23 replies to this topic

[NineOneSeven]

Does anyone know where abouts in Wimbledon James Hunt and Jack Brabham lived?

I'm sitting here in my apartment in Brussels waiting to leave for the Spa F1 race and am just wondering... as you do.


Anyone of you more knowledgeable chaps know?

[Vitesse2]

James lived at The Coach House, Windmill Road.

It's currently for sale, if you happen to have £1,650,000 to spare!

http://www.casa.co.u...--629029--0.htm

[Gregor Marshall]

That can't be James' house - there's no car outside on blocks!!

[David Holland]

I'm sure that James lived at the southern end of Bathgate Road behind the All England Lawn Tennis Club along with his parrot and budgies.

I bought my first flat not that far away in 1985 and just to the north of me Alan Jones lived in a new development on Putney Heath during the Haas Lola period of his career.

It's the only time of my life that I've lived within a few hundred yards/metres of 2 world champions........although I was unaware at the time and never saw either in my travels.

[kayemod]

That can't be James' house - there's no car outside on blocks!!

Maybe James lived at two different places in Wimbledon. I remember that TV programme about him years ago, very laid back with all his budgies, and driving an A35 van, with a big wheel-less S-Class Merc up on blocks by the front door. The house didn't look anything like the one in the pic, but then all estate agents are liars aren't they? Hurried apologies to any estate agents on TNF.

[Vitesse2]

I'm sure that James lived at the southern end of Bathgate Road behind the All England Lawn Tennis Club along with his parrot and budgies.

Gerald Donaldson's biography of James says the house was "on the edge of Wimbledon Common". Admittedly Bathgate Rd is pretty close to the Common, but I think Windmill Rd fits the description better.

[lil'chris]

I seem to remember reading that Rene Arnoux lived down that way for a while

[Ronnie792]

I seem to remember reading that Rene Arnoux lived down that way for a while

I think James did indeed live in 2 addresses in Wimbledon. I believe this one to be the house he shared with Sarah Lomax, but he certainly lived on Bathgate Road when he died.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Gerald Donaldson's biography of James says the house was "on the edge of Wimbledon Common". Admittedly Bathgate Rd is pretty close to the Common, but I think Windmill Rd fits the description better.

I live in Wimbledon and 'on the edge of the common' could be just about anywhere these days.

[tali1]

okay - a bit late but stumbled upon the thread
- but this is his house in Bathgate Rd



450SEL 6.9 owned by james hunt on his wimbledon drive .Hunt also had a red one at the same time AND a new 560SEL and new 560SEC - a fave of Grand Prix drivers in general.Austin van also in view

[Formula Once]

I seem to remember reading that Rene Arnoux lived down that way for a while

Wasn't it Tambay?

[Coxy the Bear]

Senna lived in Esher for a while as well.

[WhippendellWoods]

Stefan Johansson lived in Wimbledon when he was at Tyrell in 1984 I believe. Didn't Murray Walker always go on about that in his commentary?

I saw him playing tennis in a public park in Wapping that year, oddly. Mercedes SEC500 parked up in the road next to the courts.

David Brabham was born in Wimbledon, if that counts for him and Sir Jack.

Edited by WhippendellWoods, 27 November 2010 - 22:34.

[P.Dron]

Why the fascination with Wimbledon? Admittedly, it is the true Gateway to the South. And is there womble still for tea?* What does it tell us about James and his talent, for example?

But anyway, do they still have stock car racing at Wimbledon Stadium? I took part in a race there, some time around 1975. There were about twelve of us, all in identical Austin Cambridges...except that Austin-Rover and BL etc never managed to do two identical cars, let alone a dozen. The oval track could just be taken flat in third. It seemed that I got the quick one because from about the third row on a grid drawn by lots, I passed all those in front of me, including Danny Sullivan (I haven't the faintest idea what he was doing there). Then my car conked out, let down I think by Lucas, Prince of Darkness.

* "Womble's off, dear."

Edited by P.Dron, 28 November 2010 - 18:59.

[Vitesse2]

... the true Gateway to the South.

Balham, surely?

[Paul Parker]

Balham, surely?

Goon but not forgotten.

[taylov]

There was a Grand Prix driver with another Wimbledon link in as far as he used to play in goal for Wimbledon FC. Raced against Nuvolari, Lang, Seaman etc at the 1938 Donington GP..

William Edward "Billy" Cotton.

[Lee Nicolle]

okay - a bit late but stumbled upon the thread
- but this is his house in Bathgate Rd



450SEL 6.9 owned by james hunt on his wimbledon drive .Hunt also had a red one at the same time AND a new 560SEL and new 560SEC - a fave of Grand Prix drivers in general.Austin van also in view

That story has always intrigued me, why on earth put the car on bricks?
I can understand not being able to afford to run it but why leave it outside with no wheels.

[tali1]

That story has always intrigued me, why on earth put the car on bricks?
I can understand not being able to afford to run it but why leave it outside with no wheels.

This is all i could find
"It wasn't all glamour though. In the later years of James's life, he could no longer afford to keep his Mercedes running, and put it up on bricks to avoid paying the tax"

[Vitesse2]

http://www.telegraph...ondon-home.html

[D-Type]

okay - a bit late but stumbled upon the thread
- but this is his house in Bathgate Rd



450SEL 6.9 owned by james hunt on his wimbledon drive .Hunt also had a red one at the same time AND a new 560SEL and new 560SEC - a fave of Grand Prix drivers in general.Austin van also in view

The Mercedes and A35 are outside a different house, so are they outside the Windmill Rd house?

[tali1]

shazam!

http://www.silversto...58/IMG_0121.JPG

Edited by tali1, 30 May 2014 - 21:53.

[chr1s]

I seem to recall that Emerson Fittipaldi once lived in Wimbledon too.

[jonles]

Emerson lived in Chase Road. When he was driving the Merlyn prepared by Denis Rowland, his favourite restaurant was the Rawalpindi at the top of Wimbledon Hill. He was desperate for some spicy food !

Tim Schenken also lived in Wimbledon