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David 'Pipes' Piper


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#1 P 4 Staff

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Posted 19 October 2004 - 14:42

Hi all.
In 1968 I visited "Kanonloppet" at Gelleråsen just outside of Karlskoga in Sweden.
And...I got to see something fantastic. I saw David Piper win the race in his wonderful Ferrari (Brittish Racing Green) P 4. And I was stunned by the fact...that he braked at exactly the same place every lap...(coming down from the velodrome)...and see his front wheel...almost come to a standstill...very impressive.

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Now...what bothers me a lot...is that Jo Bonnier...who drove off in the first curve...and finally came in as second...was treated as a winner...riding around the track with Eartha Kitt...of all people.

David...I know this was your win...´cause I saw it in person.

Anybody else got some pictures...or stories to tell about "Pipes"?

Best: Staff.

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#2 Udo K.

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Posted 19 October 2004 - 18:38

Here is the man (photo taken a few weeks ago at the Nürburgring)

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#3 P 4 Staff

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Posted 19 October 2004 - 19:08

Great picture....Udo...of a great racing driver.

Thankyou.

#4 ReWind

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Posted 19 October 2004 - 19:19

Small career summary:
http://www.brdc.co.u.../2/member_id/99
When David Ruff Piper was a little younger:
http://www.brdc.co.u...lag/3/picid/244
http://www.brdc.co.u...lag/3/picid/243
http://www.brdc.co.u...lag/3/picid/242

#5 Pedro 917

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Posted 19 October 2004 - 21:24

Here are some pictures I took at Spa during the Classic Endurance event. I had a very nice chat with David digging up some Rodriguez stories. He drove the Ford F3L.

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#6 Keir

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Posted 19 October 2004 - 23:14

David lost one of his legs in an accident while filming the movie, "Le Mans", I'm guessing he gets along fine without it??

#7 Carlos Guerra

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Posted 19 October 2004 - 23:27

David has kindly accepted the invitation of the Vila Real Revival organizers and has just joined us last weekend, for a memorable occasion.

He brought his 917 for Mário de Araújo Cabral to drive, just the same car that Mário drove in the 1971 event.
Together with David, at the wheel of his own P4, the sight of these two green cars, simply drove completely wild a crowd estimated at 25.000 along the 6.9km old road course, during the Saturday demonstration.

On Friday evening, I had the opportunity of sharing his table at dinner, together with Liz and Chris Craft, with stories and anecdotes of the good old late 60's, pouring in at a fantastic rate.

Other Vila Real personalities present included, Moss, Elford, Tony Birchenough, Jorge de Bagration, José Maria Juncadella, Jonathan Williams, Peter Brown, John Bamford, Ian Skailes, Bill Tuckett, Bernard Farthing and Trevor Twaites, who, although never having raced at Vila Real, is an old mate of Lord Angus Clydesdale and a noted Chevron driver.

Great fun, great times, geat races, great memories.

Carlos Guerra
Cascais
Portugal

#8 Teapot

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Posted 20 October 2004 - 10:12

Here are some photos I took in Monza last May, at the "1000 Km"...

1,2,3) David Piper and, I suppose, Mrs.Piper...

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4) The autograph of the Man himself...

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5)...and his car

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#9 Pedro 917

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Posted 20 October 2004 - 11:23

Yes, that's Liz Piper. She was Rob Walker's secretary. Always in for a good story too.

#10 P4Replica

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Posted 20 October 2004 - 16:12

Originally posted by P 4 Staff
.... And I was stunned by the fact...that he braked at exactly the same place every lap...(coming down from the velodrome)...and see his front wheel...almost come to a standstill...very impressive.

Staffan.
This part of your post reminded me of a photo that I had in my collection for a few years. It shows "Pipes" braking heavily in his original Ferrari 412P - chassis #0854. Although I didn't know exactly where it was taken, I knew it was also during the 1968 season - and fairly early at that, from the lack of modifications to the car's bodywork. I had simply captioned it as "#0854- Pipes under braking".
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The funny thing is, only a couple of weeks ago, I emailed a scan of it to David Piper, to ask him if he could remember where it was taken. Not only did he respond immediately, with Norisring, 1968, which he credited #0854 with winning (rather than himself) but he also rattled off the following five places:
"Ferrari 0854 won this race from Bonnier Lola T70 Frank Gardner T70 Siffert Porsche Quester Works BMW Hans Herman Porsche in 1968 also won Hockemhiem.
Regards, D.Piper."
He has amazing recall apparently ....

#11 P4Replica

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Posted 20 October 2004 - 16:26

Originally posted by Carlos Guerra
David has kindly accepted the invitation of the Vila Real Revival organizers and has just joined us last weekend, for a memorable occasion.

Carlos.
Here is an interesting little web page about the 1968 Vila Real race:
http://sportscarport...8_inscritos.htm
where Piper came in second, again with 412P chassis #0854:
http://scgt.com.sapo.pt/412P.htm

#12 P4Replica

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Posted 20 October 2004 - 16:35

Couple of my own photos of 'Pipes' taken at Coy's Silverstone in 2001 ....
I particularly like the second one, with 'Pipes' showing off his artificial foot !
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#13 P4Replica

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Posted 20 October 2004 - 18:09

Originally posted by Keir
David lost one of his legs in an accident while filming the movie, "Le Mans", I'm guessing he gets along fine without it??

I also found this interesting little article on 'Pipes' and the Ford 3-litre P68, which includes a rather graphic anecdote about Pipes' accident during the filming of 'Le Mans', and the driving technique he subsequently adopted afterwards: http://www.pts106.com/Ford%20F3L.htm

#14 Carlos Guerra

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Posted 20 October 2004 - 18:55

Originally posted by P4Replica
Carlos.
Here is an interesting little web page about the 1968 Vila Real race:
http://sportscarport...8_inscritos.htm
where Piper came in second, again with 412P chassis #0854:
http://scgt.com.sapo.pt/412P.htm


Hi P4Replica,

Yeah, I know these guys. Thanks anyway.

Regards

Carlos Guerra
Cascais
Portugal

#15 RTH

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Posted 20 October 2004 - 19:17

Isn't the Villa Real retrospective race for historic cars due to be taking place about now ?

#16 Carlos Guerra

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Posted 20 October 2004 - 23:39

Originally posted by RTH
Isn't the Villa Real retrospective race for historic cars due to be taking place about now ?


Hi Richard,

The Vila Real Revival took place last Saturday 16 October.
It was a one-off demonstration, not a race, and all guests and their cars were invited by the promoters, to mark the opening of an huge new shopping moll on the town.
See post number 7.

Kind regards

Carlos Guerra
Cascais
Portugal

#17 P 4 Staff

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Posted 21 October 2004 - 07:19

Originally posted by P4Replica
I also found this interesting little article on 'Pipes' and the Ford 3-litre P68, which includes a rather graphic anecdote about Pipes' accident during the filming of 'Le Mans', and the driving technique he subsequently adopted afterwards: http://www.pts106.com/Ford%20F3L.htm


Thankyou.
Very interesting.
Best: Staff.

#18 P 4 Staff

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Posted 21 October 2004 - 07:28

Originally posted by Carlos Guerra
David has kindly accepted the invitation of the Vila Real Revival organizers and has just joined us last weekend, for a memorable occasion.

He brought his 917 for Mário de Araújo Cabral to drive, just the same car that Mário drove in the 1971 event.
Together with David, at the wheel of his own P4, the sight of these two green cars, simply drove completely wild a crowd estimated at 25.000 along the 6.9km old road course, during the Saturday demonstration.

On Friday evening, I had the opportunity of sharing his table at dinner, together with Liz and Chris Craft, with stories and anecdotes of the good old late 60's, pouring in at a fantastic rate.

Other Vila Real personalities present included, Moss, Elford, Tony Birchenough, Jorge de Bagration, José Maria Juncadella, Jonathan Williams, Peter Brown, John Bamford, Ian Skailes, Bill Tuckett, Bernard Farthing and Trevor Twaites, who, although never having raced at Vila Real, is an old mate of Lord Angus Clydesdale and a noted Chevron driver.

Great fun, great times, geat races, great memories.

Carlos Guerra
Cascais
Portugal


Fascinating...Carlos!

Best: Staff.

#19 Keir

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Posted 21 October 2004 - 16:09

P4replica,
Nice link to David's accident at Le Mans. Good stuff!!! Thanks!!

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#20 P 4 Staff

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Posted 31 October 2004 - 11:24

Hi.
Must be lots of old photos of David Piper out there. Keep them coming.
Best: Staff.

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#21 Vicuna

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Posted 31 October 2004 - 17:02

How many people know that David Pipers parents immigrated to NZ before WW2?

#22 David Lawson

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Posted 31 October 2004 - 18:43

These are a couple of photographs that I took of David Piper at this years Revival.

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David

#23 David McKinney

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Posted 31 October 2004 - 19:09

Originally posted by Vicuna
How many people know that David Pipers parents immigrated to NZ before WW2?

I'd forgotten that
I know young David went to school in Auckland (King's College)

#24 Ruairidh

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Posted 31 October 2004 - 22:01

Is there a story behind the shade of green that David Piper chooses for his cars? (we're all agreed that it is green, right? :lol: )

#25 Pedro 917

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Posted 31 October 2004 - 22:24

Originally posted by Vicuna :
How many people know that David Piper's parents immigrated to NZ before WW2?

They must have returned to England though as David started his career driving hill climbs and sprints with an MG. Home was the family farm at Redbourn Herts according to Mark Kahn's Piper chapter in his book "The day I died" :

As a youngster he got his first taste of motor sport going from home at Redbourn Herts, to watch hill climbs, trials and sprints staged by the Cambridge University Car Club. "I never thought of racing. It was really right out of my reach." He was also very busy working - he had started an agricultural contracting business and there was also the family farm. All the same, he got hold of an MG (how many owe their start in motor sport to that car, I wonder?) and did some hill climbs and sprints himself. And eventually some racing.

#26 Mac Lark

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Posted 31 October 2004 - 22:24

It's BRG isn't it? :)

#27 dretceterini

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 01:53

I wish Piper would come out an make a statement about P3/4 "846" :rolleyes:

#28 dretceterini

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 01:54

Originally posted by Mac Lark
It's BRG isn't it? :)


More Granny Smith apple green to my eyes :p

#29 dretceterini

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 01:56

Originally posted by P4Replica
Couple of my own photos of 'Pipes' taken at Coy's Silverstone in 2001 ....
I particularly like the second one, with 'Pipes' showing off his artificial foot !
Posted Image
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In the lower picture, Piper looks just like Grandpa Munster, from the Munsters TV show in the 70s :eek: :lol:

#30 Frank S

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 03:19

Small potatoes, so to speak.

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--
Frank S

#31 EDWARD FITZGERALD

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 07:58

The paint colour is referred to as BP green

#32 Pat Clarke

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 11:15

Hi all,
I have a picture I could scan of David Piper enroute to winning his first race in a 750cc Lotus (6?) MG openwheeler in Ireland in the early 1950s. It is a bit grainy, but should scan okay.
Wish I knew how to post it :
Pat

#33 Ruairidh

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 13:27

Originally posted by EDWARD FITZGERALD
The paint colour is referred to as BP green


So do we think David's use of it originated with BP sponsorship of his team?

#34 Wolf

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 13:28

Originally posted by Pat Clarke
Hi all,
I have a picture I could scan of David Piper enroute to winning his first race in a 750cc Lotus (6?) MG openwheeler in Ireland in the early 1950s. It is a bit grainy, but should scan okay.
Wish I knew how to post it :
Pat


Pat, if You don't have a place on the web to upload it to (which is required), E-mail it to me ( wolf@email.atlasf1.com ) and I'll be happy to do it for You...

#35 EDWARD FITZGERALD

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 14:13

Yes , I read an article on David in Old Motor (will look it out) which gave a sponsorship deal with BP as the reason for the choice of colour .
Edward Fitzgerald

#36 Keir

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 14:41

I love that color green! My Formula Vee was a shade of pale green when I first raced it. Apple green if I remember correctly?

Then I got all aggressive and painted the car glowing BLACK!! ..........of course , my helmet, driver's suit, gloves and shoes were black as well! It all got a bit hot in the summer months, but as they say, "When you're hot, you're HOT!!"

#37 Pedro 917

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 14:45

Glowing black ?

I would love to see that !!

#38 Keir

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 14:52

Pedro 917,

Glowing, like Darth Vader's helmet! In fact, my furture ex-wife remarked, "You know you're not Darth Vader?" I then beheaded her with my light saber!! At least I should have!! :o

#39 RTH

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 17:50

Originally posted by Frank S
Small potatoes, so to speak.



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They would be Maris Piper then ?

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#40 Frank S

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Posted 01 November 2004 - 18:46

Originally posted by RTH


They would be Maris Piper then ?


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Something in that direction, I guess

Characteristics

Shape: Round to Oval
Skin: White
Flesh: White (?)
Market Use: Fresh Market and Processing
Late Maturing


There must be a pommes vert joke in there somewhere, too.


--
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#41 Pat Clarke

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Posted 02 November 2004 - 10:42

Wolf,
I will scan that picture tomorrow and email it to you
Regards
Pat

#42 RTH

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Posted 02 November 2004 - 13:58

Originally posted by Frank S


Posted Image


Something in that direction, I guess

Characteristics

Shape: Round to Oval
Skin: White
Flesh: White (?)
Market Use: Fresh Market and Processing
Late Maturing


There must be a pommes vert joke in there somewhere, too.


--
Frank S


Frank,

...........Now that is impressive !

#43 P4Replica

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Posted 02 November 2004 - 20:50

Originally posted by dretceterini
I wish Piper would come out an make a statement about P3/4 "846" :rolleyes:

Don't we all ....?;)

#44 P 4 Staff

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Posted 02 November 2004 - 22:07

This is a picture of David Pipers #0854 converted to a somewhat CanAm-racer.
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Anybody got some pictures of it from different angles?

Best: Staff.

#45 P 4 Staff

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Posted 02 November 2004 - 22:28

And I believe Paul Hawkins at the same time converted his #0858 in a similar style.

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Any information on this?

Best: Staff.

#46 Carlos Guerra

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Posted 03 November 2004 - 02:00

Originally posted by P 4 Staff
And I believe Paul Hawkins at the same time converted his #0858 in a similar style.

Posted Image

Any information on this?

Best: Staff.


No, Hawkeye's #0858 was an ex-works Cam-Am 350 P4.
He only changed it to Team Gunston colours.

David turned #0854 into a roadster after he hit someone in the pit road at the previous Springbok Series race.
Colour shot of previous post is from Autosport's Dec 6 '1968 cover.
Was taken at the Killarney Cape 3 hour race. It's Dickie Attwood at the wheel in fact.

Great times, great racing, gorgeous cars, lots of fun.

Carlos Guerra
Cascais
Portugal

#47 Wolf

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Posted 03 November 2004 - 11:03

Here is photo Pat Clarke sent me to post here. :)

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#48 Macca

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Posted 03 November 2004 - 11:56

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At Goodwood in the summer of 1995, there was a private track day at which Stirling Moss, Tony Brooks and David Piper drove various guests round in a variety of historic Ferraris; Chris Rea had just had his replica 'sharknose' 156/F1 and 250/TRI/61 built by Paul Harvey at Shoreham, and brought them along to test them.

So, since Chris had raced David's 250LM a couple of times, he offered David a run in the sharknose - unfortunately, the cockpit was too restricted for him to get his false leg on and off the throttle pedal, so the picture is the only one I took, before he climbed out without ever driving it.


Paul M

#49 P 4 Staff

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Posted 03 November 2004 - 16:38

Thank you...Wolf...Pat Clarke and Macca...and everybody else who´s entered pictures to this thread.
Nice pictures...I love it.

Best: Staff. :up:

#50 Charles Helps

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Posted 16 November 2004 - 10:19

Originally posted by Pat Clarke
Hi all,
I have a picture I could scan of David Piper enroute to winning his first race in a 750cc Lotus (6?) MG openwheeler in Ireland in the early 1950s. ....
Pat

Many thanks Pat for the photo and to WOLF for posting it.

It is a Lotus Mk VI. It was also known as the Empire Special, built by Fred Hill who had the Empire Garage, near the Finsbury Park Empire Theatre in London. The MG engine came from an MG J4. This was supercharged which accounts for the long nose on the car. Fred Hill raced the car in 1953, and Austin Nurse took over in 1954 while David Piper was competing in his (ex Dennis Poore) MG J4. David Piper bought it for the 1955 season and took it over to Ireland for the Leinster Trophy, a handicap race which he won.