A great article about Greg Thornton & his formula 1 conguering Chevron B24 Author: Simon Chapman
Simon Chapman has wrote a brilliant article on velocity news about Greg and his Chevron B24 which is worth a read. Find an extract of the article below.
Once upon a time, Formula 1 beauties and Formula 5000 beasts lived in harmony, roaming the various circuits throughout the Americas, Europe and Australasia. Lotus, Lola, McLaren, McRae and March. V8 heavyweights battling it out for circuit supremacy.
The 1’s reigned over the 5000s, but dwindling Formula 1 grids in the ’70s Race of Champions saw more of the 5000s welcomed to make up the numbers. A total of 16 Formula 5000s joined the ranks, making up half of the 29 car grid.
Held through 1965 to 1983, the Race of Champions was a non-championship Formula 1 race at the United Kingdom’s Brands Hatch. The likes of Rosberg, Stewart, Hunt, Fittipaldi, Villeneuve, and New Zealand’s own Bruce McLaren, all winners of the race in it’s two decade history.
The event, run to Formula 1 rules, was of course dominated by Formula 1 machinery. However, in 1973 one of the greatest upsets in motor racing history came when Peter Gethin in his Chevron Formula 5000 passed the McLaren M23 of Denny Hulme for the lead, no less on the final lap, to win the race.
Now owned by Englishman Greg Thornton, the Chevron B24-03 is one of the prized possessions amongst his historic collection of Formula race cars; which includes three JPS Lotus Formula 1 cars.
Greg’s first foray in motor racing came quite late, having only begun racing in his early 40’s in 2004. His story into how he began racing isn’t typical of most, as Greg explains.
“My ex-wife didn’t like the idea that I used to fly helicopters, and she said that was stressful enough and dangerous enough and worrying enough. So I got divorced.”
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