A huge number of auto races fall in complete obscurity the moment the checkered flag is waved, despite the effort and expense of the participants, often with great sacrifice. Try for example to find the complete results of most races on the internet, or even magazines.
The omission of race reports is not uncommon. What is unusual is to find a story about a race that did not happen!
Only one pair could get away with such mischief, Motor Sport Magazine, and journalist Denis Jenkinson, both British. Motor Sport is the oldest motoring magazine in the world, published since 1924, and, indeed, still exists today. Jenkinson is one of the best known, and some would say, best and most talented journalist specializing in motorsports. Author of many books, Jenkinson was also known for being the co-driver for Stirling Moss, with Mercedes-Benz in the 1955 Mille Miglia, duly won by the duo.
One of the peculiarities of Jenkinson was that he was "old school". It is true that in his later years, Jenks, as he was known, had already surrendered to modernity. But in the mid 70s, Denis, who signed his reports DSJ, resisted some winds of change that swept through motorsport. There was a famous exchange of niceties between Jenkinson and Jackie Stewart, on the very pages of Motor Sport in 1972. Jackie, who had a column in an English newspaper, strove to increase the safety of tracks, cars and racing, while Jenkinson believed that there were overreactions in certain corners, which yielded a nasty response from Stewart, published in the journal.
It is therefore not surprising that Jenkinson did not swallow the change of venue of the German Grand Prix, from the Nurburgring (Norsdschleife) to Hockenheim from 1977 on, largely due to the terrible accident that befell Niki Lauda in the 1976 GP. For Jenkinson, Nurburgring was sacred.
This was reflected in the September 1977 issue of the magazine. In addition to reports on GPs from Germany and Austria, a report appeared on page 44 entitled "Der Grosser Preis von Deutschland", which means German GP in German. In the index, one notices something peculiar - a reference to "Hockenheim Formula 1 Race", instead of the German Grand Prix. The title in the story itself is "Der Kleine Preis von Deutschland" (Small Prix of Germany), which indicates DSJ's obvious displeasure with the new location of the German GP.
It happens that DSJ, who did not sign the article "Der Grosser Preis von Deutschland", but whose style is obvious, used three pages of the magazine to chronicle the events of an F1 race that was never run! He did so in such a realistic fashion that some might insist today that the race indeed took place.
In the fertile mind of Jenks, two F1 races were held in Germany that year, the official held in Hockenheim and the popular Nurburgring race that showed traditional motorsport's resilience, surviving unscathed through the changes of the era.
Thus was created the GP did not exist.
The narrative is delicious. Some clear Jenks preferences emerge. Among others, Chris Amon is called by Shadow to race one of their cars, but refuses, confirming retirement. Niki Lauda remains home, mowing the lawn. Max Mosley produces an overwhelming number of Marches for the race, as not all teams attended. Tyrrel, for example, did not field cars, although the long-retired Jackie Stewart offered to sort out the difficult six-wheel cars. And the six-wheeled March almost runs with Ian Scheckter, whose brother Jody decided to stay home, because the race did not count points towards the World Championship. Dieter Quester almost took part in a March. Emerson and Copersucar were testing, as always.
Here's the imaginary grid GP, with formation 3-2-3 (not used since 1973) and 22 cars:
1. Mass (McLaren)
2. Stuck (Brabham)
3. Hunt (McLaren)
4. Ickx (March)
5. Nilsson (Lotus)
6. Laffite (Ligier)
7. Stommelen (March)
8. Andretti (Lotus)
9. Derek Bell (March)
10. Regazzoni (Ensign)
11. Jones (Shadow)
12. Reutemann (Ferrari)
13. Jarier (Penske)
14. Tambay (Ensign)
15. Tim Schenken (March)
16. Ertl (Hesketh)
17. Merzario (March)
18. Schuppan (Surtess)
19. Lunger (McLaren)
20. Neve (March)
21. Edwards (BRM)
22. Henton (BRM)
In the sublime imagination of Jenks, Tim Schenken comes back to F1. Ickx, Stommelen and Bell, despite the March, are Top 10 on the grid. For Jenks, March was obviously the last chance to keep the independents in F1, and in his drama, the cars have a wonderful performance. In fact, Ickx, an expert on Nordschleife, starts fourth, and runs towards the front for much of the "event". Jenks also dreams about two BRM on the track, a nice idea but an obvious impossibility in 1977. With a dose of realism, the BRMs occupy the last row ...
Stuck took the lead with Brabham, but eventually loses his place to the two McLarens. Both BRM leave in the first lap, and Brian Henton almost drives away on his private March to continue in the race ...
In the end, Jochen Mass wins, delighting the German crowd, and Hunt beats the lap record of the Nordschleife.
The final result of the GP that never was:
1. Jochen Mass, McLaren M26
2. J. Laffite, Ligier
3. C. Reutemann, Ferrari
4. C. Regazzoni, Ensign
5. D. Bell, March
6. P. Tambay, Ensign
7. M. Andretti, Lotus
8. B. Lunger, McLaren
9. J. Hunt, McLaren
10. A. Jones, Shadow
11. V. Schuppan, Surtees.
The final comic note is the disappearance of Vittorio Brambilla, who left the track in the Surtees during testing. Big John was so busy with the new pupil Schuppan, that he did not notice the disappearance of the Italian. He had fallen down a ravine, and was trying to get the car out of there by himself, for two days.
For obvious reasons there are no photos of the event in the "report". The only three photos are from the 30's, illustrating Caracciola, a Mercedes and Auto-Union in the pits.
A brilliant piece of sarcasm, if you ask me.
The omission of race reports is not uncommon. What is unusual is to find a story about a race that did not happen!
Only one pair could get away with such mischief, Motor Sport Magazine, and journalist Denis Jenkinson, both British. Motor Sport is the oldest motoring magazine in the world, published since 1924, and, indeed, still exists today. Jenkinson is one of the best known, and some would say, best and most talented journalist specializing in motorsports. Author of many books, Jenkinson was also known for being the co-driver for Stirling Moss, with Mercedes-Benz in the 1955 Mille Miglia, duly won by the duo.
One of the peculiarities of Jenkinson was that he was "old school". It is true that in his later years, Jenks, as he was known, had already surrendered to modernity. But in the mid 70s, Denis, who signed his reports DSJ, resisted some winds of change that swept through motorsport. There was a famous exchange of niceties between Jenkinson and Jackie Stewart, on the very pages of Motor Sport in 1972. Jackie, who had a column in an English newspaper, strove to increase the safety of tracks, cars and racing, while Jenkinson believed that there were overreactions in certain corners, which yielded a nasty response from Stewart, published in the journal.
It is therefore not surprising that Jenkinson did not swallow the change of venue of the German Grand Prix, from the Nurburgring (Norsdschleife) to Hockenheim from 1977 on, largely due to the terrible accident that befell Niki Lauda in the 1976 GP. For Jenkinson, Nurburgring was sacred.
This was reflected in the September 1977 issue of the magazine. In addition to reports on GPs from Germany and Austria, a report appeared on page 44 entitled "Der Grosser Preis von Deutschland", which means German GP in German. In the index, one notices something peculiar - a reference to "Hockenheim Formula 1 Race", instead of the German Grand Prix. The title in the story itself is "Der Kleine Preis von Deutschland" (Small Prix of Germany), which indicates DSJ's obvious displeasure with the new location of the German GP.
It happens that DSJ, who did not sign the article "Der Grosser Preis von Deutschland", but whose style is obvious, used three pages of the magazine to chronicle the events of an F1 race that was never run! He did so in such a realistic fashion that some might insist today that the race indeed took place.
In the fertile mind of Jenks, two F1 races were held in Germany that year, the official held in Hockenheim and the popular Nurburgring race that showed traditional motorsport's resilience, surviving unscathed through the changes of the era.
Thus was created the GP did not exist.
The narrative is delicious. Some clear Jenks preferences emerge. Among others, Chris Amon is called by Shadow to race one of their cars, but refuses, confirming retirement. Niki Lauda remains home, mowing the lawn. Max Mosley produces an overwhelming number of Marches for the race, as not all teams attended. Tyrrel, for example, did not field cars, although the long-retired Jackie Stewart offered to sort out the difficult six-wheel cars. And the six-wheeled March almost runs with Ian Scheckter, whose brother Jody decided to stay home, because the race did not count points towards the World Championship. Dieter Quester almost took part in a March. Emerson and Copersucar were testing, as always.
Here's the imaginary grid GP, with formation 3-2-3 (not used since 1973) and 22 cars:
1. Mass (McLaren)
2. Stuck (Brabham)
3. Hunt (McLaren)
4. Ickx (March)
5. Nilsson (Lotus)
6. Laffite (Ligier)
7. Stommelen (March)
8. Andretti (Lotus)
9. Derek Bell (March)
10. Regazzoni (Ensign)
11. Jones (Shadow)
12. Reutemann (Ferrari)
13. Jarier (Penske)
14. Tambay (Ensign)
15. Tim Schenken (March)
16. Ertl (Hesketh)
17. Merzario (March)
18. Schuppan (Surtess)
19. Lunger (McLaren)
20. Neve (March)
21. Edwards (BRM)
22. Henton (BRM)
In the sublime imagination of Jenks, Tim Schenken comes back to F1. Ickx, Stommelen and Bell, despite the March, are Top 10 on the grid. For Jenks, March was obviously the last chance to keep the independents in F1, and in his drama, the cars have a wonderful performance. In fact, Ickx, an expert on Nordschleife, starts fourth, and runs towards the front for much of the "event". Jenks also dreams about two BRM on the track, a nice idea but an obvious impossibility in 1977. With a dose of realism, the BRMs occupy the last row ...
Stuck took the lead with Brabham, but eventually loses his place to the two McLarens. Both BRM leave in the first lap, and Brian Henton almost drives away on his private March to continue in the race ...
In the end, Jochen Mass wins, delighting the German crowd, and Hunt beats the lap record of the Nordschleife.
The final result of the GP that never was:
1. Jochen Mass, McLaren M26
2. J. Laffite, Ligier
3. C. Reutemann, Ferrari
4. C. Regazzoni, Ensign
5. D. Bell, March
6. P. Tambay, Ensign
7. M. Andretti, Lotus
8. B. Lunger, McLaren
9. J. Hunt, McLaren
10. A. Jones, Shadow
11. V. Schuppan, Surtees.
The final comic note is the disappearance of Vittorio Brambilla, who left the track in the Surtees during testing. Big John was so busy with the new pupil Schuppan, that he did not notice the disappearance of the Italian. He had fallen down a ravine, and was trying to get the car out of there by himself, for two days.
For obvious reasons there are no photos of the event in the "report". The only three photos are from the 30's, illustrating Caracciola, a Mercedes and Auto-Union in the pits.
A brilliant piece of sarcasm, if you ask me.
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