Scotty Beckett working on the Ford engine in his Birdcage at the 1963 Nassau Races
Ginny Beckett remembers the Nassau races this way.
I think I attended Speed Week two times. !!
Here we go. ------------
Yes, I did join Scott and Donny/Georgia and others from the LOL region in Nassau for race week on two occasions.
I believe it was 1963 and 1965.
Scott raced the Birdcage. The week was out of a movie set. The pits were wide open, it seemed to me, including waiters donned in black trousers, crisp white jackets and white gloves taking orders for and delivering lovely island concoctions. ( alcohol included) !! Not for the drivers of course.
This was a major shift from what a pit area looked like in the US during the hours spent in the pits at Road America etc. completing lap charts under strict rules.
The evenings were lovely. Beautiful cocktail parties with most everyone attending, sharing conversations with racers and their guests from around the world. A great opportunity to have a global experience while on a small island. Lovely.
The largest event of the week, from a social point of view was the Bahamas Automobile Club hosted, Motor Ball, under the patronage of His Excellency The Governor and Lady Stapledon one of the years.
I too recall Sir Sidney Oakes arriving at the Ball at just the correct moment one of the years. This was a long gown event and ever so much fun.
Some of our days were spent at the track, the women that is, other days at the beach. On an off day we went out sailing and snorkeling. One year we stayed at the Montagu Beach Hotel where the Ball was held, the next year at the Balmoral Beach Club.
A quick, I think funny story. Scott and Donny Skogmo had a red panel truck shipped over with the race cars. When it came time to go out in the evening this was our transportation if taxis weren’t available. The men took all of the equipment out of the back of the truck and set up folding chairs for we women to sit in on the way to the evenings event. It was so hysterical to pull up to the main entrance of the hotel hosting the event, Donny and Scott would get out of the front seats and come to the back of the panel truck, open the back doors and help we women out of the truck in our cocktail attire. Quite a sit, made us laugh each evening.
AS you know it was a Le Mans start, Scott driving a right hand drive and the person to his right, unfortunately for both of them was driving a left hand drive car. The start was a stitch for both of them. Wish I could remember who it was, you would recognize his name. In any case, they both rushed across the track toward their cars, arrived and both realized one of them had to acquiesce to the other. Scott described the other driver as presenting Scott with a deep gentlemanly bow, and arm slung forward stating “ you first” and off they went. A bit of time lost but a lifetime memory of fun.
Enough about my memories, thanks for asking. It’s been a bit of a trip down that wonderful memory lane for me.
Sure wish Scott was here to be the one sharing these stories in person. I guess he is speaking through me right now.
Ginny Beckett
Edited by Jerry Entin, 13 March 2021 - 00:21.
