Classic and Competition Car 78 March 2017 by Simon Wright

March 2017

Issue 78

The 21st Century magazine about cars and motorsport of the past and present.

In this issue

VSCC New Year Driving tests

Tasman Revival Series Rd 4 & 5

WRC Rally Sweden

Bromsgrove Motor club meet

Race Retro Report and photos from the International Historic Motorsport show

Our Team. Simon Wright - Editor.

Contents Page 3

News.

Page 10

WRC Rally Sweden.

Page 14

VSCC New Year Driving Tests Brooklands.

Page 19

Tasman Revival Series Rd 4

Page 26

VSCC Pomeroy Trophy, Silverstone.

Page 33

Archive Photo of the month.

Page 34

MSVR Media day

Page 39 Page 45

Bromsgrove Car Meet. Tasman Revival Series Rd 5

Page 51

VSCC Measham Rally.

Page 57

Race Retro.

Page 69

Live Action Rally Stage at Race Retro.

Page 76

Silverstone Auctions at Race Retro.

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 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's first love is GT racing, including Historic, especially the Lola T70. Has an extensive knowledge of all things GT.

Lucy Owen-Moczadlo.

Syd Wall.

Lucy runs Jucy Rally Photography and joins us to expand our rally coverage. She loves anything to do with Subarus and even tries her hand at a bit of Rally co-driving. David runs MotorsportImagery web site with Stuart and covers GT, Touring Cars and Rallying plus Classic car events.

Classic and Competition Car is published by simonwrightphotos.com High View Drive, Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 8HT E-mail simonwright57@hotmail.com Tel 07905 435973

Janet has been taking photographs for many years, and is also very skilled in video. She likes Aston Martins.

Our regular contributors below, are all independent freelance photographers/ journalists Pete Austin. Mick Herring.

David Goose

Check out our new updated WEB site at www.classicandcompetitioncar.com regularly for additional photo galleries, wall papers and other additional content and join our Facebook Group Classic and Competition Car.

Janet Wright. Photographer

Syd shoots for rallying website, RallyGallery and covers Rallying, Drag Racing and all things American & Historic

Stuart Yates Stuart runs motorsportimagery web site with David. Covers GT, Touring Cars and Classic car events

Front Cover. Main photo Coventry’s finest Talbot Sunbeam Lotus driven by Shaun Clorley at Coventry’s Race Retro © Simon Wright. New Years Driving test © Peter McFadyen. Tasman Revival © Fast Company/Alex Mitchell. WRC Rally Sweden © Citroen. Bromsgrove meet © Simon Wright All content is copyright classicandcompetitioncar.com unless otherwise As well as this magazine, you can follow us on Twitter @classcompcar stated. All photographs are copyright and cannot be used for commercial purposes unless by prior approval of the original copyright and join our Facebook Group holder. We try to ensure accurate and truthful reporting but if you spot Classic and Competition Car. an error, please contact us and will we verify and correct accordingly. To Subscribe for free and be notified when the next issue is We do not organise any events which are mentioned and we are not published please click here. To check out our web site with responsible if the event does not take place or is cancelled. Please contact the event organiser before making a long trip. additional photos please click here

March 2017

Page 2

Editorial. This is a bit of a vintage cars issue this month. The cold winter weather does not stop the vintage car enthusiasts from getting out and having fun. We have three quite different events, all catering for the same vehicles and owners and all are well supported. You don’t need the latest cars to get out and enjoy yourself, even in the dark winter months. Race Retro show was a big success this year with record crowds attending and plenty to see. Report on page 57

News

Cholmondeley Power & Speed Cancelled for 2017. We are disappointed to see that this years Power and Speed event at Cholmondeley has been cancelled. The official web site states that the event has been cancelled for this year whilst plans are made for the long term shape of the event. They hope to be back in 2018. It was unique in the UK as it catered for action on track, in the air and on water, with powerboat racing taking place on the mere during the early years. Originally titled the Pageant of Power, the event has run for nine years, since 2008. The 3.2 mile track, which includes a hump back bridge, is located just below Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire. March 2017

Page 3

Loïc Duval Audi RS 5 DTM

Audi enter 3 teams in DTM. As the only manufacturer to enter three teams in the 2017 season, Audi has split it’s driving talent to give each team an experienced campaigner and a promising teammate. Mattias Ekström and Nico Müller will drive for the ABT team, Jamie Green and René Rast are at Rosberg and Mike Rockenfeller and Loïc Duval will team up at the Phoenix team.

March 2017

3 litre Sports Prototypes ‘Monsters of the 1970s’ join high speed demonstrations at 75th Members’ meeting at Goodwood on 18th-19th March 2017. Cars from Alfa Romeo, Chevron, Ferrari, Lola, Matra and Mirage will bring back memories of the 3 litre battles that took place in the World Championship of Makes from 1972. Already confirmed are several Ferrari 312PBs that took numerous 1000km victories in 1972-73 driven by Jacky Ickx, Mario Andretti, Ronnie Peterson, Arturo Merzario, Sandro Munari, Clay Regazzoni, Brian Redman and Tim Schenken. There should also be the Matra MS670 which took a hat trick of Le Mans wins and dominated the 1974 season winning all but one race with Jean Pierre Beltoise, Jean Pierre Jarier, Gérard Larrouse and Henri Pescarolo. Add the V8 Alfa Romeo T33 which were driven by Andrea de Adamich, Vic Elford, Nanni Galli, Helmut Marko, Peter Revson, and Rolf Stommelen and the Gulf Mirage driven by Derek Bell, Howden Ganley, Mike Hailwood and Vern Schuppan. Add in customer Chevron and Lola cars to get a feeling of the Sports Car World Championship races of the 1970s.

Mattias Ekström, Jamie Green, Mike Rockenfeller, Nico Müller and René Rast

Page 4

Bromyard Speed Festival. The second running of the Bromyard Festival of Speed will take place on Sunday 2nd of April 2017 between 10am and 4:30pm. This year there will be three land speed recorder breakers taking part. The first event in 2016 had Sir Malcolm Campbell’s 1926 record breaking Sunbeam Blue Bird taking to the streets. This year there will be three land speed record breakers taking to the streets. The first is Fiat’s ‘ The Beast of Turin’ from 1911, then there will be ‘Babs’ from 1927 and finally Sir Malcolm Campbell’s Napier Blue Bird replica which broke Babs record later in 1927. © Simon Wright

Fiat - ‘Beast of Turin’

Donington Rally The Donington motor sport season has an early start in 2017, with the Imperial Commercials Volkswagen Donington Rally taking place on Sunday 5th March 2017. A capacity entry of 80 cars will take part in this single stage rally, using various stage layouts around the circuit and surrounding grounds. A total of eight stages will take place during the day, with the layouts changed with © Simon Wright added chicanes, off road sections and changes of direction. The rally is the sixth round of the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship. See www.doningtonpark.co.uk March 2017

Shelsley Classic Nostalgia theme. The Midland Automobile Club announced the theme for this years Classic Nostalgia at the Race Retro show. The event will take place over the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd July 2017 and will celebrate Group A Rallying and the 20th Anniversary of the World Rally Car and Speed Records - The Campbells. Group A rally cars replaced Group B in 1987 and the World Rally Car (WRC) took over in 1997. This was a classic era with the Ford Sierra Cosworth, the Lancia Delta Integrale, then the Ford Escort Cosworth, Ford Focus, the Subaru Impreza, the Mitsubishi Evolutions, the Toyota Celica GT-Four and the Corolla WRC. The event will also pay tribute to the Campbells. On the 50th anniversary of Donald Campbells death, his daughter Gina and nephew Don Wales will unveil a Napier Blue Bird replica with the W12 aero engine which will do demonstration runs up the hill. See www.shelsleywalsh.com for further information Page 5

Formula Vintage, a new name for VSCC Racing. © Janet Wright

Classic Car & Restoration Show. The Practical Classics sponsored show is taking place at the NEC, near Birmingham again this year, from the 31st March to the 2nd April 2017. It is officially the UK’s fastest growing Classic Car Event, with over 19,000 enthusiasts attending the 2016 show. The show brings together all aspects of classic motoring, from Barn finds © Simon Wright discovered after many years of storage, or project cars that have stalled in their rebuild. Experts are on hand to give advice along with specialist firms. Then there are examples of pristine Classic cars on display. See necrestorationshow.com/ for further information.

March 2017

The Vintage Sports Car Club have announced a new name for the club’s racing programme. The clubs first race meeting was 80 years ago on 10th July 1937 at Donington Park. In 2017 Formula Vintage will visit 5 famous British circuits, with each meeting being headlined by one of the Club’s prestigious trophy collection, which celebrate such British racing legends as Mike Hawthorn and Richard Seaman. A regular programme of six Prewar and Historic trophy races will top the bill at each race meeting. These will high-light the best pre-war racers against like for like machinery and feature Pre-1931 Vintage Racing Cars, Pre-1961 Racing Cars and roadgoing Pre-war sports cars, as well as All-Comers Scratch and Handicap format events. All events will also be featured throughout the year, including Pre-1918 Edwardian handicap races and pre-war sports car team relay races. Silverstone National circuit 22-23rd April 2017. Oulton Park International circuit 10th June 2017. Cadwell Park 23rd July 2015 Mallory Park 12th August 2017. Snetterton 200 circuit. 17th September 2017. For further information see www.formulavintage.co.uk or www.facebook.com/FormulaVintage/ Page 6

BMW Compact Cup joins BRSCC. A deal has been made between the British Racing and Sports Car Club (BRSCC) and Paul McEdean to purchase the BMW Race Days Compact Cup after a successful first season of the championship running with the BRSCC in 2016, after previously being run by the 750 Motor Club. BMW Race Days has been sold and all rights transferred to the club, where it will join the Fiesta Championship and the MX-5 SuperCup which are run and by the BRSCC. The season starts with two races at the BRSCC Midland Centre meeting on the Silverstone International circuit on Sunday 9th April.

Bennetts sponsor Coventry MotoFest

The UK’s leading motorcycle insurance brand is returning to it’s home city as the official sponsor of the popular sprint circuit on 3rd/4th June. Founded by Frederick J Bennett in Coventry in 1930 under the name F.J. Bennett © Simon Wright and Sons, it provided general insurance services. Its original office in Queen Victoria Road was demolished to make way for the ring road, which forms the major part of the 1.5 mile sprint circuit used for Motofest. Celebrating it’s 4th year, Motofest has a unique blend of high speed action combined with static displays and music throughout the city, with plans to make this years event the biggest and best yet. © Simon Wright

Nissan Qashqai delivers 10 years of crossover leadership. As the Qashqai celebrates a decade of sales success, the numbers make interesting reading, Since February 2007, 3.3 million have been sold worldwide with 2.3 million in Europe. It has sold in 99 countries, won 81 major awards and car of the year in 19 countries. March 2017

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Jack Butel joins Speedworks to drive LMP3.

Replacement bodyshells for Mk 1 Mini. British Motor Heritage (BMH) have been the leading supplier of body panels for all marks of Mini and bodyshells for models from 1976 onwards. Now they have a full replacement shell for Mk 1 Mini’s which will commence production in April, with an initial run of 15. Enthusiasts were first shown the body at the Classic Motor Show in November to very positive comments. The launch price is £9,950 including VAT and orders with a 25% deposit are currently being accepted. The early shell is different from later models in several areas including a smaller door aperture with different step profiles, sliding door windows, external hinges and the rear side windows and rear window are smaller than later models. The company is indebted to MMachine for allowing the use of their Mk 1 floors and sills, as the cost of retooling these items would have made the project unviable. March 2017

Crowdfunding drive for new Jim Clark Museum. At Race Retro alongside the unveiling of the Jim Clark Lotus 33, there was a £300,000 crowdfunding charity campaign launched by the Jim Clark Trust to build a new expanded Jim Clark museum in 2018, 50 years after his death. It is hoped fans will donate at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/jim-clark-museum The appeal is only open for eight weeks, until 21st April 2017. © Simon Wright

Page 8

Coys Auction Autosport International At the time of going to press, there were still no results published for this sale. Go to http://www.coys.co.uk/ coys-auctions.uk for more information.

ÂŠ Simon Wright

March 2017

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FIA World Rally Championship Rally Sweden 8th-12th February

Stéphane Lefebvre and Gabin Moreau Citroen DS3 WRC flying high on Rallye Sweden

March 2017

Page 10

©Red Bull.

Latvala gave Toyota its first WRC win since 1999

ice covered speed tests Latvala pulled out just over 29 seconds on the Fiesta of Ott Tänak, with Martin Järveoja. Latvala claimed maximum bonus points from the power stage, and after his 2nd place finish in the Rallye Monte-Carlo, he has a slender 4 point lead in the championship driver standings over Sébastien Ogier in his Ford Fiesta. The M-Sport Ford team had a good rally with Tänak having better performance than Latvala on Saturday and closed the gap on the Toyota, but the Estonian was not happy with the Fiesta handling on Sunday, losing 7 seconds on the first stage of the day. After that, he settled for 2nd place, which matched his best previous result. His team mate Sébastien Ogier, with Julien Ingrassia, was also in the fight for the lead at the start of Sunday, but a spin on the first corner of the first stage ended his chance to fight for the win and he finished thirty seconds behind his team mate in 3rd. © Citroen

Latvala Toyota Triumph. Jari Matti Latvala, with Miikka Anttila, bought Toyota in to the 21st Century by winning his fourth Rally Sweden, giving Toyota their first WRC victory since 1999. After a seventeen year absense, the Japanese manufacturer is back to the front after just two rallies. After Volkswagen withdrew at the end of last season, Latvala looked like he was going to be sitting out the 2017 season, until a last minute deal with Toyota put him in the seat of the new Yaris World Rally Car. As the cars began the final leg, Latvala was just 3.8 seconds ahead of Ott Tänak in the Ford Fiesta after long time leader Thierry Neuville, with Nicolas Gilsoul, crashed out his Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC on Saturday night. On the final three snow and March 2017

Kris Meeke had a few problems in his Citroen C3 WRC

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©Red Bull.

Neuville led before crashing his Hyundai

Saturday he lost control and ended up in a snow filled ditch and took eight minutes for the spectators to get him out and going again. This resulted in a lowley 12th place finish, but they did get 2 points with a 4th place on the Power stage. Elfyn Evans, with Daniel Barritt, finished in 6th place in his MSport Ford Fiesta WRC despite losing nearly a minute on the opening stage of Sunday with an engine misfire. He was able to make repairs to his car to finish the last two stages of the event. Hayden Paddon, with John Kennard, was not far behind the Welshman in his Hyudai i20 Coupe WRC to take 7th position while young Stéphane Lefebvre, with Gabin Moreau, contined his learning for Citroen by bringing the older Citroen DS3 WRC into a solid 8th place despite several handicaps such as starting Saturday second on the road and cleaning the snow off the course for the following cars. The top ten were rounded out by WRC 2 drivers Pontus Tidemand and Jonas Andersson in a

It was left to Spanish ace Dani Sordo, with Marc Marti, to salvage some honour for Hyundai with a 4th place finish after Neuville’s accident. Irishman Craig Breen and his co-driver Scott Martin made a solid debut driving his Citroen C3 WRC to finish a creditable 5th overall as he struggled to perfect the set-up on © Citroen the car. He was not helped after he knocked off some of the front aero pack after hitting a snowbank on the first day which lost him time on the cars ahead. His team mate Kris Meeke, with Paul Nagle, had been running 3rd in the early stages in his Citroen C3 WRC, but suffered excessive wear on his Michelin tyres which dropped him down the order. However, on Craig Breen

March 2017

Breen flying high in his Citroen C3 WRC

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Tanak leaps to second in Sweden

Skoda Fabia R5 in 9th and Teemu Suninen and Mikko Morkkule in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta R5 taking 10th place. The World Rally Championship now heads for Mexico and the Rally Guanajuato Mexico on the 9th to the 12th March, with Latvala just 4 points ahead of Ogier, and Tänak a further 11 points behind in 3rd place. ©Red Bull.

©Red Bull. ©Red Bull.

Ogier slides his way to third in Sweden © Citroen

Citroen C3 WRC of Craig Breen at speed in the snow of Sweden

March 2017

Latvala celebrates victory in Sweden

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VSCC New Year Driving Tests Brooklands, 29th January 2017. Photographs by Peter McFadyen

Jim Dalton’s 1926 Fiat 509 saloon with the Brooklands Clubhouse in the background

March 2017

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Autotest regulations, each test is attempted twice, allowing competitors the opportunity to correct any mistakes they may have made in the first morning runs. The event attracted a large 62 car entry, and also saw a great turnout of spectators, many of whom had arrived in pre-war cars, that made an impressive display outside the famous Brooklands Edwardian clubhouse. Despite some rain throughout the day, they enjoyed a competitive event, which saw young George Diffey repeat his victory of last year. George had also recently been awarded the prestigious John Rowley Trophy for the best performance by an under 23 year old across all VSCC events during the 2016 season, an award which had also been given to his father Simon Diffey 30 years ago. Driving his distinctive gold coloured Austin 7, the 23 year old George set the fastest time on ten of the days fourteen tests. © Peter McFadyen

Angus Frost (Morgan Super Aero) begins the test on the Test Hill

Winter doesn’t stop Vintage owners from wanting to compete in their priceless vehicles and even though the racing and speed season haven’t started yet, the Driving Tests events continue through the winter months. The VSCC New Year Driving tests took place at the historic birthplace of British motorsport and aviation, the Brooklands site, home of the first banked circuit in the UK, on Sunday 29th January. This years event saw some slight changes to previous years, because of renovation work taking place at Brooklands to resurrect the original finishing straight of the 1907 circuit. This meant that a couple of the tests took place on the neighbouring Mercedes World test track alongside the more traditional tests on the old Banking and Test Hill. Also in line with new MSA March 2017

Overall winner George Diffey (Austin 7) seen during a test laid out on the Brooklands finishing straight which is currently being recovered for its grand reopening Page in June

© Peter McFadyen This was enough for him to beat another young member, Eddie Williams driving another Austin 7 Ulster, as they battled for outright victory. Both took class wins. The Standard Sports Cars class saw another very close battle for class honours David Marsh brings his 1925 Bugatti Brescia to a stop at the top of the Test Hill with Mark Ballard the worlds first purpose built motor racing circuit, exactly 110 in his Frazer years to the day since the track was originally opened. Nash Falcon TT © Peter McFadyen Rep narrowly beating Miss Alex Bethany Candlin awaits her next test in the 1929 Morris Cowley she shared with Simon Candlin Pilkington in her Alfa Romeo 6C 1750, with both winning their respective classes, based on the year of manufacture of the car. This was the closest of battles with just 1.9 points separating the two drivers. The Touring Cars class saw Neil Thorp claim victory in his Singer 9 Sports Coupe ahead of Paul Hoskins in his Morris Cowley, both again winning their respective classes. Paul shared the Morris with his 19 year old son, Harry Hoskins, who also took home the award for 3rd place in class. The VSCC will return to Brooklands on the 17th and 18th June for the 2017 Double Twelve Motorsport Festival, which should see the grand re-opening of the restored finishing straight from

March 2017

David Rushton’s 1932 MG M-Type at speed on the lower slopes of the Brooklands banking

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George Pitt’s 1926 Humber 12/25 pauses at the bottom of the Test Hill before making a successful climb © Peter McFadyen

Olly Sanders at speed in his 1929 Austin 7 Ulster

March 2017

With the Members’ Bridge in the background, Gary Caroline completes a test in his 1932 Morgan Super Sports which he shared with Anthony Jenkins © Peter McFadyen

Adrian Drucker’s 1930 Riley Brooklands

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Peter Summers’ 1936 Austin 7 pauses between tests with the Brooklands banking in the background

Gary Caroline’s 1932 Morgan Super Sports

The 1930 Riley 9 MkIV driven by Ben Shepherd and Matthew Brown about to start a test

Colin Reynolds finished 3rd in class in his 1930 MG M 12/12 © Peter McFadyen

Stuart Ulph checks for the marshal’s approval as he pauses his Austin Ulster Special at the top of the Test Hill before continuing to the end of the test March 2017

Paul Weston on the Test Hill in his 1936 Frazer Nash Page 18 TT Replica

Rnd 4 2016/17 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Taupo Historic GP Race of Champions Revival meeting Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park Taupo 28-29 Jan 2017

ÂŠ Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.

March 2017

Australian Paul Zazryn Lola T332 leads Greg Thornton.

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Rnd 4 2016/17 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Taupo Historic GP Race of Champions Revival meeting Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park Taupo 28-29 Jan 2017 DAY 1 LAP TIMES TELL STORY AS SMITH AND LYONS SQUARE OFF Ken Smith won his fourth SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series race of the season on the opening day of competition at the inaugural Taupo Historic GP this afternoon. The big story ahead of tomorrow's F1 vs F5000 Race of Champions Revival feature race, came earlier in the day, however, as reigning FIA Masters Historic Formula One Pre-78 champion Michael Lyons threw down the gauntlet with a 1:23.235 lap in his Hesketh 308E F1 car. Smith was again the quickest of the F5000 class runners with a best lap of 1.25.559, a second-and-a-half quicker than the next best SAS Autoparts MSC F5000 class time, but just over two seconds slower

ÂŠ Fast Company/Graham Hughes

Brett Willis (Lola T332) leads Smith, Mark Dwyer (Lola T332) and Bryan Sala (Matich M50/51) in one of the F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series races at the meeting.

March 2017

Also in the hunt for the 2016-17 series title is Auckland driver Glenn Richards Lola T400

ÂŠ Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.

than the ultimate Lyon's F1 class lap. Ahead of the meeting Smith said that Lyons would be the driver to watch around the 3.320km Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park circuit and that was definitely the case in qualifying. Unfortunately the just-turned 26-year-old was a late scratching in the first F1 race of the weekend with a leaking water pump so the large crowd at the track was not given the opportunity to see if his low 1: 23 qualifying mark was sustainable in racing conditions. Smith on the other hand had eight laps in the first SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 series race to see how close he could get to his mid 1: 25 qualifying mark with his best race lap - as he eased away from fellow front row starter Clark Proctor (March 73A-1) and eventual third placegetter, Australian visitor Bryan Sala (Matich A50/51) - a low 1: 26, just half a second off his best qualifying effort. Smith and Proctor were neck-and-neck after the rolling start but the 75-year-old supervet claimed a lead he would never lose between the first and second turns, pulling away from Proctor - who was lucky to even make the grid after a half shaft failure in qualifying - and Sala, with Brit Mark Dwyer (Lola T332) passing Kiwi Grant Martin (Talon MR1A) for fourth as the field Page 20

ÂŠ Fast Company/Paul Higgins

Atkinson (Surtees TS8). All were consistently lapping in the 1:30 second bracket with in most cases less than a second separating each car, making for a colourful high-speed conga line round the flowing Taupo circuit. Behind them in turn, came Peter Burson in his McRae GM1, Frank Karl (McLaren M10B), Mike Sidgewick (Trojan 101), Kerry McIntosh in the NZ-built Begg FM2, and series newcomer Karl Zohs (Chevron B32). That's the way the race order stayed, too, until with two laps to go Greg Thornton pitted with gear selection issues and Shayne Windelburn (whose Lola T400 had stalled on the formation lap) re-joined the race for the last four laps and was credited with 21st place. With Michael Lyons a non-starter thanks to a leaking water pump, and Lotus 76 driver Andrew Beaumont also forced to sit it out because of a Winner of the first SAS Autoparts MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series race of the weekend at the Taupo Historic GP leaking oil cooler, the first Formula one race of Race of Champions Revival meeting today was Ken Smith Lola T332. the weekend turned into an entertaining scrap for the lead between Irishmen James Hagan in the ex James Hunt streamed up the hill through Turn 3 to Turn 4. Greg Thornton, Hesketh 308-10 and Tommy Dreelan in the ex Arturo Merzario driving the 1973 Race of Champions-winning ex Peter Gethin March 761 with Frank Lyons third in his McLaren M26. Chevron B24, shadowed Martin for a couple of laps before slowly "That was really good fun," Dreelan said afterwards." It's a tricky slipping back into the clutches of Brett Willis, while Aaron Burson track but its good and the weather today is fantastic. Hopefully the made the most of a strong qualifying performance to hold eighth others will get back out tomorrow." until a close following David Banks got a better run past a lapped After swapping the lead several times during the ten lap race it was car to claim the position for himself. James Hagan who prevailed, though the margin at the chequered flag Behind them Glenn Richards (Lola T400) led a seven car battle pack was just 0.325 of a second. "I had a brilliant time," he said. "I love it which consisted of Ian Clements (Lola T332) David Arrowsmith here, the people are so friendly and they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do enough for you." (Lotus 70), Paul Zazryn (Lola T332), Russell Greer (Lola T332), Peter Brennan (Lola T330) and visiting British driver Chris March 2017

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ÂŠ Fast Company/Graham Hughes

Supervet and man to beat in New Zealand's worldleading SAS Autoparts MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series. True to form Lyons dominated the Historic Formula 1 class races at the meeting, first in the Hesketh, then today in the McLaren M26 his father Frank usually drives after the Hesketh was side-lined with a leaking water pump. For his part Smith was also again the quickest of the F5000 class runners though in the first of the two SAS Autoparts MSC class races today he was beaten by a fast-starting Mark Dwyer (Lola T332) and a determined Clark Proctor (March 73A-1). Smith was back in front. however, in the third series' race and joined fastest qualifier Michael Lyons on the front row of the grid later in the afternoon for the 10-lap Race of Champions Revival, a race based on similar F1 vs F5000 ones run in Great Britain in the early 70s. Though a stock-block 5.0 litre Chevrolet V8-powered Chevron B24 (a car which started today's race in the hands of UK-based local series regular Greg Thornton) beat the M23 Formula 1 Lyons and Smith lead the combined Historic Pre-78 Formula One/Formula 5000 field into the first corner. McLaren of the late Denny Hulme to win the 1973 LYONS PAYS TRIBUTE TO SMITH AFTER RACE OF race at Brands Hatch, the lighter, more nimble Formula 1 cars won the CHAMPIONS REVIVAL WIN others - and so it was today. Young gun Michael Lyons beat old hand Ken Smith to win a much Despite leaving the rolling start side-by-side it was pole man Lyons in anticipated F1 vs Formula 5000 Race of Champions Revival feature at the McLaren M26 F1 car who emerged from the first corner in front. Smith stayed close enough to briefly grab the lead at the start of the the big Taupo Historic Grand Prix classic motor racing meeting today. second lap when Lyons had trouble selecting third gear on the start/ But bragging rights were the last thing on the just turned 26-year-old's finish straight. But when the young Brit had sorted that issue out he mind as he stood of the top step of the podium at Bruce McLaren was quickly back in front of Smith then edged away into a lead he Motorsport Park. "Obviously it is an honour and it is fantastic to win a prestigious race over here, but you know, it means more to me to be would never lose. For his part Smith eased ahead of Clark Proctor and able to have such a great battle with Ken. That's what it's all about, the close running Formula 1 cars of Irishman James Hagan (ex James Hunt Hesketh 308) and Andrew Beaumont (ex Ronnie Petersen Lotus that's why we do this." Speculation ahead of the race had Lyons, entered in the Hesketh 308E he won the Pre-78 FIA Historic Formula 1 76). They in turn built an early buffer on Greg Thornton (before he world title in last year, as joint favourite with Smith, the 75-year Kiwi pulled out with gear selection issues) and a mid-field battle pack March 2017

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ÂŠ Fast Company/Graham Hughes

Michael Lyons (McLaren M26 F1) and Ken Smith (Lola T332 F5000) finished first and second respectively in the Race of Champions Revival feature race at the Taupo Historic GP.

initially led by Grant Martin (Talon MR1A F5000) and including Glenn Richards (Lola T400), Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) , Russell Greer (Lola T332), Ian Clements (Lola T332), David Arrowsmith (Lotus 70) and Paul Zazryn (Lola T332). Just behind them Shayne Windelburn (Lola T400), Chris Atkinson (Surtees TS8) and Peter Brennan (Lola T330) engaged in their own private battle for 12th spot. Martin spinning off the track on the entrance to the back straight elevated Glenn Richards and the two battle packs a place from the fifth lap, and when Thornton pitted Richards inherited sixth place behind the duelling F1 cars of Hagan and Beaumont. No racing driver likes being beaten of course but after the race Smith was the first to congratulate Lyons. "It honestly doesn't worry me," he said. "We all know that Michael is very talented and at the end of the day we had a good battle. That's what I drive for and I just love driving with the guy. You can run wheel to wheel with him and he's never going to run you wide or anything. It's what keeps me racing, not being way out in front every time I go out and having no one to race with." March 2017

Brett Willis (Lola T330), from nearby Rotorua, was the big improver earlier in the day in the third SAS Autoparts MSC F5000 series race of the weekend, taking maximum advantage of his position on the outside of the grid to slot into second place behind early leader Clark Proctor. Pole man Ken Smith slotted Willis back to third on the first lap but Willis retained an edge over second race winner Mark Dwyer (Lola T332) until the chequered flag. Proctor retained the lead until the fourth lap when Smith finally found a way past then pulled away. Behind Smith, Proctor and Willis, Mark Dwyer held fourth with a gap back to Australians Bryan Sala and Paul Zazryn then Grant Martin and a close-running midfield battle pack led by Aaron Burson from Glenn Richards, Ian Clements, Greg Thornton and Russell Greer, David Arrowsmith, Peter Brennan and Shayne Windelburn. Earlier in the day it was Mark Dwyer who won the second SAS Autoparts MSC F5000 race after an enterprising move around the outside of both Smith and fellow front row starter Clark Proctor through the first corner. Smith toughed it out to hold on to third place before wrestling second back off Proctor at the start of the second lap ÂŠ Fast Company/Paul Higgins

Greg Thornton Chevron B24 qualified sixth but was a late dnf in the race.

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and Dwyer at the end of the fifth. However, in getting past Proctor the pair had touched, bending a front wing out of shape. Just as it looked like he could keep his winning record intact, Smith went wide exiting the infield left-hander. "I was carrying too much speed and with less downforce it just wouldn't turn in," said Smith. Though he made it through the corner Smith lacked the usual momentum to accelerate off it, allowing Dwyer to jink past and get back in front. As if to add insult to injury, Clark Proctor was also able to take advantage, despatching Smith back to third under brakes at the end of the back straight, the order at the line, Dwyer, Proctor, Smith, Bryan Sala, Grant Martin and Brett Willis. David Banks, unfortunately, was a non-starter due to a broken part on his car's fuel injection system and Peter Burson was a late race dnf with an oil pump issue. Having started from the rear of the grid thanks to a dnf in the Saturday race, Greg Thornton made it up to 13th place, finishing literally under the wing of 12th placed Russell Greer. The two Formula One races run today were won by Michael Lyons behind the wheel of the McLaren M26, the first from James Hagan and Tommy Dreelan (March 761) and Michal Lyons' racing Mum Judy (Surtees TS9) and the second from Dreelan, Andrew Beaumont and Judy Lyons. Andrew Beaumont was an early retirement in the first race when his car's brakes locked March 2017

up when a stray bolt on the cockpit floor jammed the brake pedal on, and James Hagen pulled out of the second to make sure his overheating car would be able to make the grid (which it did) for the Race of Champions Revival feature. The 2016/17 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series is organised and run with the support of sponsors SAS Autoparts, MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney's Specialised Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Pacifica, Avon Tyres, Webdesign and Exide Batteries. ÂŠ Fast Company/Paul Higgins

Visiting Australian driver Paul Zazryn Lola T332 made it from P15 at the start to 12th in the race.

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Race 1 Saturday 8 laps 1. Ken Smith (Lola T332) 11:46.721 2. Clark Proctor (March 73A-1) +4.470 3. Bryan Sala (Matich A50/51) +7.806 4. Mark Dwyer (Lola T332) +8.887 5. Grant Martin (Talon MR/A) +15.628 6. Brett Willis (Lola T330) +24.579 7. David Banks (Talon MR1) +26.585 8. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) +27.243 9. Glenn Richards (Lola T400) +27.993 10. Ian Clements (Lola T332) +28.986 11. David Arrowsmith (Lotus 70B) +31.948 12. Paul Zazryn (Lola T332) +33.478 13. Russell Greer (Lola T332) +34.253 14. Peter Brennan (Lola T330) +43.054 15. Chris Atkinson (Surtees TS8) +43.864 16. Peter Burson (McRae GM1) +1:24.454 17. Frank Karl (McLaren M10B) +1:27.852 18. Mike Sidgwick (Trojan 101) +1 lap 19. Kerry McIntosh (Begg FM2) +1 lap 20. Karl Zohs (Chevron B32) +1 lap 21. Shayne Windelburn (Lola T400) +5 laps DNF. Greg Thornton (Chevron B24)

Race 2 Sunday 6 laps 1. Mark Dwyer 08:53.039 2. Clark Proctor +0.139 3. Ken Smith +0.551 4. Bryan Sala +3.749 5. Grant Martin 4.504 6. Brett Willis +11.358 7. Glenn Richards +12.698 8. Aaron Burson +14.776 9. Ian Clements +16.785 10. Paul Zazryn +20.139 11. David Arrowsmith +20.352

12. Russell Greer +21.430 13. Greg Thornton +21.868 14. Peter Brennan +30.970 15. Shayne Windelburn +33.157 16. Chris Atkinson +34.267 17. Frank Karl 1:07.968 18. Mike Sidgwick 1:21.428 19. Kerry McIntosh 01:46.679 20. Karl Zohs 01:48.461 21. Peter Burson

Race 3 Sunday 6 laps 1. Ken Smith 11:50.025 2. Clark Proctor +4.542 3. Brett Willis +6.948 4. Mark Dwyer +7.342 5. Bryan Sala +9.561 6. Paul Zazryn +10.627 7. Grant Martin 11.171 8. Aaron Burson +16.869 9. Glenn Richards +17.854 10. Ian Clements +22.413 11. Greg Thornton +26.677 12. Russell Greer +27.002 13.David Arrowsmith +32.052 14. Peter Brennan +35.297 15. Shayne Windelburn +38.985 16. Chris Atkinson +53.105 17. Frank Karl +01:37.195 18. Mike Sidgwick +01:39.212 19. Kerry McIntosh +01:46.608 20. Karl Zohs +01:47.874 F1 class Race 1 (Saturday 10 laps) 1. James Hagan (Hesketh 308-1) 15.:20.960 2. Tommy Dreelan (March 761 +0.325

March 2017

3. Frank Lyons (McLaren M26) +0.938 4. Judy Lyons (Surtees TS9) +2 laps Race 2 (Sunday 10 laps) 1. Michael Lyons 18:09.960 2. James Hagan +15.111 3. Tommy Dreelan +15.374 4. Judy Lyons +25.714 dnf Andrew Beaumont Race 3 (Sunday 10 laps) 1. Michael Lyons 14:54.362 2. Tommy Dreelan +0.630 3. Andrew Beaumont +0.852 4. Judy Lyons +1:15.383 5. James Hagan dnf Race of Champions Revival Sunday 10 laps 1. Michael Lyons 14:36.637 2. Ken Smith +3.867 3. Clark Proctor +17.775 4. James Hagan +19.152 5. Andrew Beaumont +24.422 6. Glenn Richards +37.146 7. Aaron Burson +42.775 8. Russell Greer +43.492 9. Paul Zazryn +44.417 10. Ian Clements +48.795 11. David Arrowsmith +49.071 12. Shayne Windelburn +01:32.801 13. Chris Atkinson +1:11.927 14. Peter Brennan +01:32.517 15. Frank Karl +01:37.768 16. Karl Zohs +01:46.042 dnf Greg Thornton, Grant Martin Page 25

Â© Simon Wright

VSCC Pomeroy Trophy, Saturday 18th February 2017. By Simon & Janet Wright, with additional photos by Pete Austin & Mick Herring.

David Price MG B Roadster leads Peter Bradfield 1934 Invicta S Type and Alastair Pugh 1939 Frazer Nash BMW 328

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The start of the VSCC circuit racing season took place at a very foggy Silverstone circuit in the middle of February. The Pomeroy Trophy is the only event on the calendar that mixes vintage, classic and modern cars all in a single handicap event which is designed to give every competitor the chance of victory. This Winner David Wylie BMW 2002 year the entry ranged from a 1910 Hupmobile 20 driven by Richard Ellingworth right through to a 2014 Volkswagen Golf driven by Mark Butterworth, with a Chevron B8 sports car potentially the fastest car on the circuit in terms of outright lap speed. The massive entry of 144 vehicles were attracted to the event being run on the full Grand Prix circuit for the first time. March 2017

Neil Twyman - Alfa Romeo Monza

The Pomeroy Trophy runs a series of tests to determine the ultimate Grand Tourer, and any road registered vehicle with an MOT is eligible to take part. Previously, cars have had to arrive © Janet Wright via a check in point at Towcester race course and drive on the public highway from Towcester to Silverstone, but this was stopped last year. If cars arrived via a trailer or transporter, then a penalty score was applied. The morning individual tests were carried out on different parts of the circuit, then the afternoon, the 40 minute high speed trials split the entry into 3 separate handicap events, running on the full classic Grand Prix circuit. After a delay of nearly an hour, the event got underway with a slalom test Foggy start for Adam Painter Lotus Elan +2S

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Lukas Halusa Bugatti Type 35C

Christopher Mann - Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder

Ivan Dutton - Alvis Grey Lady -

You can take Luffield 3 wide as Duncan Wiltshire finds out in his Bentley 3 litre © Janet Wright

Mike Littlewood Jaguar 420

March 2017

Oliver Nuthall AC Greyhound

Down the Hanger straight for the first time.

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Andrew Hall CHevron B8 and Alistair Pugh Triumph 2.5 PI at Maggotts.

on the National start straight. Once completed, the cars carried on round the circuit to the Hanger straight for the standing 250 metres test followed immediately by the flying 250 metre test. More delays occurred due to problems with the timing equipment on this test. Having crossed the flying finish line, the cars carried on to the Grand Prix pit straight where the final morning test consisted of a standing start, accelerate to 100 metres, followed © Simon Wright by another 100 metres at any speed and then braking to a standstill in a 6 metre box, with timing from the 100 metre mark to when the car

stops. If it stoped outside the box, there was no score. There are always unusual vehicles at this event, and this year there were various estate cars including Peter Deffee in a 1956 Morris Minor 1000, Jeremy Brewster in a 2004 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT and a 1981 Austin Maxi driven by William Lake. The fog lifted after lunch before the start of the high speed trials. Each car has a handicap number of laps and time to achieve during the 40 minute session. At the end of the day it was Lukas Halusa Bugatti T35C leads Adrian Goding Morris Mini David Wylie who won the Pomeroy trophy in his 1974 white and green competition prepared BMW 2002, while Andrew Smith in his 1926/29 Frazer Nash Super Sports was awarded the Densham Trophy for the best performance by a VSCC eligible pre-war car not winning the

Theodore Hunt Frazer Nash TT Rep leads Mark Walker GN Thunderbug through Becketts in the High Speed Trial

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main Pomeroy Blakeney-Edwards in an Austin Trophy. The Healey 3000 from 1961, Paul Baker other main in another 1934 Frazer Nash award, the Sports, Andrew Hall in his 1968 Pomeroy Chevron B8, Theodore Hunt in yet Edwardian another Frazer Nash TT Rep, Alex Trophy was Ames in a 2002 Renault Clio Cup awarded to car, Tim Kneller in a 1933 Riley TT Miss Rebecca Sprite and finally Nick Leston at the Smith who wheel of a 1973 Porsche 911E. drove a The slowest car on track was the 1911/12 1910 Hupmobile 20 driven by Vauxhall Prince Richard Ellingworth, but it was still Andrew Goding Morris Mini dwarfed by Geraint Lewis Frazer Nash TT Rep and Tom Waterfield GN Special. Henry Replica. great to see it running and not just There were numerous class winners in such a large field and as a static museum piece. VSCC regular competitor Dougal these included Martin Whitlock in a 1963 MG B, former Pomeroy Cawley had abandoned his usual GN/Ford ‘Piglet’ for the much winner Dudley Sterry in his 1937/39 HRS Sports, Adrian Going in a 1960 Morris Mini, Martin Hunt in a 1952 Frazer Nash Targa © Pete Austin Florio, Mrs Pia Bianchi in her MG B and Winston Teague in his Frazer Nash Falcon. The other class winners were Patrick © Simon Wright

Edward Williams gets the tail out in his BMW 325i

March 2017

Richard Lake's Volvo P1800S leads a pack into Copse

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Dougal Cawley rocks and rolls in his Lexus LS400

more comfortable Lexus LS400 saloon. While it was definitely warmer inside than ‘Piglet’ it also had a lot more body roll on the corners as Cawley enthusiastically threw it into every corner on the circuit. Another vintage driver who went for modern comfort was Duncan Pittaway, who had swopped his 1911 Fiat S76 ‘The Beast of Turin’ for a more modern 2009 Fiat Panda (The cuddly beast?). He finished a creditable 3rd in class. Professional motorsport photographer Jacob Ebrey finished 4th in class in his Porsche 924S

William Lake Austin Maxi © Simon Wright

Nick Taylor Ferrari Mondial T leads Rob Hubbard Volvo 850 Estate as James Hudson Aston Martin Vantage V8 spins off in the background

March 2017

Renault battle as Tony Bianchi Renault 5 F 16 leads Andrew Ames Renault Clio Cup

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Miss Gillian Carr BMW 5 series Edward Williams M535i and Chris Hudson Porsche Boxster at Luffield.

Richard Ellingworth in the Hupmobile 20 © Pete Austin

Patrick Blakeney-Edwards - Austin Healey 3000

March 2017

Dan Ghose Ferrari 212

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Archive Photo of the month. By Pete Austin.

Guest of Honour at last months Historic Motorsport Show in London was Jacky Ickx. He is shown here in practice for the 1970 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch with his Ferrari 312B. He retired at Brands Hatch but won at Austria, Canada and Mexico and finished runner up in the World Championship behind Posthumous Champion Jochen Rindt. Clay Regazzoni won the Italian GP in a similar car.

ÂŠ Pete Austin

March 2017

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2017 28 categories, 38 events grid line up.

MSVR Media Day - Brands Hatch - February 14th By Mick Herring. Heralding the start of another busy year for Motor Sport Vision Racing I made the long drive to Brands Hatch to be greeted by the customary sunshine, it was Valentines Day after all and I hope I haven’t jinxed the weather now for future years. Jonathan Palmer’s introduction touched on intentions to bring Donington to the standard of the other MSV circuits. Little change will occur this year but year two will see much more work taking place, assuming of course, that the almost obligatory Mergers and Monopoly Commission referral is favourable. As always, representatives of all 28 MSV supported/promoted series/ championships took to the stage to discuss with commentator, Alan Hyde, their initiatives and the health of their grids. One of those initiatives surrounds the Henderson Insurance backed March 2017

LMP3 Cup Championship. Following early contact by Bute Motorsport Technical Director, Phil Boland, with the ACO (the © Mick Herring organising body behind the Le Mans 24hr) for sanction to run the category, the ACO offered to fully sanction the championship (hence its name change) and offering the winner a complimentary entry into the 2018 Michelin Le Mans Cup, a prize worth Euros 45,000. MSVR team Joe East, David Willey, David Scott, Simon Gnana-Pragasam and James Bolton King.

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5 day old Ligier LMP3 Paul Bailey-Andy Schulz

Fitting testament to the late Marc Haynes’ vision in what will be Bute’s tenth year of GT Cup. With three LMP3 Ligiers testing on the day, including GT Cup GTC champions Paul Bailey/ © Mick Herring Andy Schulz, their car only delivered the previous Thursday and top BTCC squad, Speedworks, fielding one for 20 year old Jerseyman Jack Butel, fresh from his learning period in British F4. One of MSV’s new budget series encompasses the BMW Z3 and Z4 reported that Gary Feakins has 20 cars Z cars budget BMW Z3-Z4 sports cars series.

March 2017

in-build and is expecting more. 2007 British GT champion, Alex Mortimer, now Director of Engineering and Racing at Radical spoke of continuity after recent turmoil and SR3 chassis 1100 being in production. With a new livery and refinements to the products he welcomed the chance to work alongside LMP3 with Radical as the © Mick Herring feeder route. The new Anglo/Portugese Super Seven Series welcomes R300, 1600 Supersport and Sigmax Caterhams, whilst UK-based it will offer exchange races at Vila Real and along with a number of new and existing series, will enjoy support from Toyo Tyres. A general level of increased grids and support was listed throughout and the New Super Seven Series. first three drivers in the Volkswagen Racing Cup, now including Audi TTs, will be awarded a BTCC test in the Team Parker Ford Focus. © Mick Herring

VAG Trophy and VW Racing Cup Sciroccos and Audi TT.

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moved on significantly will return to their roots for sporadic bouts of an FF fix. © Mick Herring

Volkswagen Racing Cup Scirocco, Audi TT and Toyo Tyres Racing Saloons BMW.

F3 Cup and Monoposto line Brands pit lane.

Single seater cars are equally well catered for with the BRDC F3 Championship headlining again and fielding ten nationalities of driver. BRM watches will sponsor an expanded F3 Cup, now with a class for cars between 2005-2016. James Beckett, the driving force behind Champion of Brands and the Superseries reminded us that this July marks the 50th anniversaryof Formula Ford and as in previous years, drivers whose careers have © Mick Herring

Champion of Brands competitors Archie and Ringo Hines celebrate 50 years of Formula Ford.

March 2017

Furthermore, all of the various BMW saloon, Mini championships, Lotus championships, other single seater championships and Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship all reported buoyant entries and with their flexible approach, only minor tweaks and revisions to maintain loyalty and new entries. MSVR’s David Willey concluded proceedings by outlining some of the 38 events that they will organise including the growing number of festivals and special events. The popular American Speedfest along with the Ferrari Owners Club backed © Mick Herring Festival Italia, Deutsche Fest, the Lotus Festival, the Mini Festival will all return to Brands but the Minis (6th time at Brands) will also be expanded to

Festival Italia Ferrari 360, Mini Challenge JCW and Toyo Tyres Fiesta.

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Both sides now -SsangYong Musso Pick-up Racing Challenge. By Mick Herring. I’ve photographed and written about the SsangYong Racing Challenge (December 2016), now I’ve experienced it from the inside too. The annual MSVR Media Day at Brands Hatch provided the perfect opportunity to sample it from the Musso pick-up’s passenger seat, in the hands of a world and European (karting) champion, 19 year old Harry Webb, signed up for a full season plus more karting. Sharing driving duties was former British GT champion, Glynn Geddie, who demonstrated it’s abilities to SsangYong’s UK boss, Paul Williams. He was suitably impressed and, not being from a racing background, convinced of the promotional platform that the spectacle of racing provides. Two car National Motorsport Academy GT Cup entry Mosler and Lotus Evora.

events at Oulton Park and Snetterton. MSVR will host International racing again in the shape of Blancpain GT Sprint and GT Endurance, International GT Open, Supercar Challenge and Masters Historic Festival. The importance of motor sport to increased brand-awareness was further highlighted by the presence of Korean manufacturer, SsangYong Motor UK’s C.E.O. Paul Williams to promote the SsangYong Musso Challenge. With the company gaining ground in the UK and with a plethora of new models in the pipeline, Paul, whilst not having any background in motorsport, sees it as a vital way of increasing dealer involvement, increasing sales via greater brand awareness.

After a frantic scramble to get the correct wristband we took to the Brands Indy circuit and it became immediately apparent that the handling of the rear drive 2.2 litre turbo diesel was always going to exceed its power:- SsangYong have sensibly decided to limit that to March 2017

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around 200 bhp, it’s the same for everyone and designed to showcase driver skill in maintaining speed smoothly. On our first flying lap, the steep drop down at Paddock Hill bend, taken in fourth gear, having ridden the entry kerbs on the inside, it was as though the point and the speed at which you changed in to fifth gear that could be used to alter or correct the car’s drift towards the outside kerbs as it reached its maximum compression at the bottom of the dip. The torque in fifth gear hauled the robust heavyweight swiftly up the © Mick Herring

hill to Druids and it was only here that it exhibited a brief “chirp” from the spinning inner back tyre. The real revelation came at Surtees and through the long series of turns to the Brabham pit Straight. Having been blitzed down the Cooper Straight by a fast, well driven VW Scirocco we were well able to “tailgate” him all the way to the next straight. With very little braking required at Surtees and the compliant suspension’s ability to ride the kerbs

Harry Webb 19 year old world karting champion.

March 2017

without deflecting the vehicle, we carried the high speed into and through the corners to stay with the VW until its superior power to weight came back into play. This ability to maintain speed will be the key to a fast race lap and will benefit smooth drivers. The other noted feature was how little steering input is required, no skittish behaviour needing to be dramatically corrected, great testament to the work carried out by Proflex suspension design and builders ABG Motorsport. Dismiss it as a quirky attention grabber at your peril:- given some of the racing I photograph and some of the cars I’ve ridden in over the years, I’m genuinely excited that SsangYong will provide close racing, a fresh alternative and at a, by racing standards, cost-effective price for a new ready-to-go racing machine. My thanks to SsangYong and Harry Webb for an enlightening and entertaining ride. Page 38

Bromsgrove Motor Club Monthly meet. Bowling Green Inn, Stoke Prior. Sunday 19th February 2017. By Simon & Janet Wright.

Â© Simon Wright

Little and Large of the 60s - MG B Roadster and Ford Zephyr Mark IV

March 2017

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British Sportscars - Austin Healey, MG B and Rochdale Olympic

Even in the depths of winter, you can’t keep car enthusiasts from getting together to discuss cars. Bromsgrove Motor Club held one of their regular meetings at the Bowling Green Inn at Stoke Prior near Bromsgrove at midday on a grey but dry Sunday. There was a good turnout of classic cars for this local gathering, with an interesting mix of vehicles. The car that stood out most was the 1966 American Ford Galaxie 500, not only because of its size, but also the bright yellow and white paint job on the body. The power bulge on the bonnet proudly proclaimed 352 cu in which means a 5.8 litre V8 engine was sitting under the hood. Providing a complete contrast parked next to the Galaxie was probably the smallest British pickup truck, a Mini pickup. Built at nearby March 2017

Longbridge and based on the original Mini saloon, the pick-up was built between 1961 and 1983. It used the longer Mini van platform with an open top rear cargo area and tailgate. A total of 58,179 were built during this period. The other side of the Galaxie was a small Rochdale Olympic sports car. The glass fibre bodied British kit sports car was built in Rochdale, greater Manchester between 1948 and 1973. The red car on display was a phase Il built in 1964. The Olympic was only the third car built with a glass fibre monocoque to enter production, after the Berkeley and the Lotus Elite. This pocket rocket is powered by a 2.9 litre Cosworth engine. Moving round the public house car park next to the Stoke Prior © Simon Wright Bowling club, there was a good

Ford Galaxie 500

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Austin Maestro

Austin A35 © Simon Wright

Ford Puma

Volvo 340 © Simon Wright

Mini Pickup truck

Vauxhall Victor Super

March 2017

Reliant Scimitar SS1

Mini © Simon Wright

Mercedes Benz

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stylish vehicle. Showing design elements from the American Ford Thunderbird and also the Galaxie Sunliner, it was an exciting design for the 2 door coupe. The GT had a new 1498cc engine developed by Cosworth with a raised 9:1 compression ratio, modified cylinder head with larger exhaust valves, an aluminium inlet manifold attached to a twin choke Weber carburettor and a four branch exhaust manifold. The model was expensive to produce and production only lasted two and a half years, with a total of 2002 GTs models coming off the production line. © Simon Wright

Rover 90

example of an old Rover 90 in two tone grey. The Rover 90 was built between 1953 and 1959 during which over 35,000 were built. This top end Rover saloon was powered by the 2.6 litre straight 6 engine which produced 90 Hp which could enable the car to reach 90 mph. Whilst the Rover was a traditional designed luxury saloon of the period, the 1963 Ford Consul Capri GT was a much more © Simon Wright

Vauxhall Victor Super

Vauxhall also had a model that stood out from the normal 3 box design with a beige 1957 Vauxhall Victor Super. This also showed American design trends with the body style derived from the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. The Vauxhall Victor F was built between 1957 and 1961 and saw a total of 390,745 roll off the production line. The 1,5 litre engine was fitted with a 3 speed manual synchromesh gearbox with column change which allowed bench seats front and rear. The Super also had plenty Ford Consul Capri GT

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of extra chrome trim. The front and rear windscreens were both heavily curved, with the front A post sloping forward, rather than the more conventional backward slope. The 1.5 litre 4 cylinder engine was fitted with a single Zenith carburettor and produced a reasonable 55 bhp. The Super version, seen here, had a top speed of 74.4 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 28.1 seconds and could return 31 mpg. Initial cost was £758 including taxes. The oldest car at the meeting was a 1935 Morris Cowley powered by an 1141cc engine The Cowley was a popular model between 1932 and 1935 when over 39,000 were built.

Fiat Dino 2400 Spider

Morris Cowley

The most exotic car was a beautiful 1970 Fiat Dino 2400 Spider in Italian red. This front engine, rear wheel drive sports car was built by Fiat between 1966 and 1973. The car was powered by a Dino V6 engine that Ferrari needed to homologate for Formula 2 racing. The rules specified that the F2 engine should be derived from a production engine of no more than six cylinders March 2017

from a road car homologated in the GT class and produced in at least 500 vehicles in a 12 month period. Ferrari did not have the production capability to build cars in such volumes, so an agreement was signed with Fiat on 1st March 1965 to produce 500 engines to be installed in an unspecified GT car. The Fiat Dino 2400 was introduced in 1969 at the Turin Motor Show. The V6 engine produced 178 HP and used a cast iron block compared to the original having an alloy block. The car was fitted with coil spring independent rear suspension. Initial production was © Simon Wright Fiat Dino 2400 Spider cockpit

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assembled by Fiat in Rivalta di Torino, but from December 1969 the Fiat Dino was assembled in Maranello on Ferrari production lines. With only 420 built, the 2400 Spider is the rarest of the Fiat Dinos. The Spider had a top speed of 130 mph.

Willys Jeep

Ford Zephyr Mark IV

Ford have alway been popular with models like the Escort, Fiesta and Sierra, but they have also built many other vehicles. Another unusual model was the Ford Zephyr Mark IV which was powered by a 2.5 litre V6 engine. The Mark IV was built between 1966 and 1972. A lot of the other vehicles were part of the British Leyland family with Mini, Maestro, Rover 75, Austin A35, MG B, Austin Healey and the last vehicle to arrive had the most appropriate number plate - a Jaguar XJ-R RS with the plate FA57 XJR. Jaguar XJ-R RS

March 2017

Rover 75

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2016/17 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Rnd 5 (Final), Mike Pero Motorsport Park Christchurch 03-05 Feb 2017

ÂŠ Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.

Brett Willis leading Paul Zazryn, Sefton Gibb and a fast closing Michael Lyons.

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ÂŠ Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.

Ken Smith (Lola T332) big lead over Steve Rossand and Brett Willis

2016/17 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Rnd 5 (Final), Mike Pero Motorsport Park Christchurch 03-05 Feb 2017 DAY 1 - SMITH SIZZLES IN THE CHRISTCHURCH SUN Kiwi supervet Ken Smith (Lola T332) continued on his winning way on the first day of competition at the final round of the 2016/17 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series at the annual Skope Classic motor racing meeting in Christchurch. In hot, dry conditions which saw the South Island city's Mike Pero Motorsport Park at Ruapuna swelter in temperatures approached 30 degrees C the defending - and four-time - series champion set pole position in qualifying a full 2.3 seconds quicker than second quickest Glenn Richards (Lola T400). The 75-year-old super veteran then led the first series' race of the March 2017

weekend from start to finish, eventually crossing the finish line after eight laps of the 3.33km Grand Prix circuit almost 18 seconds in front of fellow former series title-holder Steve Ross (McRae GM1) with David Banks (Talon MR1) third and 2016/17 title prospect Brett Willis fourth. "I really enjoyed that," said Smith as he was surrounded by well-wishers in the SAS Autoparts MSC pits afterwards. "I got on a bit of a roll, lap by lap, and there was no traffic to pass until the last lap. When you get on a bit of a roll like you just keep rolling. Heading into the meeting the 2016/17 series' title fight looked set to be between Brett Willis (Lola T330) and Glenn Richards (Lola T400). Richards grabbed the initiative by setting a second quickest qualifying time. But he was shuffled back into third off the lines by a fast-starting Steve Ross, then managed only one full before blowing a tyre as he braked at the end of the start/finish straight. "It just went down very, very quickly, " said a disappointed Richards. "Luckily there was plenty of room where I went off." As Smith pulled away from the rest of the 16-strong field the interest was in the battle for second with Dave Banks taking advantage of an excellent start off P5 (behind Smith and Ross) to close on Ross for second place at the hairpin. Ross retained the position but Banks settled into a comfortable third and with Smith and Ross was the only other driver to lap under the 1.23.00 mark. "I had the car to get into second, it was going really strong," said Banks. Like Ross, Sefton Gibb (Lola T332) also enjoyed a strong return to the SAS Autoparts MSC F5000 series, finishing fifth after resisting constant pressure from visiting Australian driver Paul Zazryn (Lola T332). "I got a good start, I went from eight to sixth, and I was determined to stay there, " he said. 'I enjoyed it, It was great." Behind Paul Zazryn, Ian Clements (Lola T332) led a five-car midfield battle-pack consisting of Aaron Burson (McRae GM1), David Arrowsmith (Lotus 70), Russell Greer (Lola T332) and Greg Thornton (Chevron B24). Australian Bill Hemming (Elfin MR8), Englishman Mike Sidgewick (Trojan T101) and Class A (for older series cars) Page 46

leader Frank Karl (McLaren M10B) completed the finishing order.

meeting in Christchurch this afternoon, after catching and eventually finding a way past Formula 5000 class pace-setter and pole man Ken Young gun Michael Lyons (Hesketh 308E), meanwhile, was, the Smith (Lola T332). Earlier in the day Smith won the first combined fastest qualifier and winner of the first Historic F1 race of the field race with Lyons - who with the other Historic F1 class drivers weekend. The 26-year-old set a new qualifying benchmark for the had started behind the F5000 field - unable to close the gap in the 8 category of 1.18.528 in qualifying then a 1.18.656 in the race. laps available. However, by starting alongside Smith on the front row Aberdeen-based Irishman Tommy Dreelan (March 761) qualified and of the grid Lyons didn’t have to work his way past the other F5000s finished second from Lyons' Jnr's father Frank (McLaren M26) and in the feature, and though 75-year-old super veteran Smith was able mother Judy (Surtees TS9. to hold the young Brit out for the first half of the race, a persistent Lyons eventually found a gap. "I thought I could do it, you know, Day 2 - TITLE TO WILLIS, LYONS CLAIMS SKOPE keep him behind me, " said Smith, "I drove really hard on that first FEATURE WIN lap to get a gap, but I can’t take anything away from Michael, he was Reigning FIA Historic F1 Pre-78 class champion Michael Lyons fantastic to drive with and when I saw the nose in there I thought it is (Hesketh 308E) won a combined 12-lap NZ Express International now his. He is fantastic to drive with, you could drive wheel to wheel F5000/Historic F1 feature race at the Skope Classic motor racing with the kid all day." © Fast Company/Alex Mitchell. Smith stayed within striking distance and at the flag the gap was only three seconds with former series champ Steve Ross (McRae GM1) a lonely third 34.970 seconds back and another gap to the first of the visiting Australian drivers, Paul Zazryn (Lola T332), then Brett Willis (Lola T330), Sefton Gibb (Lola T330), and Aaron Burson (McRae GM1. Fifth place was more than enough to ensure Willis retained his lead in the series' points standings and claimed the 2016/17 SAS Autoparts/ MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series title - from Zazryn with Glenn Richards (Lola T400) third. "It’s taken awhile but I'm rapt," Rotorua man Willis said afterwards."It’s not easy and we’ve had some hard knocks along the way but we have committed every year, and done all the rounds. and this time we pulled it off. Big thanks to everyone who has helped us and to the series sponsors, we couldn’t have done it without them." The other trophy awarded on the day, the Stan Redmond Memorial Trophy, went to series' Class A (for earlier model F5000 cars) winner Frank Karl (McLaren M10B) The trophy is 2016/17 SAS Autoparts MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival series title prospect Brett Willis Lola T332

March 2017

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ÂŠ Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.

Ken Smith (Lola T332) leads the start.

awarded to the driver who best exemplifies the spirit of sportsmanship and persistence in the face of adversity that series' original Redmond exhibited and friend and former crew chief Steve Weeber said that Karl was the obvious choice. "Stan was a good sport, always helping people, and if he had an incident he would always be back at the next round. Frank has had that this year and it's great to see that sort of enthusiasm in a class like F5000 which is very strong at the moment." " I knew I was in line to win the Class A award but I wasn't expecting this at all," said Aucklander Karl. "It has made all the effort that I have had to go to after Australia (where an engine fire meant a lot of work to get the car back to race-ready condition) was worth it." Because he did not cross the Tasman this year to od the two Australian rounds of the 2016/17 SAS Autoparts MSC series Ken Smith was not in contention for the title this weekend. He was by far the quickest of the 16-strong SAS Autoparts MSC F5000 competitor though, claiming pole position in qualifying and winning two of the three category races, including the first of the two combined F5000/ March 2017

Historic F1 ones on Sunday morning. With two of the five Formula 1 cars scratched thanks to engine issues the decision was made to combine the Historic F1 and SAS Autoparts MSC F5000 class fields. And as happened in the final 12 lap feature, Smith sprinted away from the rolling start and pulled out a lead which Michael Lyons - who started from P13 on the seventh row of the combined grid - was able to eat into but ultimately not bridge in the eight laps available. Taking full advantage of the clear road in front of him Smith dropped into the 1.18.0s, his Lola T332 remaining the fastest car on track (with a best lap of 1.18.951) until Michael Lyons got clear of Steve Ross and dipped into the low 1.18s himself, with a best time of 1.18.521. Behind Smith, Steve Ross held a lonely second place until being relieved of it by Michael Lyons on the fourth lap but retained third place to the flag as Brett Willis, Paul Zazryn, Sefton Gibb and Ian Clements ran line astern in fourth-through-seventh places. Usually David Banks would be part of that group but he too was forced to sit out Sunday's two races thanks to an oil pressure issue ÂŠ Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.

2016/17 SAS Autoparts MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series champion Brett Willis surrounded by family and team members after the final race at Mike Pero Motorsport Park

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ÂŠ Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.

Michael Lyons won the first Historic F1 race

with his Talon MR1). Greg Thornton was also a non-starter, thanks to fuelling issues with his Chevron B24. Local driver David Arrowsmith managed to hold out Aaron Burson for most of the race only to have Burson finally get past on the final lap, with Glenn Richards tenth, Frank Lyons in the McLaren M26 F1 car 11th, Chris Atkinson 12th and Bill Hemming, Mike Sidgewick and Frank Karl engaged in their own private battle for 13th-through-15th place. Smith also won the first category race on Saturday, leading from start to finish to cross the finish line almost 18 seconds in front of Steve Ross, David Banks and Brett Willis.. The 2016/17 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series is organised and run with the support of sponsors SAS Autoparts, MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney's Specialised Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Pacifica, Avon Tyres, Webdesign and Exide Batteries. ÂŠ Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.

March 2017

Stan Redmond Memorial Trophy winner Frank Karl (with trophy) with Grant Withers from Exide Batteries, David Banks from SAS Autoparts and John Petrie, NZ Express Transport Page

2016/17 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Race 1 (Sat) 8 laps 1. Ken Smith (Lola T332) 10:58.100 2. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) +17.945 3. David Banks (Talon MR1) +21.193 4. Brett Willis (Lola T330) +24.086 5. Sefton Gibb (Lola T332) +24.834 6. Paul Zazryn (Lola T332) +25.347 7. Ian Clements (Lola T332) +25.865 8. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) + 27.730 9. David Arrowsmith (Lotus 70) +29.765 10. Russell Greer (Lola T332) +38.986 11. Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) +40.412 12. Bill Hemming (Elfin MR8) +1 lap 13. Mike Sidgewick (Trojan T101) +1 lap 14. Frank Karl (McLaren M10B) +1 lap dnf Glenn Richards (Lola T400) , Chris Atkinson (Surtees TS8) .

Race 2 (Sun) 8 laps

14. Mike Sidgewick +1 lap 15. Frank Karl +1 lap dns David Banks, Greg Thornton, Judy Lyons.

Stan Redmond Memorial Trophy Frank Karl

Race 3 (Sun) NZ Express International F5000 Feature race 12 laps 1. Michael Lyons 15.57.39 2. Ken Smith +3.182 3. Steve Ross +34.970 4. Paul Zazryn +47.277 5. Brett Willis +51.636 6. Sefton Gibb +52.473 7. Aaron Burson +53.166 8. David Arrowsmith +55.441 9. Glenn Richards +1.03.489 10. Frank Lyons + 1 lap 11. Bill Hemming +1 lap 12. Chris Atkinson +1 lap 13. Mike Sidgewick +1 lap 14. Frank Karl +1 lap dnf Ian Clements, Judy Lyons

Historic Formula 1 Qualifying 1. Michael Lyons (Hesketh 308E) 1.18.528 2. Tommy Dreelan (March 761) 1.21.510 3. Frank Lyons (McLaren M26) 1.24.829 4. James Hagan (Hesketh 308E) 1.29.579 5. Judy Lyons (Surtees TS9) 2.10.740

Race 1 (Sat 8 laps) 1. Michael Lyons 2. Tommy Dreelan 3. Frank Lyons 4. Judy Lyons dns James Hagan ÂŠ Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.

Final series points Overall

1. Ken Smith 10.40.743 2. Michael Lyons +9.878 3. Steve Ross +21.562 4. Brett Willis +28.526 5. Paul Zazryn +29.085 6. Sefton Gibb +29.860 7. Ian Clements +30.161 8. Aaron Burson +38.228 9. David Arrowsmith +40.155 10. Glenn Richards +40.792 11. Frank Lyons +41.273 12. Chris Atkinson +1.12.522 13. Bill Hemming +1 lap

1. Brett Willis 438 points 2. Paul Zazryn 414 3. Glenn Richards 384 4. Bryan Sala 382 5. Aaron Burson 378 6. Grant Martin 373

Class A 1. Frank Karl (McLaren M10B) 171 points 2,. Dave Arrowsmith (Lotus 70) 137 March 2017

Kiwi David Banks (#78) in his Talon MR1

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ÂŠ Motorsport-imagery

VSCC Measham Rally 21st January 2017. Bruntingthorpe Proving Grounds, Lutterworth, Leicestershire By David Goose and Stuart Yates - Motorsport Imagery Julian Riley and Georgina Riley in the Riley Mentone

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Tom Duffin and Ben Jackson, Vauxhall 30-98

Three weeks into January, and 120 people decide to drive over 160 miles in their pride and joy, on the Vintage Sports Car Clubs 67th Annual overnight Measham rally. The “Measham” was this year based at Bruntingthorpe Airfield, now a proving ground for mostly sports cars but also a vast storage facility for car hire companies. This site was once a US Air Force bomber base and now is home to the Cold War Jet Collection including many iconic fast jets such as the English Electric Lightning, Blackburn Buccaneer March 2017

and also many larger aircraft. Scrutineering of the cars was in a hangar with two of the Lightnings. The event is a navigational challenge covering a Newcomer class winners James Edwards and Angus Frost in the route of over Morgan Family 160 miles, in and around the countryside around the airfield starting in the bitterly cold evening at 9pm and running through to around 6am the following morning. Times in the early hours, on a clear starlit night the temperatures fell to around five below zero. Vauxhalls © Motorsport-imagery and Lea Francis to Rolls Royce and although the event is competitive, you only had to look at the intensity of the competitors studying their maps before the route was announced to witness this. However there is also a great social side to this event, it is the first event for most people in the new year, one crew even stopped early in the event on the Saturday evening to grab a swift drink

Keyth Richardson and Morwenna Corry, Talbot BA75 Saloon

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David Moroney and Robert Bunn, Star 12/40 Pegasus

Jack Williamson and Pete Mate-Fowden, Austin Seven Ulster © Motorsport-imagery

David Johnson and David Rolfe, Lea-Francis P Type Avon Tourer

March 2017

Peter and Thomas Castle, Austin 7 Chummy

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Overall winners of the 2017 event were John Potter and David Kirkham in their 1927 Alvis 12/50 TG Sports, David having plenty of experience being a three time winner of the Motoring News Road Rally Championship in the late 1970’s and 1980’s. Second place went to reigning champion © Motorsport-imagery

Edward Williams and Michael Peach in the Morris Oxford

before closing time. The event features Pre-1940’s cars in various classes including sport, touring and saloon cars; I would however recommend a new class for next year to include the many open roof cars entered in the sub-zero temperatures overnight. © Motorsport-imagery

Overall event winners, John Potter and David Kirkham in the Alvis 12/50 TG C&E

Annabel Jones in a 1935 Fraser Nash Shelsey with driver Charles Hill. Surprisingly though, most people applauded James Edwards and Angus Frost for their efforts. The crew, with a combined age of 42 years, were not only the youngest crew in the event, but they won the Champagne Class for being the highest placed newcomers on the event. If this wasn’t enough, they had driven their 87 year old 1930 three wheeled Morgan from and to Cheshire just to Andrew Mortimer and Dr Dick Patten, Riley 9 Gamecock

March 2017

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whilst Danny Hopkins, Editor of Practical Classics magazine entered the event as a newcomer in a Vauxhall H Type loaned to the magazine by the British Motor © Motorsport-imagery

Pete Mate-Fowden, Austin compete in the event. Jack Williamson and Seven Ulster The entry list sounded like a museum listing of classic family cars, from Austins, Rileys and Talbots to Rolls © Motorsport-imagery Royce, the commitment and passion was clear to see and hear. One crew had entered their 1930’s Rolls Royce, one previous owner, totally original and only 50,000 miles from new,

Jake Farman and Ian Dobinson Alvis 12/60 TL Saloon

Museum in Gaydon. The car had not been used on the open roads for many years and despite a radiator leak even before the start looked very graceful in the lanes around Leicestershire. To sum up, the winners of the event drove their ninety year old car, for 160 miles, overnight in temperatures down to five degrees below freezing. Credit to all competitors, marshals and officials, the Measham is a rare event that is competitive but enjoyed by everyone

The British Motor Museums Vauxhall H Type had a radiator leak in the car park before the event started

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William Leith and Lincoln Smith, Rolls Royce 20HP

Peter and Thomas Castle, Austin 7 Chummy

Martin Greaves and Kate Greaves, Ford Model A Richard Prest and John Warburton, Morris Cowley

Peter Harding and Roger Palethorpe Lancia Aprilia

March 2017

Charles Hill and Annabel Jones, Frazer Nash Shelsey

Peter Dodds and Steven Mallett, Riley MK III 4Str Tourer

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Race Retro 24th-26th February 2017 Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry. By Simon & Janet Wright with additional photographs and material by Pete Austin, Mick Herring and Syd Wall of Rally Gallery

ÂŠ Janet Wright

March 2017

The HSCC Stand representing various categories of race series run by the club

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Now celebrating it’s 15th year, Race Retro has become the first major event of the year in the Historic motorsport scene in the UK. The show combines the static displays of a normal exhibition with live action on the demonstration rally stage in the grounds of Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry. The tarmac course is also used, in part, by the British Historic Kart club. This year, the show has undergone a re-vamp with several halls now refurbished and definately feeling warmer than recent years, with over 21,000 fans attending over the 3 days. The significant changes took place in Hall 3, which had a major area set up for the Motor Sport Hall of Fame and the Motor Sport Live Stage. The large stage and seated audience area

was used through all three days of the show, where various motor sport celebrities were interviewed in front of large and enthusiastic audiences. Drivers like Tom Kristensen, Ari Vatanen, 500cc Motorcycle Champion

Tom Kristensen being interviewed

Rosemary Smith, Bron Burrell and Tina Kerridge-Reynolds were all interviewed on stage at various points during the weekend.

‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer, co-founder of Cosworth Mike Costin, Jaguar test driver Norman Dewis, racing drivers Barrie Williams and Christabel Carlisle, and rallying greats Tony Mason, © Pete Austin

‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer being interviewed

March 2017

Clive Chapman (Centre) discusses the Lotus 33

Christabel Carlisle

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Next to the stage was the main high-light for many fans at this years show. The unveiling, after 40 years of the Lotus 33 R11 as once driven by Jim Clark. This icon Lotus Climax Type 33 Lotus, chassis number R11 was driven by Clark in 1965 to win the British, Belgian, German and Syracuse Grand Prix and took him to his second World Championship. In 1966 it was fitted with a 2 litre BRM engine and the following year it was modified to be © www.rallygallery.com driven by Graham Hill.. It was then sold to a Canadian privateer who fitted an Oldsmobile V8 engine in the back and it was last raced in Seattle in 1969. It was then dismantled and stored before returning to the UK in 1978 in what is considered to be March 2017

almost as original. It has been carefully stored for 38 years before being restored by Clive Chapman and Classic Team Lotus. The car is currently not fitted with any engine. © Simon Wright

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Mike Costin being interviewed by the Lotus 49

Surrounding the stage were cars from the Motor Sport Hall of Fame, selected to represent the achievements of Hall of Fame Alumni as well as cars from inductees to the Hall of Fame. This year celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Ford Cosworth DFV engine, which revolutionised © Simon Wright Grand prix racing in the late 1960s and early 1970s. One Mike Costin of this years nominees for the Hall of fame is Mike Costin, co-founder of Cosworth Engineering. To celebrate the achievements of this engine were a collection of Cosworth powered Grand Prix cars in an area to the left of the stage, including the 1982 World Drivers Championship March 2017

Surtees TS7

© Simon Wright winning Williams FW08 as driven by Keke Rosberg, father of 2017 World Champion Nico Williams FW08 Rosberg. There was also the McLaren M23 raced by 1976 World Champion James Hunt, along with a pair of Surtees Grand Prix cars, the TS7 which was the first Surtees Grand Prix car made in 1970 and the TS14 which was the first car introduced to the new safety rules in 1972 and was driven by Mike Hailwood and Carlos Pace. Also in the display was the unique Cosworh 4WD Grand Prix car. The project was started by Cosworth in 1968 as a way to harness the traction power of the Cosworth DFV © Simon Wright

Cosworth 4WD F1 car

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engine. Unfortunately for Cosworth, the current Grand Prix cars suddenly sprouted wings, and the traction problem was cured without the need for Cosworth 4WD heavy 4 wheel drive. The car as designed by Robin Herd, who later went on to co-found the March Grand Prix team. It never raced but was tested and found to have an imbalance traction through the front wheels. This caused the car to weave alarmingly, even in a straight line.This was probably due to the limited slip action of the front differential. Handling was transformed when they bolted on a rear wing and an entry was made for the 1969 British Grand Prix with Trevor Taylor as the driver. The car never arrived after Keith Duckworth shelved it, as it had already cost £130,000 and he felt they were just throwing more money away on a project that might © Simon Wright not prove to be competitive. To the right of the stage was another display which included the Bentley Speed 8 which had been driven by Tom Kistenesen to victory in the 2003 Le Mans 24 Hours race alongside a current GT Bentley Speed 8

March 2017

Tom Kristensen on Stage.

By Mick Herring. Tom Kristensen doesn’t listen to the radio when it’s raining!! This was a startling fact that he revealed to the captivated audience from the Motor Sport Live Show stage. Tom explained that ever since his first drive at Le Mans in 1997, he learnt to listen only to the car in the wet. When it all went quiet at 170-180 mph he quickly realised that it was aquaplaning and to back off the throttle but don’t move the steering. This remains a caution the 47 year old Danish driver still relies on, much to the annoyance of his radio-deprived wife. Driving in Formula 3000 in 1997 he took a call from the Joest team inviting him to drive at Le Mans for them at short notice in their TWR Porsche WSC-95. From the outset Tom was welcomed to the team by his co-drivers, Michele Alboreto and Stefan Johansson, and they went on to win at his first outing. During that first race he held fastest lap, it was a lucky clear lap, a phenomenon that he has only managed to repeat about ten times in his eighteen starts at Le Mans. To become known as “Mr Le Mans” is fitting given his nine victories, six of them consecutive between 2000 and 2005, Jacky Ickx was one of the first people to congratulate him when Tom beat the Belgian’s five outright victories. When he has finished the gruelling 24 hrs, he has never been off the podium, with two seconds and three third places and only four retirements. Sadly, one of those retirements was from a commanding lead when teammate Dindo Capello crashed their Audi. Fittingly, sat adjacent to the Motor Sport Live stage was the 2003 Le Mans winning Bentley Speed 8 that he shared with Capello and Guy Smith and you could see his eyes flickering towards it occasionally. Apart from his first victory and the Bentley in 2003 (still an Audi really under the skin), the remaining seven have been with Audi. Add to this six victories at the Sebring 12hrs, victories during 2000 in British Touring Cars and DTM between 2004 and 2011 underlines his all-round talent. With one of his second places coming in 2014, he took the decision to retire from racing whilst he was on top but still couldn’t resist the temptation to race at Goodwood where he won the inaugural Kinrara Trophy at the wheel of a Ferrari 250 SWB Berlinetta. It was an interesting half hour to sit listening to Sir Tom Kristensen, who was knighted in 2014 by the queen of Denmark for his services to and achievements in sport. Page 61

racing Bentley Continental GT3. Another Great British car on display is the 1957 Vanwall Grand Prix car as driven by Hall of Fame inductees Sir Stirling Moss and Tony Brookes to win the British Grand Prix that year. It was the first British car driven by British drivers to win a World Championship race on home ground. In a separate display just back to the left of the 1957 Vanwall stage was a 1950s Jaguar D Type, an Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE and a British Touring Car Championship Rover 3500 SD1 driven by the likes of Tom Walkinshaw and Steve Soper, Further to the right of the stage was the final Hall of Fame display which was a tribute to Rallying, containing a Fiat 131 Abarth driven by Marku Alen, who had been due to appear at the show, but was unable to

attend due to illness. There was also an ex Ari Vatanen Ford Escort 1700T and joining this pair of rallying greats was a Subaru Impreza WRC 97001 which had been driven by the late, great Colin McRae, and a Peugeot 205 Turbo 16. © Janet Wright

Toj SC302 on Donington stand

Also in Hall 3 was a display by Donington Park, which was celebrating it’s 40th anniversary since it had been re-opened by Tom Wheatcroft. The display included a Toj SC302 sports prototype racing car, powered by the Ford Cosworth 3 litre V8 engine in sportcar racing from 1977, a Ginetta G57-P2 6.3 litre Chevrolet V8 powered track day car which is also eligible to race in VdeV, Dutch Supercar and any other open sports car race series and a pair of racing motorcycles. March 2017

Fiat 131 Abarth

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500 Owners Association stand

Peking to Paris Chevrolet Coupe -

Lotus 59 on HSCC stand

March 2017

Aer Macchi motorcycle

Lotus on Shelsley Walsh stand

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with all types of racing machinery on show, representing the different series the club organise racing for over the year, including Historic Trials. A bit further along, the Vintage Sports Car Club (VSCC) had the AC-GN Cognac single seater racer on display to promote their new Formula Vintage branding of their vintage race meetings in 2017. See News pages for further details.

Motorbikes also featured in their own display area across the top of Hall 3, with various displays of classic and historic 2 wheeled wonders. In Hall 2 where the main entrance is located, the © Janet Wright centre of the hall was dominated by Speed Street, where the major racing clubs have displays. The largest display was from the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC), March 2017

AC-GN 'Cognac' on the VSCC stand

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The 750 Motorclub had an unusual event taking place on their stand. The Warren, a significant 750 Formula Car was rebuilt ‘live’ on the stand over the 3 days of the show to celebrate the relaunch of the 750 Trophy as the Historic 750 Formula. The Warren was designed by Jerry Evershed and had immediate championship success driven by Robin Smyth. It was powered by a rear mounted, supercharged 747cc Reliant side valve 4 cylinder engine. Smyth and Evershed also produced their own design cylinder head, and canted the engie over by 25 degrees offset to © Janet Wright

March 2017

the left to counter-balance the driver. It used a chain drive from the engine to the prop shaft. As a Live Axle was a requirement of the series, this rear engine design was a revelation for the series. The car won the 1973 Championship and set 5 lap records in the process. Tragically both Smythe and Evershed died before their 40th birthdays due to cancer. The car was rebuilt during the show by current owner Ron Welsh and the 750 Motor Club and should be competing again this season. © Janet Wright

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Eifelland Type 21 GP car

Vintage Racecar magazine had the unusual styled Eifelland Type 21 Grand Prix car on their stand. Originally based on a March 721, the Luigi Colani designed body had a very distictive centre column rear view mirror support, and the engine air intake was in front of the driver. German Rolf Stommelen drove the car during the 1972 season in eight races, starting at South Africa and finishing at the Austrian GP. His best finish was two 10th placed results in Monaco and the British GP. Hall 1 was best described as the Rally and arts and crafts hall. © www.rallygallery.com There was a fabulous display of Rally cars from Rallying with Group B which included iconic cars like the Fiat 131, Toyota Corolla, the March 2017

Andrews Heat for Hire Opel Manta, the 2004 Sohlberg Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII WRC with the unusual stand up rear wing, the Kankkunen Ford Escort Mk 3, the Brooklyn Ford Sierra Cosworththat was once tested by the late Ayrton Senna in Wales and Ford RS200 plus an Audi Quattro. Next to them was the Ford RS Owners club which had a couple of Group a racing Ford Sierra RS500 saloons on display plus road versions © Simon Wright

Ford RS Owners Club stand

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of the Sierra Cosworth saloon, the Fiesta and Escort Mk3. There was also a nice display of Lancia cars, all with a rallying pedigree. The World famous Stratos needs no introduction in the striking white, green and red Alitalia colours. Next to it was the earlier Lancia Fulvia HF and on the end, a road going version of the Intergrale. © Simon Wright

The final Hall of the show was a trade area in half of Hall 4 and Parc ferme for the Rally stage cars in the other half. The public were allowed to wander round the parked rally cars and see them close up. There was a varied selection of all types of Rally car including some foreign teams who had ventured over to take part in the Live Action demonstration stage that was run over the weekend. © Janet Wright

A large section of this hall was occupied by Art stands and Booksellers. Most of the art displays were paintings, but there were some wonderful sculpture models of cars on several stands, many of which would make excellant trophies as well as actual replica models of classic and vintage cars. © Simon Wright

March 2017

Also held in Hall 4 was the inaugural Pride of the Paddock award, voted for by the public. The winner was Ian Thompson’s replica of the Peugeot 205 T16 rally car and appropriately it © Janet Wright was Ari Vatanen, who drove the original car in period, who presented the award. The runner up was Marcus Ridley’s 1966 Ford Mustang. Page 67

Celebrating 50 years of Vee in the UK. On the 750 © Janet Wright Motor Club Stand was one of the oldest Formula Vee cars still running in the UK. The Jon Randall 1976 Kaimann Formula Vee should be out on track at the 50th Vee Festival at Cadwell Park on the 29th-30th July 2017. © Simon Wright

Chevron Ownership has not changed. Contrary to a press release in December 2016 by a third party, the ownership of the Chevron brand and all IP continues to be owned by Chevron cars and Chevron Heritage which had a stand at Race Retro. They also own the trademark of specific models such as the Chevron B8, Chevron B16 and Chevron B19. Only Chevron cars and Chevron Heritage can manufacture new Chevron GT cars and Chevron continuation cars. Chevron heritage provide a wide range of services for Chevron owners. For more information see www.chevronheritage.co.uk or www.chevronracingcars.com March 2017

Mallock Sports were celebrating Classic clubmans 1965-1980 with the HSCC on their stand in Hall 3 which featured an early Mallock U2 and one of the later models showing how the car had developed over the years. © Simon Wright

The Classic and Sports Car Club had three cars on display representing the Mintex Classic K, Advantage Motorsport Future Classics and Special Saloon and Modsports. Page 68

ÂŠ www.rallygallery.com

Live Rally Stage, Race Retro

Ari Vatanen in action in the Ford Escort Mk 2 on the Rally Stage

March 2017

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Ari vatanen

A key part to Race Retro has always been the live action Rally stage, held within the grounds of Stoneleigh park and just a short walk from the main exhibition halls. This is included with the admission price and even in the cold winter weather, always attracts a large crowd of excited fans to watch the demonstration runs from many of the classic Group B rally monsters as well as other significant Group A and Historic © Mick Herring rally cars. This year there was a massive entry, with the field being split in to 3 groups to tackle the demonstration stage. It is not a competition, and there is no official timing, it is just for the drivers to get out and have some fun round the tarmac stage. This years star attraction was Rallying legend and 1981 World March 2017

Rally Champion Ari Vatanen from Finland. On Saturday he did a few laps in a BMW M3 before being reunited with his Rothmans Ford Escort Mk 2 which he also drove to great effect on Sunday in his usual tail out style, still loved by the fans.. Rallying history was very well represented with several Audi Quattro cars, which started the 4 wheel drive revolution in rallying. Other Group B fire breathing monsters included the Metro 6R4, the Ford RS200, and the Renault 5 Turbo. Local interest came with the Triumph models, with TR7 V8, Dolomite Sprint and going further back in history, the Triumph 2.5 Pi from events like the 1970 World Cup Rally. There were several other cars dating back to this event including current celebrity Bron Burrell with her Austin Maxi, along with Patricia Smith/Wright in an Austin 1800 and most unusual was Mark Tabor with a Volvo Amazon which also harks back to the same 1970 period. Although the stage is tarmac. the

Stuart Anderson Triumph Dolomite Sprint.

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grass verges soon got run over with the tail happy driving style of lots of the drivers, which added some mud to the track. This allowed the skilful drivers to slide their cars round some of the corners, while a few managed to spin!

Steve Magson Mercedes 190e Cosworth

March 2017

Chris Birbeck Opel Ascona 400

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Proceedings were held up on Saturday afternoon when Chris Butcher stopped his Nissan Sunny after it lost the front nearside wheel. It was a simple case of sheared studs so a new set were fitted overnight. On Sunday morning, Chris hadn’t been out long when it stopped again in almost the same place with exactly the same problem. This time, the wheel didn't fold under the car - it made a break for freedom into the River Avon. Thankfully, it didn't float far before it caught in the branches of a fallen tree. It was still inaccessible, proven when Chris donned two orange plastic bags over his driving shoes to try walking to the wheel but it was too boggy. He retrieved it later in the day by throwing a tow rope with a weight on the end which caught in the wheel spokes. © Simon Wright

Ari Vatanen re-united with his BMW M3

March 2017

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MG Metro 6R4 on opposite lock

Neil Brighton Audi Quattro

March 2017

David Vardy gets it wrong in his Ford Sierra Cosworth

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Patrick Walker Triumph 2.5 pi

Before the Rally sessions over the weekend, the British Historic Kart Club took to part of the rally stage to demonstrate their historic karts from 1960 through to 1982. © Simon Wright

March 2017

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Silverstone Auctions at Race Retro

Aston Martin AMR1 Did nor sell

March 2017

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Emeryson Formula 1 Climax FPF sold £174,380

Silverstone Auctions held their annual sale at Race Retro, split over two days. Friday was the Race Retro Competition Car Sale, while Saturday and Sunday were left to the Race Retro Classic Car Sale. The star car on Friday was a 1989 Group C Aston Martin AMR1 and the bidding was swiftly up to around £130,000 but after all bidding stopped, the car was not sold.The top selling car in the Competition Car sale was the 1961 Emeryson Formula 1 Climax FPF which sold for £174,380. Powered by a four cylinder 1500cc Coventry Climax engine, it was no match for the V8 engined cars of the day, and the best result achieved was 2nd place at Brands Hatch driven by Mike Spence in the Lewis-Evans Trophy race, while John CampbellJones was 5th in the 1962 Brussels GP at Heysel. The 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’ is one of the most popular saloons today in historic racing, with the fans. This particular car sold for £105,750. It was originally a road car that was converted for racing in the late 1980s by Tim Busby. Nick Whale bought March 2017

the car in 2004 with Ian Guest and they raced in the CER series throughout Europe, including Classic Le Mans. It then did several seasons in the Masters series with Alan Tice. Even a strange green BMW 3.0 CSL sold £105,750 colour did not deter buyers from the 1998 MG Metro 6R4 that sold for £88,310. The original body shell was destroyed in an © Simon Wright accident on the 1998 Mewla Epynt Rally, but most of the mechanical components were undamaged. The damaged shell and original logbook, with a standard Metro ID, which had been given MG Metro 6R4 Sold £88,310 to Michelin for tyre testing, were sold on. A new shell was purchased and with factory approval, the car was given a correct 6R4 ID so the DVLA could issue an age related licence number. Between 2001 and 2008 it competed in 25 tarmac rallies, winning four outright and six top three finishes with Ron Alken of Mainline Haulage. With some Group B rally cars selling for around the £400,000 mark, this appears to be a bargain. Another classic Austin competition car that sold was a 1956 Austin A30. A former 2016 Goodwood Revival winning car, this is the Mike and Andrew Jordan car that was prepared by Mike Page 76

Ex Jenson Button Ford GT Sold £264,375

Austin A30 sold £33,750

A more modern touring car was the 1968 Chevrolet Camaro which was the ex-Martin Thomas car that raced in the 1970 BTCC by Bill Shaw Racing for Roy Pierpoint to drive. Martin Thomas took it over from 1971 to 1973. Sold for £65,250

In the Classic Car sale on Saturday and Sunday, the top selling car was a 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GT that reached £439,875. However, the car that was most interesting was a 2005 Ford GT which belonged to former World Champion racing driver Jenson Button MBE. It is number 1 of 101 European cars and sold for £264,375 An unusual car was a 2015 Evanta Barchetta ‘Double bubble’ which is a mix of unique British Sports car and modern engineering. The company is the brainchild of TV personality Ant Anstead. The car is powered by a 6.2 litre Chrysler LS3 V8 © Simon Wright engine producing 470 BHP. It sold for £38,250. Surprisingly there was another 2016 Evanta Barchetta D Type finished in Sebring blue, in the auction which still requires some finishing and it sold for £18,000

Chevrolet Camaro Sold £65,250

March 2017

Evanta Barchetta Sold £38,250

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1984 Rover SD1 V8 did not sell

1983 Ferrari 400i Convertible did not sell

Ferrari 550 Maranello World Speed Record Sold £178,000. 1983 Lamborghini Countach LP500S did not sell

March 2017

1973 BMW 2002 Tii Sold £20,250

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