10 replies to this topic

[tombe]

Still browsing through some old Road&Tracks, I found this highly readable piece by Henry Manney. It's long, maybe too long for this forum, but I would love to share it with you. It's taken from R&T's 25 anniversary issue June 1972, subtitled - "Thoughts about what made them great - and why others missed."

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Every year automobile magazines all over the world come out with a list of the "ten best drivers" as if their selections were absolute. There is no way of making such a choice as too often the performance (or otherwise) of a driver depends on a host of hidden influences, even as severe tidal currents affect the keel of a sailing boat. A badly engineered car, the wrong tire contract, internal team politics, misguided loyalities, neuroticism, or simply the lack of being hungry enough have all contributed to dimming the sparkle of many might-have-been stars. Added to these must be accidents that snuffed out fine prospects; not always fatal but it is a rare man who goes as fast after he has seen his own blood as before. Just having more balls than a Christmas tree doesn't make you great otherwise hardy types like Jean Behra and Jim Hurtubise would have been World Champion several times over.

Being World Champion also doesn't necessarily make one a Great Driver as too much depends on being at the right place at the right time in the right car. It often seems as if the World Champion title arrives like a retirement watch, after the person concerned has long since done his best work and likewise is doled out by the Management. Older readers will probably recall years when a certain marque was unbeatable and the racing director decided which driver was going to win the races within the team. This year, Fangio, you are No. 1 and next year Farina. Of course a lot of womens' magazine speculation has been written about this sort of caper such as Moss' really being able to beat Fangio when they were both driving for Mercedes. There is no doubt in my mind that Mossy, an absolute wizard, might have picked up a couple more besides the British GP (a gift, even according to him) but Mossy respected Fangio's resources even more than the rest of us. At any rate this business of the team manager calling the tune, while logical in one sense, plays absolute hell with sensitive psyches. Athletes of any sort, while bearing a well-deserved reputation for being hired for reflexes rather than their brains, do tend to operate on nerves. Drivers are no exception; I have known several really torpid ones and even they get wrought up. Consider the extremely delicate and writ-prone subject of Lotus Second Drivers. There have been some absolutely brilliant lads like Innes Ireland, Trevor Taylor, and Peter Arundell, all of whom were capable of beating Jimmy Clark from time to time and thus, by extension, the chaps whom Clark beat. Any of these, in the absence of Clark and given the right handling, could have become the stars they should have been. Chapman, however, was on to a real winner with Jimmy and at least we have that to be thankful for.

There are so many cases (thinking of Innes) when drivers seemed hell-bent to do the wrong thing at the wrong time, just as if some mysterious curse had been placed upon them. The meteoric Phil Hill left Ferrari and never amounted to much in F1 after that, perhaps because driving for Ferrari was all that he had ever really wanted to do. Surtees, another in the Maranello mold, quit after a blazing row and never rally tasted the success he deserved. Dan Gurney, from Ferrari to BRM to Brabham to frustration. And so on down the line. You would think that the classified drivers, smack in the middle of things, would know when the fruit was going to be ripe, what teams were to be competitive, and which cars were absolute dodos. But they don't. Sometimes the climate on the "home" team becomes insupportable for many reasons, such as favoring a native son over a better foreign pilot, an impossible team manager, chicanery in the financial arrangements, poor preparation of the second car, being caught in flagrante delicto with the boss' wife or bird, big mouth, or just having everybody look walleyed at you. Nowadays, of course, this sort of thing is run by the fuel and tire companies or even a cigarette sponsor, who may decide that you don't project the right image. Some drivers even leave because they are convinced that the boss is a jettatore (has the Evil Eye) and they are for the hospital if they stick around. Dont't laugh; I can think of at least two examples. This sort of thing explains why the musical chairs at the end of every season isn't just simply looking for a faster car. The driver just wants a divorce.

Everybody's Ten Best Drivers usually means the ten best F1 boys on the other side or the ten best Indy pilots here. Rubbish. Take for example Eric Carlsson who, to my knowledge, has never driven a "big car" and yet has to be classified among the world's greats by his absolutely fantastic rally work. Timo Makinen, Bohringer, Peter Harper; they all were exceptional and in a very human fashion preferred to stick to what they could do well and got paid for. Look, for example, at all the drivers who just faded out after changing categories.....they got a ride in a 3rd-hand Lotus-BRM and never looked good again. Contrary to what you might have seen in the movies, nobody can make out in a junker, no matter how talented. Ask Pete Lovely. Ask P. Hill. Likewise there are those drivers who are certainly great with sports equipment but for one reason or another did not venture into higher realms at the right time or place. The moody Bracco, Huschke von Hanstein (he will kill me for saying it), robbed like so many others of his best years by the War. Ernie McAfee....who knows how far he could have gone. Masten Gregory. Ken Miles. So many drivers have had the essential elements of greatness but have missed out for reasons of personality (a book could be written on that alone), finances, accidents, or just opportunity. Cliff Allison. von Trips. And others like Dan Gurney who certainly achieved greatness but had so much more waiting in front of him. It was curious watching the hidden hands of circumstance hold them back. Denis Jenkinson and I often used to discuss changing history to the extent of having two really good teams such as existed in Germany prewar, both run with proper amounts of money and organized with authoritative team managers. Think of the fantastic way promising drivers could be brought along by a Neubauer. No monkey business, no brandy and broads, no getting on the head in unsuitable sports cars, no terribly fragile machines to sap the drivers' confidence, no teacher's pets. Learn the trade from the bottom up and concentrate on technique. No half-baked engineering from the driver's seat, no politics about the race courses, none of this forever jumping off an airplane to do a Grand Prix, already tired from sports car money-hunts and speaking engagements. Then you would really see some racing.

What really is a great driver? As I have tried to point out above, being one of that select crew is not necessarily a matter of consistent performances or appearing in Formula 1 with a certain amount of success. Likewise a Great Driver is not necessarily the World Champion (although he should be) but must be able to drive practically anything barring an absolute blivet and make it and himself look good. A Great Driver has class and it stick out all over. It is concentration on the business at hand, a maxinum utilization of talent, an intellectual exercise as well as a physical one. Just banging into everything aroud the track and being sideways while winning the race doesn't do the job. It is called style.

Naturally enough I am not going to make a list of Great Drivers as my responses are based on the thousands I have seen. It is no good clacking my false teeth and rambling on about the good old days of Caracciola, Rosemeyer, or Seaman as they were before my time. I did see Nuvolari once and he undoubtedly showed class, even when old, sick, and driving an unsuitable machine. Also there are many worthy types who would unavoidably get left out for reasons difficult to explain, thus making me, them, and several hundred fans, disappointed. Then, of course there is Space in this magazine which doesn't allow me a few thousand more words. So here are a few examples and you can work the rest out for yourself.

Fangio of course, in particular for his epic drive in the German GP of 1957. Forced to make a pit stop in his relatively obsolescent Maserati while in the lead from golden boys Hawthorn and Collins in Ferraris, he reeled them in over the difficult Nurburgring, using every bit of available space, and as every soul in the place rose to his feet passed both the talented Englishmen and left them open-mouthed with admiration and disappointment. When he finished the veins were standing out on his head, he was panting with fatigue, but he had shown them why he was Fangio.

Stirling Moss for just demonstrating how easy it all should be but isn't for lesser mortals. At his best in difficult situations which exercised his far-ranging mind, his abundant talent more than compensated for difficulties of terrain or weather. It was typical that his "fatal" accident came in a nowhere car in a nowhere race when well behind.

Jack Brabham, for demonstrating how to make the best of what hou have. Watching Jack set up a car to suit himself was an education; of course he would not have fared very well in the Jenks-Manney Master Team but we allowed for that! Black Jack above all showed that it is possible to go very fast without being dangerous. Or without being so spaced-out that you don't even recognize hour wife.

A.J.Foyt for being a thorough professional. Like Troy Ruttman in his day, he almost always seems to be in command of the situation even when running down in the order. There has to be a very good reason for his doing poorly and in between, he is a pleasure to watch.

Jimmy Clark for driving a difficult car with a style that seemed to be an extension of Colin Chapman's mind. He revolutionized the dodgy business of late braking while not forgettintg the fastest possible cornering speed afterwards. He drove in a high state of tension generated by what was expected of him and judging by what we saw in long-lens view-finders, was often frightened half out of his wit. Jim could not have helped think about the spotty reliability record of Lotuses but carried on to win.

John Surtees, whose phenomenal balance made him as exciting to watch as anyone. He really liked booming around the Ring in those big Ferraris and his only fault was an insistence that everything be right. Which, of course, it never is on racing cars.

Jackie Stewart. He appeared at Spa in his first year with BRM. Cheerfully unintimidated by the lowering skies and Spa's spooky reputation, he went out and in a very few laps had lowered his time to a point very near the previous year's record, still cheerful and unintimidated. We were present at the birth of a star.

Thank you, gentlemen, for everything.

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Hope you stayed the distance.

Tom
[p][Edited by tombe on 11-22-2000]

[Joe Fan]

Likewise there are those drivers who are certainly great with sports equipment but for one reason or another did not venture into higher realms at the right time or place. The moody Bracco, Huschke von Hanstein (he will kill me for saying it), robbed like so many others of his best years by the War. Ernie McAfee....who knows how far he could have gone. Masten Gregory. Ken Miles. So many drivers have had the essential elements of greatness but have missed out for reasons of personality (a book could be written on that alone), finances, accidents, or just opportunity.

Glad to see that Mr. Manney acknowledge what I am putting my heart and soul into right now.

[Keir]

All in due respect, I give you Chris Amon and the "famous Amon" thread as ample evidence.
Everyone should take some time and read it and then comment accordingly.

[jj2728]

Continuing my nostalgic journey thru the back pages of TNF, I thoroughly enjoyed HNM III's take on great drivers. I probably read this article back in '72, but had long long since forgotten it. Now, almost 40 years later, I wonder who, if anyone, he may have added to the list.

[Paul Parker]

Back in the day I saw HNM in and around the paddocks from time to time but never spoke to him, more fool me.

What really strikes me is how persons of this ilk with their entertaining, informative comment, erudition and wit are rarely found in the latter day weekly/monthly motoring press. I can just imagine what Mr. Manney would have made of F1 over the last 30 odd years and some of the persons who inhabited it, and still do. Of course he would never be tolerated these days, much too outspoken.

There are no modern equivalents to Henry N. Manney jnr (that is how I recall his nom de plume in period, am I correct?) and 'Jenks', instead endless PR speak and meaningless platitudes just like our wretched politicians.

[Doug Nye]

There are no modern equivalents to Henry N. Manney jnr (that is how I recall his nom de plume in period, am I correct?) and 'Jenks', instead endless PR speak and meaningless platitudes just like our wretched politicians.

HNM III - not HNM Jr.

DCN

[D-Type]

This should be quoted every time a fanboy asks a question in the "Who was the greatest ..." mould.

[kayemod]

There are no modern equivalents to Henry N. Manney jnr (that is how I recall his nom de plume in period, am I correct?) and 'Jenks', instead endless PR speak and meaningless platitudes just like our wretched politicians.

You could say much the same about Pete Lyons of course, another of the greats, but now we have Mark Hughes, what more do you want?

[Paul Parker]

Brain fade again!!!

I could have sworn that I had seen him described as HNM jnr in print but then it was 30 plus years ago.

In future I will check before applying fingers to keyboard.

[fuzzi]

Thanks for the Henry N Manney piece, it has helped crystalise some of my thoughts of recent weeks.

Just before Christmas, I was given a great Tom March photograph of an Alfetta at Silverstone and when I first looked at it I thought it was of Fagioli, who is a hero of mine and I was mightly pleased with the gift. However I have done a bit of research and discovered that the driver is Farina, who is not a driver I esteem, and I find I'm looking at the photo with a good deal less pleasure.

Curious how perception is altered isn't it?

[retriever]

You could say much the same about Pete Lyons of course, another of the greats, but now we have Mark Hughes, what more do you want?

I am not sure whether this comment is tongue in cheek or not. For my part I do not think I have ever finished reading a Hughes article, maybe it is me but his writing is too intense, just does not flow. Like he is trying too hard. Other times seems he is in an almost poetic mode.