Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO Posted March 21, 2021 Posted March 21, 2021 On 19/03/2021 at 21:20, djm said: James Hunt at Thruxton in 1975 signing autographs and about to give a demonstration run in the Hesketh Formula 1 Race Car. The third photo is Lord Hesketh (Thomas Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh) stood by the car and the sole backer of the team without any other sponsorship. Towards the end of 1975 Lord Hesketh withdrew his sponsorship of the team and James Hunt moved to McClaren where he replaced Emerson Fittipaldi and became World Champion in 1976. Can you imagine Lewis Hamilton taking his Mercedes to a local club circuit for a demo! Jenson Button did bring his McClaren to the streets of Frome just down the road from me and did donuts in the street in 2013 I will try to find some photos. My first live GP was 1976 at Brands when James won on track, but Lauda got the win afterwards by the stewards. we drove down from Manchester on Saturday night queued up at 5am at the paddock bend entrance, then drove home after the race getting home about 2am and was at work for 8 am Monday morning, can't do that now 🙄 2 Quote
djm Posted March 22, 2021 Author Posted March 22, 2021 No you certainly can't and it didn't seem to cost you a large wedge of your pay packet then! 1 Quote
Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO Posted March 23, 2021 Posted March 23, 2021 On 19/03/2021 at 11:53, djm said: Moving on to some motorsport themed photos now. The first one was taken at Thruxton in 1973 at the annual Formula 2 Easter race meeting. This is the Team Surtees Matchbox sponsored Formula 2 Team drivers Mike Hailwood and I don't remember the other driver next to him although I recognise his face (Addn. my mate thinks it may be Andrea de Adamich?). The bloke on the right in the Jackie Stewart style cap is my brother sadly no longer with us. Formula 2 was a great series in those days because if the current Formula 1 drivers weren't doing anything the F2 weekends they came along and more often than not had a guest drive. This was great to compare the up and coming drivers against current F1 drivers and of course it was brilliant for the fans! Thruxton at Easter was particularly good for it as there was never a clashing F1 meeting so we had some brilliant races, I remember one Easter when the great Ronnie Petersen was on his was up and Graham Hill came along and had a fantastic dice with him. Graham Hill narrowly beat him and after the race when they interviewed him he said in his own way "Ronnie was up my chuff all the way". Aah yes Matchbox F2 Surtees, they came to Oulton Park as well 1 Quote
Blatman Posted March 23, 2021 Posted March 23, 2021 Every time I hear the name Surtees or see the Matchbox F1 / F2 cars I immediately remember reading "Tiger" comic which had a story about Skid Solo, racing driver. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-legend-that-was-skid-solo-4976108/4976108/ 1 Quote
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