Jackie Stewart is one of a rare breed, and by that I mean he has managed both a respectable record as a top notch racing driver, and not getting himself killed doing so. It’s not all that often that those two accomplishments go together.
Here he is in his earlier years explaining to a trio of “birds” the proper 9 and 3 steering wheel position, his religious adherence to which was probably the reason he’s still with us today.
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Last Call: The Old Bold Pilot Edition
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And a very capable man.He was, (and still is?) on the board of The Ford Motor Company.
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Jackie has never been on Ford’s corporate board of directors — that’s very high finance, and he isn’t qualified. According to his official bio, he is on the corporate board of Moet & Chandon, and was on the corporate board of Jaguar Racing (the F1 team).
Also, according to his bio, he is “married to his wife.”-
My apologies. You are quite correct. I was going from a memory of an ‘Autocar’ interview from years ago. That’ll teach me not to check my facts.
It’s still a remarkable career though. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Stewart-
I recollect vague details of his appearance in autocar too. He’s been involved with the development of various models over the years as test driver, including the 1st gen Mondeo and Focus. Must have been out to lunch between 1980 and 95 though. (MK 3-5 escort/orion) 😀
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That was when Ford got their wake-up and put Richard Parry-Jones in charge of chassis tuning and steering response, (more like Lotus does.). Maybe Mr Stewart helped that along ?
And despite it’s relative failure in the US, IMO the first Mondeo has Integra level handling and a better ride. Anyone who had a hand in that is deserving of praise.
I’ve still got that Autocar somewhere, back from when I used to buy car magazines, I must get them back in order. -
Integra might be over-stating it, but I do have memories of being given a lift in one at scary speeds over the twisty bumpy roads of the Wicklow Mountains..in the wet. It’s chassis competence is probably why I’m still here.
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Integra = 405 = Mondeo = Primera ?
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The Integra has the advantage over all those by virtue of being smaller and lighter, assuming we’re talking about the DC2 2 door coupe, especially in Type R form (I don’t think the UK/ireland got any other Integra badged car, not even the regular DC2? Plenty of grey imports of course, uncluding 4 door pop up headlight models) . Mondeo/405/Primera are excellent for what they are, balancing family car comfort and ride quality with handling that could still be entertaining. The 90s/earlt 00s were pretty good for that size car, the UK Honda Accord of that era was a pretty nice steer too.
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I’m in NZ so we get all the Jap and Euro stuff. I have found the Integras I’ve driven to be okay on racetracks but lacking in suspension travel on real roads with bumps and off camber surfaces. That’s where those other ones shine. Later versions have got heavier and need bigger tyres but of course they’re better in a crash.
Late 80s/early 90s cars are to me the best compromise. My BX with GT spheres is right up there too. The hard thing nowadays is finding a car that old on good tyres which can make a world of difference. -
I sometimes think NZ is like a parallel universe version of how awesome Irelands car scene could be (similarities: great twisty roads, few restrictions on importing) if the powers that be/insurance companies didn’t freak out about things like modifiying and engines in excess of 2 litres.
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After 2 weeks of running around, I finally got my not-bent wheel back from the powder coater and got the new shoes mounted on the van.
Goodyear Duratracs in 235 85 16. First impressions are that they are quieter than my worn out General Grabber AT2’s. Second impression is that the size difference between 235 85 16 and 265 75 15 is just enough to screw up your timing jumping out of the driver’s seat and jam up your ankle.
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I like this way more than I should.
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Ok, that is pretty, no, REALLY sweet. Maybe add some nerf bars, push bar and a light bar on the roof?
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I’m trying to figure out the best way to get a winch bumper on it, but the next thing I need to focus on is getting a locker in the rear end. IFS really doesn’t like getting crossed up.
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Now that’s strange…posted a reply here this morning that was displayed, too, and is now gone.
Anyway, I like the looks! But how is the turning circle with the wheels filling the wells that much?-
I can get full lock out of it. I need to massage the back of the wheel well a little, as it rubs on the sheet metal at about half lock and a little bit of compression.
There is also a newly polished spot on the sway bar on one side, but that’s no big deal.
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I used to have copy of his driver education book, penned in his name anyway and put out by Ford Motor I believe. One point I liked that I still remember and have used to teach some people how to drive manual shift: the book highly emphasized not slipping a clutch too much and over-revving to start, going so far as to say “its better to stall with too few revs” if you must fail. Good lesson for those who’d rather over-rev than stall and coming from The Man, I followed.
I worked with an old Scot when I was at Ford who hated Jackie Stewart with a passion. Just the mention of his name would set off a tirade of swearing. Apparently, years before he was working for an F1 team. He was working on the car at a race and looked over to see Jackie Stewart talking to the old Scot’s wife. He later found out that Stewart was hitting on her…even though he supposedly knew she was married.
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Some would say that’s a seal of approval.
As a kid, the three racers I could name were Stewart, Andretti and Rutherford.
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For me those names would have been Petty, Waltrip, Amato and Bernstein. No wonder I never have a clue on Track Tuesday’s name the track.
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Oh, I forget about drag racing. I could also have named Mongoose and Snake, but probably not by their real names.
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I was being modest with Amato and Bernstein because I also knew Garlits and Muldowney and Kalitta and Glidden and Gwynn and Dunn and Johnson and Shepherd and…yeah, I was a drag racing dork.
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I was a drag racing fan, too. For me it was Grumpy Jenkins, Don Nicholson, Don, Garlits, Don Prudhomme and Tom McEwen, Ronnie Sox & Buddy Martin, Dick Landy, Connie Kalitta, Roland Leong, Gene Snow (who later turned out to be a longtime child molester – yikes!), and just about anyone else who was racing in the late ’60s. Oh, and USAC/NASCAR drivers like Bobby Isaac, David Pearson, and Cale Yarbrough (my favorite stock car drivers).
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Hey lady, it’s snowin’ down south!
I tend to think he is still alive because he was willing to walk away for safety. He refused to drive the Green Hell as it was lacking in proper safety equipment, people and space. He was almost too prophetic re: Niki Lauda.
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