Classic and Competition Car 12 September 2011
Transcription
Classic and Competition Car 12 September 2011
C & c i s la s Competition Car Super Saloon Revival Issue 12 September 2011 VSCC Prescott Hill Climb Lotus Festival Page 1 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Simon Wright © Pete Austin Benjamin Donaz Austin 7 Special goes off at the VSCC Prescott Speed Hill Climb Contents Page 4 News Page 11 GT Cup Snetterton Page 14 Ramblings from Rugby 6 Wheel are go Page 16 VSCC at Prescott Page 19 Bentley Drivers Club 75th Anniversary Page 22 Lotus Festival Snaetterton Page 25 VSCC Bob Gerard Trophy Mallory Park Page 28 Wythall Carnival Page 31 GT Cup Brands Hatch Page 34 Triumph TR8 Page 36 Great Rempstone Steam and Country Show Page 37 Archieve photo of the month Page 38 Supersaloon and Modsports Revival Mallory Park © Pete Austin Williams FW 08B Bentley Drivers Club 75th Anniversary meeting Bentley Scratch Race - Stanley Mann - Bentley 3-8 Page 2 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Simon Wright Editorial Classic & Competition car is published by simonwrightphotos.com, High View Drive, Kingswinford, West Midlands, England. E-mail [email protected] Tel:07905 435973 Regular Contributors Simon Wright Janet Wright Pete Austin Mick Herring All content is copyright classicandcompetitioncar.com unless otherwise stated. All photographs are copyright the original photographer and may not be used for commercial purposes unless by prior approval of the original copyright holder. We try to ensure accurate and truthful reporting but if you spot an error, please let us know and we will correct as required. We do not organise any events which are mentioned and are not responsible if the event is cancelled, so please contact the event organiser before making a long trip. The Vintage Sports Car Club meetings continue to enjoy great support during these tough times. Competitor numbers are strong for their popular events and they continue to pull in Simon Wright Editor/Photographer a good crowd to watch. The Prescott Speed Hill Climb reported in this issue had a lot of reserve drivers on the entry list and a really interesting line up of cars. I met a fan there who had travelled over from Eastern Europe. He was thrilled with the action. They have car events in his country, but they are static displays. He was very impressed with the enthusiasm with which the cars were being driven at Prescott. Although the cars are worth a lot of money and in many cases are very rare, their owners still drive them on the limit, and long may they do so! It is one thing to see a vintage car, but it is quite another to see it at speed, how it was meant to be seen. They may be pieces of automotive art work, but they were designed to be driven, and at VSCC meetings that is just what happens. Historic racing and Rallying in the UK is a thriving scene. If you haven’t been to a historic race meeting you really don’t know what you are missing, so make the effort and attend. You won’t be disappointed To subscribe for free and be notified when the next issue is published, please click here See additional photos on our web site Click here Front Cover Baby Bertha leads the Super Saloon revival at Mallory Park © Simon Wright Lower left Donald Day - ERA R14B VSCC Prescott Hill Climb © Pete Austin Lower Right Type 58 Rear Suspension at Work during the Lotus Festival© Mick Herring Page 3 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 Barrie Williams at Prescott The irrepressible Barrie ‘Wizzo’ Williams took part in the VSCC Speed Hill climb at Prescott, at the beginning of August. He shared a 1934 Singer Le Mans with the VSCC PR Manager Gillian Carr. Barrie was quick to help Gillian who then managed to get 1st in class on Handicap. Barrie adapted © Pete Austin © Janet Wright News © Simon Wright to the car well and improved his time on each practice run and was over 3 seconds faster on his first timed run than his first practice. His best time was on his first run where his time of 58.33 seconds was good enough for 5th overall in class. Tony Gilham has lost his drive in the British Touring Car Championship due to lack of funding. Currently in 15th place in the championship in his first season, he has been unable to secure the finance required to keep his Triple Eight drive in the Vauxhall Vectra. Page 4 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 Stirling Moss at Chelsea AutoLegends Sunday 4th September will see the biggest car show yet at the Royal Hospital London. Now in it’s 2nd year, the show will feature special displays to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E-Type and also the Mini Cooper, along with a central display of Le Mans racers. There will also be a cavalcade of super cars and classic bikes. To help celebrate the swinging sixties, members of the public are encouraged to dig out suitable clothing to recreate the groovy days of Chelsea’s Kings Road. The Le Mans exhibit aims to trace the history of the great race from the Bentleys in the 1920’s right through to the modern prototypes like the current Aston Martin and Peugeot’s. The Supercars are having a run through central London during the morning, starting at Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall and should arrive at Chelsea around midday. The Classic bikes are also riding in, starting their run at the Ace Cafe on the North Circular road. As well as Sir Stirling Moss attending, motorcycle World Champion Phil Read MBE will also be making an appearance, along with rallying heros Paddy Hopkirk and Russell Brookes and Le Mans winner Richard Attwood The event helps to raise funds for the resident Chelsea Pensioners. Gates open at 10am and will close at 4pm. For more information please check out the event web site at www.ChelseaAutoLegends.com Photo/Sportsdesk: Image above shows Ferrari Dino 206 with Chelsea Pensioner and models. © Janet Wright Raikkonen tests Peugeot 908 Le Mans car Former World Champion Kimi Raikkonen has tested the Peugeot 908 Le Mans car with a view to possibly joining the team for the 2012 season. The test was carried out in Spain at the circuit Motorland Aragon. The current Peugeot team will be at Silverstone over the weekend of the 10th and 11th of September for the Autosport 6 hours of Silverstone race when they will be up against rivals Audi in the Le Mans series Page 5 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Pete Austin Derek Warwick takes over BRDC Presidency. Ex-Grand Prix driver Derek Warwick has become president of the British Racing Drivers Club, succeeding retiring President Damon Hill. He was voted in at the BRDC Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 25th August 2011. Derek started 147 Grand Prix during his career as a driver. He also won the Le Mans 24 Hours race and the World Sportscar Championship. © Simon Wright He wants to continue to develop the Silverstone circuit, which is owned by the BRDC, into the best motorsport venue in the World. He also wants to help support young British Drivers to progress up the motor racing ranks. Derek Warwick British GP 1985 Silverstone driving for Renault Becketts Farm All future Becketts Farm Classic Transport meetings have been cancelled. Due to a number of people leaving the site in an irresponsible manner and crowds gathering on the road side to watch them, all future meetings have been cancelled following recommendations from the Police. Page 6 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 SMITH TO DEFEND MSC F5000 TITLE IN NEW CAR Evergreen New Zealand racing veteran Ken Smith will defend his MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series title this season behind the wheel of a new car, an ex Danny Ongais Lola T332. Since his move to the series in 2007, Smith - who turned 70 earlier this month and who has won the annual trans-Tasman MSC series for the past three years - has been driving a Lola T430. It was in an earlier model T332 Photo credit: Fast Company/Alex Mitchell Lola that the three-time New Zealand Grand Prix winner enjoyed much of his success in the category first time around (in the 1970s) however, and he has had an eye out for a good one since his return. Word of such a car reached him 18 months ago and he and long-time crew members Barry Miller and Phil Richardson bought it from the widow of its original owner soon after. "The 332 was the best of the 5000s and this one's been in a museum in Los Angeles for 31 years, " says Smith. "It was an Interscope car which Danny Ongais drove. It was absolutely original when we bought it, as if it had just finished its last race." Despite that Miller, Richardson and Smith have spent the past year stripping and completely rebuilding the car with the intention of having it ready for the 2011/2012 MSC series. This season's series kicks off at Christchurch's big Wigram Revival meeting at Ruapuna Park's Powerbuilt Tools Raceway on the first weekend of November with subsequent rounds at Manfeild, Hampton Downs, Powerbuilt Tools Raceway again, and Phillip Island in Australia. Last season Smith won the MSC title for a third year in a row having fought a season-long battle with top local driver Steve Ross (McRae GM1) from Dunedin, and visitors Jay Esterer from Canada (McRae GM1) and Michael Lyons (Lola T400) from Great Britain. All three are expected back - for some of the rounds in the case of Esterer and Lyons anyway - with Smith particularly looking forward to taking on the visitors in a lighter car. "Don't get me wrong, " he says," the 430's a great old girl but the McRaes are a good 150kgs lighter and Jay's in particularly has always been wickedly quick off the corners. I don't think we'll be able to get the 332 quite down to their level but it'll definitely be closer than the 430." Though entries are yet to open for the two 2011 events (in Christchurch and Feilding) indications are that there will be over 20 locally-based cars on the grid. That number will then be supplemented at the 2012 meetings at Hampton Downs, Powerbuilt Tools Raceway and Phillip Island by almost as many cars again from across the Tasman and/or the UK and the US/Canada. The MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series is organised and run with the support of sponsors MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney's Specialized Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Pacifica, Smith & Davies, Avon Tyres and Exide. Prepared by FAST COMPANY of behalf of the New Zealand Formula 5000 Association. www.F5000.co.nz For more information about the 2011/12 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series contact Ross MacKay on 021 677 919 or via e-mail on [email protected] Page 7 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 Martin Hines King of the Karts 22/4/1948 - 28/8/2011 Martin Hines, Karting super star has passed away at the age of 64 after losing his battle with cancer. Martin had been the driving force behind the Karting scene for many years, winning numerous titles and setting up the very successful Zip Kart business with his father in 1964. Zip Kart has become one of the most respected names worldwide in karting and they pioneered the Superkart which was later known as Formula E. Martin also helped to introduce Karting to the USA, Australia, South Africa and Europe. He had been a member of the RAC Technical Sporting Committee on Karting for the last 18 years and worked with the FIA/CIK on a couple of working groups relating to Karting sporting and technical matters. During his karting career, Martin won the Karting World Championship 3 times in 1983, 1991 and 1992. He won 5 European titles in 1969, 1977, 1986, 1993 and 2002 and 6 British titles in 1976, 1978, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987. This established him as the most successful Kart racer in history. He has also helped many young drivers in the early stages of their careers including former World champion Lewis Hamilton and Grand Prix winner David Coulthard. Lotus VI Barry Davison has just purchased a Lotus VI registration number PGP 182. Barry is already a well known racer of historic Lotus sports cars. The Lotus VI was the first production car introduced by Colin Chapman in 1952. Chassis number 34 was sold to Peter Kirwan-Taylor on January 1st 1955 which he built up from day one clothed in a streamlined aluminium body from Williams and Pritchard. The car was so pretty that Colin Chapman commissioned Kirwan-Taylor to style the Elite which went on to become a huge design (if not commercial) success. The car was subsequently re bodied but the original streamlined body body still exists in Belgium. Barry and the body's owner are currently trying to wrest the salient parts from each other in order to eventually re-unite them. About Classic and Competition Car There are two ways to read this magazine. 1 Down load the PDF file. Read on a PC or Mac using Adobe Acrobat reader (Free from www.adobe.com). Read on an iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch by downloading a PDF viewer from the Apps store (PDF Reader lite is free and works well with the magazine) 2 Down load the free EPP reader program from the web site. Click on the magazine cover on the web site, you can download the magazine to be read anytime with the EPP reader as a page turning magazine. www.classicandcompetitioncar.com to see additional photo galleries and down-loadable wall paper and Computer background images as well as back issues of the magazine. Page 8 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Pete Austin Chris Williams demonstrates his 42 litre Packard Bentley © Pete Austin Chris Williams demonstrated ‘Mavis’ at the Bentley Drivers Club 75th Anniversary meeting at Silverstone. The Packard Bentley consists of a 42 litre V12 Packard engine from a second world war motor torpedo boat mounted on an 8 litre Bentley chassis. In the interests of health and safety it’s not advisable to stand next to the 24 exhausts while it is being warmed up! Last months issue carried an incorrect caption in the Group C report from the Silverstone Classic meeting. The picture shows Gareth Evans - Mercedes C11 which stated he won the 2nd race. The 2nd race was won by the same car, but with Bob Berridge driving. as mentioned in the main report. This was a production error. We are sorry for any confusion this may have caused. Page 9 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Pete Austin © Pete Austin Fire breathing Mavis by Pete Austin. Page 10 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Mick Herring GT Cup Snetterton 26th June By Mick Herring © Mick Herring A beautiful summer's day was the perfect setting for the two exciting GT Cup Championship races that would be unfolded by the sixteen cars assembled here. The heat at the Snetterton track in it's full 300 format would prove challenging and the track still new to some of our racers today. Qualifying the previous day had an excitement all of it's own when championship leader Andy Ruhan suffered a puncture right at the start of the session. In his absence Gary Eastwood held pole for both races until the final few moments saw Ruhan re-emerge with new tyres to claim race 1 pole on his final lap. Race 1 As the cars left the grid at the start of Sunday morning's race Ruhan's Porsche got clear of Eastwood's Ferrari, with third placed David Tomlin's Ferrari looking for a way up the inside of Ruhan at the first corner, Riches. A nearly-missed gear change here saw him slip back towards Tom Andrew's Morgan but holding the inside line saved the place until the Pete Morris 3rd overall, 1st group 2 Montreal hairpin. Under braking for the hairpin saw the two engage in wheel banging and a spin for Tomlin. Some of the following cars weren't so fortunate as they took avoiding action and the damage sustained by Lap 1 Palmer corner. Page 11 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Mick Herring Eastwood leaves a gap Page 12 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Mick Herring © Mick Herring © Mick Herring Leon Price's Ferrari and Colin Broster's Porsche meant that neither would finish this lap. By half distance the recovering Tomlin had caught Gary Eastwood, who was struggling with worn out tyres as a result of having to David Tomlin 2nd hastily fit a set that had seen service at Brands Hatch, when one of his intended race 1 set was found to have a holed casing, too late to be renewed. Under pressure from Tomlin, Gary made a spectacular exit from second place into the cornfield at Riches when his tyres gave up. The race settled down in the run to the flag until fuel pressure issues saw the Morgan relinquish it's third place to GT Cup returnee Pete Morris' Porsche 996 GT3, Morris would also take the Group 2 win. Race 2 The grid for race two would see an all Ferrari front row with David Tomlin alongside pole-man Gary Eastwood. Race 1 winner Andy Ruhan shared row two with Peter Bamford's Ferrari 430. Mark Radcliffe into retirement. Repairs to Leon Price's Ferrari between races allowed him to take his place on row three alongside Tom Andrew's Morgan(Group 2 pole position). Even with this second race always scheduled to start at 17.00hrs, little heat had gone out of the sun and several drivers were complaining of the high cockpit temperatures they were suffering. Gary Eastwood controlled the pace to the rolling start well but his move towards the right hand side of the track as they approached the line left a huge Ruhan leads into Riches © Mick Herring © Mick Herring © Mick Herring Gary Eastwood. and inviting gap for Ruhan in the centre enabling him to pull ahead on the drag down to Riches with Eastwood just inside. Ruhan pulled ahead by the end of the first lap with Eastwood right behind, several lengths ahead of Tomlin, Bamford and Andrew's Morgan. An unfortunate spin at Murrays by the diminutive Chevron of Andy Yool saw two of the orange BMWs tag each other heavily, Michael Symons braked heavily in avoidance with his car suffering heavy rear damage but able to carry on whilst team-mate Mark Radcliffe was not so lucky and with heavy frontal damage causing his retirement on the first lap. Positions continued to be traded as the race progressed with Andy Ruhan still well ahead of the closing Gary Eastwood but the drama of this race was still to be witnessed. At the start of lap 10, with around 4 minutes left on the clock, Ruhan sensed that he had a puncture and before the completion of the lap Gary Eastwood had caught and overhauled him for the lead, however, only a couple of corners later the red flags were out. Paul Winter's Porsche, which had so ably been taken to third place in race Ruhan takes the flag. 1 by Pete Chambers, had clashed with the similar Porsche of Francis Galashan with serious race-stopping damage to both, fortunately without harm to either driver. With so little race time left, a result was declared and on count back to the previous complete lap, Andy Ruhan was thus the winner (of both races) with Gary Eastwood second and Peter Bamford third. Peter Bamford Page 13 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 Ramblings from Rugby by Pete Austin Six wheels are go…. March 2-4-0 An Indianapolis car called the Pat Clancy Special appeared in 1948/9 and Mercedes had the concept for their Type 80 record car although this was interrupted by the war. Four wheels on the same axle appeared on ERA hill climb cars and Paul Jaye still races his Alta. Ferrari even tried it with the T6. By far the most successful car with six ‘in line’ wheels was the Tyrrell P34 which appeared in 1976 with Goodyear tyres mounted on four small wheels at the front. The covers came off at the launch to surprised journalists who couldn’t believe their eyes. Despite not being enamoured with the car Jody Scheckter went on to win that years Swedish Grand Prix Jody Scheckter - Tyrrell P34 - 1976 with Patrick Depailler second and a number of other podium finishes were achieved. Ronnie Peterson replaced Scheckter in 1977 but due to lack of development at the ‘front end’ no more victories with this car were achieved. With Goodyear concentrating on developing tyres for the ‘conventional’ four wheel cars and designer Derek Gardner leaving towards the end of the season the end was in sight for the P34. Page 14 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Pete Austin © Pete Austin As the editor mentioned last month, the so called March 2-40 six wheeled racing car made its first racing appearance during the recent Silverstone Classic. Originally built in the 1970s this wasn’t the first ‘six wheeler’. © Pete Austin Jeremy Smith - March 2-4-0 © Pete Austin Known by the railway engine terminology ‘2-4-0’ March displayed their 6 wheeler in December 1976. Based on the March 761, this time the 4 similar sized wheels were at the back. The idea was to get better traction from four driven wheels and reduced drag with all of the wheels being the same size. Despite being tested by Howden Ganley the car never raced and the conventional (and less expensive) 771 was used instead. It was popular as an exhibit though and Scalextric even made a scale model of it. That wasn’t the end of the story though as hill climb champion Roy Lane grafted the back end on to a March 771 for the 1979 season. Williams were next up in 1981 with the Patrick Head inspired FW07D. Like the March there were 4 smaller in line driven wheels at the rear. Together with other teams, Williams with their normally aspirated 3 litre Cosworth V8 engines, were battling against the new breed of 1.5 litre turbocharged engines coming to the fore. Again the idea was to give better traction with lower air resistance from the wheels. Alan Jones tested the car at the end of the season in an unsuccessful attempt by the team to try and make him change his mind about retiring. Less than a year later a further version Williams FW 08B (FW 08D) was tested at Donington with apparently some competitive times being set. However, that was the end of the road for 6 wheel Grand Prix cars as the FIA banned them from 1983. Page 15 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Janet Wright Short cut to the top © Simon Wright VSCC Prescott Hill climb 6th-7th August 2011. By Simon & Janet Wright with additional photos by Pete Austin and Mick Herring. One of the oldest meetings on the VSCC calendar, Prescott is a special event which uses the original shorter course up the hill. The Vintage Sports Car Club originally found Prescott as a venue, but let the Bugatti Owners Club take over the venue on condition that the VSCC could run their meeting on the track once a year. The original course goes tight right at Orchard corner instead of going round the newer Ettore’s bend. The event drew a massive entry with 20 reserves listed. Everyone wants to compete at this fantastic venue, set in the rolling Gloucestershire countryside. The competition in every class was fierce, but James Baxter driving his regular Frazer Nash Single Seater managed to still come out on top with the fastest time of the day, a blistering 40.96 seconds Fastest time of day went to James Baxter Frazer Nash Single Seater to win him the MaysBerthon Trophy. Robin Tuluie driving the 1929 Riley Menasco Pirate set a time of 43.4 seconds to win the award for Fastest Vintage Car. The always spectacular GN Parker of Justin Maeers wasn’t that far behind and was the fastest un-supercharged sports car at 43.62 seconds, while Sue Darbyshire showed that you don’t need 4 Page 16 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Pete Austin wheels to win an award, taking the Silver Con-Rod Trophy in her 3 wheeled Morgan Super Aero. Charles Beeden - Austin 7 Ulster Replica There was also an award for the fastest Bugatti, the Peter Hampton Tankard, which went to Chris Hudson in his 1925 Bugatti T35B in a time of 45.75 seconds. The final award, the Sam Clutton Memorial Trophy was awarded to James Collins © Simon Wright Amongst the many class battles, the closest was in the Pre 1941 Racing Cars 1101-1500cc class where Terry Crabb driving the ERA R12C finished just 3/10ths of a second ahead of Pete Candy driving the Riley Super Rat with a time of 43.17 seconds, though Patrick BlakeneyEdwards in the Richard © Mick Herring driving a 1917 Hudson Super Six. Dr Dave Morley Riley 9 Special Bolster Special finished 1st on Handicap in that class with a time of 45.13 seconds. Jeremy Way Austin 7 Mrs Jojo The other fastest in class awards went to William Way Austin 7 Ulster 50.34 second, Edward Williams Austin 7 Rolt Ulster 50.14 seconds, Geoff Smith Frazer Nash Super Sports 47.75 seconds, Ken MacMaster Frazer Nash BMW 328 47.02 seconds, Graham Galliers Alta 2 litre Page 17 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Janet Wright Sports 47.99 seconds, Neil Twyman Alfa Romeo 8C 46.69 seconds, Tim Hopkinson Riley 9 52.59 seconds, Dr David Pryke Morgan/Riley 4/4 46.63 seconds, Brian White Frazer Nash/BMW TT Replica 43.63 seconds, David Baker PiccardPictet Special 48.08 seconds, Winston Teague Wasp Single Seater 45.54 seconds and Paul Richardson ERA R14B in a time of 42.67 seconds. Simon Kirkpatrick 1924 Bugatti 13A © Pete Austin © Pete Austin . See our short video on YouTube by clicking here. Duncan Ricketts - ERA E-Type Sue Darbyshire Morgan Super Aero John Earle Marsh Alvis Silver Eagle © Janet Wright © Simon Wright © Mick Herring © Mick Herring Alex Ames - Talbot AV105 Alpine Don Press Peugeot 148 Gillian Carr Singer Le Mans Page 18 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Pete Austin Bentley Driver’s Club 75th anniversary Silverstone 13th-14th August 2011. By Pete Austin. © Pete Austin Bentley Scratch Race - Chris Williams - Napier Bentley This years annual race meeting at Silverstone celebrated the founding of the Bentley Drivers Club in 1936. It was 75 years ago that Bentley enthusiast Gerald Keston Pelmore left his contact details on all of the old type Bentleys’ he could find in the car parks at the first Brooklands meeting of that season. 26 people turned up at the stated time and so the club was formed. The rest is history. It was therefore appropriate that one of the cars taking part in the lunchtime demonstrations was the 1933 Napier-Railton Special from the Brooklands Museum which, amongst other achievements holds the Brooklands Outer CirNapier - Railton demonstration cuit lap record in perpetuity at 143.44 mph. In the spirit of the huge aero engined Brooklands racers, Chris Williams also demonstrated his Page 19 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Pete Austin © Pete Austin fire breathing ‘Mavis’. The Bentley Scratch race saw Simon Worthington on Pole position in his Bentley Continental GT but it was Stuart Worthington who took the race victory in his Bentley Turbo R from the spectacular Napier Bentley of Chris Williams. The Bentley Handicap was won by Randal Stewart driving a Bentley 3/ 4½. The Keston Pelmore Trophy race in honour of the clubs Bentley Handicap - 3 - Paul Carter - Bentley 4 1/4 & Nigel Batchelor founder was a speBentley 4 1/2 Blower cial 20 minute race with a compulsory wheel change pit stop. The race was won by Paul Forty at the wheel of a Bentley Mk VI after Simon Worthington had led the entire race in his Bentley Turbo R only for Paul Forty to take the victory, leaving Simon to come a distant 2nd over 17 seconds behind . Bentley Scratch Race - Rachael Singer - Bentley 3 litre Blower Page 20 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Pete Austin Bentley Handicap - Richard Frankel - Bentley TT © Pete Austin In addition to the races for Bentleys’ of various vintages other marques were also catered for over the two days. © Pete Austin © Pete Austin 50s Sports Cars winner Tony Bianchi - Allard Farrelac - leads Julian Majzub - Sadler Mk3 - Chris Keen - Kurtis Corvette Equipe GTS - Pete Foster - Triumph TR4 leads race 1 winner John Andon - Triumph TR4 © Pete Austin Vintage & PVT Handicap - Graham Paddick McDowell Ford Stuart Worthington - Bentley Turbo R Page 21 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 25th-26th June 2011. By Mick Herring The Lotus Festival, naturally at Snetterton, drew together demonstration runs by some of the most iconic single seater racing cars and road cars from the Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman era Clive Chapman and beyond. It is good to see the Chapman family's continuing involvement with the cars they built and, as principal of Classic Team Lotus, Clive Chapman, Colin's son would also drive one of his father's creations. The oldest F1 car was the Type 18 in the hands Malcolm Ricketts, of the type with which Stirling Moss famously won the 1960 Monaco GP with the lower cockpit sides open. The versatility of the 18 is borne out by it's use not only in F1 but also F2 and Formula Junior with different 4 cylinder engines. © Mick Herring © Mick Herring © Mick Herring Lotus Festival Snetterton Lotus Type 18 Climax © Mick Herring The 1962 Type 25 broke new ground with it's much stiffer monocoque chassis, as opposed to the tubular spaceframe of the car's predecessors. Powered by the 1.5 litre V8 Coventry Climax engine this model would go on to claim the 1963 World Championship in the hands of Jim Clark. Lotus Type 25 cockpit Left Coventry Climax V8 Auto Art Page 22 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Mick Herring © Mick Herring The wedge shaped Type 58, here in F2 specification, was both innovative and heavy, built and tested in 1968 it would not make it's race debut until 2002 following restoration by Classic Team Lotus. Both front and rear suspension were of the De Dion type, with both axles being rigid in order to keep the wheels upright at all times, the steering rack also being integral with the front axle. The result was a big, consequently heavy car when compared to it's contemporaries, but the aerodynamic Wedge shape would re-appear in the Lotus 72 very soon. The 1977 Type 79 was Chapman's second generation "groundeffect" car, evolving from the Type 78 but with at least 30% more downforce. Despite some early fragility the 79 took Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson to many race wins and Lotus Type 79 DFV Driven by Clive Chapman. secured the world championship for Mario in 1978. Given as being one of the most significant F1 cars and the latest car present to be the work of his father, this was the car that Clive Chapman would drive. The post Chapman era of Team Lotus was represented at Snetterton by the Types 101 and 102. The 1989 Judd powered Type 101 even with Nelson Piquet's driving Lotus Type 101 Judd Page 23 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Mick Herring F2 Lotus Type 58 FVA © Mick Herring © Mick Herring © Mick Herring ability, results were not forthcoming. This particular car's best being a 4th place in Australia when driven by Satoru Nakajima. Fittingly the 101 was first tested by Martin Donnelly at Snetterton in March 1989, with Martin being present and racing at this meeting, although not driving the F1 cars. The sound of the Judd engine can be linked back to the Cosworth DFV and Coventry Climax engines that powered the previous cars, however, what came next definitely has it's origins in what we heard in F1 cars until recently. The 1990 Type 102 is unique in Lotus terms in being powered by a V12 engine and a Lamborghini V12 engine at that. The wail of the V12 could be heard all round the circuit together with the "pops and bangs" this type off engine always thrills us with, on the overrun. It was in a Type 102 that Martin Donnelly had his life-threatening accident in Spain. Donnelly drove alongside Derek Warwick with Johny Herbert taking over from Lamborghini V12 engine Martin. 1991 would see a heavily revised 102 race in 'B' specification and with a change back to Judd power. During a lull in racing, another attempt would be made to break the world record to parade Lotus road and quasi-racing cars in convoy around the circuit. With all models past and present eligible and in spite of the circuit boasting it's Lotus Type 102 Lamborghini extra 1 mile in length not enough cars were able to take to the circuit to beat the 2009 record of 436 cars. Front to Rear Lotus Types 102, 101, 18, 79, 58 Page 24 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 VSCC Bob Gerard Memorial Trophy Meeting, Mallory Park, 21st August 2011 © Pete Austin By Pete Austin © Pete Austin The VSCC paid its annual visit to the delightful Mallory Park circuit for the Bob Gerard Memorial Trophy meeting. Bob Gerard had a close connection with the circuit and the fast Gerard’s Bend is named after him. Appropriately enough, the race for pre-1961 front engined racing cars was won by young William Nuthall in Graham Burrows’ Bob Gerard Cooper Bristol. Invited to make the presentations after the race was Sue Palethorpe, a former employee of ERA at Bourne in the Bob Gerard Bob Gerard Memorial Trophy Kieft Climax GP Page 25 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Pete Austin Bob Gerard Memorial Trophy - winner William Nuthall - Cooper Bristol Mk2 © Pete Austin Always a highlight of this meeting is the race for Edwardian racing cars. On handicap, Michael New won this one in his Dick Baddiley & Edwardian Racing Trophies Mark Walker - Panhard GP Dick Baddiley & Edwardian Racing Trophies Michael New - Leon Peugeot Voiurette Racer © Pete Austin unique Leon Peugeot Voiurette Racer. In the absence of his Darracq which had suffered from a damaged block at Prescott, Mark Walker had brought along his Panhard Grand Prix which was driven with his usual verve. John Taylor Memorial Trophy - Gil Duffy - Bond FJ Page 26 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Pete Austin days. Two cars associated with the late Bill Morris were also entered for the race. Victoria Morris had entered her late husbands Keift Grand Prix car with family friend Greg Snape coming all the way from Australia to drive and Bill’s ERA R12C was entered and driven by its current owner, Terry Crabb. © Pete Austin John Taylor Memorial Trophy - George Diffey - Lotus 20 The John Taylor Memorial Trophy for Formula Junior cars was set to be another encounter between top protagonists Jon Milicevic and Sam Wilson in their Cooper T59s’ with Wilson coming out on top on this occasion. In this event George Diffey was having his maiden race in father Simon’s Lotus 20. Also making a first appearance was the second front wheel drive Bond driven by Gil Duffy © Pete Austin © Pete Austin alongside the sister car driven by Andrew Tart. Formula 3 (500) - Nigel Ashman - Cooper MkIX © Pete Austin Perfect weather made for an excellent days racing for all of the usual VSCC categories including a race for the 500cc F3 brigade and a lunchtime demonstration by De Dion Bouton Tricycles. RIGHT Pre War Scratch Race 1 - Justin Maeers - GN Parker loses it in front of Stephen Shoosmith Bugatti T51 and Pete Candy - Riley Page 27 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 During the summer months, many towns and villages hold summer fetes and carnivals, and increasingly they are inviting classic car owners to display their vehicles as part of the show. The annual Wythall carnival has been held for many years with a Classic Car Show incorporated and it always draws a very interesting group of classic cars. This year was no exception. Due to it’s location, not far from Longbridge Birmingham where Austin cars were produced there always seems to be a bias towards former Leyland car marques. Austin, MG, Jaguar, Triumph and Rover all have a proud history and are always well represented at meetings like these. That does not mean that other makes are not well represented, for example there was a superb Honda S800 sports car and a Pontiac Trans Am amongst the vehicles representing foreign manufacturers. Honda S800 You often find many fine examples of some of the smaller British manufacturers represented that have not existed for many years, but the cars look like they have just left the show room. Riley and Wolseley were two manufacturers which had been absorbed in to the British Leyland empire but the names were used on later models for different sectors of the market. There were a couple of cars at the show which high-lighted the differences between the same car sold under two different brands. Launched in 1957, the Riley 1.5 was a sporty saloon car offered with a two tone paint job and the engine was boosted with a pair of SU carburettors. This gave Page 28 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Janet Wright © Simon Wright Wythall Carnival By Simon & Janet Wright. A great Triumph TR7/8 Turbo Janspeed Le Mans replica feature of these shows is that you never know what you might find as you look around. A Jensen GT is a rare sight these days. Another locally built car from West Bromwich, in the West Midlands, only 509 cars were produced in this 4 seater sports estate design. Another British ‘sports car’ aimed at the American market, they were manufactured between 1975 and 1976. Based on the Jensen Healey sports car, the vehicle was fitted with a Lotus 4 cylinder twin OHC 16 valve 1973cc engine Page 29 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Simon Wright © Simon Wright © Janet Wright the Riley 20 BHP more than the Wolseley model, even though they both used the same B series 1498cc engine. The Wolseley 1500 was launched first, in the April of 1957 and was a more basic, cheaper saloon than the more upmarket and sportier Riley version. Both models had a slightly different radiator grill design to help distinguish the model. W”olseley 1500 and Riley 1.5 When production ceased in 1965, 103,394 Wolseleys had been built and only 39,568 Rileys. Two of the more unusual cars on display were a genuine American Triumph TR8, (see separate feature in this issue) left hand drive, imported from America with a genuine 17,000 miles on the clock, and an MGC GT both owned by the same man. There was also a Triumph TR7 with Triumph TR8 and MGC GT modified bodywork, obviously based on the Janspeed Triumph TR8 Turbo Le Mans car from 1980, which certainly looked the part. © Simon Wright which produced 142 bhp. The American models were fitted with Zenith Stromberg carburettors while UK models had Dellorto carburettors. This gave the car a top speed of 120 mph. Only 291 Left Hand Drive cars were exported Many local car clubs had sent a representative group to the carnival which all added to the flavour of the event and well over one hundred cars were on display. © Simon Wright © Janet Wright Jensen GT 4 seater Sports Estate © Janet Wright Beutiful Singer at the entrance to the show Alvis saloon Triumph 2500S Page 30 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Mick Herring GT Cup Brands Hatch Indy Circuit © Mick Herring July would see the GT Cup make it's second visit to Brands Hatch, this Race 1 start time on shorter Indy circuit. A grid of eighteen cars would take the start of race 1 in what was to prove another exciting pair of races in radically different weather conditions across qualifying and the two races. Race 1 Although a sort sharp shower had preceded the first race, at least this one David Tomlin wins from sighting lap spin would be conducted in the dry. Peter Bamford had claimed pole ahead of David Tomlin but a spin for Tomlin on the 1st of two sighting laps would see him take the rolling start in fourth place due to the cars ahead frantically Paul Cope's rare Venturi Page 31 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Mick Herring 17th July 2011. By Mick Herring. © Mick Herring Ex-BTCC racer Simon Blanckley 3rd the problems ahead of him and pulled away from the chaos behind. Andy Ruhan. In spite of his postSnetterton ballast penalty, he was able to take second place as the race progressed. Gary Eastwood had, by his standards, a poor qualifying and had charged through the field from 15th to 7th despite a lengthy battle with the Porsche of Francis Galashan impeding his progress and on to an eventual 5th place at the end. Andy Ruhan 2nd After his initial spin on the sighting lap, it was a jubilant David Tomlin who took his first GT Cup win ahead of Andy Ruhan and ex-BTCC racer Simon Blanckley's Porsche 997 GT3 in third, followed by the rare Venturi 400 GTR of Paul Cope. Race 2 © Mick Herring © Mick Herring weaving to get heat into their tyres ahead of the start. At the start Bamford's lead evaporated after contact and a spin at Paddock Hill Bend, leading to his prompt retirement. Another casualty was the rear wing of Jordan Whitt's Chevron when a Ferrari climbed on the back of the nimble yellow car to flatten the rear wing to the detriment of it's aero performance. After his warm-up lap spin, Tomlin was able to benefit from Race 2 start Paddock Hill Bend Page 32 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Mick Herring A severe change in the weather between the two races saw the need for the everefficient MSVR trackside staff needing to effect barrier repairs, fortunately with little effect on the time schedule. All eighteen cars would once again take the start after repairs and with success ballast added or removed as required. Anxious not to repeat their race 1 escapades, neither Bamford nor Tomalin had any answer to the nimble Chevron GR8 of Jordan Whitt as he charged round the outside of both and into a lead that he would maintain to the flag. After 25 laps of a very wet race it was Jordan Whitt Gary Eastwood 5th who gave the Chevron GR8 it's first independent race win, the wet weather proving, as ever, a great leveller, Andy Ruhan second, David Tomlin third and Peter Bamford fourth. Bamford laps Winder to 4th place Page 33 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Mick Herring © Mick Herring Rain-master Jordan Whitt won the second race in his Chevron GR8 Triumph TR8 By Simon Wright the range of Triumph sports cars was the Triumph TR8. If you attend classic car shows up and down the country, you will find many examples of Triumph TR8s, but these are not original models. Lots of TR7s have been converted by fitting the Rover V8 engine. This article is covering a perfect example of an original factory built Triumph TR8, which was spotted at the recent Wythall Carnival. This particular car had been originally exported to America, which is where most of the original factory built Triumph TR8s were sold. This model has been re imported back to Great Britain a few years ago and is in perfect condition. This particular car was manufactured at Canley in Coventry in July 1980 before being exported to North America and sold in New York to an expatriate Englishman who used the car very little. When he returned to the UK he brought the car back with him. But unfortunately, not long after returning, he died due to an unfortunate illness and the car was sold as part of his estate. The car was bought by a member of his family who found that it was not the kind of vehicle they wished to use and it was stored for over 18 years. The current owner purchased the car in 2006 and had various work done to the vehicle. The © Simon Wright © Simon Wright © Simon Wright The Triumph marque has always proved popular for sports car owners. The last of Page 34 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Simon Wright original Triumph branded factory fitted radio and the luggage rack on the boot was also a works dealer fitted option. Page 35 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Simon Wright At the time the car was built, Triumph were part of British Leyland. Original factory built TR8s were fitted with the 3 1/2 litre Rover ST1 V8 engine linked to a five-speed Rover ST1 gearbox and Axle and a pair of Stromberg 175 CD carburettors. Even though the car is a convertible, due to being American spec, the car is fitted with an air conditioning system and American specification front and rear bumpers. In total, approximately 2850 original Triumph TR8s were built and only 18 where righthand drive home market specifications. These didn't include any prototypes or works rally cars. The 18 original right-hand drive cars are rare and can easily be confused with the large number of TR7s converted from the four-cylinder engine as originally fitted, to the Rover V8 engine fitted by private owners. With this model being left-hand drive, you can see the original North American speedometer which has the 55 mile an hour speed limit marked on the speedometer and it had a top speed of only 85 mph. The radio is a rare © Simon Wright © Simon Wright brakes had to be replaced and the American emission system removed and the catalytic exhaust system replaced with a stainless steel exhaust system. All the tyres were replaced due to their age. When purchased the original mileage was only 12,500 miles. The car still displays the original stickers from the New York license Department for the emission passes that the vehicles require for use on the roads in America. The vehicle had been fully rust proofed before purchase hence the excellent condition of the bodywork after all this time. The Great Rempstone Steam & Country Show The Great Rempstone Steam and Country Show began in a modest way in 1954 and has grown into the oldest surviving rally in the East Midlands, in only it's third but ever larger location. 2011 marked the 55th edition, only three having been missed due to either an outbreak of Foot and Mouth or adverse weather conditions. The aim of the show has always been to provide traditional family entertainment, the spectacle of the magnificent steam engines, rollers and miniatures in action at full steam, vintage cars, motorcycles and tractors coupled with the traditional country crafts, birds of prey, fairground organs and exhibits from a heritage that must be celebrated and never forgotten. The wealth of colour, sight, sound and smell provided by all of these many moving or static exhibits could be savoured all in one place. This year was no exception with approx. 500 individual exhibitors or stalls, including 40 engines. The highlight of the show was always destined to be the evocatively named "100 ton pull", where in the first instance the lead traction The Stanley Steam Car engine pulled approx. another 90 tons behind it, unaided. It accomplished this on the flat part of the exhibition ring and only needed slight assistance on the uphill gradient owing to wheel spin. The power of these engines was never doubted but in an acknowledgement to a more modern era and superior traction, a 1963 Caterpillar earth moving tractor came in and towed the assembled steam "train" in it's entirety. The beneficiaries of the success of the show are national and local charities or organisations. Last year over £10,000 was donated to charities including Help for Heroes, Rainbows Children's Hospice, Steps and several local charities. Past recipients have been Air Ambulance and cancer charities. During Sunday afternoon's awards presentation ceremony, the Mayor of Charnwood presented the traditional plaques for each category together with initial cheques in the sums of £5,000 and £2,000 to Help for Heroes and 2425 Nottm Airport sqn. ATC respectively, with further donations made after the show. The Mayor and Mayoress Page 36 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Mick Herring © Mick Herring By Mick Herring. © Mick Herring of Charnwood forsook their usual mayoral transport for an exhibition ride in a Stanley Steam car. Archive Photo © Pete Austin By Pete Austin "With this years British Grand Prix using the new 'Silverstone Wing' pit complex for the first time I thought it would be interesting to show what things were like 40 years ago. This months image was taken just before the start of the 1971 British Grand Prix. The photo was taken from the Woodcote grandstand looking towards Copse. Despite the start being imminent chaos seems to reign in the entry to the relatively unprotected but crowded pit lane. I can't see Bernie tolerating that now. Obviously health and safety wasn't such an issue in those days. What I presume to be the timekeepers building seems rather confined for such a major event and there is a distinct lack of grandstands and safety fencing on the run down to Copse. The mechanics carrying amongst other things a water carrier, small toolbox and a wheel in the pit lane make an interesting comparison with the equipment required today. Notice Reine Wisell's Lotus Pratt & Whitney near the back. Ah, those were the days!" Page 37 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 Joe Ward Vauxhall Baby Bertha dices with Jeff Wilson VW Beetle Chevrolet V8 and Robert Knox Maguire Spaceframe Stiletto Mallory Park 29/8/2011. By Simon & Janet Wright Additional photos by Mick Herring. © Janet Wright A typical August Bank Holiday, grey cold and with heavy showers, could not deter the many fans from turning up at Mallory Park for the Classic and Sports Car Clubs, Supersaloon and Modsports revival race meeting. It may have been cold at the circuit, but the action was hot. The Classic Sports Car Club had managed to assemble a fantastic field of these Super and Special Saloons and Modsports racers, with quite a few ‘STAR’ cars. High light for most people was Baby Bertha, the famous Vauxhall Super saloon as raced to so many victories by the late great Gerry Marshall. Other major Superloons included the Daf V8 ‘Dafney’ and the Beetle Chevrolet V8, plus the Jaguar XJ12 and assorted Ford Escorts. Add to this mix a few slightly more modern special saloons such as the Vauxhall Carlton V8, and the Sunbeam Talbot Lotus Andy Wilson Maguire Mini Clubman leads Bill Richards Rover Metro round the hairpin Four 15 minute races were organised to give competitors maximum exposure. The first race looked like it was going to be a walk over for Ex-GP driver Mike Wilds driving the Daf V8 Page 38 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Simon Wright Super Saloon and Modsports rule Pete Edwards Ford Escort Mk2 taking the lead of race 1 from Mike Wilds Daf V8 © Simon Wright The second race proved a very © Simon Wright who led from the start, but about half way through the race, the white Ford Escort of Pete Edwards hit the front. Mike Wilds seemed to be dropping back but soon started to chase the leading Escort and finally finished 2nd overall. Joe Ward driving Baby Bertha had been on the front row of the grid, but dropped back, with the car sounding rough and was lapped twice by the end of the race. exciting race as Simon Allaway in the very low and wide looking Lotus Esprit Silhouette Special led from start to finish, but was hounded all the way by the Vauxhall Carlton TS of Peter Stevens which never seemed to be more than 2 car lengths behind the Lotus for the entire distance. Simon Allaway Lotus Esprit Silhouette leads the start of the 2nd race The third race saw © Mick Herring Joss Ronchetti in the ‘Lotus Bullet’ Lotus Talbot Sunbeam take a flag to flag win. The battle in this race was for 2nd place between the Ford Sierra Mk1 XR8 of Piers Grange and the much older Triumph Spitfire of YYYYY. Lap after lap they would exit Joss Ronchetti Lotus Bullet Page 39 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Janet Wright © Mick Herring the hairpin side by side on the drag down to Devil’s elbow, with the Sierra getting 2nd place at the end. Vince Woodman in his Broadspeed Ford Capri managed a spin at the hairpin in this race after tangling with the Reliant Scimitar of Iain Daniels/Ben Vince Woodman Ford Capri V6 leads Piers Grange Ford Sierra Mk1 XR8 Gough, both were round Shaws hairpin able to continue. Lee Costello started from the back of the grid in his black Ford Escort Mk1 and was moving through the field until pulling in to the pits about half way through the race. © Simon Wright Mike Wilds Daf V8 heads in to Devil’s Elbow The fourth and final Super Saloon and Modsports race proved another win for the low Lotus of Simon Allaway again from the Vauxhall Carlton of Peter Stevens after early leader Joss Ronchetti in the Sunbeam Talbot Lotus lost out to the two more powerful cars once their tyres had warmed up, though Joss was able to hold on to third place.. Ross did get the consolation of winning the final race of the Lee Costello Ford Escort Mk1 Page 40 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Simon Wright day, the Sports Car v Saloon challenge after starting the race from the pit lane after changing tyres (Treaded tyres were required for the final race). He charged through the field to take the lead on lap 5 © Simon Wright © Simon Wright L to R Joe Ward Baby Bertha, Bill Richards Rover Metro Bernie Chodosh Chevrolet Corvette and Joss Ronchetti behind Mark Campbell won a couple of races in his Triumph TR5 © Janet Wright In between the Super Saloon and Modsports races, the CSCC had arranged a couple of Swinging Sixties races and a Triumph challenge Jon Doubleday Fraud Cortina leads Jeff Wilson in the VW Beetle V8 Swinging Sixties field through Gerards bend plus a Sports cars Versus Saloons race to close the meeting. Mark Campbell had a successful afternoon at the wheel of his blue Triumph TR5, taking victory in both the Classic Triumph Invitation race and the Swinging Sixties Group 2 race. Page 41 Classic & Competition Car September 2011 © Janet Wright The swinging Sixties Group 1 race was red flagged after Kevin Hadfield rolled his Triumph TR4 at the John Cooper Esses and ended up at the bottom of the straight leading to to the Shaw’s hairpin. The meeting had proved to be a big hit with both competitors and fans alike. Lets hope that a series can be organised for next year. © Mick Herring © Simon Wright Glenn Canning’s smokey NSU TT in the Swinging Sixties race © Mick Herring Alistair Pugh Triumph Spitfire ADU 7B Triumph Andy Gardner Vauxhall Firenza leads Michael Bell Ford Escort RS1600 in Modsports and Super Challenge Saloons revival Derek Pearce Jaguar Mk2 3.8 Sports V Saloon Challenge Page 42 Classic & Competition Car September 2011