1. Art and Diseño

February 2015
Issue 53
Autosport
International
HRCR Open day
Vintage Stony
Stratford
Armouries
Chateau Impney Hillclimb
© Janet Wright
Contents
Page 3
News.
Page 16
Bettson Motor Bike.
Page 17
London Classic Car Show.
Page 21
Chateau Impney Revival.
Page 24
Vintage Stony.
Page 31
Page 34
Page 35
Page 37
Page 39
Page 41
Page 42
Page 44
Autosport International - The Racing Car show.
HSCC Tribute to Sir Jack Brabham at ASI
BTCC at ASI
Classic Team Lotus celebrate Jim Clark 1965.
Rallying at ASI
Live Action Arena at ASI
Coys Auction at ASI
Performance Car Show.
Page 47
Tasman Revival Round 3 Hampton Downs
Page 53
Archive Photo of the month.
Page 54
HRCR Open Day.
Page 58
Stratford Armouries Classic Car Meeting.
Page 62
Closing Shot.
Front Cover. The Lotus Grand Prix car on the
Formula 1 Grid at the Autosport International show ©
Simon Wright. HRCR Open day © Pete Austin. Vintage All content is copyright classicandcompetitioncar.com
Stony © Janet Wright. Stratford Armouries © Simon
unless otherwise stated. All photographs are copyright the
original photographer and cannot be used for commercial
Wright. Chateau Impney © Janet Wright.
purposes unless by prior approval of the original copyright
holder. We try to ensure accurate and truthful reporting
We now have a Facebook Group - Classic and Competition Car - but if you spot an error, please contact us and will we
where you can join and keep up to date with additional
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feel free to add personal postings and your own photos.
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Classic and Competition Car Facebook Group
February 2015
Classic and Competition Car is published by
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Our Team.
Simon Wright - Editor.
Simon has been photographing
and reporting on motor races for
many years. Served an
engineering apprenticeship many
years ago. Big fan of the Porsche
917
Pete Austin.
Pete is the man for Historic racing,
with an extensive archive of black
and white images covering the last
few decades of motorsport in
Britain. Very keen on BRM.
Mick Herring
Mick's first love is GT racing,
including Historic, especially the
Lola T70. Has an extensive
knowledge of all things GT.
Janet Wright.
Janet has been taking
photographs for many years, and
is also very skilled in video. She
likes Aston Martins
Page 2
Editorial.
Show season is upon us at the
moment in the UK. The
Autosport Show and the new
London Classic Car Show have
now both taken place (See
reports in this issue) and now
the next show is Race Retro, the
Historic Motorsport Show, held
at Stoneleigh, near Coventry.
The racing season is still taking
place in warmer parts of the
world, and in this issue we have
a report from the latest round of
the Tasman Revival
championship from New
Zealand, where they have
assembled quite a field of
Formula 5000 cars and have
even got some of the original
drivers over to re-unite them with
their old cars. We also have
dates of various championships
announced in our News pages.
See you trackside.
News
© Janet Wright
Example of a Chevron B8 driven by Steve Hodges - Not necessarily the car on display at Race Retro
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
Example of a Chevron B27 driven by M Bletsoe-Brown - Not necessarily the car on display at Race retro
Race Retro to celebrate 50 years of Chevron.
This year sees the 50th anniversary of the first Chevron, their B1, being built in
Salford, and the marque will be celebrating at the Race Retro show at Stoneleigh
between the 20th and 22nd of February 2015. The display will include five
Chevron racing cars showing some of the wide range of classes that Chevron have produced. These
will include the B1 Clubmans car, B8 GT car, the B16 Group 5/6 2 seater sports car, a B25 Formula
2/Formula Atlantic single seater, a B27 ex Dieter Quester car and finally the B62 which was designed
as a Gp C2 sports car and only one was made before the company closed.
February 2015
Page 3
© Simon Wright
New line up of Grids
at Donington Historic
Festival.
The three day Donington
Historic Festival over the May
Day Bank Holiday weekend,
2nd to 4th May, sees a shake
up to the race line up for 2015.
For the first time at the Historic
Festival there will be a race for
Grand Prix cars from the
1950s and 60s on both Saturday and Sunday. There will also be the first
round of the new HSCC Jaguar Heritage Challenge which will feature Big
Cats like the E-Type, D-Type, C-Type, XK120, and Mk I and Mk II
Saloons. Saturday will feature a 2 1/2 hour endurance race driving in to
the evening featuring the sports cars that took place in the 1000 kms races
of the early 1970s. As well as the sports prototypes of up to 5 litres, the
race will also feature GT and Touring cars of the period, exactly as in the
original races. The HSCC Historic Formula 2 race and Historic Formula
Junior races will also remain on the event timetable for Saturday. There
will be another Mini endurance race on Sunday, this time for the GT and
Sports Car Cup, a series for pre 66 GTs and Pre-63 Sports cars that raced
in the World Endurance championship of the period. More sports cars built
up to 1955 will take part in the RAC Woodcote Trophy. Touring car fans
will have plenty to keep them entertained with races for Pre 66 under 2
litre Touring Cars, HRDC’s “History of the BTCC 1958-66” and HSCC
Super Touring Cars from pre-1980 to 1999.
Bank Holiday Monday will see the Jaguars in action plus the Stirling Moss
Trophy for pre-1961 sports cars and the Mad Jack race for pre-war sports
cars, plus more touring car races including the Motor Racing Legends
Historic Touring Car Challenge.
As well as the races, there will be demonstrations from historic Formula 1
and Grand Prix cars to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the first ever
Donington Grand Prix, plus Supercars across the decades. The mighty
Group B Rally cars will be providing their usual rubber burning displays
along with the iconic cars from the Historic rally Car Register and finally
the Historic Karts will also be out on track. As usual the infield area will be
taken over by the magnificent Car Club displays. For further information
and to book advanced tickets see the web site www.doningtonhistoric.com
February 2015
© Pete Austin
Jaguar Test driver
awarded OBE
Norman Dewis, the former
Jaguar Test driver and works
racing driver, was awarded
the Order of the British
Empire in the Queens New
Years Honours list. The 94
year old is recognised as
probably Britain’s greatest
test driver, having helped
develop vehicles such as the
Le Mans winning D-Type
Jaguar and was influential in
the E-Type Jaguar. In a
career spanning 33 years, he
was involved in the testing
and development of 25 major
Jaguar models. These included the Le Mans winning C-Type
and D-Type racing cars, the XK 140 and 150 sports cars, both
of the Mk II Jaguar saloons 2.4 litre and 3.4 litre, the Mk VII and
Mk VIIM, the E-Type, the XJ13 mid engined prototype, the XJ
saloons, the XJ-S and
© Pete Austin
the XJ40 saloons.
Jaguar have produced
a short video in which
Sir Jackie Stewart and
Sir Stirling Moss both
pay tribute to Norman
for his hard work and
dedication to Jaguar
and their pleasure at
his award https://
www.youtube.com/watch?
Page 4
Shelsley Walsh 2015
Shelsley Walsh has a busy season ahead with both hill climb events and
Breakfast club meetings. Organised by the Midland Automobile Club (MAC)
these events run from February through to October. The Breakfast Club
meetings are free to attend and run on Sunday mornings between 9am and
12 noon. The club ask people who wish to attend to pre-register on the
Shelsley Walsh web site at www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk to give an indication
of numbers. Dates for Shelsley events are
8th February 2015 Breakfast Club.
8th March 2015
Breakfast Club and Peter Blankstone Sporting Trial.
12th April 2015
Breakfast Club.
2nd-3rd May 2015 Speed in to Spring Hill climb.
10th May 2015
Breakfast Club.
6th-7th June 2015 Best of British Hill climb.
14th June 2015
Breakfast club.
4th July 2015
Reg Philips Trophy Hill climb.
5th July 2015
Vintage and PVT Hill climb (VSCC).
12th July 2015
Breakfast Club.
18th-19th July 2015 Classic Nostalgia Hill climb.
9th August 2015
Breakfast Club.
15th-16th August 2015 Championship Challenge Hill climb.
6th September 2015 Breakfast Club.
19th-20th September 2015 Autumn Speed Finale Hill climb.
11th October 2015 Breakfast Club.
© Simon Wright
February 2015
New 2nd Generation VW Polo R WRC.
Volkswagen presented the new Polo R WRC to the World at Wolfsburg
before it made its debut in defence of the World Rally Championship at the
Monte Carlo Rally on the 22nd January 2015. With the aim of repeating
their success of 2013 and 2014, the driver line up remains the same with
double French World Champions Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia and
team mates Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila both from Finland, and
Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene both from Norway.
The new Polo has been highly developed and sports a more aggressive
look while attention to detail under the bonnet has improved many aspects
of the cars performance while maintaining reliability, efficiency and
performance. The aero package now includes a towering new rear wing
which is incorporated in to the new colour scheme for 2015.
The biggest innovation technically is the new hydraulically activated
gearbox, operated via a paddle shift on the steering column. Three
quarters of last
years components
have also been
optimised with the
aim of making
everything simpler,
lighter and
stronger.
Page 5
© Simon Wright
60th Anniversary of Citroen DS celebrated on Rally cars.
As part of the celebrations for 60 years of the DS range, the
three Citroen DS3 WRCs entered by Citroen Total Abu Dhabi
WRT will carry an exclusive livery in this years World Rally
Championship. Starting with the Monte Carlo rally, the cars
driven by Kris Meeke, Mads Ostberg and Sheikh Khalid Al
Qassimi will appear in a striking White, Red and Gold colour
scheme with a 60 spread across the rear wings. The team also
have two new sponsors in Certina and Sparco.
Fiat 500 sets New Guinness Parking World Record.
Stunt driver Alastair Moffatt, a master instructor at Stunt Drive UK,
set a new Guinness World record for the tightest parallel park.
During a performance in the Live Action Arena, part of the Autosport
International Show, Moffatt managed to park in a gap just 7.5cm
longer than the Fiat 500 he was driving. The Fiat 500C 1.2 Cult was
standard apart from the ESc had to be disconnected to allow control
of the car using the handbrake, a knob was added to the steering
wheel and tyre pressures were increased to compensate for the
abrasiveness of the surface in the hall.
New Classic Auction House set to launch.
Created by a team from the highly respected Silverstone Auctions, CCA
is a specialist Auction house for the sale of ‘everyman’ classic cars.
From April, the new company will hold regular auctions at the
Silverstone racing circuit. The first sale is due to take place on the 3rd
of March 2015 in the F1 pit garage under the Silverstone Wing. The
aim is to make buying and selling a classic car as easy as possible. For
its first sale cars are invited for sale with an approximate value of up to
£25,000. They plan to offer an impressive selection of cars such as
Golf GTis, MGBs, Minis and Alfa Spiders etc at affordable prices.
February 2015
Page 6
© Simon Wright
Donington Park race date announced for 2015
Donington Park has announced a full set of race dates for 4
wheeled action at the East Midlands circuit. For further
information see www.donington-park.co.uk
28-29 Mar Sports and Saloon car races 750 Motor Club
18-19 Apr
British Touring Car Championship
25-26 Apr
GT & Formula car races
MSVR
2-4 May
Donington Historic Festival
9-10 May
Sports & Saloon car races
BRSCC
30 May
Historic Sports car races
HSCC
31 May
Sports & Saloon car races
MGCC
6-7 Jun
British Superkart Grand Prix
28 Jun
Aston Martin Owners Club races
4-5 Jul
Masters Festival
11-12 Jul
National Car Races
Motors TV/BARC
25-26 Jul
British Truck Championships & support races
2 Aug
National Car races
360 MRC
22 Aug
Funcup car endurance races
5-6 Sep
Classic sports car races
CSCC
12-13 Sep British GT & BRDC F4 championships
19-20 Sep GT & Formula car races
MSVR
3-4 Oct
Sports & saloon car races
750 Motor Club
17-18 Oct
Sports & Saloon car races
BRSCC
14 Nov
Donington 1000kms race
BRSCC
© Janet Wright
February 2015
Race Retro,the International Historic Motorsport Show, runs from
the 20th to the 22nd of February at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, and
features the live action rally stage on the Saturday and Sunday.
For further information, see the web site www.raceretro.com
The next car show at the NEC will be the Restoration & Classic
Car show, which is held over the weekend of the 28th and 29th
March 2015. See web site WWW.NECRESTORATIONSHOW.COM
© Simon Wright
Page 7
Vauxhall celebrate 25 years of performance saloons.
When launched in 1989, the Lotus Carlton was the fastest
four door saloon in the World. The Straight Six twin
turbocharged engine produced 377 bhp and could achieve
0-62 mph in just 4.9 seconds and had a top speed of 176
mph. With its chassis developed by Lotus, it was a highly
dynamic car which could easily hold its own against the
fastest supercars of the period in both handling and
performance. The price was a massive £48,000 and a total of
440 Lotus Carltons were built between 1989 and 1994.
The Vauxhall Omega was the next high performance saloon,
built between 1993 and 1997 with a 3 litre quad cam V6
engine and produced 208 bhp.
In 2007 the VXR8 was developed based on the Holden
Clubsport R8 in Australia. With a 6 litre V8 engine developing
420PS it could do 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds. This was
followed in 2009 by the limited edition Supercharged Bathurst
S which developed 577PS and at only £45,000 it was the
least expensive car at the time to have 500PS+.
The latest version today is the VXR8 GTS which produces
576 bhp, more than its BMW M5 and Mercedes E63 AMG
rivals and yet costs around £20,000 less than its rivals.
Bentley up to Speed.
Bentley launched its new
flagship model the Mulsanne
Speed at the North American
International Auto Show in
Detroit. It produces 530 bhp and
has selectable sports steering
and suspension on demand. The
6 3/4 litre twin turbo V8 does
0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and
has a top speed of 190 mph.
Hyundai Motorsport confirm 3 driver line-up for Rally Sweden.
Hyundai has confirmed it will enter three Hyundai i20 WRC cars in
next months Rally Sweden, the second round of the 2015 FIA
World Rally Championship. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul and
Dani Sordo/Marc Marti will drive the No 7 and No 8 cars while
Hayden Paddon/John Kennard will drive the third No 20 car. The
trio will be Hyundai Motorsport’s primary driver line up for 2015.
February 2015
Page 8
HSCC Dates for
2015.
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
The Historic Sports
Car Club have
announced their race
dates for 2015 with
their season opener
over the Easter
weekend at Thruxton.
There are so many
high light meetings which the HSCC are involved in this year including the
Donington Historic Festival, the Silverstone Classic, the Brands Hatch
Super Prix, Croft Nostalgia weekend, the Oulton Park Gold Cup and the
Walter Hayes Trophy plus many other events. The dates are as follows:
April 4th-5th
Thruxton Easter Revival meeting.
May 2nd-4th
Donington Historic Festival.
May 16th-17th
Silverstone International Trophy (GP Circuit)
May 30th
Donington Park.
June 14th-15th
Autosport 3 Hrs Snetterton.
June 27th-28th
Wolds Trophy Cadwell Park.
July 11th-12th
Brands Hatch HSCC Super Prix (GP Circuit)
July 24th-26th
Silverstone Classic (GP Circuit)
August 8th-9th
Croft Nostalgia weekend.
August 29th-31st
Oulton Park Gold Cup.
September 26th
Brands Hatch (Indy circuit).
October 17th
Silverstone Championship Finals.
Oct 31st-Nov 1st
Walter Hayes Trophy, Silverstone.
© Janet Wright
Coventry Transport Museum Closed for 2 weeks.
As part of the £8.5 million redevelopment project funded by Heritage
Lottery, Coventry Transport Museum will be closed for 2 weeks from
Monday 23rd February 2015 to Sunday 8th March 2015 inclusive. The
redevelopment should be completed in June 2015.
The good news is that the free Classic Car Breakfast Club meetings are
returning on a monthly basis during the summer. The first meeting of the
year for classic car and motorcycle owners will take place on Saturday 11th
April 2015 between 9am and 11am in Millennium Place outside the front of
the museum. It is free to attend, but due to space restrictions, places are
limited and owners must pre-register to be allowed to park in Millennium
Place on the day.
Dates for 2015 are 11th April, 9th May, 13th June, 11th July, 8th August,
12th September, and 10th October 2015. The Classic Car Breakfast Club
meetings are arranged by the club and the museum is not responsible for
the content or any changes to the programme.
Brabham BT41
Part of the HSCC
display at the
Autosport Show
was the 1973 F3
Brabham BT41.
This was the last
of the production
Brabhams. Best
results 3rd
Monaco Damien
Magee.
© Janet Wright
February 2015
Page 9
Hyundai show Plug-in Hybrid Electric vehicle in America.
At the 2015 North American International Auto Show, Hyundai unveiled
the World premiere of the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid car. This is the
company’s first Plug-in Hybrid Electric vehicle and it can travel up to 22
miles on electric power alone and only takes 2 1/2 hours to recharge with
a Level 2 Charger. They will be built at the Asan plant in South Korea and
will be on sale in selected markets later this year. The 9.8 kWh lithium
polymer battery pack is about 5 times larger than the Sonata Hybrids
battery and is expected to give a 22 mile all electric only range, more than
any other midsize Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. The Plug-in hybrid uses
the six speed automatic transmission with Hyundai’s Transmission
mounted Electrical Device (TMED), a 50 KW Electric motor in place of a
torque converter. The 50 KW electric motor is 32% more powerful than
the motor used in the standard Sonata Hybrid and allows EV operation at
higher speed. A 2 litre NU four cylinder CDI engine coupled with the
electric motor allow the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid to operate like the Sonata
Hybrid once the on-board battery is depleted. The Sonata PHEV Nu
engine produces 154 bhp and 140 ib. ft of torque and is expected to
deliver 93 mpg combined in EV mode. In charge sustaining mode it
should return 38 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway.
© Simon Wright
Bentley Motorsport announces full 2015 schedule.
After the success of the Continental GT3 in 2014, winning 3 races and
finish second overall in the Blancpain Endurance series, the race program
has been expanded all around the World for 2015. There will be Works,
Works supported and Customer teams to cover six race series over 4
continents. The Works team Bentley Team M-Sport will return to the
Blancpain Endurance Series. They retain drivers Guy Smith, Andy Meyrick
and Steven Kane from 2014. The second car will be driven by Spanish
racer Andy Soucek, German Maximillian Buhk and Belgian Maxime Soulet.
They will also tackle three of the Worlds premiere sports car endurance
races, the Bathurst 12 hours in Australia, the ADAC Zurich 24 hr race at
the Nurburgring in Germany and the Gulf 12 Hours at the Yas Marina
circuit in Abu Dhabi. The first race of the season being the Liqui-Moly
Bathurst 12 Hour race in Australia.
The factory will also support Bentley Team Dyson Racing in the Pirelli
World Challenge season in the USA, Bentley Team HTP who will use 5
Continental GT3s to race in the Blancpain Sprint Series, Blancpain
Endurance series and the ADAC GT Masters Championship and Bentley
Team Absolute who will compete in the GT Asia series. Customer teams
will increase the race coverage even further to include the Australian GT
series.
February 2015
Page 10
and transmission shifting performance.
The interior boasts exceptional forward visibility, simple and
intuitive controls and a class leading seat which has outstanding
comfort, easy entrance and exit and excellent holding
performance.The Instrument cluster features a dynamic TFT
display.
Acura unveil latest (Honda) NSX
Twenty five years after the original, Acura have shown the next
generation NSX developed and produced in the USA. It will be
manufactured exclusively at the Performance Manufacturing
Centre (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio. It has a mid mounted twin
turbo V6 engine with 9 speed dual clutch transmission and a 3
electric motor sports hybrid system. This provides all wheel
drive with the front wheels driven by twin independent high
output electric motors which deliver instantaneous torque
response and dynamic left to right torque distribution. The third
electric motor is the rear direct drive motor housed between the
engine and transmission which supports acceleration, braking
February 2015
The body is a new multi material design composed of a
combination of aluminium and sheet moulding composite (SMC)
fitted to a space frame chassis constructed of aluminium, ultra
high strength steel and other advanced materials, anchored by a
carbon fibre floor.
The fully independent
all aluminium front and
rear suspension
supports ultra high
performance carbon
ceramic brake discs.
The model will be sold
as a Honda in Europe.
Page 11
© Janet Wright
Plenty of action for Bentley drivers in 2015.
New Formula Libre Championship.
The BARC have launched a new 16 round Formula Libre
championship for single seater racing cars with a minimum of 3
classes - latest specification 2 litre Formula Renault, pre 2012
Formula 3 and Formula BMW cars.
The championship will take part across six events starting at
Snetterton on the 9th and 10th May 2015. With up to three
rounds per meeting, subsequent events will take place at
Rockingham, Thruxton, Croft and Oulton park before returning
to Rockingham for the final two rounds in October.
The championship was designed to cater for the three classes
of cars that currently have no championship in which to
compete. The Formula Renault cars are the same specification
as the cars raced in Europe and give teams both in the UK and
Europe, extra track time with their cars. Also with the demise of
British Formula 3 it allows the owners of these older cars and
the Formula BMW cars a place to race in 2015.
Dates are as follows
9th & 10th May
Snetterton Rounds 1, 2 & 3.
30th & 31st May
Rockingham Rounds 4, 5 & 6.
13th & 14th June
Thruxton
Rounds 7, 8 & 9.
11th & 12th July
Croft
Rounds 10, 11 & 12.
15th August
Oulton Park Rounds 13 & 14.
17th October
Rockingham Rounds 15 & 16.
For more details, competitors should contact Championship
Manager Will Fewkes at [email protected]
February 2015
The Bentley Drivers Club (BDC) have a busy year ahead with key
dates already fixed in the clubs calendar. The competition season
starts on the 9th May 2015 with a sprint event at the highly secure
Mira Proving Grounds in Warwickshire. June sees a switch to the
Club weekend for the Summer Rally and Concours at the club house
at Wroxton on Saturday 27th June. Race competitors will provide a
feature display before setting off on a mass depart for Donington park
where they will have an all Bentley 20 minute scratch race in the
Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) meeting on the 28th June 2015.
The highlight of the season is the annual Bentley Silverstone meeting
on the 1st August 2015. This will be the 66th consecutive visit to the
Northamptonshire circuit and the meeting will feature additional races
for AC, MG, Porsche, Aston Martin and Morgan cars beside the two
dedicated Bentley races, a scratch race, handicap race and an
allcomers grid. As well as the track action, there will be hundreds of
Bentley models on display and a club parade on track. For further
information please see the clubs web site www.bdcl.org
© Simon Wright
Page 12
PILETTE GETS CHANCE TO RELIVE GOLDEN DAYS
© Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.
New Zealand of second at Wigram and a win at the Surfers Paradise
round in Australia.
Team VDS was a proudly privateer operation which still exists today. It
was set up by the titled Belgian Count Rodolph (Rudi) van der Straten
Ponthoz, who had family links with the Stella Artois brewery.
The team was one of the mainstays of the F5000 category in both
hemispheres for over six years with Pilette racing in Europe, the United
States and Australia and New Zealand.
The team was one of the last to leave the category, running Australian
Warwick Brown in a Lola T430 as late as 1978.
Only three T430s exist today and all three were at Hampton Downs for
the Gulf Oil Howden Ganley F5000 Festival meeting.
Pilette completed a number of laps in one of the two 430s owned by
Christchurch driver David Abbott.
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, Avon Tyres,
Webdesign and Exide.
© Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.
One of a number of Formula 5000 category originals to take up the
offer of a demonstration drive in one of the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman
Cup Revival Series cars at Hampton Downs was Belgium driver
Teddy Pilette.
Now 73, Pilette is a two-time winner of the European F5000
championship (in 1973 and again in 1975) but is better known here for
his exploits in Team VDS cars in the Tasman Series between 1971 and
1975.
In 1971 Pilette finished sixth overall in debut down under behind the
wheel of a McLaren M10B, with a best finish of third at Teretonga
and second at Sandown.
In 1972 he finished seventh (again in a McLaren M10B) with a best
finish of second at Teretonga and third at Adelaide, then after skipping
the 1973 series he returned in 1974 - with eventual series winner Peter
Gethin in matching Chevron B24s - to finish third with a best finish in
February 2015
Racing great Teddy Pilette who completed some demonstration laps in David Abbott's Lola T430
at the first Gulf Oil Howden Ganley F5000 Festival meeting at Hampton Downs
13
Page
Jean Pierre Beltoise
1937 – 2015. By Pete Austin
Jean-Pierre Beltoise,
perhaps best
remembered for his
victory at a soaking wet
Monte Carlo in 1972,
sadly died last month at
the age of 77. He had
suffered two strokes
whilst in Senegal.
Born in the BoulogneBillancourt district of
Paris in 1937 Beltoise
started his motorsport
career in the late 1950s
racing motorbikes and in
1961 became French
250cc champion. More
success followed
culminating with 6th place
in the 50cc World
Championship in 1964.
He then switched to cars
but had a serious accident
whilst driving a Rene© Pete Austin Bonnet
in the 1964 Reims 12 Hours resulting in a badly
broken arm from which he would never regain full
movement. However, he went on to claim titles in F3
and F2 driving for Matra before moving up to Formula
One with the French team. In 1968, driving a Matra
MS11 V12, he finished runner up to Jackie Stewart in
a wet Dutch Grand Prix.
He continued to drive for Matra in both Formula One
and sportscars and in 1972 signed for BRM. This
resulted in his only Grand Prix win in Monte Carlo
driving superbly in appalling conditions which also
proved to be the last time the BRM marque would win
February 2015
© Pete Austin
a Grand Prix. He continued to drive for the team for another two
seasons until he retired from Formula One at the end of 1974.
Louis Stanley, owner of BRM in its later years, summed up his Monaco
victory as follows – “ Jean-Pierre never eased up throughout the long
race, at times driving into a wall of spray with zero visibility as he
overtook back-markers. His reputation as a brilliant driver was
confirmed before a home crowd on
French territory as the natural
successor to national figures like
Louis Chiron, Jean Behra and
Maurice Trintignant. It was his first
and only Grand Prix win – but what a
victory.”
Beltoise married Francois Cevert’s
sister Jacqueline and had two sons,
Anthony and Julien who are both
involved in racing. Classic and
Competition Car sends its sincere
condolences to his family and friends.
© Pete Austin
Page 14
Pat Carvath
A tribute by Pete Austin.
Pat Carvath, a long serving mechanic with the BRM team,
sadly passed away on 24th January 2015 aged 79.
Pat, who was the son of Bourne dentist, started his BRM
career working in the engine shop on the V16. Following
three years National Service he moved to the Formula 1
team in 1957.
He was mechanic on Jo Bonnier’s car when BRM scored its
first World Championship victory at the Dutch Grand Prix in
1959 and was also Graham Hill’s mechanic when Graham
won the same race in 1962 and ultimately the World
Championship.
He left BRM at the end of 1974. His sister, Pamela, was
married to BRM team manager and engineer Tony Rudd.
A familiar face at BRM reunions (I last met him at the BRM
Association Trackday last year where the accompanying
photograph was taken) he will be sadly missed. Our sincere
condolences go to his family and friends.
© Pete Austin
February 2015
© Simon Wright
Unipower GT race car.
The Unipower GT was the brainchild of ex Lotus and Rootes man
Ernie Unger and Attila sports racer Val Dare Bryan. Based on Mini
running gear, the square tubular spaceframe chassis was built by Arch
Motors and the bodywork was made by Specialised Mouldings then
fitted with modified Mini engine, suspension and brakes. Between
1966 and 1969 approximately 75 were built. This car was displayed at
the 1967 Racing Car Show at
Olympia and is fitted with a
1275cc Cooper S engine. It
was bought by Janspeed for
Geoff Mabbs to race first as a
1275, and then later in the
1150cc Special GT class for
the 1967 season. In 1968 it
was bought by Car and Car
Conversions Advertising
Manager Brian Harvey who
sprinted and hill climbed the
car.
© Simon Wright
Page 15
Bettson Motor Bike. By Mick Herring.
Having owned and repaired several Hillman Imps in my early
motoring career, I know only too well the engine's virtues (and
pitfalls).
So it was with great interest that I saw, at a recent show, a
motor bike sporting two of these lightweight aluminium
engines, geared together and mounted at 180
© Mick Herring
degrees to each other, in line with the frame, in
an 8 degree V8 configuration.
This solves two problems, the torque reactions
will cancel each other out and the inlet/exhausts
will be on the outside of the engines (a problem
shared with motorbike V8s, although they are
mounted on a common crankcase).
The pair of modified 998cc engines are joined by
fabricated adaptor plates and a housing
containing the gears that link the two cranks
together, with the drive to the heavily modified
Kawasaki Z1300 transmission being taken from,
what used to be, the front of the right hand
engine.
The transmission, which now turns in the
opposite direction, had its own engine section
carefully machined away and is modified from
shaft drive to chain drive.
The two water pumps sit on top of the
transmission and these, together with the
cylinder heads being machined to accept "Wills
Rings" instead of the normal head gaskets,
ensure that the engines remain cool and intact
via the two radiators that are mounted as
panniers towards the rear, the top tubes of the
frame serving as water return feeds.
The frame is of welded stainless steel
February 2015
construction.
This is not the first time Imp engines have been used in motor
bikes and before high powered Japanese engines became the
norm, they were used in many racing sidecar outfits and
hydroplanes.
A worthy piece of engineering making use of classic
components.
Page 16
London Classic Car Show 8th-11th January 2015.
brought the show to life as all kinds of classic cars were put
through their paces as they were driven up and down the Grand
Avenue, to the delight of the crowd. This meant that unlike other
Classic Car shows, you could actually hear the cars and see
them in motion rather than the more normal static displays of
other shows. To hear classic Formula 1 cars as they roared
around the circuit was enough to put a smile on everybody’s
face. It was not just racing cars that graced the Grand Avenue,
but all types of cars from pioneering veterans right through to
Show goers enjoying The Grand Avenue
Launched with a spectacular VIP preview evening on Thursday
8th January 2015, the first indoor classic car show of the year
was the inaugural London Classic Car Show held at ExCeL in
London’s Docklands. More than 25,200 visitors attended the
show over the three full days, making it a success in its first
year. The show had
a new feature not
seen before in a UK
indoor show, the car
catwalk, otherwise
known as The
Grand Avenue
presented by
Motoriety. Run the
entire length of the
hall, this area
Bugatti on the Grand Avenue
February 2015
Ferrari on The Grand Avenue
Sixties supercars. These shows proved so popular, that
additional shows had to be arranged. However, the car which
stole the show and won the Peoples Choice Award was a
Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder SWB once owned by film star
James Coburn and valued at more than £10 million. Another
celebrity who drew the crowds was TV Chef James Martin who
provided show goers the opportunity to take a break at his
James Martin Classic Cafe.
Page 17
James Martin sits in an ex-Montoya F1 car on the Williams stand
Another high light was a display to celebrate the career of
legendary Formula 1 racing car designer Adrian Newey
featuring both racing cars he had designed and road and race
cars he had driven. Adrian was present at the special VIP
launch along with Red Bull team principle Christian Horner, ex
Grand Prix drivers Martin Brundle and David Coulthard, Radio
2 broadcaster Chris Evans, TV chef James Martin and TV
presenters James May and Jake Humphrey. James May from
TV show Top Gear was also present to choose the car that
changed the World. In typical Top Gear style of not appearing to
take anything seriously, he chose the Corgi model of the James
Bond Aston Martin DB5 of which more than six million were
sold.
Motorsport was well represented even though the Autosport
International Show was taking place the same weekend less
than 125 miles away at the NEC near Birmingham. Octane
magazine and the Motorsport Hall of fame had a display of
iconic cars from the Le Mans 24 Hours race, while several
classic Grand Prix cars were also present including the classic
February 2015
Ferrari 512 and Ford GT40. Le Mans icons on display
Motor Sport Hall of Fame
Page 18
yellow Camel
Lotus and
one of Jackie
Stewarts
Tyrell Ford
Grand Prix
cars.
Unlike the
Classic Motor
Show which
is held at the
NEC in
November
where most
Dealer displays
of the displays are made by car clubs, the London Classic motor
Show had a majority of stands from Classic Car dealers, which
meant that many of the cars on display could be bought. The
dealers reported many genuine enquires over the course of the
show and some high value sales including a £1.5 million Ferrari,
three £500,000 Aston Martins and a £500,000 E-Type Jaguar.
There were also many more affordable classic cars up for sale
as well as the big sellers and many trade stands and
Maserati display
February 2015
Aston Martin display at the London Classic Car Show
concessions reported higher than expected sales.
One manufacturer that was celebrating was Citroen with the
60th anniversary of the DS range, with various class Citroen DS
models being demonstrated on the Grand Avenue during the
show. Aston Martin and Maserati were also pleased with the
interest shown in their cars by the public during the show.
The organisers were delighted
with this first show. Event
Director Bas Bungish said “The
feedback from visitors and
exhibitors has been universally
positive. The 2016 London
Classic Car Show will be at
least 50% bigger with even
more fabulous cars and more
special displays. What’s more
we shall be ensuring that we
don’t lose the intimacy that
made this year’s show so
special”. The date for 2016 are
the 18-21 February 2016.
All photos courtesy of London Classic Car Show.
Page 19
Citroen celebrated 60 years of the DS
February 2015
Page 20
© Simon Wright
Chateau Impney Revival. By Simon & Janet Wright.
After 48 years we have another motorsport venue returning to
public use. This year (2015) on the 11th and 12th of July the
Chateau Impney hillclimb will take place at this historic hotel
located in Droitwich, Worcestershire, just a short distance from
Junction 5 of the M5 motorway.
© Janet Wright
The event was
launched at a
presentation on
January 7th in front of
local dignitaries, media
and motoring club
representatives. Rod
Spollon, chairman of
the Chateau Impney
Hill Climb Club, and a
panel of event officals
including John Felix,
Rod Spollon giving his presentation
February 2015
the Clerk of the Course
and James Ashe,
Media Director,
revealed details of the
new hill climb event
with the emphasis on
an inclusive event with
local support.
Around the room were
several classic racing
cars on display
representing the types
of car that the event
hopes to attract to take
part in July. These
included the exGraham Hill works 2.5
litre BRM P48 used by
current record holder
Tony Griffiths, who in
1964 completed the
old 550 yard course in
just 22.07 seconds.
Another classic was
BRM P48
the Lotus 19 sports car as driven by such greats as Sterling
Moss, Innes Ireland, Jim Clark and Graham Hill. Powered by a
2.5 litre Coventry Climax FPF engine and rare Collotti
gearbox, it was the only Lotus 19 of the UDT Laystall team
cars to run on wire wheels. This cost it several possible race
wins when rear wheels fell off whist in the lead of a race. It did
win the Oulton Park Gold Cup driven by Jim Clark, while
Graham Hill became the first sports car driver to lap Snetterton
at over 100 mph.
The original event was run between 1957 and 1967 and was
organised by the Hagley and District Light Car Club, which
Page 21
© Janet Wright
and Grandstand access. The public will also be allowed free
access to the H&H Classic car auction which will be taking place
© Janet Wright
Lotus 19
now organises events at nearby Loton Park Hill climb venue,
near Shrewsbury. The original event was a sprint, but the new
event is now classified as a hill climb because the original
course has been extended to 1000 yards to make a more
exciting course, and this has given more gradient between the
start and finish line, resulting in the hill climb classification.
As the venue captured the publics imagination and was in the
centre of the country, near to a town and easily accessible, the
events became family affairs.
© Janet Wright
In keeping with this
family feeling, it has
been decided that
this years event will
have a common
access ticket which
will allow the
spectators access to
all the main aspects
of the event,
including paddock
February 2015
at the event, as long as they register on the day. The organisers
want the event to be incorporated in to the local area and are
using local firms where-ever possible to provide catering,
grandstand construction, filming etc. They plan to have large TV
screens around the course so people won’t miss any of the
action, but with the
planned course, it is
thought that spectators will
be able to view around
60% of the track from the
main spectator areas.
There will be a Concours
d’Elegance which will
consist of five classes of
five cars and it will be
judged by the spectators,
with the winners
announced at the end of
the weekend. There will
Austin single seater
also be a Regent
Exhibition Trading zone with 100 stands with race preparers,
restorers, car clubs, vintage clothing and automobile
Page 22
© Janet Wright
memorabilia.
The track surface has already been laid, and the course will
be marked out with straw bales and tyre walls in keeping
with the original circuit, whilst complying with modern health
and safety standards. With the Hotel looking like an original
French Chateau, the backdrop should be stunning.
The competition entry is by invitation only, with a 200 car
© Simon Wright
Jaguar XK
It is hoped that the event will attract 10,000 spectators this year
and tickets can be booked from the official web site at http://
www.chateauimpneyhillclimb.com and children under 16 go free
with a ticket holding adult. See the official launch video here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e36kqGE4A0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Bugatti Type 51
entry split across 19 classes, to ensure an interesting and
varied mix of vehicles, all built prior to 1967, and the
organisers are working with local car clubs like the Midland
Automobile Club (MAC), the Vintage Sports Car Club
(VSCC) and the Bugatti Owners Club (BOC) plus the British
Automobile Racing Club (BARC) plus the Hagley and District
Light Car Club. Anyone with an interesting vehicle which
meets the criteria is invited to contact the organisers via the
official web site.
February 2015
© Janet Wright
Page 23
Vintage Stony incorporating the Stony Stratford New Year’s Day Car
Festival. 1st January 2015.
By Simon & Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
Vintage cars filled the Market Square at Stony Stratford on New Years day 2015
February 2015
Page 24
© Simon Wright
Stony Stratford, near Milton Keynes played host to its largest
gathering yet of vintage and classic cars on New Years day.
This small town turned the whole of the town centre in to a
large car festival, with many people travelling long distances
to attend. The weather was dull, dry and very cold but it didn’t
deter the enthusiast
© Janet Wright
owners from coming out
to start the New year in
their hundreds. Market
Square was turned into a
Pre war Vintage car and
motorcycle area. So
many cars turned up that
additional space was
found to the rear of an
office block in Market
Square for vintage cars
and provided a walk way
through to where the
Post War classic cars
February 2015
1903 Oldsmobile
were parked in the car park area in Cofferidge Close behind
the High Street. There were so many classic cars arriving,
that the organisers then took to parking them down each
side of the High Street, where for once the double yellow
line restrictions were lifted.
The large market square had vintage cars round three of
the four outer edges and a double row, back to back, in the
centre of the square, while several rows of motorcycles
took the fourth side of the square. The selection of vehicles
was truly amazing with popular models from Austin and
Ford plus some more unusual models from Humber, and
Rover. One of the
© Simon Wright
oldest cars on show
was a 1903 Oldsmobile,
a curved dash runabout
powered by a single
cylinder 1560cc 5 HP
engine. This is credited
as being the first mass
produced automobile,
having been built on an
assembly line from
interchangeable parts.
This model was built
between 1901 and
1907 during which time
over 19,000 were built.
Being an American
automobile, it originally
sold for $650 which
made it cheaper than its
main competition, the
Ford Western which
cost about $200 more.
Vintage Sunbeam arrives
Page 25
© Simon Wright
1912 De Dion-Bouton
manufacturers. The early
De Dion-Boutons were all
hand built. They were the
first manufacturer to
successfully produce a V8
engine in 1910, a 6.1 litre
engine producing 35 CV
(26 KW).
A rare car was a more
modern 1931 MG 18/80
Mk II Carlton Coupe. This
was restored in 1981 and
is thought to be one of only
2 surviving cars of the
original 3 built by
coachbuilders The Carlton
Carriage Company. The
Drop head Coupe
designed body was fitted to
a standard MG 18/80
chassis, powered by the
The single cylinder engine was flat mounted and
water cooled, mounted in the middle of the
vehicle. The petrol was gravity fed from a brass
carburettor. The transmission was semiautomatic with 2 forward gears and one reverse
using a planetary (Epicyclic) design. The car
weighed 850 Ibs and had a top speed of 20 mph.
Another special model was a French built 1912
De Dion Bouton. One of the earliest automobile
manufacturers, De Dion-Bouton was the largest
automotive manufacturer in the World in 1900,
producing 400 cars and 3200 engines, which
were used by up to 150 other automobile
February 2015
© Janet Wright
1936 Riley 12/4 Special
© Simon Wright
1931 MG 18/80 Mk II Carlton Coupe
2
468cc straight six ohc engine with a
four speed gearbox. Twin SU
carburettors helped it develop 80
bhp. The hood design allows for the
cantrail from the rear pillars of
doors going forward, to fold inwards
and the canopy can be rolled back
and secured to give the body a
Coupe de Ville appearance. The
hood can also be folded right down
to make the car a fully open road
car.
The more hardy drivers had arrived
Page 26
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
MG TF
© Simon Wright
Rover 12
in a selection of early MG, © Simon Wright
Riley and Amilcar open
top sportscars, while
others had taken
the more
luxurious
approach
and
arrived
in Vintage
Rolls Royce,
Lagonda and
large Morris
limousines.
Moving out of Market
Square and forward in
time, the classic car
sele
ction
was
equally as
large as
the vintage
selection.
This area
covered
post World
War 2 cars
and
included
many
classics
from the
1950s and
60s such as the E-Type Jaguar,
Volkswagen Beetle and the
ever popular Mini. Some of
the cars are replicas, but
the care and attention to
detail makes them
appear just like the
original models.
One of the
most striking
cars in the
high
street
Riley 12/6 Lincock
Vauxhall Cresta Estate
was a Jaguar XJ13, a replica of
the mid engined prototype built by
Jaguar in 1966 as a potential Le Mans
racing car. The original prototype was
powered by a 5 litre DOHV V12 engine.
Being not far from Luton, it was fitting that the
Vauxhall marque was well represented with some
pristine
examples
of its
saloon
range
from the
1950s The
Vauxhall
Wyvern,
© Simon Wright
February 2015
Jaguar XJ13 replica
Page 27
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
Vauxhall Viva and Velox
1960s - The Vauxhall Cresta PA and the Vauxhall Victor FC,
1970s - The Vauxhall Viva HC and from the
1980s the Vauxhall Chevette HS2300.
Modern supercars were well represented with a fifth generation
Chevrolet Corvette C5, a Lotus Esprit Turbo, an Aston Martin V8
Ancient and modern
Vantage, a Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 and a Porsche 911.
The event was a huge success and a great start for 2015.
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
February 2015
Rolls Royce
American Dodge Challenger
Page 28
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
1937 Ford Y
© Janet Wright
© Janet Wright
Vintage Ford Model T
February 2015
Bristol 403
Page 29
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
American Ford Hotrod
Vintage Hillman
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
Clan Crusader
© Janet Wright
Lagonda
Vauxhall Wyvern
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
1925 Vaxhall 30/98
February 2015
Darracq
© Janet Wright
Porsche Speedster
1935 MG PB
Page 30
© Simon Wright
Autosport International.
The Racing Car Show.
Birmingham NEC. 8-11 January 2015
By Simon & Janet Wright.
Funcup VW Beetle with optional extras
one hall dedicated to the Engineering Show. This allows firms
to display their latest innovations in
© Simon Wright
Engineering development in relation to
motorsport and high performance
motoring. For the public weekend, the
hall is transformed in to a hall
dedicated to club racing including short
oval and grass track racing.
The Show was opened to the public on
Saturday by a pair of British sportscar
legends, Current FIA World Endurance
Champion Anthony Davidson and three
times Le Mans winner Allan McNish.
On Sunday, the ribbon cutting honours
went to former Grand Prix driver and
BBC Commentator David Coulthard
and Petter Solberg, former World Rally
Petter Solberg
Champion 2003 and newly crowned
FIA World Rallycross champion 2014. Solberg had a busy
weekend, giving many interviews on the different stages
around the exhibition, as well as performing in the live action
© Simon Wright
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2015, the Autosport
International Racing Car show is an excellent start to the New
Year for the racing enthusiast, and joined with the
Performance Car Show, it offers all aspects of high
© Simon Wright
performance
motoring under
one roof. Europe’s
largest motorsport
show performed to
a sell-out crowd
over the four days.
The first two days
are trade days with
Mini Pickup with two engines in the back
February 2015
Petter Solberg in the Live Action Arena
Page 31
© Simon Wright
arena show in front of the 5,000 capacity audience per show.
A big crowd puller was the Autosport Stage where interviews
were being conducted over most of the four days, with a list of
people including David Choulthard, Allan McNish, Formula 1
© Janet Wright
The World Championship winning Mercedes Grand Prix car
rookie Will Stevens, top touring car drivers Colin Turkington,
Matt Neal, Gordon Shedden, Andrew Jordan, Rob Huff, Audi
Sportscar driver Oliver Jarvis and GP3 Champion Alex Lynn to
name just a few.
With over 700 exhibitors, there was plenty to see in the
exhibition area, which had been split in to different regions - A
historic motorsport area, club racing area, national motosport
area etc.
There was the usual Grand Prix grid, where most of the cars
from the 2014 Grand Prix season were on display. The World
Championship winning Mercedes took pride of place at the front
of the display with the Red Bull next to it. Ferrari, Williams and
McLaren made the rest of the front row on the large stand.
February 2015
Behind them, but just as
accessable to view, were
Sauber, Lotus, Torro Rosso
and Force India.
Unfortunately neither
Marrusia or Caterham had a
car on display. This area
was always busy with fans
able to get a real close look
at the cars they had seen all
season on TV contesting
the World Championship. It
is interesting what you can
notice when having time to
examine the cars, for
example the Lotus with its
two pronged nosecone has
one side longer than the
other!
Another very large historic
display was celebrating 60
2014 Lotus Grand Prix car
years of Motorsport News (Formerly Motoring News) with a
display of cars covering different classes of motorsport covered
© Janet Wright
by the
newspaper.
These
included a
Williams
FW07 Grand
Prix car, a
Lancia
Stratos rally
car, a Honda
Accord from
Lancia Stratos rally car
Page 32
the Super Touring period a Ford
Mustang and a Jaguar D-Type, a
Colin McRae Subaru Impreza
Rally car and Petter Solbergs
World Rallycross Championship
winning Citroen DS3.
© Janet Wright
60 Years of Motorsport News display included Williams Grand Prix car and Honda Accord Touring car
February 2015
Page 33
© Simon Wright
HSCC celebrate Sir Jack
Brabham.
The Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC) always
has a theme for its stand at the Autosport
Show and this year it was a celebration of Sir
Jack Brabham. Every car on the stand was a
Brabham to celebrate the engineering
achievements of Sir Jack with eleven cars on
display. These included the Nelson Piquet
Brabham BT49 Grand Prix car from the
1980s, an ex Derek Bell Formula 2 Brabham
BT30, and even a couple of open top
Brabham sports cars from the 1960s. On the
Friday, they also arranged for a selection of
former Brabham racers to attend the stand
for a photoshoot, including Tony Trimmer,
Formula 2 racers
Chris Irwin and
Robin Widdows,
plus Alan
Rollinson, Chris
Craft, Mike
Walker, Hugh
Dibley and they
were also pleased
to welcome Sir
Jack’s son David
Brabham and Sir
Jack’s grandson
Sam, both who
Ex Nelson Piquet Brabham BT 49
have continued the family tradition of racing.
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
Some of the former Brabham Driver line up. Mike Walker, Tony Trimmer, Robin Widdows,
David Brabham, Sam Brabham, Chris Irwin, Hugh Dibley, Alan Rollinson, Alec Poole.
February 2015
Page 34
© Janet Wright
Andrew Jordans New MG
The British Touring Car
Championship always has a
large presence at the show,
with both an official BTCC
Infiniti are also set to make their debut in the 2015 British Touring Car
stand and with BTCC cars
Championship with the Infiniti Q50 driven by BTCC newcomers Richard
appearing elsewhere, all
Hawken and Derek Palmer Jnr.
over the show. This year
there were several exciting
announcements made at the
show for the 2015 season.
The largest announcement
was that three times World
Touring Car Champion Andy
Priaulx is joining West
Surrey Racing for the
coming season in a BMW.
Another big story was former
Champion Andrew Jordan
has replaced Jason Plato at
MG.
Right: The Honda Civic Tourer
of Gorden Shedden on the
BTCC stand.
February 2015
Page 35
© Janet Wright
Adam Morgans Mercedes
© Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
2014 Champion Colin Turkington Ebay BMW
February 2015
Plenty of glamour at the show
Page 36
Classic Team Lotus had a special display this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jim Clark
© Simon Wright
and his victorious year of 1965 when he won the Formula 1 World Championship, the Indianapolis 500
in America, the Tasman Series in Australia and New Zealand and the Formula 2 Championship, all at
the wheel of a Lotus. The cars on display were the Formula 2 Type 35 which won both the Autocar
Championship and the Grand Prix De France Championship, the F2 Type 32 fitted with a 2.5 litre
engine which won the 1965 Tasman Championship, a Type 38 similar to the Indianapolis winning car
of 1965 and the Type 33 which won the F1 World Championship
1965 Formula 2 Championship winning Lotus 35
© Janet Wright
The Lotus Type 38 was used by Jim Clark to
win the 1965 Indianapolis 500 race in America
February 2015
© Janet Wright
Page 37
© Simon Wright
Ian Cook Popbang colour painting
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
The 1965 Formula 1 World Championship winning Lotus Type 33
© Janet Wright
The 1965 Tasman Championship winning F2 Lotus Type 32 fitted with a 2.5 litre Coventry
Climax engine
February 2015
Page 38
© Simon Wright
Wilson. At
the other
end of the
time line
was the
latest
WD40 Ford
Fiesta RS
of Stephen
Petch
which was
© Janet Wright unveiled at
the show ready for the 2015 season. There was also the Top
Gear Magazine Hyundai i20 of Ollie Marriage and Jack Morton
fresh from the 2014 Wales Rally GB.
© Simon Wright
Malcolm Wilsons Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800
Rallying at ASI
The Autosport International always has a good selection of
rally cars on display to
represent one of the most
popular forms of
motorsport within the UK.
Rally Wales GB had a
large stand near the
entrance to the
Engineering hall with a
selection of modern and
classic rally cars. There
was a Subaru Impreza
WRC of Colin McRae and
Nicky Grist, next to a 1981
Rothmans Ford Escort
Mk2 RS1800 of Malcolm
Fiat Abarth 131
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
February 2015
Mini Cooper
Ford Fiesta
Page 39
© Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
Ginetta Driving Experience
Renault R.S. 01
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
Angelic Bulldog Stream-liner project
motorbike built to do 400 mph
© Janet Wright
Nissan Academy Zytek LMP
February 2015
© Simon Wright
Ford Sierra RS500
Radical RXC Spyder
© Simon Wright
Mitjet 21 - New Championship 2016
© Simon Wright
Anyone could try the Karting
Page 40
© Simon Wright
Live Action Arena Show.
The forty minute show introduced action in to a static display
show. Every ticket holder was given a seat in the 5,000
capacity grandstand in front of the oval circuit built in to one of
the larger halls at the NEC. Each show contained short oval
racing from stock cars, saloons and London Taxis, plus a
Monster Truck display, a Supercar parade, Drifting
demonstrations, and Petter Solberg showing off his World
Rally Citroen with him out of the car as much as in it.
The tyre smoke and noise added to the atmosphere, but ear
plugs were available on request!
There was even a freestyle MX team performing ariel tricks
as they jumped their motorcycles over giant ramps in the
centre of the hall.
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
Drifting display
February 2015
Page 41
© Simon Wright
Coys Auction.
Another regular feature of
the show is the Coys
Auction. As usual there
was a mix of racing cars
and road cars up for sale,
some with no reserve
price listed. From a racing
viewpoint, one historic car
for sale was the former
Kimi Raikkonen
Championship winning
Tatuus Formula Renault
single seater from which
he went straight to Grand
Prix racing. The car was
Tatuus Formula Renault
offered with no reserve and sold for £10,620. A 1989 Reynard
F3000 F89D 28 Judd sold for £41,000. The most expensive
car that sold
© Simon Wright
was a 1969
Aston Martin
DBS Vantage
which fetched
£169,800
followed
closely by a
1991 Ferrari
Testarossa
with only
12,000 miles
and 1
previous
owner which
February 2015
Piper GTR Le Mans
Fiat 1100S Berlinetta
© Janet Wright
sold for £131,720. One of the more reasonably priced cars was
a 1971 Fiat 500L which went for £1,030. A 1985 Austin Mini
Mayfair with only 3,241 miles on the clock reached £7,965. and
© Janet Wright
a 1973 VW
Beetle 1303
fetched
£2,950. Other
interesting cars
which failed to
sell included a
Piper GTR Le
Mans, a
fabulous Fiat
1100S
Berlinetta and
a Super
Touring Honda
Accord.
Austin Mini Mayflower sold for £7,965
Page 42
© Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
Super Touring Honda Accord failed to sell
© Janet Wright
1969 Aston Martin DBS Vantage sold for £169,800
© Simon Wright
February 2015
Italian Lancia failed to sell
Ferrari Testarossa sold for £131,720
Page 43
The Performance Car Show
Run in conjunction with the Racing Car Show for the last few
years, is the perfect compliment to the Racing Car show as it
offers high performance road cars and exotic supercars on
display for close examination to the sell out crowd.
Star car this year was probably the new 950 bhp LaFerrari which
had crowds admiring it all day, with it on display outside the, new
for this year, local pub, the Pie and Piston Pub by Pistonheads.
LaFerrari or the F150 is the first hybrid Ferrari with electic
motors increasing the power while decreasing fuel consumption
by up to 40%. The 6.3 litre V12 engine produces 789 bhp and is
supplemented with a 161 bhp KERS unit called HY-KERS which
provides short bursts. Power is delivered to the rear wheels
through a 7 speed dual clutch transmission system. To help
stopping power, it is equiped with carbon ceramic Brembo discs
on front and rear. The monocoque is made from carbon fibre,
with double wishbone suspension on the front and multi link
suspension on the rear. It has a top speed of 217 mph and can
do 0-62 mph in under 3 seconds and reach 200 kph in under 7
seconds and 300 kph (186 mph) in 15 seconds. In testing it has
lapped the Fiorano circuit in under 1 minute 20 seconds, the
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
Lamborghini Huracan
fastest time ever achieved by a road legal Ferrari.
Ferrari were also present in the Autocar Supercar display with a
Ferrari 458 Speciale, alongside the new Lamborghini Huracan,
the Hybrid BMW i8 and the Vuhl 05.
The Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 is powered by a 5.2 litre V10
engine. It has a top speed of over 200 mph and can accelerate
© Janet Wright
from 0-62
mph in
3.2
seconds.
The
BMW i8
is a plugin hybrid
sports
February 2015
LaFerrari F150
BMW i8
Page 44
car with a 1.5 litre 3 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and a 98
KW electric motor. The car has a top speed of 160 mph and can
do 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. It has a range of 23 miles using
pure battery power with a top speed of 75 mph. It is also the first
production car fitted with laser headlights.
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
serve as a
platform for
future vehicles,
including a
roadster in 2016
and a coupe in
2018.Nobel
Automotive
revealed the
prototype of the
new open top
Nobel Speedster
M600 supercar,
the Speedster, which features a semi-automatic gearbox mated
to the M600’s usual 650 bhp twin turbo V8 engine.
© Simon Wright
What Car of the Year - The Skoda Fabia 1.2 TSI 90 SE
Proving that the performance Car Show is not just about
expensive supercars, the newly announced Car of the Year, the
Skoda Fabia 1.2 TSI 90 SE was also on show, along with Sports
Car of the year - The Porsche Boxster 2.7, Coupe of the year the Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Sport, and Hot Hatch
of the year - Ford Fiesta ST-2 and finally
the winner of the inaugural car of the year
safety award award winner the Land Rover
Discovery Sport.
Zenos, which at last years show made its
public debut, was back to unveil the E10 S
lightweight sports car which will begin
production this month. Powered by a Ford
Ecoboost 2 litre turbocharged 250 bhp
engine, the aluminium extrusion backbone
and recycled carbon composite tub will do
0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds. This will
February 2015
Zenos E10 S
There were displays from various clubs
showing racing versions of popular saloons
and sports cars. The Porsche Club had a
‘grid’ of racing Porsche 911, 924 and
Boxster models while there were various
BMW racing saloons just across the hall. To
continue the racing theme from popular
saloons, The Ford RS Owners Club was
next in the hall with various Escort and
Sierra race and rally cars on the stand,
including Manuel Reuters Ford Sierra RS
Turbo. Apart from Nobel Automotive which
had its own stand, the Nobel Owners club
Page 45
© Simon Wright
Silverstone Classic celebrates Silver anniversary.
This year is the 25th Silverstone Classic meeting and they had a large stand
with cars representing the major races for this years meeting. The star car
representing the Silver anniversary was a Group C Sauber Mercedes. Also
© Simon Wright
Marcos 220 Spirit
had a display of various Nobel cars. Marcos had the 4th
generation sports car on display with the prototype of the new
Marcos 220 Spirit.
© Simon Wright
There were various forms
of off road 4x4 vehicles
scattered around the
show, most at crazy
angles, with wheels
placed on ‘rocks’ to show
their complete off road
abilities that would put a
mountain goat to shame,
and to help compensate
for the utilitarian designs,
there were plenty of
glamorous young ladies
standing next to them to
help draw the crowds.
February 2015
© Simon Wright
on display was a Jaguar D-Type, a F1
Cooper, a Super Touring Honda Accord,
an E-Type Jaguar, a Masters Grand Prix
JPS Lotus and a Lola T70 Mk II Spider.
The other half of the stand had various
supercars representing all the car clubs
that display at the Silverstone Classic.
These included a Ferrari F40, A Jaguar
XJR-15, a Lamborghini Countach 5000
QV and an Audi Quattro.
Other clubs supporting the Silverstone
Classic had stands within the stand,
including Motor Racing Legends, Group C
Racing, the HGPCA, Formula Junior and
Masters Historic Racing.
Page 46
2014/15 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Round 3
2015 Gulf Oil Howden Ganley F5000 Festival #1 Hampton Downs Nth Waikato New Zealand 16-18 Jan 2015
Prepared by FAST COMPANY of behalf of the New Zealand Formula 5000 Association www.F5000.co.nz
© Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.
Kiwi racing great Ken Smith (Lola T332 #11) dominated the first day of 2014/15 MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series racing at the Gulf Oil Howden
Ganley F5000 Festival meeting at Hampton Downs
February 2015
Page 47
SUPER-VET SMITH COMPLETES FIRST F5000 FESTIVAL
MEET CLEAN-SWEEP
© Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.
race to cross the line second behind Smith.
Though rain fell briefly earlier in the day and threatened just before
the start, the eight-lap race was held in warm, dry
conditions with Proctor - who qualified third - attacking
pole man Smith aggressively on the inside at Turn 1 just
after the start.
Smith fought him off and by the end of the first lap had
established a handy lead over Proctor, fellow former series
champion Steve Ross (McRae GM1) and visiting
Australian driver Paul Zazryn (Lola T332).
Smith, Proctor and Ross started pulling away on the second
lap only to have their advantage negated on the third when
the Safety Car was dispatched after Russell Greer spun his
Lola T332 exiting Turn 1.
Greer was able to restart the car and drive it back to the pits
but the field remained behind the Safety Car for another
full lap.
Proctor was again aggressive off the re-start, this time
trying to drive around the outside, but Smith again had his
measure edging away this time to win the race from
Kiwi racing great Ken Smith (Lola T332 #11) competing in one of the 2014/15 MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup
Revival Series races at the first Gulf Oil Howden Ganley F5000 Festival meeting at Hampton Downs
With a new benchmark time in qualifying and a lights-to-flag win in
the first eight-lap race of the weekend, Kiwi super-vet Ken Smith
(Lola T332) got his return to the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup
Revival Series off to a storming start at the third round at Hampton
Downs.
With a best lap of 59.264 the 73-year-old in his 57th year of national
level single-seater circulated under the category lap record - 59.483s then led the first race at the first New Zealand round of this year's
trans-Tasman MSC series from start to finish.
The points leader after the first two rounds of this year's series in
Australia, Kiwi Clark Proctor (March 73A/1), had an early set-back
with a slow puncture in qualifying, but fought back strongly in the
February 2015
Proctor,
Ross and
Brett
Willis
(Lola
T330).
Like
Smith,
Willis
was in
comeback
mode, in
Kiwi Clark Proctor (March 73A/1 #57) is the 2014/15 MSC NZ F5000
Tasman Cup Revival Series points leader heading into the third round at
the Gulf Oil Howden Ganley F5000 Festival meeting at Hampton Downs
© Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.
Page 48
© Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.
Auckland driver David Banks qualified 10th and finished the first race eighth in his Talon MR1.
his case after a heavy crash at the second NZ Festival meeting last
year, and after qualifying seventh capped off a strong return
with a final lap move to claim take fourth place off fellow Lola
driver Paul Zazryn.
Early on in the race Alastair Russell (McRae GM1) was running
as high as seventh but slipped back through the field as the race
went on.
UK-based series regular Greg Thornton swapped from his
Chevron B24/28 to his Surtees TS8 for the race and ran in the
top six, initially between Paul Zazryn and Brett Willis, while
defending series champion Andrew Higgins (Lola T400)
quickly made his presence felt to break into the top eight after
engine issues in qualifying saw him start the race from the last
row of the grid.
Aaron Burson (Talon MR1/A) did well to qualify fourth
quickest but slowed suddenly early in the race, forcing a closely
following David Banks in the other Talon in the race to swerve
February 2015
January
2015
to avoid him.
What was the problem?
"I accidentally hit the kill switch," Burson admitted.
Banks, showing new speed which he attributed to the extra track time
he is getting in an historic Formula Ford he has recently purchased,
was able to continue and crossed the line in eighth place, just behind
Greg Thornton and Andrew Higgins but in front of Ian Clements
(Lola T332), Glenn Richards (Lola T400), visiting Australian driver
Peter Brennan (Lola T330), and Alastair Russell.
Enjoying a trouble-free debut in his recently finished high-wing
McLaren M10A, meanwhile, was Tony Roberts, one of the men
behind the Hampton Downs circuit, who crossed the line in 14th
place in front of Peter Burson (McRae GM1), visiting English driver
Robs Lamplough in the ex Howden Ganley Formula 1 BRM P180,
and a three-car battle pack consisting of Tim Rush (McLaren M22),
Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5) and Poul Christie (McLaren
M10B). Unfortunate not to make it to the finish meanwhile, was
series young gun Allan Dunkley in his giant-killing high-wing Lola
© Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.
Kiwi racing great Ken Smith (Lola T332 #11) leads the pack
Page 49
T140. Dunkley qualified the Lola, the oldest car in the field, 13th but
was forced out early in the race with a broken universal joint.
Series super-vet Ken Smith (Lola T332) went on to complete a cleansweep of the three MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series races
on the programme at the first Gulf Oil Howden Ganley F5000
Festival historic motor racing meeting at Hampton Downs on
Sunday, winning both category races very much as he liked.
Though track conditions mitigated against him taking a serious tilt at
the track lap record, the 73-year-old who lives high in the Bombay
Hills less than 20 minutes away from the circuit, maintained the
advantage he established on Saturday, winning the first - eight lap race of the day from Clark Proctor (March 73A/1) and visiting
Australian driver Paul Zazryn (Lola T332), then the 15 lap feature in
the afternoon from Steve Ross (McRae GM1) and Greg Thornton
(Surtees TS8).
Unfortunately the early action in the combined MSC NZF5000/
Invited F1 cars races happened behind Smith with both red flagged
Back for the MSC series at the Gulf Oil meeting at Hampton Downs is visiting Australian driver
Peter Brennan (Lola T330)
© Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.
February 2015
© Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.
Steve Ross and Clark Proctor (March 73A/1) were this close early on in the second race of the weekend
on Sunday morning.
and re-started, the first not once but twice.
In that race, McRae GM1 driver Peter Burson had a brake issue, his
car grinding to a halt on the first lap with the race immediately redflagged so it could be retrieved.
The starting lights had only just gone out after the first re-start,
however, when Glenn Richards (Lola T400) clipped Brett Willis (Lola
T330) along the short straight between Turns 1 and 2 as a slowing
Willis was pulling over with a broken half-shaft. That sent both cars
spinning and collected by the following Surtees TS5 of Warwick
Mortimer and McLaren M22 of Tim Rush.
All four cars sustained damage, two of them heavy, leading to a
lengthy delay while they were retrieved and the track cleared of
debris.
Smith then led away on the second re-start with Proctor and Ross
disputing third until Zazryn and defending series champion Andrew
Higgins (Lola T400) took advantage of a small mistake by Ross to
slot him back to fifth place where he remained to the flag.
Alastair Russell was again quick in his McRae GM1 before he was
Page 50
forced out by a broken universal joint.
After his brush with the armco on Saturday, Blenheim driver Russell
Greer was back in business in his repaired Lola T32 though, using a
rear wing and mount borrowed from Steve Ross to good effect to
finish ninth between British driver Greg Thornton's Surtees TS8 and
Australian Peter Brennan's Lola T330.
In the feature race later in the day it was Clark Proctor's turn to bring
out the red flag, the high-profile all-rounder with a background in
stockcars but better known these days for his efforts in Targa New
Zealand and now the MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series,
running off the track at the hairpin with a sticking throttle.
Once his cars was out of the gravel trap and back in the pits, the race
ran like clockwork however, Smith stroking his La Valise-liveried
Lola T332 home at a canter from Steve Ross and Greg Thornton a
Defending series champion Andrew Higgins (Lola T400), seen here leading fellow Aucklander
Aaron Burson (Talon MR1/A)
© Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.
weekend-best third (despite having to again use his second car, the
Surtees, when flywheel issues kept his first, the ex Peter Gethin
Chevron B24/28 in the pit garage).
Auckland driver David Banks (Talon MR1) also enjoyed a strong run
February 2015
this time, with his own weekend-best fourth, just in front of quick and
consistent Aussie Paul Zazryn in fifth.
Andrew Higgins was quick early on, only to be forced out by an
engine issue. Enjoying a second top 12 finish in both Sunday races,
however, was young gun Alan Dunkley (Lola T140), his team having
repaired the damage to the universal that put the classic high-wing
Class A car out in the first race of the weekend on Saturday.
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, Avon Tyres,
Webdesign and Exide.
Race 1 8 laps
1. Ken Smith (Lola T332)
2. Clark Proctor (March 73A/1)
3. Steve Ross (McRae GM1)
4. Brett Willis (Lola T330)
5. Paul Zazryn (Lola T332)
6. Greg Thornton (Surtees TS8)
7. Andrew Higgins (Lola T400)
8. David Banks (Talon MR1)
9. Ian Clements (Lola T332)
10. Glenn Richards (Lola T400)
11. Peter Brennan (Lola T330)
12. Alastair Russell (McRae GM1)
13. David Abbott (Lola T430)
14. Tony Roberts (McLaren M10A)
15. Peter Burson (McRae GM1)
16. Robs Lamplough (BRM P180 F1)
17. Tim Rush (McLaren M22)
18. Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5)
19. Poul Christie (McLaren M10A)
dnf. Aaron Burson (Talon MR1/A), Russell Greer (Lola T332), Allan
Dunkley (Lola T140), Lindsay O'Donnell (Begg FM5), Grant
Clearwater (McLaren M10B), Shayne Windelburn (Lola T400)
Page 51
© Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.
Race 2 8 laps
Above: In his repaired Lola T332,
Russell Greer leads Peter Brennan
1. Ken Smith (Lola T332) 08:50.710
(Lola T330), Greg Thornton (Surtees
2. Clark Proctor (March 73A/1) +02.662
TS8) and Alan Dunkley (Lola T140)
3. Paul Zazryn (Lola T332) +13.780
4. Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) +13.943
5. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) +17.290
6. Aaron Burson (Talon MR1/A) +21.672
7. Ian Clements (Lola T332) +35.835
Right: Kiwi racing great
Ken Smith (Lola T332 #11)
8. Greg Thornton (Surtees TS8) +36.145
leading Steve Ross (McRae
9. Russell Greer (Lola T332) +37.163
GM1), Andrew Higgins
10. Peter Brennan (Lola T330) +39.426
(Lola T400), Paul Zazryn
(Lola T332) and the rest of
11. Alan Dunkley (Lola T140) +42.626
the field in the feature
12. David Abbott (Lola T430) +53.420
2014/15 MSC NZ F5000
Tasman Cup Revival Series
13. Tony Roberts (McLaren M10A) +01:01.472
race at the Gulf Oil
14. Robs Lamplough (BRM P180 F1) +01:01.779
Howden Ganley F5000
15. Grant Clearwater (McLaren M10B)+1 lap
Festival meeting at
Hampton Downs.
16. Poul Christie (McLaren M10A) +1 lap
dnf; Alastair Russell (McRae GM1), Lindsay O'Donnell (Begg FM5), Brett Willis
(Lola T330), Glenn Richards (Lola T400), David Banks (Talon MR1), Tim Rush,
Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5), Peter Burson (McRae GM1), Shayne
Windelburn (Lola T400)
February 2015
Race 3 15 laps
1. Ken Smith (Lola T332) 16.22.542
2. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) +5.087
3. Greg Thornton (Surtees TS8) +36.044
4. David Banks (Talon MR1) +38.971
5. Paul Zazryn (Lola T332) +39.445
6. Aaron Burson (Talon MR1/A) +39.775
7. Peter Brennan (Lola T330) +49.583
8. Russell Greer (Lola T332) +50.526
9. Alan Dunkley (Lola T140) +51.592
10. Ian Clements (Lola T332) +59.581
11. Shayne Windelburn (Lola T400) +1 lap
12. Tony Roberts (McLaren M10A) +1 lap
13. Davis Abbott (Lola T430) +1 lap
14. Peter Burson (McRae GM1) +1 lap
15. Lindsay O'Donnell (Begg FM5) +1 lap
16. Robs Lamplough (BRM P180 F1) +1 lap
17. Grant Clearwater (McLaren M10B) + 1 lap
18. Poul Christie (McLaren M10A) +1 lap
dnf. Andrew Higgins (Lola T400), Clark Proctor (March 73A/1)
© Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.
Page 52
© Pete Austin
Archive Photo of the month. By Pete Austin
February 2015
Elsewhere in this issue you can read the tribute to Jean-Pierre
Beltoise who sadly passed away last month. This months
archive image shows him in the Matra MS670C which he
shared with Jean-Pierre Jarier at the 1974 British Airways
1000km at Brands Hatch. They went on to win the event. Being
lapped in this photo is the Porsche 908/3 of Reinhold Jost and
Mario Casoni which later retired with gearbox trouble.
Page 53
Historic line up Citroen DS21, Rover P5, Reliant Sabre Six, Volvo Amazon and Morris 1800
HRCR Open Day 10th January 2015
By Simon & Janet Wright with additional photos by Pete Austin.
The Historic Rally Car Register annual Open day takes place at
the National Heritage Centre, Gaydon at the start of the season
so organisers can attract competitors to their various events
taking place during the year. Car Clubs have stands spread
across two halls of the conference facilities at Gaydon to
promote various rally series and one off events with maps,
posters and in quite a few cases, videos of previous events.
© Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
There are usually two or three interesting rally cars on display
inside the rooms, and outside there are various historic rally
cars assembled in the display area. These are “working”
classics, used for Road Rallies, single stage events and Historic
Tours rather than the more exotic Group B monsters that are
used for demonstration events all around Europe. That doesn’t
mean they are any less interesting, just not as powerful. Popular
classic rally cars like the Mini Cooper and Hillman Imp are
represented along with Ford’s most successful rally car of all
time, the
Ford Escort
and its
predecessor
the Ford
Cortina Mk
1. Due to
the large
numbers of
these
vehicles
which have
competed in
the past,
© Pete Austin
February 2015
MG C GT
Vauxhall Astra and Talbot Lotus Sunbeam
Page 54
© Simon Wright
touch of luxury in a sports car design. Another European design
present was a Lancia Fulvia Coupe S3 which had been used for
several Classic Touring Rallies in France. Staying with Italiain
Classic, in the second hall was a lovely blue Ferrari Dino 246 GT
which had been used on local classic touring rallies such as the
Hills and Valley Tour organised by Kidderminster Motor Car Club
© Simon Wright
Rally car line up outside the Heritage Centre
there are vast ranges of tuning parts available, which make
them a relatively cheap option for some rallying fun. However,
motorsport in general is all about diversity and some more
unusual cars have been rallied in the past and several were on
display at the Open day.
© Janet Wright
A Citroen DS21 would
give a comfortable
ride on any type of
surface thanks to its
hyrdro-pneumatic
suspension, while the
Reliant Sabre Six
would have a more
lively performace with
its six cylinder 2.5 litre
Ford engine in the
coupe body design
which could reach 60
Reliant Sabre Six
mph in 12.2 seconds
and has a top speed of 110 mph. The Mercedes Benz 280SL
was a more upmarket rally car, offering both performance and a
February 2015
German lineup Porsche 911 and Mercedes Benz 280SL
in 2014, while the first hall greeted you with a Alfa Romeo
Guillia sprint in traditional Italian racing red. Returning much
closer to home, the other cars on display indoors were a couple
of original British Leyland Minis and an MGC GT Rally car. The
© Pete Austin
MGC GT
was the six
cylinder
variation on
the MGB
which was
originally for
export to
America.
Outside the
entrance
doors to the
conference
halls were a
Alfa Romeo Guilia Sprint 101
Page 55
© Simon Wright
© Pete Austin
Subaru Impreza, Mazda RX7 Turbo, Citroen DS21 and Rover
Open day including several famous drivers of the past. The
most famous driver there was Paddy Hopkirk whose victory in
the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally at the wheel of a Mini Cooper S was
celebrated with a painting mounted on the wall of the museum
painted by resident artist Ian Cook.
One of the more unusual cars outside was a Matra Murena,
french built sports coupe from the former Grand Prix and
Aerospace company.
Paddy Hopkirk
pair of more modern rally cars, a replica of the works Talbot
Sunbeam Lotus as driven by Henri Toivonen and Fred Gallagher
which won the 1981 World Rally Championship, and a Vauxhall
Astra Mk1 rally car.
There was a really good turn out of people milling around the
© Simon Wright
© Pete Austin
February 2015
Sunbeam and Hillman Imp
Matra Murena
Page 56
© Janet Wright
© Pete Austin
Ferrari Dino GT
© Simon Wright
Citroen DS21
BMW 2002
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
Austin Mini Cooper S
© Pete Austin
February 2015
Talbot Lotus Sunbeam
MG Maestro
Page 57
Stratford Armouries January Classic Car meet.
By Simon Wright.25th January 2015.
January might have been a very cold month, but the last
Sunday of the month saw a good turn out of classic cars arrive
at the Stratford Armouries museum, near Stratford upon Avon
in Warwickshire. Located a couple of miles outside the town
centre, there is ample free parking in the grounds of the
museum, although the entrance has a few pot holes to contend
with. This was one of many informal gatherings held
throughout the year which allows like minded enthusiasts to
just turn up and show their classic cars without having to prebook or plan ahead. There was a meeting here on Boxing day
and that had attracted several Vintage cars, as reported in last
months issue, but this month it was a purely classic affair with
most of the cars from the 1950s or later. The most unusual
vehicle was a 1950s American GMC 100 Pickup truck which
looked immaculate and quite in character with the wooden
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
faced museum buildings, looking like a photograph from an
American frontier town. In contrast, but maintaining the
American theme, a much more modern, early 2000, American
Police Interceptor arrived to Protect and to serve from the Office
of the Sheriff of Greenlee County Arizona, complete with
flashing lights, siren and officer in sunglasses and big brimmed
hat.
© Simon Wright
Jaguar XK120 and E-Type
Jaguar have always produced sleek looking cars, and there
were several on display. The Jaguar Mk2 3.8 saloon is a classic
and still very popular as both a quality road car and as a racing
February 2015
GMC 100 Pickup Truck
Page 58
© Simon Wright
though built for speed and handling rather than mass produced
like the Beetle.
© Simon Wright
Jaguar XK140
saloon. The Jaguar XK120 and XK140 are very similar in
appearance and have the classic Jaguar look for a sportscar
that has never been surpassed. Finally the E-Type Jaguar was
the car that even Enzo ferrari considered was the greatest
sportscar ever built.
The Germans have a knack for putting the engine in the boot
with great sucess, and two of its finest examples were on
display. The 1974 Volkswagen Beetle 1300 was a more
upmarket model than the basic beetle, this one finished in a
© Simon Wright
nice two tone brown
paint job. One of the
most popular
models in the World,
over a million
beetles have been
built in this original
design. The
Porsche Speedster
is another classic of
German design,
Volkswagen Beetle 1300
February 2015
Porsche Speedster
The thing about these informal type of car meets is that you
never know what will turn up. there is usually a good mix of local
and foreign cars and with this meeting being in the heart of the
country, the local previous manufacturers reads like a who’s who
of the British Motoring Industry. Located not far from Coventry,
Birmingham and Abingdon, most of the former British Leyland
© Simon Wright
Rover, Lancia, Austin Mini
Page 59
marques are always well represented with the usual MG B,
Austin Mini, Morris Minor, Triumph TR sports cars of various
vintage and Jaguar. You also get some not so common models
appear like the Triumph Herald Coupe. Not many of the Coupe
© Simon Wright
Group between 1954 and 1955. It originated from Swallow
Coachbuilding Co (1935) Ltd which was sold by Jaguar in 1945
to the Helliwell Group who were then taken over in 1946 by TI.
They only produced the one model and built 276 using Triumph
TR2 mechanicals. The TI tubular manganese-molybdenum
medium carbon chassis was fitted with a steel inner structure and
aluminium bodywork. They were built near Walsall in
Staffordshire. The car was capable of 100 mph and could
accelerate from 0-60 mph in 12.3 seconds. It is thought that
pressure from the rest of the motoring industry caused TI to stop
production in 1955.
© Simon Wright
Triumph Herald Coupe
were built between 1959 and 1964 when the model was
dropped due to it being in direct competition with the Triumph
Spitfire.
Another unusual car was the Doretti, an open 2 seater sports
car built by Swallow Doretti part of the Tobe Investment (TI)
© Simon Wright
Ford Cortina & Escort Mexico
Britain’s largest car manufacturer, Ford has always been popular
with the enthusiast and one of its sporting models was the Ford
Escort Mexico seen above next to one of Ford’s most successful
cars, the Ford Cortina. The 1.6 litre Ford Escort Mexico was built
in tribute to the success of the Ford Escort on the 1970 London to
Mexico World Cup Rally.
February 2015
Doretti
Page 60
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
February 2015
Photos (Top row, left to right): Ford Mustang. Nissan Skyline.
Hillman Minx. Morris Minor
2nd Row: Lotus Evora, Jaguar XK140,MG B, E-Type Jaguar and
Lotus Esprit. Riley 1.5
3rd Row: Rover 20. Lotus Esprit
Bottom row: Rolls Royce, Volvo, Ford Cortina, Ford Escort
Mexico, Nissan Skyline
Page 61
Closing Shot
© Simon Wright
Seen at the Autosport International Show,
the legendary Blue and Gold Sunoco
colour scheme on the Penske Lola T70 Mk
3B. This was the winning car at the 1969
Daytona 24 Hours race, driven by Mark
Donohue and Chuck Parsons.
February 2015
Page 62