Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit

[chrisb]

Yes Colin was notorious in his dislike for being approached, it was ok if he went to you but visa versa no, that is not allowed as Colin would not have been in charge and that is what I think deflated him after the Lotus 88, he couldn't get away with what he wanted to, I have two books on Colin, Jabby's and Mike Lawrence's  but I have not read Karl Ludvigsen's inside the innovator which is said to be quite impartial and looks into what was Chapman's genius and what wasn't.

one thing is for certain he really was brilliant and produced fragile but the fastest cars over a long period of time,

[René]

Apr 14, 2021 17:18:15 GMT Carl said:

I had a close encounter with Colin Chapman in the lobby of the Bowmanville, Ontario, Holiday Inn during the weekend of the 1973 Canadian Grand Prix. My friend and I had a room at an ordinary motel and went one evening to where most Grand Prix participants were staying. While I sat beside a coffee table enjoying the atmosphere, Chapman appeared and perused the selection of magazines on the table with a harsh expression serving as a clear barrier. Having heard he did not like being approached by strangers, I quietly observed as he chose a magazine and left.

A few minutes later, the most famous and accomplished of Road & Track magazine's Formula One correspondents came by with Denis Hulme and I approached and spoke for several minutes with a very nice world champion and the very gracious Rob Walker.

Great anecdote and memory, Carl!