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Jaki Scheckter


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#1 Nilz295

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Posted 22 July 2002 - 23:02

Hello!!!

Does anyone know, who Jaki Scheckter is and does anyone have informations about him????

Is he related to Jody, Ian , Toby and Tomas?????

The only information I have is that he is also South-african!!!

This information I found on: www.speedsportmag.de
Look in the Driver database!

Thanks in advance!!!

Nilz

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#2 rdrcr

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Posted 22 July 2002 - 23:37

The son of former multiple South African champion Ian and nephew of former world champion Jody, Jaki Scheckter made a good effort in single seat racing. After winning the Barber Dodge Series in the United States in 1995 -- and the Barber Dodge Scholarship Shootout and a $100,000 scholarship -- it looked as though Scheckter was a likely candidate to follow his father and uncle into Formula One. Early in 1996 he made an impression in three Indy Lights starts in the US before his sponsorship dried up and he was forced to return to South Africa.

He was the South African Formula Ford champion. Voted Motorsportsman of the Year by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists in 1995, Scheckter's career took a turn for the worse in 1996 and 1997. After competing in the Stannic Group N championship in 1997 he faded from the scene.

His racing career in mothballs, at best he is facing an uncertain future, with reported racing debts of half million dollars facing him.

Why things haven't worked out is a bit of a mystery... Details are murky; no one knows the exact story. But there was speculation that he failed to cultivate contacts with sponsors beyond Newport Cigarettes, which dropped him. He was supposed to test for a F3000 ride back in '99 but I doubt anything ever came of it because I haven't heard much about him since.

I think he races with a disability... IIRC he's deaf.

His cousin Tomas sure is making a go of it in the IRL though.

#3 Jim Thurman

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Posted 23 July 2002 - 07:09

Richard,

Thanks for posting an update on Jaki. I recall watching those Barber Dodge races on TV and he was pretty impressive. And, yes, YRC, Jaki was legally deaf.


Jim Thurman

#4 Joe Fan

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Posted 23 July 2002 - 08:15

Originally posted by rdrcr
His cousin Tomas sure is making a go of it in the IRL though.


Probably not for long though at the rate he is tearing up equipment. I doubt that Eddie Cheever will finish the season with him. I've heard that Eddie is testing another driver this week, I want to say that it is Buddy Rice but I could be wrong.

#5 Mac Lark

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Posted 24 July 2002 - 00:52

Some drivers who've driven for Ron Dennis have claimed to be legally deaf.

Shame about the half million but seeing as how Uncle Jody is such a warm person known for his generosity, Jaki shouldn't let it worry him.

I was once told by someone who knew, that it was almost impossible to believe Jody and Ian could be brothers. Apart from the similarity of their appearance.

Apparantly one was a thoroughly nice gentleman that never had a bad word said against him.

The other one was a complete and utter prick.

So I was told...

#6 barrykm

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Posted 31 July 2002 - 18:13

Jaki's father, Ian, was a very good driver and could have gone further in GP racing with a better team than March was in '77 - no disrespect to March, but a fact at the time.

#7 Graham Clayton

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Posted 21 September 2011 - 02:29

According to this article Jaki Scheckter made a comeback to racing in South Africa in 2010:

http://www.wheels24....-again-20100319

Is he still racing in 2011?

#8 Killarney

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Posted 22 September 2011 - 07:33

According to this article Jaki Scheckter made a comeback to racing in South Africa in 2010:

http://www.wheels24....-again-20100319

Is he still racing in 2011?


Both Jacki and father Ian have made comebacks but mainly in historic forms of racing in South Africa. And both have shown why they were one time champions. They normally get invited drives and so end up in an array of equipment. Very nice and down to earth people. Jacki has a hearing disability.