Historic Racing News podcast

May 1st marks the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death and the HRN team talk about the legendary Brazilian and the legacy he left. The team play a Senna-themed round of their gameshow ‘Corridors of Power’ when they look for Ayrton’s greatest-ever Monaco Grand Prix. Nick Whale joins the team once again and this time talks about when is a historic racing car genuine and when is it just a new car with an old chassis plate!

Jim Roller talks to Ray Evernham about his full and varied career from the early days as a driver in ‘modifieds’ through his big break with the International Race of Champions (IROC) team, to his career defining role as one of the greatest-ever NASCAR crew chiefs. Bruce Jones, Peter Snowdon and Nick Padmore discuss the recent Goodwood Members Meeting and Joe Bradley looks back at the life of journalist and writer Michael Cotton.

Joe Bradley, Jim Roller, Paul Jurdand Damien Smith discuss ‘My Favourite BTCC Car’. The choices are wide ranging and Paul Tarsey is faced with some are pretty surprising ideas. Goodwood has asked for our help about what becomes of the famous Tyrrell Shed recently installed at the Motor Circuit and we have a look around the Goodwood Members Meeting test day. Gordon Shedden tells us about some of the cars he is now driving and just why he loves historic racing.

The team talks to Alan Brewer from the Goodwood Road Racing Club about the upcoming Members Meeting and John Pearson from Equipe Classic Racing tells us about their very ambitious 2024 calendar which includes historic F2 cars for the first time. Jim Roller, Paul Jurd, Joe Bradley and Paul Tarsey look into the surprising news that Felipe Massa is suing the FIA because he was ‘robbed’ of the 2008 World Championship and then discuss the surprisingly long history of the Australian Grand Prix.

The team look back on the life of Hugh Chamberlain, who died at the end of February. They also share personal memories and stories about a man described as ‘one of the last great characters of motorsport’. Nick Whale, boss of Iconic Auctioneers, talks about all the behind-the-scenes work that goes on simply to stage the auctions for which his company is famous and Corridors of Power this time is about the inventions of Lotus founder Colin Chapman.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: THIS SHOW WAS RECORDED ON MONDAY 19th FEBRUARY. DURING THIS SHOW WE TALK EXTENSIVELY ABOUT RACE RETRO WHICH WAS DUE TO TAKE PLACE 23-25TH FEBRUARY. DUE TO HEAVY ON-SITE FLOODING RACE RETRO HAS BEEN CANCELLED. On the show Jim Roller looks at the very buoyant auction scene and Paul Tarsey reviews the Retromobile event in Paris. Paul Jurd has a delve into upcoming events. In the wake of Lewis Hamilton’s defection to Ferrari, Joe Bradley leads a discussion about other champions who have done the same thing (including Nigel Mansell), with varying success.

On a packed programme we hear from Tim Foster who is the man behind much of the resurgence in interest in those fire-breathing Group B rally cars of the mid 1980s which we are looking forward to seeing at Race Retro on 23rd, 24th and 25th February. As usual host Paul Tarsey is joined by the regular Historic Racing News Radio Show team, Jim Roller, Joe Bradley and Paul Jurd who will all, as usual, not hold back on thoughts and opinions. The theme for Corridors of Power is called “My Favourite Motorsport story”. Donald Campbell’s nephew Don Wales tells us about the controversy that has blown up since the wreck of his water speed record breaking Bluebird K7 was raised from the bed of Lake Coniston in Cumbria. There is now a bitter dispute involving family members, the local museum and the man who raised the boat from the depths.

Damien Smith talks about his new book which covers the highs and lows of the Benetton F1 team and tells a few good stories in the process. The HRN team of Joe Bradley, Jim Roller, Paul Jurd and Peter Snowdon talk to Paul Tarsey about their views on the news and Jim makes a poignant tribute to his friend, Porsche kingpin Herbert Linge, who died earlier this month. Plus discussion of the latest ‘Ferrari’ film.

Our first show of 2024 is, as usual, full of chat and witty banter (well we think it’s witty anyway!). Jim Roller talks to Patrick Peter about the many historic events that Peter Auto will be running in 2024 and Jim also discusses with Nick Padmore, amongst other things, driving a Formula One car in the rain round Monaco. Corridors of Power asks which was Ayrton Senna’s greatest race? Not only do Roller and Padmore have their say but Paul Jurd and Peter Snowdon state their cases as well. As usual Paul Tarsey struggles to keep everyone under control.

Jim Roller, Joe Bradley and Paul Jurd wrap up the year in fine style: Everyone talks about their favourite posts which have appeared on the HRN Facebook page and we look at some of the comments and gauge the thoughts of at least some of the one million people who see our posts each month. And finally Paul Tarsey uses the brilliant book new ‘100 Years of Legends’ to test the team on their knowledge of the history of Le Mans. You will be surprised by the result!

Corridors of Power’ this month sees the panel chosing their favourite motorsport movie. There were rather more to chose from than we originally thought and there are some real turkeys as well as the good ones! Joe Bradley, Jim Roller and Paul Jurd don’t hold back in their praise of the their favourites and criticism of the not-so-good. Also Rob Cull and John Pearson tell the guys about their ultra-successful Equipe Classic Racing and their plans for 2024, including an all-Elan race at Silverstone. Paul Tarsey also looks at his choice for the top ten books to go on his Christmas list.

In our show at the beginning of November, Jim Roller discussed his memories of the 1983 Daytona 24 Hours when, mid race, A.J.Foyt jumped into a Porsche 935 he had never even sat in before and went on to win! This time round, Joe Bradley talks to Kevin Jeannette who was crew chief on the car and we hear the ‘untold story’. Serge Vanbockryck discusses his new book on the TWR Porsche which gave Tom Kristensen his first Le Mans win and Paul Jurd looks at the upcoming events in the world of historic motorsport.

It’s time for the ‘Classic 24 Hours at Daytona’ on 4th and 5th November and the team is taking an in-depth look at the Florida venue. Paul Tarsey talks to Derek Drinkwater who has created a toolroom copy of the 1950 Cadillac ‘Le Monstre’ which he will be racing this weekend and then driving from Florida to California in the Le Mans behemoth. John Kirkpatrick was responsible for the phenomenal success of the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School in the 80s, 90s and beyond and he tells about the invasion of talent that arrived on his doorstep from South America. To complete the Daytona flavour, Jim Roller, Joe Bradley and Paul Jurd will be choosing their favourite Daytona 24 Hours in Corridors of Power.

Two legends of British national motorsport join Paul Tarsey and the team.

There has been a lot of sales activity with race cars crossing the block on both sides of the pond and Jim Roller catches up with all the auction news from the USA and the UK. Paul Tarsey chats to ‘the greatest auctioneer of classic cars in the world’, Charlie Ross just before his latest sale for Gooding and Company at Hampton Court Palace in London. Corridors of Power this month is an unusual one; the panellists, Jim Roller, Joe Bradley and Paul Jurd, were asked to name their favourite Cosworth DFV powered car. Not the best, or the most groundbreaking or even the most successful, just their favourite. There are obviously lots of Formula One cars on everyone’s list but also sports racers other single seaters and even the odd modified saloon!

Martin Brundle joins the show this time round to talk about his days working for ‘Uncle Ken’ and the Tyrrell Racing Organisation. He talks about the trials and tribulations of the permanently underfunded team and the accidents which nearly ended his career. Richard Jenkins has written a new book about the complete story of Tyrrell from the early days in Formula Three right up to the sale to British American Tobacco. He tells Paul Tarsey some of the lesser known stories from the early days in Formula One with Jackie Stewart right through to the other hugely talented drivers who raced various Tyrrells over the years. ‘Baron’ Tarsey is joined by Jim Roller and Joe Bradley to look back on one of the best-loved teams that Grand Prix racing has ever seen!

The team discusses the drivers who succeeded in Grand Prix racing when they didn’t have the best car. Whether it was a 1960s BRM or virtually any of the grid from 1989 or most of the Ferrari cars which Gilles Villeneuve drove, debate will be forceful and the Corridors of Power trophy will, as always be hard fought. Jim Roller takes a look at the Monterey car week and Paul Jurd and Joe Bradley await the Goodwood Revival which starts in a couple of days time. Rick Shortle tells us about his days as circuit manager at Snetterton and tells some tales he couldn’t have done at the time! Paul Tarsey hosts the show and expresses the occasional opinion too.

The first test day for the Goodwood Revival has already taken place and there were some amazing cars being shaken down, including Saif Assam’s glorious Shelby Cobra. We also talk to Rory Butcher about the differences between racing his Toyota in the BTCC and peddaling a 1960s short wheelbase Porsche around Goodwood. Artist Andrew Kitson has made a study of the history of Snetterton, the Norfolk circuit which started life as a USAF bomber base in WW2 and he tells us about the history of the place. Jim Roller and Paul Tarsey discuss the time they have spent together, with both of them in the UK for a rare opportunity to share some interesting motorsport experiences. They also investigate the happenings at Monterey Car Week and look at the Pebble Beach auctions.

The Shere Hill Climb in England’s leafy Surrey happens on Sunday 3rd September and boss Martin Warner talks about what to expect. Corridors of Power discusses the most groundbreaking Lotus F1 cars of all time. On the panel this time are Nick Padmore, Jim Roller and Paul Jurd.

The HRN team have lots to talk about (don’t they always?). Paul Jurd is back from a weekend at Zandvoort and compares notes with Jim Roller and Paul Tarsey who were there in June. Joe Bradley is enthusiastic about his recent trip to Estoril in Portugal and the whole team talks about the Goodwood Festival of Speed which happened last weekend, including that scary moment when a wheel went into the crowd, thankfully without serious injury. The boys also talk about the ridiculous Special Saloons of the 1980s which saw fibreglass lookalike bodies from everyday saloon cars covering out and out race cars. The ‘Chimp’ was a favourite, a 2 litre Chevron made to look like a Hillman Imp!