Paying tribute to Formula 1’s mechanics

Grove, Wantage: 27 October,  2010

 

The Grand Prix Mechanics Charitable Trust today held a reunion at the Williams F1 team conference centre which brought together nearly 200 current and former Formula 1 mechanics.

The Trust was founded by Sir Jackie Stewart in 1987 with the remit to improve safety standards for the mechanics during race weekends but to also act as a support network for those mechanics and their families should they fall on hardship or suffer an injury after their racing career.

Thanks to donations from a wide range of sources including the sport’s biggest names and auctions of memorabilia donated by the teams, the Trust has a fund of over £1 million.

"It’s very rewarding that so many past drivers and motor racing personnel, as well as companies, have seen fit to support this very worthy cause," said Sir Jackie Stewart at last month’s reunion.

"As a driver, my life was in the hands of these mechanics and I have the absolute admiration for the work that they have carried out in the past and the present."

There are a growing number of retired mechanics who have reached a stage in their life where they don’t have a company pension, health insurance or the security of their F1 team and therefore need assistance in times of hardship. This is where the Trust comes in.

"As mechanics are growing older, we have experienced more of them are in need. The Trust has helped a lot of families already and I hope that will continue for many years to come," said Sir Jackie Stewart.

There are currently 230 current and former mechanics on the register with the majority of them attending the reunion on October 27 which was hosted by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head who is one of the trustees.

Roy Topp, a former Tyrrell mechanic, said "Jackie helped me to have my hips replaced and if it wasn’t for Jackie I may still be waiting."

The reunion included an informal catch-up over coffee in the Williams F1 museum, a buffet lunch and a celebration of the good times with numerous mechanics recalling anecdotes from their time in the pit lane.

A collection of former drivers including Damon Hill, Martin Brundle and John Watson were also in attendance to celebrate the unsung heroes.

"In many ways the mechanics are the core and foundation of motorsport," said Brundle. "They create and maintain the cars we so love to watch and drive. It’s always a pleasure to meet old friends at the Grand Prix Mechanics Trust reunion and to share their laughter and stories."

Hill added, "We're very well rewarded for being drivers but a mechanics life is a hard life and it’s not as highly paid."

"My dad was always very strong on making sure the mechanics were looked after and I was always brought up to respect the people who are working on your behalf. It’s easy to take mechanics for granted."

Previously, the Trust was seen as an organisation for the older generation of mechanics, especially as nowadays, the teams are in a stronger position to look after their mechanics.

However, hardship can strike at any time, often long after the mechanic has left the team and the support network it provides, so at the reunion, Stewart was keen to stress that the door was open for more current mechanics to join the register.

Steve Nielsen, Renault Team Manager said the message is beginning to get out there, "Sir Jackie went to great lengths a couple of years ago to really bring in the current generation of people in grand prix racing so we’re a lot more engaged then we were before."

"It was something that we knew about but we kind of considered that it was for the older guys. It’s since been demonstrated to us that it’s a rolling thing and it’s good for future generations."