AUGUST 26, 1996

Scammell out at Cosworth

THE ongoing friction between Ford and Cosworth came to a head last week with the departure of Cosworth Racing's managing-director Dick Scammell.

The 58-year-old has, according to the official version, "retired" and will remain a consultant. Our sources suggest that this came about after Ford management went to Vickers management in an effort to get Cosworth Racing to change its ways.

Scammell had been at Cosworth for 25 years, although he spent a couple of years as team manager of the Parnelli F1 team between 1974-76. Scammell's career in F1 dates back to 1960 when he joined Lotus as a mechanic. He moved through the ranks to become chief mechanic and later racing manager. He also had a spell as circuit manager of the Donington Park racing track.

Scammell's place at Cosworth Racing is to be taken by Brian Dickie, who joins the operation from the Rolls Royce car company, which is also owned by Vickers, the British precision engineering company and defense contractor.

The restructuring of Cosworth Engineering - Cosworth Racing's parent company - continues under the company's new managing director Charles Matthews, another ex-Rolls Royce man, who has been in the job since April.