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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2018 20:29:18 GMT
Just back from Albury, Hertfordshire, went there - Jamie too, it's round his corner - at an event with John Watson and Paul Michaels of Hexagon, the outfit that ran as privateers in 1974. It's an all day event they run three times a year, each with a different theme and guests, with talks and showing of old motorsport films. Very much enjoyed this one, John is a witty and humourous guy, with Paul they talked to Maurice Hamilton about their F1 adventure. John also expanded beyond into his Brabham years and as Niki's teammate (they were together also at McLaren). There was also an auction of books and motorsport memorabilia donated by the participants for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Very good to finally meet Jamie. We made a selfie, if the camera survived our sight he may post it later.  This original, and frankly stunning, painting by Andrew Kitson, specially made for the event, fetched about 4100 pounds.  |
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Post by Carl on Feb 3, 2018 21:54:05 GMT
Watson, either Peterson or Ickx, then Hill and Edwards in procession, I think at Monaco. John Watson is someone success somehow eluded. He should have won more often and been better situated throughout his career. Attachment Deleted |
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Post by Jamie on Feb 3, 2018 22:00:47 GMT
It was a great day Lucio, I thoroughly enjoyed it and all thanks to you for putting me on to this great event. I can't believe that this has been going on for some while not 3 miles from my front door! John, Maurice and Paul were really entertaining as were the films of the seventies, and money raised for the most worthy of causes to boot. I had the added pleasure of sitting next to none other than Roger Nathan and we chatted away about his current restoration of the Costin Nathan prototype car found in a barn a couple of years ago. He happily showed me photos of the cars wooden monocoque undergoing restoration and plans to take it to Goodwood in June - I do hope they make it and will be hoping to see Roger again along with his car. Here he is in period with the car.  And here's a link to a YT video I just found about the barn find. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2018 22:18:44 GMT
Watson, either Peterson or Ickx, then Hill and Edwards in procession, I think at Monaco. John Watson is someone success somehow eluded. He should have won more often and been better situated throughout his career. That picture refers to the first time he finished on the points, 6th. John told that he was racing Fittipaldi for 5th place when Peterson came upon them and Watson decided to concentrate on Emerson rather than give way to Ronnie straightaway, John acknowledges it was a mistake. Ronnie then complained to Watson to not let him through, in Swenglish... Interesting to learn what a good and professional team was Hexagon. Four mechanics, the owner (Michaels), an engineer, three DFV, two Hewlands. They ran on Firestones. When they got the BT 44, they were quicker than the works' cars (who used Goodyear), putting to shame Goodyear who made pressure on Bernie to slow them down. Michaels also told how Gordon Murray was helpful to them, who understood they were capable. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2018 23:12:15 GMT
I also managed the answers to the quiz for our table, we got 29 points, the winner was at 36, 25 points came from me. A bit disappointed, I felt I was closer than I thought this time, I never get a 'competitive' table. It needs at least a couple of people who knows it quite alright. I reckon with JC we would win the quiz anytime.
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Post by charleselan on Feb 3, 2018 23:28:31 GMT
I also managed the answers to the quiz for our table, we got 29 points, the winner was at 36, 25 points came from me. A bit disappointed, I felt I was closer than I thought this time, I never get a 'competitive' table. It needs at least a couple of people who knows it quite alright. I reckon with JC we would win the quiz anytime. I would be honoured Lucio. |
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Post by Jamie on Feb 3, 2018 23:43:25 GMT
We got 31 and I'm happy to report that I held my own with a good few answers after the others had the first pass 👍 Now we recognise each other we can get on the same table next time. I have no doubt that with JC and the rest of the RRT dream team it would be an easy victory |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2018 9:09:50 GMT
No question. An RRT table and there would be no game for anybody else.
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Post by chrisb on Feb 4, 2018 9:16:19 GMT
that sounds like a fantastic evening, Wattie was always a great pundit and would be overjoyed if he returned to F1 commentary and added a bit of grace and style to it,
your evening brings back fond memories as I write, my favourite moment, Silverstone British GP early 80's - Rene retiring and John winning, a really great day on what was an ok circuit in that format
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Post by René on Feb 5, 2018 15:40:06 GMT
That must have been a great day, always liked John Watson. I don't think we, the complete RRT group, would be allowed to participate in the quiz! |
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Post by mikael on Feb 6, 2018 8:44:18 GMT
It must have been a great day! Just a curious little fact related to John Watson. In 1982 he visited the Danish track "Jyllands Ringen" in the McLaren MP4/1, in connection with a promotion event, and in a demo-run he duly set a new lap record of 40.15 seconds (for the old, lower-laying part in the photo below; the loop around the upper-laying oval-like part (in the bottom of the picture) did not exist back then). (I was happy to be there on that day - but unfortunately, I cannot find any photos.) A year later, in 1983, Renault Denmark arranged to have a Renault RE40 F1 present on the track for the Danish driver John Nielsen (Le Mans winner 1990 in Jaguar, with Brundle and Cobb), in an attempt to topple Watson's record (second photo). Unfortunately, that attempt soon ended in a gravel trap. Similar events were never carried out again. Thus even now, 35 years later, John Watson's lap record is still standing!  Jyllands Ringen in Silkeborg (Mid-Jutland), Denmark  John Nielsen in the Renault RE40 at Jyllands Ringen in 1983. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2018 13:13:01 GMT
The organizer has sent few photos from last Saturday meeting.
John signed the painting:
Paul Michaels, Maurice Hamilton, John Watson
This was the Village Hall where the meeting took place
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Post by René on Feb 6, 2018 19:49:35 GMT
Just a curious little fact related to John Watson. In 1982 he visited the Danish track "Jyllands Ringen" in the McLaren MP4/1, in connection with a promotion event, and in a demo-run he duly set a new lap record of 40.15 seconds. Thus even now, 35 years later, John Watson's lap record is still standing! Great little story Mikael. A relatively unknown national track but the lap record is held by an F1 race winner in a McLaren! May it stand for many years to come!  Would have been a nice question for Wattie, if he still remembers this record.  |
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Post by charleselan on Feb 6, 2018 23:14:19 GMT
Mikael & Lucio,
Two great additional post thank you.
Firstly the history of John Watson taking his F1 McLaren to Denmark and setting a lap record that stands to this day. I really like the fact that something like that happened in a country that does not have a GP of its own. Sad isn't it that countries who have rich despots can oil up (excuse the pun) the likes of Ecclestone or Liberty and get a GP which has a limited attendance, yet somewhere like Denmark or Holland for instance would crave one and it would be mightily well attended.
Incidentally John Nielson was a pretty handy driver, and did pretty well for TWR. Another top Dane was Kurt Thim who was an outstanding German Touring Car driver when it was a real series, with proper cars.
The village hall in Lucio's pictures looks really pleasant and the gathering would be just about the correct size for me, excellent. Wattie was/is a top man, and as Chris mentions elsewhere he would be far better in the coms box than the current incumbents. I was really upset when he ran low, or out, of fuel (whatever story fits) at Silverstone in 1977, he was brilliant that day and had James Hunt well and truly handled, he was as good as anyone when not distracted by outside influences
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Post by chrisb on Feb 7, 2018 5:45:02 GMT
Charles, a sentiment I truly share, if you take a corrupted sport to a [sorry allegedly] corrupted country - what do you get? I am all for expanding countries interests in sports, making it more available and I hope by going to Thailand in MotoGP we are doing something positive for the region and the sport/ industry, not like F1 where the few benefit at the cost of the many-
for some reason I was always a bit of a fan of John Nielson's - I always thought he was an individual who had the potential to be almost like a modern Vic Elford,and had that same no nonsense appearance
Charles, I do think my memory is a strange thing, I remember so clearly the Alfa running out of fuel at the French GP in 1977 whilst leading Mario but remember how quick Gunnar was when 'released' from behind Mario at Silverstone in 77 and how we cheered but not Wattie and James, and I was there, oops
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