GEOFF LEES – FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE
From a certain angle, Geoff Lees’climb through the racing ranks looks typical. He took several Formula Ford titles plus the European Formula 2 crown, and dabbled in Formula 3 along the way. Then like so many, even 40 years ago, he found Formula 1 bosses not willing to take on his talent without some cash coming along with it.
So far, so familiar. But plenty about Lees’story is unorthodox. It was a career very nearly stopped at source due to an eye injury. He juggled bagging race wins with a day job as a motor mechanic.
His journey took him to Can-Am (and featured detours via a helicopter and a mountain house) and eventually to an eclectic range of machinery and plenty of success in Japanese racing, beating a path that many from Europe would follow.
Moreover he nearly got Nigel Mansell’s F1 drive and later came within an hour of winning Le Mans.
In both cases however fate took hand.
Yet for the reasons outlined and more, to consider the unassuming and softly spoken Midlander a nearly man sells him well short.
But let’s start this extraordinary tale at the point that success started to flow.
Question: How important to your career was winning the Formula Ford triple crown (three national championships) in 1975? And was that the first time you flew in a helicopter (two race meetings in one day)?
Willie Cunningham Via email
Geoff Lees: “Yes well I have to say it [the triple crown] was very important. It was a really good thing for me because I got involved with Chevron through me winning those Formula Ford races and so it moved me up to Formula 3. And also for my brain to be truthful it gave me confidence, the confidence to move up.”
MN: Did you not have much confidence in your ability before that?
GL: “Oh no, I don’t know where my ability came from. I’m very lucky that I took to motor racing very quickly. Of course I started with not much money so my cars weren’t so good and I did my own engines for Formula Ford, but once you start winning and the confidence grows then it’s easier to move on.”
MN: So in terms of moving to Formula 3 was it just a case that Chevron knew you and offered you a chassis?
GL: “What it was, I went to Silverstone and I had a test with five other drivers and my test was at the end of the day on worn-out tyres but I finished quickest of all of them and I was asked there and then to be part of the Chevron team that year.” MN: And was it the first time you flew in a helicopter when you had two meetings in one day?
“Yes it was the first time, how fantastic was that? I couldn’t believe it when I saw the helicopter and the private pilot, I felt like a superstar, it was so good. [It was] from Mallory Park to Thruxton and back and again, so yeah it was fantastic flying in the helicopter.” Did it affect
