This episode is all about books and the tales they tell. Crispian Besley talks about his new book ‘Driven to Crime’ which investigates the seedier side of the motor sport world, and world-renowned author Doug Nye talks to Paul Tarsey about everything from why Mike Hawthorn wasn’t universally popular in his home town to the tale of the Italian lunch that brought about the Goodwood Festival of Speed. In a full length, exclusive, interview, Doug also explains his thoughts on Vanwall and their rivals at BRM. Since the runaway success of Jon Saltinstall’s biography of Niki Lauda the author has been researching and writing a new volume about Jacky Ickx, Unusually, Saltinstall was able to rely on the wholehearted support of Ickx himself, creating a full and in-depth look at the life of the great Belgian driver. Jon Saltinstall explains why he so much enjoyed his time with Jacky too. Paul Jurd revisits a couple of books by Tim Beavis and Guy Loveridge featuring photographs from the racetracks of the 1960s and ’70s and wallows in the nostalgia from those times.
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Jim Roller takes a look at the world of auctions and talks to Paul Tarsey about the box of parts which comprised what’s left of the the ex-Penske, ex-McLaren Zerex Special which Bonhams sold recently for £911,000. Joe Bradley talks to his namesake (but no relation) Richard Bradley who races everything from pre-war Aston Martins to modern day prototypes and he explains why racing a historic car is so much more satisfying. Paul Jurd looks at the calendar for November and Joe Bradley joins us live from Daytona as he gets ready for his time in the commentary box for the HSR Classic 24 Hours.
An in-depth look at Spa-Francorchamps ‘the finest race track in the world’. Nick Padmore describes what it’s like to race a Williams FW07 round the legendary circuit whilst Paul Jurd goes right back to the beginning, in the the 1920s, when it was the fastest track in Europe. Peter Snowdon talk about the real-world challenges which Spa brings to a modern day driver. The whole team, whilst Joe Bradley remembers a bizarre escapade as a team manager for a Renault Clio team making a ‘raid’ on a European round at Spa back in the day.
Cars which have won Le Mans more than once are few. But it is now officially accepted that there are actually five cars which have achieved this special honour, including one which was generally accepted to be a real no-hoper at the time. The team of Paul Jurd, Jim Roller and Peter Snowdon also state their case for the defunct circuit which they would like to see brought back to life. ‘Baron’ Tarsey then has to choose his favourite, and be warned, there are some strange inclusions and some equally unexpected omissions! Paul Jurd looks forward to some of the events happening in the UK and in the USA in October
Paul Tarsey and Jim Roller report on their recent visit to the Goodwood Revival.
Gilles Villeneuve and Didier Pironi are famous for their feud, which happened after Pironi supposedly ‘stole’ victory in at Imola in 1982, and Villeneuve was so upset that he never spoke to his Ferrari team mate again. Andrew Marriott explains some of the background to the feud. Paul Tarsey and Paul Jurd look forward to the upcoming September events, Goodwood Revival and Spa Six Hours in particular, and get wistful over never having been to the ‘Circuit des Remparts’ at Angouleme. And the team looks back on the life of Lance Macklin, forever associated with the Le Mans disaster in which he was a blameless player, reviewing a new book by Jack Barlow.
Would Emerson Fittipaldi have won a third world championship if he hadn’t gone to Copersucar in 1976? That’s the conundrum debated by Jim Roller and Joe Bradley who wonder just why ‘Emmo’ went from a world champion team at McLaren to join his brother’s back-of-the-grid team. We also talk to Kevin Shilling, the man who has brought a fascinating car back to life. He bought a tired and well used AC Aceca, only to discover that the car had been the ‘daily driver’ of none other than record-breaker Donald Campbell.
The idea is this: You can have any racing car you like, you can drive it on the road or track or simply look at it, BUT you can never sell it, and if you get bored with it you have to give it back. That’s the conundrum facing our ‘Corridors of Power’ panellists Paul Jurd, Joe Bradley and Peter Snowdon. Also on this edition, Martin Warner, boss of the Shere Hill Climb, Alan Strachan, who is currently building three new versions of the Andy Rouse Sierra Cosworth he built with Andy back in the day, and Nick Padmore tells us what it’s like when your car catches fire at the Le Mans Classic at 170mph
The team discuss the first circuit they visited.
Goodwood House is the backdrop for a relaxing conversation between Paul Tarsey, Paul Jurd and Peter Snowdon. They talk about the Festival of Speed (of course) and other things happening in the world of historic motor sport before PJ and Snowy go their separate ways on projects you will hear about over the next few months. Paul Tarsey talks to Andy Dee Crown who run the Historic Sports Car Club, better known as the HSCC. Andy explains how the club has a wide range of different series, catering to owners of period sports cars, through a very successful Formula Two and Atlantic series to the ubiquitous Formula Fords! ‘Corridors of Power’ features choices from PJ and Snowy plus Joe Bradley and Jim Roller. Seeking some technical input, the panellists are tasked with choosing the greatest racing of all time. There are some surprising choices! Let us know your thoughts on the choices, or anything else on the Historic Racing News Facebook page or @histracingnews #hrnrs