Demolishing a Dino

Demolishing a Dino

Sir,

Having seen the car race I read with interest the article on the Colonel’s Dino 2065P. As mentioned Mike Parkes drove it in the 1966 Brands Hatch British GP Group 7 ‘Big Banger’ support race, easily winning the 2-litre class. Parkes usually went well at Brands, so it was a surprise that, during practice for the following August Monday Guards International race, he lost control of the Dino at Paddock Bend and crumpled it hard into the bank.

I was in the paddock when the wrecker brought in the very battered Dino, most of the left side crushed. It was clearly a non-runner for Monday’s race. As we watched the car being winched down a crestfallen Parkes stood by, looking very unhappy. His mood can’t have been improved much when up strolled Graham Hill (driving a Team Surtees Lola T70 that weekend), looked at the sad Dino, looked at Parkes and said “Bloody hell, Michael!”. David Fox, Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, USA