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Old 23 Mar 2017, 13:01 (Ref:3720905)   #1
LDM
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The Jack Brabham Trophy Race October 24th 1971 Brands Hatch.

Following a conversation and seeing a film of the race again, I am trying to find out as much as I can about this event, Drivers and Cars.

I know the cars were driven by some of the F1 Team managers, and Jack Brabham won the race in the red Ford Escort MK1 Mexico Reg Number HLA 210K. I also believe that the pit crews were made up from drivers of the time?

What I have discovered so far is that the practice times were:

Jack Brabham – 65.0
Colin Chapman – 65.4
John Surtees – 65.6
Max Mosley – 66.0
Phil Kerr – 66.4
Frank Williams – 66.6
Mike Costin – 66.8
Eric Broadley - 67.0
Jackie Epstein – 67.2
Ken Tyrrell – 67.4
Ed Nelson – 67.4
Doug Hardwick – 67.8
Alan Rees – 69.6
Ian Williams – 69.6
Tim Parnell – 74.8

Which I assume determined the starting grid and the finishing order appears to be:
1. Jack Brabham (Red) – 11m 08.6s
2. JohnSurtees (White) – 11m 11.2s
3. Colin Chapman – 11m 11.4s
4. Frank Williams (Yellow)– 1m 16.2s
5. Max Mosley – 11m 18.0s
6. Phil Kerr – 11m 24.4s
7. Mike Costin
8. Jackie Epstein
9. Doug Hardwick
10. Edward Nelson
11. Eric Broadley
12. Ken Tyrrell
13. Ian Williams
14. Alan Rees
15. Tim Parnell
FL. Colin Chapman – 1m 05.2s

There seems to be a bit of info to be found about Jack Brabham's car but nothing about the others? From what I understand they were provided by Ford and were licensed for the road with similar number plates?

From the film it seems there were at least red, yellow and green cars in use, were there any other colours in the race?

If anybody has any more information or can help it would be greatly appreciated.
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Old 23 Mar 2017, 20:30 (Ref:3720979)   #2
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Originally Posted by LDM View Post
Following a conversation and seeing a film of the race again, I am trying to find out as much as I can about this event, Drivers and Cars.

I know the cars were driven by some of the F1 Team managers, and Jack Brabham won the race in the red Ford Escort MK1 Mexico Reg Number HLA 210K. I also believe that the pit crews were made up from drivers of the time?

What I have discovered so far is that the practice times were:

Jack Brabham – 65.0
Colin Chapman – 65.4
John Surtees – 65.6
Max Mosley – 66.0
Phil Kerr – 66.4
Frank Williams – 66.6
Mike Costin – 66.8
Eric Broadley - 67.0
Jackie Epstein – 67.2
Ken Tyrrell – 67.4
Ed Nelson – 67.4
Doug Hardwick – 67.8
Alan Rees – 69.6
Ian Williams – 69.6
Tim Parnell – 74.8

Which I assume determined the starting grid and the finishing order appears to be:
1. Jack Brabham (Red) – 11m 08.6s
2. JohnSurtees (White) – 11m 11.2s
3. Colin Chapman – 11m 11.4s
4. Frank Williams (Yellow)– 1m 16.2s
5. Max Mosley – 11m 18.0s
6. Phil Kerr – 11m 24.4s
7. Mike Costin
8. Jackie Epstein
9. Doug Hardwick
10. Edward Nelson
11. Eric Broadley
12. Ken Tyrrell
13. Ian Williams
14. Alan Rees
15. Tim Parnell
FL. Colin Chapman – 1m 05.2s

There seems to be a bit of info to be found about Jack Brabham's car but nothing about the others? From what I understand they were provided by Ford and were licensed for the road with similar number plates?

From the film it seems there were at least red, yellow and green cars in use, were there any other colours in the race?

If anybody has any more information or can help it would be greatly appreciated.
I was at that meeting so have just exhumed the programme but I can't add too much info to what you already have. I have written in the grid order & results, which tally with your info. The cars were supplied by Ford - think the Escort Mexico was a fairly new model at the time - and Ford Motor Co. Ltd is given as the entrant for every car. Colours are not given in the programme & it's a long time ago... I can't remember if I took any photos but will check.

One little anecdote for you - I was working for Lotus Cars at the time & Colin Chapman took the race very seriously. Escort Mexico's were not too plentiful then but the owner of a car in Norfolk was tracked down & persuaded to loan to ACBC for a bit of 'acclimatisation'. It was duly thrashed round the Hethel track until Colin was happy. The car was duly returned to the owner with a nice new set of Brand Lotus alloy wheels and new tyres!
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Old 23 Mar 2017, 20:47 (Ref:3720984)   #3
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Thinking about it, I have a vague recollection the cars went on to form the fleet of ShellSport Escorts run by the Brands Hatch School but I am not 100% sure of that.
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 08:43 (Ref:3721086)   #4
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A bit more info for you. Each car had a nominated pit signaller, in the case of the F1 team managers it was a driver from the team, as follows:

1. Ken Tyrrell signaller: Jackie Stewart
2. Jack Brabham Not listed
3. Max Mosley Ronnie Peterson
4. Alan Rees Ronnie Peterson
5. Phil Kerr Jackie Oliver
6. Colin Chapman Emerson Fittipaldi
7. John Surtees Mike Hailwood
8. Tim Parnell Jo Siffert
10. Frank Williams Henri Pescarolo
11. Mike Costin TBN
12. Sid Taylor Brian Redman
15. Jackie Epstein Ray Allan
16. Eric Broadley Frank Gardner
17. Doug Hardwick Mike Walker
18. Ed Nelson David Prophet
19. Ian Williams TBN

If the programme was correct, Ronnie Peterson was a busy man!

Car 12 (Sid Taylor) seems to have been a non starter, no qualifying time either.

Jack Brabham was actually a late entry, hence no nominated signaller, likewise Ian Williams.
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 09:23 (Ref:3721095)   #5
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Many thanks for this!

It quite difficult to find any information about the race so every bit helps, interesting story about ACBC and sounds like exactly what I would expect from the little I know of him - great stuff!
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 09:38 (Ref:3721098)   #6
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Many thanks for this!

It quite difficult to find any information about the race so every bit helps, interesting story about ACBC and sounds like exactly what I would expect from the little I know of him - great stuff!
Pleased to be of assistance. I so nearly disposed of my programme collection when I moved, but so glad I didn't as I seem to be referring to them more than ever!

As you probably know, the meeting was the Rothmans World Championships Victory Race & was the day on which BRM driver Jo Siffert sadly died in a fiery accident. You will see that he was down as Pit Signaller for BRM manager Tim Parnell, the Escort race was event one on the programme, so before the F1 race.
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 10:10 (Ref:3721104)   #7
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Thinking about it, I have a vague recollection the cars went on to form the fleet of ShellSport Escorts run by the Brands Hatch School but I am not 100% sure of that.
I'm pretty sure you're right about that John, certainly the ShellSport Mexico's were all road registered as far as I can remember.
Regarding the race, isn't it on YouTube or somewhere? I'm sure I've seen it again over the past few years...
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 10:37 (Ref:3721114)   #8
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I'm pretty sure you're right about that John, certainly the ShellSport Mexico's were all road registered as far as I can remember.
Regarding the race, isn't it on YouTube or somewhere? I'm sure I've seen it again over the past few years...
From LDM's original post, it is evidently on film somewhere - it would be interesting to see as I have no real recollections of the race itself, just the Old Man lapping Hethel mercilessly!
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 12:17 (Ref:3721140)   #9
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From LDM's original post, it is evidently on film somewhere - it would be interesting to see as I have no real recollections of the race itself, just the Old Man lapping Hethel mercilessly!
Here you go John, in Black & White unfortunately so not a complete help with the car colours. I'll watch it at lunch time, but I seem to remember Graham Hill's commentary was a little more pithy than his colleague Barry Gill (no relation!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6Ux-hBEtKM

Last edited by VIVA GT; 24 Mar 2017 at 12:18. Reason: Some idiot forgot to include the link!
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 12:22 (Ref:3721142)   #10
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From LDM's original post, it is evidently on film somewhere - it would be interesting to see as I have no real recollections of the race itself, just the Old Man lapping Hethel mercilessly!
Yes the race can be found on you tube etc quite easily. I have watched it a number of time to try to get what info I can.

It must have been a fantastic time to be involved with Lotus, I recently read his biography, which I was a little nervous of doing, but needless to say needn't have worried (if anything he went up in my estimations) and thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 12:25 (Ref:3721144)   #11
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Here you go John, in Black & White unfortunately so not a complete help with the car colours. I'll watch it at lunch time, but I seem to remember Graham Hill's commentary was a little more pithy than his colleague Barry Gill (no relation!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6Ux-hBEtKM
Thanks Viva, I'll have a look later.

As you would imagine, Graham could be a bit colourful behind the microphone & would probably get admonished in this overly-PC age.

I remember another Brands celebrity race (possibly with 3-litre Capris) that was sponsored by Wiggins Teape, complete with grid girls etc. Barry Gill was doing the commentary with in-car input from Graham. As they sat on the grid, Barry G did the pre-amble, finishing with "over to you Graham, will you do the start for us?

"I'd rather do the Wiggins Teape girl! was the prompt response from Mr Hill.
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 12:31 (Ref:3721146)   #12
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Yes the race can be found on you tube etc quite easily. I have watched it a number of time to try to get what info I can.

It must have been a fantastic time to be involved with Lotus, I recently read his biography, which I was a little nervous of doing, but needless to say needn't have worried (if anything he went up in my estimations) and thoroughly enjoyed it.
It was indeed a wonderful time, especially as it was my first job after leaving school. I joined in October 1970 to work in the Purchasing Department just as Lotus was about to embark on the Elite/Éclat/Esprit generation. I don't regret my time there & regarded it as a continuation of my education. My last two years there (1978/79) were with Team Lotus, a wonderful experience.

If it's the Jabby Crombac book you have got, I'm tucked away in the picture on the back cover, also the one of the team in front of Kett Hall at the end of '78.
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 12:42 (Ref:3721149)   #13
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It was indeed a wonderful time, especially as it was my first job after leaving school. I joined in October 1970 to work in the Purchasing Department just as Lotus was about to embark on the Elite/Éclat/Esprit generation. I don't regret my time there & regarded it as a continuation of my education. My last two years there (1978/79) were with Team Lotus, a wonderful experience.

If it's the Jabby Crombac book you have got, I'm tucked away in the picture on the back cover, also the one of the team in front of Kett Hall at the end of '78.
That is the book, I will have a look at it later.
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 14:09 (Ref:3721180)   #14
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Here you go John, in Black & White unfortunately so not a complete help with the car colours. I'll watch it at lunch time, but I seem to remember Graham Hill's commentary was a little more pithy than his colleague Barry Gill (no relation!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6Ux-hBEtKM

Just watched it - very entertaining.

I noticed Francois Cevert was holding Tyrrell's pit board, along with Stewart.
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 16:57 (Ref:3721222)   #15
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Graham Robson's book- Ford in Touring Car Racing, has a few pages about Ford celebrity races, and has (again, a few) colour pics of Mexicos in Challenge and Shellsport form. Strangely I can't see any reference to the Brands race, unless it's in a different chapter!
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 17:02 (Ref:3721223)   #16
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Graham Robson's book- Ford in Touring Car Racing, has a few pages about Ford celebrity races, and has (again, a few) colour pics of Mexicos in Challenge and Shellsport form. Strangely I can't see any reference to the Brands race, unless it's in a different chapter!
It wouldn't be the first time...

Does he mention the Consul GT race at Castle Combe that pretty well brought such things to an end? It was all getting a bit wild & I seem to remember two cars went one either side of a marshal's post. Tony Pond may have been driving one of them.
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 18:42 (Ref:3721235)   #17
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It wouldn't be the first time...

Does he mention the Consul GT race at Castle Combe that pretty well brought such things to an end?
The chapter refers to early 70s celebrity Capri and Consul GT races as well as Escorts, plus later stuff......

OT so apologies, but I had a manual Consul GT- great car but no PAS, so can imagine a bit of a handful on track! A car much loved by some police forces in period.....
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Old 24 Mar 2017, 18:48 (Ref:3721237)   #18
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A small point but, having watched the YouTube clip of the race (that some helpful chap posted a link to) at lunchtime, I don't think that these Mexicorts ended up as the ShellSport Celebrity ones at Brands, the registration numbers didn't look familiar. (I think the ones used mere more obviously 'Essesex'y'), but then these may have been the very first set, replaced not long after due to a hard life?
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Old 25 Mar 2017, 09:34 (Ref:3721373)   #19
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A small point but, having watched the YouTube clip of the race (that some helpful chap posted a link to) at lunchtime, I don't think that these Mexicorts ended up as the ShellSport Celebrity ones at Brands, the registration numbers didn't look familiar. (I think the ones used mere more obviously 'Essesex'y'), but then these may have been the very first set, replaced not long after due to a hard life?
You must have much better eyesight than me!
I tried to read the number plates to see if i could find anything that way.

Obviouslys I knew Brabhams car was a K reg and must admit I seem to think most pics I have seen of the ShellSport cars are L reg?
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Old 25 Mar 2017, 10:41 (Ref:3721386)   #20
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I've been rooting through programmes on what was beginning to seem like a fruitless search for anything at all about the ShellSPORT cars. However I eventually found a couple of shots in the 1974 British GP programme. They were taken at a 1973 Mallory Park race & from what I can see the registrations came from two ranges of numbers: XNO ---L and RHK ---M.

I must assume from that I was incorrect in thinking they were the Brabham race cars, so wonder what happened to those?

Incidentally, I also came across a rather poorly reproduced colour shot of the Brabham race which does not give much away, apart from the fact Brabham's car was red (almost orange in the picture) but we already knew that. Can't see the number on the following car but it could be silver or light metallic blue. Were either of those Mexico colours?
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Old 25 Mar 2017, 12:15 (Ref:3721400)   #21
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I would have expected the cars from that era to be non metalic - but am not an expert!

Sonme where certainly (light?) blue though.

Really appreciate the help - thanks
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Old 25 Mar 2017, 12:32 (Ref:3721402)   #22
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I would have expected the cars from that era to be non metalic - but am not an expert!

Sonme where certainly (light?) blue though.

Really appreciate the help - thanks
Oh I don't know - Ford used silver, gold & bronze on cars like the MkIV Zodiac Mk2 Cortina.
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Old 25 Mar 2017, 14:11 (Ref:3721412)   #23
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Oh I don't know - Ford used silver, gold & bronze on cars like the MkIV Zodiac Mk2 Cortina.
True - just that mexico's are normally seen in flat colours but always happy to learn more!
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Old 25 Mar 2017, 14:27 (Ref:3721414)   #24
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True - just that mexico's are normally seen in flat colours but always happy to learn more!
I agree with you on that but it was difficult to determine from the photo just what the colour was.
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Old 25 Mar 2017, 15:09 (Ref:3721430)   #25
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From memory the Mexico's were available in white with red graphics, red with white graphics, blue with white, yellow with orange or black and green with white...
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