Cindy-Lou Dale

When Jody Scheckter exploded onto the F1 scene many considered his aggressive tactics menacing to others on the track. Following one of the biggest accidents in F1 history, the then World Champion, Emerson Fittipaldi, accused Scheckter of being a madman who did not belong in the sport. However, Scheckter went on to become the 1979 F1 World Champion, a feat the Ferrari team would not repeat for another 21 years when Michael Schumacher appeared.

 

Winding Road was afforded a rare glimpse into the intensely private life of this former Formula One World Champion. It revealed that the years had indeed softened his granite eyes and rugged features; his dark wooly hair had been liberally sprinkled with silver and the persona the world media labeled as aggressive had mellowed to reveal a kindly, deferential and quick witted fellow.

 

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Jody Scheckter (d.o.b. 29 January 1950) was born into a family of motor racing enthusiasts. His father owned a Renault dealership in East London, South Africa, where he worked as an engineering-apprentice. He first tried out racing motorcycles and then switched to saloon cars. “Right from the start all I was interested in was winning,” Scheckter confessed.

 

In 1970 Scheckter won the Formula Ford series, a check for £300, an airline ticket to England and a ‘Driver to Europe’ scholarship, which was the platform he used to become the future world champion.

 

Eighteen months later McLaren gave him a trial run in the 1972 US Grand Prix, and in the 1973 season he was contracted as their third driver.

 

“Some people called me the Wildman of F1,” says Scheckter. “… but I felt my aggression was well under control. To outsiders though, it probably didn’t look like that at all.” Regardless of Scheckter’s early F1 career being punctuated by numerous collisions, McLaren signed him to replace the retiring Jackie Stewart.

 

During practice, at the 1973 US Grand Prix, Scheckter witnessed the horrific accident which claimed the life of the man that would have become his team mate, François Cevert.

 

“I was the first driver on the scene. Most of what I saw has thankfully been blanked out. I do recall attempting to remove his safety belt. The guard rail had cut the car in half and the battery was burning,” said Scheckter, who then added. “I tried to save Francois but knew it was over, and what I was hoping to do was useless. I turned and walked away, back towards the other cars that had by then all come to a stop.”

 

What Scheckter saw that day had a profound effect on his racing career as he had come to see how badly things could go wrong, regardless of how fit or quick a driver was. “From then on,” says Scheckter. “… all I was trying to do in Formula One was stay alive."

 

In 1979 the legendary Gilles Villeneuve was partnered with Scheckter and the two became close friends. Their relationship thrived in a good-natured rivalry which produced three race wins apiece and won Scheckter the World Championship later that year.

 

Although F1 racing is now far less dangerous than what it used to be, it’s now far bigger and is technologically driven, but the skills set remains the same. “To be a world champion you need many things -- things like dedication, staying focused, and speed. You also need to be mechanically minded so you could recommend adjustments and you need to be good at team motivation. But if its only a single race win you want, then you only need do some of those abilities,” Scheckter concluded.

 

It’s hard to imagine that such commitment would attract bad publicity, but it did -- lots of it.  “Today they hire publicity managers, PR people and team managers, but we had to take care of that side of business ourselves. As a result some journalists thought I was brash, but the only thing I truly was guilty of, was being single-minded. My thoughts and energies were more concerned with adjustments and settings to the car, the next race, the next win, tactical advantages – then my trail of thought would be interrupted when someone unwittingly asks an unrelated question. Okay, sometimes I did not respond the way I should have but that was Jackie Stewart forte.”

 

In Scheckter’s mind he had achieved the only result that mattered. He coasted through the 1980 season with Ferrari to fulfill his contractual obligations then retired at the age of 30.

 

“You could say it was a relief to retire. Back then the sport was claiming at least one life a year. Racing had lost its meaning; it no longer felt like it once did. Winning the world championship twice didn’t hold much appeal to me either and when you reach that stage its time to make a decision.” Scheckter reflected.

 

People continue to speculate as to who the best F1 driver of all time was, in the same way that people love to imagine Ali facing Tyson. However, Scheckter feels this to be a spotlight shared by more than one. “You have to go by results to some extent, which means its Michael Schumacher as he holds nearly every record,” says Scheckter, “Senna was the fastest. Prost was very good too. Fangio, Emmerson, Stuart, Lauda but if you’re going to push for only name I would have to say Michael Schumacher.”

 

In a bid to cut speeds, the FIA have imposed several new rules, such as no tire changes, and no overtaking. “A modern F1 car has as much in common with a jet fighter as it does with an ordinary road car and when technology and aerodynamics are changed, things happen that turn that fighter jet into a hang-glider, thus making motor racing far less of a spectators’ sport,” said Scheckter. “The new rules are disastrous to the sport.”

 

Already wealthy from racing, Scheckter became even more affluent as an astute businessman. His next successful career was even more remarkable given that it was in a field far removed from racing. He founded a high-tech security company, which developed and manufactured a weapons simulation and training program to improve the skills of military and law enforcement personnel. Scheckter sold the business several years later for a reported for $100-million.

 

So what has he learnt from F1 racing that he applies to his every day life? “What you put in is what you get out. Irrevocable commitment, dedication, communication, motivation – its all part of a successful formula,” Scheckter suggests. “What you put in is what you could expect to get out.”

 

Does he miss the thrill of the F1 track? “I found that business gives you as big a kick as racing. The only difference being that your success is only witnessed and shared by the shareholders. “If I had to do it all again, there is little I would do differently… other than entertain more ladies,” he grinned lasciviously.

 

Today, Jody Scheckter lives in a 17^th century mansion on Laverstoke Park, in Hampshire, England, and is surrounded by 2,500 acres of carefully manicured organic farm.

 

Leaning up against the side of his muscle farm vehicle, a Volkswagen Touareg V8 SUV, Scheckter contemplated the deep green pastures before him and considered a question for a moment. A protest of sort stuttered to a start. “Would I want to go back and do it all again? You must be joking – and give up all this?” he said, making a sweeping gesture in the direction of southern England.

 

When asked what one piece of advice he would pass on to an aspiring racing drivers’, Scheckter responded without having to think. “I would strongly suggest they consider professional golf instead.”

 

---ends---

 

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© Cindy-Lou Dale 2005