1981 Dubai Motor Racing Grand Prix

Whose idea was it to hold a Dubai Motor Grand Prix?

Dubai's 1981 Motor Grand Prix had its roots in Martin Hone's 1966 dream of holding a Motor Racing Grand Prix on a UK city street circuit. In 1970 Martin found support for his idea with a member of Birmingham's City Council but the barriers were formidable, not least UK's Legislation not allowing motor racing on public roads. That Legislation had to change before a race could be held. Eventually Birmingham City Council saw the motor race as a means of changing Birmingham's drab profile to a modern go-ahead city. Martin Hone and his company, International Festival Services helped them with their task but continued to be frustrated in achieving an outcome.

As an interim step in 1980 Martin Hone organised a ‘The Lucas On The Streets Sport Spectacular’ to raise support for his Birmingham Motor Grand Prix Plan. Racing cars of all kinds were driven around a 1.8 mile circuit on Birmingham's streets, many by international racing drivers. No racing was involved. No speed limits were exceeded. It was a "presentation" of motor racing cars to the public. The public loved it.

How did Dubai became involved?

Watching this "presentation" event was Dubai's newly appointed Chief of Police, 28 year old Dahl Tami accompanied by his colleague Major Saeed Khalfan who was also Chairman of Al Nasr Motor Sports Club. They were impressed and approached Martin Hone to run a similar event in Dubai. Martin saw this an as opportunity to promote his Birmingham Plan and gain experience in running this type of event.
Martin Hone flew to Dubai in January 1981 and soon realised the enormity of his task....

“There was no racing circuit, an insufficient public road network to make a street circuit, no racing cars in the Emirates, few racing drivers, no trained marshals and no officials.”.

Reclamation completed

Deira Corniche reclamation had not long completed. Only the Hyatt Regency Hotel had been built on this reclaimed land. the surrounding area was largely sand with a single road connecting Dubai's Shindaga Tunnel. Martin designed a new 1.85 km circuit around the Hyatt Regency Hotel incorporating part of the Shindaga Tunnel Road. He also helped arrange Contractors to build the new circuit and brought out Clerks and Marshalls from UK to train and assist with the Grand Prix. Dubai's "Grand Prix" was criticised as it was not a Race for Formula 1 Grand Prix racing cars. Many local major motor racing events in Asia had given themselves the title of "Grand Prix" so Dubai's 1981 Motor Grand Prix followed suit.

Where did the cars come from? How did they get to Dubai?

1981 Motor Racing Grand Prix season had ended so there were cars and drivers available to travel to Dubai if they could be persuaded to do so. More racers were needed to fill a full 2 day programme so Martin Hone approached UK's Aston Martin Owners Club as well as saloon car racers. Prospect of racing in the sunshine plus a working holiday in Dubai sounded attractive but there remained the problem of how to get the cars to Dubai.

Dubai's Jebel Ali Port had not long completed. Sheikh Rashid awarded the Port's Management Contract to Sealand Shipping Company, an American Company that pioneered Container Shipping during the Viet Nam War era. Sealand Shipping were both managing Jebel Ali Port and introducing their container shipping services to the Gulf Region and Dubai. Shipping these racing cars to and from Dubai for the 1981 Dubai Motor Grand Prix provided a major opportunity to promote both Jebel Ali Port and Sealand Shipping Company's Container Services. By 1981 Dubai was promoting itself as an international transit hub for sea and air cargoes so cargo airlines were willing to transport some of these racing cars as a publicity exercise. Overall approach was to demonstrate Dubai's cargo handling capabilities as well as its accessibility. Both Sealand Shipping Services and Cargolux Airline featured in the publicity surrounding Dubai's Grand Prix.

1981 Dubai Motor Grand Prix Circuit

Race Day Arrangements

Facilities at Dubai's 1981 Motor Grand Prix were basic but adequate. Some of the track was marked with truck tyres and the pits and paddock constructed from shipping containers. Al Futtaims (Dubai's Toyota Dealer) provided Landcruisers fitted out with locally built hand operated crane. These were stationed around the track to deal with breakdowns and incidents. Fire, ambulance and Rescue Services were in place. Spectators were generally accommodated in temporary stands. Prior to Race Day was a Practice Day.

NOTES from the Grand Prix

• Joe Wiedmer flew his PanAm Porsche into Dubai Airport to discover the only way to get his valuable Porsche to the track was by helicopter. DNATA, then mistakenly used the Porsche's Driver Protection Roll Bar to hook to the helicopter instead of the chassis lifting points. Porsche parted company with the helicopter during the lifting causing extensive damage to the Porsche. All night repairs got the car ready for race day.
• Juan Manual Fangio suffered a heart attack during practice and spent two weeks in Dubai Hospital.
• Lt Gen Dahl Khalfan Tami retired as Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police in 2013.
• Major Saeed Khalfan became UAE Rally Champion and Chairman of Dubai Autodrome
• Over 20 years elapsed before motor racing became a significant sport in Dubai with development of Dubai Autodrome and the now defunct A1 Grand Prix Series
• Dubai has yet to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix

Sources:

• Len Chapman who attended the 1981 Dubai Motor Racing Grand Prix
• Jonathan Gornall (Features Writer at The National) article in The National
• David Page's article from Autosport
• Gregor Marshall whose father Gerry Marshall raced in 1981 Dubai Motor Grand Prix
• Various Online Motor Racing Forums