Brands Hatch 1000km

Any stories and/or pictures of this great sportscar event would be much appreciated, after having read the stories of the great Rodriguez in the PORSCHE 917 and having seen the "Comedy of Errors" of 1986 on video I'd love to see some pictures and hear stories of this great event!

I have some photo's 80 - 84, any car or year in particular ? I think you have already seen some of the pictures though.

Simon

Nothing in particular, the whole lot just interests me!

And yes I have seen some of your photo's and they're fantastic!

Well I was hoping to post a link to a website, but I have just found that a little programme re-writing is required. All going well it will be up hopefully by Monday.

All the photo's will also be available on a CD including Le Mans 1980 onwards very soon.

Simon

'comedy of errors' vid really upset the applecart between the BRSCC and Brian Kreisky if I remember, but really it was a bit of a farce, especially when the safety car screwed up badly...If I remember rightly, that was the year that Ford and the fabulous P100 (??) was expeceted to walk the race, but the drivers were so intent on racing each other that they took each other out in the rain. My how we marshals laughed!! The other memorable 1000k race was the time Webby decided to hold a GP one weekend followed by the 1000Kms the next weekend. A true motor sport fest, and a brilliant race won I think by J Palmer in the Canon Porsche. Was your dad around then Paul?

I know he did the 1986 race (he may have done others,possibly 85), The comedy of errors!

Neil crang put it in the tyres somewhere on the GP loop!

I think Bob Wollek won in the Liqui Molly Porsche that year, after the Rothmans Porsche ran out of fuel and the safety car nearly collected a recovering 962. I'm gonna have to dig this video out now!

And Simon, can't wait to see your link!

BTW anyone know when the last 1000km was held there?

Dad was there in 84 as well....
Car 92 Tiga TS83 Hart Entered by TLD
Drivers TLD - Adrian Hall - Mike Kimpton
Did not start.

Simon

Cheers for that, didn't know that one! I know that was the first Thundersports year so I guess it was always going to be a possibility!

Originally posted by verglas
'comedy of errors' vid really upset the applecart between the BRSCC and Brian Kreisky if I remember, but really it was a bit of a farce, especially when the safety car screwed up badly...If I remember rightly, that was the year that Ford and the fabulous P100 (??) was expeceted to walk the race, but the drivers were so intent on racing each other that they took each other out in the rain. My how we marshals laughed!! The other memorable 1000k race was the time Webby decided to hold a GP one weekend followed by the 1000Kms the next weekend. A true motor sport fest, and a brilliant race won I think by J Palmer in the Canon Porsche. Was your dad around then Paul?
That race was 1982 when the Fords took each other out on the hill down to Hawthornes. A fantastic race that decided the Sportscar World Championship in pouring rain. Infact, one of my first ever paintings was of this race. Must dig out a photo and scan it if you want to see it - but don't laugh! It was one of my first as I say. I think TLD was doing F3 then?
I remember the 1000kms the week after the GP too. God, how hot it was that day! Everyone was trying to find shade to spectate from. Yes, Jonathan Palmer did win it teamed with Mauro Baldi - 1984 I believe.

Originally posted by paulzinho
I know he did the 1986 race (he may have done others,possibly 85), The comedy of errors!


BTW anyone know when the last 1000km was held there?

The race was certainly down to 480km by 1989- the only one I actually went to.

I remember your dad sharing his 962 with Desire Wilson at that one- they finished 13th according to
http://www.wspr-racing.com/results/wscc/ms1989.html#4

I don't think I've got any photos though- I seem to recall having trouble with my camera all weekend and not getting many usable photos.......

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
That race was 1982 when the Fords took each other out on the hill down to Hawthornes. A fantastic race that decided the Sportscar World Championship in pouring rain. Infact, one of my first ever paintings was of this race. Must dig out a photo and scan it if you want to see it - but don't laugh! It was one of my first as I say. I think TLD was doing F3 then?
.

Look forward to seeing that photo!

And yes the old man was doing F3 then!

Shame about your camera KA, thanks for your replies too everyone, keep the memories rolling in!

thnks andrew for putting me right - age is obviously getting the better of me, was it really 20 years ago??? would love to see the picture on this thread...I used to love 1000km races, as a flag marshal you really had to concentrate hard, and if you had done a good job my God you knew it cos you would be knackered after 6 hours full on concentration.

I have started with the photo's for the 6hr races at Brands and Silverstone - Here is the link -
http://mysite.freeserve.com/Le_Mans_Photos

I am gradually adding photo's as time permits, at the moment none of the Le Mans pictures are there. There are two area's for 82, Brands and Silverstone, this marked the first race for the Porsche 956.

Please let me know if any links do not work, or any photo's missing. Some more will be added Sunday night.

Simon

Just had a quick look Simon and there's some fantastic shots! I particularly love those Porsche 956's! Stunning!

Looking forward to more as time progresses!

956 good but LC2 better, I just loved that little Lancia.
Glad you like the piccys hopefully it wont be to long before we can get the LM shots up.

IIRC the Silverstone 1000 kms was a pagan festival at which they regularly burnt a Tiga Group C car as an offering to the gods....

Paulzinho - you've stirred another great memory. I'm not sure I can get my facts straight but a lot of folk around can fill in the grey bits.

I think you are refering to the BOAC 500 which is the one where Rodriguez got black flagged, perhaps 1980. It was one of those races, rather like Kennedy's death, where people recall 'where were you on that day'

One of you other contributors made mention of watching at Brands at the exit of Druids. It's a station I took up myself for at least 2 years almost non stop. Very good place to spot men from boys. But on that ady I did squelch around the entire circuit in wellington's and I'm so glad I did. Sorry back to the point ...

The point was that that BOAC race was held in the greasiest conditions immaginable and the combination of 500+ bhp 917s, no down force and reasonable only wet tyres, was just fantastic. Most people will recall and I know this is well cataloged, but that season's highlight was the battle betwen Siffert and Rodriguez in the JW cars against the Martini team 917s.

Well at Brands these boys simple hurled the 917 around and powerslides in all their glory were practised for the entire race. Six solid hours of opposite lock. My own memory of this day was in fact Vic Elford who was getting out of shape going on to the pit straight out of Clearways and not lifting till well cross the start/finish line to get the car straight for the entry to Paddock.

Rodriguez after his black flagging was insensed and drove like a man possessed. Siffert was mighty too but I will always will recall Elford. After the race, all the 917 looked as though they had been on safari, well and truely travel stained.

This thread could be a website of it's own. Many enthusiasts will recall the detail but it was an almighty occassion. I do have some pictures somewhere and some Martini team stickers can you believe? So sad!