In the summer of 1980 I went round my friend Gooey's house and on Sunday Grandstand was the British Grand Prix from Brands Hatch. I'd watched F1 races on the BBC Grand Prix program before but never seen a race live. I was transfixed.
The two blue Ligier's ran off into the distance with some Ozzy bloke called Jones chasing them down in a white and green Williams. Eventually the French cars fell by the wayside with tyre problems and, for the fans at Brands, the next best thing to a British driver winning was an Australian in a British car. From that moment on I was a hooked on F1 racing.
I particularly recall an exchange between James Hunt (co-commentating with Muddly Walker) and guest summariser Jackie Stewart. Stewart suggested the Ligier boys should have seen the problems with their tyres in their mirrors, "I think you're showing your age there Jackie, you can't see the rear tyres in the mirrors of a modern F1 car" says Hunt. "Well I sat in the Tyrrell yesterday and could quite clearly see the rear tyres" replied Stewart. James was very quiet for a few laps.
I had to find out more about the season up to the British race and I had to see the rest of the season. I also had to avoid seeing the race results until the highlights came on late in the evening on BBC2 - a little more simple in the days before multi-channel TV and 24 hour rolling news.
At the next race in Germany Laffite got his own back for the let down in Britain with the Williams boys 2nd and 3rd. Jones was leading the Championship with some young lad called Peekay not too far behind in a Brabham. Laffite's brother-in-law won the race a week later in Austria but I knew enough then to understand that the turbo charged Renaults would be difficult to beat at a high altitude circuit like the Osterreichring. Jones was 2nd and extending his lead in the Championship - Woo Hoo!
Holland next and for some reason Arnoux in the other Renault was on pole. This didn't make any sense to me, at some places the track was below sea level so why was a turbo car on pole? As the race started Jones jumped into the lead and was over 2 seconds ahead at the end of the first lap, this was going to be easy for my new hero. But, horror, a few laps in and Jones runs wide damaging one of his side skirts. He's in the pits for an extended period as the skirt is replaced and his nemesis, and my new public enemy No1, Piquet takes the win.
Jones is on pole in Italy, all is going well at the new Imola circuit. But what's this? The Brabham takes the lead and Jones can't catch him. Piquet now leads the Championship, this isn't right.
Now there's a long wait for Canada. Horror, Piquet is on pole. As they gallop to the first corner there's a big pile up and Piquet is off but the race is red flagged and they start again, this time with Nelson in the spare car. Jones leads for the first 2 laps but Piquet passes him on lap 3 and scampers off into the distance. But then my prayers are answered, the Brabham spare car has an older engine and a con-rod lets go putting Piquet out. Jones wins as Pironi is given a 1 minute penalty for jumping the start and Alan Jones in the 1980 World Champion - HOORAY!
A week later Jones puts the cream on the top of his Championship winning at Watkins Glen after Bruno Giacomelli has led for much of the race in his Alfa Romeo. Much rejoicing for the 14 year old FB.
I still recall these moments like they were yesterday and can feel the emotions, see the grainy images from Canada and the US as they didn't broadcast in the same format as European TV and satellite feeds weren't quite as good as they are today. Sitting up until late at night when the BBC thought it was safe to show F1 racing and then getting about 40 minutes coverage of the whole race.
Happy memories of simpler days
The two blue Ligier's ran off into the distance with some Ozzy bloke called Jones chasing them down in a white and green Williams. Eventually the French cars fell by the wayside with tyre problems and, for the fans at Brands, the next best thing to a British driver winning was an Australian in a British car. From that moment on I was a hooked on F1 racing.
I particularly recall an exchange between James Hunt (co-commentating with Muddly Walker) and guest summariser Jackie Stewart. Stewart suggested the Ligier boys should have seen the problems with their tyres in their mirrors, "I think you're showing your age there Jackie, you can't see the rear tyres in the mirrors of a modern F1 car" says Hunt. "Well I sat in the Tyrrell yesterday and could quite clearly see the rear tyres" replied Stewart. James was very quiet for a few laps.
I had to find out more about the season up to the British race and I had to see the rest of the season. I also had to avoid seeing the race results until the highlights came on late in the evening on BBC2 - a little more simple in the days before multi-channel TV and 24 hour rolling news.
At the next race in Germany Laffite got his own back for the let down in Britain with the Williams boys 2nd and 3rd. Jones was leading the Championship with some young lad called Peekay not too far behind in a Brabham. Laffite's brother-in-law won the race a week later in Austria but I knew enough then to understand that the turbo charged Renaults would be difficult to beat at a high altitude circuit like the Osterreichring. Jones was 2nd and extending his lead in the Championship - Woo Hoo!
Holland next and for some reason Arnoux in the other Renault was on pole. This didn't make any sense to me, at some places the track was below sea level so why was a turbo car on pole? As the race started Jones jumped into the lead and was over 2 seconds ahead at the end of the first lap, this was going to be easy for my new hero. But, horror, a few laps in and Jones runs wide damaging one of his side skirts. He's in the pits for an extended period as the skirt is replaced and his nemesis, and my new public enemy No1, Piquet takes the win.
Jones is on pole in Italy, all is going well at the new Imola circuit. But what's this? The Brabham takes the lead and Jones can't catch him. Piquet now leads the Championship, this isn't right.
Now there's a long wait for Canada. Horror, Piquet is on pole. As they gallop to the first corner there's a big pile up and Piquet is off but the race is red flagged and they start again, this time with Nelson in the spare car. Jones leads for the first 2 laps but Piquet passes him on lap 3 and scampers off into the distance. But then my prayers are answered, the Brabham spare car has an older engine and a con-rod lets go putting Piquet out. Jones wins as Pironi is given a 1 minute penalty for jumping the start and Alan Jones in the 1980 World Champion - HOORAY!
A week later Jones puts the cream on the top of his Championship winning at Watkins Glen after Bruno Giacomelli has led for much of the race in his Alfa Romeo. Much rejoicing for the 14 year old FB.
I still recall these moments like they were yesterday and can feel the emotions, see the grainy images from Canada and the US as they didn't broadcast in the same format as European TV and satellite feeds weren't quite as good as they are today. Sitting up until late at night when the BBC thought it was safe to show F1 racing and then getting about 40 minutes coverage of the whole race.
Happy memories of simpler days
. Don't worry, we are still mates but Hill was the glue that allowed us to get to know each other.
Cheers, FB.
