Paddock42 catches up with Tiff Needell

Paddock42 recently had the pleasure of a chin-wag with Ex F1 star, TV personality and all round good egg Mr. Tiff Needell…

P42: Hi Tiff, thanks for taking the time to talk with us. What made you want to go racing?

My Dad dragged me off to Goodwood as soon as I could walk and once I’d crawled up the earth bank, peered over the top and saw these noisy, smelly, colourful machines being wrestled through the Chicane all I ever wanted to be was a racing driver!

P42: What was your first race?

In 1970 I did a series of school races at the Brands Hatch racing driver’s school but they were very tame four car affairs that were nothing like my first public race at Snetterton in 1971 sitting in the middle of a pack of twenty …

P42: You famously won a Formula Ford in a competition run by Autosport, was a turning point in your early career?

Not so much a turning point, more the very beginning! While I’d managed to save up to do a few school races there was no way I was ever going to find the money to buy myself a car so winning the competition was everything.

P42: A little bird told us that you recently bought that original Formula Ford back – is that true?

Yes, nearly 40 years after I’d sold it to an Austrian I’ve bought it back – and for a lot more than I sold it! Its history is fully documented and having passed through the hands of four Austrians and three Germans it returned to England in 1995 and after three more owners it’s back with me! I’ve restored it to its original colours with all the sponsors of the competition and have raced it in a couple of Historic Formula Ford events.

P42: Are you any good on the spanners?

I might have won my first racing car but there was no sponsorship to run it so I suddenly had to become van driver and mechanic!! I taught myself by pulling things apart while taking notes of the order they fell apart – I had to change the gear ratios in the gearbox before almost every meeting.

P42: Do you currently own any other race cars?

No, one’s enough!

P42: You’re well known for your expertise on 4 wheels, have you ever tried converting those skills over to bikes?

Had several bikes when I was 16 and past the test but then didn’t ride one for about 20 years! Borrowed several press bikes and did a Donington track day on a Honda for a Fifth Gear item. Soon got my knee down and loved it but it started to rain and then I not only got my knee down but my hip and shoulder as well!!

P42: You have raced a multitude of cars From F1, FF 2000, F3 Super Touring Cars and Sports cars. So the burning question must be what was your favourite and why?

It’s hard to beat a Grand Prix car round Monaco – even if it was one as bad as the Ensign N180! In general single seaters are the most rewarding as there is no compromise in their design.

P42: Having raced all over the world, which is your most memorable race?

Sitting on the grid for your fist Grand Prix is pretty special but it has to be Le Mans 24 Hours in 1990 when I finished third in a privately entered Porsche 962 with only the two factory Jaguars in front of us and ahead of factory entries from Porsche, Nissan and Toyota.

P42: and following on from that, your favourite track?

Le Mans again! Mainly due to the length of the lap, the variety of corners and the part public road nature of it. The street track at Macau is pretty special and I haven’t mentioned the Nurburgring because my biggest frustration is than I have never raced there …

P42: With the UK race season starting in only a few weeks what are your race plans for 2014? Will you be at the Goodwood Revival?

I’m starting with a drive in a Rover SD1 at Goodwood’s latest fixture, the 72^nd Members Meeting at the end of March. Then it’s an outing in my Formula Ford at Thruxton over Easter, hopefully a couple more drives here and then before returning to Goodwood for the Revival driving I know not what!

P42: You are clearly an adrenalin junkie, but away from the track what do you enjoying doing most?

Pottering around the garden … on a ride on mower or with my quad bike towing a flail mower behind it! Do like just being at home though. Otherwise a round of golf is always a pleasure!

P42: In your opinion who is/ was the most complete racing driver?

Jim Clark of course! Greatest natural talent ever and a shy, modest gentleman at the same time. Would race anything anywhere – and always at the front.

P42: You are known for your incredible car control, is this something you’ve had to work hard at or does this come naturally to you?

Learning to drive in Mum’s Morris 1000 meant handling oversteer was the first thing I learnt! I think you have to be born with it first and then you simply expand your skills with plenty of trial – and of course the occasional error!

P42: Your plans for 2014, new projects?

More of the same will do me fine …

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