18 replies to this topic

[MartLgn]

I was flicking through my recently acquired Autocourse 1981-82 edition and came upon a piece written by Denis Jenkinson as a retrospective on the previous 30yrs of racing that had passed since Autocourse first published. I will not quote directly for reasons of copyright and brevity but in the concluding Paragraph Jenks states that his adrenalin still flowed just as much for a Williams or Brabham Cosworth as it did for an Alfa Romeo 158 or a Talbot - Lago. What struck me as prophetic was his prediction that he would not be able to say the same thing in 2011 as he feared there would be no Grand Prix racing by that time.

Putting aside the obvious fact that Jenks is no longer with us, do you think that today's made for tv 'eff wun' justifies the title of 'Grand Prix Racing ?'

Edited by MartLgn, 01 August 2011 - 21:00.

[naparsei]

I was flicking through my recently acquired Autocourse 1981-82 edition and came upon a piece written by Denis Jenkinson as a retrospective on the previous 30yrs of racing that had passed since Autocourse first published. I will not quote directly for reasons of copyright and brevity but in the concluding Paragraph Jenks states that his adrenalin still flowed just as much for a Williams or Brabham Cosworth as it did for an Alfa Romeo 158 or a Talbot - Lago. What struck me as prophetic was his prediction that he would not be able to say the same thing in 2011 as he feared there would be no Grand Prix racing by that time.

Putting aside the obvious fact that Jenks is no longer with us, do you think that today's made for tv 'eff wun' justifies the title of 'Grand Prix Racing ?'

It's not a copyright violation to quote something with proper attribution.

[jj2728]

Me thinks, and this is just MHO, Jenks would have found today's F1 or as I prefer, Grand Prix racing, an adrenalin rush.

[fbarrett]

Jenks would have enjoyed today's actual racing--see German GP--but the behind-the-scenes machinations would have caused him to complain mightily. Whatever his thoughts, all of us would love to hear/read them!

Frank

Edited by fbarrett, 02 August 2011 - 13:32.

[john aston]

Jenk would have enjoyed today's actual racing--see German GP--but the behind-the-scenes machinations would have caused him to complain mightily. Whatever his thoughts, all of us would love to hear/read them!

Frank

Of course he would- yes he would have loathed Ecclestone's megalomania and the preciousness of some drivers and the awfulness of some spectator free Tilkedromes but if you had told him in his prime that in a few years time he would be watching 18000rpm V8s producing 750 bhp with full grids and top cars seperated by tenths of a second he would have beamed.Not sure I'd tell him about DRS but suspect KERS would have appealed to him

[Ray Bell]

He would certainly have loved the technology...

And undoubtedly hated the regulation of it!

[MartLgn]

He would certainly have loved the technology...

And undoubtedly hated the regulation of it!

I think that sums it up nicely!

Thank you for your interesting comments. I think that in his article Jenks was worried that Grand Prix racing would be submerged under an avalanche of politics and over regulation and sell it's soul to the highest bidder. I fear that in this he was right but as has been pointed out the technology and quality of racing currently on offer in Bernies world would surely have been immensely enjoyable to him.

[MonzaDriver]

He was perfectly right.
Because what we are looking at today, are not races,
but a strange mix of tecnology and stupidity, and you cant separete them one from the other.
Today races are the result of years, decades, of falsifications

This premonition, tell us how much deep was the knowledge and love, by Jenk, for motor sport.

I really would like to know if in those articles, he explain also his reasons why,
he believed that would not be motor racing by 2011.

Unfortunately I've read just a few by Jenkins, but after this, I will by " The racing driver" for sure.

Ciao to all
MonzaDriver.

[Doug Nye]

Of one thing we can all be absolutely certain. He would have read every theory expressed here as to how he would react, and he would then have formulated some contrary notion entirely of his own, which none here would - nor could - have predicted... And such was his skill that he would eventually have converted most of us here to his point of view - most, but not all. That would have spoiled the fun for him.

I bet right now he's giving The Bod some stick...

Bless 'em both.

DCN

[MonzaDriver]

Of one thing we can all be absolutely certain. He would have read every theory expressed here as to how he would react, and he would then have formulated some contrary notion entirely of his own, which none here would - nor could - have predicted... And such was his skill that he would eventually have converted most of us here to his point of view - most, but not all. That would have spoiled the fun for him.

I bet right now he's giving The Bod some stick...

Bless 'em both.

DCN

This is a really insight description Mr Nye; you were friends ?

MonzaDriver

[Roger Clark]

Does anybody seriously think that he would have gone anywhere near an F1 race after they banned engine development?

[Doug Nye]

V. good point Roger - Indeed, I doubt he would have forgiven that.

DCN

[MartLgn]

Does anybody seriously think that he would have gone anywhere near an F1 race after they banned engine development?

I think it is quite ironic that the technology required to make those anonymous 2.4l boxes produce 750+ bhp within the constraints of the current regs must be utterly alien to most of us in terms of materials, manufacturing tolerance etc and would surely have been of huge interest to Jenks as an example of the engineers kicking back against the rule makers.

Doug, I am delighted that you have responded to my rambling original question, the technical review in the same edition of Autocourse written by a Mr D Nye wasn't half bad either !

[Doug Nye]

You are too kind...

DCN

[D-Type]

This is a really insight description Mr Nye; you were friends ?

MonzaDriver

Yes they were.

[MonzaDriver]

Yes they were.

Thank you D-Type,
YOU are kind in repling to me.
All the best,
MonzaDriver.

[Ray Bell]

MonzaDriver, if you look around the forum you will find where Doug has described a number of circumstances in which he and Jenks were closely linked...

I'm pretty sure there was one description he gave of Jenks' home and in particular... If I remember correctly... his bathroom.

Now, I've conversed with Jenks briefly as he devoured a plate full of green snails, but it's clear that Doug got a lot closer.

[Paul Parker]

[quote name='Doug Nye' date='Aug 2 2011, 17:25' post='5214531']
Of one thing we can all be absolutely certain. He would have read every theory expressed here as to how he would react, and he would then have formulated some contrary notion entirely of his own, which none here would - nor could - have predicted... And such was his skill that he would eventually have converted most of us here to his point of view - most, but not all. That would have spoiled the fun for him.

I bet right now he's giving The Bod some stick...

Bless 'em both.

DCN

Yes he certainly was never afraid of being controversial and trenchant as witnessed by his accusations against Rob Walker's team in Motor Sport in 1961.

I attended a film show in some large Victorian/Edwardian pub near Hammersmith some 30 years or so ago (I think it might have been the King's Head) which featured a film of the 1955 TT at Dundrod with DSJ as guest speaker.

Afterwards I had a few words with him and made the mistake of remarking how impressive Hawthorn's drive in the D type had been. This brought forth instant disdain and dismissal of the Jaguar which he self evidently did not rate and I cannot recall any positive comments about Hawthorn either. Further recollection reminds me that he was not impressed by Hawthorn's attitude to the Targa Florio in 1958, or am I imagining this?

In my opinion persons of independent thought like Jenks, right or wrong, would not be tolerated or allowed much access to latter day F1 and I can just imagine his reaction to the (often) female 'minders' who hover alongside the drivers every time they are interviewed on or off camera presumably to make sure they stay on message.

[MonzaDriver]

MonzaDriver, if you look around the forum you will find where Doug has described a number of circumstances in which he and Jenks were closely linked...

I'm pretty sure there was one description he gave of Jenks' home and in particular... If I remember correctly... his bathroom.

Now, I've conversed with Jenks briefly as he devoured a plate full of green snails, but it's clear that Doug got a lot closer.

Yes I remember something like that, but you know, you could have been to the house of a lot of people
but none of them could be your friend..................
MonzaDriver