Boley remembered

Sir,

Both my partner Ken Brittain and I read with interest Guy Bailey’s letter, published a few months ago, with the fabulous picture of Boley Pittard in his Ford Anglia.

Ken actually built this car and developed the engine, so we have intimate knowledge.

For my part, Boley was an early hero; his style was quite unique and he had exceptional car control. He held the steering wheel most times at an 8.20 position, this was particularly noticeable entering Paddock Bend at Brands Hatch. I tried it only once — I should have had my accident about 60 yards later, but by sheer luck escaped with an exit up the grass. Of course I told all my pals at the time it was talent that avoided the shunt — not so!

The one thing Boley had over the rest of his competitors was he just had them ‘psyched out’. Not once (and I went to most of his races), did I ever see any one give him a hard time when he overtook; when Boley went by, Boley went by. If you attempted to outbrake him you both had the accident.

He once did the most stupid thing. After winning his race on the GP circuit at Silverstone (remember, the one you needed balls for) coming out of Chapel on the slowing down lap, he rolled it and virtually wrote the car off — quite amazing. Ken and the Willment team were not happy.

I often think of this brilliant driver who had such total confidence in himself. It was such a tragedy when he died; he would have gone on to be very famous, I think.

When Chris Craft went to see him in the Monza hospital, where he was lying horribly burnt, the only thing he was interested in was “Is the thing between my legs alright?” Chris told him, after inspection, it was, he then relaxed. Later that evening he unhooked himself from the drip, bundled his clothes up and attempted to leave: he died in a nurse’s arms in the passageway outside the ward. They don’t make guys like that any more. God bless you, Boley. We all forget guys like this too soon.

David Brodie, Brackley, Northamptonshire.