Hockenheim: how we laughed

Simon Taylor in Modern Times last month commented on how the Hockenheim circuit brought forth hoots of derision when in 1977 it replaced the Nürburgring as site of the German Grand Prix.

It reminded me of how Jenks responded at that time in his letter to ‘Dear WB’. He wrote: “I am starting this one from the offshore island of Great Britain instead of mainland of Europe, the reason being that I went on strike and flatly refused to go and watch the German GP being mm at the Hockenheim Stadium.”

His page-long ‘letter’ mentioned how the new circuit had chopped off the town end of the original circuit. However, he did report in full from a Formula Two race at Hockenheim in 1977, which was won by Germany’s Jochen Mass in a March at an average. speed of 124.485mph.