131 replies to this topic

[Andrew Kitson]

An enjoyable talk at the FORC this evening. 160 of us enthralled with Tony Southgate's
tales of his life as a designer from building and racing his own 1172 special then Lola, Brabham, Eagle, BRM, Shadow, Arrows, Lotus, Ford, TWR Jaguar, Aston Martin, Toyota, Ferrari, Lister and Audi and his 750mc racing he does today.

Tony spoke for 2hrs 45mins and had time to meet and speak to anyone who had questions afterwards! Very entertaining. The controversy over the Shadow/Arrows affair was particularly interesting.

Bob Dance was there as were many familiar faces from the racing scene here in East Anglia including a number of the Snetterton marshalling corps. Steve Wyatt (the organiser) welcomes any new members who want to join. No subs as such, free membership, however there is a crash helmet to put donations in at the end of the night which helps pay for the hall and after speech tea and buns. An impressive list of speakers in recent months - Brian Lister, Jack Sears, Jim Russell, Martin Donnelly, Whizzo Williams, David Brodie, Richard Attwood. Next meeting is March 28th if anyone is interested in the trek across to Stradbroke Community Centre near Diss in Norfolk.

The next speaker is known to Steve, however he is not letting on who it is just yet until he has confirmation that they can definitely make it. He has other well known names already lined up for future meetings. All members receive a newsletter via post.

I can put you in touch with Steve if anyone wants to join. The club also organise trips and events in the summer. A great bunch of enthusiasts.

[sterling49]

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
Steve Wyatt (the organiser) welcomes any new members who want to join. No subs as such, free membership, however there is a crash helmet to put donations in at the end of the night which helps pay for the hall and after speech tea and buns. An impressive list of speakers in recent months - Brian Lister, Jack Sears, Jim Russell, Martin Donnelly, Whizzo Williams, David Brodie, Richard Attwood. Next meeting is March 28th if anyone is interested in the trek across to Stradbroke Community Centre near Diss in Norfolk.

The next speaker is known to Steve, however he is not letting on who it is just yet until he has confirmation that they can definitely make it. He has other well known names already lined up for future meetings. All members receive a newsletter via post.

I can put you in touch with Steve if anyone wants to join. The club also organise trips and events in the summer. A great bunch of enthusiasts.

Sounds great Andrew! Whizzo used to visit our Motor Club in Farningham and was always the source of great merriment! Details would be much appreciated, a nice drive through Constable country in early spring would be rather nice, would love to have been there for Dickie Attwood.


Sterling

[Andrew Kitson]

I missed the Dickie Attwood one Sterling, I am told he also spoke for over two hours.

[Gary C]

this sounds like a good night out!

[piperp2]

I was there and echo everything Andrew said, truly fascinating evening with tales of Siffert and Rodriguez particularly interesting. I spoke to Tony afterwards and told him about the full page ad on the Monday after the Jaguar 1988 Le Mans win that was put in the Daily Times by Porsche, congratulating Jaguar on their magnificent achievement. He was unaware of this but was not surprised by their sporting gesture, even in the late 1980’s he explained there was a good level of camaraderie in Group C.

[Andrew Kitson]

It came across that Tony had great affection for Pedro and Seppi. I was un-aware that Pedro was due to race at the Norisring in the BRM P154, however there was not an engine ready for it so Pedro accepted the offer of a drive in a Ferrari instead for £1500...

[hipperson]

A great night....I initially had reservations as I had only listened to drivers before but like everyone there I was fascinated by tales from behind the scenes. Well worth the 140 mile round trip and great roads for my Lotus.
Purchased a brilliant book there....Motor Racing: Reflections of a lost era.The author Anthony Carter was present.
Masses of photos ( 300) previously unpublished taken by Anthony as his hobby from 1956-79.
A true TNF delight.

[soubriquet]

Totally irellevant, but Fressingfield, Stradbroke and Diss were close to home for me once. My parents lived in Badingham for many years, and I used to live in Harleston. It's a long way from northern Japan.

Sorry. Pure nostalgia.

[Andrew Kitson]

Another superb evening last night with speaker Jackie Oliver. Tales of his famous Marcos shunt at Snetterton and F1 debut with Colin had everyone in stitches, as did his banter with Jack Sears and Bob Dance in the audience. Jim Russell was also present among the 160 members, greeted by the replica Gulf 917 standing guard at the entrance. A sell out with people on the waiting list. The FORC is a fantastic place to be, hidden away in a small Suffolk village. Next month Bob Dance is speaker.

[sterling49]

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
Another superb evening last night with speaker Jackie Oliver. Tales of his famous Marcos shunt at Snetterton and F1 debut with Colin had everyone in stitches, as did his banter with Jack Sears and Bob Dance in the audience. Jim Russell was also present among the 160 members, greeted by the replica Gulf 917 standing guard at the entrance. A sell out with people on the waiting list. The FORC is a fantastic place to be, hidden away in a small Suffolk village. Next month Bob Dance is speaker.

Here, here! Worth the long trek from Brands, even with cameras monitoring my...........(sometimes) progress at 30mph It was such a joy to see and listen to one of the guys I used to watch race at Brands,so very often,my special memories Brands Hatch July 1968 and his BOAC drives

A lovely way to spend an evening in a pastoral setting, very real but almost imaginary!

Thank you Steve!

[Andrew Kitson]

I loved Oliver's story about his GP debut at Monaco in '68. Chapman sticks his head in the cockpit on the grid:

"Right Sonny, only six cars ever finish this race, hang around at the back and you'll get a point!"

Jackie put the car in the wall exiting the tunnel, Chapman's next words to him once he had walked back to the pits were
"You're fired!"
Luckily for him Colin had a change of heart.

[David M. Kane]

Gary C:

Someone ought to record or video these talks! I'd buy them!

[Andrew Kitson]

We've tried that route following Gary's suggestion. The club commitee do not want it. They feel it would be a distraction and something their guest speakers would not want.

[Gary C]

Shame, eh??

[sterling49]

Originally posted by Gary C
Shame, eh??

You should make the trip Gary...you could have travelled with me last night from Brands....just the 200 mile round trip, but oh so worth the effort, as Andrew said, Jackie was in fine form and there was some great banter going on......who would have thought that 40 years after the event an enthusiast could attend such a great "grass roots" event, just brilliant!!!!


Sterling

[Gary C]

did anyone go to this weeks' meeting?

[sterling49]

Originally posted by Gary C
did anyone go to this weeks' meeting?

I sadly could not attend as I had tickets for a concert, as much as I would have loved to hear Bob Dance speak..........feast or famine eh? There was also the Hornsey Lotus meet on the same night.....


Sterling

[Andrew Kitson]

I could not attend either, however I saw Steve Wyatt at Snetterton last Saturday who told me that the Bob Dance talk ( part three ) was almost 'sold out'. Steve says he has some interesting well known speakers lined up for next season, after the summer break.

[sterling49]

Anybody thinking of attending? I have booked my place with Steve Holter this morning, planned for Wednesday 31st October is Sportscar racer,David Leslie and another chance for me to see on Wednesday 28th November.......... Stuart Turner.......he of BMC/Ford Competitions departments and BTRDA Goldstar Rally Champion Navigator fame. Both should be great nights, worthy of the drive up country!!!!

Are you going Andy? Gary? Richard? Andy tipped me the wink, it is a great opportunity to have a natter and noggin, much in the old style that we used to have "back in the day"


Sterling

[Andrew Kitson]

Yep, I'll be going. Steve Wyatt I think you meant Sterl?
I pointed Steve and Norman (from FORC) in the direction of a couple of other very well known potential speakers
when we were at the Revival. Hopefully they will do a deal to have them come along in 2008.

[sterling49]

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
Yep, I'll be going. Steve Wyatt I think you meant Sterl?
I pointed Steve and Norman (from FORC) in the direction of a couple of other very well known potential speakers
when we were at the Revival. Hopefully they will do a deal to have them come along in 2008.

You are of course correct Andy, the postman came early today and I didn't have my specs on...thats my excuse anyway!!!! Any clues to the presenters????? Someone like Brian Redman maybe?

[Andrew Kitson]

Sworn to secrecy!

[RTH]

Stuart Turner is a brilliant and witty after dinner speaker. I saw him at the London Rowing Club at a tribute event to Graham Hill about 20 years ago.

[sterling49]

Wednesdays the day, anyone making the trip? I shall be attending.

[sterling49]

Yet another great evening, although the planned speaker David Leslie could not make it,as he is poorly at present and is confined to hospital, I wish him a speedy recovery. The good news was, as a complete surprise to myself, a last minute booking by "The Brode", brilliant! I spent most of the late '60's and all of the '70's watching David Brodie race, and he regaled the audience with some great and hilarious tales.......I am sure a young Lewis never got up to the stunts that the young Brode did

So many names came up, most with great affection,tales of his great mates, Ronnie, "Mike the Bike" and Barry Sheen, the high jinx that took place, especially with Ronnie holding his BMW on the lock stops on Slough East slip road...... scaring the pants off a pleading Brodie........meanwhile Ronnie is grinning

The obvious sadness at losing his mates tragically, including Roger Williamson, one of the few guys to beat the Brode in a saloon car (in the wet and Roger in a 1 litre Anglia........) and he briefly touched on the anger he felt with both the deaths of Mike Hailwood and Roger.

David spoke at length on his "Run Baby Run" days, his Le Mans effort, the RS500, Mazda, that awful accident (at the '73 British GP, I was there) and it really did feel like being re introduced to an old friend, a great bloke I'd say and great fun

The time Denny turned up at Northampton after his Silverstone shunt, the Stewarts en bloc with family and the language he used when being told he would lose his legs......

Now if only I had taken my "Works Escorts" book, I could have got him to sign the picture of his immaculate black Escort, but now that book will travel up with me next month to listen to Stuart Turner, I cannot wait.

Worth the trip.....every mile, even in the camera enforced 30 limits

[RTH]

Blimey forgot all about it . I remember watching 'Run Baby Run' vs Mike Chittenden's Anglia, John Boomfield and a host of others just about every Sunday at Brands in that summer of '73 , wonderful stuff really sorry to have missed that .

Then Dave Brodie had that fabulous big arched Elan S4 in the black and yellow pin stripes as well ! I do believe there were at least 2 Black Escorts. The greatest days of saloon car racing, the 1970s.

[Mallory Dan]

Greatest days of most racing I'd say Richard, perhaps other than Sportscars, ie poor G5/G6 when compared to Group C.

[ian senior]

Originally posted by RTH

Then Dave Brodie had that fabulous big arched Elan S4 in the black and yellow pin stripes as well !

Yes, that was the ex- Goodliffe hillclimb car. I seem to remember it had "proper" front suspension from a Formula car. I was gobsmacked when I first saw it on the hills, it still had the full standard and very plush Elan interior.

[bradbury west]

Originally posted by RTH
I do believe there were at least 2 Black Escorts.

Was Brodie the first to take a Lotus twincam out to 2.1ltrs?
Roger Lund

[sterling49]

Originally posted by bradbury west

Was Brodie the first to take a Lotus twincam out to 2.1ltrs?
Roger Lund

Good memory Roger, that is exactly the question I asked him last night and how did he manage to keep it together when FoMoCo could not! We used to run a book every week end to see when it would blow up, but it did not!!! It seems the Brode was a very good engineer as well, also supplying a certain firm in Northampton with the odd RS500 block, because of all the tricks that he had added ;)

[RS2000]

Originally posted by sterling49
that is exactly the question I asked him last night and how did he manage to keep it together when FoMoCo could not!

What was the answer? - although, since that would have been in non-homologated races, starting with a different block from the original "L" probably helped! BRM did most of the Team Lotus BSCC and Ford Boreham rally homologated twinks?
Any mention of his visits to Guyana in early 70s (in Chevron B8 2.0 BMW)? Someone asked me about tracking him down with a view to doing some commentary for some 8mm film of the 72 races that resides in the Caribbean on an island that has only just obtained the technology to convert it to Video/DVD.

IIRC the RS500 tricks extended to the fuel on one occasion.....

[Andrew Kitson]

He's quite easy to find. Brodie Brittan Racing (BBR) in Brackley, right next to the Honda F1 factory and Adrian Reynard's latest company.

[sterling49]

Originally posted by RS2000

What was the answer? - although, since that would have been in non-homologated races, starting with a different block from the original "L" probably helped! BRM did most of the Team Lotus BSCC and Ford Boreham rally homologated twinks?
Any mention of his visits to Guyana in early 70s (in Chevron B8 2.0 BMW)? Someone asked me about tracking him down with a view to doing some commentary for some 8mm film of the 72 races that resides in the Caribbean on an island that has only just obtained the technology to convert it to Video/DVD.

IIRC the RS500 tricks extended to the fuel on one occasion.....

It involved serious welding to the block at some place in Hanwell, London, the guy apparently put a near divers suit on (including helmet) to complete the task and then it was left to cool naturally overnight, with asbestos material covering it. The welder, apparently, lost half his body weight whilst doing the job, no other welders would touch it.........he came out of the suit looking like he had just had a shower! When the 1st block was done, Brode said "I'll be back tomorrow with another one for you" They then had to completely machine the welded block and he said the bores were a mess and that they would sort out.........

He spent some time telling us about Guyana and the fat profit he made from selling the Chevron to a local guy, also that although he won most of the races, he let a local guy win the last one, so that he would be invited back for the next years series ;)

[sterling49]

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
I missed the Dickie Attwood one Sterling, I am told he also spoke for over two hours.

The Brode started at 7.30p.m. last night and finished at around 10.20, he was then shooting the breeze with the gathered enthusiasts.

[RS2000]

Yes thanks, I did know where to find him, just waiting to hear the film transfer is done.

Probably Hillthorne in Hanwell? I lived quite near him/them then.

Gordon Spice has already said much the same about "letting" locals win in Guyana (whereupon a "local" region observer confirmed to me at least one case where GS certainly didn't have a choice). Those "locals" actually included guys from the islands who then came to Britain and did F3, including a 4 time F3 pole sitter. You can't read much into it as the cars were all mis-matched. The guy who beat DB one time had never driven his car until then and had just learnt it by the final race.

[sterling49]

Originally posted by RS2000
Probably Hillthorne in Hanwell? I lived quite near him/them then.

That sounds like the name.

[sterling49]

A great evening attended by Andrew Kitson and myself, Stuart Turner was at his acerbic best, I really do not know who was funnier, Frank Gardner, NGH or Stuart Turner, he had the audience in stitches from his opening hello! He spoke for over 2 hours, on so many subjects, the people he had worked with and been in the company of, including Fangio and Sir Stirling. The Flying Finns,the original and (in his opinion) the fastest, Timo Makinen, Keith Duckworth, Colin Chapman, Christabel Carlisle, Bernie Ecclestone, Jim Clark, Eugene Bohringer, Erik Carlson.....Pete and Dud, I kid you not! The Abingdon days, the Boreham days, new models, Sierra Cosworth, Escort Cosworth, RS200. Heading Ford of Europe Motorsport, his Castrol days, what an amazing guy. I last saw him 34 years ago in the old Pavillion at Brands and he was extolling (quite rightly so) Ari Vatanen's skills, gee, did Mr Turner pick winners or what!!! Almost forgot, the World Cup Rally, The London to Sydney Marathon, one Roger Albert Clark Another great evening, made even better by an introduction to Bob Dance and Jack Sears ( who both signed my "Life at Team Lotus Book" and Stuart Turner, of course, signing my copies of "The Works Minis" and "The Works Escorts"

And a very famous ex works RS1800 parked outside, HHJ 702N, used by Russell Brookes and John Brown in Andrews Heat for Hire colours

[RS2000]

Originally posted by sterling49
a very famous ex works RS1800 parked outside, HHJ 702N, used by Russell Brookes and John Brown in Andrews Heat for Hire colours

Well, a famous registration. Not sure about the car....(I know Robson has its 1976 record wrong in "The Works Escorts", since I saw it as an original car then where he claims a different car appeared). The exact re-shell history is one of many such cars still under debate by the experts!

[sterling49]

Russell rolled it a few times..... looks like a "coupe" after the Scottish?

[sterling49]

The team at Quilter House have been busy over the winter organising some excellent speakers for the coming months, I list below the programme for any interested forum members:

Wednesday 28th January.........Doug Nye
Wednesday 25th February.......John "Smoking" Rhodes
Wednesday 25th March..........Colin Seeley
Wednesday 29th April.............John Delane (Tyrell F1,001,002,004)

I have attended a number of these events (David Brodie, Jackie Oliver and Stuart Turner) and confirm it is a brilliant way to spend an evening with like minded enthusiasts in the warmth of a nice village community centre. Entrance strictly by ticket only, so therefore pre-booking is advised, and beware, tickets go fast! I have details if anyone would like to apply, FORC meet at Stradbroke, Suffolk, which is situated just south of Diss.


Regards

Sterling

[RTH]

I think the first one is a definite must, put me down for that Sterling.

[sterling49]

Originally posted by sterling49
The team at Quilter House have been busy over the winter organising some excellent speakers for the coming months, I list below the programme for any interested forum members:

Wednesday 28th January.........Doug Nye
Wednesday 25th February.......John "Smoking" Rhodes
Wednesday 25th March..........Colin Seeley
Wednesday 29th April.............John Delane (Tyrell F1,001,002,004)

I have attended a number of these events (David Brodie, Jackie Oliver and Stuart Turner) and confirm it is a brilliant way to spend an evening with like minded enthusiasts in the warmth of a nice village community centre. Entrance strictly by ticket only, so therefore pre-booking is advised, and beware, tickets go fast! I have details if anyone would like to apply, FORC meet at Stradbroke, Suffolk, which is situated just south of Diss.


Regards

Sterling

If you are interested in atttending, you need to book as soon as possible, as I have just reserved 3 tickets for the "DCN" evening and the numbers allocated were quite high. As far as I am aware, to date, there will be 5 or 6 TNF members planning to make the journey.

[hipperson]

Two of us , me and the new brother-in-law, reserved numbers 35 & 36...

[RTH]

A week on Wednesday January the 28th for an evening with Doug Nye.

[Doug Nye]

...thanks for the reminder! Aaaaggghhh...

[Andrew Kitson]

Doug, I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure you'll be amazed at the turn out in a small rural village hall in the middle of nowhere! When Jack Oliver did it he expected a bunch of around 30 people. The look on his face was a picture when he came in, with over 150 people seated waiting to hear him speak, with Jim Russell, Jack Sears, Bob Dance, Norman Greenway and other notable East Anglian racing residents in the audience. Jack will not be there though, I know he goes on holiday the day before.

Be prepared to sign many of your books...there will be a long queue!

[hipperson]

You will be fine Doug......we are all very well behaved.

Just keep us enraptured for two and half hours just like Jackie Oliver.Richard Attwood and Tony Southgate managed too....

[hipperson]

DCN slumming it very recently in Oz.....it's a hard life !



Credit : Ian Kitson

[mgtd]

Hopefully the book-signing queue will be a bit shorter than at the Revival,when you,Doug,referred to the fact that we were all waiting for the Boss to turn up (Lord March of course),Hopefully we will all be patient chaps next Wednesday.I have just spent the last hour looking for a copy of Airfix Magazine for DCN to sign,unfortunatley I can only find one dated February 1961,which I think preceeds DCN's involvement somewhat.
As an aside,can TNF members make themselves known at FORC? It would be great to put some faces to names,or vice-versa.
Looking forward to next week.

mgtd

[RTH]

I have a copy of "Theme Lotus " that Doug signed at an evening Club Lotus meeting on a similar dark ,wet , winter's evening, somewhere I think in Bucks almost exactly 30 years ago.
Doug , will you be bringing any books for purchase ?