The Anonymous Widower

Brazilian Farce

I watched the qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix last night.  What a farce!

But then has it ever been thus in the rain?

I went to motor racing a few times before I was married, although  I didn’t actually see a Grand Prix until I went to Spa last year.  That incidentally was a complete waste of time and money and I’d never bother to go again, unless I was paid to do it!  It’s so much better on the television.

One race from that era stands out.

We all went to Brands Hatch to see the Sports Car Race called the Guards Trophy.  It used to be run in something like Appendix J, but that wasn’t the real title.  Basically the cars were driven by seven litre stock-block engines and had all enclosing bodywork.  The primary exponent of this formula was John Surtees, who drove a Lola.  This race was notable in that it was seeing the debut of the new Felday 5 four-wheel drive car with the bigger engine.  Jim Clark was driving the older Felday 4 car with the two-litre BRM engine.

It should be noted that in those days, race meetings like these attracted all of the top Formula One drivers like Clark, Hill and Surtees.

And then it rained.

Heavily, too!

Cars went everywhere and eventually the race was abandoned and restarted.  Except for the immaculate Surtees, who just drove round in an impressive display of how to drive in the wet.  Clark was second fastest, despite being very much down on power.

October 18, 2009 - Posted by AnonW | Sport | Formula One