ZANDVOORT 1973- whos your hero past/present in motorsport??

[Tim SP]

Just to tack on to my Life on limit post-
Some years back I asked if anyone had seen BBC's 'F1-the killer years' that resulted in some great phot's that a chap very kindly sent me- I wonder if your still on here???
I wonder if anyone has any light to shed on that race??

I am trying to amass as much info as poss, as I would like to put something together about my only racing 'Hero' David Purley.
I would love the idea of a book as I feel his life was more interesting than many a 'F1 star'.
Also he was braver than most of us.

My dad loved Jim Clark & Graham Hill- its to Hills credit, Like David that he stopped his car & ended his race when went to the rescue what turned out to be Jackie stewart's smashed to bits car that he was trapped in & soaked in 100octane- Admirable indeed, what a gentleman racer- worthy of an award- like Hailwood & Purley.
Strange then that Stewart then passed Purley at Zandvoort given that experience- maybe williamson wasn't famous enough to compromise his race, same to be said of Celvert & Hunt they all did more than once.

That said is easy to have an opinion when not there- but none of them said a word about that crash, nor had any shame of not stopping race.....

The other bloke I like, not a hero of mine but do very much admire is Big Gerry.
I also recall people on BBC saturday sport like David Brodie's run baby run black Mk1 Escort (desp wanted the scalextric escort on back of that & still have it!)
Then the nutters like the John Pope Magnum DBSV8 & Tony pond thrashing a TR7V8 through the forest stages- that why i wanted the Scalextric 300 set, as was TR7V8's!

Who's your fav & why????????????

[RockyUSA]

John Horsman - Chief Engineer for the JWAE team... Won LeMans 2 years in GT-40s, and 2 years in Porsche 917s.

John is aligned with my vision as an engineer. Success is not achieved by flashy drivers with savoir-faire, but with planning, preparation and discipline in the workshop (laboratory) prior to the test event.

Of course JWAE had good drivers, many of the best. But his John Wyer's teams were CONSISTENTLY successful due to their engineering and preparation.

That what does it for me.

Photo 1

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I believe more photos are required....

2

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3

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4 - Le Mans Finish

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5 - Nurburgring

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6 - Zeltweg

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7 - Wyer / Yorke / Horsman

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[Nicholas Lightbown]

I absolutely concur, Rocky!

Horsman's 'Racing in the Rain' is, in my humble opinion, one of the best motor - racing autobiographies ever committed to print.

For those unaware of Horsman, he is perhaps most famous for creating the short tail ('Kurz') Porsche 917, thereby transforming the powerful 'big banger' from a an unwieldy, under-developed, widow-maker into a benign, sure-footed, world beater.

And, more than an engineer, Horsman also assumed team management responsibilities following David Yorke's departure from JWAE, thereby retaining the leadership skills which ensured his racing outfits consistently operated as a team, in the purest sense of the word.

Rocky's third image above illustrates Horsman enjoying an exchange with the famous French journalist Gerard 'Jabby' Crombac.

For anyone seriously interested in Horsman's autobiography, I might consider selling my - signed - hardcopy edition, which remains in excellent condition eleven years after publication ceased.....

NL

[Tim SP]

Awesome chaps! I have learned something, I hoped for this kind of response, I hope there can be more people's stories & interest...........

[RockyUSA]

Thanks, Nicholas.

I have the pleasure of interacting with John and his wife Janet occasionally here in Tucson. Here he is explaining the strategy and course layout of LeMans to several of our local car aficionados.

As the astute will note, the chicane is not present in the center of the Mulsanne straight in this layout of the track - the track layout is as it was back in '67-72.

John Briefing us on 24 Heurs du Mans

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