ANDREW MARRIOTT A NEWSHOUND FOR ALL SEASONS
For long-time readers of this publication, Andrew Marriott, or ARM, needs no introduction. For those who don’t know, ‘Pit Lane Andy’ started as a junior reporter for Motorsport News, formerly Motoring News, in 1964, and soon graduated to Formula 1.
Then with journalist and broadcasting partner Barrie Gill, he formed CSS that grew into one of the most successful sports management agencies, as you will read.
While answering your questions, Marriott revealed that he has worked out that he has interviewed all but three of the Formula 1 World champions, which is quite something.
He has stories aplenty, and this is just a taster. He is working on a soon-to-be-published book enitled “Is There Much More of This?”, which is bound to be full of even more great tales.
Strap in for some great stories and memories.
Question: How did you get interested in racing?
Harvey Belmont Via email
Andrew Marriott: “I got interested in racing because my father worked for the Sunbeam Motor Company at the latter stages of the record-breakers that they were building.
“He was a pattern maker so he made some of the actual patterns for the castings that went into the record-breaking cars. He was into motor racing, but he was also an outstanding golfer, and the golfing took preference really. But he took me to race meetings, before I was a teenager. The first racing event he ever took me to, actually, was a hillclimb at Shelsley Walsh when I was four years old. I still kind of remember it in a funny sort of way.”
Question: What was your first grand prix? Were you working or were you spectating?
Nicola Bell Via email
ARM: “OK... Let’s rewind a little bit. I did spectate at some non-championship Formula 1 races like the Oulton Park Gold Cup. I saw Stirling Moss winning in the Ferguson P99. That was a good memory.
“But then even when I was 17, I was freelancing for Motoring News – as it was then – and I got to report on the 1964 2000 Guineas. It was a Formula 1 race at Mallory Park and in it, on the front row of the grid was Jack Brabham, Jim Clark, and John Surtees. Surtees won and I reported that race for MN. So that’s the first Formula 1 race
