1969-1972 Ron Footitt
We used to call him Uncle Ron because he was so good with young people and aspiring drivers and unbelievably generous with his car. No elf’n safety for him, the kids could have a go in the Cognac from an early age – Martin Stretton was 10 when Ron became Captain! – so long as it was in a straight line and mums weren’t looking. And if you were over 21 and a girl you could get to drive for real in a VSCC competition! Yes he lent his car to his men friends too and they often broke it for him by way of thanks.
He came from a tradition of competing Captains and had a fantastic run of success with vintage racing. Ron was a racing driver through and through and that’s all he had ever wanted to be. Not a rally man, a raid man, a driving test man nor a trials man tho’ he had briefly competed at one time. Ron was the FTD man at numerous sprints and hill climbs in Cognac and hung on to vintage records for many years. He had a dour Lancastrian sense of humour, a permanent half smoked cigarette which gingered his moustache, and was an outstanding engineer. And of course he had a heavy right foot coupled with the usual male accoutrements which was the reason for his success on the track and why he became a role model for younger members and following Captains. Ron was Captain when you rolled up your sleeves for racing and went to the pub afterwards.
