You were there

Secrets and surprises in this month’s pick: a high-security blanket at Brands, plus a star in a reasonably fast kart…

Roger Taylor

By chance Roger caught Niki Lauda testing the secret Brabham fan car at Brands in 1978 [1]. “Suddenly it coasted to a stop; mechanics raced from the pits and wrapped a tarpaulin round the rear before it was towed”[2]. “For 10min Lauda circulated at race pace”[3]. In ’79 Roger gate-crashed a Silverstone test: “I heard muttering but kept out the way…” Here Lauda and Murray ponder BT48 [4]. Ground-effect McLaren M28 on jacks [5]. Firing up Reutemann’s Lotus 79.

Greg Rickes

Grey Rickes sent his pictures from Latham, New York, but they feature a background closer to home for us – Brands Hatch [1]. In august 1979 Greg attended the kart race school at the Kent circuit and was surprised to find someone else enrolled for lessons – multiple motorbike racing champion Barry Sheene [2]. Standing by his white Rolls-Royce, Sheene talks with instructor Mike Wilds.