30 replies to this topic

[Parkesi]

I am sure there is someone in TNF who knows the answer.

Monte Carlo Rallye/1967 there was a crew Eric Hassell & John Miles (Sunbeam Imp)/DNF

Was this the future Formula 1 driver John Miles?

Feedback much appreciated. 

[Derwent Motorsport]

I think that there were two John Miles around that time. The other was a journalist and high performance driving instructor. 

[ReWind]

The one you are looking for is mentioned here:
 

 

The first Course Manager was a man of excellent pedigree in road driving and was ideally suited to the job. John Miles was an ex-Hendon Advanced Wing Police Driving Instructor who, during his time at Hendon, also trained some of the remarkable Flying Squad drivers. A man with a great affinity with motor cars he was also well known as a competitor in a number of police and international car rallies in the sixties. John Miles was also famous for his BBC2 TV series "Master Driver" with its accompanying book. His book "Expert Driving the Police Way" is still probably one of the best around on the police system of driving and does much to allay accusations of inflexibility and pedantry which occasionally arise. It was this almost unique background which helped to set both the ethos and the renowned high standards of the High Performance Course, which was a world first when it was launched.

 

Here he is [- I hope it is the right one -]:

Edited by ReWind, 19 November 2024 - 10:26.

[Parkesi]

Thank YOU! TNF is just terrific.15 min later there are two answers. What a depth of knowledge!

[Collombin]

Here he is [- I hope it is the right one -]:

Not a helpful angle, but I thought that one was the Queen.

[ensign14]

And then there was this chap.

 

[ReWind]

Better angle:


I understand this John Miles was appointed MBE (Member of the British Empire) in 2009 for voluntary service to cancer charities in Bristol. He is a showbusiness agent, so maybe not the rallyman, after all?

[BRG]

This is Miss UK (Sheena Drummond) flagging away car 107 on the 1969 RAC Rally. John Miles, the co-driver is at the wheel and cannot be seen whilst driver Mark Kahn is visible in the passenger seat.  Miles did the RAC with Kahn several times.  He also co-drove on the Monte Carlo Rally, notably for Tommy Wisdom in a MG1100.

 

 

EDIT Sorry, having trouble posting the image.  

 

https://www.mediasto...MpOyLLEmAx6jkWe

Edited by BRG, 19 November 2024 - 12:45.

[Bloggsworth]

There was John "Diva" Miles and a John "Turner" Miles, is this a third?

[MCS]

And wasn't there a thread way back on the drivers known as John Miles ?

 

And, no, I can't find it.

[ReWind]

@MCS: Maybe this one?

[MCS]

Alas, no - prompted by Bloggie, I am sure there was another one once upon a time.

 

Tim, Richard ?

[plannerpower]

There is an interesting film that features the "driving instructor" John Miles;

 

https://www.bpvideol....com/record/689

 

There are good frames that may help to distinguish him from others of the same name.

 

 

 

 

[Tim Murray]

Alas, no - prompted by Bloggie, I am sure there was another one once upon a time.

Tim, Richard ?

One of these, perhaps?

John Miles

John Miles RIP

[Parkesi]

Miles & more? Thank you to all involved. Didn`t know there were so many John Miles...

For me it is of interest to learn that the Formula 1 John Miles was obviously NOT the Rallye MC 1967 John Miles.

As expeced - there was no reference in "Lunch with..."/Simon Taylor in MotorSport October 2014.

 

BRG mentioned Mark Kahn. 

I was always impressed by his book "The Day I Died"/1974 - despite the morbid title. 

Book jacket: Mark Kahn; Fleet Street journalist (Sunday Mirror) and author writes excitingly about the strangely unrelated worlds of books and motor sport.

Has rallied at International level - the Monte, World Cup Rally, 1970, the RAC Rally of Great Britain. Age and overweight now confine him to the road". 

Is there any information regarding his later life? CV? 

[Derwent Motorsport]

Did he not edit the CSMA Gazette at one time? There was also an Ian Kahn who I think raced in BTCC in a Vauxhall?

[BRG]

Did he not edit the CSMA Gazette at one time? There was also an Ian Kahn who I think raced in BTCC in a Vauxhall?

I think that was Ian KHAN in the BTCC and GTs.  Ian Kahn is apparently an American actor.

[Bloggsworth]

Just had a phone call from Bob Curl asking if I remember the name of the driver who circuit raced a Darrian - Did they win the British GT Championship? I know I could have started a new thread, but everyone here, except me, knows everything...

[Alan Lewis]

Just had a phone call from Bob Curl asking if I remember the name of the driver who circuit raced a Darrian - Did they win the British GT Championship? I know I could have started a new thread, but everyone here, except me, knows everything...

Ken Thomson won the GT3 title in the 1996 British Championship.

[BRG]

Just had a phone call from Bob Curl asking if I remember the name of the driver who circuit raced a Darrian - Did they win the British GT Championship? I know I could have started a new thread, but everyone here, except me, knows everything...

 

It was run in conjunction with Swansea University as part of their Motorsport Engineering degree course.

[ReWind]

I don't see mention of another John Miles who was often my fellow Escort main class opposition in hill climbs and sprints in the 90s. Owner of Polkacrest waste disposal at that time which gave its name to a 7oaks & DMC run speed championship with several rounds far removed from the south east.

Nitpicking mode on: Google says he was not John but Jon Miles. Nitpicking mode off.

[john aston]

Apropos nothing much , I  always smile when I  see one David Coulthard at Harewood in a Rover ZR 160. Comfier than a Red Bull RB9 I guess...  

[Derwent Motorsport]

That DC and his partner Helen are stalwarts of the MG Car Club and enter under Red Bill Racing.  Lovely couple.

[BRG]

And I think he is a member here under the username CoulthardD although I haven't seen any posts from him for a while.

[RobertE]

The F1 John Miles in question is the son of Bernard Miles the actor. Hope that helps...

[P.Dron]

Why was John the Grand Prix driver and talented engineer nicknamed "Diva"? It does not fit with his personality: he was unostentatious and modest as well as witty and very intelligent.

[Geoff E]

Why was John the Grand Prix driver and talented engineer nicknamed "Diva"? It does not fit with his personality: he was unostentatious and modest as well as witty and very intelligent.

 

A March 1965 newspaper has results showing that J Miles won a Mallory Park GT race driving a Diva Ford. 

[P.Dron]

A March 1965 newspaper has results showing that J Miles won a Mallory Park GT race driving a Diva Ford. 

 

Aha!

[pete53]

Why was John the Grand Prix driver and talented engineer nicknamed "Diva"? It does not fit with his personality: he was unostentatious and modest as well as witty and very intelligent.

Simply to distinguish between the two John Miles that were both competing at that same time, and often, I recall, in the same races. So it was in no way a reference to a personality trait.

[Bloggsworth]

Why was John the Grand Prix driver and talented engineer nicknamed "Diva"? It does not fit with his personality: he was unostentatious and modest as well as witty and very intelligent.

He was racing a Diva GT at the same time as a John "Turner" Miles was driving a Turner, it was merely a means of distinguishing the two.

[MCS]

Wasn't this posted somewhere previously and possibly by you, Bloggie?

 

Maybe the threads should be merged?  People's memories aren't always reliable and I'm 90% certain I'm making the same posts I did several years ago.  Sorry.