Tom Wheatcroft - One of the Last Great Dreamers<

Donington Park holds a very special place in my affection. Certainly, it isn't the greatest of tracks in terms of facilities for both competitors or spectators. Some corners could do with a new lick of paint and the 'grandstands' are God's own grass. But Donington retains one thing so many other circuits lack - spirit. It truly deserves its mantle as the heart of British motor racing, nestled in the Midlands of England, it still beats with the enthusiasm of ages past. At the core of this great circuit is owner Tom Wheatcroft. There is, and will be, forever a part of Tom that is Donington and a part of Donington that is Tom. So it is befitting that 2002 marks a special anniversary for both parties. 8^th May 2002 sees Tom Wheatcroft celebrate his 80^th birthday, a celebration that will be coupled with Donington Park's own 25^th anniversary of the return of racing, a return which would probably not have been seen without the steadfast eagerness of Tom.

Donington Park became England's first permanent road racing circuit in 1931. Local owner, Mr. Shields gave Derby and District Motor Club permission to build a 2-mile motorcycle circuit in the grounds of the 17^th century Donington Hall. Over the years the circuit increased in length and in 1933 it held its first championship race. The pre-war heyday for Donington Park was undoubtedly the 1937 and 1938 'Grand Prixs' won by Bernd Rosemeyer and Tazio Nuvolari respectfully. The crowds were awestruck by the power and domination of the German machinery such as the Mercedes W125 and Auto Union Type C. Among the spectators was a young man from Leicester, Tom Wheatcroft who would cycle to watch the races that so fuelled his passion for all things mechanical.

The shadow of Europe at war soon blanketed the landscape and marked immediate change for both Tom and Donington Park. In 1939 the circuit was requisitioned by the army and turned into the largest military transport depot. The track that once saw the wheels of some of man's most ingenious racing machinery was now home to tanks, trucks and military vehicles. Tom Wheatcroft joined the army and was posted abroad, not to see home again for six and half years.

In the last days of World War Two, Tom was stationed in Germany and met Helena, a young German woman, as she queued to collect her ration of meat. Tom ensured that come the first army dance to be organized Helena would be his guest. Love blossomed and within two years they were married. In the aftermath of war some may have raised an eyebrow at a young English soldier marrying a German but as he has said in a recent interview it was a situation that was harder for those who had not been in the forces to understand but those who had been at the epicentre and fought the 'enemy' had also had the experience of meeting those they were pitted against and found other young men with hopes and dreams like themselves.

Tom and his new bride came home to Leicestershire where Tom embarked on an extremely successful building business. A large family followed, with Tom and Helena having four children before calling it a day. However Stirling Moss was to have a great effect on their family planning! A few years later Tom claims Stirling's win in Monaco set off some 'celebrating' and lo and behold three more children followed! So now you know the 'motor racing can be dangerous' warning on the back of tickets obviously refers to contraception too!!

Whilst Tom's business grew and prospered the fate of Donington Park was far from rosy. The army moved out in 1956 and the area was left to dereliction. However, the area still held a special place in Tom's heart who would visit yearly to ride his motorbike around the parts of track that remained. On one of these visits he came across two women walking dogs one saying he had no right to be there unless he had a note from her husband, even if he had come to buy the park. This was the first Tom had heard that the park was available to buy. A phonecall on the Monday ensured he was the new owner by the Friday.

The park became the perfect place to house his growing collection of cars and memorabilia. Tom himself admits 'collecting is a disease' and as a man with over 500 oil cans one must respect his view! As always Tom was keen share his passion and in March 1973 the Donington Grand Prix Collection opened to the public. Now with over 100 cars from all aspects and eras of motor racing it is acclaimed as one of the world's greatest memorials to motorsport.

Tom's enthusiasm went beyond the stationary displays of cars and he actively backed the careers of up and coming racing stars including Derek Bell and Leicester driver Roger Williamson. For Derek Bell he ran a Brabham BT30 in F2 and BT26 in F1 which didn't make great headway. In 1972 he was instrumental in running Roger Williamson's British F3 campaign with occasional European F2 races. In 1973 a full campaign of European F2 races followed for Williamson with a few planned F1 outings in the March. Sadly, Williamson's promising F1 career was tragically cut short when he was killed at the Dutch Grand Prix. The loss of his friend and protégé greatly saddened Tom. In the following years he backed other drivers including another fellow Midlander, Derby's Brian Henton who raced in 19 Grand Prixs.

Throughout, Tom's dream remained rooted in bringing racing back to Donington Park. It was an uphill battle both financially and locally to get the project off the ground. Even up until the eve of the first race in 1977 the lawyers were working eagerly to stop the various appeals to stop the race. One main bone of contention was the routing of public footpaths through the park, a diversion finally accepted. Wheatcroft was told one appeal would clear the air and the matter would be laid to rest. To date Wheatcroft has spent over £2million on appeals, a very real reminder of the financial as well as emotional commitment he has made to the track.

The return of racing to the Donington track over the last 25 years has blessed motor racing and beyond with many fine memories. Donington is rightly lauded as one of the greatest motorcycle racing tracks in the world and is the proud host of the MotoGP. It has also staged successful World Superbike rounds and is a firm favourite with the British motorcycle series. Drivers who have gone on to be household names have cut their racing teeth on the Formula Ford and Formula Three races here not to mentioned the extra expertise of racing schools held at the track. Touring cars have long found it a challenging track and 2002 sees the return of the German DTM series much to Tom's delight. Truck racing has literally shook the ground and even motorised garden sheds, armchairs, double beds and giant rollerskates have tried their luck!

If the racing wasn't enough to blow your eardrums the infamous Monster of Rock festivals of the 1980s surely would and 2002 sees the return of Donington as a venue for the air guitarists with Ozzy Osbourne's Ozfest though for the less raucous you could come along to the May festival featuring the pop bands that make pre-pubescent girls faint.

But, even these great spectacles pale into insignificance when the words '1993 European Grand Prix' are uttered. That was a weekend that Tom still sits back and relives, and having been there I can testify why. Acclaimed as Ayrton Senna's finest race the appalling East Midlands March weather was a test of nature that Senna swotted aside like a fly. When you're caught in the rain, my grandmother says ' nevermind it stops when it gets to your skin'. At Donington I believe that was disapproved as the rain drove through layers of clothing and I swear it didn't stop until it hit the bone. The crowd was estimated at anything from 40-50,000, personally I think it was about 30,000 and the movement of us all shivering just made it look as if there were more. What I can guarantee is we would all do it again to watch Senna scythe through the pack on the first lap with a talent that is rarely seen. No wonder this great day was voted the race of the 20^th Century.

Tom openly admits they lost money on that race and they did not have the full infrastructure to carry such an event off. Would he do it again? Of course! Tom is one of the few great dreamers left in motor racing, driven by the passion of the sport not the gate receipts. There is still a part of him that hopes to see F1 return to Donington though I doubt we will. If it means landing spaceage grandstands over the spectator banks for that hideous clinical feel of so many circuits I'd be dismayed though another part of me would cherish the sight of an F1 car speeding round Starkeys once more.

Donington will host a gala dinner on the 8^th June to mark Tom and Donington Park's landmark anniversaries. Great names of motorsport will gather to give rightful praise to this most passionate and, dare I sa, eccentric of characters. A new award will be launched that night, the Tom Wheatcroft Trophy, a solid silver Steering Wheel. It will be awarded annually to those who have made an outstanding contribution to motorsport. Surely, it should be sat on Tom's own mantelpiece this year?

© Rebecca Hobbs

(c)RH PR 2007