Well, I’ll be. My piece on Ford’s Walter Hayes? It’s only gone and got a response.
From, no less, than his son, Richard Hayes. Honoured, me? You betcha!
Luckily, Richard says he read and enjoyed my piece on his dad, ‘which catches him well.’ However, he’s got a couple of points to add. First: Walter Hayes was never actually honoured.
It seems I’ve knighted him, in error. Well, that’s just wrong, in my book. It seems the Queen somehow missed Walter’s name on her annual list: but it’s no more than an oversight, I’m sure.
There’s more. It turns out Walter Hayes ‘was a great motorsport fan and loved it, contrary to what you wrote,’ said Richard.
‘He took me to races all over the UK and the world, and enjoyed every formula – touring cars, FF, sportscars, F1, rallying, historic, etc…’ Which is great news! One of Ford’s top men is a motorsport nut, after all. And so, all is good in the world.
Even better, Richard has promised to speak some more with me – I said I’d like to bring out more of his dad’s remarkable career, to which he said ‘I would be happy for you to do some follow up pieces on my father – and will offer as much help as I can.’
This is great news! Readers, we’re going to learn some crackers, I just know it. Richard’s already tempted me, with a story about Max Mosely, Lord March and the Goodwood Festival of Speed…
Advice from Ford’s Walter Hayes
How Ford put the boot into the Sierra
