PAST IMPERFECT:Tom Wheatcroft made the Grand Prix at Donington Park, England, possible writes
BOB MONTGOMERY
MOTORSPORT EVERYWHERE is the poorer for the passing last week of Tom Wheatcroft, the ebullient Leicester builder who brought the wonderful Donington circuit back to life in May 1977. Wheatcroft, who made his fortune as a builder, was a true "larger-than life" character who demonstrated a level of dedication and persistence to achieve his aims that few could match.
As a 16 year old, Tom was in the audience at the 1938 Grand Prix at Donington when the mighty German Silver Arrows made a huge impression on the youngster. The following year, with the storm clouds of war gathering on the horizon, the Ministry of Defence began to use the Donington estate, where the track was situated.
In 1971 Wheatcroft acquired the estate, which included the track, for £100,000. Buying the estate turned out to be the easy part and over the following years Wheatcroft patiently battled red tape in the form of the local council, Roll-Royce, East Midlands Airport and the local villagers as he attempted to revive his beloved circuit.
There is a story that during this period of confrontation, Wheatcroft encountered a man who refused to vacate a shed he rented from Rolls-Royce.
Wheatcroft apparently waited until the man had gone to lunch before bulldozing the place. He loved to tell the story ending by saying, "he discovered that the bulldozer is mightier than the sword".
Eventually the Donington circuit reopened in May 1977, some four years after Wheatcroft opened The Donington Collection, his personal collection of Grand Prix cars, unrivalled anywhere in the world.
It was shortly after the circuit opened that I had my one encounter with Tom Wheatcroft. I had borrowed a Ford Fiesta Ghia from Ford to drive up to see the Grand Prix Collection and to look at the newly opened track.
While viewing the collection, I spotted Tom fussing over one of the exhibits. I introduced myself and after a short conversation, I asked if I might drive a lap or two around the circuit?
"Drive all you bloody want," was the reply, "there's nothing on and you're welcome".
Needless to say, the rest of the afternoon was spent flogging that poor Fiesta around the marvellous Donington track as fast as it would go.
Wheatcroft's dream was to have the Grand Prix return to Donington and he lent support to several young racers, including Ireland's Kenny Acheson.
But most of all he will be remembered for the support he gave to Roger Williamson, whose career he nurtured through Formula 3 and Formula 2 before taking the plunge by going Formula 1 with their own team.
Williamson was to die tragically at Zandvoort in July 1973, and although Wheatcroft lent his support to other drivers, I doubt if he ever got over this personal tragedy.
As ever, Formula 1 had its politics but eventually, in 1993, the European Grand Prix came to Donington. In a wet-weather race, Tom's hero, Ayrton Senna, produced a magical drive to win, on a day that was unforgettable to all those present. What a shame a Grand Prix was never to return to Donington during Wheatcroft's lifetime. In 2007, an ailing Wheatcroft sold the leasehold to a company run by Lee Gill and Simon Gillett who had grandiose plans to secure the British Grand Prix at the track. How sad that in his final days Wheatcroft should learn that these plans would come to naught and the future of the track should be uncertain.
Wheatcroft was a tremendous enthusiast credited with a huge contribution to the world of motor racing.