 Patrick Head, George Grant, Dave Brodie and Ronnie Grant (left to right) It’s hard to find the words to capture the essence of Dave Brodie, or “The Brode” as he was affectionately known. To say he was larger than life feels like an understatement. Dave was a man of boundless energy, sharp wit, and an infectious passion for racing that could inspire anyone who crossed his path. His stories were legendary—often colorful, always entertaining, and sometimes with just enough embellishment to make them unforgettable.
I first met Dave when I was 18, and it was a moment that remains etched in my memory. We were delivering a car to Patrick Head’s house after the British Grand Prix, where Clay Regazzoni had just taken a deserved victory. The car broke down halfway, and to our surprise, it was none other than Alan Jones—who had been leading the Grand Prix the day before—who came to pick us up. At Patrick’s house, the atmosphere was electric, and there was Dave, holding court with Frank Williams, Alan Jones, and Patrick Head, among others. Dave’s humor and storytelling had everyone captivated, and it was clear I was in the presence of a true character. Our paths crossed again years later at Silverstone when I had just earned my ARDS license. Over the following months, I got to know Dave better, and I’ll always be grateful for his kindness and generosity. He even came to Thruxton to give me some driving tuition, convincing the clerk of the course to let us use the course car. That day, he shared his incredible knowledge with me, offering detailed analysis and advice that has stayed with me ever since. Dave’s contributions to motor racing went far beyond the track. From his early days of racing a humble Austin A30 to building the iconic Ford Escort “Run Baby Run,” his career was a testament to his talent and determination. As a director of Williams Grand Prix Engineering and a trustee of the Gunnar Nilsson Cancer Treatment Charity, Dave’s impact extended to areas far beyond racing. His role in creating the BRDC Rising Stars program ensured his legacy would live on through the next generation of drivers. In recent years, we stayed in touch, and his passion for life never wavered. When I last spoke to him, despite recovering from a hospital stay, he was determined to meet up and catch up properly. Sadly, that meeting never happened. My thoughts are with Peggy, Jimmy, Justin, Sasha, and the entire family during this difficult time. Dave, you were a true original—a mentor, a friend, and a storyteller like no other. You’ve joined the fast company up there, and I’m certain you’re already holding court, sharing laughs, and living life at full throttle. You will be dearly missed, but your memory will always bring a smile to those of us lucky enough to have known you. George Grant Clapham North MOT
0 Comments
"Dave wasn't just a great driver - he was a formidable character," Sanson explains. "He was larger than life, and knew no other way to drive or to live than in his own manner. He was well loved by everybody who knew him, and whilst I only had the chance to meet him in person on one occasion it certainly told me enough about his personality and his demeanour. He was a gentleman, a fun-lover and a playful rogue at heart. To me, he embodies what Downforce Radio was set up to promote as an ideal - "motorsport should be fun".
"I felt it was only right that we honour his memory and paid tribute to one of British motorsport's most popular individuals. Without the sport, things will be a little less fun so we hope to continue his legacy and honour his memory by keeping him in our minds permanently moving forward with this very fitting accolade." 29/12/2024 1 Comment Clapham North MOT Celebrates 65 Years by Sponsoring the 2025 Downforce Radio Awards Clapham North MOT is proud to announce its sponsorship of the 2025 Downforce Radio Awards, a partnership that coincides with the company’s 65th anniversary. This exciting collaboration reflects Clapham North’s dedication to British motorsport and its ongoing commitment to supporting and celebrating the achievements of the motorsport community. George Grant, owner of Clapham North MOT and Downforce Media, expressed his excitement about the partnership: “Marking Clapham North’s 65th anniversary by sponsoring the Downforce Radio Awards is a fantastic way to honor both our legacy and the incredible talent in British motorsport. This collaboration showcases our passion for racing and commitment to supporting those who make the sport so inspiring.” Jake Sanson, Station Manager of Downforce Radio, added: “The Downforce Radio Awards have always been about celebrating the very best in motorsport, from grassroots to professional levels. We have celebrated many stars as they rise through the ranks, honouring drivers who are now winners in the Formula 1 paddock and in many great motorsport arenas such as Le Mans, Macau, Indianapolis, Bathurst and beyond. "Having Clapham North MOT as our title sponsor for 2025 adds a wonderful layer of heritage and prestige to this year’s awards.” The 2025 Downforce Radio Awards will continue to spotlight exceptional racers, teams, and events, celebrating their contributions to British motorsport. With Clapham North’s rich 65-year history, the partnership promises to make this year’s awards a truly unforgettable celebration of motorsport excellence. Stay tuned for further updates as we gear up for this landmark event! 
 Rebelleo Motorsport continues its ambition to give talent a needed boost in their racing career by teaming up with the Global Karting League: UK. Founder Abbie Eaton, currently racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup UK championship joins forces with Rob Smedley in this exciting new enterprise.
This exciting new partnership between Global Karting League: UK and Rebelleo Motorsport will increase the participation in motorsport and build a fairer pathway to the top," says Smedley, former F1 race engineer, tehcnical consultant for Formula 1 and founder of the Global Karting League: UK. "To celebrate this new partnership, we've got some very special prizes on offer. The drivers who score the most points in the remaining four rounds of the GKL:UK National and Rookie Championships will win a fully funded GKL:UK seat in 2025." Rebelleo Motorsport driver - and founder - Abbie Eaton will be at the GKL end of season party to hand out the prizes. "This is an incredible opportunity for our young racers to take their driving career to the next level and I can't wait to see what this partnership brings!" Smedley concludes. It's already been a prosperous year for Abbie Eaton in motorsport, with visits to the podium in the Pro-Am class of the Porsche Carrera Cup UK, and now Abbie is hoping to inspire and support the next generation of UK racing talent working beside Global Karting League UK to give young drivers an exciting new initiative to further their career. 29/7/2024 0 Comments THE JOY OF JULY FOR GEORGE GRANT George Grant has had a particularly busy and successful July filled with challenges and obstacles but mainly silverware!
"What a rollercoaster the start of July has been! Despite a few missteps and challenges, we still managed to have a fantastic time and snagged some podium finishes at Donington Park and Oulton Park. Donington Park - 6th July "Rob Boston and I took on the Equipe Classic Racing event with our trusty MG B Roadster. Amazingly, we secured a class pole position and actually converted it into a win! Shocking, I know! Then, we somehow finished second in the 40-car Equipe GTS field. Our MG B Roadster even led the pack in the race. Who would’ve thought? Oulton Park - 13th July "Off to Oulton Park, still leading the SuperSport Endurance Cup despite feeling under the weather. My first solo drive of the season, and it started with a not-so-graceful trip into the gravel on lap one. Yet, I managed to claw my way back to the podium! P3 in Clubman-B class, and I couldn’t be happier. "It’s been a hectic couple of weekends, but incredibly rewarding. Big thanks to Rob Boston for the fantastic partnership at Donington and to the Equipe Classic Championship organizers for an amazingly run event. Despite the challenges, like battling an illness and limited practice at Oulton, I’m grateful for the experience and the support from everyone."  George Grant and Rob Boston took pole position and victory in the Libre class, taking their MG B Roadster into action at the Equipe Classic Racing weekend at Donington Park, former home to the European Grand Prix.
During a competitive season in which George is fighting for the BRSCC Supersport Endurance Cup crown - sharing his trusty Mazda MX5 with Abbie Eaton and Rob Boston during the year - George has been extending his skills to race in the historic motorsport scene, and after a successful debut with second in class at the Portimao Classic in the autumn the team is getting better all the time, and with victory at Donington Park there seems to be a bright future for Clapham North and Rob Boston Racing in the heritage racing paddocks. Working closely this season not only with Rob Boston Racing but also with the Rebelleo Motorsport programme, it's been exciting to see the activities of Clapham North gathering speed in all areas and the vintage and classic motorsport community is just the latest avenue for the ever-increasing talents of George Grant. "This weekend at Donington Park was nothing short of incredible for Rob Boston and me. We took part in the Equipe Classic race with our 1965 MGB and came out on top, winning our class and securing the highest-ranking MGB in the GTS race, which placed us second overall." George tells us. "It was especially thrilling to achieve this on the same weekend as Lewis Hamilton’s victory at Silverstone – truly a fantastic moment for GB motorsport. "This race marked our first on UK soil. Despite some handling issues, Rob and I pushed through and managed to secure the win. Competing against a field of 41 cars, our MG B Roadster clocked a best lap time of 1:27.122 and maintained an average speed of 81.77 mph. "Winning our first race at home was an incredible feeling. The competition was fierce, and we had to push ourselves and the car to the limit. This victory is very special to us. Rob and I faced some challenges with the car’s handling, but we trusted it and each other. It’s a great day for the sport in Great Britain. "We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the organisers at Equipe Classic Racing, Rob Cull, John Pearson, and Graeme Williams, for putting together such a fantastic event." |
OUR BLOGLearn more about the activities of our favourite drivers, teams and championships. Archives
January 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed
Downforce Media Limited 2024 - Site powered by Weebly. Managed by Radio.co