Agriculture, Furniture & Marmalade
By Greg Mills
One of motor racing’s most prolific authors, Dr. Greg Mills, has recently completed an extraordinary book detailing the careers of the many Southern Africans who have left their mark, or who in some cases continue to leave their mark, on the world of motor racing.
The title stems from advice given by the late Jackie Pretorious to a young Jody Scheckter prior to his departure for England on the road to fame and fortune: “You have to learn some big words to impress the Europeans. The first three are ‘agriculture, furniture and marmalade,’ preferably to be used in conjunction with one another.” Whether or not this helped Jody on his way to becoming, to date, South Africa’s only F1 World Champion, is not revealed, but it did provide an unusual title for a wonderful book.
Beyond Jody’s title, South Africa can also boast two of F1’s most successful designers, Gordon Murray and Rory Byrne. Add Ken Howes in the world of NASCAR, and there begins a list that seems almost endless.
Mills traces the careers of many well-known and lesser known drivers, engineers, and mechanics from South Africa and Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). We are reminded of how much influence they had on the course of European racing, and that possibly the best lady Formula One driver, Desire Wilson, was also South African-born.
There is also a chapter on Alex Blignaut, “South Africa’s Bernie” who did so much to promote the South African GP. Numerous photographs, most in color and not previously seen, enhance the narrative.
Available in soft cover for 187.37 Rand / $US20 from publisher Pan MacMillan at panmacmillan.co.za
