39 replies to this topic

[King Stromba]

Can anyone shine any light on what the movers and shakers in F1 did before they arrived in F1?

I know SFW was a used car salesman. What about Ron, Flav, Bernie?

Anyone got any good links to this info?

[David M. Kane]

Flav was a marketing guru for Benneton, Ron started as a race mechanic who started a very successful F2 Team Project 4, thus the McLaren chassis tag MP4-22, etc. Bernie was a used Motorbike salesman who then became Jochen Rindt Manager after racing F3 and a F1 race...Monaco?

[scheivlak]

Originally posted by King Stromba
Can anyone shine any light on what the movers and shakers in F1 did before they arrived in F1?

I know SFW was a used car salesman. What about Ron, Flav, Bernie?

Anyone got any good links to this info?

Pretty good is http://www.grandprix...pe/peoplea.html and look under D, B, E -http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/cref-eccber.html- et cetera.....

[King Stromba]

Cheers for the info.

Any of the drivers had 'other' jobs?

[David M. Kane]

Jarier was a law student, Carroll Shelby was a chicken farmer...

[todayshorse]

Mansell worked at lucas aerospace that had somthing to do with RR jet engines, irrc. think it was somthing to do with the RB211.

So where all the nonsense comes from that hes 'thick' and so on, i dont really know....

[Vegetableman]

Denny Hulme and Chris Amon worked on farms, I believe Chris Amon still does, about 300km south of where I live.

[Galko877]

Originally posted by King Stromba
Cheers for the info.

Any of the drivers had 'other' jobs?

Michael Schumacher was a car mechanic in a Volkswagen workshop.

David Coulthard went to a business college but never finished it.

Mark Gené was the only driver recently who had a university degree. He is an economist and he even worked as such, as I recall.

As for the team chiefs, I know Jean Todt has a business degree but then went on to be a rally co-driver. Then he became team chief at Peugeot first in rallying then at the Paris-Dakar and then in sportscars in Le Mans.

[dr funkenstein]

It's funny to think that of all the current crop of F1 drivers, most of them have done nothing else all their lives but driving racing cars. I wonder what happens to those who never make it to F1. At least some years ago you could expect them to have other skills other than motor racing, but nowadays it's hard to see them doing anything else.

[Lifew12]

Originally posted by todayshorse
Mansell worked at lucas aerospace that had somthing to do with RR jet engines, irrc. think it was somthing to do with the RB211.

So where all the nonsense comes from that hes 'thick' and so on, i dont really know....

That perception came about when he opened his mouth, and spoke.

[Galko877]

To be honest I find it interesting that very few of the recent, young drivers had a job before they came to F1. It shows how much F1 has changed even in the last 10 years. It seems recent drivers have been trained and "conditioned" to be race car drivers from day one (often by "pushy" parents). While back in the old days many of the drivers had parents who opposed what they were doing (Senna or Piquet, for example) or were simply indifferent to it (eg. Schumacher, whose father I don't think really beleived in him or if he did, he couldn't help because of lack of money - in any way he was just a passive bystander), so they often had to learn and do a "normal" job before their career took off.

I think it shows how the reputation of motorsports has changed in the past 10-20 years. Now those "pushy parents" who want a sports career for their kids don't just push them into tennis or football or whatever was fashionable back then, but also motorsports has become an attractive career for many.

[ensign14]

Originally posted by Lifew12


That perception came about when he opened his mouth, and spoke.

Prejudice against the accent of Shakespeare.

[todayshorse]

Originally posted by ensign14

Prejudice against the accent of Shakespeare.

Is that what hes getting at? The accent? hardly his fault is it really He could be a bit monotone - "now were in first gear now were in second gear now were n third gear etc" but thats just how he was.

[tidytracks]

Not every one of the current field has been a driver since before they could walk... there are some exceptions:

Sato was a brilliant cyclist and could have gone on to compete at Olympic level for Japan if he hadn't decided (comparatively late in his life - 19 I think) to become a racing driver.

Nico Rosberg studied to become a mechanical engineer, leading to him scoring the highest result on Williams' engineering test aged just 17. Again, choosing a career in racing came pretty late, and after he'd enrolled at UCL I believe.

[King Stromba]

I think alternative employment is what a number of drivers need, might give them a little life experience.

Anyone know about kimis background?

[Andy Donovan]

Wurz was a world champion BMX rider before he switched to cars.

Bernie entered the '58 Monaco and British GPs (DNQ and DNS respectively), and ran cars for others now and again throughout the 50s (I'm not sure on the details of this though).

[ensign14]

Bernie managed Lewis-Evans as well in the 50s, he bought the Connaught stock almost as a job lot when the team was wound up. Check "Bernie's Game" for the full SP.

And SFW was a racer as well. "Second-hand car dealing" included selling Brabham Formula 3s.

[Terry Walker]

Brabham was a motor mechanic before the war, and a mechanic with the RAAF during the war. Moss, if I remember correctly, virtually went straight into professional motor racing in his teens.

[freeloader]

Originally posted by dr funkenstein
It's funny to think that of all the current crop of F1 drivers, most of them have done nothing else all their lives but driving racing cars. I wonder what happens to those who never make it to F1. At least some years ago you could expect them to have other skills other than motor racing, but nowadays it's hard to see them doing anything else.

At least one, Perry McCarthy, went on to become "The Stig" on BBC TV's Top Gear. Not sure who the current Stig is... Oliver Gavin?

[tifosi]

Originally posted by dr funkenstein
It's funny to think that of all the current crop of F1 drivers, most of them have done nothing else all their lives but driving racing cars. I wonder what happens to those who never make it to F1. At least some years ago you could expect them to have other skills other than motor racing, but nowadays it's hard to see them doing anything else.

Its no different than most athletes I assume. You begin your "career" when your quite young. If it doesn't pan out you go with your life.

[ensign14]

Originally posted by freeloader


At least one, Perry McCarthy, went on to become "The Stig" on BBC TV's Top Gear. Not sure who the current Stig is... Oliver Gavin?

Ben Collins. And check Richie Jenkins' "Where Are They Now?" pages for the whereabouts of F3k drivers who never made it (start here) - it includes F1 and some others as well. Eric Angelvy running an Indian restaurant is my favourite.

[freeloader]

Originally posted by ensign14

Ben Collins. And check Richie Jenkins' "Where Are They Now?" pages for the whereabouts of F3k drivers who never made it (start here) - it includes F1 and some others as well. Eric Angelvy running an Indian restaurant is my favourite.

Great resource

My favourite is Mike Thackwell "runs a skateboard and surf shop"...

[Galko877]

Originally posted by ensign14
Bernie managed Lewis-Evans as well in the 50s

Wasn't he also the manager of Jochen Rindt?

[kismet]

Originally posted by King Stromba
Anyone know about kimis background?

He was studying to become a car mechanic (or something similar) but I don't know if he ever actually completed his studies.

[freeloader]

Originally posted by Galko877


Wasn't he also the manager of Jochen Rindt?

Yes he was, and Ecclestone left school at the age of 16 to work at the local gasworks

[ensign14]

Originally posted by Galko877


Wasn't he also the manager of Jochen Rindt?

Yes, you might find that information here.

[David M. Kane]

Jochen Mass worked as a seaman on a big ship, can't remember if it was mechant ship or not.

[giacomo]

Originally posted by Galko877
To be honest I find it interesting that very few of the recent, young drivers had a job before they came to F1. It shows how much F1 has changed even in the last 10 years. It seems recent drivers have been trained and "conditioned" to be race car drivers from day one (often by "pushy" parents). While back in the old days many of the drivers had parents who opposed what they were doing (Senna or Piquet, for example) or were simply indifferent to it (eg. Schumacher, whose father I don't think really beleived in him or if he did, he couldn't help because of lack of money - in any way he was just a passive bystander), so they often had to learn and do a "normal" job before their career took off.

I think it shows how the reputation of motorsports has changed in the past 10-20 years. Now those "pushy parents" who want a sports career for their kids don't just push them into tennis or football or whatever was fashionable back then, but also motorsports has become an attractive career for many.

So you really think that Ayrton Senna started karting at the age of four against the opposition of his parents?

[Mila]

Keke studied to become a dentist. he overslept for an exam and that was that.

[Galko877]

Originally posted by giacomo
So you really think that Ayrton Senna started karting at the age of four against the opposition of his parents?

That's not what I said. But didn't Senna's parents oppose his racing career? Didn't they want him to go to a business college or university instead? That's what I've read at least.

[se7en_24]

Damon Hill was a motorcycle dispatch rider.

[1george]

Originally posted by Galko877


That's not what I said. But didn't Senna's parents oppose his racing career? Didn't they want him to go to a business college or university instead? That's what I've read at least.

Her mother, doña Neide, surely, like every mother.

Probably, but Ayrton got married and went to England.

Molive can help you. He knows almost everything about Senna.

[Galko877]

Originally posted by 1george


Her mother, doña Neide, surely, like every mother.

I recall reading something like that about his father as well. That he wanted him to go to a business school and take over the family business. Did his father finance his racing career?

[1george]

Originally posted by Galko877


I recall reading something like that about his father as well. That he wanted him to go to a business school and take over the family business. Did his father finance his racing career?

His father was a wealthy businessman. I don't know if directly finance his career, but Milton had a lot of contacts. Wouldn't be a surprise, but I repeat the same, Molive is your man to clarify it.

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally posted by ensign14

Ben Collins. And check Richie Jenkins' "Where Are They Now?" pages for the whereabouts of F3k drivers who never made it (start here) - it includes F1 and some others as well. Eric Angelvy running an Indian restaurant is my favourite.

Thank you Ensign, the cheque is in the post, along with a curry from Eric.

My favourite is Olivier Grouillard's entry. Although he now builds cars, bless him, he now (sorry, still) works in the collision industry.

[Tigershark]

Originally posted by dr funkenstein
It's funny to think that of all the current crop of F1 drivers, most of them have done nothing else all their lives but driving racing cars. I wonder what happens to those who never make it to F1. At least some years ago you could expect them to have other skills other than motor racing, but nowadays it's hard to see them doing anything else.

There was an interview on a Belgian website (here) recently with Minardi 3rd driver Bas Leinders in which he described the terrible financial situation he was in during that season. Together with his manager he made so little money that he and his family had to live under the minimum wage. In fact, when the F1 circus came to Monaco he took some snacks from the motorhome in order to have something to eat that night, it was that bad.

You only hear the good stories...

[Josta]

Carlos Reutemann is an Argentine politician now. He has even been linked with a Presidential run.

[GreyKitten]

Originally posted by Galko877


But didn't Senna's parents oppose his racing career? Didn't they want him to go to a business college or university instead? That's what I've read at least.

Not sure about Senna's parents but I believe Nelson Piquets parent's were so against him racing that he had to sneak off and do it under a different name so he didn't get found out - I quite admire that actually! I think his father was something in the Brazilian government.

[Tigershark]

Originally posted by GreyKitten
Nelson Piquets parent's were so against him racing ...

Wikipedia claims his full name is 'Nelson Piquet Souto Maior' and that he "was the son of a Brazilian government minister who did not approve of his racing career, and for this reason he was forced to use his mother's maiden name Piquet (of French origin and pronounced as "Pee-Kè") misspelt as Piket to hide his identity."

That's quite something, good for him.

[ensign14]

It's not the greatest of pseudonyms, though, is it? "Oh look, another person with a French surname racing...I wonder if we're related?"