DSJ Jenks

[chrisb]

I had not realised there [or more likely remembered] that there is a biography on Jenks, love him, loathe him, agree, disagree with his words but my word he was difficult to ignore. 


There were many things I admired Jenks for, I did like his writing style and always had the sense of balance in his approach, until Ayrton clouded that. Now I am sure some will disagree with that sentiment and I would welcome that.

There were also a number of things I am at complete odds with Jenks about, safety being one, I still prefer live heroes to the alternative, also his absolution of Ayrton's tactics, 

I would be grateful if anyone knows of Jenk's biography before I buy it as I always value everyone's opinion here 

[charleselan]

An inspired thread Chris, thank you.

I have mentioned many times here and on the MS forum in the past my debt to Jenks. He inspired my interest in car racing with his race reports and the superb "Continental Notes" in Motorsport Magazine. As a very young kid and growing teenager I would read them over and over, and every snippet of information about the cars that he unearthed I would store away in my head.

Obviously as he was of a completely different generation to me, there would be topics that we would have disagreement, obviously in my head as I did not know the man or had any interaction with him. Safety was one quite certainly as was his disdain of Jochen Rindt, how I laughed when he had to shave off that iconic beard when Jochen finally won his first and long overdue Grand Prix in 1969 at Watkins Glen.

All that being said he would take me to places in Europe that as a kid I had no idea about, or ever would have the chance to see at that time. The Targa Florio was one in particular, it was like another world and Jenks would describe it in such an eloquent and beautiful way. For many years he would tour Europe in his beloved "E" Type Jaguar and that for me was the perfect lifestyle, along with following ones great obsession.

I unearthed this wonderful picture the other day, having been directed from Pinterest to an English eBay sellers site, it proves that at one time DSJ and JYS were on good terms:-

[chrisb]

many thanks John, Jenks's continental notes and musings were devoured monthly as my creaking attic will testify - I seem to have a few old Motor Sports....ok maybe 60 years of old Motor Sports, I didn't meet Jenks but I did speak to the Bod several times and he was a delight and remember when asked about a 'new' oil company that wanted to focus on classic cars the Bod snorted, why? we have Castrol R- a point difficult to argue with.

[robmarsh]

The biography of Jenks is well worth getting Chris. I plan to reread mine quite soon. As Charles said DSJ took me to places I have only dreamed of and taught me a lot about F1. I did disagree with him about the safety issues and his latter views on JYS but his eye for driver talent and appeal was pretty much spot on to me. He always acknowledged JYS skill and his bravery in driving racing cars. He just didn't agree with emasculating, to his mind, the great cicuits of the day. Something I guess we do about the Tilkedromes.

[charleselan]

Oct 19, 2018 17:27:30 GMT robmarsh said:

The biography of Jenks is well worth getting Chris. I plan to reread mine quite soon. As Charles said DSJ took me to places I have only dreamed of and taught me a lot about F1. I did disagree with him about the safety issues and his latter views on JYS but his eye for driver talent and appeal was pretty much spot on to me. He always acknowledged JYS skill and his bravery in driving racing cars. He just didn't agree with emasculating, to his mind, the great cicuits of the day. Something I guess we do about the Tilkedromes.

That is a very profound and accurate summation of Jenks, Rob.

Are we any different in our thoughts on the Tilkedromes, probably not. I really do believe that as we age we hark back to what we believe were the "good old days". My dad and his friends were always going on about the past and speaking about it in glowing terms, even WW11 times. Food for thought?

[charleselan]

Oct 19, 2018 15:01:58 GMT chrisb said:

many thanks John, Jenks's continental notes and musings were devoured monthly as my creaking attic will testify - I seem to have a few old Motor Sports....ok maybe 60 years of old Motor Sports, I didn't meet Jenks but I did speak to the Bod several times and he was a delight and remember when asked about a 'new' oil company that wanted to focus on classic cars the Bod snorted, why? we have Castrol R- a point difficult to argue with.

Ah! Chris, the aroma of Castrol 'R', to every petrol head of a certain age the smell that surpasses AXE , or Chanel No 5 worn by a beautiful woman.

[mikael]

I do not have (and have not read) the mentioned biography; so I know I'm a little out of phase with the subject of the thread.

But in the 1997 reissue (by Bentley Publishers) of DSJ's "The Racing Driver" of 1959, there is a very readable (and humorous) short biography by Doug Nye (with the title "Jenks: A Tribute"). I found/find the following passage really nice:

"In 1993 at our inaugural Goodwood Festival of Speed we couldn't fit the hybrid TriBSA [homebuilt by DSJ himself] into an existing bike class, so we invented one specifically for DSJ: open to riders under 5 ft. 3 in. tall and over 70 years of age (and he finished second!)."

[Deleted]

Obviously I didn't read Denis Sargent Jenkinson in period, as his material didn't appear in Italy (while Doug Nye's and Roebuck's translations of articles appeared from time to time), I have only read his collection of articles Jenks: A Passion for Motor Sport and what I gather is that he was a contrarian, he seemed to always swim against the current (and platitudes) of the times, applying sharp logic.

Doug Nye is co-executor of Jenks' estate and and co-holder of the copyright of his written material, and very close and affectionate friend.

[charleselan]

Oct 20, 2018 4:29:46 GMT mikael said:

I do not have (and have not read) the mentioned biography; so I know I'm a little out of phase with the subject of the thread.

But in the 1997 reissue (by Bentley Publishers) of DSJ's "The Racing Driver" of 1959, there is a very readable (and humorous) short biography by Doug Nye (with the title "Jenks: A Tribute"). I found/find the following passage really nice:

"In 1993 at our inaugural Goodwood Festival of Speed we couldn't fit the hybrid TriBSA [homebuilt by DSJ himself] into an existing bike class, so we invented one specifically for DSJ: open to riders under 5 ft. 3 in. tall and over 70 years of age (and he finished second!)."

Some interesting material in your post Mikael which was really good to read. Some time back there was a feature in Motorsport when one of the journalists (possibly Roebuck or Nye) write of times visiting DSJ at his home. It was I believe deep in a forest and somewhat rustic although i don't think it had an earth floor (something that some places still have here in rural northern France). However it did have a similar ring to domiciles of somewhat eccentric guys I have met in my life, who more often than not were interested in motor vehicles of some sort or other.

The TriBSA that they refer to was one of Jenks loves, and was in fact a very common combination of parts in the early 1960's. Many guys would combine the quite potent Triumph Tiger 100 twin cylinder motor in a BSA Goldstar frame, hence the TriBSA name. The well known and renown motocross brothers Don & Derek Rickman began their business of making Metisse scramblers by starting out with TriBSA's,. and then made their own frames etc to take various motors.

The sound of those Triumph twin engines with open pipes was a glorious fruity melody of sound; combine that with the aroma of Castrol 'R' and it was complete bliss.

[Carl]

Oct 20, 2018 17:10:13 GMT charleselan said:

Oct 20, 2018 4:29:46 GMT mikael said:

I do not have (and have not read) the mentioned biography; so I know I'm a little out of phase with the subject of the thread.

But in the 1997 reissue (by Bentley Publishers) of DSJ's "The Racing Driver" of 1959, there is a very readable (and humorous) short biography by Doug Nye (with the title "Jenks: A Tribute"). I found/find the following passage really nice:

"In 1993 at our inaugural Goodwood Festival of Speed we couldn't fit the hybrid TriBSA [homebuilt by DSJ himself] into an existing bike class, so we invented one specifically for DSJ: open to riders under 5 ft. 3 in. tall and over 70 years of age (and he finished second!)."

Some interesting material in your post Mikael which was really good to read. Some time back there was a feature in Motorsport when one of the journalists (possibly Roebuck or Nye) write of times visiting DSJ at his home. It was I believe deep in a forest and somewhat rustic although i don't think it had an earth floor (something that some places still have here in rural northern France). However it did have a similar ring to domiciles of somewhat eccentric guys I have met in my life, who more often than not were interested in motor vehicles of some sort or other.

The TriBSA that they refer to was one of Jenks loves, and was in fact a very common combination of parts in the early 1960's. Many guys would combine the quite potent Triumph Tiger 100 twin cylinder motor in a BSA Goldstar frame, hence the TriBSA name. The well known and renown motocross brothers Don & Derek Rickman began their business of making Metisse scramblers by starting out with TriBSA's,. and then made their own frames etc to take various motors.

The sound of those Triumph twin engines with open pipes was a glorious fruity melody of sound; combine that with the aroma of Castrol 'R' and it was complete bliss.

Mikael,

             I wonder who finished first in that exclusive category?  If money was at stake, it may have been Ecclestone on a mini-motorcycle.

John Charles,

                        I remember that article, which reminded me of someone visiting a fairy tale gnome in the darkest recesses of the forest.  I believe Denis Jenkinson used a small internal combustion engine (possibly from a 2CV) to generate electricity and may even have had it inside on an improvised stand. 

                     

                       I have always admired such eccentricity. 

Cheers to you both, Carl

[robmarsh]

I know at one stage he had a Jaguar engine from an e type I think at the end of his bed. He only had one dinner plate and if you turned the bathroom light on the rest of the abode was plunged into darkness. However, having slept in a cupboard at work during WW2 this would have been luxurious accommodation for DSJ.

[charleselan]

A wonderfully eccentric man who optimised self sufficiency to the max. If one is happy you cannot knock living like that and all power to him. It would however be well nigh impossible to do such a thing in todays world, well it would be for me with so many electrical powered devises around the home.

That being said I would relish having solar panels and a small wind turbine, and the ultimate a Ground Source Heat pump providing under floor heating.

Did I also read that you took a cup of tea at Jenks place at your own peril?

[chrisb]

certainly eccentric! funny enough John I would relish the very same and maybe when chaos descends in England I may well end up in France and will invest in those 3 sources of fuel

I have received both Jenks and Frank's books, joining the long list of books I am looking forward to reading

[robmarsh]

Which Frank are you talking about Chris.

[charleselan]

Oct 25, 2018 9:16:41 GMT robmarsh said:

Which Frank are you talking about Chris.

Excuse me butting in Rob, however i believe that Chris is referring to Frank Gardner, following my recommendation of his 1973 book that is an absolute peach.

JC