Formula 1

What got me into F1?
Ever since I was a young lad, I've loved watching Formula One racing.

In the 1960's, I remember watching 're-enactments' of Grand Prix races being run on Scalextric tracks on a children's TV program and thinking, this is great. I believe the program was called Tom Tom and Jeremy Carrad did the 'commentary'.

The picture immediately belowon the right shows part of the 'Tom Tom' racetrack from around 1968 where I remember seeing bits of Grand Prix being raced and crashes being re-enacted.

Sometime in the mid 1960's, I think as a treat for passsing my 11+ exam, the only one in the family to do so; I was given a Scalextric set as a Xmas present.

Now I was hooked and wanted to see the real thing, although I had to wait a few years for my first experience.

I still have my Scalextric with original cars and accessories such as a 'pit complex', some pictures of which, are shown below!

Tom Tom Scalextric track
Tom Tom Scalextric track


My first Scalextric cars
BRM BRM (model no. C72)


Porsche Porsche (model no. C73)


Both cars Both cars together


My first Grand Prix
The first Grand Prix I ever went to was the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort in 1980. Since then I have attended almost every British Grand Prix including the years when there was a 'European' Grand Prix held in Britain. While watching Grand Prix, I indulged in one of my other hobbies, photography. I have quite a large number of photos from over the years, including pit scenes from the 'good old days' when you paid your £1 and got to wander around the pits before the race. It is these photos that I am posting on this site. They're not professional, scanned from the original 35mm negatives, but I hope they are of some interest to people who chance upon these web pages. They give an insight to the changing shape of cars over the years. Apologies for some of the pictures which are not as sharp as I would have liked. That said, I hope you enjoy.

What's the attraction of F1?
Many people question what I get from watching a few cars go round in circles and I have to admit that lately, racing isn't anywhere near as exciting as it was when I started watching Grand Prix in the 1980's.

However, I defy anyone not to get hooked once you've stood feet away from the track and listened to the sound of a Ferrari, a V12 Alfa or a Cosworth powered F1 car at full speed, screaming down Silverstone's Hangar Straight, or indeed, any other location/racing track.

(Please, no ear plugs).


Most memorable F1 moments?
If you're an F1 fan, then you are very likely to have your own memorable moments. A few of mine are shared below. These are the times I can remember that really stand out for me. When you're stuck in traffic and mud for four to five hours, simply trying to get out of the car park in a farmer's field as you regularly were in the 'good old days'; these are the times that make the hassle all worth while. Sadly, there aren't too many of these moments in the recent past.

  • Brands Hatch 1984
    Standing on the outside of Druid's hairpin just before the left hander at Graham Hill bend, and feeling the air vibrate when 27 Formula 1 cars unleashed over 17,000 horspower as they blasted away from the start/finish line.
  • Silverstone 1985
    I had the privilege to be standing on the grass above the railway sleepers on the outside of Club corner, (no armco barriers then), when Keke Rosberg completed the first ever lap of a Grand Prix circuit at an average speed of over 160mph.

    We saw him flying down Hangar Straight and knew he was fast. Round Stowe and down the straight towards Club. He wasn't slowing down. His 1250bhp Honda powered Williams monster screamed as it blasted over the rumble strip at the exit of Club on its way up towards Abbey. Everyone knew it was fast. What a legend. Those guys had real guts and in my opinion, Keke was one of the best. As I said, it was a privilege to witness that piece of history in the making.
  • Brands Hatch 1986
    Qualifying action again. Mansell, Senna, Prost, Piquet and Rosberg all fighting for pole. First one was fastest, then another, Mansell fastest. Then again on second sets of tyres the battle re-commenced. Finally, Mansell just outpaced. Over the tannoy we heard that Mansell's mechanics were selecting the best of all the tyres he had for each wheel and were 'buffing them up' for extra grip. Out came Mansell on worn tyres and he blew the competition away. Some performance!
  • Silverstone 1987
    This time I was stood on the inside of the circuit between Club and Abbey. It was the year of Mansell's famous victory over Piquet when he hauled in Piquet at 2 seconds a lap over the final 20 laps after stopping for a tyre change. We could see the circuit from Hangar Straight, through Stowe, Club and on up to Abbey. Each lap we could see Mansell gaining until he got past on Hangar straight. The crowd went wild. His car ran out of fuel on the slowing down lap.