23 replies to this topic

[Gary C]

Following on from a section of the TNF meetings at Baldock & Biggleswade thread, I have some 16mm B&W film of a 24th July 1966 F3 meeting at Silverstone. The film is professionally shot, and features driver Robin Widdows, see this link for some info on him : http://www.f1rejects...dows/index.html .
I am thinking of contacting him, showing him the film and then interviewing him for one of my DVD's. I was wondering if anyone here would know how / where to contact him? Any help gratefully received.

[Gary C]

....I don't think he's the same Rob Widdowes who does stuff at Goodwood....

[charles r]

via Motorsport Magazine if it is the same one?

[Gary C]

Yes, that's a good idea, I'll wait a couple of days to see what we unearth on here first...........

[f1steveuk]

definetly NOT the guy at Goodwood, he's an ex radio DJ!!!

[RTH]

Just had a thought , if he is still with us he will surely be a BRDC member.

So the BRDC membership secretary would at least post on a letter to his home address ??

http://www.brdc.co.u...lag/3/picid/155

http://www.brdc.co.u.../2/member_id/43

[Gary C]

Now, that IS a good idea, why didn't I think of that??

[David Beard]

Originally posted by Gary C
....I don't think he's the same Rob Widdowes who does stuff at Goodwood....

Something of a let down......I had always assumed it was!

[f1steveuk]

David, to you and me both!

[Alan Cox]

Definitely not the same chap. I met the ex-F2 Robin Widdows (don't think he is ever known as Rob) at Goodwood (coincidentally) a few years ago, when he had some involvement with Moet & Chandon. I would echo RTH's advice to contact the BRDC.

[David Beard]

Originally posted by Alan Cox
he had some involvement with Moet & Chandon.

Nice work if you can get it?

[Gary C]

Here's some screen grabs from the B&W film....................

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by Gary C
Following on from a section of the TNF meetings at Baldock & Biggleswade thread, I have some 16mm B&W film of a 24th July 1966 F3 meeting at Silverstone. The film is professionally shot, and features driver Robin Widdows, see this link for some info on him : http://www.f1rejects...dows/index.html .
I am thinking of contacting him, showing him the film and then interviewing him for one of my DVD's. I was wondering if anyone here would know how / where to contact him? Any help gratefully received.

Rob Widdows, the ex-F2 driver? I've got an address, Gary. Check your PM's.

[Maj William Brown]

Nice thread. I would very much like to write Robin Widdows. I'm a big fan of the Lola T-70 and the GT-40, both driven by Widdows during his racing career. Any assistance with his current address would be much appreciated.

[Andrew Kitson]

Robin is coming over to the Silverstone Classic in July from his home in Majorca.

[lhdm5]

I worked for Mclaren in the nineties and one day in 1998 or 99 had to drive to Epernay to collect about 250 boxes of Moet, (we got through a fair bit that year) My contact was a 'Robin Widdows' a charming cheerful and interesting individual who insisted I take the house tour with tasting at the end of it. Despite my initial reluctance as I was driving it turned out to be a great couple of hours and was feeling quite 'enlightened' for my return journey. Arriving back at base at about 9.30 in the evening there were a few questions as to why it took so long for me to get back, I had a good excuse I believe in my opinion.

Anyway during the visit a few references were made that indicated Robin had connections with a certain RD and finally having seen this thread all these years later have only just realized who he actually is.

Just thought I would share that moment.

Regards to all.

[Gary C]

Nice!

[Lotus23]

lhdm5, welcome to TNF! We look forward to more insights from your McLaren days!

[2F-001]

I've always believed that Robin Widdows was also an Olympian; that is, the same Robin Widdows who competed in a couple of Olympic Games in the sixties - I forget which ones (but Winter Games) although I've recently seen some reference that refutes this.

[Giraffe]

I've always believed that Robin Widdows was also an Olympian; that is, the same Robin Widdows who competed in a couple of Olympic Games in the sixties - I forget which ones (but Winter Games) although I've recently seen some reference that refutes this.

Robin was in the four man bobsleigh team IIRC in two Olympic Games. He was Sid Taylor's original driver in F5000 and there are pics of him in Sid's Lola T142 on this forum. I have 8mm movie film of Robin testing at Oulton Park in 1969, and here is a snatch from it of Robin about to take over from Brian Redman, with Julian Randles in attendance and Sid in the background.


By giraffe138 at 2010-07-30

Robin later crashed the car in testing, it requiring a replacement tub. Sid didn't shall we say appreciate Robin's skill as a driver (I can't use Sid's own words! ) and soon let him go. The last I heard he was residing in Majorca.

Edited by Giraffe, 30 July 2010 - 11:12.

[Tim Murray]

His biography on the F1 Rejects site confirms Tony's memory (and mine) - he drove 2-man and 4-man bobsleighs at the 1964 and 1968 Winter Olympics. It also gives a bit of detail on his career in the champagne industry:

http://www.f1rejects.../biography.html

[adamcooperf1]

Trivia dept: My grandfather went to school with Robin's father and uncle, and some years later the uncle was best man at my grandparents' wedding! They remained friends for a long time, but there was never any mention of a motor racing connection even after I turned up and became interested in the sport. I did eventually find out and told Robin of this little bit of shared history when I met him at a GP around 1990 or so. Got the impression that Uncle Cecil was somewhat estranged from the rest of the family!

[Giraffe]

Robin was over from Majorca attending the HSCC Brabham drivers gathering at Autosport International yesterday.

 

(That's Hugh Dibley to the left of pic).

 

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Edited by Giraffe, 10 January 2015 - 12:54.

[Giraffe]

I was on the phone to Robin at his home in Mallorca last week & have just sent him these pics taken from an 8mm movie I shot of him testing Sid Taylor's Lola T142 F5000 over the weekend of the Tourist Trophy sportscar meeting in May of 1969. Correcting an earlier post, it wasn't Robin who crashed the car at Mallory Park requiring a replacement chassis, but Tony Lanfranchi. Apologies Robin!

 

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