28th of October – three drivers were within striking distance of the World title coming to the final round of the 1951 season, the Gran Premio de España in Pedralbes: Fangio (27 points), Ascari (25) and Gonzalez (21). Ascari was the quickest in qualifying but a poor tyre choice, against the advice of Pirelli, left the Ferraris struggling. Fangio won the race in style and with it the championship. It was to be the first of five world titles he would secure over the coming seven years. Second step on the podium went to his countryman Gonzalez with team-mate Farina back in third.
28/10/1930, Bernard Charles Ecclestone is born in St.Peters, Suffolk, UK.
The president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration, and as such is generally considered the primary authority in Formula One racing. His control of the sport, which resulted from his pioneering the sale of television rights in the late 1970s, is chiefly financial, but under the terms of the Concorde Agreement he and his companies also manage the administration, setup and logistics of each F1 GP.
Despite heart surgery and triple coronary bypass in 1999, Bernie Ecclestone has remained as energetic as always in promoting his own business interests. In the late 1990s he reduced his share in SLEC Holdings (owner of the various F1 managing firms) to 25%, though despite his minority share he retained complete control of the companies.
28/10/1919, Hans Klenk is born in Künzelsau, Germany
Raced an ex-Karl Kling Veritas in the 1952 German Grand Prix. Driving with Kling in a Mercedes they took second in the Mille Miglia, then won the Carrera Panamericana.
