ones that got away

[donny]

i want to know your views on this subject, i was reading a post on another forum about sportscar drivers who should be in f1 today. the one that i just cant get my head round is jamie davies.a mclaren autosport driver of the year award winner, davies started his career in karts winning the brittish championship in his first year. racing lads such as guy smith , ralph firman, and in thoses days as i remember a very slow justin wilson.he then progressed to single seaters finishing 5th in the championship in first year in vauxhall lotus, then in 94 he was seconed in formula vauxhall juniour, 4 wins , 7 lap records 5 poles.he and firman tangled on last lap to give owen mchauly the title, this then led to the autosport award for davies. then came the f1 tests and posting very quick times , then testing with mclaren at jerez along with ralph firman and dario franchitti davies was the quickest of all 3 drivers.after this those in the know will will no that jamie had a bad time in f3 where he won the first 3 races of the season only for t w r to change the engine an he then didnt score any impressive wins in this formula, if having the right equipment im sure he wud have beat firman to the title. so on to f3000 and what a season , leading the championship with 2 races left, but only losing out to zonta that year.it seems this man does get alot of bad luck, partnering montoya at mcau setiing pole time in qualifing only for the car not to start and having to watch firman take the glory.i do feel his career is bk on trak in sportscars and i wish him well. please tel me your views as i enjoyed reading the page in motoring news on .the nearly men.

[Mr. Rick]

Had the great pleasure of meeting Tim Harvey last night as he was a guest speaker at our local motor club and what a nice chap too!

He brought up an interesting point about how we don't really have the top 20 drivers in F1 because of drivers who bring oodles of sponsorship money to buy drives. He likened it to being able to play for Arsenal having bought yourself a place! Which I think was a great analogy. (Although that took all the strength I could muster to type the name of that team and I can't do it again, as you can see!)

His insights into the club scene and general commercial matters were brilliant and eye-opening - a fantastic evening.

I asked him about his experiences in sportscars and Le Mans in particular and his tales were hilarious in part and fascinating in others. Wish I'd taken a dictaphone because it would make for fantastic reading on MB.

[BigH]

Talking of Old Soldiers Rick, I was saddened to read a few weeks ago that Win Percy had a couple of big strokes recently. I don't think the prognosis is good, but you never can tell with strokes, here's hoping he makes a good recovery.
Win provided some of the most entertaining drives I've ever seen, and I suggest that tonight we all raise a glass to his health.
H

[Fax]

Sorry to hear that H,  I didn't know about Win's strokes.  He was always such a great character and for so long a backbone of the TWR squad.  I always thought the add he placed in the following week's Autosport after the 1987 24 Hours was hilarious "I would like to the Tony Southgate and everyone at TWR invloved in the construction of the XJR-8 for the retention of my facilities" f**k*ng brilliant! Here's to Winston's full recovery!
John

[BigH]

I missed that one fax! I think I've got a copy of the mag somewhere I'll have to dig it out.
I was actually spectating from the fence next to the restaurant on the Mulsanne that night when Win went past. All four wheels were still on the tarmac at that stage, but not for long. The pace cars were out for what seemed like ages, maybe a couple of hours, and without RLM we didn't know what the hell was going on. I believe Tom gave him a (tongue in cheek) hard time once he got back to the pits.
H

[Fax]

I think Tom was very glad to see his old buddy in one piece.  Following just one year after Jo Gartner's loss under similar circumstances I would imagine the silence during the safety car period was terrifying.  The amature video of the accident is hairy enough, couldn't imagine having seen it in person.  The add he took out is just a simple little 1/8 page space, his thanks is clearly heartfelt to everyone at TWR but you can tell from the way its worded that he had some shits & giggles in mind as well.
John

[Mr. Rick]

I'd forgotten about poor old Win! Met him a couple of times when I was doing stuff for the current Group C revival series - splendid chap and loads of time for the "unwashed" like me!

Found the ad H - never noticed it before - brilliant!



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[Mr. Rick]

..... and without RLM we didn't know what the hell was going on .......

'87 was the first year for RLM too. It's difficult to imagine life without them these days, but I have fond memories of one year in the early 80s having finally collapsed exhausted from the walking (and maybe a beer or ten) on the sadly no longer with us mound on the outside of the left hander into the Esses de la Foret, at the bottom of the run down from Dunlop. It was perfectly inclined that I could lay down but keep watching with an occasional eye and doze off. In those days, the only English we had was that 5 minute round up over the PA system every hour on the half hour. I drifted off to sleep but woke up every time I heard the English come on, watched a few mins of racing and blissfully dozed off again! Great stuff!! It was like an hourly alarm call throughout the remainder of the night!

 

[Andy Zarse]

Truly terrible news.

Win Percy remains a hero to me. Started when I used to go and watch first the TWR Mazda RX7's, then the TWR Motul Jag XJS's and later the TWR Rover SD1's (I seem to recall) in the ETC in the early 80s. Smooth, smooth, smooth, he was always faster than anyone through the Old Hairpin at Donnington and it's what I can remember best.

I was delighted when he became a lynchpin of the XJR campaign, horrified by his accident in 87 and pissed right off when that swine Walkinshaw shat on him from a great hight at the end.

If anyone saw him drive the works D Type at the Classic in 02, or even at the Goodwood Revival, then you would have seen what great driving is all about. The sight of a D type four wheel drifting into Tertre Rouge at twilight is a sight I'll never forget. Brought the hairs up on the back of my neck. Made me realise that I truly love all things Le Mans (like I didn't know before!). Sure there were other D's in the race, but none driven with such sheer style and panache displayed by Win.

But best of all, I remember talking to him at Goodwood Festival. He was dressed in his Silk Cut fireproofs and sitting in the 88 LM winning Jag at the time, blipping the throttle. A charming man, with time for anyone who has time for him.

Get well soon Win, we're all rootin' for you.

PS Rick, apologies. You posted the piccy below on CA when I was praising Win on this forum some time ago. Trust you have no objection to me sharing it with the good folk here again.


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[Fax]

Rick,
Your the man!  I thought about going home tonight and trying to dig that up.  Figured it would take a couple of hours and a decent bottle of merlot to sift through thirty years of racing mags to find it.
John

[Mr. Rick]

PS Rick, apologies. You posted the piccy below on CA when I was praising Win on this forum some time ago. Trust you have no objection to me sharing it with the good folk here again.

No probs Andy, was going to post it myself but you've saved me job! He was indeed a joy to behold at the Classic. Sad to think he might not be there this year.

[Mr. Rick]

Rick,
Your the man!  I thought about going home tonight and trying to dig that up.  Figured it would take a couple of hours and a decent bottle of merlot to sift through thirty years of racing mags to find it.
John

It helps working from home John and the office doubles as my Le Mans library! Got all the old "post race" Autosports to hand, it's a wonder I ever get any work done!!!!

Don't let my posting the ad stop you opening that merlot though!!  

[Andy Zarse]

No probs Andy, was going to post it myself but you've saved me job! He was indeed a joy to behold at the Classic. Sad to think he might not be there this year.

Yeah. And it's a pity for you Mr Wilson that the reg on the D is 774 RW and not 664 RW, the month and year of your birth I think!!!

Synchronicity city or what?

[Mr. Rick]

Yeah. And it's a pity for you Mr Wilson that the reg on the D is 774 RW and not 664 RW, the month and year of your birth I think!!!

Synchronicity city or what?

Correctamundo!!! Very observant old fruit! Never noticed that possibility before, just nice to share the initials.

On whipping thru the neg archives from the 02 Classic, actually shot a sequence of four of which the one you posted is the last. Have created a little "animation" of these (attached below until the upload folder gets cleared out!). Have deliberately slowed the frame rate for clarity and you can clearly see the nose lift in the 3rd frame as Win gets that power down!

 

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[Mr. Rick]

http://www.jag-lovers.org/winpercy/wp.php3

Need I say more?