The death of Jackie Epstein was announced in London on 7th January 2009. The son of eminent sculptor Jacob, Jackie Epstein was born into an unorthodox ‘family’ in 1934. The offspring of an ex. marital affair he was abandoned by his mother and cared for by Jacob’s wife. Following her death in an accident in 1949 Jackie was taken to the USA where his education continued concluding with an engineering qualification. Epstein Snr. hoped that Jackie would paint, and as a child made him produce a picture a week, a task which Jackie did not enjoy.

Returning to the UK Epstein had already acquired a love for cars and competition. So it was that when Brands Hatch reopened following major alterations, on 19th April 1954 the first winner on the new clockwise driven circuit was 19-year old Jackie Epstein, in a 2-litre Alta sports car which he had borrowed from a friend. This was to be the beginning of a long and fruitful association with Brands Hatch.

Jackie’s racing career included owning and driving an eclectic mix of cars including a Cooper Monaco, Ferrari 250, BRM F1, Ford GT40 and at least three Lola T70’s. The earliest being Chassis #38 which Epstein purchased direct from the Factory in August 1966. The car ran in the August Bank Holiday Guards Trophy race at Brands Hatch and subsequently all the ’66 CanAm Trophy events. Driven by Paul Hawkins the car was the first of two Lola’s to make a backward flip at St. Jovite in the opening Can Am round. Fortunately it was the least damaged and was repaired in time to complete all the following races.

Jackie’s racing activities continued in 1967 with Mklll Coupe SL73.112, the second customer car sold. Throughout ’67 & ’68 Epstein competed in long distance events with Paul Hawkins and Ed Nelson co-driving in events as far apart as Europe, South Africa and Australia. Sold in April’68 to Mike D’Udy #112 was replaced by one of the previously Aston Martin engine cars #121, by then converted to Chevrolet power. Jackie continued to travel the world enjoying long distance events with Ed Nelson, Eric Liddell, David Hobbs and Dave Charlton on the co-drivers roster.

In 1969 Epstein ran the Lola works Formula 5000 Team with Mike Hailwood driving. Bob Marston, who was later that year to become Lola Cars Chief Engineer recalls an incident which demonstrated Epstein’s tenacity when problems arose; “I first met Jackie at Mondello Park in 1969 when he was Team Manager for the "works" Lola F5000 outfit running Mike Hailwood. I was the "opposition" representing Surtees Racing with Andrea de Adamich and David Hobbs. Hailwood had a fairly extensive accident in practice and looked as though he would not make the race the following day. This however did not allow for Jackie's organisational skills which, much to our amazement, managed to get vital spare parts flown over to Ireland from Slough and fitted overnight, enabling Hailwood to make the start. His capacity for making "impossible" things happen in a very understated and courteous way was legendary. I soon had experience of it first-hand when I joined Lola and worked with Jackie developing the F5000 cars.”

Although failing to win the Championship that year, Epstein discovered a latent talent in team management and subsequently ran several teams in both sports car and single seater racing. In Formula 5000 he would guide Lola to the Entrants Championship in 1970 and Gijs van Lennep to the drivers title in ’72.

During 1975 Epstein was appointed General Manager at Brands Hatch, a position he held for fifteen years. His low profile management often paid dividends, such as when the track was under threat from a proposed motorway scheme. Whilst the motor racing community were gnashing their teeth Epstein quietly made a deal with the contractors on site resulting in many improvements to the circuit environs being completed at virtually no cost. With John Webb as the front man, Epstein was the architect and organiser of many innovative ideas which maintained Brands Hatch’s popularity, even after the Grand Prix was lost to Silverstone in 1988.

For so long one of British motorsport’s unsung heroes, Jackie Epstein’s contribution should not be underestimated. Never seeking the limelight Epstein was happiest quietly getting on with the job and highly regarded by the many aspiring drivers and engineers whose careers he fostered.



Jackie Epstein 1934-2009



Jackie Epstein (right) and Eric Broadley stand beside the F5000 T190. (Photo courtesy of Nick Gurney)



Mike Hailwood in action at Brands Hatch in the Epstein-Cuthbert T190.