Champagne query

Sir,

In several decades of reading MOTOR SPORT it has become obvious to me that if you want information on some obscure facet of motoring history you appeal to its readers.

Watching Damon Hill on the podium at Silverstone, I got to wondering just who was the first driver to start squibbing champagne about after a race?

Having been a press photographer for a good many years and had to clean out many a camera gummed up by the sticky residue, it has always struck me as a rather silly gesture. Personally, I’d rather drink it!

I can recall the days of Bob Gerard, Bira, et al, at Silverstone before champagne was even given and recent years when it has been a veritable rainstorm, but I can’t remember when I first saw it done. History ought to record his name!

Alan Burman, Northampton.