As enthusiasts and students of racing history, we have a natural tendency to idolize, if not deify, the great men who have helped build and shape our sport. We revere the drivers like Graham Hill, who scored victories at Le Mans, Indy and Monaco. We virtually worship constructors like Colin Chapman and Enzo Ferrari, individual men responsible for the creation of some of our most coveted prizes. And yet, we all too often overlook the fact these men couldn’t have achieved what they did without the support of their counterparts in life. While not revered—or in many cases even remembered—wives, such as Bette Hill and Hazel Chapman, played integral roles in the success and advancement of their husbands. Were either Graham or Colin alive today, I’m confident that both would be the first to acknowledge that without their wife’s support, they never would have been able to achieve the things they did. The notion that these motor sport wives have played a much larger role than given credit for was painfully brought into focus for me recently with the heart wrenching news that Nancy McDonough—wife of VR European Editor Ed McDonough—had lost her short but valiant battle with cancer on January 31st.
While you will all be familiar with the car-hopping Mr. McDonough from his years of test-driving extraordinary cars for us, the vast majority of you will never have heard of dear Nancy…unless of course you actually needed to get your magazine! While Ed has been for 12 years, the visible face of Vintage Racecar in Europe, Nancy has always been the brains (sorry, Ed) behind the face. When Ed took on responsibilities for our European operations, it was poor Nancy who inherited all the work! While Ed was test-driving the Grand Prix Alfa Romeo Alfetta, Nancy was looking after our banking and payments. While Ed lapped Rockingham in a Lotus 49, Nancy was managing subscriptions. And while Ed was firing up the ’66 Lola Indy car for a run up the Silver Flag hill climb, poor Nancy was the one in back having her arm engulfed by flames from the blowby! If you’re beginning to get the impression that Nancy was one of the most supportive and indulgent wives on the planet…you’re only just starting to get the full picture.
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