35 replies to this topic

[Gary C]

I can't believe no-one has started a thread for George Harrison. He was huge Formula 1 fan, and had been since the fifties. I think he once said he had been in Formula 1 longer than Bernie Ecclestone! (said with his usual tongue-in-cheek!), he attended his first GP at Aintree in the mid-50's. I remember in his book ('I, Me, Mine') that he remembered going round Brands Hatch in one of John Surtees F1 cars in the early 70's, and couldn't understand why it was so drafty. It was only when he got half way round the lap that he realised he hadn't put a crash helmet on!
Don't forget, after Ronnie Peterson's crash he put out a record called 'Faster' that was dedicated 'To Ronnie Peterson and the entire F1 circus'. The single featured photos of everyone from Fangio to Jim Clark to JYS etc. He even got Jackie Stewart to star in the accompanying promo film (that's 'video' to all you youngsters!). I personally saw him at the Australian GP in 97 and 98, Silverstone in 98 (where I managed to get his autograph), and numerous Festivals of Speed (he drove his Rocket up the hill at the first Festival). He could claim that both barry Sheene and Damon Hill were personal friends, he was the final guest in Damon's 'This Is Your Life' programme on ITV. As he came through the door, the camera cut to Damon, who raised his eyebrows in surprise that George had appeared for him. And I haven't even touched on his musical prowess!
Good speed guitar man, and thank you.

[bobbo]

Wow! Never knew that!

Now, MY guitar softly weeps.

Play on, George.

Bobbo

[Vitesse2]

There is a thread in Paddock, of course, but I agree with Gary that we should also mark George's passing here - he was a great friend to motor racing, as Gary has pointed out so eloquently, and, unlike so many "celebrity fans" who appear at GPs, was a man with a genuine love and knowledge of the sport. He will be sadly missed ....

All things must pass ....

[Barry Lake]

After the conclusion of the Australian Grand Prix in recent years, George Harrison could be seen joking around with members of the McLaren team, behind the pits.

This year, 2001, I saw him in a "jam session" with a few of the McLaren group, with various instruments - most of them playing and singing quite badly, but Harrison was singing along with them. He seemed to remember the words of those old Beatles songs very well.

It was probably the smallest crowd to which a Beatle had ever performed. There were about half a dozen people watching, including myself. The rest of the crowd rushed on by, searching for those elusive Formula 1 drivers...

I was fortunate enough to actually have a few words with Harrison at the Australian GP in 1999 - in what I found to be humourous circumstances - and I wrote a very brief piece about it in my "behind the scenes" column in Motor Racing Australia.

If I can track it down, I will post a copy here.

[Barry Lake]

Found it!
______________________________________

Missing Moss trophy
In conversation with living GP legend Stirling Moss about the beautifully-designed Australian GP trophies, Moss reflected on an amusing story about trophies from his racing days.
In the late 1950s he raced in Venezuela with the Maserati team and he said the Maserati team manager, Ugolini, was checking all the trophies Moss had won. They were beautiful trophies, said Moss, so Ugolini kept saying, "We will keep this one...and this one..."
When he came to the trophy for fastest lap of the race, also won by Moss, Stirling said, "It was quite small and an ugly looking thing. He handed it to me and said, 'This one's yours'"
The joke, Stirling told us, was that when he got it home he realised, "It was made of gold...solid gold...six pounds of gold. It must be worth a fortune! I've still got it at home somewhere."
The gleeful look on his face faded somewhat when his charming wife, Susie, said, "I don't think so, darling. I think the second Mrs Moss got that one."
"Oh, it will be there somewhere," he said; but Susie continued, "It's not there; I've looked."
And at that point, Stirling began to look slightly faint...

Squashed Beatle
A large journalist involved in the above conversation, keen to dominate Moss's attention, was crowding him and repeatedly giving anyone else present (me) a view of his broad back.
When another man and his lady arrived on the scene and tried to speak to Moss, they were given the same treatment. The new arrivals skirted around Moss and his “assailant” and struck up a conversation with this writer, beginning with “Who’s he, then?” When the large journo had finished commanding Stirling’s attention he turned and strode away - unaware that he'd just given the cold-shoulder to ex-Beatle, George Harrison! – Barry Lake
_______________________________________

So, in answer to the question "Did Jim Clark ever meet The Beatles?", I can say, "I don't really know, but Barry Lake met one of them, ever so briefly..."

On that occasion, I was being so careful to avoid making him feel uncomfortable that I didn't really get into any depth of conversation. Now, I'm sitting here wishing I had. He certainly seemed to have matured into a very down to earth, even humble person.

[Yelnats]

Yes, George was one of F1's greatest supporters, I'm surprised he never got into the sport at the sponsorship level. Perhaps he did but kept it very low profile. In Canada his CBC radio eulogy featured F1 as his major outside-music interest and the announcer expressed surprise that such a contemplative soul would be choose such a dynamic and technical field. This of course puts us in very good company!

Good Bye George and .... Hari Krishna!

[mhferrari]

The Good Old Chap.

[ehagar]

Was a mate of Barry Sheene, and helped Steve Parrish in 78. Bought Parrish an RG500 and used two of his record labels to co-sponsor him.

[Roger Clark]

For a long time he owned the Monaco 61 winning Lotus 18. He drove it at the Gunnar Nillson memorial meeting at Donington Park. Poignant when you consider the causes of their deaths.

When you've seen beyond yourself - then you may find peace of mind is waiting there
And the time may come when you see we're all one and life flows on within you and without you.


RIP

[2F-001]

Roger - I was at the Donington memorial meeting for Gunnar too (with my father) - I had forgotten a lot of the participants - poignancy indeed...

I believe that Harrison also owned a Light Car Company Rocket (the Gordon Murray / Chris Craft bike-engined device); never encountered him on a track-day like some other musicians, but one assumes from this choice that he appreciated cars for attributes well beyond their price tag and social cachet (not that it was exactly cheap!).

[Barry Boor]

The world is just a tiny bit sadder now........

[swing]

Yes I am a bit sadden too...

Anyway, Just thought you guys might be interest to see this. I also noticed that this record was released to donate to the "GUNNAR NILSSON" CANCER FUND...

http://cgi.ebay.com/...item=1492389269

[Maldwyn]

Originally posted by Roger Clark
For a long time he owned the Monaco 61 winning Lotus 18. He drove it at the Gunnar Nillson memorial meeting at Donington Park

George Harrison - cars & racing

[dmj]

Wow!
I really didn't know anything about George and his love to racing.
Now I'll got my mind even more set on him...

[RJL]

George Harrison was a brilliant guitar player and song writer. The world is definitely a sadder place without him because we always need more great songs. though Mr. Harrison's voice has been silenced, his musical legacy will live on. Godspeed George, we will miss you.

[Vitesse2]

I found this on another forum, posted by some bloke called Ron Ball (I think that was his name anyway ....;) )

My brother is much more of a pop music follower than I am, he wrote this in memory of George Harrison and asked me to spread it around... anyone can use it for any purpose as long as he is accredited as author.

We shall miss you, George,
now your last day's gone.
May you find your peace
as you meet with John
to renew the love
that has lain so low
since your last goodbye
all those years ago.

With the strings set free,
you're a fine young dove.
Fly away from here
to a place called love,
but remind yourself,
when you are on that plane,
of your time on earth,
when you soothed our pain.

And remind your heart
of the silver cord
that's connecting you
to your own sweet lord,
as your spirit flies
and your body sleeps
close to your guitar,
where it gently weeps.

Brian Bell

[hook]

Vitesse2:

Thank you for sharing it...I'm gonna put some music to it...and keep it for myself.

Good journey George

[AS110]

A radio station my daughter was listening to said that this guy used to play with the Beatles,way cool !!!
Unlike most celebs George didn't use his fame to boost his image at every opportunity,quite the opposite.Most would of had cameo appearances in all those movies.

In a celebrity rating of 1 to 10,I give George a solid 18

God speed Dark Horse

[Carlos Jalife]

We'll certainly miss him.
And in the end, George was married to a mexican girl, Olivia, their son Dhani is 23 already.
I used his Faster song in the intro to my radio programs here in Mexico and last Friday when we had the press conference to announce the Monterrey CART race with Adrián Fernández, I found out about his death rather early so I called home, asked one of my sons to play the song from the record and make it an MP3, send it by e mail to my office in Monterrey, unloaded it in a CD and we played it several times before the conference. It was a way of paying my respects to the man.

[Gary C]

Carlos, nicely done.

[Vitesse2]

Carlos:

[Wolf]

I just heard on the news today that Queen has decided to posthumously knight George Harrison.

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Wolf
I just heard on the news today that Queen has decided to posthumously knight George Harrison.

I would treat this with caution - the New Years Honours List has not yet been announced and while leaks are not unknown, I can't ever recall a posthumous knighthood ...

[Vitesse2]

Sorry Wolf - I'm watching the first report of the list right now: no George Harrison I'm afraid ....

[Maldwyn]

It certainly would have been a deserving honour for his contribution to music and film. Quite why Paul McCartney was singled out for a Knighthood a few years ago is beyond me. The Beatles as a whole made a remarkable contribution to music.

[rmhorton]

Nice thread, and it reminded me of this article on Speedvision.com a while ago.

http://www.speedvisi...ary/011206.html


Roger Horton

[David McKinney]

Today's Daily Mail suggests Harrison will receive the posthumous honour in June.
As Vitesse2 points out, posthumous awards are very rare.
Perhaps John Lennon will get a knighthood in June as well

[Gary C]

and Richie !!!

[Richard Jenkins]

Me? A knighthood?
I hope not. Posthoumous honours have only happened when someone has died after the award - people get the award in November & then have to keep shtum. If Harrison was to be knighted, we'd known about it at his death. otherwise, why not knight all the others who died young? It's a dangerous precedent & when there are others like Sykes, Briers, Lofthouse, La Carre, Surtees, Cleese, Palin and so many more un-knighted, I can't see what purpose bestowing a knighthood on a dead, admittedly brilliant man will achieve.
Daily Mail has long since been spewing out rubbish so I take anything they say very lightly indeed..

[fines]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins
It's a dangerous precedent & when there are others like Sykes, Briers, Lofthouse, La Carre, Surtees, Cleese, Palin and so many more un-knighted, I can't see what purpose bestowing a knighthood on a dead, admittedly brilliant man will achieve.

Does that mean Jones, Chapman and Idle are already knighted? (I suppose they don't consider an American worthy...)

[Richard Jenkins]

Chapman is dead, so he won't get nowt.

I suggested those two due to the amount of work they've done since Monty Python. But I think, like the Goons they'll miss out until it's too late. Milligan got an honorary, Secombe was knighted but Sellers & bentine missed out. In another 20 years, when maybe only two are still alive, they might honour them.
If Ronnie Barker were knighted, what about Corbett? A thorny question. I was surprised actually that Jon Thaw, badly ill from cancer, didn't get one, or David Jason, but that's me...

[Gary C]

for 'Richie' I meant Mr.Richard Starkey MBE.

[Richard Jenkins]

Twas a joke, Gary. I'll settle for a MBE instead...

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by Gary C
for 'Richie' I meant Mr.Richard Starkey MBE.

Ringo, in other words ?

[Gary C]

Oh yes indeed. Wasn't it George himself who said' We got Richie on a tour' (Living In The Material World, 1973).

[nigel red5]

Cheers for the insight Gary C. One of my first thoughts when the news broke that George had died, was that F1 lost it`s best F1 celebrity friend..........a real shame.

Wow! - I never knew that "Faster" was actually released as a single - that`s excellent.

Motors tv (French based motorsport channel) have been showing the video of "Faster" frequently during December. The song is so catch-y, it`s a really good tune.

Chorus :
Faster than a bullet from a gun.
He is faster than everyone.
Quicker than the blinking of an eye.
Like a flash you can miss him going by.
No-one knows quite how he does it but it`s true......they say he`s a master of going faster.