Question
Did the Ecurie Ecosse own a Tojeiro? If so was it crashed at Brands Hatch in 1966 at the Grand Prix meeting's sports car race? I can't remember who the driver was, but he was trapped in the car for about 20 minutes. I was a flag marshal at Paddock Bend and waved a yellow flag for about 20 minutes.
Robin A. Fairservice
Prince George, B.C., Canada
Answer:
Dear Robin
Thank you for your enquiry, Yes Ecurie Ecosse owned more than one Tojeiro but the one you are talking about was the Tojeiro-Ford. It started out as a Tojeiro-Buick Coupe and then the engine was changed to a Ford V8 and was raced by Jackie Stewart amongst others. At the meeting you talk about Ecurie Ecosse had cut the roof off the car to convert it into a Spyder and it was driven by Bill Stein a young Scot who was racing for Ecurie Ecosse at the time. I was standing on the infield when the accident happened and it was horrendous as the car literally folded up when it hit the bank. Bill was trapped for at least fifteen minutes whilst the race continued and then in order to get him out of the car the car had to be pulled apart. Bill was badly injured and though he made a good recovery he still has problems with his legs. Bill lives in Spain today but occasionally returns to Scotland to meet up with his friends.
Graham Gauld
(Robin has since replied : Thanks for confirming that my memory is still good. As I said I was on yellow and as the car hit the bank I was horrified as it seem to fold and then there were great spurts of fuel from it. The race should have been stopped as it was an extremely dangerous situation; the race was ruined any way with yellow flags all along the main straight. We had marshalls with fire extinguishers around the car for the whole time, and they were at risk from another car going off. Fortunately in those days drivers slowed down when the yellows were out. Apparently he was trapped by his legs as the car had lozenged. Perhaps it had not been a good idea to take the roof off. Robin Fairservice
05/05/2008
