Topic: AL86 Graham Hill in Lotus 49 at Silverstone in 1969

[Allan L]

The wheels seem to have come off his waggon
For a point can you tell me what make and model the waggon is and who the would-be driver is.
There's another point if you can identify the event and location.

[Allan L]

23 views and no replies so probably no rookies who have any racing car knowledge.
Or perhaps no rookies.

[frederick59]

Graham Hill on a Lotus 49

[Allan L]

Graham Hill on a Lotus 49

Quite right and worth a point!
Now the difficult bit -  the event and location.
I don't know who the chap standing next to the car is, so there's another point if you can name him with proof.

[Allan L]

Does no Expert have any idea about when and where this was?

[Majeko]

Silverstone 1969?

[Allan L]

Silverstone 1969?

That's quite close but wrong!
There may be no way for you to be sure it is where and when I say it is, except that I was there and know when it was.
Locked until your next try!

[Majeko]

Nurburgring 1969?

[Allan L]

Nurburgring 1969?

Actually it was the other bit of your answer that was wrong!
Still locked

[Majeko]

Silverstone 1968?

[Allan L]

Silverstone 1968?

Yes!!!!
That gets you the point but I'm never quite satisfied so what might the event have been?

[nicanary]

Are you sure that's 1968, Allan? The F1 International Trophy at Silverstone was held in April, and at that point in the season I think the Lotus was still running the high aerofoil which was banned later in the year after the crashes in Spain. This photo shows the later, and much safer, low wing with endplates. I could be wrong - I haven't checked!

BTW in my opinion that season was the high point in Graham's career, not just because he won the championship (and there wasn't a soul in the paddock who begrudged him that), but because of his whole attitude following the tragic death of Jim Clark. He effectively "carried" the team through the rest of the season with his combination of fortitude, determination and depth of character. There was a lot more to him as a person than the joking buffoon he portrayed to the public.

[Allan L]

Now I pay more attention to what the photo was with and other things, I can say that Majeko's first guess was right and it was 1969 and practice for the Brutish Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Jenks' report in MS tells us that NGH  took 49/8 (brought up to 49B spec) out in untimed practice on the Friday but the front wheel bearings fell apart in one lap and that was that! My photo must be while the were sorting that out and the car did take part in timed practice.
In later practice Stewart pranged his Matra MS80 more or less next to me, but commandeered Beltoise's and put up a time only 0.6 sec slower than in his own car. I reckoned that made it look as if it would be a good race so went back for it on the Saturday and sure enough it was.

[Majeko]

"for the Brutish Grand Prix at Silverstone" That's one way of describing that race

[Allan L]

And here is Lotus 49/8 last weekend, advertising for a sale it's in:

[faksta]

The man near the car might be Maurice Philippe, who designed it together with Chapman. At least I think he looks quite similar - here is a photo from 1967, Philippe is on the left.

[D-type]

I think it's Graham bending over the front wheel, Bette on the left and a young Damon next to her.

[Allan L]

Er, right not left I think, Duncan!
I don't think the chap in my photo is Maurice Phillipe, but I can't find a decent photo of MP from any time, let alone 1969.
I saw him when he came to Hatfield in the late 1980s to give a talk about racing car design but can't recall how he looked then.