BRM: A Mechanic's TaleBritish Racing Motors (generally known as BRM) was a British Formula 1 motor racing team often described as Britain's Ferrari as it built its own cars. Founded in 1945, the team raced from 1950 to 1977, competing in 197 Grand Prix and winning 17.This is the BRM story told by a man who was both a devoted fan and a loyal member of the British Racing Motors team. Seen purely from a mechanic's point of view this account of BRM is generally complimentary, but at times is critical of personnel and procedures. Dick Salmon was involved in the repeated failures and humiliations of the 1950s, through the gradual progress of winning minor races to the excitement of Jo Bonnier winning the first World Championship Grand Prix in Holland in 1959. BRM's glory culminated in the ultimate honor in 1962, when in East London, South Africa, Graham Hill drove a BRM to victory to win both the Driver's World Championship and in doing so brought the Constructor's Championship to the BRM team, thereby making a considerable contribution to international motor racing history. Probably for the first time, criticism is levelled at both Louis Stanley and the introduction of the H16 engine as contributory factors to the ultimate failure of British Racing Motors: Louis Stanley for his freeloading extravagance, and the rather foolish decision by BRM's management to build such a complicated and bulky power unit. |
Contents
4 | |
ULTIMATUM | 132 |
A FOOT IN THE DOOR 17 INTERCONTINENTAL | 145 |
JUST CHAMPION | 158 |
THE ITALIAN JOB 46 | 210 |
222 | |
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Aintree airfield Alfred Owen arrived Arthur Hill Bagwash Bonnier Bourne brake BRM team BRM’s Carvath chassis circuit crashed Cyril driver Dutch Grand engine eventually failure Fangio fastest Ferrari finished Folkingham Formula front fuel garage gearbox Gonzales Goodwood Gordon Newman Graham Hill Gurney Harry Schell Italian Jack Brabham Jean Behra Jim Clark John Sismey John Surtees journey Ken Wharton later looking Lotus Maserati Maurice Mike Hawthorn miles Monaco Monte Carlo Monza morning motor racing Nürburgring once organisers paddock Peter Berthon Peter Collins pole position practice problems race day racing car racing team Raymond realised rear Reims retired road Ron Flockhart Roy Foreman season second place Silverstone Sir Alfred Owen Snetterton starting grid Stirling Moss stop third place Tony Brooks Tony Rudd track transport travelling tyre Vanwall vehicle wheel whilst Wilkie workshop World Championship Zandvoort