FORMULA 1
devastating losses of 1968 . Later years were not much better : in 1970 three racers lost their life ( including Bruce McLaren , creator of the famous team ), then one in 1971 , two in 1973 and 1974 … Who was there for the wives and girlfriends and families — to support each other through tragedy ? It was the Doghouse Owners ’ Club .
Fortunately , the sport is far safer now owing a lot to the work of Sir Jackie Stewart , who pioneered safety improvements and with great determination continued to champion safety campaigns .
© WMRAC
Grand Prix royalty from the ‘ 50s ,’ 60s and ‘ 70s bearing the names of Brooks , Hill , McLaren and Stewart were joined by 60 members and friends of the Women ’ s Motor Racing Associates Club for an exclusive lunch at The Ivy , in the heart of London ’ s West End , to celebrate the WMRAC ’ s 50th Anniversary .
The Doghouse Owners ’ Club has had a good run — more than most institutions . It had a 50-year celebration in 2012 where celebrated Grand Prix legend Stirling Moss famously admitted : ‘ For the first time in my life , I can sincerely say that I regret not being in ‘ The Doghouse ’!’
They spawned books of naughty song lyrics called ‘ Doghouse Girls have lots of Balls ’ and one called ‘ Racey Recipes ’. Professional advertising agencies could learn a trick or two from these heroic amateur ladies that would do just about anything for a Charitable cause . The Doghouse was a powerful force for good way back when . It is still doing important work collecting for Charities like Jackie Stewart ’ s Race Against Dementia . Members liked to get together for a chat at Silverstone or organise a Spring Lunch — for example at Quaglino ’ s . Maybe there ’ s still a breath of life in the old dog — this Club which played an important role in motor racing history .
Today women are just as powerful a force making history in Motor Racing — but not just as wives and girlfriends but competing head on with the men . ‘ Fast Ladies ’, women racing drivers are taking us into the future .
But if you thought there was fading interest in wives and girlfriends of racing drivers just watch Hollywood and Reality TV who are trying out shows like ‘ Racing Wives ’.
The reason for the Doghouse Owners ’ Club creation was the great danger of motor-racing during those years .
© WMRAC
A BRILLIANT HISTORY COMPLETE WITH SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS AND CHARITABLE PROJECTS
People used to the luxurious Amber Lounge in Monte-Carlo and the cosseting of the celebrities around the drivers and all the associated glamour will grin at this description by the Doghouse Girls including Loti Irwin of how it was in those good old days : ‘ When the Doghouse started , we had a caravan which some poor soul got talked into taking to Silverstone before we got the use of the old time-keeper ’ s place up near the start / finish line .’
Shirley and Peter Procter presenting cheques at the 2020 AGM
HELLO MONACO MAGAZINE WARMLY THANKS THE WOMEN ’ S MOTOR RACING ASSOCIATES CLUB ( WWW . WMRAC . COM ) FOR THE ILLUSTRATIONS .
60 / Hello Monaco Spring 2021 www . hellomonaco . com