32 replies to this topic

[rdmotorsport]

For Christmas the youngest of my two sons gave me a unique and excellent book entitled "The Lost Generation" so well written by David Tremayne and if you have chance to get hold of a copy grab it with both hands,my first reaction was to think this is a pleasant change from socks or an ill fitting sweater but once you pick this book up putting it down becomes difficult. It chronicles the lives of the late Roger Williamson,Tom Pryce ,Tony Brise and a smaller part on David Purley.
My son explained this was "my era" of motorsport although I had not the heart to tell him I was still around and working in the industry into the nineties but one point he was correct in this was probably my favourite and most enjoyable time i.e. the mid to late seventies.
Although my son followed my profession for a time working in F3 and F Renault he decided not like his dumb father not to follow the circus but to go and get a proper job and I suppose he as never looked back but always informs me my era was very unprofessional and the last 10 years have been the best, I think Schumacher and Senna have been so outstanding but the rest of the fields plus the sport itself as become lacking (sorry BE).

So back to the book I must admit I have little memories of Roger Williamson apart from the heirachy at BRM really raved about him but he must have been something when people say he could have been as quick as Hunt and lets be honest love or hate our James he was bloody quick particually winning the championship against a very quality grid so to be judged against him must have meant RW was something special.

Regarding Tom Pryce and Tony Brise I had some knowledge of,Tony drove occasionally for Sid Taylor with verve, I remember one evening in 1982/83 sat in ther bar at the Holiday Inn near Johannesberg(in one of our more sober moments) in the company of Ian Flux,Wayne Taylor and Paul Haigh,Fluxie had worked with both Pryce and Brise and really voiced his praise and admiration for both these men and endorsed many peoples theory that they both were World champion material.

Finally the book speaks of Dave Purley and although I doubt he had the qualities of the other three he was a very underated driver and so brave but so modest.

I would like your opinions of these sadly missed drivers and perhaps educate me in how good they really were and my thanks to David for such a good read.

Rodney Dodson.

[bill moffat]

Rodney, rest assured we all agree with you. This book is well-covered (and praised) in the "place to say something about books" thread.

If Ted Walker reads this do you have any new Tom Pryce photos (in which case I'll hunt you down at the NEC) ?

[rdmotorsport]

Bill,I may have some somewhere in and amongst but the best collection I feel would be what Chris Meek owns.

[Huw Jadvantich]

I had read this book and it is fablulous. I was raving about it to a friend of a friend who said " I wouldn't mind a look at that". Turns out he was working for Shadow and on their pit wall at Kyalami as the Pryce incident unfolded.
Whilst the book is fabulous, it doesn't give you the normal satisfied feeling on finishing a book, but a very deep sense of loss. The Author clearly knew Tom reasonably well, it must have been hell writing it.

[MCS]

Originally posted by Huw Jadvantich
The Author clearly knew Tom reasonably well, it must have been hell writing it.

With all due respect, definitely not the case.

[Huw Jadvantich]

You mean he didn't know him very well or it wasn't hell writing it?

[MCS]

The former.

[RS2000]

Something I mentioned elsewhere recently. Talking to Jimmy Fuller (BT38 UK F3 1973) last month and mentioning this book (it hadn't reached Antigua), he immediately offered the opinion that Brise was in a different league to all the others (including Hunt). This despite him (JF) having been a friend of Pryce (and Hunt, who stayed at their house several months during his career low period) and also claiming Brise had a significant alleged airbox "advantage" when using the same type Holbay engine as him in at least one race in 73. So an unbiased opinion, whether or not correct.

[sterling49]

Originally posted by Huw Jadvantich
it doesn't give you the normal satisfied feeling on finishing a book, but a very deep sense of loss.

My sentiments entirely. I watched all three avidly in junior formulae and was pleased to see each of them graduate into the top echelon of the sport only for it to end so tragically.

[rdmotorsport]

Dear RS2000,

If JF thought Brise was in a different league to Hunt then I must have underestimated him because to me Hunt perhaps not the most technical but so bloody quick but unfortunatley not over turned on by the sport.

Rodney Dodson.

[rdmotorsport]

.

[clive sayer]

I remember watching all 3 with awe whilst marshalling at Thruxton in the early 70s.

However David Purley was different - he was local to where I lived in Bognor Regis and his father was a friend of mine so sometimes I got to go to meetings with him. You're right he was very courageous - although his father was the millionaire founder of LEC fridges he joined the Army as a Private and worked his way up to being an officer in the paras. He was still in the Army when he started racing and I believe there were some awkward questions when he crashed his Cobra at Brands and woke up in hospital and not back on duty!

This courage showed in his racing - eg slipstreaming victories at Chimay wasn't it? After his crash in practice for the British GP in 77 he endured many painful operations so as to get back to a reasonably normal life - though for DP that still meant life on the edge. It was a dreadful shock to get home one evening in the mid '80s and hear on the TV that the commotion out on the Bognor Rocks I'd noticed whilst driving back from work was his fatal plane crash.

Despite his success he'd remained the same friendly local bloke that you'd see in the pub, helping a local charity or even at a local motor club event. At one such event I'd arranged another local 'good bloke' -Derek Bell - to speak so David thought he'd turn up on his motor bike and sit at the back to 'ask some helpful questions!'

[Alan Cox]

I don't know if you have found this David Purley thread, Clive, but, if not, you may find it interesting.

http://forums.atlasf...y=&pagenumber=1

[eurocardoc]

Originally posted by RS2000
Something I mentioned elsewhere recently. Talking to Jimmy Fuller (BT38 UK F3 1973) last month and mentioning this book (it hadn't reached Antigua), he immediately offered the opinion that Brise was in a different league to all the others (including Hunt). This despite him (JF) having been a friend of Pryce (and Hunt, who stayed at their house several months during his career low period) and also claiming Brise had a significant alleged airbox "advantage" when using the same type Holbay engine as him in at least one race in 73. So an unbiased opinion, whether or not correct.

I can assure you that, never in my races with Tony did we have a scrutineering failure. Only after several complaints to Holbay did we receive an engine at least equivalent to Roger's. After that, we were winning regularly.

Having worked with Tony and Tom, both were very talented individuals, certainly capable of emulating Alan Jones' world champs.

Brian

[COUGAR508]

Originally posted by eurocardoc
[B
Having worked with Tony and Tom, both were very talented individuals, certainly capable of emulating Alan Jones' world champs.

Brian [/B]

On the subject of Brise and Jones, a gauge of Tony's potential was surely the fact that he lapped Jones in nominally equal cars at Zandvoort '75?

[john aston]

Having read this superb book recently I can only endorse its quality.I don't think I have ever been reduced to tears by a racing book before but I admit I subsided in a heap after reading about Williamson's death.I knew about it before of course - in fact 2 friends were at the race- but it is so superbly written and well researched that I relived it vividly.

I then read Stewart's pooterish autobiography and recalled Dorothy Parker's words-'...not a book to be tossed aside lightly.It should be hurled with great force'

[sterling49]

Having spoken on this subject with Brian Jones last night, he opined that it was one of the very best books he had read, obviously having known the three drivers during their tragic careers, the book left me feeling so very sad, I found it difficult to continue reading, I know that motor racing is dangerous, but these three guys all perished without a thought by ladyluck.

[Coral]

I agree, "The Lost Generation" is an excellent book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. The "Fog Over Arkley" chapter about the fatal plane crash that claimed the life of Tony Brise really gets to me, and the whole book is just so sad.

[cpbell]

Count me in as another who was fascinated and moved by the story of these three drivers.

[Twin Window]

DJT is a special author, IMHO.

There aren't many out there with his feel - his soul, if you like - for the subject in question.

Having said that, he's a friend of mine, so I'm perhaps a tad biased. David, Adam Cooper and Mark Hughes are the boys. But they're my buddies too, so I maybe I should leave it at that.

[DMJC]

DJT was always a good journo and storyteller on MN. The book, which i also had for Christmas, is one that is very,very hard to put down, and can be read again and again, as i have, without losing anything in the reading.

These guys were around when i first started going to race meetings, Roger Williamson i thought, to be a terrific racer, with a never give up attitude, a bit of the Mansell about him, fast, and gritty. He would have gone down a storm at Tyrrell, where he might well have been in 1974. Could have been a World Champion, no doubt about that.

Tony Brise, well, he was a bit like Senna, i thought, kind of aloof, blisteringly quick, and focused...with a natural talent that he was happy to work hard with....no one was going to be better than him, that was what i felt he was saying through his driving....and manner. I think he would have been a multiple champ, but possibly the kind of driver that really divides people's views, certainly from a popularity point of view.

And as for Tom Pryce, well he was the Johnny Herbert of his day for me, such a nice guy, and some much talent, this was a guy who was destined to be a World Champion, imho, the Shadow team were competent, but not topline, and Tom would have been snapped up by a top team, had he lived, i would think.

Losing all these guys was beyond tragic, and apart from the human misery,which was such a part of racing back then, the fact that all of them could have been racing in F1 and Sportscars, at a time when, for me, those forms of racing were at their zenith, was wretched.....the pleasure they gave us at that time, was immense, and the excitement they would have brought our country, together with the honours they would have won for Britain, would have changed the face of british motorsport in the 70's and 80's, as well as changing the direction of the WDC for many years.....imagine the late 70's and early 80's, with 3 british drivers in the mould of Mansell ( Williamson) , Senna ( Brise) and Herbert, a fully fit Herbert that is, ( Pryce)......and then put them in say Williams FW07, Brabham BT45, and Ferrari 312T4.....mouth watering i'd say.....total shame it never came to pass.

[john aston]

I share the sentiment but what ifs are dangerous territory.Suppose not only these guys had lived but so had , say , Giunti,Revson,Pace, Peterson and a few other 70s heroes? What if Senna had stayed in Brazil and Hunt stuck to squash ? Or Brian Henton had the talent to match his self belief ?

[John-w]

Hello,

I am searching for photos from Roger Williamson's March 731G, Britsh Grand Prix 1973.
This car will be one of my next models in scale 1/12th, thanks.


John-w
http://www.john-w.de/models/

[David Beard]

Originally posted by Coral
I agree, "The Lost Generation" is an excellent book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. The "Fog Over Arkley" chapter about the fatal plane crash that claimed the life of Tony Brise really gets to me, and the whole book is just so sad.

Just so sad, yes. So I won't be buying it. The idea of bundling these three driver biographies together just doesn't work for me, or seem at all tasteful. There were plenty of other drivers in the 70s that didn't make it to the very top either, but....

We covered all this in the book thread, but since we are repeating ourselves, I will join in.

[COUGAR508]

Originally posted by DMJC


..imagine the late 70's and early 80's, with 3 british drivers in the mould of Mansell ( Williamson) , Senna ( Brise) and Herbert, a fully fit Herbert that is, ( Pryce)......and then put them in say Williams FW07, Brabham BT45, and Ferrari 312T4.....mouth watering i'd say.....total shame it never came to pass.

I can imagine Williamson in an FW07. He seemed to be a born "Williams driver", although of course that tag did not exist in 1973.

[DMJC]

Originally posted by David Beard


Just so sad, yes. So I won't be buying it. The idea of bundling these three driver biographies together just doesn't work for me, or seem at all tasteful. There were plenty of other drivers in the 70s that didn't make it to the very top either, but....

We covered all this in the book thread, but since we are repeating ourselves, I will join in.

Obviously your choice, but i would strongly urge you to buy/borrow etc etc, this book, if you have any interest in the history of British motorsport, because these guys were our heroes, at that time.Their stories are of a different time, and, imho, apart from the high mortality rate, a better period for the spectator, than these days.All three were true Stars, and huge talents, and should be commemorated, and never forgotten.

[David Beard]

Originally posted by DMJC


Obviously your choice, but i would strongly urge you to buy/borrow etc etc, this book, if you have any interest in the history of British motorsport, because these guys were our heroes, at that time.Their stories are of a different time, and, imho, apart from the high mortality rate, a better period for the spectator, than these days.All three were true Stars, and huge talents, and should be commemorated, and never forgotten.

"If I have any interest in the history of British motor sport"???? Are you kidding?

Am I excluded from your "our" then???



I am at work, but I will be back later, Mr DMJC

[D-Type]

DMJC and others,

Can I draw your attention to the last line of David Beard's posting:

Originally posted by David Beard

~
We covered all this in the book thread , but since we are repeating ourselves, I will join in.

[DMJC]

Originally posted by David Beard


"If I have any interest in the history of British motor sport"???? Are you kidding?

Am I excluded from your "our" then???



I am at work, but I will be back later, Mr DMJC

No reason to go off the deep end Mr Beard....and if your interest is as amplified by your ???? ! Then you really should read the book, it's immensely evocative, and an excellent combination of the three stories...

: See you in the playground after work then? Conkers or custard Pies? Your choice.

[David Beard]

Originally posted by DMJC


No reason to go off the deep end Mr Beard....and if your interest is as amplified by your ???? ! Then you really should read the book, it's immensely evocative, and an excellent combination of the three stories...

: See you in the playground after work then? Conkers or custard Pies? Your choice.

No, I shall bring the cherished photos which I took of Brise, Pryce and Williamson, when they were my heroes, from the period of GP motor racing which interests me most...

I don't feel the need to read the book. I'll stick with my memories, thankyou. . And I would have thought you could have judged my level of interest in motor racing history by the number of posts I have made here since 2002.

[DMJC]

Originally posted by David Beard


No, I shall bring the cherished photos which I took of Brise, Pryce and Williamson, when they were my heroes, from the period of GP motor racing which interests me most...

I don't feel the need to read the book. I'll stick with my memories, thankyou. . And I would have thought you could have judged my level of interest in motor racing history by the number of posts I have made here since 2002.

That's fine, each to their own. But, the book brings back the whole era, and provides new background for me, and others. One of the best racing books around is 'Rosemeyer', that is a sad story too, at the end, but never less than fascinating and enthralling, as a read. Reading 'The Lost Generation' would not harm your memories, but might even enhance them, that was all i was trying to point out. As to your posts, i don't count them up, and have no idea who has posted the most on this or any of the Forums here. I only post out of interest in a particular thread. At least we have 4 things in common, a great fondness for the 3 guys the book is about, as well as for the 1970's F1 decade.

[David Winstanley]

Having read this thread I've now ordered the book off Amazon - for an amazing £13. I never knew Brise or Pryce but knew Roger reasonably well, (only from a fan point of view though) and Pryce was one of my early heroes, (who needless to say were virtually all killed). We're lucky it's not like that anymore really. The last for me was Ayrton Senna.

[macoran]

Originally posted by John-w
Hello,

I am searching for photos from Roger Williamson's March 731G, Britsh Grand Prix 1973.
This car will be one of my next models in scale 1/12th, thanks.


John-w
http://www.john-w.de/models/

Missed your post John, but am answering to Isoman