Dear Nigel,

This question has nothing whatsoever to do with racing, despite me following your writings for many years, most recently in Motor Sport, and being an ardent fan.

I seem to remember hearing that you are a big fan of Bob Dylan, is this true? If so, you have fantastic taste in music as well as sport!

Pete Robertson

Dear Pete,

Yes, I’m a Dylan fan, and always have been – in fact, right after I left school I went to the concert at the Free Trade Hall (I’m a Mancunian) that turned out to be ‘Judas’ night…

That was May 17 1966, and I note from my rough journal – I’ve never kept a diary, as such – that three days earlier I had been at Silverstone, watching Jack Brabham beat John Surtees in the Daily Express International Trophy. In one of the ‘supporting races’, for the wonderful Group 7 (pre-Can-Am) cars, Denny Hulme’s Lola T70 finished ahead of the McLarens of Chris Amon and Bruce himself. Heady days, as they say…