In the above report I refer to interviewing David Piper in February 1987 at his house in Surrey for his chapter in my Kyalami book - 17 years ago!!!!
In February this year we organised a barbeque at the Hi-Tech GT40 factory for David and friends as well as a senior man from the Porsche factory. Initially we thought in terms of having it at a smart house with swimming pool, etc, but then thought that it would be more appropriate to have it in between GT40 monocoques, parts, plant and equipment, etc. A great evening was had by all!
That's me showing David a dummy of my book in which he appears as a star. Said David, perhaps quite rightly and with bemused look, 'So we are seeing something at long last!'
When I started on the mammoth task in 1984 I saw nostalgia getting better over the years and fate has been kind to me as anything retro and nostalgic, including classic motor racing, is now at record levels. Now is the time to publish.
When I interviewed the 15 'stars' I asked them to tell funny stories and you can't believe what tricks these racing guys got up to. They're a laugh a minute!
Here's an example. Jochen Mass told me that when he was driving for McLaren they were last out on the circuit late one afternoon for practice for the 1975 South African Grand Prix. As he came through the fast right handed Barbeque bend the car cut out and stopped. As Jochen started on the long walk to pits he noticed two teenage girls riding their horses on the inner part of the circuit. He asked one of the girls if he could borrow her horse and with a request like this coming from a real live Grand Prix driver the youngster dismounted and eagerly handed Jochen the reins. As Jochen clip-clopped up the pit lane he noticed Bernie Ecclestone leaning against a pit counter with his back to the pit lane and in earnest conversation with someone behind the counter. That was when men were men and pit counters were pit counters! As Jochen approached he put his finger across his mouth to indicate to the guy Bernie was talking to keep quiet. The guy nodded and Jochen stopped the horse right behind Bernie. He then reined the horse in so that its whiskers brushed up against Bernie's right cheek. Irritably Bernie waved away the tickle. Jochen persisted and again Bernie attempted to brush the irritation away. Then Jochen tugged harder so that the horse kissed Bernie on his cheek. Only then did Bernie look around and straight into the face of a horse! Jochen said should have seen the look of disbelief on Bernie's face!!!
After the Grand Prix, Jochen and four other drivers returned to the nearby Kyalami Ranch Hotel on a motor bike which, for some reason, upset a traffic cop. So what’s the problem? Motor cars carry four passengers don’t they!
The Kyalami Ranch Hotel was a stop-over for three international air lines. Imagine the scene at Grand Prix time. Beautiful air hostesses lounging around the swimming pool in teeny bikinis and handsome racing drivers. I must stop it at once! Maybe George Lucas could have used this setting for a romantic film.
That's Norman Lewis on the left (proudly Welsh) and Keith bright on the right.
Andre 40