56 replies to this topic

[john aston]

A lovely anecdote from The Spectator (not my politics but a good read). Speed awareness  course , presenter gets to the bit about how every driver thinks they are above average and over-estimate their skill . Asks for driver to score themselves - one chap awards himself 9/10. Presenter sighs and suggests that he has overestimated his real  ability . Driver replies - " No I am being modest actually. My name is Jody Scheckter and I was World Champion  in 1979 ..." 

[Vitesse2]

Heh. One of Jody's first homes in Britain was in St Michael's Road, in Little Sandhurst, Berkshire - only a stone's throw from Ambarrow Court, the former home of 'Aldy' Aldington, but I digress - and he attracted complaints from his neighbours due to his rather spirited handling of a Mini while going up and down what was normally a very quiet cul-de-sac.

[Zoe]

Reminds me of the Nigel Mansell / Ayrton Senna episode at the Silverstone GP many moons ago....

[Henri Greuter]

Supposedly an American cop once asked a car driver if he was pretending to be Parnelli Jones to Parnelli....

Edited by Henri Greuter, 07 June 2023 - 09:18.

[Risil]

Was it Emerson Fittipaldi giving the speed awareness course? 

[F1matt]

I remember a story in the 80s or 90s when a Canadian F3000 driver tried to get out of a speeding charge by using his racing and high speed skills as a defence, I think we can all guess the outcome. 

 

Not as good as the driver in Colorado last month who was clocked speeding and then switched places with his dog when he pulled over and tried to blame the poor hound, I guess he may have had a drink as well....

[Tim Murray]

I wonder how many Isle of Man residents did a double-take when apprehended by Special Constable Mansell NEJ.

[Vitesse2]

I remember a story in the 80s or 90s when a Canadian F3000 driver tried to get out of a speeding charge by using his racing and high speed skills as a defence, I think we can all guess the outcome.

Fay Taylour tried that defence in the 1930s. Didn't go down well with the magistrate, who imposed a £1 fine on her, which she refused to pay, preferring to go to prison instead. Probably in collusion, given that there are pictures of her entering Holloway Prison, the Daily Express paid the fine shortly afterwards. She then allegedly refused to leave and the governor supposedly had to throw her out, also giving her five shillings for a taxi home to Kensington. Afterwards, she gave an interview to the Express ... a reporter for the rival Star was fobbed off with the excuse that she was unwell and had taken to her bed!

 

She also had to pay a long outstanding speeding fine in New Zealand in 1952, related to an incident during her previous visit in 1930. She recalled a vague memory of having driven through a village at 60mph and ‘breaking up a civic reception or something’.

[GregThomas]

New Zealand seems to have a habit of this sort of thing. From Shotgun Charlie McIvor on the gate at Wigram refusing Moss entry as he'd not brought his passes to Jackie Stewart being stopped for speeding when here with the BRM's. We don't care who you are etc etc.

[Glengavel]

Mention of Jackie reminds me of the recent incident at Miami where a security guard tried to stop him entering a VIP area.

[Sterzo]

Mention of Jackie reminds me of the recent incident at Miami where a security guard tried to stop him entering a VIP area.

 

Which sort of highlights an underlying point here. We shouldn't expect some ordinary bloke given a temporary job, to recognise all public figures and celebrities on the face of the Earth. As I understand it, Jackie didn't have the right pass. The chief exec at a firm I worked at forgot his pass and a security man wouldn't let him in. To his credit, the chief commended the guy for it.
 

[Collombin]

The chief exec at a firm I worked at forgot his pass and a security man wouldn't let him in. To his credit, the chief commended the guy for it

I read something similar about Tony Hulman once being denied access to his own racetrack for the same reasons - and his response was the same too.

[ensign14]

Does remind me a bit of an incident at a football match back in the day...

 

 

(Retford and Worksop Herald, 26 March 1892)

[Nigel Beresford]

I read something similar about Tony Hulman once being denied access to his own racetrack for the same reasons - and his response was the same too.

First time I went to the Speedway I was challenged by the guy at the entrance to Gasoline Alley.
“You can’t come in here without a pass”
“Where do I get my pass?”
“In here”

I recall the present owner of the Speedway telling us that one of the first things he did after acquiring Detroit Diesel Corporation was to relieve the security guard at the main entrance of his duties because he just waved him through and didn’t challenge him. So sometimes knowing who someone is can actually work against you…

[petere]

first time i went there it was 'pin badges', which immediately fell off and got lost so i had the same problem. They had a very long queue into a small office just outside 'turn2' where replacement 'passes' were begrudingly handed out to those who had transgressed and lost their 'pin badge', getting a replacement pass was just slightly  more difficult than entering the country through JFK immigration had been a few weeks erlier. I was pleased to see that there in the queue with me were several retired drivers, including two past winners, a couple of team owners and the odd crew chief. The lady with the ultimate power over you, in as much as she had the final say if you got your pass, resolutely refused to acknowledge the i.d of any of these chaps, prompting Duane Carter, i think it was (Pancho's father and 11 times a 500 starter) to partially explode with "I am fairly well known 'round these parts...". I think he was sent to the back of the queue...

 

 

First time I went to the Speedway I was challenged by the guy at the entrance to Gasoline Alley.
“You can’t come in here without a pass”
“Where do I get my pass?”
“In here”

I recall the present owner of the Speedway telling us that one of the first things he did after acquiring Detroit Diesel Corporation was to relieve the security guard at the main entrance of his duties because he just waved him through and didn’t challenge him. So sometimes knowing who someone is can actually work against you…

 

[helioseism2]

Supposedly an American cop once asked a car driver if he was pretending to be Parnelli Jones to Parnelli....

 

Same with Dan Gurney, in the Cannonball Run.

[Nigel Beresford]

first time i went there it was 'pin badges', which immediately fell off and got lost so i had the same problem....

Ah yes. Rather typically Penske Racing was prepared and issued us with a leather tab which looped onto your belt. The pin was, er, pinned in place on the tab and lockwire was your friend for making sure it stayed there.

[B Squared]

Ah yes. Rather typically Penske Racing was prepared and issued us with a leather tab which looped onto your belt. The pin was, er, pinned in place on the tab and lockwire was your friend for making sure it stayed there.

Sunoco Penske engineer Jerry Kroninger was so kind to give me his pit badges from Indianapolis 1969 and 1970, plus Ontario 1970 and they all have extras to ensure security from loss. I have them displayed with photos of Mark, car and Team where you can see them on Jerry's belt. Small in size, but huge in my appreciation for Jerry's generosity.

[Jim Thurman]

Supposedly an American cop once asked a car driver if he was pretending to be Parnelli Jones to Parnelli....

Amost as old as the hills are these tales of cops stopping a racer and saying:

 

"Who do you think you are...:"  Barney Oldfield (the original); Parnelli Jones; A.J. Foyt; Mario Andretti.

 

There might have been others.

[Jim Thurman]

I read something similar about Tony Hulman once being denied access to his own racetrack for the same reasons - and his response was the same too.

I recall reading reports (I believe in Competition Press & Autoweek) that David Lockton, the youthful CEO and president of Ontario Motor Speedway, was denied entrance to the track he'd established at either opening day or the first major race. Many took that as an omen.

[Doug Nye]

Jim Hall of Chaparral fame wasn't having any of that 'unrecognised' nonsense at the entry to the Spa paddock for the 1,000Kms race in 1967.  In his team's off-white Chevrolet utility with 2F on its trailer behind, the car shrouded, but with its high wing protruding - Jim's passes were challenged.  After listening politely to the gate-keeper, he quietly announced: "Ma name's Jim Hall - Chaparral Cars, Midland, Texas - and ah'm comin' through...".

 

And with a prod on the throttle pedal, he did just that...

 

DCN

[Parker1]

I remember many years ago going to the NEC racing show and one of the attractions was a kart track which was being run by the John Watson racing school. As I was standing by the barriers I noticed John Watson walk past me with two very smart suited gentlemen and go to the entrance gate whereupon the security guard who clearly had no idea who John Watson was say I sorry no entrance without a pass which clearly was his job. Well Watson just flipped and started shouting and talking down to this man like he was a peace of dog poo on his shoe and in an instant he went from an hero of my youth to a person of complete contempt in my eyes.

[petere]

Did he get in ?

I remember many years ago going to the NEC racing show and one of the attractions was a kart track which was being run by the John Watson racing school. As I was standing by the barriers I noticed John Watson walk past me with two very smart suited gentlemen and go to the entrance gate whereupon the security guard who clearly had no idea who John Watson was say I sorry no entrance without a pass which clearly was his job. Well Watson just flipped and started shouting and talking down to this man like he was a peace of dog poo on his shoe and in an instant he went from an hero of my youth to a person of complete contempt in my eyes.

 

[Parker1]

Did he get in ?

I just walked away as it was embarrassing. The guy was doing the job he was paid for and just kept saying no pass no entry. 

[petere]

which is probably what wound Wattie up in the first place....

I just walked away as it was embarrassing. The guy was doing the job he was paid for and just kept saying no pass no entry. 

 

[Lee Nicolle]

Amost as old as the hills are these tales of cops stopping a racer and saying:

 

"Who do you think you are...:"  Barney Oldfield (the original); Parnelli Jones; A.J. Foyt; Mario Andretti.

 

There might have been others.

Stirling Moss, who reputedly had the same question

[john aston]

And I never believed that story, nor the countless similar stories .

[marksixman]

And I never believed that story, nor the countless similar stories .

I tend to agree John.

 

The Stirling story I think I can believe (or at least, I would very much like to !) is that, when using his scooter in London he had a little pouch of £1 coins, and when offended by someone's driving, and if he was able to pull up alongside them, he would offer them £1 "towards a bloody driving lesson" !

Edited by marksixman, 12 June 2023 - 06:29.

[john aston]

£1 ? He was legendarily tight but still.... Better than Tommy Cooper's tip for taxi drivers 'Have a drink on me' he'd say to his driver. Before giving them a teabag .

[Allan Lupton]

I tend to agree John.

 

The Stirling story I think I can believe (or at least, I would very much like to !) is that, when using his scooter in London he had a little pouch of £1 coins, and when offended by someone's driving, and if he was able to pull up alongside them, he would offer them £1 "towards a bloody driving lesson" !

 

That'd have to be post-April 1983 when we changed from note to coin.

[D-Type]

Stirling Moss, who reputedly had the same question

This was so well-known that at one time he featured in a Renault advert being asked THE question.
As to the driving test story: it's in one of his books that he says he presented a motorist who had shopped him for, I think, overtaking in the Mersey Tunnel with a 10 shilling note to "get himself a driving lesson"

[PCC]

Amost as old as the hills are these tales of cops stopping a racer and saying:

 

"Who do you think you are...:"  Barney Oldfield (the original); Parnelli Jones; A.J. Foyt; Mario Andretti.

 

There might have been others.

 

And Paddy Hopkirk. Hopkirk said that was the moment he knew he'd arrived.

[Doug Nye]

Errrmmm - I actually have had personal experience of the supercharged, red-faced, staring-eyed variant of "Who the ---- do you think you are, Stirling Moss???" - screamed at full stretch by a motor-cyclist whom SM had just cut up horribly, barging out into London's Park Lane traffic in his little Smart car as if the road had been completely clear.  Stirl just beamed at him, I think...really from the passenger seat I could only see the back of his head - but he replied "Yes, well I do actually", and then we were off again, slithering through the traffic.  

 

By then, to be honest, the combination of advanced age and accident damage had left Golden Boy with perhaps rather less than stellar timing and reflex, and I must admit that riding with him in challenging circs was not a totally relaxing experience...

 

DCN

[genespleen]

Not a racing anecdote, but a "who do you think you are?" one, involving a speeding driver:  Arthur Harris (head of Bomber Command during WW2) was pulled over for speeding during the war and the arresting officer (who apparently didn't recognize him) warned him to slow down: "you could have killed someone."  Harris's response: "young man, I kill thousands every night."  Harrowing.

Edited by genespleen, 15 June 2023 - 00:12.

[brands77]

I am pretty sure you have all heard this, but just in case. During the height of the Schumacher-Damon Hill rivalry. Damon was reportedly stopped in his Renault estate and asked by the traffic officer "Who do you think you are, Schumacher" to which the reply was "No, Damon Hill actually".

[Nemo1965]

Jim Hall of Chaparral fame wasn't having any of that 'unrecognised' nonsense at the entry to the Spa paddock for the 1,000Kms race in 1967. In his team's off-white Chevrolet utility with 2F on its trailer behind, the car shrouded, but with its high wing protruding - Jim's passes were challenged. After listening politely to the gate-keeper, he quietly announced: "Ma name's Jim Hall - Chaparral Cars, Midland, Texas - and ah'm comin' through...".

And with a prod on the throttle pedal, he did just that...

DCN

René Arnoux once did the same at Monza, driving away from the track… and the policeman jumped on his hood. Arnoux still drove back to his hotel…with his ‘passenger’…and was arrested the same day…

[Tim Murray]

The Arnoux incident happened at Zolder in 1981 after he’d failed to qualify for the GP. Here’s how DCN told the story:

Rene Arnoux did his instinctive best to kill a bolshie car park attendant at Zolder after failing to qualify his Renault in the early '80s. He was trying to drive out the 'in' gate and the attendant tried to stop him. Arnoux persisted, so the attendant jumped on the bonnet of his rental car and banged on the windscreen. Rene was overcome by the red mist...

Team manager Larrousse had taken an alternative route back to the team hotel. Stopped at a crossroads he apparently rubbed his eyes in disbelief as a small saloon shot across his path, with a car park attendant - long coat blown up over his head - spreadeagled on the bonnet, hanging on to the windscreen wipers. And it was Gerard's driver, Rene Arnoux , who was driving...

Seeing the attendant gripping his wipers - the incensed Arnoux switched them on.

Ultimately he hit the brakes, and the attendant rocketed off the bonnet, with a windscreen wiper grasped in each hand.

Back at the hotel, Arnoux hid in the kitchens.

Williams used the same hotel. Jacques Laffite ambled through the foyer and out through the door, to be confronted by a dishevelled car park attendant waving a windscreen wiper, accompanied by a posse of Gendarmes. Seeing Laffite the car park attendant screamed "That's him!" - and Jacques was arrested....and dragged away, thunderstruck.

It took quite a bit of sorting out... But nobody served a night in jail.

DCN

[funformula]

The Arnoux incident happened at Zolder in 1981 after he’d failed to qualify for the GP. Here’s how DCN told the story:
 

 

Good story indeed, but I´d assume it was Ligier that had chosen the same hotel, not Williams.

[petere]

I have to confess to being present at a similar incident at Spa in 1993, for a Touring Car Race. We arrived from the wrong direction  in the middle of the  forest in a van carrying a new engine. But with no pass. So we have the inevitable "no pass, no entry pantomime", at which point we uncover the engine to show our bonafides, which makes not one jot of a difference. Now in his defence our driver did indicate that we were going to deliver our precious cargo to the paddock whatever the marshall had to say about it, and that we were not about to carry it there, which produced a response whereby the marshall  mounted the step up into the cab and grabbed hold of the wing mirror... This was a bad move because our driver wasn't joking, and promptly set off at high speed towards the paddock approx 1 1/2 miles away, bouncing along the dirt track  with this chap hanging on for dear life whilst at the same time, producing a whistle that he started blowing in increasingly frantic bursts.  The public in the area who we passed seemd to enjoy this and we made our way across country accompanied by a lot of pointing, cheering and some clapping.. When we arrived at the actual paddock we fully expected things to get a bit tricky but infact the bizarre sight of our uninvited passenger clinging on for dear life  and blowing his whistle  had the happy effect of rendering the actual paddock marshalls paralytic with laughter as we approached and so we just breezed in and parked up. The traumatised marshall then dismounted and went completely banannas (in flemish) which drew a small crowd as we unloaded our engine. He then marched off in a fury towards race control, threatening all sorts of reprocusions, and i have to admit that i was quite concerned that there would be some. After that... nothing. We later heard that when he tried to tell his story to whoever the big boss was he was told that he should have used a bit more common sense in the first place, this was prior to the big boss also collapsing in hysterics. Which left our passenger with a very long walk back to where the whole thing had started. Always felt that we should have sold the story to a film company, it would have fitted well in a Pink Panther movie...

[Nemo1965]

The Arnoux incident happened at Zolder in 1981 after he’d failed to qualify for the GP. Here’s how DCN told the story:

I feel like Manuel from Barcelona… what-a-mistaka-to-make!

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by petere
I have to confess to being present at a similar incident at Spa in 1993, for a Touring Car Race.....

They say that confession is good for the soul...

This one is good for a laugh and good for retelling.

[Nemo1965]

A lovely anecdote from The Spectator (not my politics but a good read). Speed awareness  course , presenter gets to the bit about how every driver thinks they are above average and over-estimate their skill . Asks for driver to score themselves - one chap awards himself 9/10. Presenter sighs and suggests that he has overestimated his real  ability . Driver replies - " No I am being modest actually. My name is Jody Scheckter and I was World Champion  in 1979 ..." 

 

Was Jody then ever caught speeding or driving under influence?

[john aston]

It would be a minor speeding charge - where one can take a course instead of having penalty points on the driving licence . I speak from experience ...

[7MGTEsup]

I seem to recall former top fuel driver Barry Sheavills getting a much reduced punishment for being caught at 160+MPH on British roads because he drove a 300+mph fuel car so was used to traveling at high speed.... 

[Vitesse2]

Was Jody then ever caught speeding or driving under influence?

See my mention of Jody's 'spirited' driving above. While I doubt anyone ever pointed a speed gun at him, anecdotally he was exceeding the 30mph limit by some margin, despite it not being all that long a road ...

[RobertE]

Errrmmm - I actually have had personal experience of the supercharged, red-faced, staring-eyed variant of "Who the ---- do you think you are, Stirling Moss???" - screamed at full stretch by a motor-cyclist whom SM had just cut up horribly, barging out into London's Park Lane traffic in his little Smart car as if the road had been completely clear.  Stirl just beamed at him, I think...really from the passenger seat I could only see the back of his head - but he replied "Yes, well I do actually", and then we were off again, slithering through the traffic.  

 

By then, to be honest, the combination of advanced age and accident damage had left Golden Boy with perhaps rather less than stellar timing and reflex, and I must admit that riding with him in challenging circs was not a totally relaxing experience...

 

DCN

I can confirm that! He drove me somewhere or other in his little SMART car and I was amazed that he wasn't pulled out of the car and beaten up!

 

Also, years before that, my brother was going down Park Lane and saw a VW Polo closing in on him, undertaking, etc, and realised it was the Great Man. He attempted a 'dice'. 

 

Not a chance. Brother. was driving an Aston Martin. 

 

Enough said...

[f1steveuk]

First time I went to the Speedway I was challenged by the guy at the entrance to Gasoline Alley.
“You can’t come in here without a pass”
“Where do I get my pass?”
“In here”

I recall the present owner of the Speedway telling us that one of the first things he did after acquiring Detroit Diesel Corporation was to relieve the security guard at the main entrance of his duties because he just waved him through and didn’t challenge him. So sometimes knowing who someone is can actually work against you…

A bi weekly thing for anyone working for FOM. Arrive at circuit first day (Thursday) to pick up car pass. Car pass in circuit admin, inside the track. Can't get in the track without a pass, can't get into the circuit to get our pass, so that we can get our pass to get into the track, ad infinitum!

 

It lead to some, er, "heated" discussions, and once, Spa, Pasquale took my pass away, because during said bi weekly discussion, I was accused of calling Pasquale a "wa'#er. After it was proved I hadn't (Pasquale ordering an identity parade where the steward failed to identify me), Bernie took me to one side and asked if I had called Pasquale a w#'nkerr, and I insisted I hadn't, and I hadn't. Bernie's response? "Its ok if you did, I know he's a wa'ker, you know he is, but you can't call him one". He then winked and walk off laughing.

Edited by f1steveuk, 27 June 2023 - 14:38.

[petere]

I'm dying to know what you did call him though....

[f1steveuk]

I'm dying to know what you did call him though....

I was nothing but polite..............

[Beri]

Mister W*nker, could I please get my pass?