David Brodie Racer and BBR co-founder
DAVID A BRODIE IS MANY THINGS. For starters, he’s Brode, a name he calls himself, as do all his friends and acquaintances. He’s a hugely successful saloon car racer, in club, British and European championships, who will be forever associated with a wide-arched Mk1 Ford Escort affectionately known as Run Baby Run, a car that reputedly won 200 races in the years 1969 to 1972. He’s held lap records at all the UK circuits, a few of which stood for many years; in the case of the Crystal Palace circuit, now long closed, he says, ‘I’ll hold that one forever.’
He has long been a friend to motor racing’s elite, having helped out Frank Williams in his early career (later becoming a director of Williams Grand Prix Engineering at its outset) – and was best man and limo driver at Ronnie Peterson’s wedding, a favour the Formula 1 driver later returned. Barry Sheene was a good mate. He’s a scallywag – at least, in his youth he was, and doubtless in adult life as well – having been expelled from private school and then having his driving licence revoked for three years (reduced to two after
