Following our appeal for photos of the Radio London racing cars, we received an email from Peter Cromer. He wrote: “I was a weekend pro photographer covering Brands Hatch and other
circuits in the late sixties. A lot of my pictures were used on the programmes for events. I have an extemely nice picture of Keith St. John taken at Brands Hatch in the Elva BMW 1991 at the Radio London
races on 18th June 1967.
It was taken at the next bend after Druids Bend, known as Bottom Bend in those sixties days. Probably at some point a ‘naughty’ interpretation of this name disturbed the delicate sensibilities of
the politically correct sufficiently to have it renamed as Graham Hill Bend - which it is now.
In the picture, Keith is heading through Bottom Bend into Cooper Straight. It looks like there is some previous front end damage to the Elva.
Those were fond, wonderful days with the pirate stations and I can remember some of the DJs clowning around at some of the between-race fun events. I'll have to see if I can find any more pictures of them from
back then. I left England in '68 to work in the Middle East and after a short return in '72 and some more racing photography, I emigrated to Canada (Calgary) where I now live.”
Peter has also sent this photo, below, taken at another event. It shows an unidentified disc-jockey (we think it is Radio London's Mike Lennox*) posing for
a fan's camera. Peter says “This was one of the more flamboyant DJs from what I remember but I don't have a name. I suspect this might have been at a stock-car race rather than a circuit like Brands
Hatch.”
Our grateful thanks to Peter Cromer for getting in touch and for allowing us to publish the photographs.
* One of Mike Lennox's Radio London colleagues has written to confirm that it is Mike in the picture. Willy Walker says “Yes that indeed is Mike ......
and the bolero pants are the ones he wore on the last day of Big L” (see here).
Photos ©Peter Cromer.
In December 2010 we heard from George Smith. He wrote: “I thought you may be interested in this photo I took in 1965. On the reverse I have written ‘Keith St
John pointing at his Brabham Ford and his Elva BMW.’ It is dated 31/07/1965. I'm sure it was taken at the Crystal Palace circuit. In those days you could wander freely.” George confirms that, as he
remembers it, both the Radio London cars were painted purple.
In March 2013, John Crick got in touch: “While scanning all my motor racing slides from the 60s I came across this photo that I took at Crystal Palace in 1965. It
was the Whit Monday international meeting with all the Grand Prix stars driving the F2s, so big crowd! Keith was entered in the Elva Trophy race but not sure if he started. Hope it might help you.”
Thanks John.
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