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Vern Schuppan

  • 1. "Your knowledge and input is always welcome but please respect the team, the drivers and other members. Abuse or harsh criticisms will not be tolerated".

    2. "This forum is designated 'Family Friendly' - (ie. we have young & impressionable readers - even if they're not Members/Posters) - therefore language must be moderated! - (how would YOU feel about YOUR 9 year old reading it?)

    3. "Use of characters (eg. #$*@!) that only 'partially' disguise an intended vulgar/offensive word(s) is unacceptable!
    If you MUST express yourself in such a manner... use ***** and let the reader's imagination 'fill in the blanks'."






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Rob 18

New member
I have always been under the impression that Vern was always very critical of the Bryan Byrt Falcons & DJ was never that fussed on the job Vern did for the team at Bathurst but, after reading a snippit from a book the other day I,ve changed my mind slightly.

Schuppan comments after finishing a powerful 5th in the 78 Hardie Ferodo 1000 "You know, I don't know why Dick had me back, after I had done such an ordinary job the year before (77). I was keen to redeem myself actually".

Dick comments "Vern was so easy to get on with, not a prima donna. He drove within his limits - & those cars are not easy to drive after open wheelers".

They are the first positive comments I,ve ever heard from either driver refeering to their partnership in the 77 & 78 races...
 
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Henry

New member
I think that both parties mellowed a little as they aged... while Dick hadn't been too openly critical (restricting comments to saying that Vern "didn't seem to come to grips" with the Byrt Falcons, Vern had been vitriolic about the blue hardtops, in comparison with the 1976 Moffat car he had driven.

Woodsy's book is a fair read... although some of what is in there has been poorly proof-read, and inaccurate, there's a heap of gold amongst it all.

WHile I know that bigcol doesn't rate Vern at all, he did all right in the "purer" racing cars... Le Mans winner and placegetter, and almost an Indy victor too!
 
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Henry

New member
I think that both parties mellowed a little as they aged... while Dick hadn't been too openly critical (restricting comments to saying that Vern "didn't seem to come to grips" with the Byrt Falcons, Vern had been vitriolic about the blue hardtops, in comparison with the 1976 Moffat car he had driven.

Woodsy's book is a fair read... although some of what is in there has been poorly proof-read, and inaccurate, there's a heap of gold amongst it all.

WHile I know that bigcol doesn't rate Vern at all, he did all right in the "purer" racing cars... Le Mans winner and placegetter, and almost an Indy victor too!
 
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Seton Fanatic

New member
Fair read is probably the best description that can be applied to Legends of Speed. I have the book at home, and after reading it once or twice, have never really felt like picking it up again. I'll get back to it eventually, I'm sure, for some of the book is fascinating reading, particularly the chapters about Tony Gaze and Frank Gardner.
 
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Seton Fanatic

New member
Fair read is probably the best description that can be applied to Legends of Speed. I have the book at home, and after reading it once or twice, have never really felt like picking it up again. I'll get back to it eventually, I'm sure, for some of the book is fascinating reading, particularly the chapters about Tony Gaze and Frank Gardner.
 
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Rob 18

New member
I only picked it up the other day & good ol' me goes straight to the Brock v's Johnson segment. Most of the stuff we're familiar with but it was the Schuppan story that got my attention & now you mention it Henry, that's one of the few times I,ve ever read Dicks thoughts on Vern. Not sure it was worth $20 though...
 
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Rob 18

New member
I only picked it up the other day & good ol' me goes straight to the Brock v's Johnson segment. Most of the stuff we're familiar with but it was the Schuppan story that got my attention & now you mention it Henry, that's one of the few times I,ve ever read Dicks thoughts on Vern. Not sure it was worth $20 though...
 
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Beejay

New member
I've always had a high opinion of Vern. Made it into F1 and Indy. Was good enough to be used at Le Mans by Porsche, Renault and Wyer teams. With our peculiar Touring Car rules, there were many notables who couldn't do the job at Bathurst. Those group C cars were heavy, sloppy and under-braked. Just remember that Alan Jones couldn't hack it in Indy. Just because he was no good at one category, was he a dud?
 
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Beejay

New member
I've always had a high opinion of Vern. Made it into F1 and Indy. Was good enough to be used at Le Mans by Porsche, Renault and Wyer teams. With our peculiar Touring Car rules, there were many notables who couldn't do the job at Bathurst. Those group C cars were heavy, sloppy and under-braked. Just remember that Alan Jones couldn't hack it in Indy. Just because he was no good at one category, was he a dud?
 
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Seton Fanatic

New member
I was reading in Legends of Speed that Vern was the rightful winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1981, but will have 3rd next to his name because of the controversy surrounding that year's 500. Is it true?
 
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Seton Fanatic

New member
I was reading in Legends of Speed that Vern was the rightful winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1981, but will have 3rd next to his name because of the controversy surrounding that year's 500. Is it true?
 
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Henry

New member
According to Vern, true enough, but that's how it goes.... similar to the 1976 Bathurst result.

I think Woodsy's scribble is worth re-reading if only for the Franks (Matich and Gardner). Frank Gardner would be well worth spending a couple of years straight listening to his sotry. I was at the Holden Performance Driving Centre a month or so ago for a bit of a stickybeak (in my brand new just-purchased Westpoint clobber and all). One wall of their existing museum (which is being renovated) is a shrine to Frank... a stack of BTCC trophies, certificates, Frank's 70th b'day card with comments signed by Roy Salvadori, numerous Brabhams, and a shedload of other prominent racing names...

Apparently he still pokes his head round the door now and again, and more so since his recovery from extended illness...
 
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Henry

New member
According to Vern, true enough, but that's how it goes.... similar to the 1976 Bathurst result.

I think Woodsy's scribble is worth re-reading if only for the Franks (Matich and Gardner). Frank Gardner would be well worth spending a couple of years straight listening to his sotry. I was at the Holden Performance Driving Centre a month or so ago for a bit of a stickybeak (in my brand new just-purchased Westpoint clobber and all). One wall of their existing museum (which is being renovated) is a shrine to Frank... a stack of BTCC trophies, certificates, Frank's 70th b'day card with comments signed by Roy Salvadori, numerous Brabhams, and a shedload of other prominent racing names...

Apparently he still pokes his head round the door now and again, and more so since his recovery from extended illness...
 
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