"Celebrity" drivers?

[Tim Wilkinson]

When I was a bit younger I remember going to a clubbie at Brands and Daley Thompson being entered in one of the races (I think it was an mixed MG race, Bs, Metros, Maestros). As it happened he didn't race, but I was curious as to whether he ever actually did.

And have there been many other people famous in other fields who've tried their hand at club motorsport? After all, they've got the money so they're ideal for it!

Off the top of my head -

Mike Smith
Andrew Ridgely (the other one from Wham!, raced single seaters?)
Richard Hammond (SD1 with CTCRC Gp1 - was this just a one-off or has he raced elsewhere?)

Any others that folks can recall?

[Al Weyman]

I remember being on the same race card as Mr. Bean in a Clio (I believe) as I recollect he was'nt half bad either!

[Suze]

Does Jodie Kidd (model) count?

There's also Nick Mason, Pink Floyd drummer....

There's quite a few of them to be honest I think - hey, you can always include all the people from that reality racing programme "The Race!"

[rcarr]

Maxi Jazz when he was still just a musician.

Rowan Atkinson

Fred McAuley

Nick Nairn

They did that Legends race with a bunch of TV people, Clarkson and Patrick Kealty had a very heated discussion during Top Gear when Paddy got barged off the circuit by Clarkson.

The Fiesta Zetecs used to have a "celeb" driver at every race meeting, didn't they?

Noel Edmonds.

The thing about Nick Mason, Rowan Atkinson and Noel Edmonds, is that they are all racing drivers anyway, they enjoy the sport and race in it not coz they are forced into it. Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits is another car enthusiast/racer.

[Ian Sowman]

Daley Thompson raced a Peugeot 309 at one point I recall.

Wincey Willis raced the Fiesta celebrity car back in the 1980s - I had a photograph taken with her.

Loads more too...

[Asp]

Originally Posted by Ian Sowman

Wincey Willis raced the Fiesta celebrity car back in the 1980s - I had a photograph taken with her.

The height of stardom!

[Alan Raine]

Brands used to have a fleet of Escort Mexicos that were used for Celebrity races. I do believe there was even a House of Commons v House of Lords race and another for Fleet Street Journalists. Some, like Daly Thompson did a few races afterwards.

It was only when they gave the cars to real racing drivers that the real damage was done!

[davyboy]

Good thread ! Paul Newman and Steve McQueen were probably the best ever celebrities behind the wheel both in terms of their celebrity status and actual skill.

[Chris Y]

Wrote this in another thread for 2CVs:

There have been the team from Top Gear, Alan Gow (Mr. BTCC), Phil Bennett (BTCC), Ian Flux (BTCC), Rick Kerry (BTCC), and even Damon Hill (well, ok he didn't quite make the race, but he did have a 2CV painted up in Danka colours!). Journalists include Edd Straw from Autosport and a team from Practical Classics magazine entered a few years ago. Even '80s pop stars have had a go (Mike Lindup from Level 42 - broke his thumb in a 2CV!)

I know Alastair Stewart (sp?) had a go in a Fiesta in the late '90s. I believe they tried to get a flashing blue light on the top of his car for the race, as he was most familiar at the time for "Police, Camera, Action", but of course it wasn't allowed by the organisers.

[andy97]

Anyone remember the show jumper Ann Moore in the ealy 70s? Rode a horse called "Psalm", I seem to remember. Anyway, probably the first thing I ever saw about motor racing was her with John Noakes on Blue Peter. I think that she was driving a Chevron or something & trying to get some experience before driving a F Atlantic? John Noakes did a few laps for the TV, too. I think that she did one race and was never heard of again. Might be wrong.

[Grandslammer]

Back in the 80's,I remember helping Barry McGuigan out of his upside down Metro,that was in the Stowe gravel
First thing he said was..."I ****** that up didn't I"

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by andy97

I think that she was driving a Chevron or something & trying to get some experience before driving a F Atlantic? John Noakes did a few laps for the TV, too. I think that she did one race and was never heard of again. Might be wrong.

John Noakes drove a Formula Atlantic ? Wow, that's a baptism of fire for a novice isn't it.

[Motormouth]

Bishop Eamonn Casey in a Mazda 323 at Mondello!!
He led early on and finished 4th, made the front page of the Irish Times on the Monday

[rcarr]

Originally Posted by davyboy

John Noakes drove a Formula Atlantic ? Wow, that's a baptism of fire for a novice isn't it.

I have seen novices drive more powerful cars than a Formula Atlantic, good on him though! When I was a novice, I wouldn't have the balls to drive any sort of Formula car!

[Alan Raine]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Good thread ! Paul Newman and Steve McQueen were probably the best ever celebrities behind the wheel both in terms of their celebrity status and actual skill.

Paul Newman was still racing a few years ago in his 70's. I think McQueen won or finished high up in a sports car race at the Nurburgring with his foot in plaster.

I suppose the biggest celeb was James Dean!

[bdwoody]

Originally Posted by Grandslammer

Back in the 80's,I remember helping Barry McGuigan out of his upside down Metro,that was in the Stowe gravel
First thing he said was..."I ****** that up didn't I"

Strange that didn't he do the same in a rallycross nova?

[Andrew Kitson]

Originally Posted by davyboy

John Noakes drove a Formula Atlantic ? Wow, that's a baptism of fire for a novice isn't it.

John drove an Atlantic Chevron in '75 following behind Purley's F5000 B30 at Goodwood, in the BBC 'Go with Noakes' series. I have this episode on tape.

Ann Moore raced an FF2000 Elden, one of John Webb's/Brands promotional ideas. Around the same time Ken Hensley set up his own three car FF2000 team using Dulon chassis, other drivers were Ian Taylor and Frank Sytner. Hensley was keyboard player for Uriah Heep.

In '79 Pink Floyd's David Gilmour had a race in a BRM P25, persuaded to have a go by the band's manager Steve O'Rourke. The MCD Shellsport Mexicos had many celebs taking part around 1973/74 from DJ's to sportsmen such as jockeys, athletes, boxers, footballers and also pop stars and models - even TOTP 'Pan's People' at one meeting. DJ Dave Lee Travis was a regular although he had competition experience as an accomplished drag racer.

Another celeb race was supporting the '88 GP at Silverstone in pouring rain, all in Alfa Romeos. 'Eddie the Eagle' Edwards and Joan Collin's other half 'Bungalow Bill' amongst them. The Lord's v Commons Escort races at Brands were another Webb idea, a regular in these being Ken Clarke.

It was Paul Newman or Steve McQueen ( can't remember which ) who did a couple of laps at the wheel of Richard Longman's special saloon Mini in the lunch break at Thruxton in 1969.

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Tim Wilkinson

Off the top of my head -

Andrew Ridgely (the other one from Wham!, raced single seaters?)

Didn't he write two Saab turbos off in one afternoon at Brands once?

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Motormouth

Bishop Eamonn Casey in a Mazda 323 at Mondello!!
He led early on and finished 4th, made the front page of the Irish Times on the Monday

There was a rumor going round back in the day that Eamon Casey had a Ferrari [or use of one] to get to parishoners in need of the last rights

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by Andrew Kitson

John drove an Atlantic Chevron in '75 following behind Purley's F5000 B30 at Goodwood, in the BBC 'Go with Noakes' series. I have this episode on tape.

Amazing indeed... even more so that he appeared on Britain's Worst Celebrity Driver a couple of years ago

[Tim Wilkinson]

I saw one of the Lords vs Commons races, it seemed to be a yearly thing as the programme made reference to previous years' results. They were in the BH Driving School Fiestas when I saw them.

I have no idea what racing Andrew Ridgeley did - it was mentioned briefly in an article (a kind of "where are they now and what have they been doing?" piece) but I can't find any other reference to it.

I was curious about Richard Hammond as he already held a race license when they did the SD1 feature - what else has he raced, if anything?

[Andrew Kitson]

Andrew Ridgeley did a season of British F3.
Richard Hammond also did the Snett 2CV 24 hours race and last year before his famous shunt he tested a Comtec Renault World Series car at Silverstone.

[TRC Simon]

Originally Posted by Tim Wilkinson

I have no idea what racing Andrew Ridgeley did - it was mentioned briefly in an article (a kind of "where are they now and what have they been doing?" piece) but I can't find any other reference to it.

He was driving for Team GB in the A1 at the weekend

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by Tim Wilkinson

I saw one of the Lords vs Commons races, it seemed to be a yearly thing as the programme made reference to previous years' results. They were in the BH Driving School Fiestas when I saw them.

Thinks it's a occasional rather than annual event. Seem to recall seeing the Lords vs Commons race at Donington mid/late 90s, using the Jim Russell race school Vectras.

[Al Weyman]

Originally Posted by Grandslammer

Back in the 80's,I remember helping Barry McGuigan out of his upside down Metro,that was in the Stowe gravel
First thing he said was..."I ****** that up didn't I"

Was'nt he in a Rallycross Nova and screaming 'Oh no, Oh no not again' as he rolled it.