Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
He was just 17 when he eased his 250cc BSA into a quiet junction in rural Essex, England. Suddenly, from the right, a grocer's van appeared from nowhere. The collision was unstoppable. Alan Stacey's right leg was badly smashed. In hospital, where at first Alan was expected to make a full recovery, gangrene set in. Penicillin would have cured it - but Alan was allergic to penicillin. Next option: amputate the leg below the knee.
Not once after that moment did Alan look back. Still he wanted to race - and now, with compensation from the accident, he could afford to buy some machinery. And quickly he rose to the top, winning in Lotus sports cars built by Colin Chapman and earning the respect of all his peers - of Colin, of course, but also of Innes Ireland, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, John Surtees and Sir John Whitmore. So complete was Alan's mastery of a hand throttle and left-foot-braking that very few people in the race paddock even knew of his handicap. With 17 laps to go of the 1960 Dutch GP, in what should have been his first, full year in F1, he was heading for P3 when gearbox problems set in. At the next race - the Belgian GP at Spa - Alan had worked his way up from the back of the grid to P7 when - just like that - it all came to an end. We'll never know for sure, but it seems that Alan caught a bird straight in the face at one of the fastest parts of the circuit. His Lotus crashed and burned. He had no chance.
And there the story sat for many years. Alan Stacey: yet another name for the history books.
Until now. In this video, Peter talks to Alan's nephew - also called Alan Stacey. Alan (Jnr) is the architect behind an enthralling new book on his uncle's life, beautifully written by Kevin Guthrie and produced by BHP Publishing. It of course tells the full story of Alan's life and career but also it contains dozens of never-seen-in-public images from the time - a good majority of them taken by Alan himself. So this is a very special book, as we say - about a very special - yes, unique - F1 star with an extraordinary talent and an all-consuming passion.
With thanks to Jetcraft, the world's largest buyer and seller of executive jets:
jetcraft.com
To TrackNinja, a lap-timer and data app designed to help users improve their on-track car and driver performance through analysis and an innovative Data Garage. A lite version is free; the loaded edition is US$9.99 pcm or $99.99 yearly
https://trackninja.app
To OEM Exclusive, the passionate suppliers of OEM upgrades for exotic and high-performance vehicles
And to REC Watches, whose timepieces are infused with DNA and actual material from famous racing and road cars. Claim your additional 10 per cent discount by adding the codeword PETER:
recwatches.com/next-project
"Alan Stacey - his life and Lotus career" by Kevin Guthrie and Alan McG. Stacey is produced by BHP Publishing: bhp-publishing.co.uk
Images: from the book; and The Henry Ford (David Friedman collection)
thehenryford.org
Visit alpinestars.com for all your racing apparel
Try Oscar Razors - Australia's highly-rated, 5-blade razors for men and women
https://oscarrazor.com.au.
Follow Peter @peterwindsor
Book a Cameo with Peter: cameo.com/peterwindsor
Contact us at: peterwindsoryt@gmail.com
We support the Race Against Dementia:
raceagainstdementia.com
The Alora dog rescue shelter (Malaga, Spain)
aloradogrescue.com
#standwithukraine - now, more than ever
#Canada! #jimmykimmel!
Stephen Gallacher Golf Foundation
sgfoundation.co.uk
Nick: you're with us always:
samaritans.org
He was just 17 when he eased his 250cc BSA into a quiet junction in rural Essex, England. Suddenly, from the right, a grocer's van appeared from nowhere. The collision was unstoppable. Alan Stacey's right leg was badly smashed. In hospital, where at first Alan was expected to make a full recovery, gangrene set in. Penicillin would have cured it - but Alan was allergic to penicillin. Next option: amputate the leg below the knee.
Not once after that moment did Alan look back. Still he wanted to race - and now, with compensation from the accident, he could afford to buy some machinery. And quickly he rose to the top, winning in Lotus sports cars built by Colin Chapman and earning the respect of all his peers - of Colin, of course, but also of Innes Ireland, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, John Surtees and Sir John Whitmore. So complete was Alan's mastery of a hand throttle and left-foot-braking that very few people in the race paddock even knew of his handicap. With 17 laps to go of the 1960 Dutch GP, in what should have been his first, full year in F1, he was heading for P3 when gearbox problems set in. At the next race - the Belgian GP at Spa - Alan had worked his way up from the back of the grid to P7 when - just like that - it all came to an end. We'll never know for sure, but it seems that Alan caught a bird straight in the face at one of the fastest parts of the circuit. His Lotus crashed and burned. He had no chance.
And there the story sat for many years. Alan Stacey: yet another name for the history books.
Until now. In this video, Peter talks to Alan's nephew - also called Alan Stacey. Alan (Jnr) is the architect behind an enthralling new book on his uncle's life, beautifully written by Kevin Guthrie and produced by BHP Publishing. It of course tells the full story of Alan's life and career but also it contains dozens of never-seen-in-public images from the time - a good majority of them taken by Alan himself. So this is a very special book, as we say - about a very special - yes, unique - F1 star with an extraordinary talent and an all-consuming passion.
With thanks to Jetcraft, the world's largest buyer and seller of executive jets:
jetcraft.com
To TrackNinja, a lap-timer and data app designed to help users improve their on-track car and driver performance through analysis and an innovative Data Garage. A lite version is free; the loaded edition is US$9.99 pcm or $99.99 yearly
https://trackninja.app
To OEM Exclusive, the passionate suppliers of OEM upgrades for exotic and high-performance vehicles
And to REC Watches, whose timepieces are infused with DNA and actual material from famous racing and road cars. Claim your additional 10 per cent discount by adding the codeword PETER:
recwatches.com/next-project
"Alan Stacey - his life and Lotus career" by Kevin Guthrie and Alan McG. Stacey is produced by BHP Publishing: bhp-publishing.co.uk
Images: from the book; and The Henry Ford (David Friedman collection)
thehenryford.org
Visit alpinestars.com for all your racing apparel
Try Oscar Razors - Australia's highly-rated, 5-blade razors for men and women
https://oscarrazor.com.au.
Follow Peter @peterwindsor
Book a Cameo with Peter: cameo.com/peterwindsor
Contact us at: peterwindsoryt@gmail.com
We support the Race Against Dementia:
raceagainstdementia.com
The Alora dog rescue shelter (Malaga, Spain)
aloradogrescue.com
#standwithukraine - now, more than ever
#Canada! #jimmykimmel!
Stephen Gallacher Golf Foundation
sgfoundation.co.uk
Nick: you're with us always:
samaritans.org
