59 replies to this topic

[BorderReiver]

Hello Everyone

I realise this is a big ask, but I would love it if anyone could help.

I'm a Doctor Who nut (we prefer the term Whovian incidentally, sad I know), as well as a motorsport enthusiast, and recently something came to my attention which may well link my two obsessions.

In 1970 the BBC broadcast the Doctor Who story "Inferno" starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor. This story has just recently been released on DVD, with a "Making Of" documentary as an extra.

The story called for a number of action sequences featuring the Doctor, at speed, in his bright yellow roadster "Bessie". In the "Making Of" Documentary it is revealed that Jon Pertwee insisted on doing these sequences himself, instead of hiring a stunt driver to do them.

Apparently Pertwee had raced cars previously, and enjoyed driving at speed. One of the production team interviewed in the documentary mentions that Pertwee had run at Brooklands, though my gut reaction is that he might just be mentioning Brooklands as it's the only racing circuit he can remember off the top of his head.

I would love it if anyone here knows, or could find any information, about Jon Pertwee's racing career, where, when and what in for example.

It does seem that Pertwee was a lover of all things automotive and insisted on bringing aspects of this to his portrayal of the Doctor. He even commissioned the building of The Whomobile for use in the show. With that in mind perhaps it's possible that he did have some sort of racing pedigree?


Jon Pertwee, as the Doctor, at the wheel of Bessie.


The Whomobile

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Can't help you with the history but, by Jove, it's good to know that there's another Whovian out there!

[Paul Taylor]

Considering Pertwee was born in 1919 and Brooklands closed in 1939, do you reckon it would have been possible for him to have raced there aged 20 or younger?

P.S. Hi Don

[Alan Johnston]

Hi

A bit off topic, the Beeb were filming Doctor Who at Dover Castle, I was there with my two Nephew's in tow. Jon Pertwee exited from the canteen van and I approached him for a photo shot with the lads, well what a nice man, couldn't do enough for us. Fond memories.

Alan

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by Paul Taylor
Considering Pertwee was born in 1919 and Brooklands closed in 1939, do you reckon it would have been possible for him to have raced there aged 20 or younger?

P.S. Hi Don

Well maybe, just. But I did get the impression the reference to Brooklands was one made by someone not really familiar with motorsport and just plucking a circuit name out of the air.

[Sharman]

The only possible response to this thread is to ask "Who cares"

[Gary C]

[David Lawson]

My one claim to fame is about 10 years ago having a pee in a theatre toilet standing next to Jon Pertwee dressed in his Doctor Who costume, a strange experience.

David

[Steve L]

Hi Border Reiver,

Do you have Jon Pertwee's first autobiography "Moon Boots & Dinner Suits"? A hard to find book, but a great read. It is sometimes possible to pick up copies on eBay.

From memory, he didn't race before the war but he did have a Bugatti imediately postwar and I think he was also involved with the "Fuzzi" hillclimb special (where is it now?!).

Hope this helps !

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by Sharman
The only possible response to this thread is to ask "Who cares"

Surely the most needless & idiotic TNF thread ever.




BR, if you're really serious finding out, why not get in touch with Bill Pertwee, Jon's cousin. He'll know, for sure.

Alan, I too met Jon Pertwee about 20 yrs ago. I agree, kindness personified.

[Steve L]

I don't see why it is a needless & idiotic thread at all.

Pertwee was a real character who had a genuine love of adventure and interesting machines.

As well as owning a Bugatti (T35 I think) and being involved with "Fuzzi" (maybe), he drove/piloted/raced all sorts of things including bikes, microlights & hovercraft.

For me, he was as much a part of the '70s as James Hunt & Barry Sheene.

[Cirrus]

I can remember seeing Jon Pertwee in the paddock at Thruxton, in the late seventies. It would appear that he had just gone there to spectate, so maybe he was an enthusiast.

[Tim Murray]

His Daily Telegraph obituary tells of his testing a 'Cicistalia' (sic) at Southport and 'ploughing through' quicksand.

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Steve L
I don't see why it is a needless & idiotic thread at all.

Nor do I. He might very well have more real competition history than James Robertson Justice and we have discussed him at some length.

As Jon Pertwee came from a fairly well-off family and was already acting in films and on radio as early as 1937 (he was in "A Yank at Oxford"), he might have been in a (financial) position to compete pre-war. Trials maybe? Minor events at Donington? Or maybe just a spectator ...

A bit of googling revealed a love of fast cars and bikes and a story that Jon commissioned the Whomobile from Peter Farries after seeing a Farries-built Model T-based dragster when he was performing the opening ceremony at a Ford dealership in Nottingham.

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by Vitesse2

Nor do I.

1) We already have an extensive thread on actors & motor racing. BR could've searched there.
2) In all the deluge of Dr. Who web sites etc. on the net, surely one of them already has the answers, especially as most of them border on the fanatical.
3) I thought this was a motor racing history board, not a children's television board. Whatever next:- The Chuckle Brothers:- Their Motor Racing History
4) I have this feeling that this thread will now link all things Dr Who & motor racing, thus bringing the currently boring state of the TNF to a new low.

That's all.
FWIW, Pertwee does NOT list motor racing as an interest in the "Who's Who" copy I have. He did, however, like water sports.

[Lec CRP1]

I bought the 'Inferno' DVD yesterday, though I've yet to watch it The 'Whomobile' itself was built at Jon Pertwee's suggestion. IIRC it was powered by the engine from a Hillman Imp ('a real popped up engine' he described it as). The Whomobile itself was actually 'road legal', though it was classed as an invalid tricycle rather than a car Pertwee was renowned for his love of things mechanical and during his tenure on Doctor Who he drove all manner of machinery, even a gyrocopter and a quad bike.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins


4) I have this feeling that this thread will now link all things Dr Who & motor racing, thus bringing the currently boring state of the TNF to a new low.

Ah well, I'm sorry you felt you had to become involved in this "boring" exercise. It must've pained you greatly to have to force yourself to comment.

There's probably a nice thread around here somewhere where you can discuss chassis numbers . . .

[RTH]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BorderReiver


The story called for a number of action sequences featuring the Doctor, at speed, in his bright yellow roadster "Bessie". In the "Making Of" Documentary it is revealed that Jon Pertwee insisted on doing these sequences himself, instead of hiring a stunt driver to do them.


[/QUOTE

This was a SIVA one of a range of fake Edwardian roadsters made by Neville Trickett's company in the Bournmouth area - a GRP body over a Beetle chassis, E93A, and 2CV in various guises about 100 of these cars were made in the late sixties and early seventies.

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by BorderReiver
There's probably a nice thread around here somewhere where you can discuss chassis numbers . . .

There's too many threads about chassis numbers as well right now......

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins


There's too many threads about chassis numbers as well right now......

[ensign14]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins

3) I thought this was a motor racing history board, not a children's television board. Whatever next:- The Chuckle Brothers:- Their Motor Racing History

That's no way to talk about the Schumachers.

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins


1) We already have an extensive thread on actors & motor racing. BR could've searched there.

Do we? News to me ....

There's one called Actors as Racing Drivers, but that's not the same thing at all.

Until this thread was opened, Jon Pertwee had been mentioned precisely once on TNF.

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Sharman & Richie:

Lacking the opportunity to ask you both to step outside, I'll have to just be satisfied with...

...GET STUFFED!!!

[Rob Ryder]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins


1) We already have an extensive thread on actors & motor racing. BR could've searched there.
2) In all the deluge of Dr. Who web sites etc. on the net, surely one of them already has the answers, especially as most of them border on the fanatical.
3) I thought this was a motor racing history board, not a children's television board. Whatever next:- The Chuckle Brothers:- Their Motor Racing History
4) I have this feeling that this thread will now link all things Dr Who & motor racing, thus bringing the currently boring state of the TNF to a new low.

That's all.
FWIW, Pertwee does NOT list motor racing as an interest in the "Who's Who" copy I have. He did, however, like water sports.

Richie
Is it Dr Who, Jon Pertwee or BorderReiver that you do not like? Reading your reply to the oringinal enquiry it is the first time in my years on TNF that I have thought.. 'that was a totally unjustified attack on a post'.

To take the four points you listed.
1) BR may have used the search facility and not found what he was looking for. Does that prohibit the start of a new thead on a similar subject. How many duplicate/similar threads do we have covering Moss, Hawthorn, BRM, Vanwall et al.

2) With a deluge of motor sport and motor sport history websites maybe 90% of the threads of TNF should never have been started ?

3) I feel TNF is primarily a motor sport history board, but do not have a problem with past threads that covered fighter pilots, broadcasters, TV programs, travelogues etc. I did not see your complaints at these topics either.

4) The only thing that was missing in point 4 is the phrase 'fluff thread', and I would have sworn the post was from ... no I won't even go there .

Sorry to vent my spleen a little, but the non-sympathic reply really did make my blood boil for a while.

(the normally laid-back) Rob

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by RTH

This was a SIVA one of a range of fake Edwardian roadsters made by Neville Trickett's company in the Bournmouth area - a GRP body over a Beetle chassis, E93A, and 2CV in various guises about 100 of these cars were made in the late sixties and early seventies.

That's interesting. Was it always the same bodywork styling or did that change from model to model?

And also, please forgive my ignorance on this one, what was the "Fuzzi" Hillclimb Special?

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by Rob Ryder


Richie
Is it Dr Who, Jon Pertwee or BorderReiver that you do not like?

Well, I'm a bit of a git really.

Jon Pertwee it can be argued was no way near as good as Patrick Troughton.

And some wierdo's prefer Star Trek to Doctor Who . . . takes all sorts ;).

It's up to Richie wether he feels if a thread is worthwhile or not, it's entirely his perogative and I'm not fussed either way.

I'm just genuinly interested in learning as much as I can about this dovetailing of two of my main interests and if anyone on this forum can help me to do just that I'd be very grateful .

[Sharman]

The choice of name Manfred Cubenoggin says it all !!! If I can't express an opinion, honestly held, without being subjected to abuse by what is on the face of it a puerile mind then we are getting back to what the pseudonym implies, facism.

[BuzzingHornet]

Well i'm a long time lurker here in TNF and not a Doctor Who fan, but I thought thread was quite interesting personally Hope it carries on a little longer.

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by Vitesse2


There's one called Actors as Racing Drivers, but that's not the same thing at all.

The Motor Racing & Film (and TV) thread.

Richie Is it Dr Who, Jon Pertwee or BorderReiver that you do not like? Reading your reply to the oringinal enquiry it is the first time in my years on TNF that I have thought.. 'that was a totally unjustified attack on a post'.
Sorry to vent my spleen a little, but the non-sympathic reply really did make my blood boil for a while.

Oh, really?

Well, why is it then, whenever football is mentioned in TNF, the grumpy old men types on here act like the headmaster, berate you publically, making you feel this big? Didn't see you step in there.

If you read my post, I found Jon Pertwee delightful. BR.. well he has his moments, but he's okay. No, it's Dr Who.

I mean if I started a thread about another kids programme, like, Tracy Beaker or Grange Hill & said "Oh, mr so & so from that said he drove a car once - any memories", what would the response be. Silence & bemusement, I reckon.

I just think this is sheer fluff, on the back of other fluffy threads. Oh, for the days of stories on TNF.

Maybe I was too harsh but I stand by my comments about Dr Who. The programme & the actions of a large amount of its fans annoys me so much, I had to vent my spleen upon its arrival in the TNF. It totally ruined my Sunday morning.

I mean if BR had started a thread Jon Pertwee & Motor racing - that'll be different. Why bring Dr Who in it at all, not to mention what Who fans are called & the episode history into it??


Don't worry - I'll leave this thread in peace now so say what you like in response. Anything to get away from Dr. Who.

[RTH]

Originally posted by BorderReiver


That's interesting. Was it always the same bodywork styling or did that change from model to model?

The general appearance was always quite similar changes only to suit the donor vehicle chassis

The 2CV version was marketed under the extraordinary title of "The Gay Parisienne" there was also the "San Remo " and the "Raceabout" which had just a monacle windscreen for only the driver about the size of a tennis racket

Sadly none of them had even a convincing look of a genuine edwardian car "

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by RTH


The 2CV version was marketed under the extraordinary title of "The Gay Parisienne

Superb, the greatest car marketing campaign of all time!

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Fascist?

Well, at least you got one thing right, Sharman.

[Frank S]

Originally posted by Richie Jenkins


1) We already have an extensive thread on actors & motor racing. BR could've searched there.
2) In all the deluge of Dr. Who web sites etc. on the net, surely one of them already has the answers, especially as most of them border on the fanatical.
3) I thought this was a motor racing history board, not a children's television board. Whatever next:- The Chuckle Brothers:- Their Motor Racing History
4) I have this feeling that this thread will now link all things Dr Who & motor racing, thus bringing the currently boring state of the TNF to a new low.

( 5) Shouldn't it be "Dr. Whom" ?)

OOPS! I missed the Godwin immediately above.

Thread closed?

--
Frank S

[Twin Window]

I've re-titled this thread in an attempt to diffuse the [somewhat unnessesary] *conflict* as recorded earlier.

Perhaps the weather as a trifle too warm in some quarters this last day or so...

And please abide by what my mother always used to say to me as a child; "toujours la politesse" (even though she was from Mexborough, and I didn't speak French).

[Sharman]

Manfred
If you wear boxing gloves in bed it may help you to overcome the temptation to which you are very obviously prey

[RTH]

Originally posted by Twin Window


Perhaps the weather as a trifle too warm in some quarters this last day or so...

And please abide by what my mother always used to say to me as a child; "toujours la politesse" (even though she was from Mexborough, and I didn't speak French).

My late mother used to say "If you can't say something nice about somebody then don't say anything at all "
A great pity really all involved are usually most polite, it's an absolute storm in a tea cup , really all about nothing.

We better watch out on Wednesday, it is said the temperature in London at least is likely to break all records for July

[Peter Morley]

When we did the RAC Golden 50 rally (1982, won our class with a 1936 Riley Sprite) I'm sure that Jon Pertwee had something to do with it - entered a Saab maybe?

But it was so long ago that my memory might be playing tricks!

[rgsuspsa]

Originally posted by Sharman
The only possible response to this thread is to ask "Who cares"

Obviously the original writer cares. If you do not, your response was inappropriate and rude.

[Allen Brown]

As a fan of Dr Who, and of chassis numbers, and of Ritchie, may I say how much I am enjoying this thread. One of the things I like about the web is that there is no limits on space. As long as we keep having a good number of "worthy" threads, who cares about the fluff 'taking up space'.

Now, what exactly was the yellow car Pertwee drove in Dr Who? I've always been (mildly) curious.

[Cirrus]

I think Richard Hinton answered that one in post 18......

[Macca]

To ask on this forum for any information about an individual's possible motor racing connections is entirely reasonable - we've had a separate thread on James Robertson Justice, for instance.

Jon Pertwee was indeed a fan of cars, bikes, planes and boats, and was active especially in scuba-diving right up to the end of his life. Apart from D* W**, I remember him fondly as Chief Petty Officer 'Jonsy' Pertwee in The Navy Lark with Ronnie Barker and Leslie Phillips (tenuous link - 'The Fast Lady'!).

Paul M

[Allen Brown]

Originally posted by Cirrus
I think Richard Hinton answered that one in post 18......

Oh yes. I must have been enjoying the argument too much at that stage.

[Simpson RX1]

Originally posted by BorderReiver




Superb, the greatest car marketing campaign of all time!

And, although it's been a while since I saw a full picture of the car, I believe it was one of the 2CV based vehicles, so Bessie was a Gay Parisienne!

[Sharman]

Originally posted by rgsuspsa


Obviously the original writer cares. If you do not, your response was inappropriate and rude.

The original question is as appropriate as asking for the chassis numbers of the cars in "Wacky Races"

[Twin Window]

They were all at Goodwood, so someone will have them.

[Allen Brown]

They were all replicas.

[Twin Window]

Can you prove that allegation?

[john aston]

I do not own up to being a Whovian but I did meet Jon Pertwee at a Harewood hillclimb meeting in the early Seventies.He was doing a guest appearance by driving up the hill in his TV featured transport and I was one of the startline marshals.He seemed a regular guy but he did look a tad incongruous in his cape as he sparked up his Benson & Hedges.Very chatty and seemed interested in the event.But my far stronger emmory is of his gorgeous assistant Katy Manning .There aren't the words...

[LB]

So, as a quiet Trekkie (no I don't have a klingon suit) do any of the star trek actors have motor racing links ;)

[rwhitworth]

Originally posted by RTH

[/B][/QUOTE

This was a SIVA one of a range of fake Edwardian roadsters made by Neville Trickett's company in the Bournmouth area - a GRP body over a Beetle chassis, E93A, and 2CV in various guises about 100 of these cars were made in the late sixties and early seventies. [/B]

I had forgotten the name Neville Trickett - but as a student I occasionally worked for him in the holidays in the late 70s. His premises were in Bryanston, near Blandford Forum. I knew at the time that Bessie had come from there, although there was nothing like that going on when I was there. It was mostly small hovercraft that I worked on. My duties were mainly making the tea, polishing molds, and occasionally design consultant on their new single-engine hovercraft prototype. Neville seemed to think that a physics student might have some useful ideas... all for the price of a tea-boy!

I'm aware that there were some racing car body parts being worked on, but not by me - perhaps my polishing skills weren't good enough. So I guess that is the reason Neville's name is known on TNF?