Team Lotus Sings: “The Champions” by the 1972 World Championship Winning Team
Have a listen to this remarkable little tune.
It’s a song called “The Champions” and is sung by the 1972 World Championship winning crew from John Player Team Lotus.
The record was produced to celebrate Emerson Fittipaldi‘s stunning F1 title glory at the wheel of the fabulous, JPS Lotus 72.
Team Lotus Sings was written produced and arranged by then Team Lotus member, Luke Watson.
The record was released in 1973 by Speedy Records and included a B side called “Workin al’nighter”
It is very difficult to read, but I think the opening paragraphs on the sleeve states. ” Up in the frozen wilds of untamed Norfolk, where the icy breezes steadily reduce the indigenous monkey population, a group of brave mechanics – their nether parts well insulated – toil away on their racing car. They are members of a rare breed knows as “racing mechanics” – more they are members of the infamous Team Lotus – the “all blacks” of motor racing.
As they toil away tweaking up their car (amongst other things) they sing strange enchanting songs the lyrics of which are loaded with tear jerking sentiment and unprintable words.
From their vast repetois of ribald songs we have taken two of the more seemly tunes both written and composed by Luke Watson, one of the team.”
Gold, pure gold.
Images: yesterdaysracers.com
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Thanks! That’s my video!
It will be included as one of the ‘extras’ on the DVD I am producing on the Lotus 72.
We already have interviewed John Miles, Emerson Fittipaldi, Peter Warr and are aiming to conduct another two interviews this year.
Thank you!
Gary Critcher
My family bought me a USB turntable for my Birthday last month, so I spent a couple of hours this morning copying some of my records across to my computer, imagine my surprise when I come across a copy of this amoungst them.
Yep, I had to chuckle when I too read the discription of Norfolk.
John
This has just put a huge smile on my face and brought me back to the countless times that I played this record on our player at home as a child. Not sure what happened to my copy over the years but would love to get hold of one – anyone know where I could do that?
Melany Campanile (nee Endruweit – my Dad Jim Endruweit worked at Lotus but sadly didn’t sing on this classic!)
I have this record still in its (tatty) sleeve.
My late friend Carole sent it me as her husband John (Tweak Robinson)was on of the singers on it.
They had moved up to Norfolk with Lotus from Broxbourne.
Happy days………
[...] Brazilian racers in the late 1960s and early 70s to become a double Formula 1 World Champion with first Lotus and then McLaren. By then though there was another Fittipaldi in F1 – Wilson, Emerson’s elder [...]