37 replies to this topic

[stevew]

Having some flashbacks here... I keep wanting to remember it as Grand Prix du Roc...

Is this classic (not sure what to call it, parody?) still available? Tape? CD?

I remember phrases:

"Revolutionary wooden engine"
"Bill Dill"
"Initial eight-yard straight"

And weren't the "Snorchedies" drivers required to wear overalls with a center shirt pocket (so as to not interfere with critical weight distribution)?

Any info?

[Gary Davies]

Ah, memories. Girling Foss, etc. I have it on vinyl ... must get it transferred to CD

Vanwall.

Edited by Gary Davies, 30 March 2021 - 08:57.

[david_martin]

Ahh yes, who could forget Commendatore Fanfani and his Paraguayan star driver Fandango, von Grips and the all-American hero Bill Dill. The interview with the Schnorcedes boss Altbauer "man must be zee slave of zee machine" is still one of the funniest pieces of observation humour I have ever heard

I do recall reading perhaps 5 or 6 years ago that the album had been re-issued on cassette and CD, although I don't know by whom and where it might be found (very helpful..;) )

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Vanwall
Ah, memories. Girling Moss, etc. I have it on vinyl ...

I remember it was Girling Foss... and that bit about the central pocket, too...

But how many years has it been?

I heard it at Mike Kable's place, I think he had it... will ask Joy when I get a chance.

[Gary Davies]

Originally posted by Ray Bell


I remember it was Girling Foss... and that bit about the central pocket, too...

But how many years has it been?

I heard it at Mike Kable's place, I think he had it... will ask Joy when I get a chance.

Ray of course it was Girling Foss. Damn, damn, damn. What a twit ... the head said Foss but the finger hit M

Vanwall.

[ensign14]

Not forgetting M Orgini's underfinanced specials, the playboy racer Rosarubi and commentator Roland Thaxter. 'Now, red means its Ger- er-er- blue is Germany...'

[Vitesse2]

How have I managed never to hear this?! I did a Google search and found a reference to a cassette version from 1997 - in the Sydney Morning Herald Christmas gift guide . Plus two copies for sale - one in the States, one in France. I notice that the US version was done by Riverside Records - I seem to remember something from a few months back about plans to reissue their back catalogue of racing albums?

Edit:
Ah - found it!

http://www.atlasf1.c...verside Records

[Bumblyari]

Then there was Tony Cooks the part-time optometrist.

It's a brilliant piece of work which gets better the more you listen to it.

Riverside Records were bought out by Fantasy Records of Berkeley, California who produced the copy I have and Fantasy state on their website:

"We will be continually updating our catalog as new releases and new reissues become available. E-mail your special requests and comments to info@fantasyjazz.com"

So who knows, if they get enough requests they might re-issue it on CD

[Ray Bell]

Oh, by the way, isn't it 'Gibraltar'?

[stevew]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
Oh, by the way, isn't it 'Gibraltar'?

It was late...

[pedro]

It seems rather unfortunate that in two runnings of the event, they never managed to have a single finisher. But one question that's been playing on my mind for some time is, under the GP rules of the time, would Girling Foss have been considered to have completed sufficient laps to be declared the winner?

Under current rules, of course, the race would have been halted after 2 hours, though this wouldn't have made much difference to the first edition, in which all the retirements seemed to occur on lap one.

So, what I was wondering is (serious question), do any GP rules, past or present, have a contingency clause to cover situations in which no-one is running at the finish? Would victory be given to the last car to retire? Or to whoever had completed the greatest distance? Has this situation ever actually occured in any major race?

[Barry Boor]

Has this situation ever actually occured in any major race?

I cannot remember such a happening, though one or two Monaco Grand Prix races came fairly close.

[Vitesse2]

There is a race in Sheldon somewhere where there were no finishers who completed the full distance, but I can't remember what it was. Some time in the 20s.

[Ray Bell]

There are rules about minimum distance to be covered...

Whether or not these are universal, I have no idea. It comes under the red flagging provisions, normally, but no doubt the same would apply in the event that all runners had retired. From memory, it's about two thirds distance.

Then again, without maximum time limits, and assuming some of the cars retired in the pits, it would be necessary to allow some period for cars to be repaired... even if there were no cars still running.

Just imagine what teams would do to get a car back out there if this were the case... cobbling up just anything to get that win, especially for a backrunner.

[ray b]

there was a NASTY CAR race that nobody finished.
500 miler but due to wrecks and blowups
the last running car "WON" at 490 something

[FrankB]

Isn't there a Brockbank cartoon with the starter standing at the side of the track, flag poised - and every driver on the grid has his hand raised?

[oldtimer]

Originally posted by Barry Boor


I cannot remember such a happening, though one or two Monaco Grand Prix races came fairly close.

1975 British GP at Silverstone was very close

[Gianni B]

It has been re-released on CD by Ace Records in the UK

http://www.acerecord.../cdrivm014.html

I was able to purchase it here in the States on Amazon.

Cheers,
Gianni

[FlagMan]

From memory - I think the 'blue book' states that if no car crosses the finish line during a period of 10 minutes, the cheq'd flag can be shown and the race declared complete.

Again from memry - one of the best bits of the record is the addition to the regulations of the 'purple' flag to indicate that the crown prince has arrived - and the instructions to all drivers to stop their cars and stand to attention.

[pedro]

I think the 'blue book' states that if no car crosses the finish line during a period of 10 minutes, the cheq'd flag can be shown and the race declared complete.

Surely that cannot be right - at circuits like Nurburgring there would be a danger of the race being declared over on the first lap! It seems more likely that instead of a fixed 10 minutes, it would be some multiple of a 'normal' lap time, or perhaps, 10 minutes plus a normal lap time. Anyone know the exact blue book ruling?

[FlagMan]

Pedo - You could be right about that for the 'Ring - the 'blue book' only covers national and lower grade racing in the UK so it would not be a problem - though sometimes it just feels like they are doing 10+ min laps.

[pedro]

Sorry - getting my 'book' colours confused. Am I right in thinking the Blue Book is the RAC British one, and the Yellow Book international?

[FlagMan]

Correct - I do not have a copy of the yellow book - except for a very old one from the early 70's - if I can find that I will check if it has a similar regulation.

[Seppi_0_917PA]

I just stumbled upon the announcement of the CD reissue of this:

PETER USTINOV
The Grand Prix of Gibraltar!
Riverside RCD-833-2 ~ $14.98 AVAILABLE 8/12

http://www.fantasyja..._p_cat.html#833

[Richard Neale]

The CD is also available from Good Music Record Co,Hays House,Freepost PY2035, Box 99, St Austell, Cornwall. PL25 4BR at £ 7.95. Stock #1719C

Woody

[David Beard]

What was Ustinov spoofing with the American "Wildfowl" car....Cunningham? Too early for Scarab?

[Richard Neale]

A 'Duck' perhaps?

[RayBo]

The Wildfowl is the Ford Thunderbird

[Ray Bell]

As long as it wasn't Chaparral...

He would have needed a Coyote to do that.

[Breadmaster]

a new (working) link: http://www.fantasyja...inov_p_cat.html

cheers!

[lanciaman]

Legend has it Ustinov showed up in the studio with just a handful of notes and winged it from there. I loaned my vinyls out (I had 2) years ago never to see them again, and am glad to learn from you posters that I can get another.

[Anorak Man]

The Grand Prix of Gibraltar by Peter Ustinov, Audio CD .
Raymond Thaxter interviews; Von Grips, Fandango, and Foss, for those who missed perhaps the most hilarious GP of them all. A breath of fresh ... petrol.

Go on, you'll love it.

Go here, scroll down and you'll find it bottom left.

http://www.born-agai...ian.info/f1.htm

AM

[Kjetil]

DukeVideo also have the CD
http://www.dukevideo...oducts/3870.htm

[50Fraud]

My favorite details were also from the Schnorcedes interview:
1) Drivers rode in the cars with one leg forwards and one to the rear, to improve weight distribution, and
2) Drivers were to blow their noses before the race (and surrender the tissue) to minimize weight.

[Breadmaster]

amazon.co.uk

as reviewed by Atlas F1's own petefenelon......

[David Beard]

The LP was produced by "Riverside Records", our American friends might be interested to know....

[dbltop]

I have just scored a copy of Ustinov's GP of Gibralter!! It cost me a buck at a used record sale and I can't wait to listen to it as I have never heard it before. I have to wait though because I got it just before I went to work and I'm just home now at 5;45 am. So I know what i'm doing when I get up

[Tom Glowacki]

Eoin Young's "The Amazing Summer of '55" has a chapter on "The Grand Prix of Gibraltar". Ustinov told Young that he had a cold while making the recording, which was a good thing, because without the cold, he could only have done an 8 cylinder engine.