VIC ELFORD

Vic Elford was one of the fastest drivers of the Sixties and Seventies... and a Porsche hero... Nicknamed "QUICK VIC" by his peers, legendary driver Vic Elford is arguably the most versatile all a round driver of all time. VIC was EUROPEAN RALLY CHAMPION in 1967 then turned to SPORTSCAR RACING AND F 1. VIC ELFORD WON 6 TIMES AT THE NURBURGRING...    

Vic excelled in International rallies being the last British driver to win the Monte Carlo rally (1968) and the European Rally Championship. He was also one of the world’s great SPORTS CAR drivers being one of only two drivers ever to record SIX MAJOR VICTORIES AT THE CLASSIC NURBURGRING (the other was Rudolf Caracciolo in the 1920's).  His first drive in FORMULA 1 resulted in 4th place in the rain at the French GP driving the slowest car in the field! Vic also competed with outstanding results in Can Am, TransAm, Off road events in Africa, even Nascar… Although he raced 6 years for PORSCHE, Vic Elford also raced for Ford, Triumph, Lancia, Alfa-Romeo, Ferrari, Chaparral, Shadow, Cooper, Lola, Chevron, Subaru. He also drove MacLaren in F1 & CanAm, Chevrolet in TransAm, and Lola. Vic Elford lap records included: Targa Florio, Nurburgring, Daytona, Sebring, Norisring, Monza, Buenos Aires, Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca, Riverside… and Le Mans - where he was the first driver to lap at over 150mph in the Porsche long-tail 917 in 1970! Vic was hired by Steve McQueen to do the high speed close-up action driving the 917 for Steve's film "Le Mans". In 1972, while driving for Alfa Romeo, Vic branched out into another extra-curricular activity - that of principal narrator for producer Michael Keyser's film "The Speed Merchants". During the 24 hours of Le Mans, when a Ferrari crashed in front of him, Vic stopped in mid-race to extricate the driver from his burning car… T.V. cameras caught the action and Vic was named Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite by French President Georges Pompidou for his act of courage and heroism. Shortly after, Vic retired from racing…

Which is your best souvenir in race? In which car? 

Winning the Targa Florio, 1968, after losing 18 minutes due to wheel trouble on the first lap.  Car - Porsche 907

And the worst? In which car? 

Coupe de Alpes, 1966.  I led THE WHOLE WAY in a Lotus Cortina (leading the GT Category as well as the Touring Car Category).  The car broke on the LAST special stage, which was an easy one.

Which Porsche did you drive? And for you which is the best one and why?  Rallies - 911, 911T, 911R.  Racing - 911, 906, 907, 910, 908 and especially ALL the versions of the 917, including the 917/30 Turbo CanAm car.  My favorites were ALL of the 917s.  I am the only driver who drove every type of 917, from the first one to the Longtail to the 917/30.   

Do you still drive Porsche? 

No, too expensive.  In Florida all I need is an ordinary car for shopping that I can leave at the airport and know it will still be there when I come back!  I drive a 7 year old Ford Escort.  Anita has a nice car for when we go out together. 

How and when did you decide to be a race pilot? 

In 1949 my father took me to see the first British GP after the war.  I decided there and then "THAT IS WHAT I AM GOING TO DO!"  I was 13 years old.

Did you only drive Porsche? 

No, No, No.  I drove Ferrari (1st in GT at Le Mans in 1973 - Ferrari Daytona).  Alfa Romeo World Championship 1972.  Lola, McClaren, Shadow, Chaparral in CanAm.  Porsche 917/30, McClaren and Lola in Interserie.

Do you have a special souvenir of the film "Le Mans"? 

Honestly, nothing special.  Working with Steve McQueen was interesting.  A fascinating character.

Talking about Le Mans, could you explain us the story about the Ferrari accident. What did it meen for you to be nammed Chevalier de ordre du Merite by Georges Pompidou?

I was driving an Alfa Romeo and Jo Bonnier in a Lola, who had been delayed during the night, had passed me just before the Mulsanne corner.  As we accelerated away from the corner I could see a Ferrari Daytona in front of us and Jo started to overtake it at a point where overtaking was impossible.  The two cars collided and disappeared in a cloud of smoke and dust.  When I arrived at the Ferrari it was stopped and burning fiercely.  My first thought was that maybe Bonnier's Lola was wedged underneath the front of it.  It wasn't, so I returned to the Ferrari thinking that the driver was still inside.  I did not know (although you see it on the French TV clip) that the driver had climbed out and with his hands badly burned had fallen over the guard rail so I didn't see him.  I opened the door and was surprised to find no-one inside.

Regarding the Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite, I was very proud to receive it, but I would rather not have been in the circumstances where it could happen.  I didn't feel I had done anything special - if a driver's life was at risk I thought it was absolutely normal to try and save him. 

Another mithic race is the Montecarlo. Some of our readers are going to the Montecarlo Classics each year... What can you tell us about this race?

I always enjoyed Monte Carlo because I was good at driving in varying conditions, especially in the mountais and there could be anything from dry roads to ice and snow.  I also had the best co-driver (David Stone) and the best pace notes that we had developed together over the years.

And Vic today? (for example could you tell us what does your driving school offer?) 

I no longer run the Porsche Owners Driving School which I did for Porsche Cars North America for a few years.  We did not try to teach people to become race drivers, but very good at SAFE, high speed driving and getting the best out of their Porsches.  Vic today does talks to clubs and other PR things.

Your victories and best seasons: 

Best season; 1968.  I won Monte Carlo. Daytona 24 hours, Nurburgring 1000 kms, Targa Florio.  2nd at Sebring 12 hours, 4th in my first ever GP with the worst car in the field!