Ickx and the Mustang

Young (20) Jacky Ickx (picture-above), sitting on the hood of his Ford Mustang, at the ‘Coupes de Terlaemen Zolder’ in 1965. The Belgian, who initially had more interest in gardening than in car racing, soon showed tremendous speed and car control.

Born on 1 January 1945 in Brussels, Ickx was introduced to motorsports when he was taken by his father, motoring journalist Jacques Ickx, to races which he covered. Despite this family background, Ickx had limited interest in the sport, until his father bought him a 50 cc Zündapp motorcycle.

Jacky began to compete in road racing and motorcycle trials. He won the 50 cc class at the 1962 Mettet Grand Prix road race, then demonstrated impressive talent when he defeated future motocross world champion Roger De Coster in the 1963 Belgian 50 cc trials national championship. Soon afterwards, Ickx won 8 of 13 races in his first full season and the European 50 cc trials title.

Jacky Ickx took another two championships before he moved to racing a Lotus Cortina in touring cars, taking the national saloon car title in 1965, as well as winning the Spa 24 Hours race in 1966 driving a BMW 2000TI (picture below). By now, nothing could stop the rise of the young prodigy: his journey had just begun.