9 replies to this topic

[SanDiegoGo]

Is there a record of Mansell's racing career before F1? Wikipedia is no good. Wikipedia says he was British Formula Ford Champion in '77, but I can't find confirmation. Like to find out about his race results but Not having any luck. Forix only has F1 results as far as I can see.

Edited by SanDiegoGo, 24 January 2015 - 23:00.

[BRG]

Mansell, Nigel (GB) b 08/08/1954 (Upton-on-Severn)

1963 - Started karting

1976 - Gave up job at Lucas for racing. FF1600, 6 wins

1977 - May: broke neck in two places. FF1600 champion, 33 wins

4th in only Vandervell F3 race at Silverstone (Lola T570)

1978 - F3 (March 783)
Mar 19 Silverstone 2nd/Pole
Mar 27 Thruxton 7th
Apr 16 Brands Hatch 7th
Apr 22 Oulton Park 7th
Apr 30 Donington Park 4th
British F2 (Chevron)
Jun 24 Donington Park DNQ
BMW County Championship (BMW 320i)
Apr 16 Silverstone 2nd
Jun 3 Donington Park 1st
Jun 30 Oulton Park ret
Aug 26 Mallory Park 3rd

1979 - First Lotus test at Paul Ricard. Joined Unipart F3 team (March 783
and 793)
Mar 4 Silverstone 11th
Mar 11 Thruxton 2nd
Mar 25 Silverstone 1st
Apr 1 Snetterton 8th
Apr 8 Donington Park 7th
May 7 Brands Hatch 6th
May 20 Donington Park ret/accident
May 27 Monte Carlo 11th
Jun 10 Brands Hatch 4th
Jun 17 Cadwell Park ret/suspension
Jul 1 Silverstone 8th
Jul 14 Silverstone 6th
Aug 27 Silverstone 6th
Sep 9 Donington Park 2nd
Sep 15 Oulton Park ret/accident/broke back

1980 - F3, 9th. F2 (Ralt RH6/80-Honda), 12th, 8 pts
Jun 8 Silverstone 11th
Jun 22 Zolder ret/accident
Jul 20 Zandvoort 5th
Sep 28 Hockenheim 2nd

[Gary Davies]

Is there a record of Mansell's racing career before F1? Wikipedia is no good. Wikipedia says he was British Formula Ford Champion in '77, but I can't find confirmation. Like to find out about his race results but Not having any luck. Forix only has F1 results as far as I can see.

You might seek out his tautologically named book 'My Autobiography.' BookFinder has heaps of copies from US $2.86.

 

Be prepared to cringe as you read Noige's excruciating prose but get in the right frame of mind and you'll have a lot of laughs. The book does contain something of a record of his driving career prior to Formula One.

[SanDiegoGo]

thank you, gents.

[Tim Murray]

In the ‘70s there were a number of UK Formula Ford championships every year, of varying degrees of importance. Most leading drivers could only mount a challenge in one or two of these, so had to decide their priorities at the start of the season. In 1977 the top championship should have been the RAC British, but due to organisational blunders it was not well supported (it was won by Trevor van Rooyen). Thus the top championship was probably the Townsend Thoresen British series, won by Chico Serra. Next in importance were the Brush Fusegear and BARC championships. Mansell concentrated on, and won, the Brush Fusegear, whilst David Leslie won the BARC.

So, whilst Mansell was undoubtedly one of the top five FF drivers in 1977, he can’t really claim to have been ‘British champion’.

[Supersox]

In 1978 -possibly 1979- he was entered by John Lewis at Silverstone in a round of the HSCC Post Historic Road sports Championship.

To the horror/amazememt /astonishment of the other all amateur racers.

He did about four or five laps in practice before the brakes failed and he went into the bank at Copse.

He did not take part in the race-I never found out what john Lewis said to him-or vice versa.

 

I suppose I should have added that the car was a1962 E Type

Edited by Supersox, 25 January 2015 - 14:13.

[Dick Dastardly]

Mansell said that Heysham Head...where they used to hold the Karting World Championships [?]....was the most dangerous circuit he raced on. It was situated on a cliff top....to the left of the start/finish straight was a wall...beyond that, a drop down into the sea at Morecambe Bay !! Circuit no longer exists, erosion has cut through the rock face.....

[kayemod]

You might seek out his tautologically named book 'My Autobiography.' BookFinder has heaps of copies from US $2.86.

 

Be prepared to cringe as you read Noige's excruciating prose but get in the right frame of mind and you'll have a lot of laughs. The book does contain something of a record of his driving career prior to Formula One.

 

There are loads of hardback copies on Amazon right now for £0.01, paperback editions presumably even cheaper than that...

[David Beard]

Mansell said that Heysham Head...where they used to hold the Karting World Championships [?]....was the most dangerous circuit he raced on. It was situated on a cliff top....to the left of the start/finish straight was a wall...beyond that, a drop down into the sea at Morecambe Bay !! Circuit no longer exists, erosion has cut through the rock face.....

Karting World Cup. Fantastic event. The circuit is now a National Trust country walk.

[JtP2]

Quote doesn't work, but if hard back copies of his book are 1p and paper backs cheaper. Does that mean Nige will pay you to read it?