1974 British Grand Prix

[David Lawson]

I am fortunate to live less than an hour's drive from Brands Hatch so to this day I can pop down to my local circuit for a motor racing fix whenever I like.

Back in the days when Brands hosted grands prix I could go to each day of the meeting without the hassle of camping and each night have the comfort of sleeping in my own bed.

In 1974 I turned up for practice as usual but couldn't get past the man on the gate to the paddock and was annoyed that I couldn't get my usual paddock photos. I had to resort to the next best thing and so I positioned myself on top of the tunnel entrance that leads from the paddock to the infield road to the pits. From this vantage point I took a series of pictures as the mechanics and in Ferrari's case the drivers, drove the cars through.



















Not the best quality set of pictures as these are scans but they do show the suspension detail quite well for us model-makers.

By this time I had ditched the Box Brownie and was using a Russian Zenith B camera and Dixons Prinz lenses, this budget outfit weighed a ton and produced pretty avarage quality images but I am happy with them none the less.

During the two practice days I walked the circuit at least four times mainly photographing with black and white film to save money, back in those days I was saving for a deposit on my first house, but I did use some colour film on one day.


Jean-Pierre Beltoise at Paddock Hill Bend


Emerson Fittipaldi brakes for Druids Bend


Mike "the bike" Hailwood leads Francois Migault up the hill to Druids.


Jackie Ickx suffers understeer at Paddock


Jean-Pierre Jarier enjoys oversteer at Paddock


Henri Pescarola


Ronnie Peterson in the ageing but still beautiful Lotus 72


The great Tom Pryce


Jody Schekter qualified fastest


Nike Lauda also set the fastest qualifying lap identical to Schekter.

On race day we arrived early before the gates opened to the circuit and as soon as they let us in we ran all the way from the car park to the top of Druids Hill carrying all out heavy camera equipment, chairs and food for the day to ensure we got a good spot for the race. We weren't even out of breath, what it was to be young!

The following photographs show just how good a view the average spectator got in those days.


Lella Lombardi didn't qualify in a spare Brabham sponsored by Radio Luxembourg but was allowed to do a demonstration run before the grand prix


Patrick Depailler leads Jochen Mass


Graham Hill leads Beltoise


Jochen Mass, Arturo Mezzario, Carlos Pace and Jarier


Ronnie Peterson leads Carlos Reutemann


Tom Pryce, Jacky Ickx and Hans Stuck


Clay Regazzoni and Ronnie Peterson


Carlos Reutemann and Fittipaldi

For the record the winner of the grand prix was Jody Schekter.

David

[Andrew Rowland]

Lovely David, that shot of Lauda with the thin tyres on the rear, the mechanic squating on the gearbox and kit bags on the rear wing is just splendid. Imagine Vettel doing the same in his RedBull today?

[Mark Huber]

Amazing photographs David.

When was your first visit to Brands Hatch? Your collection of photographs through the years would be priceless, and we really appreciate your sharing with us.

Does anybody make the 1974 BRM P201 in 1/32? (Don't tell Andi that I asked..I'll never hear the end of it!)

[Phil Kalbfell]

David thank for posting great pics. We run 1970's F1 cars as a class so the pics will help with some of my builds.
The pit buildings on my track are modelled on Brands from the ' 70s period!
I have completed the Brabham build,so may have to do a BRM and put our own Larry Perkins in it!

[Mark Huber]

Phil,

If you build that BRM, please put me on your customer list!

By the way... just how wide are those rear tires?. Those cars need to go on a diet! (but I must have that BRM!).

[Phil Kalbfell]

But you hate BRM,s Mark!

[David Lawson]

Here are a couple of my black and white photographs of the BRMs from practice, I was trying to be a bit arty farty with the blurring to emphasise speed.

The panning shot of Pescarola could help Phil as a guide to carving the shell as it is very close to being a side elevation view.

It was a shame that the cars ran in silver and mettalic green rather than traditional BRM colours but obviously Motul money dictated this as well as running the two French drivers and of course they had been liveried as cigarette packets anyway for the previous couple of years.

I have considered carving this car for many years but it always gets pushed to the back of the queue by other things, it is a great looking car and marks the end of the marque as I cannot seriously consider the Stanley-BRM a "proper" BRM.

I have been going to Brands since 1969 and still love the atmosphere and the ghosts of the place particularly when I walk round the wooded areas of the grand prix section.





David