With everyone talking about the new technical plans for Formula 1 in 2021 I was reminded of some of the unique ideas that have found a place in motor racing and single-seater racing in particular. When thumbing through some old photographs I came across these of a Brabham Formula 3 car with a belt-driven automatic…

My links with Jim Clark go back a long way, sixty-four years to be exact when on a cold March morning in 1955 at a bleak airfield near the tiny village of Drem outside Edinburgh, I met him for the first time. The Edinburgh University Motor Club were able to use the old runway to…

Amongst the many visitors to Duns for the official opening of the Jim Clark Museum in Duns were Emmanuel Delsaux and his son Ulysse who had driven over from France specifically for the opening as Jim Clark is one of his son’s heroes. Ulysse, who has just turned 22, is racing in the NASCAR European…

There have been many articles written not only about the charismatic Marquis de Portago, who died tragically with his co-driver Edward Nelson in the 1957 Mille Miglia, but also the 250GT with which he won the Tour de France Rally in 1956. De Portago had a few difficult moments with Enzo Ferrari in their early…

I recently wrote a News item on the web site regarding the passing of Jim Russell. I referred to the fact that the late Mike McKee, who raced Lotus 18’s alongside Jim Clark, Peter Arundel and the like in 1960, had become very friendly with Jim Russell. Mike had been encouraged to start racing by…

The General Assembly of the Grand Prix Drivers Club is always a fun occasion where the members can get together, usually in pleasant surroundings, and enjoy three or four days doing various things. This year, thanks to Club member Giancarlo Minardi, we were invited to Imola where he had arranged his Minardi Day which coincided…

Ever since I first visited in 1960 I have always enjoyed Turin. Back then I had just taken over as Editor of one of the oldest motoring magazines that still existed, Motor World, founded in Scotland in 1899. By 1960 Motor World was the second oldest motoring magazine in the World still in publication –…

Back in October last year I welcomed the news of Formula 1 commentator  Murray Walker’s 95th birthday and remarked on his long time as a motor sport commentator. Note that I said motor sport for Murray was reporting on all forms of motor sport long before he became famous as a commentator in Formula 1….

Throughout the history of European motorsport, the aristocrats and the titled were the true pioneers. They were pioneers mainly because they were the only people who had the money to indulge in this new and gentlemanly sport at the dawn of the 20th century and they embraced racing with great enthusiasm. A number of them…