EDDIE JORDAN has revealed how he used to transform himself into White Van Man to smuggle his hard-up mates into the British Grand Prix.
The team owner's biggest scam during past Silverstone showdowns was to borrow a Transit from a Dublin builder and drive to the circuit with a mass of racing refugees in the back.
Multi-millionaire Jordan confessed: "Two of us would be in the front with tickets and a car parking pass - but in the back of the Transit would be half of Dublin!
"We used to cover the stowaways with sleeping bags and tell them to lie still while we convinced security guards that the only thing we had in the back was our bedding.
"It worked a treat. We were a small band of Irish Formula One worshippers and Silverstone was our annual pilgrimage. Ireland wasn't as sophisticated as it is today and money was always tight."
Many of the pilgrims progressed to bigger and better things.
Over the years Jordan's illicit cargo included names such as former F1 drivers David Kennedy - now a commentator for Irish TV - and Derek Daley, who raced for Tyrrell and Williams before moving to the U.S.
But, back in 1973, they were all young petrol heads, fired by the same passion which will see 120,000 people flock through the Silverstone turnstiles on Sunday. They raced in either karts or Formula Ford but would religiously make their way from Dublin to the Mecca of motorsport each year. And the first time Jordan set off for his cheeky caper he managed to clinch the best seat in the house.
He recalled: "I had the finest view ever on my first visit.
"The cars were hurtling towards us at Copse Corner and me and the lads were at the very top of these huge advertising hoardings, towering over the spectators' bank on the outside of the corner.
"Not many people were brave enough to climb up there but it didn't seem to be a problem to us. This was where we would watch the men we aspired to be when we grew up. Some of us have yet to manage that ... and we haven't grown up, either.
"It was the ultimate place to watch from - truly breathtaking because Copse then was the world's greatest corner. These were the days when drivers were hard on the throttle all the way from Club, with just the slightest lift from Abbey and then under the bridge and flat out all the way through Woodcote before hurtling into our sight.
"In later years we paid for grandstand tickets but I have to say we never had a better perch than that one."
Jordan and his pals were also able to wander freely around the paddock and pits, catching glimpses of their heroes.
Their first trip to the track coincided with fellow Irishman and former GP winner John Watson making his debut in a brown Brabham.
Jordan added: "We were all big fans of Wattie and trooped up to him to give him our best wishes. Some say he's never been the same since!
"But we urged him on each time he came past us on the track - more or less at the back of the grid as far as I can remember."
Those early years gave Jordan a huge kick-start in his chosen career. He was so impressed with the sport that he vowed if he failed to make it as a driver he would become a team owner instead.
Jordan is still amazed at his rise to the very top - and staggered at the number of fans who support his distinctive yellow cars.
He added: "The amount of people we have coming to look at the factory is incredible. But I can understand why they do it because it makes them feel closer to the sport."
Jordan will also be greeted by thousands of Irish fans, who make the Silverstone extravaganza an annual outing.
He added: "The Irish following is massive these days. They simply love Silverstone and they also fill jumbo jets and head to Australia to watch a race."
And no doubt a few may still try using a white van to sneak their mates through the gates.
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