Tony Mason - Mason’s Motoring Mayhem!: Tony Mason’s hectic life in motorsport and television

To my wife, Sue, our daughter, Emma, and my stepdaughters, Jane and Clare, who have all brought me down to earth during my hectic life.

First printed in hardback format in 2013.

First published in ebook format 2019 by Veloce Publishing Limited, Veloce House, Parkway Farm Business Park, Middle Farm Way, Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 3AR, England Fax 01305 250479 e-mail .

Ebook edition ISBN: 978-1-787116-24-5

Hardback edition ISBN: 978-1-845844-39-4

Tony Mason and Veloce Publishing 2019. All rights reserved. With the exception of quoting brief passages for the purpose of review, no part of this publication may be recorded, reproduced or transmitted by any means, including photocopying, without the written permission of Veloce Publishing Ltd. Throughout this book logos, model names and designations, etc, have been used for the purposes of identification, illustration and decoration. Such names are the property of the trademark holder as this is not an official publication.

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What they say about Tony ...

SIR STIRLING MOSS

I have always said that 'Movement is tranquillity!' Well, Tony has certainly had plenty of movement over the years, but not a lot of tranquillity. I've known him more years than I care to remember and I know you'll enjoy this book.

NICK MASON OF PINK FLOYD

Tony Mason sometimes accused of being my brother more often my elderly uncle! He's an even worse drummer than I am, although much better at rallying and presenting motoring programmes on TV. His book should probably be nearly as good as mine!

LEWIS HAMILTON, FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION 2008

Tony is good fun and a great guy.

KEN BRUCE, BBC RADIO 2 PRESENTER

Tony has come a long way in his career; usually because he was lost! Hes given us some great moments on Top Gear and other television programmes, and often reminded me of Wilfrid from the Bash Street Kids in the Beano comic.

DEREK BELL, FIVE-TIME WINNER OF THE LE MANS 24 HOUR RACE

Tony is one of the rare breed of men that can sit next to an out-of-control driver for several days and participate for a lifetime with that same passion, and laugh about it.

LORD MARCH, GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED FOUNDER

Tony has played a big and hilarious role in British motorsport over the past four decades. This book is proof of that not to mention the enormous amount of fun he has obviously had putting this book together.

ANDY GREEN, WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD HOLDER

Tony is one of those enthusiastic characters that you enjoy meeting. Last time he put a microphone in my face I was climbing out of a rally car after an outrageously fast ride through the trees of Goodwood's rally stage. Tony used to do this full time, so I can confirm that he must be slightly mad!

HANNU MIKKOLA, WORLD RALLY CHAMPION 1983

I first met Tony many years ago before I could speak or understand any English. He still made me laugh! He has amazing stories to tell, including those about when he co-drove for me in New Zealand on his last rally.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Thanks a million!

Because of my hatred of computers and inability to Google or send e-mails, I have had to rely on very many organisations, friends and acquaintances to help me put this book together. Everyone has been so supportive and I must have driven half of them mad when I showed my ignorance of modern technology. Despite all this immense help, I have to say that writing my autobiography is the hardest thing I have ever done. I hope you think its worth it.

My very grateful thanks go to the following who have all helped. Some have supplied facts and figures, or memories, and others just great encouragement and enthusiastic support. Compiling this list makes me think this has every chance of being one of the longest chapters in the book.

My special thanks go to the following seven people from the worlds of motorsport, television and writing who have helped me enormously:

Mike Cable

Neil Henderson

Mike Preston

Bob Redhead

Graham Robson

Tom Ross

Stuart Turner

I am also indebted to the following who have helped in so many ways:

Louise Aitken-Walker

Carl & Conny Bailey

Don Barrow

John Bayliss

Fred Bent

Jon Bentley

Sam Berry

Jon Blackburn

Tom Blinkhorn

Mike Broad

John Brown

Stephanie Browne

Ken Bruce

Cindy Butler

Sam Childs

John Clegg

Paul Colbert

Jilly Cooper

Jenny Cornell

John Couzens

Ian Crammond

John Davenport

Ken Dodd

Ross & Lisa Dunkerton

Fred Gallagher

Jane Gladstone

Rod Grainger

Mark Griffin

Mike Griffiths

Mavis Hampshire-Fair

Dave Hill

Martin Holmes

Henry Hope-Frost

Alan Jolley

Pushpa Kasinather

Chris Knowles-Fitton

Karen Lamb

Justin & Bronni Le Fevre

Martin Leonard

Helen Loggin

Stephen Loh

Jonathan Lord

Sue Mason

Yvonne Mehta

Tiff Needell

Roger Oakley

Richard Pearson

David Penny

John & Gloria Penny

Richard Phillips

Lino & Peter Pires

Jim Porter

Vic Preston Jnr

Jemma Rapson

Harry Rhodes

Chris Sclater

Paul Slater

Tina Summerfield

Dave V Thomas

Lorraine Thornton

Sue Viggers

Mike Wood

Philip Young

I hope I have not forgotten anyone, but, if I have, my profuse apologies.

Photographs

I acknowledge the help of the following who have sourced and, in most cases, taken the photographs used in this book. All have kindly given permission for their inclusion in this book. Every reasonable effort has been made to establish and contact the copyright holders of all photographs. Any errors or omissions are inadvertent, and anyone who has not been contacted is invited to write to the publisher so that an acknowledgement can be included in any subsequent edition of this book:

Airston Photographic

Belinda McDougall

Bev Canning

David Skeffington

Derek Soden/griffinrally.com

Esler Crawford

Ford Motor Company Ltd

Goodwood Road Racing Company Ltd

Jack Wilson

Jeff Garnett

John Wolsoncroft

Jonathan Eales

Maurice Selden

McKlein

National Rally Productions

Neil Prunell

Speedsports Photography

Tony Large

Tony North

Tudor Photography

Xavier McCartan

Introduction

I know youll find this hard to believe but Ive been involved in motorsport for over 50 years. Mind you, I was still wearing short trousers when I did my first rally.

Ive had an interesting and varied life but it never occurred to me to write about it until now. Being a jack of all trades (and master of none, of course!), I thought of my life as a bit of a hotch-potch of various activities.

I suppose Ive had two or three careers running simultaneously at times, ranging from stand-up comedy to world rallying, which has led to a busy life. Ive created a motor accessory business and taken to the road as a salesman, but I suspect Im best known for waddling about on TV screens for twenty years and, as Terry Wogan said, making a career out of falling about in the mud! Mind you, Jeremy Clarkson said I had made a career out of winning one little rally!