Kento and Mario

Me with Mario on the starting grid Japan Grand Prix 1977

At the time of the 1976 and 1977 Japan Gran Prixs I was working for Japan Airlines at JFK airport in New York.  Since the 1976 race followed the USGP and the 1977 the Canadian GP,  both cars and personnel were traveling on JAL from North America.  Being a long time formula 1 fan, I served as coordinator for both movements.  After the Glen in 76 the teams left on passenger flights and 1 747 cargo flight from JFK.  I was fortunate to meet most of the drivers and  team member and travel to Japan for the race.  I attended the official reception in Tokyo and had ID as race staff member.  The race was run in terrible rain so I spent most of the race in the covered VIP stands.  Mario won the race and James Hunt the world championship with a number of drivers dropping out due to the conditions.

1976 staff ID & pass

The 1977 race followed the Canadian GP and I traveled to Toronto to oversee the cargo 747 charter flight for the cars.  I them went to Vancouver to assist with the passenger and travel on to Japan.  I experienced what has to be the dream of any F-1 fan with no connections to the sport.  On race day I attended the race with my wife and 5 year old daughter along with a colleague from Japan and his 5 year old son.  He and I had official pit passes and my wife, daughter and his son just complimentary race tickets.  Our dealings during both these movements were with the then FOCA of which Bernie was president.  At that time he also owned the Brabham team and I asked him in the paddocks if we could get pit passes for my wife and the kids.  He sent me to his trailer were a I contacted a lovely blond women for the passes, she pulled out a pile and said "how many do you want". OMG what a chance but I had no one else to give one to so I had to say only three.  The back of the passes said no one under 16 was allowed in the pits but my blond daughter and her Japanese friend were the hit of the paddock area.

Paddock pass with Jodi Schecters autograph

Jodi signing it.

myself with James Hunt and some Japanese dude that wanted a autograph at the reception for the teams in 1976 race