gubby started his motor sport career in rallying, and also raced a speedwell-tuned austin a30 and a 3.8 litre jaguar before switching to single-seaters in formula junior in the early 1960s. during this time, he raced a lotus eleven, a lotus 18, and also a rare ausper t4. he witnessed the death of his friend dennis taylor at a formula junior race at monte carlo in 1962, later describing it as the worst accident he had seen. taylor's car touched wheels with that of denis hulme, and taylor crashed into a tree. "i had to dodge all the wreckage and i was nearly sick in the car," gubby remembered.