In our show at the beginning of November, Jim Roller discussed his memories of the 1983 Daytona 24 Hours when, mid race, A.J.Foyt jumped into a Porsche 935 he had never even sat in before and went on to win! This time round, Joe Bradley talks to Kevin Jeannette who was crew chief on the car and we hear the ‘untold story’. Serge Vanbockryck discusses his new book on the TWR Porsche which gave Tom Kristensen his first Le Mans win and Paul Jurd looks at the upcoming events in the world of historic motorsport.
Historic Racing News
It’s time for the ‘Classic 24 Hours at Daytona’ on 4th and 5th November and the team is taking an in-depth look at the Florida venue. Paul Tarsey talks to Derek Drinkwater who has created a toolroom copy of the 1950 Cadillac ‘Le Monstre’ which he will be racing this weekend and then driving from Florida to California in the Le Mans behemoth. John Kirkpatrick was responsible for the phenomenal success of the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School in the 80s, 90s and beyond and he tells about the invasion of talent that arrived on his doorstep from South America. To complete the Daytona flavour, Jim Roller, Joe Bradley and Paul Jurd will be choosing their favourite Daytona 24 Hours in Corridors of Power.
Two legends of British national motorsport join Paul Tarsey and the team.
There has been a lot of sales activity with race cars crossing the block on both sides of the pond and Jim Roller catches up with all the auction news from the USA and the UK. Paul Tarsey chats to ‘the greatest auctioneer of classic cars in the world’, Charlie Ross just before his latest sale for Gooding and Company at Hampton Court Palace in London. Corridors of Power this month is an unusual one; the panellists, Jim Roller, Joe Bradley and Paul Jurd, were asked to name their favourite Cosworth DFV powered car. Not the best, or the most groundbreaking or even the most successful, just their favourite. There are obviously lots of Formula One cars on everyone’s list but also sports racers other single seaters and even the odd modified saloon!
Martin Brundle joins the show this time round to talk about his days working for ‘Uncle Ken’ and the Tyrrell Racing Organisation. He talks about the trials and tribulations of the permanently underfunded team and the accidents which nearly ended his career. Richard Jenkins has written a new book about the complete story of Tyrrell from the early days in Formula Three right up to the sale to British American Tobacco. He tells Paul Tarsey some of the lesser known stories from the early days in Formula One with Jackie Stewart right through to the other hugely talented drivers who raced various Tyrrells over the years. ‘Baron’ Tarsey is joined by Jim Roller and Joe Bradley to look back on one of the best-loved teams that Grand Prix racing has ever seen!
The team discusses the drivers who succeeded in Grand Prix racing when they didn’t have the best car. Whether it was a 1960s BRM or virtually any of the grid from 1989 or most of the Ferrari cars which Gilles Villeneuve drove, debate will be forceful and the Corridors of Power trophy will, as always be hard fought. Jim Roller takes a look at the Monterey car week and Paul Jurd and Joe Bradley await the Goodwood Revival which starts in a couple of days time. Rick Shortle tells us about his days as circuit manager at Snetterton and tells some tales he couldn’t have done at the time! Paul Tarsey hosts the show and expresses the occasional opinion too.
The first test day for the Goodwood Revival has already taken place and there were some amazing cars being shaken down, including Saif Assam’s glorious Shelby Cobra. We also talk to Rory Butcher about the differences between racing his Toyota in the BTCC and peddaling a 1960s short wheelbase Porsche around Goodwood. Artist Andrew Kitson has made a study of the history of Snetterton, the Norfolk circuit which started life as a USAF bomber base in WW2 and he tells us about the history of the place. Jim Roller and Paul Tarsey discuss the time they have spent together, with both of them in the UK for a rare opportunity to share some interesting motorsport experiences. They also investigate the happenings at Monterey Car Week and look at the Pebble Beach auctions.
The Shere Hill Climb in England’s leafy Surrey happens on Sunday 3rd September and boss Martin Warner talks about what to expect. Corridors of Power discusses the most groundbreaking Lotus F1 cars of all time. On the panel this time are Nick Padmore, Jim Roller and Paul Jurd.
The HRN team have lots to talk about (don’t they always?). Paul Jurd is back from a weekend at Zandvoort and compares notes with Jim Roller and Paul Tarsey who were there in June. Joe Bradley is enthusiastic about his recent trip to Estoril in Portugal and the whole team talks about the Goodwood Festival of Speed which happened last weekend, including that scary moment when a wheel went into the crowd, thankfully without serious injury. The boys also talk about the ridiculous Special Saloons of the 1980s which saw fibreglass lookalike bodies from everyday saloon cars covering out and out race cars. The ‘Chimp’ was a favourite, a 2 litre Chevron made to look like a Hillman Imp!
It’s the British Grand Prix this weekend and the team takes a look at the history of the great event. Starting with pre-war races at Brooklands and Donington through Aintree, Brands Hatch and of course Silverstone. Jim Roller, Paul Jurd and Joe Bradley are the panellists on ‘Corridors of Power’ this month and each of them puts forward their own nomination for ‘The Most Memorable British Grand Prix’. Host Paul Tarsey has to pick a winner.