Taken at Spa, Nürburgring, and Zeltweg.
Zeltweg - John is in the black sweater behind the guy in shorts, waiting for their winning Porsche 917 to take the chequered flag.
Here's the details on this photo, and on this race from John H. himself....
Pit wall, Austria, 1971. You had most of the guys names but here are all I know, L to R.
The first guy on the left is one of our mechanics, I forget his name but he was fired for stealing… then comes myself (JHH) with “Clive” of Firestone in shorts, who was a very good tire tech.
Then David York, I cannot see the man he is talking to, then Richard Attwood and Arnold Stafford (who drove as an amateur in races in New Zealand in his youth), Arnold was a good time keeper and Parts Manager.
Next to Arnold is Peter Davies, the top mechanic who was with me and Cuoghi at Zeltweg when I fixed the 917 - that's a story in itself (Editor Note: see "Racing in the Rain"), then Derek Bell as you say.
Holding pit board and eating is Ray Jones, with Alan Hearn. Both these guys stayed with me until Gulf withdrew from racing in 1975, both excellent mechanics, Alan became Chief Mech.
And as you say, Jo Ramirez. We knew he would not stay with us very long (this was his second stint with us) as he had ambitions beyond working on the cars.
Zeltweg, with John Wyer
Here's the details on THIS photo, and on this race from John H. himself....
Now R to L, in the photo where I have an odd expression, we have Piech head of Porsche Racing on far right, smiling. I cannot identify the guy behind us with dark glasses, then Pedro Rodriguez, JW, Self.
I believe this is the moment when Pedro came up to JW and famously said, “If we want to win this race I must have my car back!” Attwood, who was filling in for Oliver (who had deserted us for the money of the Can-Am) was only on his 10th lap but was four seconds a lap slower than Pedro. We brought Richard Attwood in and off went the Mexican, now 3 laps behind the leading Ferrari.
Pedro had led the race from the start to lap 30 when he came in with electrical trouble. Some time was lost in diagnosis, battery and regulator being replaced.
Pedro made up one lap on sheer speed, another lap by staying out on slicks when it rained and everyone else came in for intermediates, and then he had to come in again when it dried out. He passed the Ferrari to un-lap himself in front of the pits.
Now there were 25 laps remaining, Pedro was gaining on the Ferrari at the rate of 4 seconds per lap, and his lap time was 1 mi. 40 seconds. So at that rate he would catch the leader at the last corner of the last lap of the race! Or Not!
In the event the Ferrari finished up in the guard rail and Pedro sailed past, much to his disappointment as he wanted to take the win in dramatic fashion at the line.
As he took off his helmet I could see not a drop of sweat, his hair was perfect, it was just a drive in the park for him!
A few weeks later he was dead.
Nürburgring with Jo Siffert
SPA with John Wyer
More Authentic detail from the Man...
Now the two color photos taken at Spa in 1967 are interesting in that this race was to be the first victory for the new Gulf sponsored JWAE Team. It was was won by Jacky Ickx driving the company’s new endurance car, the M1 Mirage, a variation of a Ford GT40 with modified body designed by Len Bailey.
Len can be seen in the photo wearing a red sweater.
The other item of interest is that his co-driver was American, Dr. Richard Thompson, an amateur driver who had driven cars for the VP of Gulf Oil, Grady Davis, in US events.
The Doctor was to be the only American driver ever to win a 1000 Km. Race at Spa.
He is the guy in the lower picture in white overalls with his name embroidered on them, as can be clearly seen.
In the same photo we can see a blurred shot on right of Ermanno Cuoghi, who joined us (JWE) in 1965 as a “helper" and soon became Chief Mechanic for the Team, and much later, Nicki Lauda’s mechanic at Ferrari.
Also in the shot is Bill Milligan with his right hand on his hip, and on the right, a partial picture of David Yorke.
SPA with John Wyer
