Today's subject/victim is "Mr Formula Ford" in many people's eyes, Rick Morris. A man who started racing 40 years ago and still in love with the sport.
HoFF1600 - Which year did you start in 1600, in what car and where was it?
RM - 1972 I think in a Hawke DL2B. Actually thinking back it was a Motor Racing Stables Lotus in a school race. Both at Brands Hatch.
What was your favourite circuit to race on in 1600 and why?
Brands Club just from Silverstone original GP and Kyalami. Brands is superficially easy but that last fraction is kind of difficult. It has so much character.
You have driven many chassis over the years, which was your best and worst?
The best 1600 was probably the 1981/82 Royale RP29 but all the Royale's were good providing they were set up as per the factory settings. The Hawke DL17 was a pain as during development we were plagued by chassis flex and poor installation affecting the block stiffness.
How intense was the Royale/Van Diemen rivalry?
Bloody hell it was fraught at times but I never had a problem with any of their drivers apart from Senna who was a bit of a ***** at times until he moved to FF2000 and became a friend. Ralph and Angie were always pleasant.
Can you pick a favourite race from your career?
1981 at Silverstone taking Senna on the last corner of the last lap for a win and new lap record. What a corner that chicane was in a 1600!
What is your favourite Festival memory/story?
The Festival's have been a bit of a disappointment being so close so many times. One highlight has to be getting a 4th in the 1600 Festival in my fifties in an old RP21 driving for my old friend Ian Schofield. We didn't expect to get to the bloody final but luckily the Saturday was wet.
How did you deal with the countless South Americans coming over year on year?!
Mostly made friends with them off track. I'm still in occasional contact with Alfie (Toledano), Quique (Mansilla) and Roberto (Moreno) for example. We were together a lot more then as we raced practically every weekend.
Who was the best driver you have raced against?
Probably Senna but several others were very tough and good. For example Derek Warwick. Others were just bonkers like Fernando Ribiero.
You raced and beat Ayrton Senna, is that your proudest racing achievement?
Yes one of them as you must judge yourself with your contemporaries but not cheating ever whilst doing it is pretty satisfying. Also starting out with no money and keeping the respect of the people I have driven for. (I hope!)
Thanks to Rick for his help with this, he's still going strong at the grand age of 65. Many, many top drivers have measured themselves against Rick's quality over the years, a top man in all respects.
I was racing in the UK between 1970 and 1977 in an Oscar F69 the first production Reynard F75 and had a Merlyn 25 having started like Rick Morris at Motor Racing Stables at Brands and Silverstone in 1968 http://itcracing.blogspot.com.es/
ReplyDeleteHave known Rick for many years going back to the early 1970's when he was driving his Hawke - if I remember right it was David Lazenby who ran Hawke then.
ReplyDeleteBest memory was Rick at Llandow after it had bucketed down. Rick, on pole, stalled on the start and I rushed out to push start him. Got it fired up as the pack went past, tippy toeing on the wet track - Rick threw caution to the wind and unlapped himself and won the race. Whilst waiting for him to return to the pits, a Welshman came up to me and said: "Boy-o, that driver of yours is mad!".
Must add Rick is "Mr Niceguy" and always been a true gentleman! Never saw him in the 80's but saw him again racing in South Africa where he is still competitive in the championship despite being in his late 60's!
ReplyDeleteMust add Rick is "Mr Niceguy" and always been a true gentleman! Never saw him in the 80's but saw him again racing in South Africa where he is still competitive in the championship despite being in his late 60's!
ReplyDeleteHave known Rick for many years going back to the early 1970's when he was driving his Hawke - if I remember right it was David Lazenby who ran Hawke then.
ReplyDeleteBest memory was Rick at Llandow after it had bucketed down. Rick, on pole, stalled on the start and I rushed out to push start him. Got it fired up as the pack went past, tippy toeing on the wet track - Rick threw caution to the wind and unlapped himself and won the race. Whilst waiting for him to return to the pits, a Welshman came up to me and said: "Boy-o, that driver of yours is mad!".