SAVOIR FAIRE What's in a Name? – The TAG Heuer Silverstone

Once upon a time, at the height of World War II, RAF Silverstone was constructed as a Royal Air Force bomber station. The year was 1943, and the RAF 17th Operational Training Unit based at Silverstone was teaching pilots how to fly the Vickers Wellington twin-engined bombers. These large aircraft couldn’t be used on small grass airfields, and Silverstone was given two long ‘bitumen’ runways. Along with an additional third runway, these formed the classic triangle shape, which was designed to make take-off and landing more effective, according to wind direction. But its designers couldn’t have imagined the fascinating stories those runways could tell, nearly a century later…

Decommissioned at the end of the war, Silverstone languished for several years as a largely disused site… that is, until Maurice Geoghegan, a resident of the nearby Silverstone village, acquired a brand new Frazer-Nash sports car. Little did he know that this serendipitous purchase would play an important role in shaping the incredible history of Motor Racing in the UK – for nearly three-quarters of a century (and counting) to come. Perhaps a certain spirit of courage and recklessness was lingering in the air; young men, no longer deployed in active service, had returned to ‘normal’ life with a thirst for adventure – or even for risk itself… 

Frustrated by the limitations of nearby country roads, Geoghegan had gone hunting for an open stretch on which to put his speedy acquisition through its paces properly. When out on a jaunt one day, he discovered with great excitement that the nearby airfield offered access from the runways to a perimeter road and back again – creating a ready-made circuit that allowed him to test his new car’s power to the fullest.  After an exhilarating solo spin, he passed on the secret to a few of his friends, and in September 1947, an impromptu race consisting of 12 drivers was organised. This day would go down in history as the legendary ‘Mutton Grand Prix’ – so named because Geoghegan would collide spectacularly with a wandering sheep during the contest. Thankfully, the driver survived the accident – though neither car nor sheep fared so well.

Around this time, another British institution known as the Royal Automobile Club, or ‘RAC’, were scouring the country for a new venue.  The new Formula One Grand Prix series was to hold a British round, and a racetrack had to be found. Whispers of the outlaw-sensation that was the ‘Mutton Grand Prix’ reached the ears of RAC officials, who went to inspect the circuit. Intrigued by its potential, they contacted the Air Ministry to request a lease. Not long after, the first official race, known as the ‘Royal Automobile Club International Grand Prix’, was held at Silverstone on October 2, 1948. Drivers raced on the runways, with long straights separated by tight hairpin turns; the track was marked out with haybales.  

After this first race, in which cars hurtled head-on toward the centre cross-over point at break-neck speed, the course was changed to include one runway plus more of the perimeter road, reducing the (essentially outrageous) risk to drivers. In 1950, the very first official Formula One Grand Prix was held – and was witnessed by none other than King George VI himself. It remains the only time a reigning monarch has attended the race. Since the first Grand Prix in 1950, all but 16 of the annual races have been staged at Silverstone; between 1963 and 1986 the BGP alternated between Silverstone and Brands Hatch, but has since returned solely to its original site – which has become known as the ‘home of the British Grand Prix’. 

During the heady years of motor racing in the 1970s, Jack Heuer was forging vital links and collaborations between Heuer and the world’s greatest motor racing personalities and tracks.  Increasingly inspired by the synergy between Heuer and Formula 1, Jack was drawn to the legendary spirit of Silverstone and the drivers who dominated its perilous course, where in 1971, driver Clay Regazzoni took pole position in a Ferrari 312B. Initially intended to replace the Heuer Monaco after four years, this new design would go on to co-exist quite happily with its predecessor.  

The first edition of the Calibre 12 Silverstone, arriving on the market in 1973, retained a softened version of the Monaco’s cutting-edge square case, but a added three beautiful coloured dials in lacquered Red, brushed Blue, or a sunburst ‘soleil’-finished fume. Ingeniously, the dial plate is in fact round, and the bezel concave. Hooded lugs, concealing the connection between strap and case, deeply concave bezel and a screw-down back made this uncompromisingly modern model stand out even further from the crowd. Only one other vintage Heuer would hold the Silverstone name – in the 1980’s, a Lemania 5100-powered model was released with a charcoal-grey dial. 

Over the next few decades, the Silverstone course underwent several minor changes but remained largely similar to its original layout; in the 1990’s, however, it was time for a thorough re-design. After years of ultra-fast racing, Silverstone started to become a much more technical track, demanding not just speed but fiendishly skillful driving from competitors. After the deaths of Senna and Ratzenberger, many Grand Prix circuits were modified to increase driver safety, and Silverstone’s corners were re-profiled once more. The early 2000’s saw demand for further improvements to the track, and in 2010, alterations were made to the circuit configuration and a new pit complex was added. With the arrival of the 21st century, Silverstone has been reborn as a more technical and challenging, if significantly less dangerous, racing destination. 

In 2011, the legendary Heuer Silverstone of the 1970s was reincarnated by TAG Heuer, to great acclaim. This stunning example of a vintage design revival is paired with the best in contemporary watchmaking expertise.  Just like its namesake, the Silverstone re-edition kept all the spirit of the captivating original… with a few design upgrades. Released with a classic blue or fume colour dial, this thrilling revival has had yet another ‘star turn’;  a single unique piece was created with a red dial at the request of none other than Leonardo DiCaprio. Our former ambassador auctioned the watch for the benefit of his charity Green Cross International, giving the Silverstone a new dimension – not just a ‘pretty face’, this particular watch really did change the world!