So why do we consistently talk so much more about the drivers, even the eighty percenters, than we do about the machines and the people who designed them?
Well, I hope to have readdressed the balance a bit. If you follow this link you will see a new WATN section devoted to the team bosses; http://www.oldracing...ory=Teamsstarts
This is the newest section to WATN, and one that I hope covers the above, but also moves the site into a whole different area, and certainly, brings it closer to Allen’s focus on the Old Racing Cars site. This new section covers so many famous names not previously mentioned, that are just as integral a part of the sport as the drivers, and of whom there is much interest, both in specific, ie historic motor racing fans, and the general world.
Again, it’s the same process. Instead of number of GP’s (which is near impossible to properly define anyhow), it is the teams they were with.
Perhaps the most “controversial” part of this WATN is “Why are they on ” or “why are they NOT on ”.
What I have done, going by as many resources as I can, but mostly Higham and the 8W page, especially for the more recent years, is to put the team principal & the chief designer of each car/constructor.
But this has been so difficult to define. In some cases the owner, say Genevieve Bugatti, is the “de facto” boss, but has little to do with the whole process. Even this year, with Toro Rosso, do I list Berger? Tost is the principal, Berger “just” an owner. In the end, I put Berger in, and likewise, the same with the designers - it’s such a blurry issue, that I’ve tried to settle on either the technical head of a design team, but it’s not an exact science. I’ve really just tried to compromise as a result.
But I do think most of the more “important” names are here. And this, too, has been fascinating. A real shift back into Europe, which has been frustrating when it comes to many things, but, equally, even more revealing with others.
I’ve only done a project if it’s “worth” something - ie it brings more information than is already available, whether that be via biographical info, or WATN info. And, yep, there’s a lot of gaps, but, by & large, there’s a lot of new information as well.
Again, corrections/additions/questions/comments etc. are very much appreciated , especially as there are some VERY famous names missing information, and I do hope that this section is enjoyed as much as the others.
A few words of thanks. I don’t know whether Allen gets fed up of me thanking him, but it is thanks to his savvy, and of course his site, that I can expand into other areas with minimal effort, and I do hope that a whole host of new names helps the site continue to be a success.
Thanks too, to those who have already helped with queries - Barry Boor, for helping with Peter Connew’s information, DCN over some key figures with Cooper/BRM & KJJ, Adam F & Rewind, as they are known on here, for their research already (and I hope they have many additions for me!), Gabriel Alejandro Engels for some Argentine background, numerous others (too many really to mention) for various bits of information, and in particular, one team & one man that’s on the new WATN.
The one man was Chris Murphy , who happily took the time to answer a few more small queries. The one team was Midland F1 , and their media head Ron Fine, who happily & speedily answered all my queries, despite his & the team’s busy schedule. In both cases, it was, and still is, much appreciated.
Small note - this is the last new section for some time. European F2 is still an aim, but there’s TOO many gaps (all the sections combined have 85% information full - which I‘m pleased with, but won‘t rest until it‘s about 95%), GP2 isn’t relevant enough - yet - Le Mans is too difficult & too large for me to realistically consider every competitor (the Ed Hugus case being a particular example) and NASCAR… maybe, but it’s not a priority at present. Heck, I have about 350 mysteries & 1,250 updates to cause me worry, stress & sleepless nights now!!
Enjoy it!
