34 replies to this topic

[BarrieChalk]

Hi everyone, my name is Barrie Chalk, Our production company ChalkStar Films is currently making a documentary about David Brodie and the restoration and re engineering of the Mk1 Ford Escort "Run Baby Run" that he raced between 1969 and 1972. We would love to hear from any forum members who have memories, statistics, photographs or film of The Brode in action.

I look forward to hearing from people with long memories!

Thanks in advance,

Barrie

[Dave French]

Hi Barrie, I was always lead to believe that a lot of the original ground work on "Run Baby Run" was done by Williams F1 team. If that is incorrect I apologies in advance of any flak. I was a mechanic for Roger Taylor at that time and I recall Bert Avard ( Rogers Chief mech.) talking about it at the time. Dave Brodie`s Escort was a superbly engineered race car and a pleasure to watch race. This is the only snippet of info I have, right or wrong.  

[pete53]

You will find some short snippets of Dave Brodie in action in some of these Roy Pagliacci early 70s films.

 

http://www.specialsa...-70s/4584561300

[sterling49]

I saw the Brode race this car almost weekly at Brand ( exaggeration I know) but it seemed like that, always at the front in the big, 2.1 litre Twink, what a fabulous car it was and so well driven. Loved the homage and reference to Team Willi too, as the car sported the "Frank Williams Racing Cars" decal, as did Tony Trimmers BT21 Ff car at the same time. Should be a good film, wishing you good progress. David did a talk at our club during last season, he has so many great tales to tell, I reckon I could still be sitting there today being regaled, what a top character!

[JtP2]

Ah, the 2040cc Ford engine that wasn't

[elansprint72]

Will the film include the Run, Baby, Run Elan?

[BarrieChalk]

Hi Barrie, I was always lead to believe that a lot of the original ground work on "Run Baby Run" was done by Williams F1 team. If that is incorrect I apologies in advance of any flak. I was a mechanic for Roger Taylor at that time and I recall Bert Avard ( Rogers Chief mech.) talking about it at the time. Dave Brodie`s Escort was a superbly engineered race car and a pleasure to watch race. This is the only snippet of info I have, right or wrong.

[BarrieChalk]

Hi Dave, thanks for replying. Having interviewed Frank, and having had quite a few interviews and general chats with David, I would say that it sounds unlikely. I don't want to say too much that might spoil the film, but I'd say that Brodie has an excellent understanding of race engineering. It's great to hear these stories though.

[BarrieChalk]

You will find some short snippets of Dave Brodie in action in some of these Roy Pagliacci early 70s films.

http://www.specialsa...-70s/4584561300

[BarrieChalk]

Thanks Pete, I had the good fortune to meet Roy recently, and I hope to interview him on camera in the near future. His films are a lovely slice of motor sport history. Some of his footage will appear in our Kickstarter campaign which we hope to launch very soon!

[BarrieChalk]

Ah, the 2040cc Ford engine that wasn't

[BarrieChalk]

I hope to get to the bottom on that!

[BarrieChalk]

Will the film include the Run, Baby, Run Elan?

[BarrieChalk]

Hopefully! It's far too early to tell, if not maybe the extras disk. There are definitely Élan related stories to be told!

[BarrieChalk]

I saw the Brode race this car almost weekly at Brand ( exaggeration I know) but it seemed like that, always at the front in the big, 2.1 litre Twink, what a fabulous car it was and so well driven. Loved the homage and reference to Team Willi too, as the car sported the "Frank Williams Racing Cars" decal, as did Tony Trimmers BT21 Ff car at the same time. Should be a good film, wishing you good progress. David did a talk at our club during last season, he has so many great tales to tell, I reckon I could still be sitting there today being regaled, what a top character!

[BarrieChalk]

Hi Sterling, we would love to interview some fans that remember RBR racing, would you consider being interviewed? It would be interesting to find out if the FW stickers meant a greater Williams involvement! It might just be because of their very close friendship. Both are inspiring characters and, yes, David is a wonderful raconteur!

[sterling49]

Hi Barrie, yes no problem, sounds like fun, unless I get tongue twisted! It was such an impressionable time for me as I had recently passed my driving test, all to look forward too, great days. Sadly I was at Silverstone that awful race at the British G.P. Probably one of the very worst BSC accidents, but obviously this was in a Ford works car, rather than Run Baby Run.

Edited by sterling49, 09 April 2015 - 08:04.

[JtP2]

The normal classes run were over 1301 with no 1301 to 2000 class run as an individual class. The rules until the end of 1970 (71?) limited rim widths for class. IIrc the rim width limit for 2lt cars was 8 1/2" but 10" for over 2lt. So if you ran a 2lt + car, you could run 10" wheels. I believe the supposed 2lt+ Ford engine came round to haunt the engine builder when F2 went to 2Lt as lots of people turned up looking for 2lt FVAs and most builders struggled to get past 1830cc.

[BarrieChalk]

Hi Barrie, yes no problem, sounds like fun, unless I get tongue twisted! It was such an impressionable time for me as I had recently passed my driving test, all to look forward too, great days. Sadly I was at Silverstone that awful race at the British G.P. Probably one of the very worst BSC accidents, but obviously this was in a Ford works car, rather than Run Baby Run.

[BarrieChalk]

Hi Sterling, I think that the film will inevitably cover Brodie's entire career, so the 73 crash has to be covered.

[BarrieChalk]

Hi Sterling, I think that the film will inevitably cover Brodie's entire career, so the 73 crash has to be covered.

[BarrieChalk]

The normal classes run were over 1301 with no 1301 to 2000 class run as an individual class. The rules until the end of 1970 (71?) limited rim widths for class. IIrc the rim width limit for 2lt cars was 8 1/2" but 10" for over 2lt. So if you ran a 2lt + car, you could run 10" wheels. I believe the supposed 2lt+ Ford engine came round to haunt the engine builder when F2 went to 2Lt as lots of people turned up looking for 2lt FVAs and most builders struggled to get past 1830cc.

[JtP2]

are the crash sequences going to include the Bentley into the garden wall?

[BarrieChalk]

Thanks JtP2, I think Brode found a way to make the bigger capacity work effectively. lots of welding and something else......

[BarrieChalk]

I've not come across that story yet, do tell.....

[sterling49]

The welding story is amazing, blood, sweat and tears, and it worked! Hey presto a big bore twink!

[BarrieChalk]

The welding story is amazing, blood, sweat and tears, and it worked! Hey presto a big bore twink!

[BarrieChalk]

I understand that the guy that did the welding is still around. We hope to talk to him.

[sterling49]

I think you need to Barrie, Brode's description was hilarious and pained! The welder must have lost half of his body weight in perspiration! David is such a great story teller, but always let his driving do the talking on track, rarely beaten. He was of course great mates with Mad Ronald, and has some great stories to tell on his antics too. I believe that I grew up ( loose description!) in the golden age of racing.

[Tim Murray]

One of my favourite Brode stories is the one when, at dead of night with all the shops shut and no time to spare, he was desperately trying to find a suitable piece of wood to make a piston pattern out of, but could find nothing. Then, through the window of the Liberal club next door, he spotted the snooker table with its lovely fat wooden legs ...

 

Sterling, I'm sure you remember the story of him and Ronnie coming back from the 1973 Mallory F2 race.

[sterling49]

I do, Ronnie certainly served revenge up well! The Liberal Club story is a cracker, it was a terrific day he spent with us. Anybody that attended was privileged in no uncertain terms! Tim I am sure will agree, a great day organised by RTH of this forum.

Edited by sterling49, 10 April 2015 - 16:55.

[Tim Murray]

Tim I am sure will agree, a great day organised by RTH of this forum.

Very sadly I had to miss that one, but I'm sure it was excellent as per usual. I've been lucky enough to catch the Brode at a couple of his other talks, most recently last December to Club Lotus Avon.

[RTH]

We are doing an interview with Dave shortly - any questions you would like me to put  - please post them up here see what we can do.

[BarrieChalk]

I think you need to Barrie, Brode's description was hilarious and pained! The welder must have lost half of his body weight in perspiration! David is such a great story teller, but always let his driving do the talking on track, rarely beaten. He was of course great mates with Mad Ronald, and has some great stories to tell on his antics too. I believe that I grew up ( loose description!) in the golden age of racing.

[BarrieChalk]

I think we have contact details for his son, so we should be able to do that. It's tru, there are a a lot of anecdotes. We won't get everything into 90 minutes. I'm sure that it will roll into another project........