Classic and Competition Car 48

Transcription

Classic and Competition Car
September 2014
Issue 48
Formula E
British Hill Climb Shelsley
GT Cup Silverstone
VSCC 80th
Anniversary
Bentley Drivers Club
© Simon Wright
Contents
Page 3
Page 14
News.
ERA elebration at Shelsley Walsh
Page 15
Page 17
Page 18
Page 23
Page 27
Page 31
Page 34
Page 35
Page 39
Page 42
Page 45
Page 49
Page 53
Page 57
Page 60
Page 63
Page 70
CarFest South
VSCC 80th Anniversary week
VSCC 80th Anniversary Hill Climb
VSCC Prescott Hill Climb
VSCC Straight line sprint, Santa Pod
VSCC Vintage Day Out
Archive Photo of the Month
MGCC Race meeting, Donington Park
Coventry Classic Car Breakfast Club
Wolseley Owners Club meeting, Coventry
Bonneville Speed week.
Bentley Drivers Club Race Meeting, Silverstone
British Hill Climb Championship, Shelsley Walsh
MSVR Race meeting, Silverstone.
GT Cup Silverstone
Guide to Formula E
Closing Shot
Front Cover. Ian Baxter - 1935 MG
Bellevue Special at the VSCC Prescott Hill
Climb © Pete Austin
Other pictures © Simon Wright
All content is copyright classicandcompetitioncar.com unless
otherwise stated. All photographs are copyright the original
photographer and cannot 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 contact us and will we verify and correct accordingly. We
do not organise any events which are mentioned and we are not
responsible if the event does not take place or is cancelled.
Please contact the event organiser before making a long trip.
Classic and Competition car September 2014
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.
This issue we visit the past,
present and the future. The past
is well represented with the
VSCC 80th Anniversary
celebrations at Peterborough,
Santa Pod and Prescott. The
present is the GT Cup at
Silverstone and the MG Car
Club meeting at Donington. The
future is the new electric FIA
Formula E championship which
starts this month in China. The
initial testing has all been
conducted at Donington Park
where the ten teams and a host
of previous Grand Prix drivers
have electrified the crowds. The
cars are fast, but seem strange
with no noise as they approach
and a soft gentle whooshing
sound as they depart. Due to
current limitations in battery life,
each driver has 2 cars and will
swop cars during the pitstop.
News
© Mick Herring
Jeff Wyatt joins British GT. By Mick Herring.
Reigning GT Cup champion Jeff Wyatt has joined forces with Declan Jones to race in the GT4 class
of British GT for the two remaining rounds ahead of a projected full season in 2015. The Milton
Keynes driver will retain his association with his regular GT Cup BMW team, Geoff Steel Racing,
who have taken over the preparation and running of the BMW M3 GT4.
The ABG-prepared BMW saw action (sometimes rather too much action) in the early rounds of 2014
British GT with Peter Belshaw and Declan at the wheel. Having seen the potential of the car
demonstrated at the Silverstone round, Jeff is confident of his and Declan's ability to challenge for
class wins at the remaining Brands Hatch and Donington British GT
© Mick Herring
Page 3
© Janet Wright
GT40 celebrates 50 years at Sywell Classic Pistons and Props.
This month will see the second Sywell Classic - Pistons and
Props weekend on the 27th and 28th of September 2014 at
Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire. A parade of Ford GT40s
will demonstrate on the mile long runway which is transformed
into a demonstration circuit with a right hand bend, long straight
with midway chicane and a 180 degree hairpin before the flying
finish.The GT40 Enthusiasts Club will lead the celebrations to
celebrate 50 years since the first prototype examples were
announced and the iconic vehicles competed at Le Mans for the
first time. For more information visit www.sywellclassic.com
Plato most successful BTCC driver at Snetterton.
A Ford GT40 in action.
© Simon Wright
Jason Plato scored a double victory at Snetterton in the British
Touring car Championship meeting on 3rd August 2014. After
putting his MG6 GT on Pole position by nearly half a second
from Colin Turkington in the E-Bay BMW, Jason won both the
first and second races from Turkington. The third race with the
reverse grid saw Jason finish in 4th place overall to put himself
back in with a chance of the 2014 BTCC title.
The MG KX Clubcard Fuel Save driver was already the most
successful BTCC driver at Snetterton before his two wins this
year which make 13 Touring Car victories for Plato at the
Norfolk circuit.
Page 4
© KPB Photography
Mike Conway to debut for Toyota.
Toyota Racing test and reserve driver Mike Conway
will make his race debut with the team in the fourth
round of the FIA World Endurance Championship at
the circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on the 20th
September. The Englishman who has already won two
races in this years IndyCar Series, will deputise for
Kazuki Nakajima who will be racing Super Formula in
Japan.
© Simon Wright
Stokes Goes Harry Flatters For the Win.
The SGC Printing Harry Flatters Rally provided its usual quota of thrilling action
on the high speed roads of the Epynt Military Training Area while David Stokes
and Dessie Nutt remain tied for the lead in the Historic Rally Car Register
managed Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship.
Dursley driver Stokes and co-driver Guy Weaver were the early pace setters
among the registered contenders in category 2 for cars registered between 1968
and 1974, setting a time three seconds quicker than their closest rivals and fellow
Escort crew, Simon Tysoe from Nuneaton and co-driver Cliffy Simmons from
Coleford.
In fact, that is the way things would remain throughout the event’s 13 stages
while Northern Ireland duo Stanley Orr and Brian Cairns would claim third spot
despite it being the duo’s first visit to the iconic Welsh venue in around 30 years.
Page 5
© Mick Herring
Smith has winning ways with Passat
After scoring his second win of the season in the Team
BMR Volkswagen Passat CC at Snetterton at the
beginning of August, Irish driver Aron Smith has
confirmed that he will remain with Team BMR for the
2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring car Championship.
The Dublin driver scored his first win in the Passat this
year at the third race at Oulton park, where he narrowly
beat former champion Gordon Shedden in his Honda
Civic Tourer by just 0.846 seconds. His victory at
Snetterton was even closer as Mat Jackson in the
Airwaves Ford Focus ST Mk III was only 0.444 of a
second behind the Passat at the finish.
© Janet Wright
Tomlinson joins board of BRDC.
Ginetta chairman Lawrence Tomlinson was appointed to the Board of
Directors for the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) at their annual
general meeting on the 31st July 2014. Following a vacancy on the Board,
Lawrence was proposed for the position by Former World Champion Nigel
Mansell CBE and seconded by another former World Champion Damon
Hill OBE in respect of his enthusiasm for British Motorsport and extensive
expertise in business.
Tomlinson hopes to provide the Board with his experience as a successful
entrepreneur to aid in the development of Silverstone. He is also
committed to the progression of young drivers and in 2013 the Michelin
Ginetta GT4 Supercup was named as a qualifying championship that can
be used towards membership. The BRDC is an exclusive club for the
most successful racing drivers from Great Britain and the Commonwealth.
Tomlinson was invited to join as a former winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours
in 2006.
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Page 6
Series Preview 2014/15 MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series - Big summer ahead for MSC F5000 Series
There's a big summer ahead for the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series with rounds in Australia and here culminating in a support slot at
the New Zealand Grand Prix meeting at Manfeild in February. Last season the local association paired with its Australian counterpart to run two
separate but complimentary calendars with the opportunity to contest meetings on both sides of the Tasman but only score MSC series points at
rounds here.
This season - with the series in its 12th year - the format returns to its original trans-Tasman foundations, with all six rounds carrying points, two
in Australia - at Sandown Park in Melbourne and Sydney Motorsport Park in Sydney in November this year - and four back here in New Zealand
in January and February next year. The first two local rounds are over consecutive weekends at the two Gulf Oil Howden Ganley F5000 Festival
meetings at Hampton Downs in mid-January, while the final two are over consecutive weekends in early February, the penultimate one at the
annual Skope Classic meeting at Christchurch's Mike Pero Motorsport Park (nee Ruapuna), and the final at the New Zealand Grand Prix meeting
at Manfeild. "It's taken us a while to nut out, but it's now in place and, it's a calendar I think we can be quite proud of," says NZ F5000 Association
committee chairman Aaron Burson."For a start it's good that we're going back to Sandown because its been a few years since we raced there and
it's a track with a lot of category history. Then there's the two rounds at Hampton Downs where the focus category is Formula 5000, they're going
to be a highlight of the season for a lot of our members." "The Skope Classic in Christchurch is always a great meeting, too, and we're also
breaking new ground in accepting an invitation to have our final at the New Zealand Grand Prix meeting at Manfeild. That's going to be an
interesting one because it's the first time, here anyway, where you are literally going to have the best of the old and the new at one meeting."
Formula 5000 was New Zealand's premier motor racing category from 1970 to 1975 and the organisers of the Gulf Oil-backed 2015 New Zealand
Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs are eyeing a record lineup of local and overseas-based cars.
Close to 300 cars were built to contest the various F5000 (Formula A in the © Fast Company/Alex Mitchell
United States and Canada) series around the world between 1968 and 1982
and as many as 60 are expected to line up at the two Festival meetings.
CALENDAR
Rnd 1: Nov 8-9 2014 VHRR Sandown Historic Melbourne Vic Aust
Rnd 2: Nov 29-30 2014 HSRCA Sydney Motorsport Park (Eastern Creek) Sydney NSW
Aust
Rnd 3: Jan 16-18 2015 Gulf Oil Howden Ganley F5000 Festival #1 Hampton Downs
Nth Waikato New Zealand
Rnd 4: Jan 23-25 2015 Gulf Oil Howden Ganley F5000 Festival #2 Hampton Downs
Nth Waikato New Zealand
Rnd 5: Feb 6-7 2015 Skope Classic, Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Christchurch, New
Zealand
Rnd 6: Feb 12-15 2015 The NZIGP/Manfeild Trust/MSNZ/TRS Manfeild, Feilding,
New Zealand
Prepared by FAST COMPANY of behalf of the New Zealand Formula 5000 Association
www.F5000.co.nz
Michael Lyons (Lola T400 #64) leading Andrew Higgins (Lola T400 #10) at one of the NZ
Festival of Motor Racing meetings at Hampton Downs in January. Page 7
25th Autosport International.
Next January will see the 25th running of
Autosport International, the biggest motor sport
show in Europe. Held at the National Exhibition
Centre in Birmingham between the 8th and the 11th of January 2015.
The show has seen the launch of many famous racing cars and is
always well attended by many former World Champions as well as top
racing drivers from all around the World. At the same time, the
Performance car show in association with Autocar magazine and
Pistonheads.com will be in adjacent halls showing exotic supercars and
iconic cars from the world of motoring. More information and Tickets are
now available to book at www.autosportinternational.com
Bonneville Century of Speed meeting canceled.
After heavy rainfall the week before the event was due to run ,
the salt flats were flooded up to 2 feet deep. The Speed week
was cancelled as there was insufficient time for the course to dry
out. See report on the conditions on page 45.
© Syd Wall
© Simon Wright
British Le mans winners at Goodwood
Revival.
Jackie Oliver and Mark Blundell are the latest stars who will be
competing at the Goodwood Revival meeting between the 12th
and 14th September 2014.
Oliver won the Le Mans 24 Hours race in 1969 at the wheel of a
Ford GT40 and has also won the Sebring 12 Hours and
Daytona 24 Hours races. He will contest the St Mary’s Trophy
race at the wheel of a BMW 700
Blundell won Le Mans for Peugeot in 1992 and also won three
races in the American Champ Car World Series after a long
Grand Prix career. He will team up with Kerry Michael in a 1958
Ford Zodiac for the St Mary’sTrophy race.
New Classic and Competition car Multimedia edition is now
Available.
We have the normal PDF version that can be viewed on any device,
including PC and Mac computers, iPad, iPhone and Android tablets and
phones with a suitable PDF reader program (Adobe PDF reader is
available free from www.adobe,com for many operating systems).
Our NEW Multimedia version is the same as the normal version, but
includes extra embedded video clips in various reports. This can be
viewed on any PC or Mac using the Adobe PDF viewer
Page 8
Historic Rally Car Register 30th
Birthday bash at Sywell.
© Simon Wright
The Historic Rally Car Register’s 30th anniversary celebrations will culminate at the
Footman James Sywell Classic - Pistons and Props weekend on the 27th and 28th
September 2014. The Northamptonshire Aerodrome will provide the finish for the
Classic 30 Rally, a two day road rally which is also raising funds for the Air Ambulance
service. The event will start at Corby, Northamptonshire with a maximum entry of 60
cars, the majority of which are already entered. The event will finish on Sunday 28th of
September at the Piston and Props show, where the cars will be put on display for the
public at the show to view. The entry is open to cars registered before 31st December 1985 that comply with MSA Historic Road Rally
regulations Categories 1 to 4 with Category 4 cars only eligible for class awards. There is also a Vintage class for cars registered
before 31st December 1939. The entry list already includes many historic rally cars, including Mini Coopers, Volvo Amazon, Austin
Healey 3000, Triumph TR4, Porsche 356, Ford Cortina, MGB, Ford Escort and Mercedes Benz 280SL and many other regular historic
rally cars. For more information see www.hrcr.co.uk and for the Sywell Classic Pistons and Props see www.sywellclassic.com
Page 9
© Simon Wright
Jordan misses out at Snetterton.
Current reigning British Touring car Champion Andrew
Jordan had a dramatic start to the weekend at Snetterton at
the beginning of August. He experienced a high speed
accident in practice when his Pirtek Honda Civic hit the
barrier at Riches. The incident left him suffering signs of
concussion when he was examined my medical staff. As a
result of the accident, Jordan missed qualifying on Saturday.
After obtaining medical clearance to race on Sunday, he had
to start the first race on Sunday from the back of the grid.
He made steady progress and finished in 16th place overall.
In the second race he again completed the distance and
© Janet Wright
finished 15th. After
the second race he
was re-examined by
the medical team
and was clearly
exhausted. He was
deemed unfit to take
part in the third race
of the day, which he
implicitly agreed
with.
He made a return to
the series at
Knockhill in Scotland
at the end of August,
where he qualified in
4th place. He failed
to finish the first
race, finished 11th in
the second race and
got up to 5th in the
final race.
Group B Rally action in Manchester.
The Footman James Classic Car Show Manchester at Event City on
September 20th and 21st 2014, will include live Group B Rally car
action on a special demonstration stage at the show. There will be
several shows each day, free to all ticket holders, of these
thundering, fire breathing monsters of the rally world. These
demonstrations are just part of the vast array of vehicles which will
be on display at the show. There will also be lots of club stands, an
autojumble, restoration projects, memorabilia and trade stands, plus
a live restoration workshop.
Event City is right next to the Trafford Centre, just off junction 9 of
the M60 in Manchester. For further information and to buy tickets,
see their web site at www.manchesterclassiccarshow.com.
Check our web site for additional photo galleries, video clips and
other exciting features in the coming months.We also have a You
Tube channel here Classic and Competition Car
Page 10
© Simon Wright
Electric cars on the increase.
Later in this issue you will see a preview of the new FIA Formula
E championship for electric formula racing cars. There is also an
increase in road going production electric cars and electric hybrid
cars. Nissan was one of the first with the Nissan Leaf electric car.
Renault soon followed up with the Twizy and the Zoe, while Tesla
showed that Electric cars were not as slow as milk floats, but
could be high performance sports cars. Now BMW have joined
the growing throng of electric car manufacturers with the new
BMW i3 and the i8 Hybrid sports car. Toyota and Honda also
have hybrid cars available or due soon.
© Simon Wright
Renault Twizy
Engine Power: 13KW
Range: 62 miles
Top Speed: 50mph.
0 - 45 kph: 6.1 secs
Designed as a city electric car
with just 2 seats and a small
profile for easy parking in the
city.
© Janet Wright
Renault Zoe
Engine Power: 65KW
Range: 130 miles
Top Speed: 84 mph
0-62 mph : 13.5 secs
The Chameleon charger
gives standard charge in 6
to 9 hours, accelerated
charge 80% in 1 hour or
rapid charging 80% in 30
minutes.
Tesla S 85
Engine power: 85KWH
Range: 298 miles
Top Speed : 124 mph
0-62mph in 5.6 seconds.
The car comes with an 8
year unlimited mileage
battery and drive unit
warranty.
BMW i3
Engine Power: 125KW
Range: 118 miles.
Top Speed: 93 mph.
0-62mph in 7.2 secs.
The high voltage lithium
ion battery combined
with a dynamic electric
motor and intelligent
energy management
makes for an agile
driving experience.
© Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
Rimac Concept One
Engine Power: 91 KWh
Range: 310 miles
Top Speed: 189 mph
0-60mph: 2.9 secs
Cost $980,000.
2 door coupe, first
Electric supercar with
limited production of 88
vehicles. Race Directors
car at Formula E
Page 11
Prodrive collection at Donington.
The Donington Park museum, which houses its world famous Grand Prix collection, has its first ever display of Rally cars.
Prodrive, the successful motorsport engineering and Rallying company from Banbury, is expanding its premises. During the
construction work, it has loaned its entire collection of Prodrive cars to the Donington Park museum. Prodrive has won multiple
World Championships, and the display includes Colin McRae’s Subaru Impreza, a recent Mini WRC, the 1984 Rothmans Porsche
911 SC RS and even a BAR Honda Grand Prix car from 2005. The company has achieved success in every category of racing it
has entered over the last 30 years, and this is reflected in its impressive collection which also includes its winning BTCC Ford
Mondeo and Honda Accord Super Touring Car cars. The Prodrive collection will be on display in Hall 5 of the museum and will be
open to the public on the same entry ticket as Donington Park’s existing collection - Charges apply. See the Donington Park web
site for more information at www.donington-park.co.uk/about-donington/the-donington-grand-prix-collection/
The Donington Collection houses more than 130 Racing cars including many past World Championship winning cars driven by the
© Simon Wright
likes of Ascari, Brabham,Fangio, Hill, Mansell, Piquet, Prost, Senna and Stewart.
The Prodrive collection will be on display for a minimum of 1 year from the 19th July
2014 and it is hoped that many new visitors will be attracted to the museum,
especially the rally fans who may not have been before.
© Simon Wright
Page 12
Breaking News
It has just been announced that Mike Conway will not be racing
in the Formula E opening race for Dragon Racing. Due to a
commitment to Toyota Racing for the World Endurance
Championship (see separate News story on page 5), it was
decided that it was best if he did not race in China, as he could
not commit to competing in the complete championship for the
Jay Penske Dragon Racing team.
Mike started racing in the UK with the 2004 Formula Renault
championship title, followed by the British F3 championship in
2006. In 2007 he joined the Honda F1 Young Driver programme
and in 2008 won the Monaco GP2 race. In 2009 he joined the
IndyCar series and won the Long Beach Grand Prix in 2011 for
Andretti Autosport. In 2013 he competed in sports cars as well
as IndyCar.
He will be replaced in China by Spaniard Oriol Servia (see
Formula E guide in this issue starting on page 63)
BMW i8
The new BMW i8 is a 2+2 seater sports car that combines the
performance of a sports car with the fuel consumption of a small
car via its plug in hybrid drive system which is exclusively built at
BMW’s Hams Hall engine manufacturing plant near Birmingham
England. The 3 cylinder engine with BMW eDrive technology gives
the dynamics of a high performance sports car and the fuel
efficiencies of a small car
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
Citroen CX turns 40.
Conway testing the Formula E car at Donington.
First unveiled at the Paris
motorshow in 1974, it was a
stylish vehicle which also
made advances in
technology. The
turbocharged diesel engine
and updated
hydropneumatic suspension
which set new standards in
ride comfort. Over 1.2
million were sold up to 1991
Page 13
Shelsley Walsh celebrates the 80th Anniversary of ERA By Pete Austin.
© Pete Austin
As part of the ERA 80th Anniversary celebrations this year Shelsley Walsh ran an
invitation class for the marque at their Championship Challenge meeting on 17th
August.
Three ERAs were entered (R11B, R14B and R4D). The Riley MPH ERA of Daniel
Geoghegan was also entered but did not appear.
R11B
Owned and driven by David Morris this car is affectionately known as ‘Humphrey’, a
name given to it by Reggie Tongue who first owned it in 1936. Humphrey Cook was a
wealthy patriotic amateur driver who encouraged Raymond Mays to develop the
marque and helped to finance the company. In the 1936 Donington Grand Prix Reggie
finished 4th. The car went through various hands during its career including those of
Reg Parnell and John Bolster. On a sad note St. John Horsfall was killed in this car
when it rolled during the 1949 International Trophy at Silverstone.
R11B
R14B
R14B
Owned and driven by Donald Day this car was also driven at this event by Paul
Richardson. This car was first sold to and driven by Johnnie Wakefield in 1938 who
won the 200 mile Junior Car Club Race at Brooklands that year. Bob Gerard owned the
car post war and came 3rd in the 1948 British Grand Prix at Silverstone and 2nd the
following year.
© Pete Austin
R4D
Owned and driven by Mac Hulbert. Perhaps the most successful of all the ERAs, this
car originally in 1935 B specification and painted in the ‘works’ light green colours,
was driven by marque founder Raymond Mays. He had a lot of success in the car
including wins here, at Shelsley Walsh. It was painted black in 1938 and currently
appears in this colour scheme. Through the early years it went through C and D
specification updates and in the 1950s its successes continued in the hands of Reg
Parnell, Ron Flockhart and Ken Wharton.
Fastest ERA time achieved at this event was by David Morris in R11B whose run up the
hill was in 34.22 seconds.
R4D
© Pete Austin
Page 14
CarFest South.
Jody Scheckter in his
World Championship
winning Ferrari 312 T12
Chris Evans latest CarFest event, CarFest
South, took place over the Bank Holiday
weekend at the end of August at Laverstoke
Park Farm. The event was a sell-out. Combined with CarFest North, held at
Oulton park in Cheshire at the beginning of August, the two events are
expected to raise £1.5 million for the BBC Children in Need charity. The
events cover motoring, music and food and provide an excellent days
entertainment for the whole family. Many famous faces could be seen at the
event this year including Chris Evans, venue host and ex-World Champion
Jody Scheckter, former Grand Prix driver Mark Webber, TV Chefs James
Martin and Paul Hollywood and Bake Off’s Mary Berry. On the Friday
evening, the One Show was broadcast live from the event.
Jody Scheckter drove a selection of his Ferrari and Tyrrell Grand Prix
© Carfest
winning cars up the hill course (his farm drive), while Bruno Senna took to
the wheel of a Honda NSX once driven by his uncle, the late Ayrton Senna and Mark Webber demonstrated the range topping
Porsche 911 turbo cabriolet. Chris Evans own ‘Magnificent Seven’ collection of Ferraris also featured on the hill along with many
James Martin and mouth-watering Ferraris classic racing cars and several pieces of high speed furniture!
There was even a display by the Red Arrows in the skies
above Laverstoke. The musical entertainment included the
Kaiser Chiefs,
Erasure,
Texas, 10cc,
Sophie Ellis
Bexter and
Jamie Callum
plus many
others.
For more
information,
see the official
web site at
www.carfest.org
© Carfest
© Carfest
Mark Webber and Pudsey were raising funds for BBC Children in Need.
Page 15
The effervescent Chris Evans at CarFest South.
The Hill Climb featured an amazing array of great cars including
the Hornet TX Gas Turbine
© Carfest
© Carfest
© Carfest
The RAF Red Arrows wowed the crowds on Saturday evening.
© Carfest
Ferraris latest LaFerrari hypercar on the Hill Climb.
Page 16
VSCC 80th Anniversary Celebrations
To mark the 80th anniversary of the club being formed, the
VSCC spent the first week of August celebrating with a
long weekend at Prescott followed by 6 days spent around
the East of England showground at Peterborough.
© Pete Austin
1912 Sunbeam 12-16 'The Mistress'
Page 17
© Simon Wright
VSCC Anniversary Hill Climb, Prescott
Ralph Wienrich 1934 Lagonda Rapier Special
© Janet Wright
Fastest time of day and 80th Anniversary Prescott Trophy winner
Nicholas Topliss ERA R4A
By Simon & Janet Wright.
The first three days were spent at Prescott in Gloucestershire. Friday
the 1st of August was the special one day 80th Anniversary Hill Climb. A
similar one day event had been held 5 years ago to celebrate the 75th
anniversary, but this year for the first time in the clubs’ history, the
competitors were let loose on the long circuit at Prescott. This meant
that the cars would tackle the relatively new (1960 added) Ettores loop
and new club records would be set. With a good entry of over 100 cars
for this special one day event, the weather was good on Friday morning
with a bright but cooler day than of late. there was a heavy rain shower
over the lunch break but by the start of the timed runs, the rain had
stopped and the track was drying out.
The sun was glistening on the wet track when the Austin 7 brigade took
to the hill and Joe Tisdall in his 1932 Austin 7 Ulster was fastest with a
time of 71.22 seconds. Michael Lees was the first Vintage in class in his
1930 Austin 7 Ulster TT and David Ralls was 1st in class on handicap in
his 1932 Austin 7 Ulster.
Moving up to the Standard and Modified Sports Cars 751cc to 1100cc
and up to 750cc Supercharged class, saw Frank Ashley in a 1929 MG
M Type set the fastest time in class with a 70.88 second run which also
secured him the Vintage award for the class. Phil Coombs in another
MG, this time a J2, was first in class on handicap.
Class 3 for 1101cc to 1500cc and up to 1100cc supercharged sports
cars saw Simon Blakeney-Edwards in a 1929 Frazer Nash Super Sports
set the fastest time of 59.14 seconds to also take the Vintage award in
the class. Chris Sutton-Scott-Tucker was first on handicap in the class at
the wheel of a 1927 Alvis 12/50 SD. On his first run David Johnson in a
1933 Frazer Nash Colmore got the exit to Ettore’s wrong and ran wide
Page 18
© Simon Wright
Rupert Baller 1932 Hotchkiss AM80 2 seater Sports
Page 19
© Simon Wright
on the exit of the hairpin and and got himself stuck in the
gravel trap and required the tractor unit to pull him out. He did
better on his second run, setting 3rd fastest time in class.
Class 4 for 1501cc to 2000cc and up to 1500 cc
Supercharged sports cars was won by Bryan Gill in a 1930
Lea Francis Hyper TT while Nicholas Murray was first on
handicap in a 1928 Bugatti T37A. Classes 5 and 6 were
amalgamated and saw John Fack in a 1935 Railton Light
Sports set the fastest time in class with a 63.71 seconds while
Alexander Duce in a 1937 Delahaye 135M was first on
handicap for the classes. Iain Warner in a 1927 Bentley 3 litre
was first Vintage car in the classes.
You know when the Edwardian cars are out by the distinctive
thumping sound they make. William Twelvetrees in a 1916
© Janet Wright
David Johnson 1933 Frazer Nash Colmore tries out the Ettores gravel trap
Buick D45 was fastest in the Edwardian Automobile-engined class
with a time of 83.79 seconds, while Andy Lloyd in a 1913
Chalmers 17 was first on handicap. Don’t be fooled by the slower
times, these drivers do not hang around and throw these
thundering beasts up the hill with just as much skill as the faster
and younger cars.
Now we enter the Special Sports car classes with David Furnell
fastest in the up to 1100cc and up to 750cc Supercharged class in
his Austin 7 The Toy with a time of 65.64 seconds. Stephen
Hughes in a Riley 9 was first on handicap and Iain Roche was
first Vintage car in the class in his 1924 Austin 7. Riley dominate
the next class, 1101cc to 1500cc and up to 1100cc Supercharged
Specials with fastest time going to a 1935/38 Riley Special 2STR
driven by Nicholas Lees with a time of 63.03 seconds. Dr David
John Earle Marsh 1934 Alvis Silver Eagle was 2nd fastest on the day
Page 20
© Simon Wright
Morley was first on handicap in his Riley
Special while Stephen Curtis managed to
break the Riley monopoly by being first
Vintage in class with his 1928 Frazer Nash
Boulogne. Regular victor Dudley Sterry in
his 1937/39 HRS Sports was fastest in the
1501cc to 3000cc and up to 2250cc
Supercharged class with a time of 58.06
seconds. John Densham in a 1930 Alvis
Silver Eagle was first on handicap while Ian
Bingham in a 1928 Frazer Nash Geoghegan
Special was first Vintage in class. The last of
Terry Crabb 1937 ERA R12C smokes his tyres off the start line
the Special Sports car classes for cars over
3000cc or over 2250cc Supercharged saw Ewen Getley in a 1927 Bentley 3/41/2 litre set fastest time in class with a 57.54 second
run to also take first Vintage in class award. Mike Holt in a 1936 Railton Don Hoggard Special was first on handicap. John Earle
Marsh in a 1934 Alvis Silver Eagle was second fastest in class but also won the 80th Anniversary Diamond Trophy.
Now moving in to the Racing Car classes and the times really starting to fall. The Pre 1941 up to 1100cc Racing car class saw Matt
© Simon Wright
Johnston fastest
© Simon Wright
with a time of 60.14
seconds in a
1928/34 Austin/MG
LA Special. Miss
Stephanie Wilton
was first on
handicap in a 1935
Austin S/S while Ed
Swain took the
Vintage award in a
Singer Junior
Alexander Duce 1937 Delahaye 135M 1st Historic in class
Robert Craven 1924 Bentley 3 Litre rounds Ettores
Page 21
© Simon Wright
Single seater.
Robert Cobden in a 1937 Riley Falcon Special was not only fastest in the
Pre 1941 Racing cars 1101 to 1500cc class but he also won the 80th
Anniversary Orchard Trophy. Andrew Wilson in a Frazer Nash Norris
Special was first on handicap while Sue Darbyshire was first Vintage as
well as winning the 80th Anniversary Pardon Trophy in her Morgan Super
Aero 3 wheeler.
The non automobile engined Edwardian cars were amalgamated in to the
Pre 1941 Racing cars 1501 to 3000cc and over 3000cc classes and saw
Julian Grimwade in the 1934 Frazer Nash Single Seater set the fastest
time at 53.93 seconds while John Seber was first on handicap in the 1935
Wolseley Hornet Special and Tony Lees was first Vintage in the AC/GN
Nicholas Murray 1928 Bugatti T37A 1st Historic in class
Cognac. The final two classes for Post-war Racing cars and 1950s Sports
Racing Cars saw Richard Ashford fastest in a Cooper T9 which he shared with Miss Ruth Ross who was first on handicap.
Finally there was the special ERA Racing Cars Class which saw Nicholas Topliss set the overall fastest time of the day at 50.70
seconds in the 1935 ERA R4A to win the 80th Anniversary Prescott Trophy, while Duncan Ricketts was 1st on handicap in the
ERA E-Type. The final overall award went to Mrs Jo Blakeney-Edwards in the Frazer Nash Shelsley who won the 80th
Anniversary Ladies Trophy.
© Janet Wright
Mrs Jo Blakeney-Edwards Frazer Nash Shelsley won the
80th Anniversary Ladies Trophy
© Simon Wright
Mrs Sue Darbyshire Morgan Super Aero won the 80th Anniversary Dr Dave Morley 1932 Riley Special
Pardon Trophy
1st Historic in class
© Simon Wright
Page 22
© Pete Austin
VSCC Prescott Speed Hill Climb.
2nd-3rd August 2014.
By Simon Wright with Photos by Pete Austin.
After the Special one day anniversary hill climb at
Prescott, the club then held their annual two day hill
climb event at the venue, incorporating it in to their
special week long celebration for the 80th anniversary
of the club. As usual, the VSCC were using the original
short course, bypassing the ettore loop which was
added at a later date.Saturday was practice day for the
very large entry, and the heavens opened, delivering
monsoon conditions and a very wet course. Sunday
dawned dry and sunny making the wet Saturday
practice a distant memory. The overall awards were
hard fought for, with James Baxter driving his 1935 ERA
R4A claiming the Mays-Berthon Trophy for the fastest
© Simon Wright
Mrs Jane Murray Frazer Nash/BMW 328
time of the day with a time of 41.42 seconds. The
fastest Vintage time went to Robin Baker in the 1930
Hispano/Amilcar Special in 43.99 seconds. Timothy
Dutton in a 1933 Bugatti T51won the Peter Hampton
Tankard and Mark Walker in the spectacular 1905
Darracq 200HP won the Sam Clutton Memorial Trophy,
while the final Trophy went to Mrs Jane Murray in a
Richard Archbell - 1928-29 GN-AC Rebelro
Page 23
1938 Frazer Nash BMW 328 who took the Silver Con-Rod Trophy.
The last overall award went to Brian White in his 1934/38 Frazer
Nash BMW TT which set the fastest unsupercharged sports car time
with a 44.33 second run.
In the smallest class, William Way in a 1929 Austin 7 Ulster was
over 8.5 seconds faster than the next man in the class, Joe Tisdall
in another Austin 7 Ulster. On the other hand, the Standard and
Modified Sports cars over 3 litre or 2 litre supercharged class was
won by just 0.21 of a second as John Guyatt in the standard 1936
Darracq-Talbot Largo T150C beat the newer modified 1939 Talbot
© Pete Austin
© Pete Austin
Matthew Birkett - 1909 FL Sports
Largo T23 of Marcus Black.
Mark Walker was another dominant winner in the Edwardian
Automobile engined class with his one hundred and nine year
old Darracq 200HP to claim the Sam Cluton Memorial Trophy,
beating Andrew Howe-Davies in the 1911 Scat Racer by over 5
seconds.
It was nice to see © Simon Wright
the lady members
achieve some
success on
handicap in the
various classes,
Terry Crabb - 1937 ERA R12C
with Mrs Sarah
Foster in a 1934 Austin 7 Nippy, Lucy Delaney in a 1930 Lea Francis Hyper, Miss
Stephanie Wilton in a 1935 Austin S/S and Mrs Sarah Adams-Diffey in a 1921 Bugatti
13 all finish 1st in their respective classes on handicap.
With sixteen class winners, Vintage and handicap winners, the full results can be
Mrs Sarah Foster Austin 7 Nippy
Page 24
© Pete Austin
found on the VSCC web site at www.vscc.co.uk under events.
© Pete Austin
Stephanie Wilton - 1935 Austin S-S
© Pete Austin
Rob Pike - 1928 Morgan Super Aero
© Simon Wright
Christopher Williams - 1929 Napier Bentley
John Guyatt Darracq Talbot Lago T150C
Page 25
© Pete Austin
© Pete Austin
Paul Tebbett - 1922 Bugatti T22
© Pete Austin
Michael Vardy - 1905 FIAT Isotta Fraschini 200 HP
© Pete Austin
Raymond Knoght - 1933 Vale Special September 2014
Classic
and Competition car
Simon Skelding - 1936 AC 16-80 Special
Page 26
© Simon Wright
VSCC 80th Anniversary Straight line sprint. Santa Pod
raceway.
By Simon and Janet Wright with additional photos by Pete Austin.
As part of the 80th anniversary celebrations, the VSCC held an event at
Santa Pod raceway in Bedfordshire on Thursday 7th July 2014. Santa
Pod is the home of British Drag racing where powerful vehicles can burn
up the quarter mile drag strip in around 5 seconds, accelerate from 0-100
mph in a second and can top 300 mph at the end of the quarter mile.
They also perform spectacular burn outs at the start. There would
probably be more smoke from striking a match then off the thin tyres on
an Austin 7 and not many of the competitors today would reach 100 mph
by the end of the run, but it would be fun and something a little different.
The Vintage cars were starting their runs at the end of the normal quarter
mile drag strip and the usual VSCC Class structure was in place for
© Pete Austin
6 Geoff Toms - 1935 Fiat 508S
Page 27
competitors, though several classes were merged due to the small
size of the entry.
Wandering around the paddock, the event had a similar feel to early
race meetings in the 1960s with a flat tarmac paddock, cars and
trailers with very little facilities, no real pits and no spectator facilities,
just pure basic motorsport, fitting really for the period of cars
competing. It was a lovely bright summers day, ideal for this type of
event. The cars were led from the paddock and down the strip to the
start line in batches of 10 at a time. After each competitor had
received two timed practice runs, the handicap was set for each
competitor. After the lunch break, the timed runs began with the
popular little Austin 7 sports cars being the first to ‘burn rubber’.
As expected, the fastest time of the day went to one of the larger
engined cars, the 1930 11.76 litre Hispano/Amilcar Special of Robin
Baker who set a time of 13.51 seconds. The award for the fastest
© Simon Wright
Greg Lerigo Riley Special
Vintage car not winning the overall fastest time award went to Dougal
Cawley in the 1929 GN/Ford Piglet who set a time of 15.97 seconds. The last overall award for the fastest time of the day by a
Sports Car not winning either of the other two overall awards went to Mark Brett in the 1937 Ballamy Ford (LMB) V8 Special with
a time of 15.48 seconds.
Classes 1,2 and 8 were merged for the event which then allowed for
© Simon Wright standard, modified
and special sports
cars and saloons
upto 1100cc
unsupercharged or
750cc
supercharged. The
fastest was Kevin
Morton in a 1931
Riley 9 Special with
a time of 19.68
seconds, while 1st
on handicap was
Oliver Richardson
Jeffrey Edwards Alvis Sports Special
© Pete Austin
2 Joe Tisdall - 1932 Austin 7 Ulster
Page 28
© Pete Austin
in a small 750cc 1931 MG C Type Monthlery who did a 20.45 seconds
run.
Classes 3 and 9 were combined for Standard, Modified and Special
Sports Cars and Saloons 1101cc to 1500cc unsupercharged or up to
1100cc supercharged. Dr David Pryke set the fastest time of 15.63
seconds in his 1936 Morgan/Riley 4/4 while Fred Boothby was 1st on
handicap in his 1933 MG J2 with a time of 17.90 seconds.
Classes 4 and 10 for standard, modified and special sports cars and
saloons from 1501cc to 3000 cc unsupercharged and over 2250cc
supercharged saw Dr Matt Vincent fastest in his 1934 Frazer Nash TT
Replica fastest with a 19.99 seconds while Peter Howart in a 1933
© Janet Wright
Triumph Gloria
Special was 1st on
handicap in a
4 Oliver Richardson - 1931 MG C Type Montlhery
21.50 seconds.
The last of the standard classes was the standard, modified and special
sports cars and saloons over 3000cc unsupercharged and over 2000cc
supercharged saw Mark Brett fastest, Dougal Cawley 1st Vintage and
Miss Annabel Jones 1st on handicap in her 1923 Vauxhall 30-98 with a
time of 20.60
seconds.
The Pre-1941
Racing cars up to
1100cc class was
won by Tim
Metcalfe in the
Tim Metcalfe 1935 Eccles Rapier Special
1935 Eccles
Rapier Special in a time of 15.45 seconds, while the 1st Vintage was
Frank Hernandez in the 1929 Austin 7 Blaue Maus Special with a time of
16.27 seconds. The handicap winner was Alan Fairless in his 1929/31
Austin 7 with a time of 19.45 seconds on the clock.
The merged Pre 1941 Racing car classes from 1101cc to 3000cc saw the
shared 1929/36 Riley Special of Hans van Wortel take the fastest time in
class with a 13.67 seconds and Mrs Johannes van Wortel was 1st on
© Janet Wright
Tony Lees Vauxhall Viper Special
Page 29
handicap with a time of 15.47 seconds. Finally the Edwardian cars, both
automobile engined and non-automobile engined were merged with the
© Pete Austin
Pre-1941 racing
cars over 3000cc
and saw Robin
Baker fastest
overall and 1st
Vintage car in his
Hispano/Amilcar
Special, while
William
Twelvetrees was
1st on handicap in
the 1916 Buick
© Simon Wright
D45 with a time of
Hans Van Wortel 1929/36 Riley Special
26.85 seconds. This was an unusual event for the VSCC members,
relying purely on engine power and speed of gear change, but it added
another special event to the 80th anniversary celebrations and provided
a different challenge for the competitors.
31 - Gary Bishop - 1928 Austin 7 Swallow Special
© Simon Wright
Jeffrey Edwards 1934/35 Alvis Sports Special
2014
Classic
and Competition car September
© Simon Wright
Vanishing point - Frank Hernandez Austin 7 Blaue Maus Special
Page 30
VSCC - A Vintage Day Out, East of England
© Pete Austin
Showground, Peterborough. By Pete Austin.
A week of events celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Vintage
Sports Car Club culminated in ‘A Vintage Day Out’ held at the East of
England Showground, Peterborough on Saturday 9th August.
All through the week this venue had been the base for a number of
celebratory events ranging from rallies, tours and driving tests to a
film night and concerts. On this, the final day, the doors were also
opened to the public who could enjoy the Vintage car parks, a trade
© Pete Austin
HRG Association
village, specialist car displays and children’s entertainment
including Punch and Judy.
Amongst the cars on display was the 1914-18 Vauxhall D-Type Army
Staff Car. Nearly 2000 were built for the War Office and saw service
in many countries including France, Belgium, Egypt and Salonica.
This particular car was restored by Vauxhall Motors Heritage Centre
and forms part of their collection.
© Pete Austin
In the morning some
members of the Light Car
and Edwardian Section of
the VSCC took part in a
light hearted gymkhana
Dr Tom McEwen - 1921 GN Vitesse
comprising a number of
entertaining challenges including ‘Duck Herding’ and ‘Don’t Crush the Turtle’!
A number of car clubs had put on displays including the Talbot Owners Club, British Salmson
Owners Club, Historic Caravan Club, Owner Driver Mechanic Awards and the HRG Association
whose members were enjoying their annual picnic. Traders also seemed to be doing brisk business
in one of the halls selling books, models, car parts and other vintage motoring memorabilia.
Bob Jones' 1919 Tamplin Cyclecar
Page 31
1932 Talbot AV95
© Pete Austin
© Pete Austin
One of the
highlights in the
afternoon was the
appearance of the
Rolls Royce Merlin
engined Spitfire
which gave a
stunning display
under the blue skies
which had graced
this event. With an
Anniversary Gala
Dinner being held in
the evening this was
a fitting end to the
weeks celebrations.
Rolls Royce Merlin Spitfire
© Pete Austin
© Pete Austin
Richard Hill - 1929 Triumph Super 7
1935 Brooke ERA
Page 32
Dr Tom McEwen's - 1921 GN Vitesse
© Pete Austin
© Pete Austin
Vintage car park
© Pete Austin
© Pete Austin
1926 Salmson Grand Sport 2
1930 Riley Brooklands
Page 33
1914-18 Vauxhall D-Type Army Staff Car
Archive Photo of the month. By Pete Austin
Bernie Ecclestone has been very much in the news recently. He is
pictured here during the 1974 British Grand Prix meeting at Brands
Hatch in deep conversation with Jackie Stewart. In the background
can be seen Jo Ramirez on the right and Jody Scheckter on the left.
© Pete Austin
© Pete Austin
© Pete Austin
Page 34
© Janet Wright
MG Car Club Race Meeting, Donington Park. By
Simon & Janet Wright.
The MG Car Club organise various events during the year and
the beginning of August saw the club arrive at Donington Park
for their annual race meeting at the East Midlands circuit.
First out of the blocks were the MG Trophy Cars, which would
also race again later in the day. In the first race of the day Chris
Bray took pole position in an MG ZR 190 and led most of the
race, but was involved with a three way battle for the lead with
Paul Luti and Graham Ross in an MG ZR 190 until Ross lost a
front wheel going in to Redgate and went off over the gravel and
in to the wall. Bray managed to lead for almost every lap but
when it mattered Paul Luti led just one lap, the last lap, to win by
just 0.294 of a second from Bray. Ross Makar finished a distant
third while Richard Marsh in a MG ZR 170 and Jonathan Harker
in a MG ZR 160 both won their respective classes. They were
Start of the MG Trophy Cars race
out again for the penultimate race of the day with Bray again on pole position. The second race was stopped with a Red flag after
© Simon Wright Jonathan Harker
© Simon Wright
rolled his MG ZR in
to the gravel trap at
the chicane on lap
one. From the
restart, Bray held
the lead until Luti
squeezed past him
to claim a second
victory of the day,
this time by 4.014
seconds from Ross
Graham Ross MG ZR 190 goes 3 wheeling at Redgate in the first race
Makar and Chris
Bray. Richard Marsh took his second Class win in his MG ZR 170 while the final class
was won by Paul Bryson in an MG ZR 160.
The Peter Best Insurance MG Cup also had two races during the day, first out after the
lunch break and again to close the race meeting. For over twenty years, the MG Cup
First lap of the Cockshoot Cup through the Craner Curves
Page 35
© Janet Wright
Challenge has been the only championship that every single
MG car type is eligible to compete in. Robert Campbell claimed
Pole for both races in his 3 litre MG C GT from Tom Diment in a
MG ZR 190. The first race was a flag to flag victory for
Campbell who won by over 16 seconds from Diment who had
an initial battle with Alan Brooke in a Rover Metro GTi before
Brooke dropped out on lap 7. This left Chris Dear a distant third
in his class winning Midget. The final class winner was Paul
Eales who was 4th his MG B GT. The second race proved to be
© Simon Wright
another
demonstra
tion of the
superiority
of Robert
Campbell
and his
MG C GT
Winner Paul Sibley leads the MG Midget/Sprite Challenge race on the first lap
who this
time won by over 27 seconds. Tom Diment again provided the initial
challenge before dropping out on lap 7. This promoted Alan Brooke in to 2nd
place in his Rover Metro GTi while class winning James Darby was 3rd in his
MG B GT. Paul Eales again won his class in 5th overall.
© Simon Wright The third race was for
Iconic 50’s Sports
Christopher Mann Alfa Romeo Disco Volante finished 6th in the Iconic
50’s Sports car race
Cars with FISCAR &
Intermarque for a 30 minute race. This is the second year of these
invitation races for iconic 50’s sports cars and sports racing cars and there
was a good entry of MG T types up against Austin Healey, Lotus, Elva and
Aston Martin models. Robert Begbie put his little Elva Mk IV on pole
position from Robin Ellis in the Lotus Elite. This was a great race with a
three way tussle for the lead between the Austin Healey 100M of Neil
Hardy, the Elva and the Lotus. The Healey held the initial lead before Ellis
got the Lotus through and in to the lead and pulled out a slight advantage.
Begbie went up the inside of the Healey at McLeans as he lapped the
Aston Martin DB3S of David Bennett, going three wide through the corner.
Ian Wright had a big spin in his MG Midget at Old Hairpin and got stuck in the gravel
Classic
and Competition car September 2014
Page 36
© Janet Wright
The Elva set off in pursuit of the Lotus in the lead, but failed to
get the win, by just 0.315 of a second at the chequered flag.
Ellis and Begbie both won their respective classes with Jeff
Marsden in and MG TC and Charles Fripp/Robinson in the
GOMM Jaguar Special the other class winners.
T
h
e
f
o
u
r
t
h Winners Halstead/McPherson Turner Mk II leads from the start of the Ecurie GTS race
race was for the Cockshoot Cup. This is for a variety of MG models
in various classes, catering for both saloons and sports cars.
Jason Simm in an MG ZS took pole position from David Morrison
in his MG Midget. Volker Eickmeyer took the lead at the start in his
MG F WC while Simm Tim Patchett MG TA and Jeff Marsden MG TC battle in the
Very close racing in the Cockshoot cup race between Helen Waddington MG ZR 160
Iconic 50s Sports car race
dropped to 5th but by
and Ian Whitt MG Midget while Jeremy Toes Midget locks a wheel
lap 3 he had passed leader Paul Clackett in another MG ZS to take the lead, which
he held until the chequered flag. He won by 16.414 seconds from Clackett while Sean
Peters was 3rd in his class winning MG Midget. The other class winners were Adam
Key in an MG F WC and Jeremy Toes in an MG Midget.
Next out was the Ecurie GTS series for a 50 minute race. This series is for sports
© Simon Wright
cars built before 1966 and no
larger then 2.7 litres, run in
period specification. It wasn’t a
very big field but it showed
British sports cars of the 1960s © Janet Wright
at their best. Mark Halstead and Stuart McPherson put the 1500cc Turner
Mk II on Pole position ahead of Tom Smith in an MGB Roadster. Such was
the dominance of the litttle Turner that it never lost the lead, even during its
mandatory pitstop and it lapped the entire field except for 2nd place class
© Simon Wright
Robin Sanderson has a quick spin in his Rover Metro GTi in the MG Metro
Cup race
Page 37
© Simon Wright
winner Tom Smith who was over 33 seconds behind at the finish. Third
place went to Pete Foster in a Triumph TR4 who also won his class, while
the other class winners were Allan and Neil Cameron in their Austin Healey
Ashley GT in 9th place overall.
The sixth race was the Drayton Manor Park MG Metro Cup which saw Tom
Sanderson’s Rover Metro GTi dominate the race from pole position. By the
end of fourteen laps, he was over 23 seconds in front of Ben Rushworth in
his Rover 100 while Philip Gough was third in a Rover 114 GTi. Jonathan
Woodcock was the other class winner, in 7th place in a Rover Metro GTi
Now it was the turn of the MG Sports Cars to take centre stage with the
seventh race was the Lackford Engineering MG Midget/Sprite Challenge.
Paul Sibley claimed Pole position in his MG Midget, over 2 seconds faster
than David Weston who lined up next to him on the front row of the grid in
his MG Midget. Sibley made a slow start and Weston grabbed the initial
lead, but Sibley was soon in front and pulled away to win by 14.57 seconds
Simon Lowery MG ZS 180 finished 4th in the Cockshoot Cup
from Weston while Paul Campfield won his class and finished 3rd overall in his Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite. The other class
winners were Stephen Watkins in 7th in his MG Midget, 11th placed Richard Bridge in an Austin Healey Sprite and Richard Homer
in a Midget who finished 15th. There had been plenty of fierce battles down the field and one or two incidents including Stephen
© Simon Wright
Pegram who tried a late braking manoeuvre at the chicane which
didn’t quite work and he used Andy Southcott as his emergency
brake, pushing the tail on Southcott’s Midget well out of shape in to
the chicane, which Southcott did well not to spin off completely, but
he did loose three places as he fought to regain control.
Andy Southcott spins after a push from Stephen Pegram in the MG Midget/Sprite Challenge
© Simon Wright
Halstead/McPherson won the Ecurie GTS race in the Turner Mk II lapping 3rd place
Pete Foster Triumph TR4
Page 38
© Simon Wright
Coventry Classic Car Breakfast Club Saturday 9th August 2014. By Simon & Janet Wright.
The second outing for the new monthly Coventry Breakfast club saw a good display of vehicles outside the Coventry Transport
museum. This month they were joined by a Wolseley Car Club Gathering (Which is reported separately). These monthly meetings
during the summer are held between 9 and 11am on a Saturday morning and with the museum located next to the main bus
station in Coventry always ensures a steady stream of interested on-lookers stopping to admire the vehicles on display as they
head in to the city, shopping or sight seeing.
Coventry has been a major centre in the history of the car and motor cycle manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, with
many major
© Janet Wright
© Janet Wright
manufacturers
having had factory
bases in the
Coventry area.
There is a great
sense of pride in
Coventry for the
local built cars, and
this is always well
reflected in the
cars attending the
Breakfast
meetings. At this
meeting the classic
Jaguar Mk VII
Audi 100 GL pair
Page 39
© Simon Wright
Jaguar range was well represented, and not just sports cars like the
E-Type and XJ-S but also some elegant classic Jaguar Saloons such
as the Mk VII and Mk 2.
Its not just local classic cars that are welcome at the Breakfast club.
Modern classics like the Mazda MX5 sports car are always popular
and pop up all over the place, including the Breakfast Club. There
were a couple of original Volkswagen Beetles on display, one of which
had been modified into a pick-up. The cabin had been chopped off
behind the front seats and the cabin sealed behind them.The rest of
the passenger space had the roof removed and a hard lid used to
cover the storage space. There was also a superb white lowered
Volvo Estate with alloy wheels
Modified Volkswagen Beetle
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
Setting the STANDARD in Coventry cars
Millennium Place alive with classic cars
Page 40
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
Humber Sceptre
Volvo Estate
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
VW Beetle
Honda 500 Four motorbike
© Janet Wright
Armstrong Siddeley Whitley 18hp
Rover 3.5 V8
Page 41
© Janet Wright
Wolseley Owners Club Meeting, Coventry
Transport museum. By Simon & Janet Wright.
Held on the same day as the second Coventry Breakfast
Club meeting, the Wolseley Owners Club added an extra
dimension to the cars displayed outside Coventry Transport
museum. The Wolseley display was set up facing the
museum and the Breakfast club meeting cars as a separate
© Simon Wright
display, as the cars would be on show for longer than the
Breakfast club meeting. It was a relatively small display from
the Wolseley Club owners, but there was an interesting selection of cars in the group. One
of the more unusual was a Wolseley Hearse, which at least showed the diversity of the
range when they were a major manufacturer.
Wolseley Motors Limited was originally founded in 1901 by Vickers armaments in
conjunction with Herbert Austin. They manufactured a full range of luxury cars which were
very popular in the Edwardian era. At the time of the Vickers brothers deaths in 1915 and
1919 respectively, Wolseley was the largest motor manufacturer in Britain, producing
12000 cars in 1921. Unfortunately, over expansion meant that the Receivers were called in
during 1927. The company was bought by William Morris as a personal investment and
was later moved in to the Morris Motors empire. After the Second World war, Wolseley
was simply a badge-engineering company, and it stayed like that until the name was
dropped by British Leyland in 1975.
Wolseley Six Eighty Police car
© Simon Wright
Wolseley line up at Coventry
Page 42
© Janet Wright
Wolseley Hornet Mk II
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
Wolseley 6/110 Mk II
© Simon Wright
Wolseley Fifteen Fifty
© Simon Wright
Wolseley made a wide range of luxury cars
Page 43
© Janet Wright
Wolseley 18/85 heads the line up for the Wolseley Owners Club meeting at Coventry
Page 44
© Syd Wall
Bonneville Speed Week 100th Anniversary. By Syd Wall.
The Salt flats were flooded
Page 45
© Syd Wall
500+mph 1800hp twin turbo big block Chevy 3 wheeler
Bonneville Speed Week celebrated its 100th anniversary this year and
was unique in that it was the first time the competition was completely
cancelled. Heavy rain in the preceding week meant that floodwater
stretched to the horizon, the only visible patch of salt being less than
the size of a tennis court. I arrived the afternoon of the intended first
day of competition, the day after the cancellation announcement, to
find virtually all the competitors had left. A few cars and bikes were
brought over for spectacular shots in the water, while stories were
swapped about how far they had come. Dan, a motorbike drag racer
from near Bristol was returning home with his bike the next day, two
years of planning up in smoke. We will meet up again at Shakespeare
County Raceway later this year. I also met a TV crew from New
Zealand who were hunting round Wendover for something to film and
we ended up at the forlorn Wendover airforce base where the Enola
© Syd Wall
500+mph 1800hp twin turbo big block Chevy 3 wheeler
Page 46
Gay was hangered in its day. A disappointing end to the week before it had even started, but a taster for
returning next year.
© Syd Wall
Enola gay hanger and 4 rat rods
© Syd Wall
© Syd Wall
Goldenhawk Streamliner
Flooded Bonneville
Page 47
Bonneville
© Syd Wall
© Syd Wall
around Wendover
© Syd Wall
Flooded Bonneville
© Syd Wall
Flooded Bonneville
Page 48
The Bentley Drivers Club Race Meeting. Silverstone.
© Simon Wright
2nd August 2014. By Simon & Janet Wright.
The annual Bentley Drivers Club meeting at Silverstone was the 65th
consecutive year of the meeting and was the largest annual gathering of
Bentleys during the year. This year was also the 90th anniversary of the
first Bentley victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours race. This was celebrated
with a parade of Bentley cars around the circuit during the lunch break.
There was another celebration being held at the event. The AC Owners
club had been invited along to the meeting and they were celebrating 60
years of the AC Ace and Aceca models. They also held a parade at lunch
© Simon Wright
time of various
AC models
around the
circuit.
Bentleys of all shapes and sizes in the lunch time parade
The nine race
program was held around the national circuit at Silverstone and was the
usual mix of Bentley races and handicap races plus other races for
invited clubs. The first race on the program was for the MG T Register,
Morgan and AC race which saw 13 Morgans take on 4 MG and a
couple of AC Aces. Tony Hirst claimed pole position in the 2012 Morgan
© Janet Wright
Baby Doll from
Richard Plant in
another 1962
Morgan +4SS.
There had been
Part of the AC parade, an AC Greyhound followed by an AC Ace Brooklands
quite a lot of rain
during practice and the circuit was still damp when the racing started. Greg
Dixon-Smith made the initial running in his 1969 Morgan 4/4 from Plant
after Hirst had dropped to 10th on the first lap. He was 4th of the second
lap and 3rd on the third lap while of the fifth lap Plant had taken the lead.
On lap 7 Dixon-Smith retired to the pits which left Hirst in 2nd place but
steadily closing on the leader. By the tenth lap Hirst was through in to the
lead and although Plant hung on, the order remained the same to the
chequered flag, with Hirst winning by just 1.238 seconds. Simon Orebi
Paul Bryan 1987 Morgan 4/4 in the first race
Page 49
© Simon Wright
Gann was 3rd in another Morgan +4SS. Alan Kyson was the first MG
home in 4th place in his 1959 MG A Twin cam and Ed Mercer was first AC
home in 11th place in his 1960 AC Ace Bristol.
The Aston Martin Owners Club Intermarque challenge was a 45 minute
race which brings together 6 eras of long distance sports car racers in one
epic race. For this race, the cars went from a 1959 Aston Martin DB4
Lightweight right through to a 2013 Aston Martin GT4. The race wasn’t just
for Aston Martin, there were four Ferrari and seven Porsche models also in
the race. They had qualified in bright dry conditions which saw Chris
Scragg claim pole in his 1973 Aston Martin V8 from Wayne Marrs in his
1996 Ferrari 355 Challenge car by just 0.701 of a second, with Kevin
Norville in the 2013 Aston Martin GT4 just 0.073 of a second further back
in third place on the grid. However, as the cars headed out to race, the
heavens opened and down came heavy rain. The race started but was
The Intermarque race was red flagged due to the rain and held on the grid
almost immediately red flagged and the cars were lined up on the track,
though some of the cars had returned to the pit lane. They sat on the track for around half an hour, until the rain had eased and
the marshals had managed to move some of the large puddles from the track. They restarted behind the safety car, which led
them round for several laps of what looked like power boat racing. The cloud began to break and the race was restarted, though
the circuit was still very wet. Chris Scragg was leading the field for the majority of the race in his Aston Martin V8 after the safety
car pulled in but the race was shortened to 25 minutes after the enforced stop and Wayne Marrs waited until the last lap to grab
the win in his Ferrari 355 Challenge while Tim Mogridge was 3rd in another
© Janet Wright
Ferrari 355 Challenge.
The third race was the AC Ace 60th Anniversary race which came out on to a
© Simon Wright very wet circuit, but the
rain had stopped falling
as Andy Shepherd in
his 1957 AC Ace Bristol
led the 18 strong field
round to the start.
There were 3 AC
Aceca in the race. After
a couple of warm up
laps it was Robin
Chris Scragg Aston Martin V8 and Wayne Marrs Ferrari 355 Challenge battle Pearce in a 1958 AC
for the lead of the power boat race!
Andy Shepherd AC Ace Bristol finished 3rd in the AC Ace
60th Anniversary race
Page 50
Ace Bristol that took the initial lead but was soon passed by the Conway/
Mercer 1960 Ac Ace Bristol who slowly extended the lead to win by over
14 seconds. Pole sitter Andy Shepherd was 3rd. The wet conditions
caught out some of the drivers with Alex Morgan managing a lovely
pirouette at Luffield. He managed to continue without hitting anything to
finish 12th. Alastair Caldwell finished 7th in the first of the AC Aceca in
his Ford powered car.
The first outing for the Bentley Boys and girls was the Bentley Scratch
race which Stuart Worthington, fastest in practice in his rainbow 2005
Bentley GT, completely dominated. He lapped almost the entire field
during the 15 minute race with only Sue Shoosmith in a 1950 Bentley Mk
VI/S1 Special on the same lap at the finish, and she was over 1 minute
23 seconds behind, and Simon Worthington’s best lap time was 1 minute
19.845 seconds. The race was held in wet conditions which gave
Richard Frankel the ideal conditions to power slide his 1921 Bentley TT
round Luffield lap after lap.
The Tony Morgan-Tipp Memorial race for the Aero Racing Morgan
Challenge took to the wet track as the sun was trying to break through
the cloud. Keith Ahlers claimed pole position in his Morgan Plus 8 and
led from start to finish to a win by over 25 seconds from Philip Goddard
while Christian McCarty was 3rd in his Morgan Roadster LWT to win his
class. The wet conditions caught out Paul Conway on the first lap which
dropped him from his 5th place grid spot down to 25th at the end of the
first lap. By the end of the 20 minute race he had charged through the
field and was back to 5th by the end of the race.
To add variety to the meeting, there is the Allcomers Handicap race for
Faster cars, and later a second Allcomers Race for Slower cars. The first
of these two races was for the faster cars. Fabio Randaccio had been
fastest in the combined qualifying in his 2006 Lotus Europa from Steve
Dickens in a 1991 Mallock Mk 29 clubmans car. The race was a mix of
very interesting cars including a couple of very fast Minis for Harvey and
Clive Death and a very unusual orange Allard J2 of James Tiller. At the
end of the eight lap race, the results gave the win to Malcolm Mitton in a
1967 Lotus Elan +2 ahead of Fabio Randaccio in the 2006 Lotus Europa
and Graeme Smith in 3rd place in a 1998 Caterham 7 Classic.
© Simon Wright
Richard Frankel slides his 1921 Bentley TT round Luffield
© Janet Wright
Keith Ahlers victory in his Morgan Plus 8 in the Tony Morgan Memorial Race.
© Janet Wright
Harvey Death Mini Cooper S finished 6th in the Allcomers Scratch
51
PageRace
© Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
The Bentley Handicap
race has a unique
feature in that the cars
are started from the pit
lane, which means that
the scratch man can start
up to 2 full laps behind
the first car. The entry
was an impressive line
up of Bentley cars
ranging from a 1921
Ewen Getley in his Bentley 3/4 1/2 finished 2nd in the Bentley handicap Bentley TT of Andrew
Frankel through to Simon Worthington in the 2005 Bentley GT. First car away
Gerrard McCosh in the 1950 Bentley Mk VI/S1 Special
was Albert de Mey in a 1927 Bentley Tourer, while Worthington was scratch
man. At the end of the eight lap race Paul Carter in a 1936 Bentley 4 1/4 emerged as the winner, with Ewen Getley in a 1924
Bentley 3/4 1/2 in 2nd place and Jock Mackinnon was 3rd in a 1924 Bentley 3 litre. Worthington had pushed hard in the rainbow
Bentley GT but could only make 4th place by the finish.
Continuing the handicap theme, the penultimate race was the Allcomer Handicap Race for Slower cars. Again an interesting mix
ranging from a 1929 Riley Brooklands of Clive Temple to two 2011 Morgan 4/4 models of Henry Williams and Tim Parsons in a
Supersport model. At the end of the eight lap race, Chris Pearson was the winner in a 1935 Austin 7, with Ron Dowle 2nd in the
Allard J2 and William Elbourn was 3rd in a 1934 Riley 12/4.
The final race on the programme was the Allcomers Scratch race. Steven Dickens put his Mallock Mk29 on pole position in dry
qualifying but the race was held as the drizzle started again. This gave the advantage to Fabio Randaccio who put his 2006 Lotus
Europa ahead on the first lap and stayed there till the end He won by over 11 seconds from Dickens while Jon Lee got his Mini
Cooper S in to 3rd place at the start at remained there till the finish. Full results can be found on the Bentley Drivers Club web site
at www.bdcl.org
© Simon Wright
2nd place Steven Dickens Mallock Mk29 powers past David Tilley
in the Hart Sports Racing in the Allcomers handicap
© Simon Wright
Former racing Bentley in the lunchtime parade
© Janet Wright
Peter Campbell in the 1958 Wingfield Bristol Specisl
Page 52
© Janet Wright
Championship Challenge, British Hillclimb Championship. Shelsley Walsh
16th 17th August 2014.
By Simon & Janet Wright.
What is considered the blue riband event in the British Hill Climb Championship, the
August meeting at Shelsley Walsh always attracts a top entry and a massive crowd.
© Janet Wright
this year the fans were treated to
some of the best Hill Climb
competition in the country and a
new course record for the 2000cc
class. Jos Goodyear broke the
record on his qualifying run in his
1400cc supercharged GWR
Raptor with a time of 22.86
seconds. He also took the Man of
the meeting award and then set
the fastest time in the afternoon
run-off to gain 10 championship
points. This was his first run off
victory and was very close to the
Paul Matty in the class winning Lotus Type 35 F2
outright hill record.
Scott Moran driving the family Gould GR61X took the morning run off win to extend his
lead in the championship after 2012 Champion Trevor Willis could only manage 5th
place. Will Hall continues to have his best season ever with two solid 3rd place finishes
© Simon Wright
Jos Goodyear GWR Raptor broke class record, won run off in the Force.
and got Man of the Meeting award
There was a large Lotus class and
championship sponsor Paul Matty driving a Lotus 35 F2 took the honours in
class Q2 while the Q1 class was won by Geoff Stallard in a Lotus Elan S3.
Other class winners included Richard Jones driving a Brabham BT29X,
Richard Homer in an MGA 1600 and Rodney Eyles in a Pilbeam MP53 won
the Sports, Saloons and Racing car classes for up to years 1971, 1975 and
1985 respectively. Crowd favourite Keith Murray in an Audi 80 Quattro and
Tim Dennis in a Rover Mini both won their modified classes, while current
Midland Hill Climb Championship leader Mike Turpin took yet another class
win in his Vauxhall VX220 to extend his championship lead. The over 2000cc
Jan Nyez Staride Mk III 500cc class
Page 53
© Simon Wright
Roger Moran to retire.
The other major news of the weekend was the
announcement that 1997 Champion Roger Moran was
retiring from the large capacity racing car class at the
end of the year and his place would be taken next year
by Alex Summers who is currently competing in a DJ
Firehawk. Alex will share the Gould next year with Scott
Moran.
© Simon Wright
Brian Ives Milmor Mk7 GT
Sports Libre class was won by Rob Stevens in a Force SR4 and Mark
Dempster in the up to 2000cc class in his Imagination PH1. The F1
inspired Empire Wraith of Chris Aspinall won the very competitive 1100cc
© Janet Wright
class, while
Richard
Spedding in a
Force PC took
the 1600cc
Class.
The historic
500cc class saw
victory for Steve
Lawrence in a
Cooper Mk8
while the
invitation ERA
Class to
Phil Cooke Empire Wraith
© Simon Wright
Keith Edwards Audi Quattro S1 powers up the hill
Page 54
© Simon Wright
celebrate their 80th anniversary was won by David Morris.
The slower, but equally competitive, road going classes were
won by Ken Williamson in a Lotus Elise S1, Roy Standley in a
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5 and Simon Jenkins in a Caterham
Supersport.
© Simon Wright
Richard George Chevron B19
© Janet Wright
John Chalmers Ralt F302-001
© Janet Wright
Alex Graham Vauxhall Firenza
© Simon Wright
John Cottrill Pilbeam MP82
Mark Dempster Imagination PH1
Page 55
© Janet Wright
David Franklin Ferrari 275 GTB
Page 56
© Simon Wright
MSVR Silverstone 16th - 17th August
2014. By Simon & Janet Wright GT Cup report by Mick Herring.
Motor Sport Vision Racing (MSVR) put on a good
variety of club racing at their recent Silverstone
meeting using the full Grand Prix circuit layout. It
included their prestigious BRDC Formula 4
Championship. This series has attracted drivers
from all around the World including drivers from
Sennan Fielding had the perfect weekend, winning all three Formula 4 races from Pole Position
India, Spain, Ireland, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela,
South Africa, Malaysia, the Netherlands as well as local British drivers. It was local driver Sennan Fielding who claimed pole
position for the first of the three races of the weekend for HHC Motorsport from his team mate Will Palmer. Fielding led the
whole way to win races 1 and 3 and it only took him to lap 4 in the second race before he got to the front to win again. A clean
sweep for Fielding, but the others were close in each race with Struan Moore 2nd in the first race for Lanan Racing and his team
mate Arjun Maini from Indian 3rd. The second race saw Brazilian Gaetano Di Mauro finish 2nd for Petroball Racing Limited with
Will Palmer in 3rd place. The final race saw South African Raoul Hyman in the runners up spot for HHC Motorsport and Struan
Moore took 3rd.
The Radical sports cars got a double dose at Silverstone with the radical European Masters having two races over the weekend
while the Radical SR3 Challenge/Clubmans cup had a couple of races on Sunday. The European Masters were first to race and
Littlejohn and Wells took pole position in their radical SR8. and led the
© Simon Wright
race until lap 12 when they pitted. This handed the lead over to
Centcetti/Marareotto SR8 which had been holding 2nd place and
pitted the same lap. After the pit stops, the Centcetti/Marareotto had
© Janet Wright
gained a 5 second
advantage and held the
lead for the majority of the
rest of the race.
Unfortunately for them, they
were passed on the very
last lap by the Hyman/
Mortimer SR8 that took the
win, while Bradley Smith
finished 3rd in another SR8.
Bradley Smith Radical SR8 took a 3rd and a win in the European Masters races
Close racing in the Mini Challenge races
Page 57
© Simon Wright
Scott Mansell was the other class winner in his Radical SR3 in
13th place. The second race saw Bradley Smith start from
Pole position and he led from start to finish to win by over 18
seconds from Tristan Vidas in a Radical SR8 while Hyman/
Mortimer finished 3rd. Ellis/Cummings were the other class
winner in their Radical SR3.
Switching to the Radical SR3 Challenge/Clubmans Cup on
© Simon Wright
Sunday, the
class wining pair
of Ellis/
Cummings from
the second
European
Ellis/Cummings had a busy weekend in Radical European Masters and Radical SR3
Challenge/Clubmans Cup
Masters race
took pole position for both races in their Radical SR3. It was the Malvern/Jones
SR3 that took the lead from the start and although Ellis/Cummings did manage to
sneak in to the lead for one lap, it was Malvern/Jones that led the race until their
pitstop. MacLeod/Loggie took the lead position when they pitted but after a few
laps they were passed by Jesper Westerholm who went on to win the first race by
8 seconds from MacLeod/Loggie while Steve Burgess came in third. The second Mexican Alfredo Zabalza runs wide in the BRDC Formula 4 race
race on Sunday saw Lewis Plato gain the initial advantage until his pit stop when Ellis/Cummings went to the front until their
pitstop. This left the Radical PR6 of Oskar Krugar in the lead from Steve Burgis in a Radical SR3 and the pair finished just 0.817
of a second apart. Lewis Plato was 3rd.
The ST Cross Electronics Monoposto races on Saturday and Sunday were some of the largest fields at the meeting with 55 cars
taking the start on the Grand Prix circuit. Monoposto races cater for single seater racing cars, commercially built before 2007
though home built cars of any age can compete. Standard engine of up to 2 litres (No variable valve timing engines allowed).
Transmission, brakes, wheels (13 inch minimum diameter) and © Janet Wright
tyres are free. There is also a class for bike engined single
seaters with production motor cycle engines up to 1000cc and a
larger class for standard motor cycle engines and gearbox up to
1400cc. This basically allows old Formula cars to compete in a
single race with multiple classes. The types of cars competing
were old Formula 3 cars, Formula Renault, FF2000, FF1600,
Formula Vauxhall and Formula Vauxhall Junior plus anything
else that fitted the regulations. Daryl Jones put his old F3
Mike Hatton in the monoposto race driving his Vauxhall Lotus to 32nd and 12th in class
Page 58
© Simon Wright
Dallara F302 on pole position from Tony Bishop in a slightly newer
Dallara F304. The slowest car in qualifying was the Swift SC98 of
Richard Greening who was 59.519 seconds slower than the pole man
round a lap of Silverstone. Dan Clowes managed to get his motor
cycle engined Jedi Mk6 in to the lead at the end of the first lap, but
Jones was soon through in to the lead and although the pair
circulated close together for the rest of the race, it was Jones that
won. Malcolm Scott was 3rd in another Dallara F398. The second
race saw Dan Clowes make another fantastic start in his Jedi Mk6
and to keep the lead for the first half of the race, but Peter Venn in a
Dallara F301 grabbed the lead at the half way point and managed to
stay ahead to the flag, winning by over 12 seconds.
Jock Sergison failed to finish in his Highlander III in either Monoposto race. Here he is
Some of closest racing took place in the three Mini Challenge races.
chased by 62 Richard Reeve in a Reynard SF84
Chris Knox took pole position for the first race and led from start to finish. He beat Henry Duprey by 6.5 seconds. Down the field
there were many bumper to bumper dices and William Phillips won the Cooper Class from Ricky Page by just 0.637 of a second.
Knox did exactly the same again in the second race, this time winning by just 1.8 seconds from Luke Caudle with Henry Duprey in
3rd place. Ricky Page went one better in the Cooper class to win the class by 0.586 of a second from Josh Gollin. The third race
saw Chris Knox have some problems which meant that Rob Smith won the 3rd race from Lawrence Davey and Mark Steward was
3rd. It was Josh Gollins turn to move up a place and win the Cooper class with another close finish and a gap of 0.972 seconds to
© Janet Wright
Matt Hammond.
© Simon Wright
William Phillips Mini Cooper leads quite a battle in the Mini Challenge
Kevan McLurg Dallara F397 finished 4th in both Monoposto races
Page 59
© Mick Herring
GT Cup Silverstone 16th/17th August 2014. By Mick
Herring.
August hosted the GT Cup's second visit to Silverstone, this
time on the full GP circuit. Thankfully the rain that hovered all
weekend only materialised briefly during Sunday qualifying.
Debuting in GT Cup were Piers Johnson and Ron Johnson
(sharing the surname but not related), previously regular British
GT competitors in a Chevrolet Corvette, now driving a brand
new ff Corse Ferrari 458 GT3 to good effect across the
weekend.
Saturday's 45 minute, two driver race saw the win-sharing battle
between Jim Geddie's McLaren and Shaun Balfe's Ferrari 458
(shared this time with Darren Nelson) recommence with the
© Mick Herring
Harry Blazer/Chris Hall
Radical RXC very close
behind in the early
stages. However,
Shaun Balfe Ferrari 458 GT3 6th in Race 1 passes Mike Sellar Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
success penalty times would affect the two leaders dramatically at the pit stops. Jim
Geddie's extra 45 seconds left him with an exhausting fight back to third at the flag and,
having handed over to Darren Nelson, the Balfe car would finish sixth after its 30 second
success penalty. Piers Johnson, with no success time penalty, took the lead having
replaced Ron in the new Ferrari but
© Simon Wright
couldn't hold off a determined
Aaron Scott, with no success
seconds, taking the JMH Ferrari to
its first win in GT Cup by 2.9
seconds. Aaron and Arwyn Williams
threatening to take a win before, as
has Arwyn looked likely in the sprint
races, Arwyn kept the car close to
the front in this race during his
opening stint.
Fourth and first in GTC was John
R3 Chamberlain Porsche 935 ahead of Balfe Ferrari
Jeff Wyatt BMW M3 GTR battles with Andrew Bentley Lotus Evora
458 GT3 and winner Geddie McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Seale/Jamie Stanley's 458 with
in the GTA class
Page 60
© Mick Herring
R2 Francis Galashan Porsche 997 GT3 Cup 3rd in GTB 11th
another pair of debutants, Bernard and Marcus Hogarth's Ferrari 458
second in GTC and 8th overall. Peter Jennings would score his only finish
of the meeting in eighth, 3rd in GTC.
Continually attracting new drivers of a high calibre and professional drivers,
GTA winners were Euan Hankey and Salih Yoluc with their Optimum Ginetta
G50 in 15th overall.
The first sprint race on Sunday witnessed Richard Chamberlain's venerable
Porsche 935 use all of its considerable power to lead from Jim Geddie's
McLaren and Chris Hall's Radical RXC. Geddie, with another exhausting
drive, would overcome the Porsche but had to work hard for his 0.35
second win from Chamberlain. The fleet Radical RXC finished 14.2 seconds
behind the leaders.
The GTO class top six was rounded out by Iain Dockerill, Ron Johnson and
Darren Nelson (in Balfe's 458) followed by the first GTC car, Marcus
Hogarth's Ferrari 458 in 7th. David Walley did his championship chances no
harm with a GTB win and 9th overall.
The second 25 minute sprint race allowed Richard Chamberlain to capitalise on his pole position to lead first Jim Geddie and then
© Mick Herring
Shaun Balfe. Early safety car intervention following an
incident that saw two Porsches and a Ginetta G50 eliminated
on the spot, bunched the field again. Geddie was able to
regain his second place and set about the leader, passing
him at the Village complex with a neat crossover, Balfe tried
to do the same but couldn't get on the power as early as
Chamberlain and, as the power of the Porsche prevailed,
Balfe had to settle for third. Debutant, Marcus Hogarth again
took GTC honours in 6th ahead of John Seale and GTB
winner David Walley. GTA class fell to Mark Litherland's
BMW, Salih Yolic's Ginetta and reigning champion Jeff
Wyatt's BMW in 16th,17th and 18th respectively. Sunoco
"Driver of the weekend" was awarded to Richard
Chamberlain with fastest lap of the meeting going to Shaun
Balfe in Saturday's race.
With two rounds left, at Donington and Oulton Park, the GT
Cup is set for a strong finish to the season.
R3 Marcus Hoggarth Ferrari 458 GTC 1st in GTC 6th overall
Page 61
© Mick Herring
© Mick Herring
R1 First win Scott/Williams Ferrari 458 GT3
R1 Smith/Cuff Porsche 997 GT3 Cup newcomers 4th GTB 16th
© Mick Herring
© Mick Herring
R3 Litherland BMW M3 1st GTA 16th
R1 Smith Cuff Porsche 997 GT3 Cup newcomers 4th GTB 16th
Page 62
The Future Sparks here. A guide to FIA Formula E.
© Janet Wright
By Simon and Janet Wright.
Some bright spark decided that motor racing in the future would need to be eco
friendly and to appeal to the masses, would need to be able to race in the heart of
capital cities of the World.They came up with the electrifying idea of a pollution free,
and quiet form of motorsport - Electric car racing, and the FIA Formula E series was
born. Now before you think of electric milk floats trundling around the streets, dicing
with each other at 20 mph, think again.
© Simon Wright
These electric racers are
purpose built single seaters,
the Spark-Renault SRT_01E
built by a new French
company, Spark Racing Technology led by Frederic Vasseur. The carbon
fibre and aluminium monocoque chassis and aerodynamics have been
manufactured by Dallara, which has over 40 years motor sport experience.
The electric powertrain and electronics are manufactured by McLaren
Electronics Systems and Williams Advanced Engineering will supply the
batteries, which produce 200Kw, the equivalent of 270 BHP. This will be
linked to a Hewland fixed ratio five speed paddle shift sequential gearbox.
The 18” treaded
© Simon Wright
tyres will provide
optimum
performance in
both wet and dry conditions are supplied by Michelin. The Championships
Technical Partner is Renault which will oversee all the systems integration.
A lot of the development driving has been done with a Renault test car
driven in some of the tests by German ace driver and former Grand Prix
star Heinz Harald-Frentzen. All the teams are located in the Formula E
centre at Donington Park in England, and the circuit has been used for all
the pre season testing and development work by the teams in a series of
official test days. These tests were open to the public with free admission
and drew large crowds of interested spectators, all interested in seeing
what the future of motorsport looked like and equally importantly what it
sounded like. Gone is the roar of V8 engines and even the whistle of the
Page 63
turbo engine. It has
been replaced by
near silence as the
cars approach, and a
whooshing sound as
they go past and
away from you.
Although this is an
entirely new concept
for racing, it is not a
beginners formula. In
© Janet Wright
fact, just the opposite. The driver talent is very experienced and includes
many famous racing names like Senna, Prost and Piquet. There are ten teams competing in the inaugural championship, each
with two drivers, who each have two cars - more on that in a minute. For this first season, all the teams will run the SparkRenault SRT_01E car, but for the second season onwards, it will be an open formula to allow teams to develop their own cars
within the technical specifications set out by the FIA. The teams have an international feel with several countries already
represented in the championship and the drivers already represent XX countries. The driver line up includes many ex-Grand Prix
drivers and is led by Italian Jarno Trulli who is running his own team in the series.
© Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
Trulli - Switzerland :
Jarno Trulli competed in
256 Grand Prix driving
for Minardi, Prost,
Jordan, Renault, Toyota
and finished at Lotus
Racing, winning the 2004
Monaco Grand Prix for
Renault. His team mate
in Formula E will be one
of the two lady racing
drivers in the series,
Michela Cerruti, also
Jarno Trulli
from Italy. From a racing family, she has recently competed in GT racing across Europe as well as Formula 3
and Auto GP, scoring her maiden victory at Imola this year for the Super Nova International team.
Michela Cerruti
Page 64
© Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
Nick Heidfeld
Venturi - Monaco : The
Venturi team was founded
by film star Leonardo Di
Caprio and Giido Pallanca
Pastor, founder of Venturi
Automobiles. Their driver
line up includes Nick
Heidfeld from Germany
who is another very
experienced ex-Grand Prix
driver. Nick has won the
German F3 and
International F3000 series
© Janet Wright
Stephane Sarrazin
before joining the Prost team in Grand Prix. He later joined Sauber, Williams and then BMW Sauber, scoring 13 podium finishes
during his Grand Prix career. He will be partnered by Stephane Sarrazin from France. He won the French Formula Renault
championship in 1994, he also won the French F3 title and made his Grand Prix debut for Minardi as a stand in driver at the 1999
Brazilian Grand Prix. He then had testing roles at Prost and Toyota before switching to the World rally Championship in 2004. He
then switched to the World Endurance championship,finishing 2nd at Le Mans in 2013 for Toyota.
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
Karun Chandhok
Mahindra Racing - India : A major
global force in the production of
electric vehicles through Mahindra
Reva Company, the Indian team is
also a strong contender for the
Formula E series with two former
Grand Prix drivers in its line up.
Karun Chandhok raced for HRT and
Team Lotus in Grand Prix in 2010
and 2011 after achieving several
© Janet Wright
Bruno Senna
race wins in GP2. After Grand Prix, Karun switched to the World Endurance championship and also the FIA GT series, and was the
first Indian driver to start the Le Mans 24 hours. He is partnered with one of the most famous names in motor racing - Senna.
Bruno Senna from Brazil is the nephew of the late Ayrton Senna and Bruno has had a successful career of his own in motor
racing. He made a late start to his car racing career in 2004 with the Formula BMW championship in the UK. He competed in F3
then GP2 before making his Grand Prix debut for HRT in 2010. he was then reserve driver at Lotus Renault GP before replacing
Nick Heidfeld in the team. He also drove for Williams before switching to the World Endurance Championship for Aston Martin.
Page 65
© Janet Wright
© Janet Wright
Jamie Alguersuari
Virgin Racing - Great Britain :
Backed by Sir Richard
Branson, the team is headed
by another former Grand Prix
driver, Spaniard Jamie
Alguersuari who was the
youngest driver to make a
Formula 1 apperance. He was
also the youngest driver at 18
to win the British F3
championship in 2008. He
moved up to Formula Renault
3.5 but was soon called up to
© Janet Wright
Sam Bird
replace Sebastien Bourdais in the Torro Rosso team from the Hungarian Grand Prix onwards. He remained with the team until 2011,
then became test driver for Pirelli. His team mate is Sam Bird from England. After starting in Karting, Sam won a scholarship to race
in Formula BMW. After a couple of seasons he moved to Formula Renault and then F3. He also did some testing for Williams F1.
Last year he finished as runner up in the GP2 series with 5 wins and was reserve driver for Mercedes AMG F1.
© Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
e.dams-Renault - France : Founded by Alain
Prost and Jean-Paul Driot, founder of the
Dams racing team. Yet another former Grand
Prix driver in the line up. Swiss driver
Sebastien Buemi first drove an Arrows F1
car when he was 15 years old. After a karting
career, he switched to the German Formula
BMW championship where he finished 3rd.
He progressed to the F3 Euro series and
Sebastien Buemi
Nicolas Prost
then GP2 where he caught the eye of Torro
Rosso who signed him up for Grand Prix. He stayed for 3 seasons with the team before switching to the World Endurance
championship with Toyota. He was also reserve driver for Red Bull Racing.
His team mate is Frenchman Nicolas Prost, son of four times World Champion Alain Prost. He was a late starter to motor racing,
having been a keen golfer. He started in Formula Campus before moving to Spanish F3. He has raced in A1GP, the World
Endurance Championship at Le Mans and Formula 3000, winning the F3000 championship in 2008. His recent racing has been in
the World Endurance championship, as well as being test driver for the Lotus F1 team.
Page 66
© Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
Dragon Racing - USA : Run by Jay Penske and coming
from an IndyCar background, the team initially
announced British driver Mike Conway as their driver.
However, due to a race commitment with Toyota in the
World Endurance Championship, it was just announced
that Conway will not now race for Dragon Racing in
Formula E and that his place will be taken by Oriol
Servia. Spanish born Servia currently races in the
IndyCar series for the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Team.
He started his career in Karting, then Formula 3 before
moving to America to race in the Daytona Indy Lights
Oriol Servia
series in 1999. He won the title in 1999 without a win in the series after five runners up spots gave him the points he needed to beat
his closest rival Casey Mears. In 2000 he moved up to the Champ Car series where he scored one win at Montreal in 2005 for the
Newman/Hass Racing Team. His team mate is former Grand Prix driver Jerome d’Ambrosio from Belgium. Jerome started in
Karting and joined the Renault F1 driver development programme. Having progressed through the various Renault junior Formula
categories he moved up to GP2 with the DAMS team. After a win in the GP2 race at Monaco he became test driver for Virgin
racing. In 2011 he made his Grand Prix debut with Marussia. In 2012 he signed as reserve driver for Lotus F1 and did one race as a
replacement for Romain Grosjean.
© Janet Wright
© Janet Wright
China Racing - China : Team
China Racing was originally
formed in 2004 for the A1GP
series and has also competed in
the Superleague Formula and FIA
GT1. The team is being run on a
day to day basis by Campos
Racing. There lead driver is
Nelson Piquet Jr, son of three
Nelson Piquet Jr
times World Champion Nelson
Ho-Pin Tung
Piquet, and a former Grand Prix driver in his own right. Born in Germany, Piquet Jr started his karting career in Brazil at an early age
before switching to the South American F3 series in 2001, winning the title in 2002. He came to Europe in 2003 to race in British F3,
winning the title in 2004 and also making his Formula 1 testing debut for Williams. In 2005 he raced in both GP2 and A1GP. In 2007
he became the official Renault test driver and gained the seat for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He moved to America in 2010 and
went to the lower tiers of Nascar and also competes in the Global Rallycross championship. His team mate will be Ho-Pin Tung, a
Chinese racing driver born in the Netherlands. He started in Karting as a child, before progressing to Formula Ford in Europe. He
© Simon Wright
Page 67
then raced in the Formula BMW Asia series which he won in 2003, resulting in a Williams F1 test. He won the German F3
Championship in 2006 as well as competing in several A1GP races. In 2007 he moved up to GP2 and in 2009 also competed in
some Superleague races, winning one race. In 2011 he made his debut in the Indycar series and has also competed at the Le
Mans 24 Hours race.
© Janet Wright
© Janet Wright
© Simon Wright
Audi Sport ABT - Germany : One of the most
successful German teams with five titles in the
DTM alone, plus wins in GT and Endurance
racing. Lead driver is Brazilian Audi works driver
Lucas di Grassi, who also has Grand Prix
experience with Virgin in 2010 after four
seasons racing in GP2 with numerous wins to
his credit. In 2012 he joined Audi and competes
in the World Endurance championship.
Maintaining its German origins, the second
driver is German Daniel Abt, nephew of DTM
Daniel Abt
Lucas di Grassi
ace Christian Abt. He started Karting at 11 years old before progressing to the Euro F3 series as the youngest driver on the grid in
2011. Then he moved to GP3 with the Lotus GP squad. Last year he competed in GP2 for the ART team.
© Simon Wright
© Simon Wright
© Janet Wright
Amlin Aguri - Great Britain : Former Grand
Prix driver Aguri Suzuki with the backing from
Amlin global insurers has formed Amlin Aguri.
They have the other female driver on the
Formula F grid with British Katherine Legge,
who was actually the first woman named to
compete in the inaugral Formula E
Championship. She was the first female driver
to secure pole position in Formula Ford during
her debut season in 2003. She moved up
Katherine Legge
Antio Felix da Costa
through British Formula Renault and Formula 3. She now lives in America and has competed in the 2005 Toyota
Atlantic Championship with Polestar Motor Racing.
She won the opening race at Long Beach and finished 3rd in the championship with three wins and five podiums. She also got to
test a Minardi Formula 1 car. In 2006 she joined the Champ Car series and made history by being the first woman to lead a lap in
the series. After a couple of seasons she switched to the DTM series. In 2012 she moved to the States and made her IndyCar debut
for Dragon Racing. Last year she remained in America and raced in the American Le Mans Series for Deltawing Racing Cars. Her
Page 68
team mate is Portuguese driver Antio Felix da Costa. After a very successful Karting career, he switched to Formula Renault 2.0 in
2008 and won the Northern European championship in 2009. He raced in F3 and the World Series by Renault 3.5 and in 2010 he
got to test a Force India F1 car in Abu Dhabi. In 2012 he won the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix and was signed to the Red Bull
Junior Development Programme and has progressed through this to be the Red Bull Racing F1 Reserve and test driver. He also
competes in the DTM for BMW.
© Simon Wright © Janet Wright
Andretti Formula E - America : Michael Andretti already fields
multiple entries in the IndyCar series, Indy Lights and the Pro
Mazda Championship and is a factory team in the VW Global Rally
Cross championship. French driver Franck Montagny leads the
team. A very experienced driver, Franck started Karting at 10 years
of age, before switching to cars. He moved through Formula
Renault, to F3 to Formula 3000. He then did the World Series by
Nissan to win the title in 2001. Having changed teams he then won
the title again in 2003. He became a Renualt F1 test driver in 2004.
He spent several years as test driver/third driver for several Grand
Prix teams and made his Grand Prix debut as a stand in at Super
Aguri. He made his debut in the IndyCar series in 2009 for Andretti
Green Racing as well as racing in the American Le Mans series and
Franck Montagny
© Simon Wright
the Le Mans 24 Hours.
The Formula E series starts in Beijing China on the
13th September 2014. It then moves on to
Putrajaya, Malaysia on the 22nd November 2014.
The third race is in Punta Del Este, Uruguay on the
13th December 2014. Round 4 is in Buenos Aires,
Argentina on the 10th January 2015. The fifth
round has yet to be confirmed, but rounds 6 and 7
are in America, with Miami on the 14th March 2015
and Long Beach on the 4th April 2015. The series
then returns to Europe to complete its first year.
Monte Carlo is on the 5th May 2015, followed by
Berlin in Germany on the 30th may 2015. The final
round of the championship will be held in London,
England on the 27th June 2015.
The Virgin team were trying hard during the test sessions
Page 69
© Janet Wright
Closing Shot
You know the feeling - you never know what colour car to buy next. Well Bentley might just have the answer - the new Bentley
Rainbow. Stuart Worthington in his Bentley GT on his way to winning the Phantom Motor Car Ltd Bentley Scratch race at
Silverstone at the beginning of August.
Page 70

Classic and Competition Car 48

Transcription

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