Please can some one ask Alan to contact me as my mother knew Alan for many years and is having her 80th soon as well as being ill. I know Alan visited her on one London trip not too many years ago but she has moved and he would not have her details. With many thanks in advance. Yours Truly, Chris 07727 195331
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| Alan Jones F1 driver from down under |
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There is no doubt the country wants nothing more then to celebrate this milestone with Mark Webber claiming that ever elusive title. While we are still seven races away from seeing if that wish will come true, we can reflect on the life and success of the last Formula One hero from the land 'Down Under'. Having a father, Stan Jones, who raced against the likes of Sir Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss and Ron Flockhart in the 1950's it would be fair to say that Alan’s future was always going to involve cars and racing. Growing up around men of their pedigree as role models with a father who was a local racing hero and turned down a test drive with Ferrari, you could say he had an ideal breeding ground for driving talent and passion. The first four wheeled vehicle Alan (AJ) could get his hands on was a home made billycart, complete with ball bearing wheels and a piece of rope as the a steering wheel; his first 'racetrack' was the streets of Melbourne. He started working in his dad’s car dealerships before moving to England in 1969 where, with 50 pounds in his pocket, he continued to use his salesmen skills to fund his living costs, selling campervans in London and running a boarding house. It was a tough number of years for AJ, before finally getting a British Formula 3 drive and subsequent victory at Silverstone in 1973. The victory was bitter sweet as his much loved father Stan passed away of a heart attack just before the race. The results continued and were enough for him to be signed in 1975 to the Embassy Hill Formula One team. His first Formula One victory would come two years later at the 1977 Austrian Grand Prix. After Ferrari reneged on a possible drive, 1978 saw AJ join the then struggling Frank Williams and Patrick Head team. This was the best thing that could have happened to all of them. Finishing 11th in the 1978 season, he shot to 3rd place in 1979 with four race victories from five races towards the end of the season. 1980 turned out to be AJ's year in his Williams FW07B. He amassed seven wins and ten podiums on his way to winning the title. Only five victories counted towards his point tally as the Australian Grand Prix was a non championship round and the Spanish Grand Prix was later removed from the championship, due mostly in part to a then war between FISA-FOCA. That is another story in itself. Apparent fuel vapour problems in the Williams and a tumultuous relationship with his team mate Carlos Reutemann have been noted as the reasons Alan was unable to claim back to back titles. He won the last race of the 1981 season in Las Vegas before retiring from Formula One to return to Australia. After a year living and working on a farm in his native Victoria, AJ returned to Formula One for a one off race with the Arrows F1 team, before joining Team Haas for 1985 and 1986. After a disappointing two years, AJ quit F1 for good. Some have said he became a world champion through determination, talent and bloody mindedness. He purposefully didn't have many close friends in the F1 paddock. He had a somewhat up and down relationship with his team mate. Sound like any other Australian you know in F1? AJ finished 11th in 1978, 3rd in 1979 and 1st in 1980. Webber finished 11th in 2008, 4th in 2009 and in 13 weeks we will find out if he can continue this symmetry and get that number one on his car. As most Australian's would say: Bloody hope so. Jacki Warnock Girlracer Magazine Worth Checking - Motoring news - Motorsport news - Jacki Warnock
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