78 replies to this topic

[idrive]

Ask Justin Haler about the antics of Rupert and a certain Gilles Villenueve in South Africa for the Phillips F/Atlantic series in 1976 ..... hire cars were also a bit worse for wear!

As for the racing, neither driver was particularly impressive .......

[rdmotorsport]

Ask Justin Haler about the antics of Rupert and a certain Gilles Villenueve in South Africa for the Phillips F/Atlantic series in 1976 ..... hire cars were also a bit worse for wear!

As for the racing, neither driver was particularly impressive .......

I know the story they invented "rentawreck" !

[rdmotorsport]

This is the cover. We took the car to Manchester Airport for photos. It would be hard to do that now!

The contact details are here - but it was over 23 years ago

thanks for that,anymore?

[GMiranda]

It's quite interesting that, albeit being a renowned driver back then, there's almost no information on his career. I tried to find on eBay and other websites if there were magazines with interviews or articles on Rupert Keegan, but I just found obne interview on a AutoHebdo.

Here's what I found on his career, I didn't search yet for more details here or in any other forums:

 

1973 - British Formula Ford

1974 - British Formula Ford

           WSC, 1 race;

1975 - BARC British F3;

           WSC, 1 race;

1976 - BARC British F3, Champion

           BRDC British F3, 2nd

           F2, 1 race;

1977 - F1 (Hesketh)

           F.Atlantic South Africa, 4 races

           DRM, 1 race;

1978 - F1 (Surtees)

1979 - Aurora AFX F1 (Charles Clowes Racing), Champion;

           F2, 1 race;

1980 - F1 (RAM Racing)

1981 - ????

1982 - F1 (March), replaced Mass after the latter's crash at Paul Ricard;

           WSC (Lola), 6 races;

1983 - WSC (John Fitzpatrick Racing), 2 races;

           Thundersports, 1 race;

1984 - WSC (John Fitzpatrick Racing), 12th, 44 pts;

1985 - CART (Machinists Union), 3 races;

1986 - CART (Gohr Racing),1 race;

1987-1991 - Didn't race

1992 - Indy Lights, 2 races;

1993-1994 - Didn't race

1995 - BPR GT (Freisinger Motorsport), 2 races;

           24h Le Mans (Lister Cars);

 

Interetsing to noticve he retired extremely young, with just 29 y/o, after failing to secure a contract with any CART team in 1986 and failing to qualify for Indy 500.

[Richard Jenkins]

It's quite interesting that, albeit being a renowned driver back then, there's almost no information on his career. I tried to find on eBay and other websites if there were magazines with interviews or articles on Rupert Keegan, but I just found obne interview on a AutoHebdo.
Here's what I found on his career, I didn't search yet for more details here or in any other forums:

1973 - British Formula Ford
1974 - British Formula Ford
WSC, 1 race;
1975 - BARC British F3;
WSC, 1 race;
1976 - BARC British F3, Champion
BRDC British F3, 2nd
F2, 1 race;
1977 - F1 (Hesketh)
F.Atlantic South Africa, 4 races
DRM, 1 race;
1978 - F1 (Surtees)
1979 - Aurora AFX F1 (Charles Clowes Racing), Champion;
F2, 1 race;
1980 - F1 (RAM Racing)
1981 - ????
1982 - F1 (March), replaced Mass after the latter's crash at Paul Ricard;
WSC (Lola), 6 races;
1983 - WSC (John Fitzpatrick Racing), 2 races;
Thundersports, 1 race;
1984 - WSC (John Fitzpatrick Racing), 12th, 44 pts;
1985 - CART (Machinists Union), 3 races;
1986 - CART (Gohr Racing),1 race;
1987-1991 - Didn't race
1992 - Indy Lights, 2 races;
1993-1994 - Didn't race
1995 - BPR GT (Freisinger Motorsport), 2 races;
24h Le Mans (Lister Cars);

In addition:

1973 Formula Libre
1979 BMW County Championship and the Gunnar Nilsson Trophy and the Macau GP.
1990 Historic racing, raced a Cooper T45 at Brands Hatch in the Pre 65 Grand Prix car race.

Otherwise the above is pretty much accurate.

[GMiranda]

Many Thanks. How many FF1600 existed in UK back then? And I read his first win was on a Ford Escort Mexico, so I presume it was on club races.

[kyle936]

For sure there was an article about or interview with Rupert Keegan in Motoring News or Autosport back in the day - I remember because I can still visualise a photo of the cockpit of whatever car Keegan was driving at the time with a hand-written label taped to the steering wheel saying, 'THINK HARD[ER?], RUPERT!'; I'm fairly sure put there by his dad.

 

Unfortunately, for ever after that I always thought of him as thoughtless although I'm sure he wasn't, any more so than any of the rest of us.

 

I only ever saw him race once, in the Silverstone 1,000 Kilometres in 1982 in the ungainly (a shame because its predecessor was elegant) Lola T610. Watching him wrestling it through the Woodcote Chicane I could see what the commentator meant when he said that Rupert had described its handling as 'a handful' or even 'evil', can't remember which, but it looked like a Burney Streamline and I don't think it handled too much better.

[arttidesco]

Was not Rupert Keegans biggest fan after the F3 malarchy at Thruxton, maybe a sign I was out of tune with the times even as a teenager.

 

 

For kyle936 Rupert in the 'Burnley Streamline' T610 at Silverstone Q8th finished 16th.....

 

 

...... and qualifying a Corvair at Goodwood, result unknown. 

 

 

[Mallory Dan]

Eric B/ Lola made some great cars, but also some utter dogs/disasters. How did that happen? 

[GMiranda]

For sure there was an article about or interview with Rupert Keegan in Motoring News or Autosport back in the day - I remember because I can still visualise a photo of the cockpit of whatever car Keegan was driving at the time with a hand-written label taped to the steering wheel saying, 'THINK HARD[ER?], RUPERT!'; I'm fairly sure put there by his dad.

 

Unfortunately, for ever after that I always thought of him as thoughtless although I'm sure he wasn't, any more so than any of the rest of us.

 

I only ever saw him race once, in the Silverstone 1,000 Kilometres in 1982 in the ungainly (a shame because its predecessor was elegant) Lola T610. Watching him wrestling it through the Woodcote Chicane I could see what the commentator meant when he said that Rupert had described its handling as 'a handful' or even 'evil', can't remember which, but it looked like a Burney Streamline and I don't think it handled too much better.

Hope I can find it one day. I think therearticleson Autosport on his beginnings, not late in his career.

[sstiel]

https://www.motorspo...penthouse-sweet Only this article GMiranda.

Roger Smith F3 mechanic said the approaches of Rupert Keegan and Stephen South were very different!

[GMiranda]

https://www.motorspo...penthouse-sweet Only this article GMiranda.

Roger Smith F3 mechanic said the approaches of Rupert Keegan and Stephen South were very different!

Many Thanks!!!!! Indeed, it's the sole article I have, but I'll see if there are more on English magazines.

[sstiel]

https://www.youtube....h?v=FKDOw5XL-1E

[Sterzo]

It happens sometimes in forums, that a juxtaposition of thread titles takes one by surprise. "Rupert Keegan" and "Heroic Age Drivers" are currently adjacent.

[Regazzoni]

There was a football friendly in 1978 between England and Brazil. Autosprint commented that "last week at Wembley" there was a flavour of motor racing with Keegan, Watson and Gil on the pitch...

 

Rupert at his most compelling, as far as I recall him from far away:

 

[Derwent Motorsport]

About five years ago he took part in the Mdina GP event in Malta. Half sprint half race.  There were a few former racers/team owners competing.  Perhaps a little tax haven?

[69seven]

There was an interview in Cars and Car Conversions magazine, November 1976. https://documentclou...b4-16bf8a07c012  A search on ebay also throws up a couple of teen girls' magazines featuring him as a pin-up.

Edited by 69seven, 03 March 2020 - 19:12.

[GMiranda]

There was an interview in Cars and Car Conversions magazine, November 1976. https://documentclou...b4-16bf8a07c012  A search on ebay also throws up a couple of teen girls' magazines featuring him as a pin-up.

Many Thanks!!!! Ijust looked to motoring magazines

[Weaverbird]

A Macau Grand Prix cameo about two playboys of racing.  Can't remember the date, but '80s.  All teams and drivers used to arrive in Hong Kong a week before the race, to ensure they were jetlag free.  Most would come over to Macau together on the ferry or Teddy Yip's jetfoils.  The day before the first heat, Rupert still hadn't turned up.  Later in the afternoon I was chatting to David Purley in the foyer of the Hotel Lisboa - when in came a very late RK, looking slightly stressed (probably missed all his connections).  Rupert stated how nervous he was when he saw the amazing circuit.  He was probably deciding which bar he was going to frequent that evening to help him forget.  Purles, feeling mischevious, said "Oh Rupert, don't go there... there's a terrible case of Hong Kong Dong going around"   I think he went to bed early.

[Tim Murray]

Posted on behalf of Weaverbird, with her captions:


In Hong Kong - pre or post Macau GP 1979
Sid Taylor, Mike Keegan (father - British Air Ferries), Rupert


(no date) - not sure where this was, but Randy Lewis behind, Rupert, and my flatmate, Linda!


Charlie Purley (Lec Refrigeration), David Purley, John Macdonald and Mike Keegan - Jarama GP 1977


Keegans Senior - Jarama ‘77


Brother Rory Keegan (Monaco - probably ’77)




Rupert supporting Stephen South


Rupert - Firestone Indy Lights Championship with Toyota Long Beach GP April, 1992


Rupert with Guy Edwards, as above

[SamoanAttorney]

I think the photographer in the Monaco pit shot is David Winter....

[BRG]

Posted on behalf of Weaverbird, with her captions:


(no date) - not sure where this was, but Randy Lewis behind, Rupert, and my flatmate, Linda!

Different times.  A playful grope like that has got current Haas driiver Mazepin in extremely hot water!

[Weaverbird]

As you say - different times. I have a great photo of Keke Rosberg signing an autograph on a lady in that very same spot (over her T-shirt of course).

In those days, we were more likely to be grateful than to sue!

[Oleksij Hrushko]

Tried to find out why Keegan didn't race in 1981, but without success. Maybe somebody know what did he do that year?

[ensign14]

According to the Sunday People that February, Kiki Dee.

[BRG]

According to the Sunday People that February, Kiki Dee.

Just for clarity, are you replying to the post about signing a lady's t-shirt, or the one about what Keegan did in 1981?

[Giraffe]

Just for clarity, are you replying to the post about signing a lady's t-shirt, or the one about what Keegan did in 1981?

Just to give this some perspective, I promoted a concert with the delightful Ms.Dee in Nottingham circa 1973, and I can assure you she would have had no interest in Rupert, or any other chap for that matter if you catch my drift.....

[BRG]

Ah, that explains the dungarees in that video with Sir Elton John ,not that he would have been interested either.

[Thundersports]

Just for clarity, are you replying to the post about signing a lady's t-shirt, or the one about what Keegan did in 1981?

Not getting confused with Formula Fordster Miki Dee?!