"Celebrity" drivers?

[DaveW]

Falklands veteran Simon Weston certainly took part in the Willhire 24 hour race (1990 I think) but, if my memory is correct, wrecked his Sapphire Cosworth at the pitlane entrance early in the race.

Slim Borgudd definitely did trucks and I also remember Grandslammer's incident with Mr McGuigan and the Metro.

[silver bullet]

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"

Barry did quite a bit of rallycross. In fact he did a full season in the Vauxhall Nova backed by the Daily Star. His biggest claim to fame was the fact that he wrecked the car at three consecutive meetings. The third one was the infamous roll at Croft, with the in-car camera. Which survived the roll to record him almost in tears saying "Oh God no, please no, please no" The reason for his tears was, the team had told him in no uncertain terms not to put as much as a scratch on the car.

Rallycross has had quite a few celebrities taking part over the years. It is not unusual for the organisers to set up a drive for journalists, TV presenters, ex racing drivers or even drivers from other disciplines.
One I remember from a few years back was John Leslie. He brought his then girlfriend Catherine Zeta Jones with him
I sometimes wonder if Mrs Douglas remembers her day at a wet, windswept, vary basic Croft Rallycross circuit.

[andy97]

Have we mentioned Luther Blissett? Former Watford, England & Inter Milan (?) footballer. He races Ginettas sporadically. (Possibly more famous for the rumour that Milan actually thought that they were buying Jon Barnes!!)

[nyssa7]

Heard on the radio the other day that Luther Blissett resigned his position as manager (can't remember who for) so he can concentrate on an entry for this year's Le Mans

[davyboy]

Downhill skiing legend Franz Klammer raced a Mercedes 190 sponsored by Lui in the European Touring Car Championship in the 1980s. My missus met him just before Christmas at a charity event and I gave her a picture of him in the car at Spa to sign. He was totally shocked and couldn't believe that somebody remembered him in it. He certainly had fond memories of the time.

[rdjones]

Chris Searle co-drove for Roger Clark on the 1981 RAC as part of his BBC TV series "In at the Deep End", they actully finished 10th overall. In fact my dad and uncle appear on the programme giving him his time card at the end of one of the stages.

[Grandslammer]

Originally Posted by rdjones

Chris Searle co-drove for Roger Clark on the 1981 RAC as part of his BBC TV series "In at the Deep End", they actully finished 10th overall. In fact my dad and uncle appear on the programme giving him his time card at the end of one of the stages.

From my rallying spectator days

[Ali Rushforth]

In 1998 I was racing in BRSCC Mighty Minis, and on a bank holiday meeting at Brands, the Big Breakfast news reader (can't remember his name) took part.

What was quite funny is that on the way down to Brands from Oxford, I was watching the telly in the van (i wasn't driving!!!) and there he was presenting the news. He arrived at the circuit, wearing the same shirt as I had seen him wearing on telly, but had ripped jeans on!! I laughed, thinking, these news reporters can wear whatever they like under the table, as long as the clothes we see are smart!

[R59]

I remeber Daley Thompson racing a 309 in the prod saloons. He crashed that regularly too.

I also remember Rowan Atkinson racing in the 5 Turbo's, and bumping into him at a burger & bacon van at Brands where he was buying the coffee's.

What's his face - Mike Smith, one-time TV celeb/DJ doing the Esso Production Saloons in a RS-Turbo. Or has someone said that....

[rcarr]

Jason Priestley formerly of Beverley Hills 90210 fame did Grand-Am and Infiniti pro Series until he crashed heavily.

[rcarr]

Originally Posted by racing59

What's his face - Mike Smith, one-time TV celeb/DJ doing the Esso Production Saloons in a RS-Turbo. Or has someone said that....

There is a pic of my sister at Ingliston with Mike Smith just after she asked for his autograph and he is pointing right at my Dad and into the camera, he must've been so touched because my sister was only about 6 or 7 at most!

[phoenix]

Two more I can think of are Chris Rea in historics and Jay Kay

[GBRM]

Off the top of my head this is who I can think of, some mentioned above, some not. Most of the 70s and 80s ones I met with Dad, as John Webb talked most of them into doing some form of race at Brands and Dad and Tony L instructed them, not sure if it was racing or drinking though!

Andrew Ridgeley (Renault 5 and then F3)
Daley Thompson (Peugeot)
Maxi Jazz (Ford Fiesta)
Simon Weston (Sierra Cosworth Production Saloons)
Rowan Atkinson (Renault 5 and now Historics)
Slim Borgourd (Various)
Nick Mason (Various)
Lord Brockeet (Escort and Fiesta House of Lord vs House of Commons)
Mark Thatcher (Various)
Scott Stringellow (Various)
Shane Lynch (Various GTs)
Chris Rea (anything Ferrari and still racing)
Noel Edmonds (various saloons)
Richard Branson (Morgan IIRC)
Noel Edmonds (various saloons)
Paul Newman (a vauxhall in the '70s!!)
Steve Mcqueen (Mini, mentioned a few months ago in MS)
Bungalow Bill (Escort/Fiesta)
Davina Galicia (skier before or after racing??)
Mike Smith (how could I foget him!!)

P.S. Yes, Gerry did get a Blue Peter badge for the John Noakes affair!!

[lifeline-fire]

Anyone remember Ian Botham racing a prod saloon Cossie at Donington around 1993.

[ss_collins]

Slim Borgudd is radicals rep in the USA, the works Rad IMSA Lite was parked next to us in the Paddock at Petit Le Mans last year, he raced it at Lime Rock and somewhere else but not at Atlanta.

[schitarella]

not sure if anyone has mentioned yet but Frankie Muniz (spelling?) the main kid from "Malcom in the Middle" raced Formula BMW last year and does Atlantics this year in the USA

[Alan Raine]

Originally Posted by schitarella

not sure if anyone has mentioned yet but Frankie Muniz (spelling?) the main kid from "Malcom in the Middle" raced Formula BMW last year and does Atlantics this year in the USA

I do believe he has given up acting for a while to pursue his racing dream.

[Lightning Bug]

What about Mark Thatcher in the European Touring Car Championship? (And getting lost on the Dakar Rally!).

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Lightning Bug

What about Mark Thatcher in the European Touring Car Championship? (And getting lost on the Dakar Rally!).

Even now, whenever I see a sheet of sandpaper, I always think: "That's a page out of Mark Thatchers map book!"

[rdjones]

Lord Drayson the current Minister for Defence Procurement is driving an Aston Martin in this years British GT Championship.

[Les]

wasn't there a mps and lords race at Brands a few years back?

[R59]

Yep, and what's his face, Tory MP - Kenneth Clark, was quite reasonable behind the wheel too!

Lord Fulke-Greville - now there's a different story.... arrrrrghhhhhhhhh

[Bryan Degerlund]

Each year the Long Beach Champ Car GP has a celebrity support race, this year in Toyota saloons. Celebrities included George Lucas, of Star Wars fame, who was involved in a mighty accident, and Martina Navratilova, who finished second, IIRC. There was also a guy called Berra (?) -- world champion extreme cyclist, who was classified as a "pro" and started 30 seconds behind the others but finished amongst the leaders. Most of the others were american TV stars or sports writers.

[Thundersports]

Celebrity race at Brands 1990ish had Brian May (who came last and was lapped) Jason Donovan, the late Cozy Powell who won and was pretty handy behind the wheel (not so good at talking on his mobile phone in the wet in a Saab on a motorway slip road), a young Steve Backley and some actors from the Bill. Brian Mays lady Anita Dobson waved the chequered flag!

[Thundersports]

OH forgot one celebrity who drove in Formula 1 Jenson Button..........
Sorry wrong way round