Herbie Blash
Michael " Herbie " Blash ( born September 30, 1948) is a British motor sports official and Deputy Race Director of the FIA for Formula 1 races.
Blash began his professional career at RRC walking Racing as a mechanic before he joined the Team Lotus in 1968, the one-time Graham Hill drove. In the early 1970s he began to take on management tasks. Following a strike at Lotus Blash left this team and was brought by Frank Williams in his former Politoys team.
In 1973 he was, together with Bernie Ecclestone and Gordon Murray at Brabham team manager - he retained this position until 1988 held. Since the end of 1995 Blash is Deputy Race Director of the FIA for Formula 1 races.
Career
At the age of 17 years Blash began as a mechanic at the RRC walking Racing Team. He worked alongside Jo Siffert and Jo Bonnier who already had experience in Formula 1. In 1968 Blash mechanics of Graham Hill in Lotus before it a year later collaborated with Jochen Rindt.
After the death of Rindt during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix in 1970 Blash began management tasks to take over at Lotus, until he left this team after a strike along with other employees.
In 2010, 28 years after Chapman's death - the founder of Lotus - announced Blash, "Mr. Chapman was the love God has for us. " Blash asked his staff always use to self-abandonment. He said: "I started my work at Lotus Monday morning and saw my apartment until Wednesday afternoon ."
In 1973, he and Bernie Ecclestone (as owner of the team ) and Gordon Murray ( as a designer ) Team Manager at Brabham.
In his time there, the two world title by Nelson Piquet fell in 1981 and 1983. Blash continued his work there until 1988 continued.
When the team at the Zurich exchange brokers Joachim Lühti was (see reference "Der Spiegel 30/1989 " ) sold Blash went 1989 on the FOCA.
As Lühti was arrested, bought the Middle Bridge Group team and Blash returned as Athletic Director returns to the newly formed Team Lotus. His role helped him here in 1991 to forge an alliance with Yamaha.
Through this contact Blash received an offer from Yamaha and joined the company as its Athletic Director at - and later to take care of, among others, the alliance with Jordan Tyrrell. At the same time, he worked for Activa - a subsidiary of Yamaha - which had its headquarters in the old factory of Brabham in Chessington.
Blash is still working for this company - which deals with the research and development for the racing industry.
Since the end of 1995 Blash is Deputy Race Director of the FIA for Formula 1 races.