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Post by Heinicke on Aug 11, 2008 17:29:43 GMT
This is a tongue firmly in cheek thread, thought up by one of the members on this forum but...
I have been provoked into starting thread this by some comments by other forum users and other forum's users.
It seems to me that people don't seem to care what has gone before, it maybe due to the ME culture that is slowly finishing luckily. I know some people of this forum are more experienced in winning and racing than me but that isn't my point. It is about the Daddies of our club. Several people in the club don't know who and with what cars came before Minis, XR2s and Legends.
This has been building up inside of me for years.
Ian Forrest is a legend and now no one seems to know how he became a legend.
I know the "older" club members like David, aka Dagman, will know and I know up to a certain point.
I am sorry its a bit disjointed but hopefully you'll understand what I am trying to do here.
John Fyda, does anyone know him what he has done for our club? Jim Mcgaughey? Harry Simpson? John Romanes?
I am sorry if you close this thread Mike or Catriona, its general interest. People probably don't care any way!
Cheers.
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Post by Blair on Aug 11, 2008 19:16:49 GMT
Maybe it's due to the lack of information available really ? The SMRC site doesn't mention that much about the history (maybe even they don't think it's relevant?) and the results available only go back to 2000 on Smart Timing.
How is this information available though, because, seriously, I wouldn't mind reading up a bit on the club history.
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Post by Heinicke on Aug 11, 2008 19:40:06 GMT
It is completely relevant, scratch the surface and you'll find alot. Books mostly by Graham Gauld, Lance's Dad!
Talk to people, not just the close knit XR2 guys, branch out and talk to others. Iain Cowie is one if he isn't busy, wide and varied career.
I have learnt alot from Gallons Per Minute, more about people and cars because he has been/is in the middle of it, doing deals etc.
A legend in his own life time that I got talking to at the SMRC 50th Anniversary was Jon Fletcher, ex-modsports racer. Facinating person and so was his wife, he introduced us to "Whizzo" Williams, I was bowled over that night.
The SMRC dinner is also a great place to mingle and catch up with people.
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Post by dagman16 on Aug 12, 2008 0:29:50 GMT
Hi Richard
I wouldn't call it a rant! Well, not like other ones we've seen...
Interesting thread and you're quite right about me being of the older persuasion having been on the racing scene here longer than most!
I believe my dad took me to Charterhall in the 50s though I don't remember it. My first "modern" race meeting was in July 1966 at Ingliston. My first marshalling meeting was in April 1990, also at Ingliston. The in-between years spent glued to the fence watching my heroes at work!!
"Ian Forrest is a legend and now no one seems to know how he became a legend." I'll bet he didn't know he was a little racing car either.... lol... Seriously, I can remember when Ian had hair and that's a long time ago... !
John Fyda was a top Clubmans racer and engine tuner, ran Agra in Dundee and was later SMRC chairman(?). Still doing the odd historic race?? Jim Mcgaughey? Top GT racer in some cracking machinery, Renault 5, Lancia etc. Sponsored by FES. Harry Simpson? Another top GT racer in Imp and Davrian, last seen as an instructor at Knockhill
John Romanes? Formula Libre racer in the 60s and later in Historics. Sadly no longer with us but was instrumental in the setting up of racing at Ingliston.
Richard is right, the SMRC dinner is a great place to catch up with some of these people as well as the "newer" ones, Alan McNish, Dario Franchitti, Marino of that ilk, Robin Liddell etc etc.. OK, it's £50 a skull but it's a great night.
Blair, the best book on this is one that Grahm Gauld brought out in 2004 called Scottish Motor Racing and Drivers. It was £40 when I got it but might be less now. Ask Lance or Alastair Gauld some time.
Regards David (approaching bus pass age..)
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Post by Heinicke on Aug 12, 2008 0:49:07 GMT
You see, I can count always on you David!
John Fyda was European Clubmans champion and often raced against another legend of the SMRC, sorely missed Will Hoy who raced Mallocks long before he became a World Sportscar driver or BTCC driver. He raced the Reid Wines Mallock run by Hugh Chamberlain, Sportscar team boss extraordinare. Spices, Lotus Esprits and MG/Lolas.
John Romanes, got up to Formula Junior and possibly the odd Grand Prix in the 60s. Dad once asked him how does one get into the BRDC? He said you get nominated. Dad said who did he get nominated by? A certain Mr J. Clark and another Mr G. Hill. John owned Ingliston for a good while.
Harry Simpson is going to be making another come back apparently, he raced Radicals in 2006.
Jim McGaughey, Dad and I spoke to him at the SMRC's 50th and he told us that he hadn't raced since the late 80s in an F3 race and was wondering who had spaceframed cars that still race. He is interested in coming back.
Ron Cumming, Hugh Chalmers, Alastair Cunningham, Laurence Jacobsen...apart from David anyone know of them?
I maybe seen as a trouble maker on this forum but does anyone know apart from David why I am such a bore, my experience away from the wheel?
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Post by Blair on Aug 12, 2008 7:24:04 GMT
(usless information) Harry Simpson was my ARDS test instructor / assessor. I don't think he was impressed! David, I looked about and seen that book on the internet, perhaps I'll ask for it for Christmas. (And Iain Cowie not busy ??!! Don't think I've ever seen him stand still! )
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Post by Dave on Aug 12, 2008 7:55:48 GMT
I maybe seen as a trouble maker on this forum but does anyone know apart from David why I am such a bore, my experience away from the wheel? You won the Junior Boring Championship back in 84. Went on to win the Formula Boring Championship in 86. And won the GP Boring Championship in 89.
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Post by Charlie on Aug 12, 2008 8:36:40 GMT
Boring never, controversial always ;D
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Post by awsponsor on Aug 12, 2008 8:45:30 GMT
Bear in mind that a lot of the young drivers have probably never even heard of some of these people because they dropped out of racing some years. People tend to be only fully familiar with their contemporaries.
That said... It would be good if the SMRC website carried some of this historic info.
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Post by Mike Hogg on Aug 12, 2008 9:39:51 GMT
(usless information) Harry Simpson was my ARDS test instructor / assessor. I don't think he was impressed! Mine too. And he definitely wasn't impressed!
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Post by gallonsperminute on Aug 12, 2008 10:55:07 GMT
I took my ARDS this year after having given up my licence in 1983 to concentrate on the engineering side of things. Stuart Lawson was my instructor. Got me thinking that in a few years I might be old enough to get a job as an instructor.
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Post by TheRealDC on Aug 12, 2008 11:12:21 GMT
Richard - firstly let me congratulate you on this thread. Very good debate and worthy of more. I may not always see eye to eye with you, but I agree with Charlie, you're not boring, but certainly controversial!
On the age of instructors - I may be a little paranoid myself as I've instructed at KH since 2005, but I think Jonathan Adam might disagree with you GPM....
DC
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Post by flagmonkey on Aug 12, 2008 11:59:59 GMT
Richard not quite up to your usual standard of rant …. but agree with you and others that it is nice to reminisce about some of the older cars and drivers I remember John Fyda in an Agra Lotus Elan Jim McGauchey first remember seeing him in a spaceframe (Maguire?) Imp John Romanes as well as being involved with Ingliston ran Lothian Chemical company and had a lovely red Ferrari Dino 246GT which I got a passenger run in once (sorry have really trumped the boring and useless quotient in this post). Last seen racing a Fraser Nash in the Knockhill historics. I can’t quite compete with dagman16 in the age stakes (not sure I want to – sorry David) but I was at Ingliston from 1971 and marshalled there and Knockhill since 1984. Some sites that have details of older drivers and cars including a fair number of Scottish ones www.geocities.com/specialsaloons/HOME.htmlwww.ingliston-circuit.co.uk/html/ingliston.htmlwww.racing70s.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Also good to know about the Graham Gauld book – like Blair I might add it to my Christmas wish list. Still seems to be that £40 is the going rate. Despite the nostalgia I still think that current racing scene is Scotland is good evidenced by big grids (record entry earlier this year) and close racing (sometimes a bit too close).
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Post by dagman16 on Aug 12, 2008 13:08:48 GMT
Can't do much about the age bit, FM! I didn't really have a say in the matter! Will concede on that one!
Richard, I remember all those others you mentioned especially Hugh Chalmers as he was my doctor until he retired! He also hurled me round Ingliston in the Ecurie Ecosse Opel Manta at one meeting as a prize in a draw in the local rag. My mate knew the organiser so it was a bit of a fix as we both won!
My copy of Graham Gauld's book has been signed by the great man himself, thus devaluing it somewhat I suspect...! Only joking, Graham if you're reading this! I know Lance used to look in here!
David
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Post by Heinicke on Aug 12, 2008 13:20:17 GMT
It must be the radio therapy that I have enveryday that takes it out of me.
John Fyda is the son of a wealthy engineer from I think it was Poland who setup an engineering company in Dundee, AGRA. John took over the reigns and started racing when he was still a teen. Imps, Elans, later on his famous Mallock and his Vision, the 1st of the Scottish Vauxhall engined cars. He went up into Thundersports and the British C2 Championship, raced Tigas, Ecosses and Spices, I believe. He returned back to the SMRC in about 2004 when he bought our old Mk3 Mallock from us. He has been successful in Europe with the Mallock and his Lotus FJ car.
Jim Mcgauchey is a legend and not as old as you may think. Lancia Toleman and his exploits in single seaters. I think it was a Maguire he had flagmonkey.
I have been in it for 25 of my 26 year life. My experience is 3 sportscar championships, 90,93 and 94, if memory serves me correctly. 2 Historic championships, post 55 sportscars in 93 with the MGA and the vintage class Doune Cup, supposedly the most coveted trophy in the SMRC in 96 in his Rover.
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