I have known Brian for over 35 years and everyone here knows what a class act he is.To me the "Underrated" Brian Redman is actually the "Legendary" Brian Redman.My best wishes to an old friend.
1:30 at the Targa Florio in that craziest featherweight toecutter 908/3. What a contrast to see his name on a Camaro light truck windshield. Mr. Redman and the likes must have endless thrills just quietly shuffling their memories. Magnificent 🌹:)
I saw Brian's Lola, Boraxo F5000 at the now disbanded Riverside museum. It might have been auctioned as were many other cars. I missed buying if it was auctioned. Not long after, I saw it in action at Sears or Laguna. Lookin' good!! Brian's stories provide depth and details that keep all on the edges of their seats. I met Vasek Polak in his office while he was on the phone wearing a spiffy suit. I had a 1985 Ducati MHR at the foot of my bed, but Vasek had a Porsche 917/10 (or 8) at the entrance to his office. I always hovered around his pit at the Laguna Historics because interesting things were always happening with interesting equipment. An interesting, sophisticated and complex gentleman driven to compete. If I had lived in LA, I would have made an effort to know him better, but I lived in OC where we had a different sports car and hot rod culture. G
I recall watching Brian win at Limerock driving the Cooke-Woods Lola and meeting him years later at a hotel near the track for a Fall Festival weekend....he was gracious enough to autograph a photo of him beside the Lola in the paddock which I had taken...followed by a great story of his travails qualifying the car on a track he found "somewhat undrivable" . A wonderful gentleman and great driver.
He was kind over "under reported" rather than under rated. People who new which way was up knew all about Brian Redman. I always thought he was just amazing. So, maybe he is "under rated" because he was "under reported" because he was quite happy to run "under the radar " Probably took a bit of pressure off and left him alone to get on with the job. I doubt whether any spectators OR competitors through his long time in historic racing classes would "under rate" him.
First things first . Sam Posey is incredible with the introduction . I could listen to the stories all day I will listen everyone this recorded . This was a time that will never come again ... And these men should be proud .
Brian and David Hobbs were also a great comedic pairing. I remember them giving Jackie Oliver the business on the false grid at Watkins Glen, really quick wits.
The late Dennis Jenkinson didn't under-rate Brian. When asked whom he would prefer to co-drive with in 1970 if he could do the Mille Miglia again (he co-drove with Stirling Moss in 1955 and they won in a Mercrded 300SLR), he immediately nominated Brian Redman. Not Siffert or Rodriguez? "I'd like to get to the finish alive and with Brian that would be more likely." replied DSJ. Enough said. Brian was as fast as his more famous team mates but much more measured. Of course he is thankfully still with us and sadly they aren't.
Jim Hall was one of the greats! In the mid 1960s I watched Jim and Hap Sharp race two Chaparrals at Brigehampton Raceway out on Long Island and on his first timed lap Jim broke the track record previously held by Ferrari by something like 4"! I can still see him rocketing down the main straight before climbing on the brakes and dropping down into the decreasing radius first turn. He designed and built the Chaparral, powered it with a Chevy engine, and equipped it with an automatic transmission. Everyone thought he was nuts but it turned out he was not! I never personally saw Brian drive but I know his record and he's as great a driver as he is speaker!
We used to race go karts at Summit Point, West Virginia and every year was held The Brian Redman Classic with cars from the 60s on from F1 to CAN AM and Le Mans prototypes as well as less powerful cars like Formula Ford etc. there were shorter races and endurance races. Got to go through the oaddocks and see the csrs up close and talked to Brian Redman who enjoyex talking to us. He raced his Chevron and best everyone, including a BMW M1. He took a journalist in his car and was a lap behind the M1 and next lap he was ahead of the M1 and in 1st place...I'm sure the journalist was scared sh##less!