Gordon Spice

Multiple class champion

The sight of a sideways Ford Capri evokes memories of Gordon Spice. The Egham-based driver, who held the record – until 2016 when he was overtaken by Mat Jackson – of the most wins in the British Saloon Car Championship without a title, was one of its most popular characters. His flamboyant style and straight-talking nature made him a hit with fans.

Spice began racing in the BSCC in the 1960s in a Mini, and was a successful businessman, combining that with racing. He was one of the most prolific tin-top winners between 1978 and ’80, but the vagaries of the class-based points-scoring system often worked against him and kept him from the ultimate prize. He was the class champion for six seasons in a row, and won the Spa 24 Hours in ’78 in a Capri.

Spice could see the writing on the wall at the end of 1982 and told Ford that the new Rover Vitesse was superior to his Capri, and he would prefer to concentrate on long-distance racing. Spice initially persuaded Ford to get behind him, but it pulled the plug before he could get going with a Tony Southgate designed machine. He had raced at Le Mans for Rondeau, and finished on the podium in 1980 and ’81. In the mid-’80s, he created his own cars and was hugely successful. He was a four-time C2 world champion, and won his class at Le Mans twice, finishing sixth overall in ’87 in one of his own creations.