The son of eminent sculptor Jacob Epstein, Jackie was born in 1934 into an unorthodox family. The offspring of an extramarital 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 United States where his education continued, concluding with an engineering qualification. Epstein Sr. hoped that Jackie would paint, and as a child, made him produce a picture a week, a task that 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 April 19, 1954, the first winner on the new clockwise-driven circuit was 19-year-old Jackie Epstein, in a 2-liter Alta sports car that 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 T70s. In 1969, Epstein ran the Lola works Formula 5000 team with Mike Hailwood driving. Although failing to win the championship, Epstein discovered a latent talent in team management and, subsequently, ran several teams in both sports car and single-seater racing.
During 1975, Epstein was appointed general manager at Brands Hatch, a position he held for 15 years. His low-profile management often paid dividends, such as when the track was under threat from a proposed motorway scheme. While 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 organizer 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 motor sport’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.
