Motorsport Trivia

[AndyL]

I wonder, are you considering Jersey to be a separate country? And it wins courtesy of Andy Priaux?

That sounds like a good call. With Priaulx's 3 world championships and a Guernsey population of 65,000 I can't make the numbers come out to the figure that Mintexmemory stated, but it definitely beats Finland if we consider Guernsey a country.

[Mintexmemory]

That sounds like a good call. With Priaulx's 3 world championships and a Guernsey population of 65,000 I can't make the numbers come out to the figure that Mintexmemory stated, but it definitely beats Finland if we consider Guernsey a country.

Nice one but is there a separate Guernsey / Jersey passport? I think not, Channel Islands is not a country (then again that would exclude Scotland too) but if they were then either singly or combined they would still be second placed ahead of Finland, Scotland et al
However, people are getting warm now and just one major thought outside the box will do it.

[Steve Boyd]

Nice one but is there a separate Guernsey / Jersey passport? I think not
Hmm - you may not be correct there:
File:Guernsey passport.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guernsey_passport.jpg)

[D-Type]

Was Mansell technically resident on the Isle of Man when he won his championship?

[AndyL]

If the passport is the criterion, then neither Guernsey nor the Isle of Man would be countries in their own right as their passports are British passports issued by the UK Passport Agency (or whatever it's called now).
Guernsey passport - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guernsey_passport)
But it's academic as we already know the right answer beats them anyway!

[Mintexmemory]

Hmm - you may not be correct there:
File:Guernsey passport.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guernsey_passport.jpg)

Andy is correct, a British Passport issued in Guernsey is the same situation as IoM and Gibraltar!
Even if IoM were a country and Mansell counted as a citizen, that would still be 1 win for 85,000 population.
Small countries with multiple World Champion is the way to go clearly, but you are all still ploughing the wrong furrow

[D28]

How about Qatar? With a population about 1.758 m and about 12 FIA rally titles in Middle East Rally and Cross Country Rally Championships?

[Mintexmemory]

How about Qatar? With a population about 1.758 m and about 12 FIA rally titles in Middle East Rally and Cross Country Rally Championships?

I refer you to the beginning of this benighted question - World Titles, not European, not Middle East or Asian but World!!! Still nowhere near the right figure either. ;)
Another clue required? The titles (i.e more than one) that go to make the coefficient have all been won by one man.

[Steve Boyd]

Andy is correct, a British Passport issued in Guernsey is the same situation as IoM and Gibraltar!
But not the same as a British passport issued in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (even if it is academic to the answer we are seeking).

[D28]

Mintexmemory: I am wondering if it might be time for you to supply the answer, as it has been a while since any credible suggestions have been posted. I remain curious.

[52Paddy]

I agree. Am intrigued to hear the answer.

[AndyL]

Yes I give up too!

[D-Type]

Me too

[Mintexmemory]

Ok guys last clue - The competitor in question won this FIA world championship on 8 successive occasions

Shame on you Andy L you discounted the right answer

[Prisoner Monkeys]

Sebastien Loeb is the only person I can think of who has done that. I cannot find any other series but the WRC that is classified as a "world" championship with a driver who has won eight consecutive titles. Formula 1 and the WRC are the only two series I can find with a "world" title that have been running for at least eight years.

But if it is Loeb, I have no idea how Guernsey fits into it.

[52Paddy]

Ok guys last clue - The competitor in question won this FIA world championship on 8 successive occasions

Shame on you Andy L you discounted the right answer

I have it! Daniel Elena - 8 times World Rally Co-Driver's Champion from Monaco.

[Mintexmemory]

I have it! Daniel Elena - 8 times World Rally Co-Driver's Champion from Monaco.

:bounce: Correctimundo - I've had my signature showing the current quote for the last 2 weeks!! I forget who said it, might have been Henry Liddon.
Nowhere did I say driver, as a former 'nav' myself I am strongly of the opinion that the efforts of the 'sack of spuds' are equally important for the prospects of success. ;)
So over to you 52Paddy.

[D-Type]

Goood question!

The FIA website doesn't list a World Rally Navigators' or Co-Driver's Championship as far as I can see - which isn't to say that there isn't one.

I totally agree with you about rallies being won by two-man crews.

(Incidentally, did you know that in WW2 the commander of a Luftwaffe bomber crew was the Navigator?)

[Mintexmemory]

Goood question!

The FIA website doesn't list a World Rally Navigators' or Co-Driver's Championship as far as I can see - which isn't to say that there isn't one.

I totally agree with you about rallies being won by two-man crews.

(Incidentally, did you know that in WW2 the commander of a Luftwaffe bomber crew was the Navigator?)

You have to go forensic but the WRC co-driver's championship is on the FIA website.(with points listing for the last 4 seasons iirc.) This is the link -
2011 Co-Driver WRC Classification (http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/wrc/Pages/Co-Driver_Classification.aspx)
The previous season's results are in the right hand menu
Despite there being a number of occasions when navs have swapped horses mid-stream (or been swapped) the title has always gone to the co-driver of the driver champion.
Interesting about the Luftwaffe, think I heard that on a Yesterday TV documentary (too much time on my hands during enforced holiday week!). Glad you didn't think I'd been off piste with the question ;)

[D-Type]

My apologies! I only looked at the front "Championships" page and didn't dig any deeper.

As to "off piste" questions, as far as I'm concerned any form of competition involving four wheels (maybe even 3) and an engine is OK. Admittedly I'm not sure about the Pig-and-Ford races. But equating "Formula 1", "Grand Prix" and "World Championship" does make the hackles rise.

52Paddy over to you

[52Paddy]

Nice question there Mintex. I'm going to ask one in relation to the BTCC - it's not too difficult:

Which teabag company sponsored a car during the 1980s? What year? Whose car? What car was it?

[AndyL]

:bounce: Correctimundo - I've had my signature showing the current quote for the last 2 weeks!! I forget who said it, might have been Henry Liddon.
Nowhere did I say driver, as a former 'nav' myself I am strongly of the opinion that the efforts of the 'sack of spuds' are equally important for the prospects of success. ;)
So over to you 52Paddy.

Ah, you got us with that one! Very good question :D

[52Paddy]

Anybody for the BTCC Q?

[Mintexmemory]

Anybody for the BTCC Q?

I've held off as I had rather monopolised this thread pre-Christmas.
Ray Armes
Honda Civic
1989
Brooke Bond PG Tags (the betamax of the t-bag world!)
The same year that one Damon Hill had a drive in an RS500 iirc

[52Paddy]

Correct Mintex :up:

[52Paddy]

Which drivers performed music on-stage after the 1995 British GP and with what instruments?

[D28]

I recall Damon Hill (guitar) and Eddie Jordan (drums) playing after the race; does Eddie count as a driver?

[52Paddy]

I recall Damon Hill (guitar) and Eddie Jordan (drums) playing after the race; does Eddie count as a driver?

You're correct with Damon Hill but not with Eddie Jordan. I'm looking for two other drivers, though one report I've read mentions a third. Clue: one of the drivers was singing.

[FAL]

Johnny Herbert singing "Johnny Be Good", David Coultard playing maraccas or something simple like that?

[52Paddy]

Johnny Herbert singing "Johnny Be Good", David Coultard playing maraccas or something simple like that?

Yes and Yes. For the record, I read a report that said Mika Hakkinen was playing a tambourine. Don't know if it is a confusion of the facts though.

[D28]

Fal: Do you have a question to stimulate our (fading) memories?

[FAL]

Sorry, too exhausted after writing on Appendix J to re-visit here earlier.

When BRM finished 1,2,3 which team was 4 and 5?

[Mintexmemory]

Sorry, too exhausted after writing on Appendix J to re-visit here earlier.

When BRM finished 1,2,3 which team was 4 and 5?

Scuderia Centro Sud - Maserati 250F - Jo Bonnier and Masten Gregory

[D-Type]

Blimey! That was quick. I hadn't even seen the question and it's answered (not that I could have answered it anyway).

[D28]

I am intriqued by which race? BRM could not have owned the podium too often.

[D-Type]

1957 Daily Express International Trophy - Behra, Schell, Flockhart. One of the few occasions that BRM managed to field 3 cars.

[Mintexmemory]

I am intriqued by which race? BRM could not have owned the podium too often.
It was in fact their only 1-2-3

[D-Type]

Without checking, it was probably the only time that 3 BRMs finished a race! ;)

Maybe in 1963-64 when Centro Sud ran BRMs they might have all stayed together.

[FAL]

I should have spent more time coming up with a question!
Although I claim extreme infant youth, I was actually there. My very faint memory (one of my earliest) is of the Gregory car being white on blue rather than the blue on white of the chassis 250F guru David McKinney says it was (the Pescara and Monza car).

[D-Type]

It was a fair question but unfortunately for you Mintexmemory knew the answer. You can console yourself by remembering that he's got to think up a question now and steer the narrow line between difficult enough to be a challenge without being downright impossible.

[Mintexmemory]

It was a fair question but unfortunately for you Mintexmemory knew the answer. You can console yourself by remembering that he's got to think up a question now and steer the narrow line between difficult enough to be a challenge without being downright impossible.

And it is getting more and more difficult!!! If anyone wants to dive in please feel free as I'm off on the Road to Morroco for a week's R&R on the 31st
WRT 3 BRMs finishing a race - French GP 1973 Beltoise / Regga / Lauda - all woefully off the pace but classified

[D28]

Try this for something slightly different.
!967 Monaco GP. Bruce McLaren comes into pits with misfiring BRM engine. As the crew scramble to fix fuel starvation, a pit visitor yells out "Battery"! A new battery installed, Bruce finishes a credible 4th. Who is the pit visitor? Any idea why he is there?

[Mintexmemory]

Try this for something slightly different.
!967 Monaco GP. Bruce McLaren comes into pits with misfiring BRM engine. As the crew scramble to fix fuel starvation, a pit visitor yells out "Battery"! A new battery installed, Bruce finishes a credible 4th. Who is the pit visitor? Any idea why he is there?

The report I've read says the gentleman concerned yelled out "battery... it's your battery" but further to previous 'quote' questions, I'm sure there would have been an expletive in there somehow. Jack Brabham, just retired from the race and was checking out the opposition as his team mate (Denny Hulme) was leading the race.

The setting of questions is really getting harder and harder

[Mintexmemory]

Anyway thinking of expurgated quotes - who said ,of which car, that driving it 'tripled his laundry bills!' (at least in the published version)?

[D28]

Well done Mintexmemory, it was Sir Jack. I read this recently in McLaren Memories by Eoin Young. I was fascinated to learn that Jack who was defending both world titles would take the time to in effect help out the opposition. OK McLaren may not have appeared as a major threat, at the time, but still it was only race 2 of the season. Also it offers further dramatic evidence of his advanced mechanical skills. Somehow, it is hard to picture such events happening in todays climate. Are outsiders allowed into others' pits?
Another aside from Monaco 67, 3 Kiwis finished in the top 4, with only Graham Hill and the dead battery preventing an all Kiwi podium. So the finish of Hulme, Hill, Amon, McLaren, must represent a high mark for New Zealand Grand Prix racing.

[D-Type]

Anyway thinking of expurgated quotes - who said ,of which car, that driving it 'tripled his laundry bills!' (at least in the published version)?
Vic Elford about the Porsche 917?

[Mintexmemory]

Vic Elford about the Porsche 917?

Elford, Redman and Attwood have all testified to the laxative effect of the early 917 experience but not in the terms as quoted. It is motor racing not rallying though.

[D28]

Frank Gardner is capable of making such a remark, and he did drive the 917 once, he certainly had lots of other choice remarks on that model.

[Mintexmemory]

Frank Gardner is capable of making such a remark, and he did drive the 917 once, he certainly had lots of other choice remarks on that model.

:D Ah yes, Frank (expletive deleted) Gardner - use to love the post-race interviews at Brands, something always used to 'slip out' especially if any New Zealanders were involved!
Next clue- an earlier era than the late 60s / early 70s

[D28]

How about Mike Hawthorn, BRM P25.

[D28]

Mintexmemory: Is that answer correct? If so I have another question to pose.

[Mintexmemory]

Mintexmemory: Is that answer correct? If so I have another question to pose.
Sorry for the delay, been to Morroco for the last week. Bloody cold now though!

Yes Mike Hawthorn and the P25 is correct - over to you :cool:

[D28]

This Le Mans winner had such a lead early Sun morning he was crusing home, while the 2nd placed man was egging him on to race and maybe break his car. The leader pulled off the circuit and stopped, while the 2nd driver parked behind him, for a few seconds. Both resumed the race and finished 1 and 2. Who were the drivers, co-drivers and teams?

[Mintexmemory]

This Le Mans winner had such a lead early Sun morning he was crusing home, while the 2nd placed man was egging him on to race and maybe break his car. The leader pulled off the circuit and stopped, while the 2nd driver parked behind him, for a few seconds. Both resumed the race and finished 1 and 2. Who were the drivers, co-drivers and teams?
Mmmm sounds like something the Bentley Boys might have done, certainly I'd say it is pre - 68 which is my earliest recollection. I willl apply some thought to this - Good question

[kevin19]

Bentley Boys would have my guess, polite kids, wouldnt happen now.

[D28]

The Bentley Boys are not the drivers I have in mind, I cannot swear such a thing didn't happen then, but I haven't read of it.

[Mintexmemory]

Raymond Sommer and Luigi Chinetti? The year that Sommer and Nuvolari won

[D28]

That would be 1933, I think, and the lead may have changed on the last lap. Still it is not the awswer, this incident occurred in the post-war era.

[Mintexmemory]

That would be 1933, I think, and the lead may have changed on the last lap. Still it is not the awswer, this incident occurred in the post-war era.

Not - The answer is Mike Hawthorn - again!

[D28]

Not - The answer is Mike Hawthorn - again!

Hawthorn is not the answer to the incident I have in mind. Maybe you could elaborate a bit on your post?

[D28]

Time for a clue. The 2nd placed man's co-driver was a winner here 4 years previously. Identifying him should lead to the 2nd team, and hence to the winners.

[D28]

Time for a clue. The 2nd placed man's co-driver was a winner here 4 years previously. Identifying him should lead to the 2nd team, and hence to the winners.

This race was noteworthy for other reason, and has been written about fairly extensivelly. Anyone?

[BDunnell]

This has to be Dan Gurney and AJ Foyt as the winners, and Ludovico Scarfiotti and Mike Parkes as the second place crew, in 1967.

[BDunnell]

And I would assume the 'other reason' you mention for the race's noteworthiness is the champagne-spraying by Gurney?

[D28]

This has to be Dan Gurney and AJ Foyt as the winners, and Ludovico Scarfiotti and Mike Parkes as the second place crew, in 1967.
Right. Now which 2 were involved in the parking incident?

[D28]

Right. Now which 2 were involved in the parking incident?

BDunnell: Just wrap this up and you can pose another one.

[BDunnell]

BDunnell: Just wrap this up and you can pose another one.

Gurney and Parkes.

If anyone else wants to pose a question, by all means do so, as I'm now away on a business trip for a few days.

[D28]

That's it. This story was told by Gurney a while back to Motorsport's Simon Taylor. I think the race was written about a lot as it was part of the epic Ferrari-Ford struggle. The American angle was also emphasized, as Ford got the USA Team win they were after: Ford, Shelby-American, A J Foyt and Dan Gurney. Gurney mentions the champagne spraying and says he still has the bottle.

[D-Type]

This Le Mans winner had such a lead early Sun morning he was crusing home, while the 2nd placed man was egging him on to race and maybe break his car. The leader pulled off the circuit and stopped, while the 2nd driver parked behind him, for a few seconds. Both resumed the race and finished 1 and 2. Who were the drivers, co-drivers and teams?
Good question. So we now know it was Gurney (& Foyt) in a Ford and Parkes (& Scarfiotti) in a Ferrari in 1966.

But what's the full story - why did Gurney stop and why didn't Parkes simply overtake him?

[Mintexmemory]

That's it. This story was told by Gurney a while back to Motorsport's Simon Taylor. I think the race was written about a lot as it was part of the epic Ferrari-Ford struggle. The American angle was also emphasized, as Ford got the USA Team win they were after: Ford, Shelby-American, A J Foyt and Dan Gurney. Gurney mentions the champagne spraying and says he still has the bottle.

Actually, the bottle was in the possession of an American sports journalist for many years and was only recently returned to DG. Anyone remember who was the victim of that first celebratory shower?

[D28]

Actually, the bottle was in the possession of an American sports journalist for many years and was only recently returned to DG. Anyone remember who was the victim of that first celebratory shower?

Gurney mentions Henry Ford ll and his new bride being in the line of fire, perhaps this is who you have in mind. The story mentions initiating the spraying ritual, though I have read of other claims to this. I seem to recall Jackie Stewart making such a claim, but that was for the French GP 1969, a couple of years later, perhaps the first GP incident. Anyone know for sure?

[D-Type]

This was discussed at length in another forum. If I remember correctly, the conclusion was that Graham Hill was the first spraying the crowd after a [non-championship] Australian GP before Le Mans 1966 and Stewart was the first after winning a championship grand prix. I think someone even produced a newspaper report of champagne spraying at a prewar race.

But, when all is said and done, Dan Gurney was the first to do so under the media spotlight with the world's press looking on and the newsreel cameras rolling.

[Mintexmemory]

Gurney mentions Henry Ford ll and his new bride being in the line of fire, perhaps this is who you have in mind. The story mentions initiating the spraying ritual, though I have read of other claims to this. I seem to recall Jackie Stewart making such a claim, but that was for the French GP 1969, a couple of years later, perhaps the first GP incident. Anyone know for sure?
That is indeed who I had in mind. One of my treasured pics in the den is the Eagle at Monaco 67 signed by DG.

[D28]

Time for another question. Anyone?

[D-Type]

Can we please have the full story of the "parking up"? We know who and when but we still don't know why. I don't fancy ploughing through my pile of Motor Sports to find Simon Taylor's interview with Daniel Sexton - was it a "lunch with ..." feature?

[D28]

Can we please have the full story of the "parking up"? We know who and when but we still don't know why. I don't fancy ploughing through my pile of Motor Sports to find Simon Taylor's interview with Daniel Sexton - was it a "lunch with ..." feature?

The story was related by Gurney in the Nov 2009 Motorsport issue, part of the lunch with series.
He said:
"By 5 in the morning we were six laps ahead of the Scarfiotti/Parkes Ferrari P4. I knew Ford's Achille's heal was brakes"

Gurney would slow down before the braking zone at Mulsanne, let the engine retard the car and save the brakes. Parkes was right behind, goading him on, flashing his lights and trying to get him to race. The only hope for Ferrari was to get the leading Ford to break.

"After 4 0r 5 laps of this it started to get to me, so coming out of Arnage, I pulled onto the grass verge and stopped. And he pulled over and stopped behind me. After 15 seconds or so he got embarrassed and drove on"

"About 7 laps later I passed him but keeping to my ridgid discipline of preserving brakes". Gurney finished 4 laps ahead of the Ferrari. This was the 1967 race, Ford's second victory.
I thought this was a great story, it was new to me, but now I see reference to it on the Wiki account of 67 Le Mans. This probably came from the Motorsport story.

As an aftermath, 7 days later Gurney won at Spa in his Eagle, so these days certainly marked a highlight for him.

[D-Type]

Nice story - thanks.

[D-Type]

Here's one to keep things going


I ... kept going and going and just about the point when I began to wonder where the hell I was, all of a sudden there was a bunch of cars coming towards me! SEDANS! So I made a big U-turn and went back the way I came and finally found the "circuit" again!
Who?

Talking about which race?

When was it?

[D-Type]

Hint: It was a World Sports Car Championship qualiying race that year.

[D28]

Hint: It was a World Sports Car Championship qualiying race that year.

I have the vaguest recollection of this story, but can't put a name to it. As a wild guess, I will say the Buenos Aires 1000 km of 1970?

[Mintexmemory]

I have the vaguest recollection of this story, but can't put a name to it. As a wild guess, I will say the Buenos Aires 1000 km of 1970?

That would make sense and it sounds like something the 'greatest living Lancastrian' - Brian Redman might have been involved in. But it would have to be 71 as the 70 race was not a round of the WSC, just a trial.

[D-Type]

Right continent :up:

But somewhat earlier :down:

:idea: This country's race only featured once in the World Sports Car Championship in all its forms from 1953 to now

[D28]

Right continent :up:

But somewhat earlier :down:

:idea: This country's race only featured once in the World Sports Car Championship in all its forms from 1953 to now

How about 1000 km Caracas 1957 and Phil Hill making the detour?

[D-Type]

:champion: Spot on.

Your question

[D28]

Now that was tough, without the clues I never would have found the answer. That was the race where the Maserati team destroyed all their cars and their hopes of wresting the World Championship away from Ferrari. That was their best chance for sure as they had the cars and the drivers to do it. Sadly bad luck prevailed, but they came just short of 2 World titles for 1957. Instead it marked the end of a an official works sportscar team.

I will have a question in a hour or so.

[D28]

Back to Le Mans for the next question.
This winning duo both drove for the Cooper F1 works team, but at different times. Their best combined result for Cooper was a win, and a 3rd. Who are they? When did they win Le Mans, for which team?

[Mintexmemory]

Back to Le Mans for the next question.
This winning duo both drove for the Cooper F1 works team, but at different times. Their best combined result for Cooper was a win, and a 3rd. Who are they? When did they win Le Mans, for which team?

Lucien Bianchi and Pedro Rodriguez 1968 JW Automotive GT40.
I got LB's autograph on the Autosport cover photo later that year at the start ceremony of the London - Sydney Marathon (Crystal Palace) -For Pedro I had to wait until the BOAC 1000 in 1970.

[D28]

Lucien Bianchi and Pedro Rodriguez 1968 JW Automotive GT40.
I got LB's autograph on the Autosport cover photo later that year at the start ceremony of the London - Sydney Marathon (Crystal Palace) -For Pedro I had to wait until the BOAC 1000 in 1970.

That's correct. There is an impressive list of Le Mans winners with Cooper experience, going right back to Mike Hawthorn-Ivor Bueb, Roy Salvadori. On the F1 works team, Jochen Rindt, Masten Gregory, Bruce McLaren, Phil Hill, Chris Amon and Ludovico Scarfiotti also had outings, however brief. Others like Gendebien probably drove private Cooper F1s.

[Mintexmemory]

That's correct. There is an impressive list of Le Mans winners with Cooper experience, going right back to Mike Hawthorn-Ivor Bueb, Roy Salvadori. On the F1 works team, Jochen Rindt, Masten Gregory, Bruce McLaren, Phil Hill, Chris Amon and Ludovico Scarfiotti also had outings, however brief. Others like Gendebien probably drove private Cooper F1s.

IIRC Lucien was driving a DS20 in the London - Sydney and was streets ahead of the field when involved in a crash with a non-competing car about 100 miles from the finish, leaving the way clear for the Cowan car to win. But for that, Bianchi's record for '68 would have been very similar to Vic Elford's - Major Rally win, Major WSC win and Grand Prix points in the Cooper-BRM, shame that Brian Redman didn't also go rallying!