How I Became Jim Clark’s Mechanic

I was born in Capetown, South Africa, a very long way from the epicenter of motor racing, Central Europe. Motorsport, however, had always fascinated me as a child and I wanted to be involved in some way, shape or form. There were a series of races in South Africa that attracted many of the top Grand Prix drivers. I was fortunate enough to get time to talk to Stirling Moss. I was quite forthright in my words, letting him know that I wanted a job as a mechanic, in Europe, better still England. He wrote to BRP’s (British Racing Partnership`s) chief mechanic, Tony Robinson in Highgate, London, for me. Tony had previously been Stirling’s mechanic. On visiting England, I went to BRP’s headquarters and saw Tony. We had a good chat; unfortunately, he explained there were no vacancies. My next port of call was Bowmaker Lola, where I asked Reg Parnell for a job but got the same reply as that from Tony, no vacancies. I thought, “Oh, God, what do I do?”

I found somewhere to stay and got a job with Ian Raby’s Formula Junior team; I think it was also referred to as Empire Racing, and the year would be 1961. Formula Junior was like the Formula Three of today and, as such, was one of the supporting races to the Monaco Grand Prix. It was a spectacle that attracted the attention of all F1 team managers, trying to spot the up-and-coming new talented drivers. The team I was with was one of those competing at Monte Carlo. I thought that I might use the time not only to do my job with the team, but to scout around the Grand Prix teams to see if I could get a job with one of them. My first thought was to find where they all had a drink after work. It was the famous Tip Top Bar. I went to the bar offering my services to the various teams as a fully experienced racing mechanic. I have to admit that I was stretching the truth somewhat, in fact, it bordered on a downright lie! No, let me come clean now, it was a lie. I spoke to Jim Endruweit, chief mechanic at Lotus, who asked me to meet him at Lotus headquarters back in England as soon as I returned from the Monaco races. I remember going to Lotus, knocking on the door, and eventually seeing Jim. His opening remark didn’t really inspire me with any sort of confidence, “Oh, it’s you.” He gave me a tour of the works, telling and showing me what they did. At the end of the tour he said, “See you on Monday, if you want to start with us.” I really couldn’t believe it, I had got the job I wanted with a Formula One team.