61 replies to this topic

[wj_gibson]

I read the latest Fifth Column piece with Roebuck and Brundle, as insightful as ever. And then, tagged on at the end, just a little note that it will be the last. Characteristic understatement, but is Roebuck retiring? I grew up with his writing so his work has played a major role in shaping my understanding of, and outlook upon, the sport.

[absinthedude]

I hope he's not, as like you I grew up with his "5th Column". But he's no spring chicken any more and has had a stroke. Maybe it's time for him to slow down? He's a lifelong enthusiast so I doubt we've heard the last from him, but he might be retiring his regular column?

[chrisbell]

As absinthedude says, it's a shame if he has retired, but we'll still have the memories of his writing and insight.  Best wishes to him whatever the case.

[Pete_f1]

I hope he writes a tell all book. I would love to know his thoughts on Max Mosley

[thefinalapex]

One one hand i enjoy his insight and writing but i wont miss him mentioning Alonso and Villeneuve in every damn column! 

[P123]

There had already been a reduction to one column per month. I'm sure he'll still write the odd thing, especially about past years. Definitely one of F1s better journos, even if he did become a bit of a rose tint wearer in recent years with selective recall. A journo with his heroes and villains among the grid, hammered home in almost every column, with Kevin Magnussen being the surprising choice of a driver that he recently latched on to.

[Sterzo]

Definitely one of F1s better journos, even if he did become a bit of a rose tint wearer in recent years with selective recall. A journo with his heroes and villains among the grid, hammered home in almost every column, with Kevin Magnussen being the surprising choice of a driver that he recently latched on to.

I think he had that tendency from his earliest days, when he found it difficult to write a page without mentioning Jean Behra. Like W.F. Bradley, DSJ, Boddy and Setright, he exudes a combination of enthusiasm and personal quirkiness that's immensely enjoyable at the same time as being slightly provocative.

 

For reporting or analysis I prefer Mark Hughes, but for an entertaining opinion piece then Roebuck is tops.

[jonpollak]

Looks like Sterzo and I are 2 peas in a pod.
Jp

[David Lightman]

Autosport tweeted this morning: "Fans of Nigel Roebuck will still be able to read him every month in F1 Racing Mag in 2019. He will still be an occasional contributor to Autosport as well"

[absinthedude]

Fantastic, great to know he's not retiring. 

 

One thing is that I *know* he's going to mention Behra, Gilles and Alonso....so I expect it and it doesn't bother me. And he's lightened up on Mansell in recent years. There are now very few journalists left who have been on the scene anything like as long as NR, and he has a writing style to whiich I warm. 

[jonpollak]

Thanks David.
Jp

[OvDrone]

Did you guys know that in 1979 at a wet Watkins Glen, Gilles Villeneuve lapped the entire field by a full 24 hours?

Semi-obscure joke aside, I find Nigel's writing quite wonderful; love his articles. How old is he though ?

[Andrew Hope]

Did you guys know that in 1979 at a wet Watkins Glen, Gilles Villeneuve lapped the entire field by a full 24 hours?

Semi-obscure joke aside, I find Nigel's writing quite wonderful; love his articles. How old is he though ?

His name is Nigel. At the very least he can remember Stalin.

[OvDrone]

His name is Nigel. At the very least he can remember Stalin.

If so, I guess then that Murray Walker can remember Catherine the Great and Tony Kanaan can remember Noah.

[FLB]

 How old is he though ?

According to what is written in Grand Prix Greats (published in 1985), he was born in 1946. So, 72 years old. And I believe he's written elsewhere he was 25 when Jochen Rindt died, which would fit.

[absinthedude]

I think he's in his early 70s. Certainly used to be a heavy smoker but I wonder if he has cut down or given up after his scare a few years ago.

[Beri]

Artists like Roebuck die in their respective saddles.

[proviz]

In some 50 years of reading (English) motor sport mags I find Nigel has the easiest flowing prose of all. Wonderful writer, so glad I still have all his Autosport works readily at hand.

[Boing 2]

Always loved reading his stuff and never understood the backlash against him during the latter Schumacher years simply because he wasn't on the hype train. It's weird to think we're not that far away from having no first hand accounts of the start of F1's history.

[potmotr]

I grew up reading Roebuck, so it's a shame he's reducing his output, but I guess even the best can't keep going forever.

 

His prose is beautiful.

 

Right down to his frequent, and dramatic, use of the comma. "And the way," he breaks up "quotes for added impact."   

 

I've quite enjoyed his monthly long reads in Autosport rather than the weekly columns. I do think his best recent work took place at Motorsport Magazine, that seemed like his natural home at this stage in his career.

 

His Podcast appearances were also great, who knew he was also an amazing mimic of 80s Grand Prix drivers! 

 

Roebuck's definitely been wearing rose tinted glasses since the early 80s too, which I find quite amusing.

 

Frequently mentioned topics include (a couple mentioned earlier):

 

-Villeneuve, love of

-Alonso, love of 

-Amon, love of

-Prost, love of

-Brundle, Christmas lunch with

-Red Bull/Helmut Marko, suspicion of  

-Halo, hate of

-CVC Capital Partners, hate of

-Aero blight, hate of

-DRS, hate of

-Modern F1 technology, weariness of 

 

This is no criticism of Roebuck, but I feel I've read him so closely down the years that I can sometimes predict what will be coming in the following paragraphs.

 

A real legend, and one of the few journalists smart enough to stay off social media.

[chrisbell]

In some 50 years of reading (English) motor sport mags I find Nigel has the easiest flowing prose of all. Wonderful writer, so glad I still have all his Autosport works readily at hand.

Absolutely, though my experience is somewhat shorter (around 30 years).

[jonpollak]

And those here that read him make better missives because of it.
Jp

[red stick]

I grew up reading Roebuck, so it's a shame he's reducing his output, but I guess even the best can't keep going forever.

 

His prose is beautiful.

 

Right down to his frequent, and dramatic, use of the comma. "And the way," he breaks up "quotes for added impact."   

 

I've quite enjoyed his monthly long reads in Autosport rather than the weekly columns. I do think his best recent work took place at Motorsport Magazine, that seemed like his natural home at this stage in his career.

 

His Podcast appearances were also great, who knew he was also an amazing mimic of 80s Grand Prix drivers! 

 

Roebuck's definitely been wearing rose tinted glasses since the early 80s too, which I find quite amusing.

 

Frequently mentioned topics include (a couple mentioned earlier):

 

-Villeneuve, love of

-Alonso, love of 

-Amon, love of

-Prost, love of

-Brundle, Christmas lunch with

-Red Bull/Helmut Marko, suspicion of  

-Halo, hate of

-CVC Capital Partners, hate of

-Aero blight, hate of

-DRS, hate of

-Modern F1 technology, weariness of 

 

This is no criticism of Roebuck, but I feel I've read him so closely down the years that I can sometimes predict what will be coming in the following paragraphs.

 

A real legend, and one of the few journalists smart enough to stay off social media.

 

-Stewart, respect for as a driver, if not his later posing

-Behra, love of

-Villeneuve, love of (because this can't be emphasized too many times, as a Roebuck column without it is like a day without sunshine)

 

Edited by red stick, 24 December 2018 - 14:20.

[potmotr]

I'd actually love to read a decent interview with Nigel Roebuck himself, detailing his life and times.

 

Anyone seen a decent one? 

[FLB]

 

A real legend, and one of the few journalists smart enough to stay off social media.

Also smart enough to admit he didn't or doesn't always have the full picture. He did a full 180-degree turn on Riccardo Patrese, for one.

[John B]

Enjoyed reading the Grand Prix Gold 1982 race reports when they were posted by Autosport. Certainly no lack of material that year. Even in the few dull weekends there's commentary on the state of the sport. Read his race reports in Autoweek going back years

[Boing 2]

I'd actually love to read a decent interview with Nigel Roebuck himself, detailing his life and times.

 

Anyone seen a decent one? 

 

No but I do have "Petrol Torque" on VHS and have been meaning to digitize it and put it on Youtube for years. It was an F1 round table chat with motorsport journos on the eve of the 96 season.

[potmotr]

No but I do have "Petrol Torque" on VHS and have been meaning to digitize it and put it on Youtube for years. It was an F1 round table chat with motorsport journos on the eve of the 96 season.

A most excellent tip Sir, thanks for alerting me to this excellent series.

One of them has been uploaded here: https://youtu.be/tbGrJDFCG8g

With bonus Richard Williams, Doug Nye and Alain de Cadenet!

[Boing 2]

No worries, think there was an hours worth including ads, might try and get it uploaded over the holidays.

[PlayboyRacer]

Certainly a fan of Roebucks work. Basically grew up reading his fifth columns in Autosport. Sure he has his favorites but I think subconsciously everyone does... It's just Nigel is more vocal about it. Particularly with Gilles and Fernando.

Being a JV fan one thing that sticks out is, during the early BAR years, Nigel was quite vocal in his columns/reviews during that period of Jacques there being a 'criminal waste' and praised him regularly for unflinching committment and relentless driving in really poor cars. Certainly not fit for a World Champion. Sound familiar?

I hope he has a piece on JV left in him, along with many others. For myself an icon of the F1 press.

[potmotr]

I'm sure if Roebuck were starting out now he'd choose another career.

Seems like the game of being an F1 reporter is much different these days.

 

Limited access to drivers, therefore a difficulty forming meaningful relationships.

 

The need to keep running on the hamster's wheel to generate online content every two minutes.

 

And the media space with F1 is pretty crowded these days, with so many websites reporting on it.

 

Still, I'd like to think Roebuck's voice would still shine through if he was starting out, in much the way Mark Hughes does. 

[jonpollak]

I’ll bet we see him at the 2019 Indy 500.

Jp

[Boing 2]

Is Nigel still doing anything F1 related these days? I know his regular columns are done but does he crop up for one-offs anywhere?

[pacificquay]

Jeez, when I saw this thread revived I worried he had died

[kumo7]

Jeez, when I saw this thread revived I worried he had died

seconded.

[Boing 2]

So no one on an F1 message board knows anything about a huge name in F1 journalism?

[PayasYouRace]

So no one on an F1 message board knows anything about a huge name in F1 journalism?

Well if he retired a few years ago, why would we?

[Boing 2]

That's what I'm asking, has he retired completely or does he still write occasionally?

[F1 Mike]

Always enjoyed his work, and in the later years the podcasts were excellent. It doesn't feel like the same quality of journalism has been picked up by the younger generation.

[Boing 2]

The younger guys don't have the perspective the older journos had, you had guys in the 80's and 90's who were watching the sport from its earliest days, you can't replace that unfortunately.

[kumo7]

reactions are not rapid, but it does not mean that no one knows about Nigel?
Nigel Roebuck article is full of personal memory which becomes one of memories, a tale, narratives, even a legend. Good style is not too much of this Recent Hollywood style glamour, but more down to the roots of the racing drivers mentality, history full of wits and tricks.

S little as i know about, Nigel issued ten books full of his stories. I think he down what he was born to do.

obviously happy to hear from him.

if we were not heard from him, it because he is enjoying his well earned time to enjoy the racing for himself. i am happy as long as he’s happy.

[F1 Mike]

The younger guys don't have the perspective the older journos had, you had guys in the 80's and 90's who were watching the sport from its earliest days, you can't replace that unfortunately.

It will be partly that, I agree, but I do feel the lack of depth in articles isn't always due to the lack of years under the belt

[Sterzo]

It will be partly that, I agree, but I do feel the lack of depth in articles isn't always due to the lack of years under the belt

Indeed, and many great writers, from Gerald Rose to Simon Taylor and (dare I say ) Doug Nye came straight in at a young age and were brilliant from the outset. If you're good, you're good.

[Risil]

That's what I'm asking, has he retired completely or does he still write occasionally?

I've not seen anything in Autosport or Motor Sport, or anywhere else for that matter, for many years. So I doubt he is writing professionally.

[azza200]

Is Simon Taylor still involved in motorsports?

[Boing 2]

I've not seen anything in Autosport or Motor Sport, or anywhere else for that matter, for many years. So I doubt he is writing professionally.

Cheers, that's what I suspected sadly.

[Risil]

Is Simon Taylor still involved in motorsports?

Last time I encountered him was on the PA at Stirling Moss Day at Brooklands in 2021. So maybe still working with historics?

(I saw Roebuck from across the room too, fwiw.)

[Boing 2]

It will be partly that, I agree, but I do feel the lack of depth in articles isn't always due to the lack of years under the belt

I've got some sympathy with modern F1 journos, the sport today has a much more controlled public face to penetrate with a lot of big corporate brands and a lot of money at stake, drivers and team bosses are all media trained and defensive in interviews and access is tightly controlled. Add to that the drivers are living much quieter lives, there are no more James Hunts or Alan Jones on the grid today, they have less to say and are less keen on saying it. Even on the technical front the engine freezes have reduced all tech news to aero parts and suspension bits so there's less to write on that front.

[jcbc3]

Simon Taylor writes a monthly column in Classic & Sports Car under the heading 'Full Throttle'

 

January 2025 edition

 

[PayasYouRace]

I swear Simon Taylor has been in his 60s since the 1990s.