Fairman, Jack

[SL]

Perhaps not the most famous of drivers but a big part of the 1950 / 1960 Sports car scene. Perhaps his most famous race was the 1959 Nurburgring 1000km as co driver to Moss. His job was to keep the car on the track whilst fast guy Moss rested.

Unfortunately, rain caused him to put the car in the ditch throwing away Moss's lead. With the car high and dry Moss started packing only to see Fairman arrive back in the pits. He had pushed the Aston out of the ditch on his own. Moss climbed back in and went onto win by 41 secs.

SL

[John Turner]

Jack Fairman was born 15 March 1913, died 7 February 2002.

Moss had actually asked for Fairman to share the drive at that Nurburgring event as he wanted a safe and reliable driver to keep the car on the road whilst allowing Moss his break before taking the Aston back out into the fray against the Ferraris. Most accounts seem to suggest that Fairman was either baulked or put off his line by a backmarker that caused his off. It was certainly his immense physical strength that got the car back on track and enabled him to pass the car back to Moss for a fine victory.

As well as sports cars, Fairman did race in a few GPs during the 1950's, usually in Connaughts, and he had quite a good year in 1956, when he finished 4th at the British GP and 5th in the Italian. However, by the end of that decade he was back to concentrating on sports cars.

[HRG Le Mans]

Is this the same Jack Fairman who took class S1.5 victory in 1949 Le Mans, 8th Overall in an HRG?

[markjtaylor]

I am not sure of the connection, but a pub has recently been re-furbished and opened in Horley, Surrey town centre. THE JACK FAIRMAN. Any ideas????

[D-Type]

I think that the pub is on or near the site of the garage owned by either the Fairman family or Jack himself.

Yes, he did drive the HRG at Le Mans in 1949

[nicanary]

As a newby I'm only just getting to read some of these posts.

Don't forget Jack's drive at the "Monzanapolis" of 1957 driving one of the Ecurie Ecosse D-types. Jack appears to be the only one of the team who had sussed out that the Indy roadsters had only 2 speed boxes, and then 1st was just for the pitlane.

Thus he timed his run from the off to perfection and took most of the field before they reached the banking.In order to take the lead he went up to the very top of the banking and then got the slingshot effect to cross the line first. It didn't last of course.

It has been said that the locals found bits of bonnet strap,buckle and Ecosse blue paint on the guardrail after the race.His fastest lap was over 150mph - on 3.4 litres.

I've heard stories that in the early sixties,in the twilight of his career, Jack used to turn up at meetings with his helmet and goggles and wander the paddock hoping for a drive. All very sad.

Jack's extraordinary effort at the 'Ring in 1959 would be impossible to repeat in the modern racing world - you'd need to complete a "Risk Assessment" first, then obtain hard-hat and hi-vis jacket, then undertake a training course in positioning the feet at the correct width for lifting etc.etc.etc.. Hey-ho.