RIP Tony Brooks

[vaud]

Before my time, but Brooks was the last surviving Grand Prix winner from the 1950s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Brooks_(racing_...

A life well lived.

[LukeBrown66]

He was a magnificent driver, a true gentleman, and a lovely man, my dad met him once at an airport and he was genuinely happy to talk.

A man you could walk past in the street for decades and have no idea raced against Fangio, Moss, beat them all and had the respect of all of his peers.

What a great life well lived.

[yoshisdad]

I think Stirling Moss described him as ''top drawer'' and that if Stirling had ever had a racing team, then Tony would have been a driver in it.
High recommendation indeed!

RIP Tony Brooks

[Paul Dishman]

Very sad, but a good innings. I was lucky enough to meet Tony and Pina at Goodwood a few years ago and both kindly signed my copy of Tony’s autobiography.

R.I.P. Tony Brooks and Condolences to Pina and their family

[Eric Mc]

Sorry to hear this. I was only reading about Brooks in Doug Nye’s “Grand Prix Greats” book.

[KR158]

Had a very quick Chat with him at Goodwood, came across as a true gentleman. Rest in Peace.

[DeejRC]

Vanwall team reunited again.
I think a little part of me considers that as it should be.

First painting I ever bought was Moss & Brooks up Eau Rouge in green cars…

[Turbobanana]

I'm rarely moved to write on the F1 thread, but it's always sad when a motorsport legend dies. I never met him, but wish I had.

I found this on the BBC News website, which neatly sums up how F1 has changed over the years:

Brooks famously won his first ever F1 race, the Syracuse Grand Prix of 1955, in which he competed as a last-minute entry for the Connaught team while studying for his dentistry finals at Manchester University. Receiving a call from the team while revising, Brooks went to Italy, missed the first practice day, learned the circuit on a Vespa, and then caused a sensation by leading home the Maseratis of world championship regulars Luigi Musso and Luigi Villoresi, to achieve the first international grand prix win for a British car since 1924.

Can you imagine that happening now?

RIP Tony.

[vaud]

Turbobanana said:

Can you imagine that happening now?

There are some loose analogies:

Michael Schumacher did something similar at Spa, having never driven the course in 1991 (ok, not current era of F1)

Kevin Magnussen was pretty impressive in his first Haas race this year having been out for a year, not fully fit and straight on the pace.

[vaud]

F1: Beyond The Grid podcast with him here from 2019:

https://audioboom.com/posts/7352865-tony-brooks-if...

[Halmyre]

Turbobanana said:

I'm rarely moved to write on the F1 thread, but it's always sad when a motorsport legend dies. I never met him, but wish I had.

I found this on the BBC News website, which neatly sums up how F1 has changed over the years:

Brooks famously won his first ever F1 race, the Syracuse Grand Prix of 1955, in which he competed as a last-minute entry for the Connaught team while studying for his dentistry finals at Manchester University. Receiving a call from the team while revising, Brooks went to Italy, missed the first practice day, learned the circuit on a Vespa, and then caused a sensation by leading home the Maseratis of world championship regulars Luigi Musso and Luigi Villoresi, to achieve the first international grand prix win for a British car since 1924.

Can you imagine that happening now?

RIP Tony.

Brooks set fastest lap as well, and made the Maseratis work hard for pole position.

[Zarco]

vaud said:

Turbobanana said:

Can you imagine that happening now?

There are some loose analogies:

Michael Schumacher did something similar at Spa, having never driven the course in 1991 (ok, not current era of F1)

Kevin Magnussen was pretty impressive in his first Haas race this year having been out for a year, not fully fit and straight on the pace.

Loose being an understatement.

[Turbobanana]

It's quite sad that nearly 24hrs after this thread started, PH has still not mentioned Brooks' death on its front page. I guess the launch of a niche market BMW within a niche market for BMWs is more important anyway.

[HTP99]

Tony Brooks lived locally to where I work, he would occasionally pop in for a hand with something on his car, he'd sit reading his paper whilst we did whatever was needed, usually just checking his tyre pressures or changing a bulb.

Such an unassuming man, extremely polite and very pleasant.

[sideways man]

Always enjoyed listening to his interviews over the years. RIP Tony Brooks

[dontlookdown]

Perhaps the last of the gentleman amateurs, at least early in his career. An under-rated driver even in his day.

Richard Williams' book The Last Road Race has some nice stories about Brooks in it. About the 1957 Pescara GP and well worth a read.

[Gareth1974]

Turbobanana said:

It's quite sad that nearly 24hrs after this thread started, PH has still not mentioned Brooks' death on its front page. I guess the launch of a niche market BMW within a niche market for BMWs is more important anyway.

I flagged Vaud's post as being newsworthy about 5 minutes after he posted it last night, although I can understand why it can't be featured on the front page, given the exciting news about Tobias Moers.

[vaud]

Gareth1974 said:

I flagged Vaud's post as being newsworthy about 5 minutes after he posted it last night, although I can understand why it can't be featured on the front page, given the exciting news about Tobias Moers.

Ahh thank you for that - appreciated.

[entropy]

Turbobanana said:

It's quite sad that nearly 24hrs after this thread started, PH has still not mentioned Brooks' death on its front page. I guess the launch of a niche market BMW within a niche market for BMWs is more important anyway.

As mentioned before, Tony Brooks was an unassuming man who, unlike a former teammate, never sought any attention or fame in his lifetime. Combined with many fans who have no interest in delving into history beyond their own history it is no wonder he is an under rated and under appreciated driver.

[Turbobanana]

entropy said:

Turbobanana said:

It's quite sad that nearly 24hrs after this thread started, PH has still not mentioned Brooks' death on its front page. I guess the launch of a niche market BMW within a niche market for BMWs is more important anyway.

As mentioned before, Tony Brooks was an unassuming man who, unlike a former teammate, never sought any attention or fame in his lifetime. Combined with many fans who have no interest in delving into history beyond their own history it is no wonder he is an under rated and under appreciated driver.

So true.