Clearly Lewis should be banned from the event and deported.
Or maybe the cop that booked him! I will bet his bosses are not too happy!

[brucemoxon]

Going by the domestic TV coverage, M-B might be delighted; "look, our cars CAN SO wheelspin."




Bruce Moxon

[Ray Bell]

There's the infamous case of Kingsley Hibbard...

He had a Phase 3 GT HO Falcon and was driving it - brand new - from Sydney to Melbourne to race it at Sandown. Somewhere around Seymour a Highway Patrol car started to chase him and he opened it up to 140mph. He raced toward Melbourne, always thinking, and turned hard right at Broadmeadow and into the carpark at the Ford factory amid dozens of other new Falcons.

He was nailed, it was in all the papers. And he raced Sunday.

Eldred Norman had a constant battle with the Adelaide police. He would take the race car, whichever one he was currently using, for a spin around the block as part of his tuning process.

The Maserati 6CL wasn't registered like the Double Eight was, though, and police set out to get him when the reports came in. He'd bolted back into the workshop and hosed the car down, inviting the police to feel the bonnet to see if it was warm. But there was something that gave it away, I don't remember what it was, and the copper made a comment about that and simply left.

He once had the magistrate shake his head and say, "Mr Norman, what are we going to do with you?" as he referred to the number of times he appeared before him.

"Maybe we can just open an account?" Eldred replied.

[stevewf1]

Mr. Hamilton got caught doing burn outs in his Mercedes in Australia (his street car, not his race car). I'm sure this happens a lot with guys who race cars for a living. Do you have a good story about our race car legends getting caught breaking the laws we mere mortal must obey?

If every driving infraction "incident" like this were investigated when I was in high school (1960s), the courts would still be back-logged with cases...

Edited by stevewf1, 27 March 2010 - 06:01.

[PMac]

Back in the good old 1990s, I was looking after PR for 'a leading manufacturer in the BTCC'. The day before a weekend race at Oulton Park, one of our two charismatic drivers called me to ask if I could 'look after' a couple of his special guests. By that, he meant give them the VIP treatment - pit access, stand in the garage during qualifying, sit in the car and play with the controls, nice lunch, etc...

Turns out they were a couple of traffic cops who had pulled said driver over for speeding on the M6. Recognising him, they had struck up a conversation about race cars - it helped that their police vehicle was manufactured by the same manufacturer as the race car - and our man had somehow managed to avoid disqualification (he was right up to his limit on points) by offering them the works treatment at Oulton.

Anyone know who the subject of this story could be? Answers on a postcard...

[pallas1970]

It is actually a pretty serious matter down here. I was at the track today and talking with some senior motorsport people and they are not happy. A lot of time and effort has gone into educating young drivers to drive within the law on the roads, and race cars on the track if they want to go fast. Many drivers have given their time and brand to support this. A significant number of senseless deaths are caused every year by young drivers larking about, street racing etc. Lewis has done a lot of harm to this strategy. The world has changed and I dont think society is too tolerant about this sort of thing anymore. Interesting to see what the police do next, and how Lewis responds, james.

[John Ginger]

Anyone know who the subject of this story could be? Answers on a postcard...

Any chance of a clue

Would of thought it would be a fairly long list to choose from

[kayemod]

Clearly Lewis should be banned from the event and deported.

I didn't think that criminals could be deported from Australia...

[john ruston]

Everything is serious in Victoria especially when it comes to coppers and driving laws.
It's a way of collecting tax and a less tolerant or driving friendly place on the planet would be hard to find.
Most of locals do not want GP and with their attitude to driving don't deserve one.Bernie should take it to Adelaide or Sydney

[Giraffe]

The world has changed and I dont think society is too tolerant about this sort of thing anymore.

No, some parts of the world have changed, but not all. These pics were e-mailed to me this week from Doha, Qatar and are the result of one of the members of the ruling family displaying 'high spirits' recently in his Merc SLR......


By giraffe138 at 2010-03-27

By giraffe138 at 2010-03-27

By giraffe138 at 2010-03-27

By giraffe138 at 2010-03-27

By giraffe138 at 2010-03-27

By giraffe138 at 2010-03-27

By giraffe138 at 2010-03-27

[John Ginger]

No, some parts of the world have changed, but not all. These pics were e-mailed to me this week from Doha, Qatar and are the result of one of the members of the ruling family displaying 'high spirits' recently in his Merc SLR......

Bloody hell, thats what you call an accident, hope nobody was seriously hurt

Seems a bit of an over reaction to me, obviously LH's foot must have slipped off the clutch ;)

[CoulthardD]

I myself made the tabloid press a few years ago, having been caught speeding in Glasgow. The headlines were all along the lines of "Who Do You Think You Are - David Coulthard?".

David Coulthard

[GeoffR]

Having being caught many years ago on a late night run from Melbourne to Mildura by an unmarked police car with an illuminated 'Police' sign, I always recall the (legendary?) tale regarding the illustrious Capt Peter Janson. The story goes that 'back in the day' he was driving a series production Monaro from Phillip Island back to Melbourne, and exceeding the legal limit by just a tad. Apparently an unmarked police car pulled alongside displaying the illuminated 'Police' sign, to which the good Captain responded by producing an illuminated 'Janson' sign, before flooring the Monaro and disappearing into the distance.
After seeing him front up to an Experts Trial back in the '70s with 2 Super Oscars as reversing lights(!!) nothing would surprise me regarding the 'Captain'.
Anyone else have any similar stories?

[Ray Bell]

Well... not all that similar...

But it did involve a touring car driver and police and an attempt at subterfuge.

Bruce McPhee, just after the war, was enjoying himself buying up surplus from all over the place. One trip to Darwin saw him buy two Blitz trucks, and like everyone else he made up an A-frame and set off for Gosford with one truck pulling the other along.

All the way down through the Territory, Queensland and into New South Wales, then about 250 miles from home a policeman on a motorcycle pulls him up. Bruce alighted from his truck and talked to the officer in question, who then told him he should have someone sitting up in the second truck.

"Where is he?" Bruce swung around and looked in the direction of the towed vehicle. The policeman became concerned that it appeared a man was missing, had fallen from a moving truck somewhere along a deserted road... until Bruce confessed that there was no such man.

[h4887]

Shock Horror as man spins wheels in Australia!!
State of Emergency declared!!
Death toll still unknown, says Red Cross!!
Refugee camps set up as city evacuated in panic!!
Heroic Police Officer detains dastardly driver!!

I'm just off to see if I can emulate my hero in my HB Viva

[Sharman]

Back in the late 50s Peter Hughes was charged by the bottles with, and I quote "excessive speed in a residential area". The road on which this offence took place was what is known as "unadopted" i.e. it was more pothole than tarmac. The constabule was asked by the somewhat superannuated beak how fast the accused was travelling, the reply was "at least 50 mph". The magistrate immediately said "I know that road, it is in an apalling state, I don't think it possible to drive over that surface at 50mph." The case was dismissed.
When PJC came into the lunch bar after the case aqnd sat down with us so that he could steal the food off our plates (he never bought lunch, just ate everybody else;s). Somebody said "How fast were you going?" Pete replied "About 65". We knew him well and nobody doubted him.

[VAR1016]

I recall reading somewhere that Duncan Hamilton was caught doing 100mph in a 30mph limited area.

He was fined forty shillings - two pounds, about £40 today I suppose.

[Vitesse2]

McLaren presumably wouldn't like to be reminded that in May 2000 the current World Champion, when young and foolish and driving for Williams, was apprehended by les flics on an autoroute near Montpellier doing a reported 228km/h in a 130km/h zone. It did provide some useful publicity for BMW though, as he was at the wheel of a 330d turbo diesel!

According to press reports, he charmed the police officers by instantly admitting the offence and providing them with autographs: they were so impressed they actually bought him a cup of coffee before escorting him to a cash machine in order to pay the FF5000 (£485) fine.

[PMac]

Any chance of a clue

Would of thought it would be a fairly long list to choose from

Think works driver. Think charismatic. Think drives same make as police car.

[John Ginger]

Think works driver. Think charismatic. Think drives same make as police car.

My first reaction was Jason Plato, John Cleland or James Thompson

But after considering your clues, and the fact that many Police forces used Volvo T5 traffic cars in the 90's, could I submit Tim Harvey as my competition entry

[PMac]

My first reaction was Jason Plato, John Cleland or James Thompson

But after considering your clues, and the fact that many Police forces used Volvo T5 traffic cars in the 90's, could I submit Tim Harvey as my competition entry

You got it in your first go! Think Volvo dealer racing for Vauxhall, and you can see why he had so much common ground with the traffic cops!

[John Ginger]

You got it in your first go! Think Volvo dealer racing for Vauxhall, and you can see why he had so much common ground with the traffic cops!

Bugger, JC it is then , and no prize for me

Not wishing to stray too much off topic, but I remember talking to his Brother-in-Law at a Jag dealer meeting, don't know if that is still part of the 'Clelands Group'

I 'experienced' some triple 8 hospitality on more than one occassion, as a mate of mine used to work there, never bumped into any coppers though

[scags]

[quote name='Giraffe' date='Mar 27 2010, 18:24' post='4243086']
No, some parts of the world have changed, but not all. These pics were e-mailed to me this week from Doha, Qatar and are the result of one of the members of the ruling family displaying 'high spirits' recently in his Merc SLR......

That looks more like a plane crash, with a debris field.

[kayemod]

That looks more like a plane crash, with a debris field.

Fairly total, but at least one of the tyres stayed up.

[Stoatspeed]

Would I be correct in recalling that a certain Mr S.C.Moss once lost his license as a result of crossing a double white line while taking the "racing line" along a country road somewhere? Afraid that's as much detail as I can put to the affair - was many years ago (if indeed it actually happened ....) - anyone else remember it?

[Paul Parker]

It is actually a pretty serious matter down here. I was at the track today and talking with some senior motorsport people and they are not happy. A lot of time and effort has gone into educating young drivers to drive within the law on the roads, and race cars on the track if they want to go fast. Many drivers have given their time and brand to support this. A significant number of senseless deaths are caused every year by young drivers larking about, street racing etc. Lewis has done a lot of harm to this strategy. The world has changed and I dont think society is too tolerant about this sort of thing anymore. Interesting to see what the police do next, and how Lewis responds, james.

In ultimate terms hooligan driving like this is undesirable but when we consider just how much deliberate crime and violence is left unpunished and/or the miscreants carry on re-offending with relative impunity, this piece of juvenile indulgence is surely being vastly overblown. Indeed it has inevitably become 'news' because of all the unnecessary publicity. All that was required was a quiet word out of earshot of the media and the suggestion that said person contribute something suitable to the coffers, instead it has turned into the usual paranoia and hysteria.

If by a 'burn out' this means wheelspin, smoking tyres, perhaps a touch of opposite lock (presumably somebody filmed this, mobile phone maybe, if so let's see what all the fuss is about), then perhaps somebody should check out assorted TV programmes and films. Indeed if the young are so feeble minded then surely televising anything that looks very fast and dangerous (NASCAR, bike racing, the average BTCC etc.) should be banned. Additionally what about all the computer games that are based upon crash, bang, wallop, all gratuitous violence involving cars.

In my experience over the decades those who tend to drive in such a way on public roads are usually that way inclined from day one, they need no encouragement. Of course education and the promotion of responsibility behind the wheel is vital (proper driver control training for instance which is certainly lacking in Britain) but the senseless deaths you refer to will occur anyway. It is simply a matter of percentages, the more drivers/riders, the more accidents. The majority of which take place at low speed (in Britain at least) and are not unique to the under 30s generation either. Street racing is age old in countries with space and roads to spare and pre-dates all of this. The only reason there are not even more deaths, serious injuries and RTAs (road traffic accidents) is that modern road cars actually handle, steer and stop properly and have effective passive and active safety devices. It has little or nothing to do with the average driver's ability or lack of, be they responsible or reckless.

In a perfect world those who want to go fast would indulge their desires on a track but the reality is that the majority simply cannot afford to do so, ever, even the cost of professional tuition is prohibitive for the average earner so that approach is a non-starter for most. I have been the innocent victim of a traffic accident, in this case a Honda motor cycle being ridden too fast and without sufficient attention/awareness, it is just a question of odds.

I'm sorry if my opinions offend but the bureaucratic tyranny and PC proscriptive legislation that drives this reaction is a growing threat to all of us, in any case there are far more urgent problems that deserve our attention.

[D-Type]

Would I be correct in recalling that a certain Mr S.C.Moss once lost his license as a result of crossing a double white line while taking the "racing line" along a country road somewhere? Afraid that's as much detail as I can put to the affair - was many years ago (if indeed it actually happened ....) - anyone else remember it?

He definitely lost his licance at one time, but I think it was for being caught speeding more than once. This meant the RAC had to take away his competition licence so he had to compete with a US competition licence for a while.

There is a story about a motorist reporting him to the police for crossing a double line or possibly crossing the lane markings in the Mersey Tunnel. The police recognised him when they stopped him so didn't chage him but told him who had shopped him. He caught the motorist up, flagged him down and gave him a fiver saying "Get yourself some driving lessons - even if it's just one!"

On a wider note, I think this thread will eventually turn into "Which driver never fell foul of the police?".

[VAR1016]

[...]
I'm sorry if my opinions offend but the bureaucratic tyranny and PC proscriptive legislation that drives this reaction is a growing threat to all of us, in any case there are far more urgent problems that deserve our attention.

You certainly haven't offended me.

I agree with every word.

[David M. Kane]

Now that IS an accident!

[BrendanMcF]

I would rather have a world champion, showing off doing wheelies and drifting on the public roads than see the average bobby without any talent behind the wheel of a diesel Astra chasing some spaced out scally round a built up area.

"Racing driver drives fast" - it's hardly a man bites dog story...

[kayemod]

There is a story about a motorist reporting him to the police for crossing a double line or possibly crossing the lane markings in the Mersey Tunnel. The police recognised him when they stopped him so didn't chage him but told him who had shopped him. He caught the motorist up, flagged him down and gave him a fiver saying "Get yourself some driving lessons - even if it's just one!"

I remember this fairly distantly, I lived in the area at the time, and must have read it in the Liverpool Echo. I think that Stirling was reported by someone for changing lanes in the Mersey Tunnel, but the police took no action. Then he was reported again for doing exactly the same thing on the return journey, and after that, they felt they had to book him. The Great Man appeared in front of the local magistrates and was fined something like thirty shillings. I think he was driving a Triumph Herald at the time, I was too young to drive, but I wanted my dad to buy one like it.

[Vitesse2]

He definitely lost his licance at one time, but I think it was for being caught speeding more than once. This meant the RAC had to take away his competition licence so he had to compete with a US competition licence for a while.

There is a story about a motorist reporting him to the police for crossing a double line or possibly crossing the lane markings in the Mersey Tunnel. The police recognised him when they stopped him so didn't chage him but told him who had shopped him. He caught the motorist up, flagged him down and gave him a fiver saying "Get yourself some driving lessons - even if it's just one!"

On a wider note, I think this thread will eventually turn into "Which driver never fell foul of the police?".

Sir Stirling and the Mersey Tunnel

[Cam2InfoNeeded]

I know there must be some great stories about American drivers in the '60's and '70's. I've heard some rumors of the Trans Am drivers (Jones, Gurney, Donohue, etc) doing all sorts of "interesting" things with their rental cars going to and from races. Anyone got any stories, and did any of theses guys ever "busted"?

[Giraffe]

There are several incidents, the reports of which are scattered about TNF of GP drivers trashing their rental cars, and of course poor Sir Frank overdid that one a bit, to his eternal cost. I do recall from the mists of time Emerson Fittipaldi & A.N.Other (Carlos Pace?) running into a bull at high speed in an Iso Grifo, IIRC the horns of which were found embedded in the back of the passenger seat!

Edited by Giraffe, 27 March 2010 - 19:50.

[kayemod]

I do recall from the mists of time Emerson Fittipaldi & A.N.Other (Carlos Pace?) running into a bull at high speed in an Iso Grifo, IIRC the horns of which were found embedded in the back of the passenger seat!

Was the bull a Miura?

[JtP1]

Back in the good old 1990s, I was looking after PR for 'a leading manufacturer in the BTCC'. The day before a weekend race at Oulton Park, one of our two charismatic drivers called me to ask if I could 'look after' a couple of his special guests. By that, he meant give them the VIP treatment - pit access, stand in the garage during qualifying, sit in the car and play with the controls, nice lunch, etc...

Turns out they were a couple of traffic cops who had pulled said driver over for speeding on the M6. Recognising him, they had struck up a conversation about race cars - it helped that their police vehicle was manufactured by the same manufacturer as the race car - and our man had somehow managed to avoid disqualification (he was right up to his limit on points) by offering them the works treatment at Oulton.

Anyone know who the subject of this story could be? Answers on a postcard...

Seems a sort of minor day for some of Mr Cleland's road activities.

[Skeggysteve]

Not caught but......

Race driver turns up at workshop with blood dripping from his hand, when questioned he told us this:

Race driver overtakes someone who took offence so overtook him and stops race driver.
Race driver winds window down and other driver punches race driver then legs it.
Race driver goes after him.
Race driver overtakes and pulls in front of other driver.
Other driver doesn't wind down window.
Race driver punches other driver thought window.

[D-Type]

Not caught but......

Race driver turns up at workshop with blood dripping from his hand, when questioned he told us this:

Race driver overtakes someone who took offence so overtook him and stops race driver.
Race driver winds window down and other driver punches race driver then legs it.
Race driver goes after him.
Race driver overtakes and pulls in front of other driver.
Other driver doesn't wind down window.
Race driver punches other driver thought window.

Did he race in Speedworth promoted racing perchance?

[rateus]

Some time in the early 90s, one of Britain's Finest pulled over a driver for excessive use of the accelerator pedal. The cop's somewhat predictable opening remark was "Who do you think you are, Nigel Mansell?"

To which he got the entirely accurate reply "No, I'm Ayrton Senna"

[Lee Nicolle]

There was the somewhat hushed up story of a well known touring car driver [and F1] chased in some of HDTs trick stuff.
He also got away with 125mph plus in a V8 XU1 when they were being developed.

[glenac05]

In the mid 70's, my uncle had just finished building his LC Torana drag car. From memory(and I would have been about 7) it was fitted with a fairly big v8, probably a 350chev. I dont recall it being blown or anything, but in such a little car, it probably was enough. I got in the car with him as he took it for a quick blast along the public road in front of his house. It was in the country so there was not alot of risk of police or anyone else complaining. Although on returning, my uncle Im sure would have preferred police apprehension, instead of having to face my very angry father. Not happy at all.

[stuartbrs]

"There was the somewhat hushed up story of a well known touring car driver [and F1] chased in some of HDTs trick stuff.
He also got away with 125mph plus in a V8 XU1 when they were being developed. "

Lee, that was um, Larry`ikin about wasnt it?

Edited by stuartbrs, 28 March 2010 - 14:02.

[Tom Smith]

I know there must be some great stories about American drivers in the '60's and '70's. I've heard some rumors of the Trans Am drivers (Jones, Gurney, Donohue, etc) doing all sorts of "interesting" things with their rental cars going to and from races. Anyone got any stories, and did any of theses guys ever "busted"?

One interesting rental car story goes thusly, Mickey Thompson built a streamliner for Ford and they were testing it at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Pat Foster and Danny Ongias were there on the crew. Foster said they got in the back seat of one of the rental cars and Ongias operated the gas pedal with a broom handle from the back seat while they drove around eating lunch.

[Lee Nicolle]

"There was the somewhat hushed up story of a well known touring car driver [and F1] chased in some of HDTs trick stuff.
He also got away with 125mph plus in a V8 XU1 when they were being developed. "

Lee, that was um, Larry`ikin about wasnt it?

Meb'be

[Twin Window]

If my memory serves, Ronnie Peterson almost missed the 1970 Belgian GP having been locked-up following a road-driving misdemeanour en route to the circuit...

[LittleChris]

Nipped down the outside of a traffic queue I believe then had a bit of an argument with a traffic plod. Arnoux did something similar at Zolder about 10 years later didn't he ?

[AllTwelve]

... an almost got caught story - My father just told me about when he was riding with Vaccarella in one car, and racing Giunti in another to Monaco. In a town, Nino timed the gap perfectly and 'split' the trollys in an almost biblical way, with a hair to spare. Not sure of the cars they were driving, but I think they were little Fiats or Lancias. My mom was given the ride of her life when one night Nino drove to dinner (Palermo). I believe it involved the use of a couple of sidewalks, and in her words was incredibly smooth. Vivo Nino!

Edited by AllTwelve, 29 March 2010 - 00:04.