122 replies to this topic

[TennisUK]

Mario Andretti owns a vineyard in Napa valley I visited a couple of years ago.

[noriaki]

Hakkinen abandoned his prospective career as a circus acrobat for motor racing.

[PlayboyRacer]

A few times. Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Dan Gurney all won GPs driving their own cars, Brabham an F1 world championship, McLaren a couple of CAN-AM titles. Others to combine running a team and driving include John Surtees, Graham Hill, Wilson Fittipaldi, Chris Amon, Arturo Merzario and Silvio Moser. No doubt there were others.

So anyone in modern times?

That was sort of my point.

[RacingGreen]

Oh, and while he was a resident of the Isle of Man, Nigel Mansell was for 11 years a Special Constable for the Manx Police.

 

 

...and when he left the Isle of Man it was to run the Woodbury Park Hotel and Golf Club which he bought in 1994 (i.e. as a sideline shortly before retiring from CART and F1.)

[king_crud]

So anyone in modern times?

That was sort of my point.

 

Alan Jones launched a big motor racing team in Australia back in the mid 90s, had sponsorship from Agip and cars entered in various Australian racing series. But it seemed to unravel pretty quickly from memory

[F1matt]

...and when he left the Isle of Man it was to run the Woodbury Park Hotel and Golf Club which he bought in 1994 (i.e. as a sideline shortly before retiring from CART and F1.)

 

 

 

Didn't Our Nige also own a Ferrari dealership in the UK as part of his Ferrari contract? Surprised there hasn't been more of this sideline through the thread tbh.

[maverick69]

I can imagine Nigel being a right bastard when he nicked you. Big bugger too........

[TennisUK]

Didn't Our Nige also own a Ferrari dealership in the UK as part of his Ferrari contract? Surprised there hasn't been more of this sideline through the thread tbh.

Derek Warwick owned a Honda dealer for years.

[midgrid]

It tends to be drivers in less prestigious and well-paid series who own car dealerships.

"Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" is particularly effective when you are personally doing the winning!

[BRG]

I can imagine Nigel being a right bastard when he nicked you. Big bugger too........

Big?  He barely came up to my shoulder when I met him. Proper sized blokes are pretty much unknown in single seater racing.

[Pascal]

The late Justin Wilson was pretty tall at 1.93 m.

[BRG]

Same height as me then. But very much an exception.  I was surprised when I met Senna who I had always thought of as a bit lanky but he wasn't - no taller than Mansell.

[Maustinsj]

Oh, and while he was a resident of the Isle of Man, Nigel Mansell was for 11 years a Special Constable for the Manx Police.

 

You can imagine the conversation when he pulled someone over:

 

"Ooh do you fink you are then sunshine? Nigel Mansell?" 

[PayasYouRace]

You can imagine the conversation when he pulled someone over:
 
"Ooh do you fink you are then sunshine? Nigel Mansell?" 

I was waiting for that one.

[king_crud]

He's probably start moaning that his gear stick was stuck and the siren was broken didn't make any noise and what you heard was him making the siren noise himself

Edited by king_crud, 10 January 2018 - 10:19.

[Pascal]

But did he attempt to push his police car past the finish line?

[Felix]

Alan Jones launched a big motor racing team in Australia back in the mid 90s, had sponsorship from Agip and cars entered in various Australian racing series. But it seemed to unravel pretty quickly from memory

And then lost a pile of money in a tyre business I believe

[learningtobelost]

And then lost a pile of money in a tyre business I believe

 

Pirelli? 

[RacingGreen]

I don't know if he has ever done it professionally but as a rehabilitation therapy after one of his accidents Nigel Mansell became a conjurer and member of the magic circle

[midgrid]

I don't know if he has ever done it professionally but as a rehabilitation therapy after one of his accidents Nigel Mansell became a conjurer and member of the magic circle

 

How timely!

[milestone 11]

Derek Warwick owned a Honda dealer for years.

Still does. In the office of Derek Warwick Honda most days unless on business elsewhere. Nigel Mansell also has a Mitsubishi dealership along with his museum and car collection. Both of these very personable gentlemen will be found in Jersey.

Edited by milestone 11, 21 January 2018 - 15:03.

[JHSingo]

The NASCAR team owner started his racing career in midgets with the money he made as a manager @McDonalds.

 

You'd never know looking at him, would you?

 

[empe]

If test drivers count as well - a piece of 3 days old "news": 

New Kubica Racing Kart website is online, at http://www.kubicaracingkart.com/

 

Probably not so 'odd', though.