Big hand for Hans

Sir,

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Lunch with… Hans Stuck (December issue) and would like to share a couple of incidents with your readers.

The first occurred at Silverstone in the late ’80s or early ’90s. Hans was driving a BMW touring car in a support race and in those days the paddock for such events was out on the old Club Circuit straight. I was passing the area where Hans’ car was being prepared and heard a couple of young lads ask one of the mechanics if Hans was there as they wanted his autograph. The mechanic explained that he had had to go to another part of the circuit and suggested that they came back later.

A while later I happened to be walking in the same area when Hans arrived on a very old push bike. I heard the mechanic mention that two boys had been looking for him and that they had been asked to return later. Hans was clearly unhappy about this and quizzed the mechanic for descriptions of the boys. He then set off on the bike at high speed and eventually found the boys and signed their autograph book. While doing so he chatted away to them and apologised for not being available earlier! I bet those boys have not forgotten his kindness. So typical of the man.

The second incident occurred at Le Mans in the late ’90s. I was in the grandstand above the pits during one of the evening practice sessions when Hans was interviewed live on Radio Le Mans. At the end of the interview he shared a joke with the listeners and then started laughing. (Anyone who has heard him laugh will be able to imagine the volume.) Still laughing, he walked away down the paddock but via the radio we could still hear him! Gradually his laugh faded away – but I can still hear it in my memory. Wonderful!

David Keen, Sevilla, Spain