Motor Sport broke new ground last night – for both the magazine and for British racing – when we launched our Hall of Fame event at the Roundhouse in Camden.
It was a star-studded night as some of the biggest names in motor sport joined 400 guests for a celebration that looks set to become an annual highlight of the racing season.
The Hall of Fame format is a popular one in the US, particularly in sport and music. But it’s a new idea for motor racing here in the UK.
Last night our host – and BBC Formula 1 presenter – Jake Humphrey announced the eight ‘founding members’ of the Hall of Fame, a group best described as the most important and successful men from racing history. The eight founders are:
Tazio Nuvolari
Enzo Ferrari
Juan Manuel Fangio
Sir Stirling Moss
Jim Clark
Sir Jackie Stewart
Ayrton Senna
Michael Schumacher.
Moss and Stewart were on hand to mark their inclusion in motor racing’s newest and most exclusive club. Once this ‘virtual’ Hall of Fame had been officially opened, the first four inductees were invited to join them.
The motor racing knights welcomed Moss’s old friend, team-mate and rival Tony Brooks into the Hall of Fame. Brooks has never received the recognition he deserves for his performances with Connaught, Vanwall, Ferrari and Aston Martin during the 1950s, and he was delighted to be presented with a beautiful watch, courtesy of TAG Heuer.
Le Mans legend Jacky Ickx, McLaren boss Ron Dennis and American all-round hero Mario Andretti joined Brooks to complete the line-up of inaugural inductees. They were all there at the Roundhouse to accept the honour.
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Once the formalities were over, the guests were entertained by the fabulous Kyle Eastwood Band. Kyle, son of movie icon Clint Eastwood, is one of the most highly rated young jazz musicians around – and we found out why last night.
To read more about Motor Sport’s special night, don’t miss the April issue of the magazine, which goes on sale on March 5.
Our thanks to: TAG Heuer, Virgin Cargo, Bahrain International Circuit, Mercedes-Benz, NSPCC, the Roundhouse, Hackett, David Weguelin, McLaren, Richard Frankel, DT Performance, Hugo Boss, Sky Sports, Jake Humphrey, LAT Photographic, The Macallan, Lord March, Janet Bradley at Goodwood, Rob Widdows, Sir Paul Vestey, Doug Nye, Stephen Vokins at the National Motor Museum, Richard Gadeselli of Fiat Group Automobiles SpA, Martin Stockham of Gemini Pictures, Renault
I’m surprised that Alain Prost was not in that list of eight.
Prost had the greatest in-team competition in the history of motor racing (Senna, Lauda, Mansell, Rosberg, D Hill, Arnoux) and had the measure of all of them save, possibly, Senna…and even then, Senna wasn’t able to out-score him eventhough he was faster and hungrier (at a time when Prost had already won everything and was more concerned about living).
It’s dissapointing to not see Alain up there.
I suppose 51 GP victories and 4 championships against the greatest oppostion any Grand Prix driver ever faced isn’t good enough.
Surprised that Colin Chapman wasn’t included as one of the 8 founding members.
It does seem decidedly odd that Prost isn’t in the list. He seems for whatever reason to be out of favour and fashion with the racing elite of today, but the inaugural list has a gaping Prost-shaped hole in it nonetheless.
Niki Lauda is the other notable absentee.
I was one of the fortunate subscribers to Motorsport who won a pair of tickets to last nights event at the Roundhouse. It was a great evening & as a reader of Motorsport for 55 years it was great to mix & chat to some of my heroes, A great idea & the first 12 nominated for the Hall of Fame thoroughly deserve their place.
Ah, yes. But it’s not all about statistics is it?
It’s about the character of the man surely?
Who can argue that Mario Andretti isn’t the coolest racing driver that ever lived…
I am surprised that Mike Hawthorne, Britain’s first ever world champion, was omitted.
Nice to hear you guys had such success with this event.
I second R. Tanveer’s comments that Monsieur Prost should be there. You’ll just have to throw another party for his induction, along with Gurney and/or Lauda.
Just in case you needed an excuse for such a get togheter!:P
One thing, please could we get slightly bigger pictures. If we click on the picture of Sir Stirling and Sir Jacky, we get a nicely sized one, something like that would work great if it where applied across all pics!
I, agree with R. Tanveer as well. Prost was a fantastic driver. Watch him battle with Senna was watching intelligence vs. passion – a battle for the ages. Oh, and yes Mario IS the coolest race car driver ever!
I am imensley pleased that Tazio Nuvolari has been given a shout! The number of times I read 20,50,100 best drivers of all times lists he’s rarely in them and usually not at the sharp end if he is. The man was a legend and nothing short of brilliant and versatile in a way most F1 drivers can only dream of being.
Good on ya Motorsport!
Amazing choices and a great event. I wish I could go…. Too bad
Greetings from down under. Please don’t forget Sir Jack Brabham. His achievements were not too bad.
Yes but I don’t understand ‘the list of eight’ having *both* Fangio AND Moss…If you’re going to have Senna, then you *have* to have Prost too!
I have no idea of the strength of that driver era (it was before my time)…so obviously I have to leave it to those who were ‘there’.
In addition, If character is a criteria – as someone suggested above – then Prost surely has it over Schumacher (who, by all accounts, won championships in a weakened driver era, had only bonafide Number 2s as teammates, resorted to less than sporting actions with respect to *both* teammates and outside competition…and had virtually no versatility whatsoever, often being beaten by teammates in junior categories – something which NEVER happened to either Prost or Senna!)
To not have Prost up there is very, very dissapointing.
The Frenchman had some of the All Time Greats as teammates and won championships in an era when Giants drove.
I imagine that the chaps want Prost there in person to accept the honour. Perhaps he couldn’t make it ;)
Michael Schumacher has probably done more for F1′s commercial image than 99% of other drivers, including Prost.
That’s probably why he’s on the list, because he is, whether we like it or not, a key figure in the later years of Motorsport’s flagship championship.
As for Fangio & Moss being there, well Fangio was almost strictly an F1 driver wheras Moss was a consummate all rounder. Not just that, once again Sir Stirling is an intensely respected and known public figure. I’m sure many of you have heard that police officers in Britain still ask speeding drivers whether they think they are Stirling Moss.
The eight “pillars” of this HoF are all deserving of their position, because they have done more for MOTORSPORT in general than any others (according to the magazine, who makes that judgement here)..
You could argue that Prost could be introduced instead of Tony Brooks, in the 4 inductees, but as a founder having Alain Prost up there over any of the others would be preposturous. Even then, someone like Graham Hill probably is more important for Motorsport than Alain, and more deserving of the recognition. Colin Chapman too. Even Ken Tyrrell….
remember, there are more years to come, and I’m sure Prost will be inducted sometime soon.
Alain Prost, I couldn’t agree with you more. But look at it this way, this is the initial cadre. There will be more chances. Start a campaign and make sure he gets his due the next time around.
What about Keith Duckworth and Walter Hayes? To me they represent more about the growth and stability of F1 than Ferrari. After all Ron Dennis, Frank Williams, Ken Tyrrell and Lotus would not have been half as successful (not forgetting Mr Ecclestone either) without recourse to the good old DFV.
But if they inducted all the names listed above in the first year, who would they put in next year?!!!!
I’d put Riccardo Patrese in personally. Opposite locking round Paddock bend in a Lancia LC2… and a bloody decent chap too!
An interesting debate.
Very well said Mr Treon. That is the point. We will of course take note of such a campaign and there’s no doubt that many of these people were not left out because they don’t qualify. No, it’s because this is the first year, and over the years to come many more great drivers/contructors/engineers/designers and team owners will be added, not to mention those from other disciplines like rallying, motorcycling and design.
As every commentator knows, you will never please all the people all the time.
Motor Sport, its magazine, its website and its Hall of Fame are a “work in progress” and have been since 1924. Patience.
RW
A terrific foundation for a HOF, and there will always be debate over the worthiness of some. From the vantage point of an American, I can’t equate Tony Brooks of being a more worthy candidate than Sir Jack Brabham, a multiple WDC and the only man to win it in his own chassis. While certainly focused on GP/F1, there should be places dedicated to sports cars, and it’s wonderful to see Jacky Ickx honored. Please continue to consider some additional American drivers for future honor, such as Dan Gurney, AJ Foyt, Mark Donohue, and Hurley Haywood. While Haywood primarily a sports car racer, the others were quite versatile “all-arounders.” Roger Penske and Carroll Shelby, drivers early in the careers and of tremendous impact once the helmet was hung up.
In my opinion Prost was one of the fastest ever and you have to judge his speed pre-Villeneuve / pre-Pironi accidents.
The Prost of 1981 / early 1982 was clearly a different animal to the Prost of the mid 1980s and of 1993.
The tragic death of French-speaking Villeneuve and the horrific accident of fellow compatriot Pironi obviously had an impact on Prost’s modus operandai…as did, I imagine, losing the championship to the slower but more calculating Lauda in 1984.
I would suggest that even Senna would have had a tough time beating the Prost of early 1982 on out-right raw speed.
Going on and on and on about why Prost should be there is very dull! He was brilliant, but he wasn’t exactly Mr Charisma…
Anyone else have suggestions about who they would choose for next year?
Here are my suggestions for next year :
Jack Brabham
Graham Hill
Derek Bell
Colin Chapman
Bobby Rahal
Niki Lauda
Alain Prost
Frank Williams
Well the list of possibilities is extensive…but I guess there will need to be rationing so that it can be a sustainable annual event.
But saying that, I’d like to see Derek Bell, Jochen Rindt, Gerry Marshall, Graham Hill, Colin McCrae, James Hunt, Gilles Villeneuve and Paddy Hopkirk and Vic Elford in there. It’s not all F1…
Fine. Here is my list, then:
Alain Prost
Gilles Villeneuve
Mario Andretti
Ron Dennis
Frank Williams
Colin Chapman
Adrian Newey
From the “support side” of F1 Motor Racing, I would like to nominate a Race Engineer now turned Team Principal.
Ross Brawn. To me he is the “Schumacher” of Race Engineers, who I think deserves recognition as a future Hall of Fame inductee.
We’ll probably have to wait until retirement for some to ‘qualify’, but Adrian I will ‘see’ your Ross Brawn, and ‘raise’ Jack Brabham. Brabham not only was a reasonably successful race engineer, but he also was a hands-on mechanic, and drove the car!
Also, John Surtees is an obvious candidate being the only person to win world titles on 2 and 4 wheels.
My sympathies go out to those who make the picks.. You’re gonna have a tough job over the years
Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Choosing people for the Hall of Fame will always be tricky, and controversial.
But the voice of the people will be heard…………
Reassuringly, it looks as though the HOF can run for many years before everyone is satisfied!
If I was to be asked, I would put John Surtees, Valentino Rossi, Sebastien Loeb and Jack Brabham into the equation.
We shall see.
RW
Can’t understand how Colin Chapman is not 1 of the 8 “founders.” Regardless, great idea.
Well, for what it’s worth, Prost and Elford should be added without question.
Others that might be added:
From F1: Villeneuve, Lauda and Petersen
From touring cars: Ravaglia and Soper
From Le Mans: Kristensen and Bell
From Nascar: Petty
From wherever you like: Foyt.
Here’s the really cool Bruce McLaren (official) website:
http://www.bruce-mclaren.com/
How fantastic to have such important names in Motorsport attending from Europe and the USA.
All thanks to Motor Sport Magazine and Louise Skipton for a magnificent evening.
I agree with Rob Widdows thoughts on the inclusion of Sebastian Loeb & Valentino Rossi in future H of F
Also I think Frank Williams is also a strong contender.
Keep up the good work.
Leob and Rossi are exceptional candidates…
…but here in North America we wait til someone’s retired before inducting them into the Hall Of Fames, whether it be Baseball or Hockey or Football.
I assume Schumacher was penned in for the HoF *before* his return was announced?
The caveat for the Motor Sport Hall of Fame to the above,however, would be with non-drivers…So a Frank Williams, for example, would (or should) be one who could go in while still ‘active’. After all, after Enzo Ferrari and Ron Dennis, you only really have Chapman and Williams left.
Just some musings, of course.
What a lot of people who are plainly rather young have been posting.
Should anyone from the Scalextric, ‘slot car’ era be considered, because I consider they have not proved they have anywhere near the ability of every driver down to Clark and none after then? Put today’s Formula One drivers into cars 18″ narrower and tyres 8″, say, narrower, and let us see if they can brake, slide and drift a car.
Perhaps it would be best to avoid “vociferous youth” and set a time limit of thirty years retired, — if dead, effectively retired. Certainly Nuvolari, but perhaps if he, Caracciola and Rosemeyer, even Ascari.
Is this a motor sport Hall of Fame or a Formula One?
Henry, Delage, Etorre, WO, Pomeroys, both LH and LEW, a fellow named Lord, Enzo……….. are all infinitely more qualified than three of your Founders who will probably be seen to have been but transitory when those running the present Scalextric circus are consigned to history and motor-racing folk get back to running the racing.
Some of you young must surely have seen (and heard) a 250F, any front-engined GP Ferrari, V16 BRM, Vanwall, W125, Auto Unions, Type 35B, ERAs…… in action, even carefully-driven lately, to have at least an inkling of what I am on about?
To sum up, surely a motor sport Hall of Fame should be more about the movers and shakers of motor sport than about the very narrowly-defined drivers of today’s Formula One cars?
I hope Mr Boddy will deliver an opinion: I have a pretty good idea what an army of the past with names like Walkden, Tubbs, Karslake, Davis, DSJ, Pomeroy …… to name a tiny few, would have said.
To disclose my hand a little, Kent Karslake gave my bride away, Bunny Tubbs’s babes were bridesmaids, Steady Barker was there, perhaps DSJ, along with a number of other luminaries, (I cannot remember if one of your Founders was there, but he was certainly asked!), and the reception was at the Klemantaskis’ house.
Guy Burn : The lone Voice of Reason.
So where were the two names that changed the face of F1 the most???? Colin Chapman & John Cooper
Great idea. But where were the ‘chaps from the colonies’…Brabham and McLaren?
I am glad Michael Schumacher was involved he has done so much to formula 1 and my weekends without Michael in formula 1 is not the same, he always brightens up my weekend, well done Michael.
Walking in the precesne of giants here. Cool thinking all around!