Interview: Ben Casey

In the final part of our trilogy of interviews with former BRM mechanics our focus this month is with Ben Casey, who started with the racing team at Bourne during the early 1960s and remained until the doors were almost closed. Upon joining the team, BRM was on the crest of a wave of success, having recently won the F1 World Championship with Graham Hill and looking forward to other victorious seasons. History shows the team was heading for its deepest nadir and ultimate closure. Although the journey was long and very painful, there were, on occasions, seemingly bright lights at the end of the tunnel, new beginnings and many promises. VR’s European Editor, Mike Jiggle, recently spoke to Casey about his experiences during those dramatic years and the eventual demise of the team.

BC: ….just before we start this interview, can I put on record my real name is Philip Casey, however, in the early 1960s there were two fictional medical television programs in the UK, firstly, Dr. Kildare (played by Richard Chamberlain) on one channel, and another—Ben Casey (played by Vince Edwards) on the other. During that time they vied for ratings. Instantly, from those days forward, my name became Ben Casey, which I’m very happy to be known as today.