Nigel Roebuck

[Carl]

My favorite scribes are Henry N. Manney III and Pete Lyons, although American readers have been blessed with many excellent ones, including Rob Walker, who wrote Grand Prix reports for several years at Road & Track

I found this wonderful website concerning Manney:

youmustbefromaway.com/tag/henry-n-manney-iii/

And from it, his complete 1967 Dutch Grand Prix report:

youmustbefromaway.com/2013/06/21/for-those-of-us-watching-racing-in-the-benelux-this-weekend/

For years I enjoyed Nigel Roebuck's knowledge and unparalleled enthusiasm for the sport, qualities that were tainted by friendships with drivers that seemed overly affectionate. I knew Roebuck had damaged his compass when he began fawning over the unenlightened and self-absorbed Mario Andretti...

--- Edited for website accuracy ---

[chrisb]

some great words gentleman, and a wonderful pro and con about Nigel, who remains a favourite of mine, I too have read and enjoyed Mark's development as a writer, his information is unparalleled, I do like how he writes nowadays and it is so informative, what I also enjoy is his willingness to engage in MS's sometimes although has been improving toxic forum.

Jenks remains no 1 as JC says far more eloquently than I could ever do so as to why Jenks for all his foibles and I still disagree with some of his points, great words Jamie and Carl about Nigel, and sums up again far more articulately than I could ever manage why I like Nigel so much. Although, again, I disagree with so much he said, even having a dialogue with him many years ago as to why Jimmy was number one and not Nigel's favourite Stirling. But that is an interesting comment Carl, 'the unenlightened and self-absorbed Mario Andretti' - I understood why the Europeans did fawn over Mario, he was quick-witted and lets be honest looked the part, he was also available, and this is where I did think the USA school of working with media was just centuries ahead of Europe, being approachable, saying 'what needed saying' with pantomime villains and contempt, the blunt [AJ] and the cool [Dan] how to criticise without insult or with, I can understand why Mario was fawned over. Although not everyone's cup of tea I did like Gordon Kirby and Gerry Phillips whose tales of rallying always enthralled,

Now, sadly my memories of Pete Lyon's are vague and I sense a revisit to my attic and dusting off some of his words may be in order to fully understand why he is so revered.

There were so many great journalists then, including some of the Fleet Street ones, Jimmy 'ghost' wrote I think for the Express? but hated poor reporting from anyone, something sadly is far too neglected these days, anyone who saw that shameful 'interview' with the ignorant and egotistical 'reporter' with Joanna Konta may understand that comment. There are some good journalists out there, but aside from Mark, how many stand out? 

[Carl]

Chris,
           Here is Pete Lyons' description of a ride around Riverside with Peter Revson in his McLaren M8F                 

                                                

"The pit exit bypasses Turn 1 and the first corner is Turn 2, a 120-odd-mph right-hander entering a little valley which holds the esses. From the track you can’t see all around 2; it vanishes between dun-colored slopes. The track is a dark grey band, and on it is a black arc. You know that arc is your lifeline. You must hit it precisely. It’s all shooting back at you like falling off a mountain. It looks narrow. It’s arriving very fast. Too fast, really, to think about.

The engine’s throb eases. Revson’s hands presses the wheel. The McLaren has darted around. It was over like the lash of a whip. For one instant there was a bucket-on-a-rope sensation, then that huge engine was driving again and we were straight.

That was the only moment in the entire ride I felt any apprehension. That magnificent automobile had shrugged off that curve with such contempt that I surrendered myself completely. No twinge of doubt about the car’s abilities ever formed again. I relaxed.

The aerodynamics squash the car to the road, and it changes direction like a puma chasing a rabbit. Slashing through the esses is like being attacked on both sides at once.

As Revson applies full throttle exiting Turn 8, a great hammer struck my spine, slamming my head back. I forced it down, and stared at the long black roadway between the orange wheel bulges. It was rushing like some demonic torrent frantic to enter the gates of hell. Small markings - stains, patches, pebbles – appeared as flickers and were gone like dust on a cine film. There was no longer any sensation of speed. We were going too fast.

                                                                           

It’s like an insane bull. There is a shattering bellow going on, which I feel as much as hear. I feel it in my chest. Everything behind me seems to be trying to push through to the front of me. The straight is nothing before such acceleration; it hurls back at us like a snapped rubber band.

A bridge flashed overhead like an aircraft’s shadow. The wide straight kinked to the left. Still absolutely on full bore, the McLaren bent into it. The world tilted on edge. To hold myself away from the driver’s arms, I had to strain any tendon. Just ahead, the world ended in a boilerplate wall. The last time I had seen the tachometer, it had been showing 6600. That had been 184mph, but Peter Revson’s foot had been hard down ever since. I couldn’t look at it now. My eyes were stuck on that wall.

The brakes are the most phenomenal feature. Flying down into Turn 9, aiming squarely at that boilerplate wall at 190mph, Revvie’s right leg makes one strong pumping movement, and a tremendous force tries to suck me down into the footwell."

[robmarsh]

Carl I recall Pete Lyons' report on the 1974 Monaco GP. His description of Ronnie Peterson driving the 72E round the circuit was mesmerising. I was sorry when he stopped reporting for Autosport. I have a few of his books though.

Excellent comments defending Nigel Roebuck as well and all valid. With the possible exception of Alan Henry, Nigel appears to have written the most books on F1 drivers. There was a time when I ordered a Nigel Roebuck book as soon as I knew about and I enjoyed his columns. Unfortunately, I have a very good memory for something I have read and concentrated on and when it was apparent to me that NR was just fobbing off questions with previous articles I got cross. In some instances he hadn't even paid attention to the nuances in the question which could have resulted in a different answer and everybody would have learnt more. Plus it was disrespectful to the person asking the question, which by the way was not me.

I guess like all people, they hit a peak and then performance drops off. The trick is knowing when to stop so one doesn't spoil the legacy. Even DSJ was not so good towards the end. I am sure NR would be great round a table at the Barley Mow in a discussion with us all. We would need at least two or three days though.

[charleselan]

I have been "humming and ha'in' about whether or not to add further to my above comments as I get the feeling that others do not share my view on the merits or not of Mr Roebuck, which obviously is anyones prerogative and I have no problem with that.

If some of you think that maybe I have been somewhat harsh then you should have been on the Page & Moy coach that a friend and fellow photographer and I took to that fateful 1982 Belgian GP. As we arrived in London on the way to Dover some other passengers came aboard, two of which sat a row in front of us. From the outset they began a discussion and it was obvious that they were both public school teachers (don't you know old chap) but in all honesty pretty knowledgable fellows. After a while they began ripping into Nigel Roebuck and his writing and views, something the like I had not heard previously. The critique ranged from his opinions, and to his poor use of the written English language, both obviously being Classic English teachers.

My mate and I just sat and listened to the whole thing as interested bystanders which became quite entertaining at times. Unfortunately the whole outward trip ruined, as i have mentioned in another previous post, by a young Yorkshire man who thought it incredibly humorous taking the rise out of the young lady in charge of our coach with a repetitive "Ee Claire" that just went on and on.

Anyway I do find it incredibly disappointing that Mr Roebuck continues to write this one sided and distasteful content about a man who no longer can, should he ever have wished, defend himself. As far as i am aware Nigel made no attempt at getting Didier's side of the story at Imola 1982 and just launched into his content having spoken with an enraged Gilles. A good and professional reporter would have sought out both sides before committing to print, let alone repeating the same narrative for the past 30+ years.

Can anyone imagine what we would have seen transpire had someone like Mark Hughes publish a story after the last Austrian GP with only Charles Leclerc's view on the incident with Max Verstappen, and then perpetuated that for the next umpteen years. Mark did not thankfully and published a balanced view, even if it did not meet with everyones approval.

As I have mentioned above it is the hypocrisy that get me as it appears fine to write these things about Didier Pironi, and yet on the other hand Nigel Roebuck lauds praise upon Fernando Alonso without once countering the less than stellar side of this mans make up.

[robmarsh]

Speaking of Alonso I read that he reached out to Red Bull saying he was a free agent should Gasly not be up to the job. Red Bull's reply indicated that Honda would not condone such a thing. Much the same as Honda with the Indy engine. It makes one wonder how removed from reality Alonso and his management team are. Honda are a proud company and Alonso embarressed them.

[Carl]

I suppose Nigel Roebuck succumbed to hero worship, a clear indication of compromised ethics, and heroes require the villains that soon follow. My first hero was Hopalong Cassidy, who adorned the bottom of my childhood breakfast bowl and ensured I would eat.

                          

                       

Never mind that that the actor who for decades portrayed Hopalong, William Boyd, was a hopeless drunk notorious on film sets. Knowing his name allowed me to win a tournament-level Trivial Pursuit competition!

[charleselan]

I am sure that Mikael would be able to clearly describe how the Japanese (Honda) would react to Alonso and his recent idea. From what I have read Honour and loss of face are very high in the ranking of Japanese culture, therefore Teflonso's outbursts in public would not have gone down at all well with a company such as Honda.

Anyone with one ounce of savvy would have kept his mouth shut in a public forum; unfortunately in Fernando's case ambition and self worth got in the way of what most great drivers possess, the bigger picture, and that happened all too often in his career. To use a current and well worn cliche he threw Honda under the bus and paid little heed to the ramifications of such a policy.

[mikael]

To my mind, the worst thing about the "GP2 engine" radio message, at the Japan GP in '15, was that it seemed to be premeditated; the calm way it was said, and then repeated; it seemed to be something he had prepared to say. Had it only been some (at best, incomprehensible) cursing; then no-one would have thought much about it. As it were, it made quite an impact. (I remember the Japanese TV-commentator's reaction to that. They were at a loss for words. It went something like this:

Commentator 1:"What did he say?"

Commentator 2:"GP2 engine! ..."

Commentator 1:" ... ...." )

[robmarsh]

Honda is one of my favourite companies. I owned a little one many years ago and it was the most fun car to drive and I felt so special with the same Honda H in the middle of my steering wheel that Senna had on his. I was angry at the way Alonso trashed Honda and I don't think Mclaren management are innocent either.

[René]

Jul 11, 2019 15:14:21 GMT charleselan said:

I have been "humming and ha'in' about whether or not to add further to my above comments as I get the feeling that others do not share my view on the merits or not of Mr Roebuck, which obviously is anyones prerogative and I have no problem with that.

I can see what you're saying JC and I can see the shortcomings of Mr. Roebuck. He can be somewhat repetitive, certainly in his anecdotes about Chris Amon and Gilles Villeneuve. His closeness to these drivers was nice and sometimes made for interesting reading but he had/has the tendency to lose his objective view.

I can understand his position in the 1982 drama from a personal point of view as he was close to the Villeneuves. But I agree he is also a professional journalist who should always do the research and see events from both perspectives. If you can't do that because of personal feelings then you better shouldn't.

Anyhow, I did enjoy many of Roebuck's scribbles in the past, mainly in the 1980s and 90s when Autosport and Motorsport where my main source for information.

[René]

Jul 11, 2019 6:52:08 GMT Carl said:

Chris,
           Here is Pete Lyons' description of a ride around Riverside with Peter Revson in his McLaren M8F

That is very nice! He really takes you with him and you can actually see and feel his sensation. A great piece of writing!