Motoring-Man

From the very first International Touring Car race in the uk

HELP! Motoring-man needs a little help from fellow racing fans. I have been writing a fun book on Le Mans for about three years and I am having trouble finishing it of. It is not a serious look at the race but a selection of funny stories stitched together into a group of lads adventure. Most are derived from what I have seen over 38 visits to the race. You know the stuff; naked men in the Arnage fountain, campsite pranks and general mischief. Well I have exhausted my supply of memories and wonder if anyone out there is willing to share what they have seen and done! You will have to agree to me maybe picking out bits, to create a part of my story. It can be from any form of racing, like when I saw a group of cows accidentally let into the Spa GP campsite!

Niki Lauda My Legend: I never was one for heroes! Probably because I only ever had one, and that was Niki Lauda. I was already a prolific reader by 9 years old and was reading lots about Niki's battle against Emerson Fittipaldi in 1974 and 75. In 1976 when the whole country here in the UK was desperate for James Hunt to win the Championship, I was a little alone in rooting for Lauda. By the time I had read Niki's "To Hell And Back" I had been influenced enough by the Austrian... to believe only in myself hence no more heroes. He not only sowed the seeds of my life long interest in fitness and diet (Big cheer for Will Dungle too). He gave me the self belief to do anything I wanted and to ignore the negative influences of society! But now in my 50s I will thank Niki for giving me the life long interest and passion for Motor Racing. Cheers Niki my hero!
https://www.motoring-man.com/p1072008835/ ea79961de
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Scuderia....(Noun) meaning Stable: Hello everyone. I have not written much for a while as I have been a bit under the weather! But the one good thing from spell of illness is some valuable reading time. I have read a few good titles and then yesterday morning something occurred to me. No matter how much I take an interest in Motor Racing and cars I always have something to learn! And sometimes it is the obvious or what is starring me in the face. My most recent example was the word “Scuderia”. I thought it just meant team; as in “Scuderia Ferrari”. I now know it means stable in Italian. Another was “Barchetta” Ferrari? I wonder if you know what it means? Let me know if you have any presumably obvious but not, names of phrases used in the Automotive world…..

RARE LOTUS COLLECTION PART TWO: On my travels buying and selling motoring memorabilia I get to meet an awful lot of interesting people, none more than two former employees of Lotus cars whom I have just bought two rare collections from. Both gentleman worked at the Delemare Road factory at Cheshunt in the 1960s and what struck me after all these years was their enthusiasm for the Marque. The first one worked in the Lotus Components building before moving onto sales and then... finally working for the famous Rob Walker. The other was with the sales department from day one. It was quite obvious that both of them had other successful careers outside their years at Lotus, but for both men it seemed the time they had spent there was one of the highlights of their lives. As we flicked through some of the photographs they had taken on promotional shoots it was great to hear and share the stories. “Can you imagine we were just youngsters let loose with sports cars we could never afford. We would cruise down to London with our sharp suits and pull the girls. What more could we want” I get the impression Colin Chapman would let anything go as long as the cars were seen and the lads got the sales. One particular set of pictures with a pretty girl outside a traditional pub made me smile as I was informed with a pointing finger “This pretty girl here was no model. Me and the photographer would cruise around the countryside looking for a good location. The girl in this one happened to be in the pub when we stopped for a beer. She was a hairdresser cutting the landladies hair!” Judging by her appearance in lots of the pictures, I think they has a great day out! The cars were often taken to Sloan Square Chelsea and Carnaby St. I guess the cars stuck out a mile in the 1960s so this was great promotion. My favourite picture is of the very first Europa parked in London with the driver beside in a fantastic sharp 60s suit! Wow no wonder they loved their jobs!
The second part of the photographic section and other rare items will be sold commencing 20th of February at my eBay shop Motoring-man
http://www.ebaystores.co.uk/motoring-man/ _i.html…
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Touring cars and Saloon cars.
Just recently I came across a few sets of really good negatives from 1962 and 1963. Most reels of old film are a bit of a gamble because until they are cleaned, touched up and digitalised I have no idea if they are any good! And all to often they are a waisted investment as the film can be damaged, over exposed or the photographer was just plan old rubbish. Fortunately it was soon clear I had some real gems here. Obviously the first pictures to c...atch my eye were Grand Prix cars at Silverstone and Goodwood, and even better GT cars like the 250 GTO and Aston Martin DBs. I will be honest I spent an age logging all the drivers, cars and events and ignored a good few reels of Saloon cars.
Everything takes time and a year later I went back to the remaining pictures and discovered a whole new and exciting interest! The first race I discovered was the 1963 Brands Hatch 6 Hours, the first international race for saloons in the UK. The amazingly sharp pictures featured cars from all across the world, in what must have been a delight for the large crowd. I researched the race and found myself fascinated not only by the six hours but the general saloon car scene at the time. One of the reels had the Ford Galaxy fighting with the Jaguar Mk 1s. I then found that the pictures I had were of no less than Jim Clark winning in the Wilment racing Galaxy in a one off drive!
The saloons or touring cars are now my favourite pictures and I will always be on the look out for what I overlooked in the past! A clear picture of a Lancia Flaminia, Ford Zodiac, Volvo Pv 544 or a Mini is a thing of beauty, as is Christabel Carlisle leaning on her Mini in the paddock.
The drivers of the day were spoilt compared to today! To be able to drive the wheels of a different car week in week out must have been amazing. And such big crowds too. I have not followed BTCC since the days of Andy Rouse and Steve Soper maybe I should take another look?
A selection of the pictures can be found at:
https://www.motoring-man.com/p613191797