Between 1967 – having met on the occasion of the 1000 km race at Spa – and 1972, Brian Redman and Jochen von Osterroth also had frequent private contact. The Brit, successful with a total of 54 overall victories in sports car races and a podium finish in just his second F1 appearance, lives in Florida today and remains extremely active even at an advanced age. On March 9th, he celebrated his 87th birthday.
The early years of Brian Redman
Break at my Aunt Maria's courtyard next to the ruins of Schönberg Castle in Oberwesel, fooling around and target shooting with a Beretta, where the then 70-year-old lady with her weapon—normally kept under her pillow to defend against intruders—always came out on top. Quite accurate and often hitting the ten! After all, she had once shot an impudent squirrel from the foot of her bed while eating breakfast in bed. Of course, a good drop of Rhine wine was a must in this secluded yet all the more romantic spot on earth. Messrs. Redman, Hobbs, and Hawkins gladly indulged in this occasional ritual with the „aunties“ before a 1,000-km race at the Nürburgring—just as they once did with the „chivalrous“ gathering at Thurant Castle on the Moselle. To accompany this, the noble juice of the vineyards on the sunny side of the walls was enjoyed. When Brian Redman put on a full-face helmet here—mind you, from the 16th century—and ran into sizing issues with it, his wife Marion, along with fellow competitors Richard Atwood, David Hobbs, and Mike Hailwood, could not suppress a grin. Such occasions, also together with the unforgettable Vic Elford—as well as years later with Vern Schuppan and Mario Andretti at Schönburg Castle—served not least for communication. They reviewed motorsport and private matters and deepened bonds of friendship. When I was supposed to write a Redman portrait for „rallye racing“ in September 1972, I could of course draw from a wealth of experiences.
And that brings us to Brian Herman Thomas Redman, son of a grocery store chain owner from Burnley in Lancashire. His grandfather owned a mop factory, which Brian was supposed to take over after his passing. „Mop, mop, I couldn't stand hearing that stupid word anymore,“ Brian mocked about the dust-mop business, and let off steam on country roads with the company MGA to clear his mind. „Unfortunately, I got the feeling that the roads were getting narrower and narrower.“ When the police visited Redman Senior to report that the junior was endangering road traffic with his escapades, Brian moved his driving skills to the racetrack. This alternative was not exactly in the family's best interest. After attending college, he was actually supposed to learn the grocery business. His conscription into the Royal Army solved the problem for the following two years.
Brian Redman: The Path from Rifle Duty to Mop Production
In the meantime, the grandfather had died. „When I was supposed to trade rifle duty for the production of dusters,“ Brian recalled, „I made it clear to my father that grandfather's factory would only prove to be a hindrance to his business. Dad listened to me and got rid of the whole cleaning stuff, naturally hoping that I would now be at his disposal. Actually, I had already set my sights on a “garage business„ with Mike Wood.“ At the time, Wood also worked part-time as a rally co-driver. Soon Brian distanced himself from this „branch of business“ again and, seemingly willingly, took care of the import and export of food for a while. But his passion for racing took the upper hand. After competing in club races with a Morris Minor 1000, he worked his way up through a Jaguar XK 120 into the cockpit of a Lightweight E-Type, won 16 out of 17 races in 1965, and finished "only" second once. In 1966, Charlie Bridges offered him a Lola T70 Mk. 2 to drive. Brian handled the vehicle, equipped with a 6-liter Chevy engine, with such skill that Charlie's brother David had Brian enter Formula 2 – initially with a Brabham BT16 and then with a Lola T100. Suddenly, John Wyer showed interest in Brian and had him compete alongside Jacky Ickx in a Gulf-Mirage at the 9-hour race in Kyalami. This newly formed driver duo won so convincingly with a 13-lap lead over the Lola-Chevy driven by Mike Hailwood that the JW Automotive boss integrated Brian into the sports car team in 1968. John Cooper even had a Formula 1 contract ready for Brian for that season. At the opener in Kyalami, an incorrectly adjusted camshaft of the Cooper-Maserati engine ruined practice, and an oil leak brought the first Grand Prix outing to a premature end.
Brian Redman – from the winner's podium at the Spanish GP to a crash at Spa
At the next F1 race, the Spanish GP, Brian climbed the winner's podium in third place behind Graham Hill and Denis Hulme. At the 1968 Eifelrennen, Brian stood on the front row of the grid as a Ferrari guest driver at the F2 event. On pole position: teammate Jacky Ickx. With an average speed of 167 km/h following a pit stop, Brian set a new Nordschleife record during an incredible charge through the field. Together with Jacky Ickx, he then claimed his first World Sportscar Championship victory at Spa-Francorchamps, to which he would add eleven more by the summer of 1972. Spa had certainly also left a lasting memory: a piece of metal in his arm. During the Belgian Grand Prix, his Cooper Maserati had left the track on the seventh lap due to a broken suspension and crashed into a parked car. Brian healed his broken bones and minor burns at home and bridged the racing break with domestic chores—including gardening in the yard. In South Africa, he prepared for his comeback at the Springbok Series and mixed it up with his 2-litre Chevron BMW in a field of higher-displacement competitors in such a way that series winner Paul Hawkins approvingly repeated a phrase he had already used during their time together at JW Automotive: „He is damned fast and a bloody nice guy“. Recognition also came from the newly appointed Porsche race director Rico Steinemann, who signed him for the 1969 season and left it up to Brian to choose who he wanted to drive with. Brian: „With Jo Siffert, because with him my chances of winning are greatest.“ He was right: With no fewer than five overall victories, Siffert/Redman were the most successful endurance combination.
Car sales director in South Africa
The following year, Brian drove again under the Wyer flag, piloting a Gulf-Porsche 917K alongside „Seppie“ Siffert. At the start of the season in Daytona, of course, it only amounted to a „place of honor“ behind teammates Pedro Rodriguez and Leo Kinnunen. But pole-setters Ferrari had been beaten: Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx had to settle for third place in their 512S. Siffert/Redman dominated the Targa Florio, the 1000 km races of Spa-Francorchamps, and at the Österreichring. In the 2-liter manufacturers' championship, after a thrilling duel with Joakim Bonnier in Spa, Brian Redman saved the point crucial for Chevron to win the title. Afterward, Brian announced that he would move to Johannesburg and contest a few more races in South Africa.
And how: four consecutive victories and Springbok title! In January 1971, he presented himself as the new Sales and Marketing Director of Richter Motors Ltd., South Africa's largest car dealership. I had once before been invited here for a horseback ride through his vast estate. Richter had provided Brian with a brand-new Chevron B19 Spyder. Brian also had fond memories of Germany connected with Chevron: „I won the 500-km race at the Nürburgring in 1979 with a wire-to-wire victory and had a glorious duel with Dieter Quester in Hockenheim.“ Quester was also driving a B16. At the 500 kilometers in 1970, Escuderia Montjuich had provided a B19 Spyder with which Brian led clearly until the 14th lap. Then the vehicle caught fire, and Brian had to hand the victory over to Vic Elford. Both gentlemen were my guests afterward. In February 1971, Brian had signaled to me: „I only want to start at the South African GP, and then I'm done with racing!“ In Kyalami, he got into a Surtees-Ford TS7. While team boss John Surtees, running in fifth place with his TS9, dropped out on the 58th lap with a gearbox failure, Brian missed out on sixth place—occupied by Denny Hulme—by just 12 seconds. The race had been completely dominated by Mario Andretti in a Ferrari 312B: victory, fastest lap, and lap record for the Scuderia's Formula 1 novice.
Brian Redman: Back on the race tracks, severe Targa crash
Shortly after the South African GP, Brian admitted that he was thoroughly fed up with South Africa in general and car sales in particular. Scarcely had he returned to „Merry Old England“ than he threw all thoughts of retiring from racing overboard. For Sid Taylor, he contested a few sports car races with his Lola T70 as well as in Formula 5000. JW Automotive, with Martini as a sponsor, had entered Brian alongside Vic Elford for the BOAC 1000 at Brands Hatch. Unfortunately, their 917K had to be retired on the 104th lap due to fuel system problems. At the Targa Florio, Brian Redman crashed on the very first lap in the Porsche 908/3: a crash shortly before Collesano. The Porsche caught fire. Brian ended up in a wretched, filthy room where a not particularly competent doctor wanted to treat his second-degree burns. Fortunately, Porsche doctor Reisch from Stuttgart was able to intervene. He saved the life of Brian, who had also suffered severe shock. Instead of a hospital in Sicily, Porsche had Redman flown to England on a charter flight.
Brian Redman celebrated Ferrari victories and Formula 1 successes
The team was able to completely dominate the competition from Alfa Romeo and Lola. Redman later won alongside Ickx in Austria, and he had also regained his footing in the Monoposto, a McLaren M10B. As a replacement for Peter Revson in the Yardley-McLaren-Ford M19A, he had already shone in practice at the Monaco Grand Prix, with Denny Hulme and Jackie Stewart ahead of him. He finished the rain-soaked race on the Côte d’Azur in fifth place. He achieved the same result at the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. On August 28, the Rothmans 50,000, a race with a substantial prize purse, took place at Brands Hatch. In this „formula libre“ race, Brian Redman, driving the McLaren 19A, crossed the finish line in second place behind Emerson Fittipaldi in the Lotus 72. Thanks to his wife Marion and his friend Sid Taylor, Brian Redman returned to racing after a lengthy forced hiatus with various appearances, initially in Formula 5000. Driving a BRM P167, he won the Interserie races at Imola and Hockenheim by a clear margin. Having regained his form in this way, he joined the Ferrari team for the 1972 Constructors„ World Championship. At the season opener in Buenos Aires, he and Clay Regazzoni secured a second-place finish, even though Clay had deliberately ignored a red light and, as a result, the black flag. Team principal Peter Schetty averted the impending disaster with some skillful persuasion of the race officials. It was already clear by then that the strong Ferrari team could simply dominate the competition from Alfa Romeo and Lola. Redman later won alongside Ickx in Austria, and he had also regained his footing in the Monoposto, a McLaren M10B. As a replacement for Peter Revson in the Yardley-McLaren-Ford M19A, he had already shone in practice at the Monaco Grand Prix, ahead of Denny Hulme and Jackie Stewart. He finished the rain-soaked race on the Côte d’Azur in fifth place. He achieved the same result at the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. On August 28, the Rothmans 50,000, a race with a substantial prize purse, took place at Brands Hatch. In this race, open to “formula libre„ entries, Brian Redman crossed the finish line in second place in the McLaren 19A, behind Emerson Fittipaldi in the Lotus 72. His wife Marion and their children, James—“born in ’65”—and little Charlotte were delighted by Daddy’s success. It was almost embarrassing: Before Christmas, Marion framed my portrait of Redman to hang on the kitchen wall.
Champion three times in a row
With a three-lap lead over teammates Carlos Reutemann and Tim Schenken, Jacky Ickx and Brian Redman won the 1000-kilometer race at Monza, the 4th round of the World Sportscar Championship, in their Ferrari 312PB long-tail. With Ickx/Redman and Merzario/Pace, there was also a Ferrari one-two finish at the Nürburgring. On the other side of the big pond, Brian Redman won the final of the American L&M Formula A Championship (5000 cc) in Kent, Washington, and finished second in the championship behind Jody Scheckter, who drove a Trojan-Chevy. Distant pursuers: Mark Donohue, Peter Gethin, and David Hobbs. Together with Arturo Merzario, Brian Redman contested the 3rd round of the 1974 World Sportscar Championship at the Nürburgring. Their Alfa Romeo 33TT12 finished only ninth overall. The new Formula A king Redman—he won this series consecutively from 1974 to 1976—then knew no opponents in the 1981 IMSA GT series either. Here, as a BMW factory driver in 1975, he had already celebrated a successful debut and, together with „Strietzel“ Stuck, celebrated a victorious 12 Hours of Sebring. Even in 1987, Brian was still racing at Sebring—finishing third in a Primus Porsche 962. In 1989, he raced once again for a home team—as a factory driver for Aston Martin. The Aston Martin AMR1 (Group C) was certainly not comparable to the famous, victorious DBR1 thirty years earlier. Best placement: a fourth place at Brands Hatch. In his new domicile, sunny Florida, he remains connected to motorsport to this day and is extremely active. Thus, it was not surprising that in 2012 he competed in the Le Mans Classic in an Alfa Romeo 33TT12 and, of course, is a regular at historic events in Daytona or Sebring. Fans of historic motorsport in the USA have, of course, already booked their participation in the „WeatherTech Challenge with Brian Redman“ at Road Atlanta from July 14 to 17, 2022. Organizer: the „evergreen“ Brian Redman.
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