35 replies to this topic

[RTH]

If I remember correctly at the British Grand Prix each year the driver who posted best time of the day on Friday qualifying won 100 bottles of Champagne , I think it was put up by the London Evening Standard. Clearly not hearing of it for a great many years, it is long gone .

I wonder when it started, when it ended, and why and which notables received it ?

[ian senior]

Presumably in the days when the GP was held on Saturday, otherwise why not for Satrurday qualifying? I do recall that prize. It must have been in the days when champagne was regarded as something to drink rather than sprayed.

[Twin Window]

Same for the Race of Champions, wasn't it? I remember being nearby when Belters was presented with his in 1973.

The last ever pole for BRM, that was - backed-up by second and third slots courtesy of Lauda and Schuppan. I was ecstatic!

[D-Type]

The idea came from Reims which is at the heart of the Champagne area. They gave 100 bottles for pole, new course records, etc.

I'm not sure when the idea crossed the channel - somehow the first Brands Hatch GP rings a bell.

[ian senior]

Originally posted by D-Type
The idea came from Reims which is at the heart of the Champagne area. They gave 100 bottles for pole, new course records, etc.

I'm not sure when the idea crossed the channel - somehow the first Brands Hatch GP rings a bell.

They should have kept the "local produce" angle and given 100 bottles of Shepherd Neame ale.

[Twin Window]

Or Mackeson's.

[Sharman]

I thought Mackesons was recommended for nursing mothers.

[RTH]

Originally posted by Twin Window
Or Mackeson's.

Wasn't their slogan :-

"It looks good, it tastes good, ........and by golly it does you good ! "

[condor]

That's why the generic name is stout

[Twin Window]

Originally posted by RTH

Wasn't their slogan :-

"It looks good, it tastes good, ........and by golly it does you good ! "

It was - right up until they were asked to submit proof of their claims. And then it wasn't.

A bit like PAL dogfood, who failed to prove that their product 'Prolongs Active Life'. And Mars bars, whose slogan... (continued on p94)

[Alan Cox]

The star of the Mackeson TV advert, who spoke that immortal line with a charming rustic tone, was, of course, Bernard Miles, the father of Lotus GP driver John Miles. And we all know who crafted the Mars slogan.....................

[bradbury west]

Originally posted by condor
That's why the generic name is stout

Nice to see you back.

RL

[Twin Window]

Originally posted by Alan Cox

The star of the Mackeson TV advert, who spoke that immortal line with a charming rustic tone, was, of course, Bernard Miles, the father of Lotus GP driver John Miles.

Really? Ha - I didn't know that!

[MCS]

Was it the London Evening Standard or the London Evening News? (Well it was certainly one or the other)...

But Mackeson? What a dreadful drink that was. How could anything that tasted so absolutely vile be "good" for you?

I trust it's long gone.

[Ray Bell]

Brands Hatch is right, I'm sure... probably when they first ran the GP there...

It's probably the reason they got it.

[rudi]

I remember a photo of Dan Gurney and Harry Weslake and the bottles, in 1967.

[Geoff E]

Originally posted by Alan Cox
And we all know who crafted the Mars slogan.....................

Modestly, he says he was just "one of the team".

However, he's willing to claim "Trill makes budgies bounce with health," as his own.

[bradbury west]

Originally posted by Alan Cox
The star of the Mackeson TV advert, who spoke that immortal line with a charming rustic tone, was, of course, Bernard Miles, the father of Lotus GP driver John Miles. ....................

IIRC he used to run the Mermaid Theatre in East London, down by the river for many years. Fine character actor of the old school, appearing in many films and early TV stuff. In those days appearing in advertisments was seen as a bit infra dig, usually being the province of wannabes or resting actors, unlike today. I think he needed the money to live, as the Mermaid was always marginal for funding

RL

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by RTH
If I remember correctly at the British Grand Prix each year the driver who posted best time of the day on Friday qualifying won 100 bottles of Champagne , I think it was put up by the London Evening Standard. Clearly not hearing of it for a great many years, it is long gone .

I wonder when it started, when it ended, and why and which notables received it ?

From memory - because it's late and I can't be bothered to hunt it down in various books - Jochen got them in 1970 and NGH in1968. On one of those occasions (pretty sure it's 1970) there's a description of Chunky dividing the spoils: "Ten bottles to Goodyear" etc etc ...

Or was it Black Jack?





Too much 6X and Old Speckled Hen ....

[2F-001]

Were'nt Lotus still with Firestone in 70, though?
That would be remarkably egalitarian even back then!

[ian senior]

The bubbly was on offer at the 1964 British GP. According to Motor Sport, it was awarded to the driver who was fastest in the first Friday morning practice session. Don't know if this was the first time, though.

[Bernd]

Same prize at Longford for the pole sitter of the South Pacific Trophy race.

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by 2F-001
Were'nt Lotus still with Firestone in 70, though?
That would be remarkably egalitarian even back then!

Like I said ....;)

Originally posted by Vitesse2
Too much 6X and Old Speckled Hen ....

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Bernd
Same prize at Longford for the pole sitter of the South Pacific Trophy race.

Or the Examiner Trophy Race?

I know it was one of them because I drank some!

[oldtimer]

Originally posted by D-Type
The idea came from Reims which is at the heart of the Champagne area. They gave 100 bottles for pole, new course records, etc.

I'm not sure when the idea crossed the channel - somehow the first Brands Hatch GP rings a bell.

Indeed. Off the top of my head, Hawthorn won his 100 bottles for fastest practice lap in 1958, but I feel sure the practice pre-dates that.

As for Mackenson's milk stout, IMHO, it made a great complement to a ploughman's lunch.

[richie]

Originally posted by RTH
If I remember correctly at the British Grand Prix each year the driver who posted best time of the day on Friday qualifying won 100 bottles of Champagne , I think it was put up by the London Evening Standard. Clearly not hearing of it for a great many years, it is long gone .

I wonder when it started, when it ended, and why and which notables received it ?

From "Life at the Limit" Graham Hill states" in 1968 at the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch I got pole position........all very satisfactory because I won a hundred bottles of champagne... and I was having a party on the night after the race, which all tied in very nicely".

[RStock]

I know Tom Pryce recieved the 100 bottles in 1974 . I wonder if the practice fell out of favor when Williams landed the Saudia sponsorship , and Orange juice was substituted for champers .

[P. Dron]

Originally posted by Geoff E


Modestly, he says he was just "one of the team".

However, he's willing to claim "Trill makes budgies bounce with health," as his own.

...and also, "An only budgie is a lonely budgie." Two budgies, twice as much Trill.

[wagons46]

Good ol' Hoddo (Ron Hodgson) donated 125 bottles for the 1967 Gallaher 500, but split them into 25 for fastest qualifier outright Saturday, and 20 for quickest on race day thru the flying 1/8th on Conrod, for each of the 5 classes.

[COUGAR508]

Originally posted by P. Dron


...and also, "An only budgie is a lonely budgie." Two budgies, twice as much Trill.

This is one of many amusing tales from his advertising days recounted by the great man in his autobiography.

[Ray Bell]

This discussion could go on a lot further...

What we need is to enter into discussion about drinking the stuff. Personally I had two attacks on this kind of bubbly, both at after-race parties with winners of the Australian Grand Prix.

Bruce McLaren's party was at the Launceston Travelodge, with somewhat of a subdued side to it due to the three deaths that had affected the Tasman races over the preceding week, the second was an hilarious affair at the Chermside Caravilla north of Brisbane.

While Bruce had won his for pole position (and possibly more for winning the race), Graham had his for his race win only, he having inherited the lead at Lakeside when Jackie Stewart's gearbox broke apart.

He had the table in stitches at times (I still don't know how I came to be sitting there!) and embarrassed the ladies serving greatly.

Anyone else got such stories?

[canon1753]

Originally posted by COUGAR508


This is one of many amusing tales from his advertising days recounted by the great man in his autobiography.

Who? From a very confused yank.


Back on topic...

Would the champers gone out of style with a lot of the anti drunk driving bit too

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by canon1753


Who? From a very confused yank.

BBC (and later ITV) commentator Murray Walker. In the 50s and 60s he combined a career in advertising with his occasional broadcasting commitments: he mostly did bikes - primarily scrambling/motocross - at that time, as Raymond Baxter was the Beeb's lead motor racing man.

The Mars slogan referred to was the iconic "A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play".

[Paul Rochdale]

"But Mackeson? What a dreadful drink that was"


Really? I don't think so. It's just a stout after all and nothing to dislike about it. My parents often used to drink a Mackeson, and of course Ena Sharples of Coronation Street liked her Milk Stout. Mackeson was a small brewery down at Hythe and were taken over by the mighty Whitbread empire, asset stripped and closed down. The beer was continued to be produced but I guess it's fallen out of fashion now and probably ceased. If that's the case, it's a shame as speciality beers are gaining in popularity.

Fortunately our county of Kent has some superb beers such as Shepherd Neame (once justifiably called 'Shepherd and scream', but now a superb brew), Goachers, Flagship and Ramsgate Breweries.

[wagons46]

Thread Mk1.

[275 GTB-4]

Wasn't their slogan :-

"It looks good, it tastes good, ........and by golly it does you good ! "

Mackesons nursed me back to health after a serious MVA, can't speak too highly of the stuff

Edited by 275 GTB-4, 22 March 2014 - 00:25.