Jump to content


Photo
- - - - -

Paddock Encounters


  • Please log in to reply
62 replies to this topic

#51 BoDarvelle

BoDarvelle
  • Member

  • 1,357 posts
  • Joined: March 22

Posted 05 July 2022 - 22:12

About bowled Willy T Ribbs over as we met coming around the back of a trailer in the paddock 30 years ago at Road America. Jack Roush just kept talking totally oblivious.



Advertisement

#52 nmansellfan

nmansellfan
  • Member

  • 431 posts
  • Joined: April 02

Posted 07 July 2022 - 14:51

I raced against Damon Hill, probably 15 years ago now. His son Josh was starting out in karting and joined our 2-stroke arrive and drive series in the UK, called Club 100 (a couple on here will know of it). Damon watched a couple of rounds then later in the year Josh persuaded him to have a go too. Because Damon was technically a 'rookie' the clerk of the course had to ask all of us in the drivers briefing if it was ok if he could race without having ever tried the karts! It took him a meeting or two to get up to speed, but from then he was right near the front. IIRC he won at least a couple of heats and did win a final, but was DSQ for being less than half a kilo underweight! I'm pretty sure it was his first competitive runs in anything since retiring in '99. Above all that he was great to talk to, part of the series back then was that the karts needed to be bump started off the dummy grid as they were direct drive. So there a always a call for two guys to get behind each kart before the start of any race - any delay might mean a shorter final. There were always drivers who thought they were above all that and disappeared out of view just as a race was lining up, but not Hill, he was happy to get stuck in and would ask you how you were doing etc. while you were waiting to push out. Great bloke and genuinely quick in something very far removed from a late 90s F1 car.

Also got Jos Verstappen's autograph at the Ford stand during the '94 British Motor show. He looked bored s***tless :)


Edited by nmansellfan, 07 July 2022 - 15:03.


#53 HerbieMcQueen

HerbieMcQueen
  • Member

  • 1,574 posts
  • Joined: November 17

Posted 07 July 2022 - 16:11

I raced against Damon Hill, probably 15 years ago now. His son Josh was starting out in karting and joined our 2-stroke arrive and drive series in the UK, called Club 100 (a couple on here will know of it). Damon watched a couple of rounds then later in the year Josh persuaded him to have a go too. Because Damon was technically a 'rookie' the clerk of the course had to ask all of us in the drivers briefing if it was ok if he could race without having ever tried the karts! It took him a meeting or two to get up to speed, but from then he was right near the front. IIRC he won at least a couple of heats and did win a final, but was DSQ for being less than half a kilo underweight! I'm pretty sure it was his first competitive runs in anything since retiring in '99. Above all that he was great to talk to, part of the series back then was that the karts needed to be bump started off the dummy grid as they were direct drive. So there a always a call for two guys to get behind each kart before the start of any race - any delay might mean a shorter final. There were always drivers who thought they were above all that and disappeared out of view just as a race was lining up, but not Hill, he was happy to get stuck in and would ask you how you were doing etc. while you were waiting to push out. Great bloke and genuinely quick in something very far removed from a late 90s F1 car.

Also got Jos Verstappen's autograph at the Ford stand during the '94 British Motor show. He looked bored s***tless :)

I did one test day in a Club 100 kart for the UK universities championship for Bournemouth, despite attending a different university. A friend vouched for me and so off we went to Sittingbourne for an open test day with all the other universities. It was my first experience in one of them, and after a backwards shunt into the tyres I managed to end up fastest of the lot for Bournemouth...I wasn't invited back. :lol:


Edited by HerbieMcQueen, 07 July 2022 - 16:11.


#54 Mark521

Mark521
  • Member

  • 530 posts
  • Joined: February 03

Posted 07 July 2022 - 19:49

I was almost run over by Mario Andretti on a scooter in the paddock in Houston in either 98 or 99.



#55 MLC

MLC
  • Member

  • 537 posts
  • Joined: May 01

Posted 07 July 2022 - 22:12

I was almost run over by Mario Andretti on a scooter in the paddock in Houston in either 98 or 99.

Same happened to me in Phoenix ‘93. I ran into (not literally) Mario again at the airport baggage claim in Indianapolis ahead of the F1 GP one year. Then in 2007 I was at the Andretti Winery and was standing in the gift shop with a polo shirt in my hand. I was waiting patiently for the person behind the counter to be free so I could pay. Mario came up to and said, “Let me help you with that.” So I bought my Andretti shirt direct from Mario!
 



#56 tonymorel

tonymorel
  • New Member

  • 15 posts
  • Joined: March 21

Posted 08 July 2022 - 09:42

Not F1 related, but rallying.

 

Was marshalling on the Lombard and our car had broken down. Stuck on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, still in marshal tabards and an almighty racket pulled up along side us, was Carlos Sainz (proper) and Luis Moya checking we were okay.

 

Another RAC got chatting to Louise Aitken-Walker and Tina Thörner, mentioned I always wanted to be a codriver. Met them a few days later at another control and both of them took the time to give proper advice/recommendations/etc. Did quite well out of that conversation. Years later was on a stand at the Autosport Show at the NEC, made sure any kids who took an interest could come up, sit in the car. Couple of the other stands said we shouldn't let them in the car, would just encourage them. Wasn't that the point?

 

Also had my nose broken at a race by a close family member of an F1 driver, but I was a cheeky git so deserved that one.


Edited by tonymorel, 08 July 2022 - 09:44.


#57 Sterzo

Sterzo
  • Member

  • 4,979 posts
  • Joined: September 11

Posted 08 July 2022 - 10:26

The only F1 driver I've had a full converstion with was John Risely-Prichard (raced a Connaught in the 1954 British GP, and persuaded Tony Brooks to go to Syracuse in 1955). I met him on business. Seemed a nice guy, but some time later he scarpered to Thailand to avoid a police investigation into paedophilia...

 

Also had business meetings with Sir John Whitmore, not an F1 driver but good enough to partner Jim Clark at Le Mans.

 

David Purley spoke to me and a friend in the F3 paddock before he went into F1. We were watching his mechanic tinkering, and Purley said: "He's fitting the turbocharger." (Which wasn't permitted, of course).

 

Generally I don't speak to people unless I have something to say. Don't like intruding. Therefore I have stood silently next to Damon Hill at Club 100 karting (see nmansellfan above). A friend did ask Damon if he could interview him with his phone. "Oh, go on then," said Damon. My friend said: "What do you think of Michael Scumacher?" and recorded a burst of laughter.

 

Also stood next to John Surtees at one of his Buckmore Park Henry Surtees karting meetings.

 

Obtained Ralph Schumacher's autograph for someone else - Ralph was very smiley and friendly.

 

As recounted on TNF, I once went to a motor racing filmshow with my wife. She was carrying a book of mine, by Denis Jenkinson of Motor Sport. While we were waiting for the film, I nudged her and said: "Look in the aisle, there is Denis Jenkinson with - "  But she was gone, and elbowed past a bemused Stirling Moss to get DSJ's autograph on the book.



#58 BRG

BRG
  • Member

  • 25,898 posts
  • Joined: September 99

Posted 08 July 2022 - 11:24

Not F1 related, but rallying.

 

Also had my nose broken at a race by a close family member of an F1 driver, but I was a cheeky git so deserved that one.

Rallying has always been far more accessible and egalitarian.  It is hard to seal yourself off from the hoi polloi except at the service area - and even there, crews are far more open to public contact.   

 

Close family member?  Now we are all curious!



#59 midgrid

midgrid
  • RC Forum Host

  • 10,132 posts
  • Joined: April 09

Posted 08 July 2022 - 11:28

I've met Simon Taylor, Maurice Hamilton and Oliver Turvey, who were all speakers at my university's car/motorsports club's annual dinner at some point.  Unfortunately I missed the dinner at which John Surtees was the speaker!

 

My prized motorsport possession is a Super Aguri cap signed by Sakon Yamamoto at the first Formula E race to be held at Battersea Park: technically the drivers were only allowed to sign official team and series merchandise during the group autograph session, but he kindly offered to sign my cap after noticing it.



Advertisement

#60 jonpollak

jonpollak
  • Member

  • 44,048 posts
  • Joined: March 00

Posted 08 July 2022 - 12:00

Wait… you were at Battersea?

Risil,Peat, Disgrace and I along with a host of others were there.
The thing was like an Autosport meet up.

How did you not know ?
Jp

#61 midgrid

midgrid
  • RC Forum Host

  • 10,132 posts
  • Joined: April 09

Posted 08 July 2022 - 13:38

I met Risil and Disgrace - I think I only found out on the second day of the event.



#62 ehagar

ehagar
  • Member

  • 7,731 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 09 July 2022 - 18:06

To be honest, only ex-F1 drivers in the Indycar/CART paddock. Much more open and casual.

World Superbike… a lot of riders. The only one that kinda scared me was when I took a photo of Max Biaggi. He had a stare that could kill.

#63 HerbieMcQueen

HerbieMcQueen
  • Member

  • 1,574 posts
  • Joined: November 17

Posted 09 July 2022 - 18:29

To be honest, only ex-F1 drivers in the Indycar/CART paddock. Much more open and casual.

World Superbike… a lot of riders. The only one that kinda scared me was when I took a photo of Max Biaggi. He had a stare that could kill.

That reminds me of another brief second-hand encounter. My auntie went on a couple of dates with Loris Capirossi after meeting him outside a public toilet stall. I guess I know the right people.