The Best in the West
WilliamsF1 celebrated their 600th Grand Prix start in 2013. Here are a few thoughts – and memories – of times that will always make me smile
Before Silverstone, 1979, there were others. Read more…
WilliamsF1 celebrated their 600th Grand Prix start in 2013. Here are a few thoughts – and memories – of times that will always make me smile
Before Silverstone, 1979, there were others. Read more…
I haven’t had much time for neg-scanning recently but managed to squeeze some in a few moments ago whilst watching a replay of Ashton Agar’s amazing innings at Trent Bridge in the first Ashes Test (cricket, for those of you unfamiliar with this sport of sports). The idea was to scan a further ten pictures or so but I have to confess that I stopped after only two or three: the sheer natural talent of this 19-year-old Australian spinner-batsman, combined with his humility, is just captivating.
Cricket? Motor racing? Jim Clark was an excellent cricketer; let’s not forget that.
Anyway: back to motor racing. Here’s some more from the glorious days of the Kyalami Ranch, South Africa: That’s Alain Prost, now looking up from his copy of L’Equipe;
and this is something you wouldn’t see today – two Italian F1 drivers having a laugh (Riccardo Patrese and Andrea de Cesaris). Back then, the concept of there being no Italians in F1 was about as laudable as an F1 season without the Kyalami Ranch.
Here are some de-briefs, too: Alain Prost lunches with McLaren’s John Barnard;
Tyrrell’s Brian Lyles confers with the brilliant Stefan Bellof on the Detroit pit wall;
and we eavesdrop behind Frank Williams as Neil Oatley (right) takes notes and Jacques-Henri Laffite and Keijo Rosberg think Williams-Honda
This being the week of Rosbergmania, especially in Germany, let’s have a look at Nico’s Dad, Keijo “Keke” Rosberg, in full yellow (ICI Fibres) regalia at Hockenheim, 1984. That’s Alan Henry and Nigel Roebuck in the background; both of them, to this day, remain close friends with Keke. Note Keke’s attention to detail: he was always immaculate. When he wasn’t in race kit he was usually seen either in a Hard Rock “Save the Planet” leather bomber jacket (long before the rest of the world discovered them) or with something from Etienne Aigner or MCM. Nor is it difficult to see from where Nico’s yellow colour-coding (helmet, gloves, etc) originates. Continuing the Rosberg theme, how about the shot below for good measure? I took this at the Kyalami Ranch, South Africa, also in 1984. Alain Prost’s reading L’Equipe; Nelson Piquet Jnr’s Mum, Sylvia, is walking out of picture in the red bikini; ace photojournalist, Jeff Hutchinson, is thinking about his next story for Autosport; and Nico’s Mum (also walking) and Dad can be seen to Jeff’s left.