19 replies to this topic

[Megatron]

Selected to drive the Honda in 1968 after Surtees wouldn't have anything to do with it? Of course, we all know the tragic events that took his life, but what was he doing there in the first place?

[FLB]

Honda France wanted a French driver in a second car. It was first offered to Johnny Servoz-Gavin, who took a Cooper-Maserati drive instead. Oncle Jo was 40 years old and desperate to break into F1. He cancelled a vacation to the Seychelles Islands he had promised his wife a few years before but never taken.

He was first and foremost a Ford France driver, actually competing in the Daytona 500 in 1968, driving a Ford. He was one of the few Europeans to have made a NASCAR Grand National start (Winston Cup now), along with Jimmy Clark, Jackie Oliver, Claude Ballot-Léna, etc.

[Don Capps]

Add Olivier Gendebien to the list of Europeans to make a NASCAR start...

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by FLB
Honda France wanted a French driver in a second car. It was first offered to Johnny Servoz-Gavin, who took a Cooper-Maserati drive instead. Oncle Jo was 40 years old and desperate to break into F1. He cancelled a vacation to the Seychelles Islands he had promised his wife a few years before but never taken.

He was first and foremost a Ford France driver, actually competing in the Daytona 500 in 1968, driving a Ford. He was one of the few Europeans to have made a NASCAR Grand National start (Winston Cup now), along with Jimmy Clark, Jackie Oliver, Claude Ballot-Léna, etc.

MotorSport had a good piece on Schlesser just a couple of months ago. Schlesser had a lot of experience in F2. According to the MotorSport article, and Jabby Crombac (whose comments were featured in the article), Honda France was considering Eric Offendahl.

Also add, David Hobbs, Innes Ireland, Rolf Stommelen, Vic Elford and Ludovico Scarfiotti (Scarfiotti only practiced the car) to European drivers to have made NASCAR starts.


Jim Thurman

[FLB]

Jim, shouldn't that be Éric Offenstadt? Offendahl doesn't ring a bell.

[Megatron]

Also, Lela Lombardi started in a NASCAR race...

[leegle]

Dick Johnson also got a NASCAR drive he was Australian Touring Car Champion at the time I think.

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by FLB
Jim, shouldn't that be Éric Offenstadt? Offendahl doesn't ring a bell.

Yes, it should. Thanks for the correction.

I didn't think that sounded right.

Now, I wondering who is Eric Offendahl?


Jim Thurman

[William Dale Jr]

Originally posted by leegle
Dick Johnson also got a NASCAR drive he was Australian Touring Car Champion at the time I think.

Yes, Johnson drove a NASCAR in selected races in 1989 and 1990. Other Australians to drive in NASCAR races were Allan Grice (first Aussie to qualify for the World 600 at Charlotte in 1987) and Terry Byers. I don't think there were any others.

Johnson was launched into the spotlight at Sears Point, where he qualified 11th and was 'wired for sound' on raceday. The American drivers were never in favour of talking to the commentators during races, and after Johnson's effort, I don't think the TV networks were, either. He started off by calling Richard Petty a 'd***head', something which is probably a criminal act punishable by a public lynching in Level Cross, NC, after the King spun Johnson heading into a corner. He then further endeared himself to the viewers by using the f-word when his car slid off on a patch of oil later in the race. IMO, the broadcaster should've used a bit more discression...

[Gil Bouffard]

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa,Whoa!

Dick Johnson was NOT, "wired for sound," at Sears Point! The in car camera had a mike attached to it to catch the sounds of the car. Johnson forgot about or didn't realize the sensitivity of the microphone.

His comments were (as the say on "Law & Order). "Excited utterances."

I was in the press area for that race covering it for "FASTLINES."

Now, we listen in on radio conversations between drivers and crews. Guess what? They curse also!

Stick a micrphone in front of a racing driver in the heat of battle and take your chances!

I know that I and many others who have experience some contretemps on the circuit have released, "excited utterances." You just can't hear them from inside a full face helmet.

The Gilster

[Pikachu Racing]

Geoff Brabham drove in the inagural Brickyard 400 in the 07 K-Mart car.

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by William Dale Jr

Johnson was launched into the spotlight at Sears Point, where he qualified 11th and was 'wired for sound' on raceday. The American drivers were never in favour of talking to the commentators during races, and after Johnson's effort, I don't think the TV networks were, either. He started off by calling Richard Petty a 'd***head', something which is probably a criminal act punishable by a public lynching in Level Cross, NC, after the King spun Johnson heading into a corner. He then further endeared himself to the viewers by using the f-word when his car slid off on a patch of oil later in the race. IMO, the broadcaster should've used a bit more discression...

But, then again this particular bunch has never been known for their discretion Witness the eight "utterances" in CART broadcasts or qualifying just in the last couple of seasons...or how they've handled them.

This particular network's discretion...that's a topic for another thread.


Jim Thurman

[bobbo]

Uh. . . .

HEy, fellows! Weren't we talking about Jo Schlesser? This is all good and interesting info, but it belongs on its own thread. . .

Bobbo

[FLB]

All right, back to Oncle Jo:

When I went to Daytona in July 1992 (and had to leave ONE day from Pepsi 400 qualifying ...), there was a white Pontiac Firebird on display near the control tower. It was the 1968 pace car. It had been autographed by every driver who took part in the race.

That's how I found out for the first time that he took part in the Daytona 500!

BTW, Pedro Rodriguez's autograph is also on the car

[Carlos Jalife]

Pedro Rodríguez and his brother Ricardo ran in Nascar as far back as the late 50s, but you should wait fortthe bio to get that story since I haven´t finished it. They were probably the first non USA drivers in it.
By the way, I think, therefore I am, , sorry that went off in a different direction. I think both Jochen Rindt and Denny Hulme also drove in NASCAR, Pedro encouraged Jochen when they were teammates and the austrian asked what it was like.
And about Jo. He was partner in a large Ford distributor in France with José Behra, the brother of Jean and the man who drove at Le Mans in 1958 with Pedro. Ultimately José bought Jo's widow at a very fair price when Jo died. The third partner in that was a guy named Guy Ligier whom you might recognize too. His Ligier F1 cars were all named JS12 or JS whatever number is next in order to honor Jo Schlesser (JS).

[Vitesse2]

Thanks Carlos - that note about the JS designations was one of those "Gosh, yes, I'd forgotten that" moments.

And I know you're not writing in your first language, but I don't think Behra "bought Jo's widow": "bought out" perhaps ...

[Martyj]

Sorry to keep this thread on NASCAR, but about Rindt...he was at the same Rockingham race in 1967 that Clark participated in. But I don't know if he actually started. He may have only practiced. Anyone have any info on this? I'm a big Rindt fan.

[Yves]

I find from my Sport-Auto collection in N° 1 (1962) a very short biography of Jo Schlesser at that time.
I you want I will report it because it's short ;-)
The most remarquable thing with Jo is that because he was just a very humble clerk (doing paper work in a large company, is that the right word ?) as he was already 25 or so, he accepted a job outside of France (outremer) in New caledonia (? need to check) for many years with a tripled salary. Low life cost and big salary allowed him to buy a 300SL and he start a professionnel job as driver when he came back in France when he was a lot more as 30 ...
In the sixties, I think he was many times national champion.
I must explain that in that time, they were many national tittles in France for only natives and the "track" chamionship include all events not depending on the category of the car and Jo being an official driver for Ford France was able to drove all Ford cars, this company being very active at that time. I remember that he drove GT40 but also FII (I meet him with Guy Ligier at Snetterton for a FII meeting) and other Falcon and later on the Capri (just out of memory, need to be checked ;-) )
Jo was quite famous in France at that time, even if he has never been a very first range driver, he was considered as a solid professionnal.

Y.

[Mike Argetsinger]

Originally posted by Martyj
Sorry to keep this thread on NASCAR, but about Rindt...he was at the same Rockingham race in 1967 that Clark participated in. But I don't know if he actually started. He may have only practiced. Anyone have any info on this? I'm a big Rindt fan.

I had dinner with Jochen and Jimmy Clark and Ludovico Scarfiotti at Rockingham the evening before that race in November 1967. All three had practiced that day but only Jimmy was to start the race (he did very well too - I forget where he started - somewhere around 22nd as I recall - and he seemed to pass a car every lap until his car broke - I think he got up to 10th or 11th). Jochen told me that there weren't enough good cars available for all three of them to race and have any chance for a decent result - so in the end only Jimmy raced - I know that Jochen hugely enjoyed himself in practice. The whole thing had been arranged by Big Bill France who had brought them over at his expense and arranged the cars from Holman&Moody. France was very internationally minded and in addition to being a great promoter was a real visionary.

[Carlos Jalife]

Guys, sorry about the "bought the widow" part
And now that you mention europeans Vic Elford also drove in NASCAR, the Daytona 500 in 1969 and a few years later I think. He drove for Cooper the day Jo died and he had a great race but the fast lap in that rainy day went to none other than Pedro Rodríguez. Pedro stayed for the funeral since he was a friend of the Behra's and they had introduced him to Jo and they got along rather well. It was a very sad time for all of them and Pedro remembered Jose telling Jo not to run the Honda since it wasn't a great car exactly but Jo felt it was a now or never opportunity and took it.