GT40s to F1

[Ian Clark]

Mosport 1967 Lotus 49 Eppie Weitzes placed 10th overall. Anyone know whos driving the other cars? What a ride!

For the record, the GT40 and the Lotus attained virtually the same top speed on Mosports uphill back strait...165mph.

 

[Graham Forbes]

Chris Amon in a Ferrari with Denis Hulme in a Brabham Repco behind. Hulme went on to win the World Championship that year. Interestingly both drivers are (or were in Hulme's case), New Zealanders.

 

[Ian Clark]

Thanks Graham, I was pretty sure about Chris but no idea about Denny. Eppie had a lot to say about safety back then, no seat belts in F1, roll bars were symbolic, no crush zones...ouch. Very brave men all.

 

[Rick]

Ian, any pics of GT-40s at Mosport?

Rick

 

I have a couple of photos of Eppie Wietzes' GT40 somewhere. I'll dig them out.

I'm sure he won't want to be reminded of this but I think Eppie Wietzes (who was actually disqualified from the 1967 Mosport, despite finishing) was best known as the fall guy for the result of one of the most controversial Grand Prix of all time.

Eppie was the driver of the first ever F1 safety car (a Porsche 914...) at the 1973 Canadian GP at Mosport. The story goes that in a chaotic rain affected race, he hooked up in front of the wrong 'leader', allowing Peter Revson, Jackie Oliver and Emerson Fittipaldi to make up an extra lap after pitting to change tyres.

Revson, who was a real hero of mine, went on to win - ouch.

Cheers.

Rob

 

[Ian Clark]

Hi Rob,

Be great if you could find the pics and post them. We all have our moments. I'd like to know the rest of the story.

 

Here's a pic of Eppie with the late great Jim Clark at the Canadian GP at Mosport in 1967.

Ian, as promised I've included Eppie's GT40 pics on your other thread:

Eppie Wietzes GT40 thread

Cheers

Rob