S&G Publications

The S&G achieved a lifetime’s ambition in writing about the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 – with considerable help and support from the likes of Sir Peter Jackson’s The Vintage Aviator Limited, The Shuttleworth Collection, the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust, author Derek Robinson and modern day S.E.5 pilots Rob Millinship and Richard Grace, among many others.

Apart from the offspring and a book that the S&G wrote behind the scenes at Ferrari many moons ago, probably very little will outlast this author once that cloaked figure with a scythe comes-a-knocking… but this one might. True enough it’s not exactly Harry Potter but it really is the most amazing machine that became part of some astonishing lives.

It’s the story of an aeroplane that survived the Machiavellian machinations of the British aircraft industry, inter-service rivalries, the whims of the Houses of Parliament and any number of other obstacles to end up as the fighter that created more aces than any other. If that sounds like your cup of tea, then why not have a crack at this little competition?

The following photos, taken from the book, all show factories where the S.E.5 was built as they appear today. Some have original buildings whole or in part, others are now home to much more modern monoliths – or even empty space.

Factory 1:

Factory 2:

Factory 3:

Factory 4:

Factory 5:

Factory 6:

Factory 7:

To enter, simply name the factories in order by replying to this post as follows…

Factory 1:
Factory 2:
Factory 3:
Factory 4:
Factory 5:
Factory 6:
Factory 7:

The competition starts now and will end at 00:01 on June 23 2018. The names of those who successfully get all seven correct will be drawn from a hat by an independent name-from-hat-puller. There should probably be plenty more Ts and Cs but if you’re the sort of person who gets in a bait about such things then it’s probably best not to enter!

It’s just a bit of fun, after all…

In the meanwhile the book remains available from Haynes Publishing here, is on Amazon here and is available from all good book sellers.

Did you know that Ronnie Peterson agreed terms with Ferrari to fill Niki Lauda’s seat after the Austrian’s fiery crash in 1976?

Or that Lauda himself fully expected the whole field to pull into the pits behind him at Fuji?

Or that James Hunt’s deal to drive for Ferrari was scuppered by Vauxhall?

Or that one of Ferrari’s senior designers was kidnapped and, sadly, murdered in a story that could have been ripped from the pages of an Inspector Montalbano mystery?

Not for the first time, the S&G has written a book. It is the latest in the series of Haynes Manuals for enthusiasts of the most iconic cars in motor sport history – in this instance, the Ferrari 312T series. So if you like pretty red things and are looking for something to leaf through on holiday this summer, here’s the sales pitch:

This manual contains a guide to owning, restoring and enjoying one of these iconic 1970s Formula 1 cars.

If you happen to have a spare couple of million dollars that you don’t know what to do with, there is guidance on owning a 312T, T2, T3, T4 or T5. Even a T6, if you will… although not the fictional T8. There is also expert advice how to tackle an auction from the chaps at Bonhams and insights into ownership and maintainance from Hall & Hall.

If you want to get under the skin of this little beast, there’s now a book for you

This book won’t follow Haynes tradition and give you a step-by-step guide to replacing the wiring loom but then we are talking about a Formula 1 car and not a Morris Ital. If you can afford a 312T then you’ve doubtless got a man in a mews garage with grubby fingernails who can handle that sort of thing.

Alternatively, you might want to give it back to Ferrari, where Gilles Villeneuve’s former crew chief, Pietro Corradini, will tend to its needs in the Corse Clienti workshops. He is also a prominent contributor to the book.

But for those who want to revel in the history of the 312T there is, we hope, plenty to enjoy. Lots of pictures. Quite a few words. Many of those words came from the mouth of Mauro Forghieri, designer of the breed and of pretty well all things Ferrari from 1962-82. That interview, ladies and gentlemen, was a good day’s work.

Forghieri also had plenty to say about the storied summer of 1976 and the epic battle for the Formula 1 world championship between Niki Lauda and James Hunt. And if Forghieri had plenty to say then the team manager from that fateful season, Daniele Audetto, was a positive Vesuvius of information that had been bubbling away unseen by anyone for decades.

Certainly unseen by anyone in the English speaking world. The story of that summer of ’76 is often told but much of Audetto’s version of events was news to your humble scribe as it will be to any of you in the English speaking world because, let’s face it, the coverage at the time was rather patriotic in tone.

Unsurprisingly the Italian version of events is significantly different to the ‘official story’ as told by the Anglo-Saxon contingent and benefits from a whole host of scandals and intrigues never before mentioned in polite society.

This was all somewhat exciting to be told, but then it was rather an exciting project to be given. The 312T belongs to an age of unalloyed heroism exemplified by Lauda’s return from the Nürburgring, the likes of Hunt, Scheckter and Reutemann wrestling with their considerable fears about surviving each and every race weekend and Gilles Villeneuve’s devastating speed. Revisiting those days with such expert guides was a joy.

The making of the movie Rush and the cars that starred in it is also a feature. So too are those vital ingredients to the true story of 1976 that Rush missed out like the British Grand Prix riots – as reported by someone who was there lobbing beer cans onto the track.

The Ferrari 312T Owners’ Manual marks the second time that Haynes has offered the S&G an opportunity to write about the red cars. Almost 14 years ago your scribe was allowed into the inner sanctum at Maranello to document Ferrari’s resurgence under Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher. This resulted in the book Cavallino Rampante, which was one of the few times when life offers the chance to create something that will last a good deal longer than you will.

It’s been a pleasure to revisit that sort of territory again and one hopes that some of that enjoyment is passed on to the reader. So if all that tickles your fancy, please do dive in with both feet.