Read Rush to Glory: FORMULA 1 Racing's Greatest Rivalry Online

Authors: Tom Rubython

Tags: #Motor Sports, #Sports & Recreation, #General

Rush to Glory: FORMULA 1 Racing's Greatest Rivalry

R
USH
TO
G
LORY

Also by Tom Rubython

 

Life of O’Reilly

The Biography of Tony O’Reilly

 

The Rich 500

The 500 Richest People in Britain

 

The Life of Senna

The Biography of Ayrton Senna

 

Dog Story: An Anthology

The Life and Death of Our Best Friends

 

Shunt: The Story of James Hunt

The Biography of James Hunt

 

And God Created Burton

The Biography of Richard Burton

 

R
USH
TO
G
LORY

FORMULA 1 Racing’s Greatest Rivalry

T
OM
R
UBYTHON

Foreword by John Watson

Photographs by Rainer Schlegelmilch

 

 

LYONS PRESS

Guilford, Connecticut

An imprint of Globe Pequot Press

Copyright © 2011 Tom Rubython/Myrtle Electronic Press Ltd

Photographs © Rainer Schlegelmilch

First published in the United Kingdom in 2011 as
In the Name of Glory

First Lyons Press Edition, 2013

 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

 

Lyons Press is an imprint of Globe Pequot Press.

 

Project editor: Meredith Dias

Layout: Lisa Reneson

 

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

 

Rubython, Tom.

Rush to glory : Formula 1 racing’s greatest rivalry / Tom Rubython ;

foreword by John Watson ; photographs by Rainer Schlegelmilch.

pages cm

Includes index.

E-ISBN 978-0-7627-9696-0

1. Grand Prix racing—History. 2. Formula one automobiles—History.

I. Title.

GV1029.15.R84 2013

796.72—dc23

2013015035

 

Formula 1™ is a trademark of Formula One World Championship Limited and does not imply an endorsement of this book.

C
ONTENTS

 

Title Page

Copyright

Acknowledgments

Preface

Foreword by John Watson

 

Chapter 1: Niki and James before 1976

Chapter 2: Contrasting Fortunes

Chapter 3: Hunt Astonishes McLaren and Lauda

Chapter 4: Niki’s Women Problems

Chapter 5: James’s Women Problems

Chapter 6: Lauda Sets the Order

Chapter 7: Women Problems Resolved

Chapter 8: Three in a Row for Ferrari

Chapter 9: Ferrari Shoots Itself

Chapter 10: Hunt Wins, Then He Doesn’t

Chapter 11: Ferrari Ascendant, McLaren in Chaos

Chapter 12: Lauda’s Magic around Monte Carlo

Chapter 13: Lauda Has an Off Day

Chapter 14: Blood in the Garages

Chapter 15: Hunt’s First Proper Win

Chapter 16: FIA Restores Hunt’s Points

Chapter 17: Fiasco on Home Ground

Chapter 18: Enzo Ferrari Woos Lauda

Chapter 19: Hunt Takes Full Advantage

Chapter 20: Near-Death Experience

Chapter 21: Watson Denies Hunt the Advantage

Chapter 22: Hunt States Serious Intent

Chapter 23: Lauda Returns from the Dead

Chapter 24: Hunt Loses British Win

Chapter 25: Hunt’s Faint Chance

Chapter 26: Fate Intervenes in New York

Chapter 27: Caldwell Outsmarts Audetto

Chapter 28: Hedonism at the Hilton

Chapter 29: Showdown in Japan

Chapter 30: A New British Champion

Chapter 31: Postscript

 

Appendix I: Brazilian Grand Prix

Appendix II: South African Grand Prix

Appendix III: US Grand Prix West

Appendix IV: Spanish Grand Prix

Appendix V: Belgian Grand Prix

Appendix VI: Monaco Grand Prix

Appendix VII: Swedish Grand Prix

Appendix VIII: French Grand Prix

Appendix IX: British Grand Prix

Appendix X: German Grand Prix

Appendix XI: Austrian Grand Prix

Appendix XII: Dutch Grand Prix

Appendix XIII: Italian Grand Prix

Appendix XIV: Canadian Grand Prix

Appendix XV: US Grand Prix

Appendix XVI: Japanese Grand Prix

 

Photographs

Index

A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS

 

A
book like this owes so many things to so many people. But, as always with any motor racing book featuring this era, I owe John Hogan the deepest thanks. John had unique insight into both Niki Lauda and James Hunt in 1976; he was their mentor, their guru, their paymaster, and their best friend during that remarkable season.

I believe that John knows what really went on in 1976 better than any other man alive. And I am very glad that he confided in me the long-forgotten details and dramas.

It’s also true to say that without John, there would have been no James Hunt. He created him, nurtured him, developed him, and saved him from himself when he needed saving, which was pretty often from what I observed.

Equally, when Niki was in trouble, he always turned to John to help him out of the holes he continually seemed to be digging for himself at certain points during 1976.

John’s account of 1976 has helped blow away the myths surrounding James and Niki, of which there were many. Both drivers were lucky to have had such a wise friend on their side.

The other man who played a significant role that season was Bernie Ecclestone. He was close to both men, though not in the same way as John Hogan. Bernie wanted James and Niki to drive for his Brabham team in 1976 and made plenty of effort to try and make it happen. But for a man who likes getting what he wants, for once Bernie failed on both counts. If he hadn’t, history would have been very different. We must thank him for failing; otherwise, we might have been denied the dramas of 1976.

I also have to thank previous authors, notably Gerald Donaldson and the late, great Christopher Hilton. Chris’s death in 2010 was a very sad loss to the Formula One community, and his books
Portrait of a Champion
and
Memories
were extremely useful to me. This book is all the better for Chris’s contribution to motor racing’s history.

I am also deeply indebted to Andrew Frankl, cofounder of
Car
magazine.

Andrew has the best memory of anyone I know about what happened at the 1976 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. His recollections of that remarkable day bring alive a whole chapter that otherwise would have had to rely on far less reliable, less colorful, and less graphic sources.

Equally, Philippe Gurdjian’s character insights into both James and Niki were incredibly valuable to me. Few people know about the unique contribution Philippe has made behind the scenes to Formula One over the years. Luckily, I do, and so did James and Niki, as two of his many beneficiaries.

Stirling Moss was in the thick of it during 1976, working for American television. He was also particularly close to James Hunt, making his background recollections a treat to include in this book.

Equally, Andrew Marriott was close to Hunt during 1976 and, as usual, saw things that others didn’t see in the background—much of which make up the fabric of this book.

Other books

Collision Course by Desiree Holt
Firebrand by Prioleau, R.M.
Lens of the World by R. A. MacAvoy
Just the Way You Are by Sanjeev Ranjan
Tale of Gwyn by Cynthia Voigt
Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work by Paul Babiak, Robert D. Hare
Chains of Command by Marko Kloos