32 replies to this topic

[1DPE]

Can anyone identify the driver of this Ferrari 312P B ? The picture is thought to have been taken in 1976 at Silverstone, possbly Woodcote. The car is seemingly not a works car as it is not in works colours and the meeting looks like a club meet due to small numbers of spectators in background.
It has been suggested that it is Albert Obrist who owned several 312 P B's but that was mid '80s
Most grateful for someones expert suggestions

[F1Snapper]

are you sure the picture was taken at silverstone 1976? i wonder about the number...
a brief check of http://wsrp.ic.cz/wsc1976.html could not help me further.
btw Tim Schenken drove a Porsche throughout the whole year and I doubt he moved a Ferrari in between.
sorry for not helping further, have you checked other seasons already?

[1DPE]

Thanks yr response but am sure the picture is from non championship or club meeting. The car is very definately not in works colours and the sticker on the side says something like Gastons or Garston may even be Bridgstone.
It could not be Tim Schenken as he wore a white helmet. This helmet looks like green or red - could it be Reine Wissell ?

[drivers71]

If I could see the picture, I'd be more able to identify :

[D-Type]

Originally posted by drivers71
If I could see the picture, I'd be more able to identify :

Click on the thumbnail and it should open up.
If it's a white box, maybe you're on a system that has barred imageshack

[Giraffe]

My thoughts were Reine Wissell too! Having seen him drive a number of times, it sure looks like his helmet/facemask/posture.

[alansart]

Originally posted by 1DPE
Can anyone identify the driver of this Ferrari 312P B ? The picture is thought to have been taken in 1976 at Silverstone, possbly Woodcote.

I seem to remember a 312P at Silverstone around that time. Possibly at an AMOC or a JDC meeting. It wasn't an International event. There was also a 512M in the same race.

The picture looks more like the exit of Copse.

[1DPE]

I've managed to post the picture properly now, should be easier to see details.

[Twin Window]

The car has 1972 spec bodywork, but the front tyres are much higher-profile than the works cars ran in '72.

I agree with Alan; it looks like Copse.

[hipperson]

I am in touch with Reine W ...will email him with the snap

[Bill Becketts]

How about this from Drivers71 on the "Personal Pictures from the Track" Forum.

http://s271.photobuc..... Racing/1979/

If Iv'e done this right, click on the British GP tab on the left and look for the picture of the Ferrari 312P with a driver (Peter Gethin?) and a lady passenger from the 1979 British GP at Silverstone.

Ther is no race number on the car and it looks like its "On Parade"

[starlet]

Michael Vernon ?

[Adam F]

Michael Vernon had a Ferrari 312PB entered in the Concours d'legance at this 1979 British GP at Silverstone.
According to the programme, the cars paraded round the circuit on race day, so the colour photo refrred to above is almost certainly Michael Vernon in his car.
As the stickers on the original b&w photo posted by 1DPE match those on Vernon's car and the mirrors look the same there is a good chance 1DPE's photo is of Michael Vernon (or someone else driving his car).
Michael Vernon had a very significant collection of Ferraris in the late 70s/early 80s.

[starlet]

Yes, same car, Adam.
It is the chassis 0880, owned at the time by MV. That's why I mentioned him.

[jayban]

Ronnie Peterson (sans visor!)

[1DPE]

Thanks everyone for you suggestions.
I cannot find the picture on the link provided by Bill Becketts , sorry my computer skills are not that good, but it would be interesting to compare the picture to that I provided.
We know Michael Vernon owned the car but did not know he drove the car , if anyone knows any more that would be great.
Alansart is right about the exit to Copse, the car is accellerating in the picture as the nose is up.
Twin Windows' comment about the front wheels is interesting too . If Hipperson hears from Reine Wissell pls let me know.
Thanks to Boris Schlegelmilch for his comments. I assume yu are related ( son ?) to Rainer Schlegelmilch who I knew when I was involved with F1 with Marlboro and indirectly with IRPA back in the 70's.
If there is anyone with further clues I would be glad to hear.

[Vitesse2]

This is the picture Bill meant. Looks like the same car to me ...

[Jerome]

Originally posted by Giraffe
My thoughts were Reine Wissell too! Having seen him drive a number of times, it sure looks like his helmet/facemask/posture.

I can't see clothes, so it could be him....

[Giraffe]

I did hear that Reine turned up for a historic meeting a couple of years back with his original GLTL racesuit, and could no longer get into it, so drove commando on a demo......

[Jerome]

I always wondered what would have happened if Reine had beaten Ronnie Peterson at Monaco in, I believe, 1967. It was very, very close, or so I've heard.

[hipperson]

This from Reine yesterday.....


Hello,
I am not the driver of that car.
Best regards, Reine

[DOHC]

Originally posted by Jerome
I always wondered what would have happened if Reine had beaten Ronnie Peterson at Monaco in, I believe, 1967. It was very, very close, or so I've heard.

It was 1969, a legendary race. Ronnie and Reine diced for most of the 24 lap race and the lead changed several times. But towards the end when Reine tried to retake the lead once more, he braked too late and spun. He recovered right away but had lost ten seconds, so that settled it.

[Andrew Kitson]

I think it is Michael Vernon's car, at the AMOC meeting in July '76, when driven by Louis Lorenzini who finished second to Michael Lee (a relation to Willie Green) in the JCB 512S. This was the Robin Hamilton Jaguar v Ferrari v Aston Martin race. Also in the field was John Harper in the Breadvan and Neil Corner in the Aston DBR4.

It could also be another race that day as Louis drove it to 4th place in the GT & Sports Car Race, won by Jeremy Lord's Lola T280 DFV.

Source Autosport 15 July '76, no photos of the Ferrari though.

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
Michael Lee (a relation to Willie Green) in the JCB 512S

A very close relation
The clue is in the Autosport report, which said Lee shared both Green's looks and driving ability

[Andrew Kitson]

Ahh!!! Why would he do that?

[hipperson]

Is that the Michael Lee that runs the JCB Historics programme ?

[alansart]

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
I think it is Michael Vernon's car, at the AMOC meeting in July '76, when driven by Louis Lorenzini who finished second to Michael Lee (a relation to Willie Green) in the JCB 512S. This was the Robin Hamilton Jaguar v Ferrari v Aston Martin race. Also in the field was John Harper in the Breadvan and Neil Corner in the Aston DBR4.

It could also be another race that day as Louis drove it to 4th place in the GT & Sports Car Race, won by Jeremy Lord's Lola T280 DFV.

Source Autosport 15 July '76, no photos of the Ferrari though.

I agree with that Andrew. I remember seeing it and the 512, but had forgotten the Breadvan. I was marshalling at Becketts and couldn't quite believe what was racing. The AMOC meetings were excellent in those days

[Andrew Kitson]

Originally posted by alansart

The AMOC meetings were excellent in those days

They still are!

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
Ahh!!! Why would he do that?

I forget the reason - some sort of joke, I think, rather than anything sinister

[petestenning]

I was there that day and remember Louis Lorenzini in the 312 PB it was the one and only time i have ever seen one, so i did not forget it .

Those intermarque races were superb value in those days .

Pete

[Milan Fistonic]

Originally posted by David McKinney

I forget the reason - some sort of joke, I think, rather than anything sinister

Motoring News weren't in on the joke. Its report refers only to Willie Green.



Originally posted by alansart

The AMOC meetings were excellent in those days

Not that particular meeting. It got a very bad write-up in Motoring News.

"To crown this chapter of inepitude the Club managed to so upset Messers. Oldham & Crowther (sponsors of the Thoroughbred Sports Car event) that Mrs. Ruth Oldham declined to present the trophy at the close of the event and made a public statement over the PA complaining of the treatment meted out to her company by the AMOC."

[alansart]

Originally posted by Milan Fistonic


Not that particular meeting. It got a very bad write-up in Motoring News.

"To crown this chapter of inepitude the Club managed to so upset Messers. Oldham & Crowther (sponsors of the Thoroughbred Sports Car event) that Mrs. Ruth Oldham declined to present the trophy at the close of the event and made a public statement over the PA complaining of the treatment meted out to her company by the AMOC."

That might well have been the case.

As far as I was concerned being able to see a 312 and a 512, in what was basically an British clubbie, was pretty good for me.

AMOC, JDC and even the smaller SUNBAC and 8 Clubs meetings often attracted some pretty good entries at times.

And it all seemed very relaxed

[1DPE]

Many thanks to all who contributed to this , however does anyone know anything about the driver Louis Lorenzini, is he still about ?
Rgds