And now Lord Montagu dies...

[dinizintheoven]

Jules Bianchi. Aged 25 - not very old.
Guy Ligier. Aged 85 - old.
Justin Wilson. Aged 37 - not very old.
And the cycle continues as the latest death is that of Edward, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, at the grand old age of 88.

But what's he got to do with us, I hear you ask?

The clue's in his title. He was the owner of the Beaulieu estate in Hampshire, which includes a certain motor museum I've been to this year, and which dr-baker has either been to or intends to. Amongst all the cars from the earliest days of motoring, the Top Gear machine collection, a reproduction of an ancient garage, a Peel P50 and a Bugatti Veyron, there's a few F1 cars - a 1996 Williams, a mid-2000s McLaren, and some weird mashup of a pre-2009 Renault with some later-style wings on it painted to look like Team Enstone's current colours. Don't think there were any out-and-out rejects, though.

Here are some photos of what I saw when I visited in March, and presumably the estate and museum will continue to run in the safe hands of Ralph, 4th Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, as he is from today.

[mario]

Jules Bianchi. Aged 25 - not very old.
Guy Ligier. Aged 85 - old.
Justin Wilson. Aged 37 - not very old.
And the cycle continues as the latest death is that of Edward, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, at the grand old age of 88.

But what's he got to do with us, I hear you ask?

The clue's in his title. He was the owner of the Beaulieu estate in Hampshire, which includes a certain motor museum I've been to this year, and which dr-baker has either been to or intends to. Amongst all the cars from the earliest days of motoring, the Top Gear machine collection, a reproduction of an ancient garage, a Peel P50 and a Bugatti Veyron, there's a few F1 cars - a 1996 Williams, a mid-2000s McLaren, and some weird mashup of a pre-2009 Renault with some later-style wings on it painted to look like Team Enstone's current colours. Don't think there were any out-and-out rejects, though.

Here are some photos of what I saw when I visited in March, and presumably the estate and museum will continue to run in the safe hands of Ralph, 4th Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, as he is from today.

Having been there a few times myself, it's a sad thing to hear that he has passed away, though it does sound as if his sun will continue to run the motor museum and estate.

Speaking of the motor museum, there are a few more F1 cars in there too - there should be a Lotus 78 and a March 701 raced by Tyrrell after their split with Matra. As for reject cars, there is a Vanwall VW 55 if I recall well, which would be a reject car (entered into four races with a best place finish of 9th).

[dr-baker]

I have indeed been to the museum (plus abbey and stately home) at least a dozen times previously, and it is at their Friends evenings that I met Justin Wilson alongside Jonathan Palmer. On other Friends evenings there, Murray Walker and Stirling Moss have also been present. So definitely F1 links there. Here is a link to the news story on the BBC website, including a short summary of his long life.

RIP.

[roblo97]

I have also been to the museum a couple of times, including for the supercar showdown in 2013 and that was a very well put on event.
RIP.