17 replies to this topic

[roger_valentine]

Just read James May's piece in Saturday's Daily Telegraph, and he refers to the Volvo 850 Estates which raced in the BTCC, "complete with stuffed dog in the back". Is this true? It's difficult to tell sometimes, with these Top Gear chappies, whether they are being serious or not. But I would like this to be true.

[Smudger]

Better than Jocko Flocko?

[Kevan]

I don't think the Volvos ever actually raced with a stuffed dog on board- I can't imagine they'd ever be allowed to- however I'm certain that in the pre-race parades that used to precede BTCC races with the drivers sitting on top of the production equivalents of their race cars, the Volvo drivers were sometimes accompanied by a stuffed dog of some kind when TWR ran the 850 Estates.

As I remember, in one of the season reviews (possibly the Touring Car Year annual for '94) there's a pic of Jan Lammers sitting on top of a Volvo in one of these parades with a soft toy collie, captioned 'Lammers and Lassie' or something like that. I reckon I've seen a publicity shot somewhere of a similar stuffed dog in the boot of the actual race car, but won't swear to this. Anyone?

[Gregor Marshall]

I'd say they probably didn't have a stuffed dog in the car but I have a picture of when my late Dad raced in the first ever Group 1 race in the the UK (1971 IIRC) in a mark one Capri he had a huge teddy bear strapped in next to him, very bizarre photo!!

[fuzzi]

I haven't got a photo but I'm sure the Volvo estates ran at Brands Hatch on 17 April 1994 with stuffed dogs in the back. It was so cold we could barely hear the engines for the chattering of our teeth.

[lil'chris]

Originally posted by fuzzi
I haven't got a photo but I'm sure the Volvo estates ran at Brands Hatch on 17 April 1994 with stuffed dogs in the back. It was so cold we could barely hear the engines for the chattering of our teeth.

Think I was there that day and am still thawing out !! Do seem to remember that Rydell got the estate massively sideways through Paddock at one point but kept it on the road.

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by Gregor Marshall
I'd say they probably didn't have a stuffed dog in the car but I have a picture of when my late Dad raced in the first ever Group 1 race in the the UK (1971 IIRC) in a mark one Capri he had a huge teddy bear strapped in next to him, very bizarre photo!!

I always enjoyed placing a bunny rabbit in the grille of my Mustang with ears, legs and arms going in different directions!

Henry

[DJH]

We have a driver here in Oz called Allan Grice, he raced a V8 ute sponsored by Akubra, makers of outback style clothing and hats, in the Bathurst 12 Hour race. He did the race with a stuffed sheep dog standing in the tray. I'm trying to find a photo for you, no luck so far........John

[Kevan]

Originally posted by fuzzi
I haven't got a photo but I'm sure the Volvo estates ran at Brands Hatch on 17 April 1994 with stuffed dogs in the back. It was so cold we could barely hear the engines for the chattering of our teeth.

I'm pretty sure I was there as well- I'll have to check through my photos, as I might well have one with a stuffed dog on board that I'd forgotten about....

[kayemod]

Originally posted by DJH
We have a driver here in Oz called Allan Grice, he raced a V8 ute sponsored by Akubra, makers of outback style clothing and hats, in the Bathurst 12 Hour race. He did the race with a stuffed sheep dog standing in the tray. I'm trying to find a photo for you, no luck so far........John

I remember reading a contemporary Autosport report about that Bathurst race. The report said that he turned up and practiced with the dog, which leaned over when he cornered, but Gricey wasn't allowed to keep it for the race. Spoilsports. A 'ute' of course is a utility or pickup in Oz-speak. Anyone heard the classic Kevin Bloody Wilson song Rooting in the back of the ute ? I couldn't repeat any of it here of course.

[RStock]

Originally posted by Smudger
Better than Jocko Flocko?

Nothing could be better than that .



I always felt sorry for the little fellow , I doubt he thought it much fun . He went berserk during a race once , which was why he stopped riding .

There was a local fellow who always raced with one of those "bobbing head dogs" in the back window . That thing would really bob in the turns .

Another fellow always had a female mannequin in the passengers seat . Had her dressed in a blonde wig and string bikini . Would stand her up by the car before the races . I'm trying to think of the name he gave her . "Racy Rhonda" or something like that .

[roger_valentine]

In the same edition of the Telegraph as the James May piece, is an article by Doug Nye on Mike Hawthorn and the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix. Doug says that Mike was offered the oportunity to race with a live chameleon in the cockpit, but he declined. What a pity!
http://www.telegraph...e-champion.html

[Red Socks]

There is a photo somewhere, possibly in Autrosport of me coming off the end of a rally stage about 20 years ago with a pheasnt firmly embedded in the grille of my Fanalone-does that count?
It eat very well as I recall.

[stephen green]

I too seem to remember the 850 racing with a stuffed labrador in the back. They certainly used to have them on board for the drivers parade lap as other posters have already said.

[fines]

Originally posted by Gregor Marshall
I'd say they probably didn't have a stuffed dog in the car but I have a picture of when my late Dad raced in the first ever Group 1 race in the the UK (1971 IIRC) in a mark one Capri he had a huge teddy bear strapped in next to him, very bizarre photo!!

Somehow, that sounds familiar - I believe I may have seen that picture.

[D-Type]

Originally posted by Red Socks
There is a photo somewhere, possibly in Autrosport of me coming off the end of a rally stage about 20 years ago with a pheasnt firmly embedded in the grille of my Fanalone-does that count?
It eat very well as I recall.

On a sadly topical note, when being interviewed half way through her first Safari, Pat Moss told of smelling roast chicken and finding the body of a small bird embedded in the radiator. And of course a collision with a buck put paid to what would have been a famous debut victory ...

[fines]

Und die Moral von der Geschicht':
Brat ein Hähnchen, das Reh lieber nicht!;)

[D-Type]

Bitte?