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Beaky Sims new autobiography on the way

Started by Gary C , May 16 2016 18:43

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28 replies to this topic

#1 Gary C

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Posted 16 May 2016 - 18:43

I just wanted to let people know that I am currently working on writing and researching Dave 'Beaky' Sims autobiography. We have both been working on it since before last Christmas. We don't have a dedicated website as yet (we're working on it!) but as of this afternoon we have a Facebook group. For those of you already on there, just search for 'Beaky's Book' and join the group. As we go along, I'll be adding the latest info both on there, Twitter and the website itself. Thank you!

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#2 DampMongoose

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Posted 17 May 2016 - 22:01

Forgive me for asking (as I am aware comments from those frequenting RC are about as welcome as dysentery from some TNF posters) is Dave 'Beaky' Sims the gentleman from the Grand Prix:The Killer Years documentary that signs off with the "I'm still a big fan" comment when referring to Jim Clark?

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#3 Allan Lupton

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Posted 18 May 2016 - 07:44

Forgive me for asking (as I am aware comments from those frequenting RC are about as welcome as dysentery from some TNF posters)

I think I can speak for all of us hereabouts that what you get up to when you're not on TNF is of no concern and your TNF posts (e.g. in the BRM celebration thread) have been very welcome!

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#4 Gary C

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Posted 18 May 2016 - 08:23

'is Dave 'Beaky' Sims the gentleman from the Grand Prix:The Killer Years documentary that signs off with the "I'm still a big fan" comment when referring to Jim Clark?' Yes indeed, that's him.

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#5 DampMongoose

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Posted 18 May 2016 - 09:01

'is Dave 'Beaky' Sims the gentleman from the Grand Prix:The Killer Years documentary that signs off with the "I'm still a big fan" comment when referring to Jim Clark?' Yes indeed, that's him.

Firstly thank you Allan, having seen some posters take some flak from a select few for asking questions deemed unworthy for TNF in the past, it makes one somewhat apprehensive at times to ask about some topics on offer.

Gary, thank you for the confirmation, although I don't believe I have seen that documentary more than once or twice that line remained firmly planted in my mind afterwards, as it struck me as a particularly genuine comment. I shall be very interested to follow your progress.

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#6 Tim Murray

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Posted 18 May 2016 - 09:19

Mongoose, may I say that I absolutely agree with Allan's comments, and was disappointed not to meet you in Bourne at the BRM 50th anniversary celebration in 2012 - you were suffering from the dreaded lurgi IIRC. There are quite a few TNF regulars who post in RC - I've done it myself from time to time.

I'm looking forward to the Sims autobiography. :up:

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#7 B Squared

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Posted 18 May 2016 - 10:50

Was Mr. Sims with Lotus as early as 1963 and '64 to have met, or worked in Indy Car with Bobby Marshman, Clark and Gurney on the Lotus, Ford and tire development programs? If so, I'd be very interested in any impressions. I look forward to the book either way. Thanks.

Edited by B Squared, 18 May 2016 - 10:50.

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#8 Gary C

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Posted 18 May 2016 - 13:27

No, I think I'm right when I say that Bob Dance gave Beaky his first job at Team Lotus in 1965, working on the Lotus Cortinas.

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#9 ReWind

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Posted 29 May 2016 - 19:04

Gary, I sent you a message ten days ago.

Please check your PMs. Thanks.

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#10 Gary C

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Posted 11 February 2017 - 15:49

I'm now starting to tout a completed chapter around a few publishers to hopefully generate a little interest Here's Beaky and me when I visited with him at Circuit of the Americas last September

Click on the photo for a larger image.

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#11 DMB81

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Posted 11 February 2017 - 17:01

Good luck with a publisher.

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#12 DMB81

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Posted 11 February 2017 - 17:02

Sounds a must have. Some career.

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#13 D-Type

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Posted 12 February 2017 - 20:07

Good luck finding a publisher.

I wonder - Would the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust, http://michaelsedgwicktrust.co.uk/ , be prepared to help with publishing costs? Or do they concentrate on vehicle manufacturers and engineers?

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#14 Glengavel

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Posted 12 February 2017 - 21:22

Self-publish, in the same vein as Cedric Selzer's book?

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#15 Gary C

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Posted 14 February 2017 - 03:41

thanks for the suggestions lads.

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#16 eurocardoc

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Posted 14 February 2017 - 12:51

I will read it however it appears. Thanks for working on it. I worked with Dave at BS Fabs in the Aurora years, great bloke, West 'Am supporter but we can't hold that against him. :clap:

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#17 LittleChris

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Posted 14 February 2017 - 22:29

great bloke, West 'Am supporter but we can't hold that against him.

My already high opinion of Beaky has risen even further :clap:

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#18 Gary C

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Posted 14 February 2017 - 23:58

............er, I'm pretty sure he's an Arsenal supporter, judging by the welcome mat outside his front door!

Edited by Gary C, 14 February 2017 - 23:59.

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#19 D-Type

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Posted 15 February 2017 - 13:36

............er, I'm pretty sure he's an Arsenal supporter, judging by the welcome mat outside his front door!

Well, a West Ham supporter might rather like the idea of everybody wiping off the dog muck etc on an Arsenal mat. :lol:

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#20 eurocardoc

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Posted 16 February 2017 - 12:29

Well, he was an 'Ammer man in the mid 70s. Arsenal or WHU, both the wrong choice lol.

Great to see his son doing so well as engineer at Risi, best to them both for LeMans

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#21 Gary C

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Posted 20 April 2018 - 20:08

Just had a chat with Beaky, he is currently going through his 'store' of ephemera. He has turned up the letter from Colin Chapman at the end of the 1968 season to the entire Lotus F1 race team, congratulating them all on winning the World Championship. Their bonus (each) was a £200 holiday of their choice. Oh, and there were SIX race mechanics on the entire team!

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#22 Gary C

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Posted 28 April 2018 - 17:23

Just wanted to let everyone know that the books' website has just gone 'live' at http://www.beakysims.com. Please feel free to go and take a look. I realise that there's a couple of things that need tweeking, the captions to the individual photos needs to be much bigger for starters.

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#23 Tim Murray

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Posted 28 April 2018 - 18:18

One of the photo captions is wrong, Gary. The photo of Hunt in the Hesketh 308 (not 308E) dates from 1974, I think. It certainly can’t be the 1975 British GP as this was at Silverstone and there the Hesketh was in ‘308B’ specification with the extra front wing, side radiators etc. (The 308E didn’t appear until 1977.)

Looking forward to the book!

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#24 Gary C

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Posted 28 April 2018 - 19:03

Thanks indeed for that, Tim, it's why TNF is here!

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#25 RTH

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Posted 30 April 2018 - 06:50

Dave (Beaky) Simms had and still does have a career that spans 6 decades with lots of teams and some quite different types of racing car - this ought to be a fascinating read - usually these sort of stories are far better than hearing from drivers.

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#26 Richard Jenkins

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Posted 03 January 2021 - 17:39

Gary,

Asking for a friend who used to know Beaky, any update at all on this?

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#27 Gary C

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Posted 06 January 2021 - 05:10

We're still working on it, Richie.

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#28 1969BOAC500

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Posted 06 January 2021 - 07:53

Best wishes with your efforts, Gary. having just (re)watched the Lotus 72 DVD over the holiday period, I'll most certainly be a buyer of this book whenever it appears.