Russel Brooks R.I.P.

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#1 Post by **Chuck** » Sat Dec 28, 2019 2:41 pm

For those of us into rallying, another great driver has passed away.

https://www.historicracingnews.com/Arti ... -Dies/2933

https://www.andrews-sykes.com/blog/brit ... sses-away/

He'll be in good company alongside the likes of Roger Cark, Penti Arrikala, Tony Pond, Mark Lovell, Colin McCrae and Henri Toivenen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_YJXc_UylA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrmrxCTjwM4

#2 Post by **Rockhopper** » Sat Dec 28, 2019 5:07 pm

Used to watch all those drivers back in the day.

30th October was when Russel died.

#3 Post by **Geek** » Sat Dec 28, 2019 7:07 pm

Agreed, very sad.

I too can recall watching rallying (group B was my favourite) on Grandstand, also used to like Rallycross.

#4 Post by **shoppe** » Sun Dec 29, 2019 5:48 pm

I had spoken with Russell a good few times at rallies many years ago.

I remember once on the manx rally he set some blistering stage times in thick fog. I caught up with him at the service area, His theory was to drive even harder in the fog because his rivals would be driving slower due to the fog. A double whammie, You have to have 110% trust in the pace notes to drive like that.

Another time in the scottish rally , it was early morning ( 5,30 am ish ) in the middle of no where waiting for the stage to start with all the cars lined up . He took time to talk to us.

I would have loved to see him over the Otterburn stages, I have rallied there many times and know how committed you have to be with the pace notes if you are to set a good stage time.

A real gent

#5 Post by **Chuck** » Tue Dec 31, 2019 12:49 pm

Had the pleasure of meeting all I listed over the years with the exception of Colin McCrae (met Jimmy a few times), all gents.

Russell sure knew how to throw a car about for sure and Andrews did very well out of the sponsorship.

Saw a clip of him a couple years back doing a classic event in Ireland with a Sunbeam - wasn't doing to well at all, but seemed to have practiced a bit looking at the Goodwood clip.

I only found out about his death by accident, hence only posted now.

Mark Lovell and his co-driver were killed on a stage rally in the USA few years back.

Ah the good old days....

#6 Post by **GeeRam** » Tue Dec 31, 2019 6:10 pm

Chuck wrote: He'll be in good company alongside the likes of Roger Cark, Penti Arrikala, Tony Pond, Mark Lovell, Colin McCrae and Henri Toivenen.

Not to mention, Erik Carlsson, Timo Makinen, Bjorn Waldegard, Shekhar Mehta, Dave Metcalfe and of course Sergio Cresto.

#7 Post by **shoppe** » Tue Dec 31, 2019 8:57 pm

I was stage commander on many of the rallies years ago and have spoken with many of the great drivers from the gp4 days and into the four wheel drive cars . all great characters and very much down to earth.

I first heard the RS1800 on the 1975 granite city rally, i could hear this car for miles and when it finally passed the flying finish a stone smashed my specs!!

Ari vatanen was on the rev limiter ( for long time ) on a stage on the manx rally when he went passed us in that black ford escort RS 1800 flat out.pure magic

It still takes a bit of beating a BDA escort at full chant

#8 Post by **GeeRam** » Tue Dec 31, 2019 9:08 pm

shoppe wrote: It still takes a bit of beating a BDA escort at full chant

Yep, a BDA making music in an echoing forest is still a spine tingling experience for those of us of an age to have been there back in the day....

This is my favourite video that best captures that wonderful noise.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf_NH8yoCgY

#9 Post by **Chuck** » Wed Jan 01, 2020 1:15 pm

All good drivers for sure.

I marshalled on the Mintex in the mid seventies...heard what sounded like a buzz saw...constant wail - no variation in sound........tried to take a photo of the Lancia Startos that screamed by - all I got was a green streak on the image...

Marshalled on many events north and south of the Border - got mistaken for Andy Dawson on the Mintex when we turned up (in our rally prep Avenger) at one stage (Around the Ripon area??) to marshall.

Yep, was great to have seen all the professional drivers in action: Jimmy McCrae posting a sub minute time for a flying lap of Knockhill!

Tragic that Dave Metcalfe died in a traffic accident in 1992

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/arch ... e-metcalfe.

#10 Post by **shoppe** » Tue Mar 03, 2020 12:58 pm

Chuck, the photo of the avenger looks like the yumps at the finish ( or start ) of the stage at otterburn? Tyneside rally 22 June 2008? If I remember it rained most of the day? We were car 31, red 106 rallye. We were first in class one. I loved otterburn, so fast. Cheers

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