Jim Clark - At the Wheel

[Jamie]

Zak Brown?

[Deleted]

Aug 5, 2018 8:14:43 GMT Jamie said:

I think his second period at Ferrrai was just a marriage of coveiniance after the Benneton debacle and it was never going to work with him baseing himself in England. His opinion was that all the technical support and expertise is around me here in southern England and I can go home for lunch 😆
That may of been a better way back in the late eighties when he changed things and made them better against much resistance but to assume that he needed to do it again for his second stint was a cock up in my opionion. To have made his second stint work he should have based himself at the factory and intergrated better with the team but his stubbornness meant this was never going to happen and the 1994 car is probably a prime example of that decision making the car less competitive than it should have been.
The internal politics of the team at the time ensured that this was doomed to fail. It’s hardly surprising that the tech teams in Maranello bristled at the disrespectful way Barnard dealt with them. What were the Ferrari management thinking of as well? They wanted Barnard’s expertise sure, but when he insisted on operating far away from the factory they should have forced his hand and made him relocate or walked away and found someone else.
The whole thing was a mess, but it’s intersting to read nevertheless. Obviously Jean wasn’t a fan and I think it mentions in the book that Todt had to stop him from going to the press complaining about the car. Something about the suspension ‘flexures’ I recall.

It really is a good book because it doesn’t just propose that Barnard was always right and always the best. His errors of judgement and abrasive nature are given equal billing with his undoubted brilliance.

I think from reading the book that both of JB’s periods at Ferrari were poorly handled on both sides, it was never going to work long term that way. On the flip side he did get the engineering side of the team back on track in his first stint and made Ferrari the innovator again, the 640/641 must surely be regarded as one of the best Ferrari cars of all time.

On a side note, Jean Alesi was an enigma wasn’t he? I remember well his breakthrough season at Tyrell when he was simply amazing and everyone thought he would be a definite World Champion, he looked fantastic. And then it all just sort of stalled and he was mediocre for most of his career?? Strange.

I will get the book, Jamie, regardless he is quite an indigestible - or undrinkable - character. My interest in the engineering is bigger that the drawback of reading about Ferrari between the mid Eighties and mid Nineties, not my favourite subject, with or without Barnard.

Ferrari between Fiorio and Todt, or before Montezemolo took over as chairman, was a no man's land. They must have been quite desperate to subjugate that way to Barnard's requests. "They" are the mediocre Fiat managers sent to Maranello in period: first Fusaro, Lombardi (who had been a good engineer with Lancia, but clearly out of his depth at managing a leading F1 operation).

What Alesi did on the Tyrrell promised a lot, the returns have been non existent. I like him to De Cesaris, quick and with the same complete lack of cool-headedness. He had a Williams contract, which he then extricate himself from to go to Ferrari, that enduring siren - his real name is Giovanni Alesi and is as much Italian as yours truly. A case of what could have been, on a winning Williams instead of a struggling red car. His character's shortcomings would have come out eventually anyway, I think. Especially at Williams. Patrick Head. Associate of John Barnard... 

[Deleted]

Aug 4, 2018 7:09:14 GMT Jamie said:

The periods about working for Ferrari were really interesting. It’s interesting to see that he and others admit that trying to run an Italian based operation from the UK wasn’t going to work long term but John’s desire to go home and be with the family for lunch was such a strong compulsion that they had to cede to his wishes if they wanted his expertise. That’s got to be admired in my book - he really did it his way and it ultimately hampered his efforts but there was never any compromise......

Just got the book from Amazon now and obviously haven't read a line yet.

I only wanted to comment on his interview in the current Motor Sport, where he says that it was Ferrari who, when they first approached him, actually proposed and were open to the fact of him operating from the UK. They must have been pretty desperate, and show an humility that the likes of Williams and McLaren, say, among others with now a newly blue passport, aren't capable of. Racing was really racing for Ferrari (Enzo), no matter what. Forghieri was leaving and Postlethwaite, as a very good man he was, was a very limited designer and couldn't be entrusted to run the whole technical operation.

I must admit I almost thought he comes across as a witty and humorous man, in that interview. I didn't expect that.

[Jamie]

Hi Lucio,

How’s life in Tropical climbs?

Yes it was interesting that Ferrari bent over backwards to get Barnard and did whatever was necessary to get the best, speaks volumes for Enzo’s will to win. I also find it endearing that JB insisted on going home for lunch and wouldn’t compromise on this point......quite eccentric really.

I’m sure you’ll find the book interesting, I really enjoy reading about the technical advances in our sport and how they came about. I’ve just bought the book ‘Beast’ about the car Penske built around the pushrod V8 Mercedes engine to win Indy. Some holiday reading when in Spain next week 👍

[Deleted]

Hi Jamie,

back in the UK on holiday, going to Italy on Friday for a short week.

'Beast' is a great little book, quite compelling. The Captain knows how to take executive decisions, keep them secret and make them work.

I am sure Barnard is a good guy, after all, he should relax a bit more perhaps.

[robmarsh]

Jamie and Lucio. Beast is a good book Jamie, you will enjoy it. I am enjoying the John Barnard book so would recommend someone takes up your offer Jamie.