211 replies to this topic

[Gabrci]

Here are two nice photos that I'm a bit confused about: 

 

https://www.motorspo...-gp/1017951571/

https://www.motorspo...-gp/1017951572/

 

The caption says these are from 1969 but surely, if this is him at all, this has to be pre-accident and someone mistakenly thought otherwise due to the missing tooth? 

[Emery0323]

Here are two nice photos that I'm a bit confused about: 

 

https://www.motorspo...-gp/1017951571/

https://www.motorspo...-gp/1017951572/

 

The caption says these are from 1969 but surely, if this is him at all, this has to be pre-accident and someone mistakenly thought otherwise due to the missing tooth? 

Jackie Stewart's sideburns look pretty large and his hair is fairly long - Was he wearing sideburns and long hair like that prior to May1968 ?   

Edited by Emery0323, 29 April 2023 - 16:06.

[ReWind]

Looking at Irwin's teeth I wonder if the photo indeed was taken after the Nürburgring accident had happened.

Edited by ReWind, 29 April 2023 - 17:47.

[Gabrci]

Thank you for your responses! Great point about Stewart's hair and I have found another photo taken clearly at the same time: 

 

https://www.motorspo...-gp/1017951570/

 

The plaque says "19-VAT-69 Sportsman of the year, Jackie Stewart, Motor Racing" (not sure what VAT means here). 

 

This would mean that if that gentleman is indeed Irwin this was really taken after the accident and I am quite confused by that - looking at this picture from 2008: https://www.motorspo...after-40-years/ unfortunately the traces of the accident are quite obvious particularly above his right eye and in the middle of his forehead. 

 

I also remember Loti saying in an earlier interview that the only race they went to after the accident was Brands Hatch (the 1969 British GP was at Silverstone) and "he looked awful". The gentleman on these pictures looks great apart from the missing tooth and doesn't seem to have any such scars. So either those on the 2008 photo are traces from a surgery that happened later or it is not him on the photos? 

[opplock]

 

 

The plaque says "19-VAT-69 Sportsman of the year, Jackie Stewart, Motor Racing" (not sure what VAT means here). 

 

 

 

 

VAT 69 is a blended whisky. 

Edited by opplock, 29 April 2023 - 21:29.

[Tim Murray]

The plaque says "19-VAT-69 Sportsman of the year, Jackie Stewart, Motor Racing" (not sure what VAT means here).

VAT 69 is a blended whisky.

I remember Vat 69 whisky having a big promotional drive in 1969 because the year matched their product name. They took to running promotions at a number of sporting events including the British GP. So if the photo of Chris Irwin with Stewart was taken at the same time as the VAT 69 award photo, it can only have been taken in 1969.

[Emery0323]

Thank you for your responses! Great point about Stewart's hair and I have found another photo taken clearly at the same time: 

 

https://www.motorspo...-gp/1017951570/

 

The plaque says "19-VAT-69 Sportsman of the year, Jackie Stewart, Motor Racing" (not sure what VAT means here). 

 

This would mean that if that gentleman is indeed Irwin this was really taken after the accident and I am quite confused by that - looking at this picture from 2008: https://www.motorspo...after-40-years/ unfortunately the traces of the accident are quite obvious particularly above his right eye and in the middle of his forehead. 

 

I also remember Loti saying in an earlier interview that the only race they went to after the accident was Brands Hatch (the 1969 British GP was at Silverstone) and "he looked awful". The gentleman on these pictures looks great apart from the missing tooth and doesn't seem to have any such scars. So either those on the 2008 photo are traces from a surgery that happened later or it is not him on the photos? 

I think it's most likely that the picture captions are accurate, and that the man with Jackie Stewart is Chris Irwin.  It's worth noting that Chris Irwin is wearing dark glasses, which are probably meant to obscure his eyes from view.  Nobody else is wearing them, and the sunshine is not particularly bright. The traumatic brain injury probably affected his ability to focus and control his eyes, which would be unnerving to people who met him, hence the dark glasses to obscure them. His eyebrows do look somewhat asymmetrical, and that might have gotten more pronounced by the time he aged into his 60's, when the 2008 Motorsport photo was published.    It's probably inappropriate for me to speculate publicly, I have never met him.

 

Perhaps Loti will see the pictures and remember the occasion.  I recall reading Loti's comments on this forum about how people avoided him when he visited the paddock the first time after his accident. Fortunately, Jack Brabham greeted him warmly and inquired about his progress.  Good on ya Jack! The decent thing to do.

 

Edit: He certainly seems to have a very happy, genuine smile in the Vat-69 whisky event photos - I hope it cheered him up!

Edited by Emery0323, 30 April 2023 - 09:11.

[LOTI]

Yes, that is Chris.

Let me give you a brief time line.

The photographs were taken at Silverstone. I know '68 was Brands Hatch as that  was where we had the nightmare visit not long after he was let out of hospital, so '69 was Silverstone and he was 4 operations in to his recovery.

The first one was the life saver in Germany, the second was a tidying up effort at Atkinson Morley at Sutton [Surrey], the third was an eye operation at the London Clinic in Harley Street and the forth was back at Atkinson Morley for reconstructive surgery as the first one they had had to remove a lot of shattered forehead. At  first we thought it had gone quite well but sadly he reacted against whatever it was they used, so they had to take it out again. So this is post 4th operation but pre 5th.

I don't remember the silver salver!

I doubt he hangs out here but if he does could I just say Happy Birthday for next month. June 27th is his 80th.... the same as Luke! [Charles Lucas].

Dear Emery, a little less of of sagging and wrinkling!

Keep up the good work.

Loti

[Emery0323]

Thanks for your comments Loti!  You confirmed what I think we all surmised, that Chris's recovery and rehabilitation was quite complicated and required multiple surgeries.

Apologies for bringing up the subject of wrinkling and sagging - redacted. 

 

Wishing you all the best Loti, your comments are always of interest!  Also wishing Chris and Luke a Happy 80th Birthday!

Edited by Emery0323, 30 April 2023 - 09:28.

[Collombin]

If Chris is turning 80 this year then he is a year younger than is generally assumed - we had a similar case here recently with Roger Williamson's birth year.

[Gabrci]

Thank you so much Loti for clarifying, it is always fascinating to read your posts and I really appreciate that you have taken the time to tell the story behind these pictures! 

 

If I could choose one thing I would love to see at Goodwood that would be him driving the BRM. I know it's unlikely but I can't think of any driver-car reunion that would be more emotional. 

[Geoff E]

If Chris is turning 80 this year then he is a year younger than is generally assumed.

 

His birth was registered in Wandsworth district in 1942, so he will soon be 81.