|
Yes, James did not participate in the 1972 U.S. Grand Prix. He didn't enter F1 until the following year. I witnessed one of his first tests in Lord Hesketh's March 731 in 1973 at Snetterton, near Norfolk UK.
I stationed myself at the bridge above the esses, and vividly remember him screaming down the straight with "eyeballs out on sticks", just before braking.
At the infamous 1973 British GP, I remember James and Niki on the grid. That was the GP when Jody Scheckter bolloxed up his exit from Woodcote and took out almost half the field on the first lap. The real stars of the show were Jackie Stewart and Ronnie Peterson. Jackie was running away with the race until he made a rookie mistake. Ronnie showed how big his "extremities" were by taking Woodcote flat. At the time, that was unheard of. Peter Revson scored a great victory for us Yanks.
Niki showed his future form by making a great (almost dangerous) start in his BRM, and James soldiered on to finish fourth.
Later on, me and my mates enjoyed a great after-GP party at a mansion in Oxford, hosted by Marlboro Europe.
Good times..................
TO
|