The Fast On Water Magazine Issue 27 by Roy Cooper

Editor’s note

Published by Fast On Water Publications 2021

Here is the first issue of 2021. Apologies for the delay in getting this issue out – health issues and logistics I’m afraid. A new year, and hopefully a year in which we will gradually see improvements in the Covid-19 situation. As for Fast On Water, all our fundraising activities are still on hold and it is with sadness that we have lost another member of the powerboat community. Brian Grimshaw, who contributed so much to the sport, as a racer, engineer and supporting many an up-coming racer. A lovely man who will be missed by all who knew him. Our sincere condolences go to his family at this time and we are privileged to dedicate this issue of the magazine to Brian.

All articles and photographs are copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission. Editor Roy Cooper

Contributors Jackie Millichap Bruce Babbington Roy Cooper

Contents

Cover photo: Brain Grimshaw, Bristol 1978

Brian’s daughter, Jackie, remembers her dad.

10.

Brian’s review of his racing career, written in 2012.

14.

One of Brian’s Engine Clinic articles from 1982.

16.

Condolences.

20.

Bruce Babbington remembers Brian.

Brian ‘The Admiral’ Grimshaw

Brian Reginald Grimshaw was born and raised in Exeter, Devon before his marriage to Marian and their move to Topsham right next to the River Exe. This became the ideal base for his growing boat passion.

a carry cot, on the back seat when they pottered around the River Teign at Shaldon. A year later a Brough hydroplane with a Koenig engine was purchased but this never worked properly.

Brian’s interests at school seemed to be based around music; he took part in musical productions such as the ‘Pirates of Penzance’ (maybe just to get out of lessons?) before forming his own Skiffle band (the Exe Valley Skiffle Group) and later a dance band (to earn some money!). However, he couldn’t resist a quest for speed and excitement. His apprenticeship (and later Electrical engineering job) at SWEB (South Western Electricity Board) gave him the funds, in his early 20s, to visit the London Boat Show with his father. He saw, and later bought, a new ‘Pencraft’ boat with a Perkins motor. This was his first taste for ‘speed’ (as it was…the engine was not very good!). Marian remembers putting Jackie (their daughter), in

In 1962 a proper racing boat was needed and a Derry Boat with a 50 Mercury outboard was bought. With Jeff Turner as co-driver ‘Little Gem’ as she was now known was entered for the Hook Trophy at Coombe Cellars (on the 3

River Exe) and they won! He was now hooked.

Johnson). The Barracuda soon became the boat of choice in the SE and SD classes.

In 1964 Brian worked with Chris Tremlett to develop a light and fast monohull with a raceprepared 100hp Mercury on the back. Initially raced as 2-up, ‘Jackie G’ soon established her credentials being the fastest in the XT class.

Another Tremlett, ‘Jackie Too’ followed. She was raced in local and national race meetings and also gave access to the Paris 6 hour event with Ben Brown as co-driver. (An event regularly attended for many years both as a driver and pit crew).

Brian’s first Barracuda ‘Exe-Pense-Too’ (with a 65hp Johnson) had the dubious honour of being the first (and only) boat to have ping pong balls as ballast…a good idea until the boat was holed in a race and the lake became covered with little plastic balls! This boat also gave Brian his first Lake Windermere record

By the end of the 1960s Brian was regularly racing ‘Jackie Too’ as lone driver as well as driving and co-driving larger offshore boats built by Chris Tremlett and race-prepared by himself. One particular Putney to Calais race not going too well when they ended up in Belgium! In 1966 Brian leased a workshop on the Quay in Topsham and set up ‘Grimshaw engineering’ This became the hub of all outboard motor preparation and maintenance whether for powerboat racing or the smallest boat on the River. In the early 1970s Brian worked alongside Grant Morton (an undertaker from Birmingham) to produce a competitive SE class racing catamaran. Grant was to produce the boat and Brian to prepare the engine (a 4

attempt certificate, achieving a speed of 61.471mph over a flying kilometre.

stretcher ride back to the pits for Brian was in order.

By 1973 he was competing in the Rouen 24hr race (with George Higgins and Derek Rundle) as well as the Paris 6 hour race (with George Higgins).

A brief foray into formula Ford motor racing during the winters of 1975/6 (Chris Williams driving and the car sponsored by Grimshaw Engineering) was abandoned to continue his real passion of powerboats.

In 1973 he was racing his 2nd Barracuda boat with a 70hp Johnson outboard. In 1974 this boat was placed 3rd in the All Ireland Powerboat Championships. Winning was not always what mattered, the taking part in as many races in as many different places (both in the UK and Europe) was far more fun.

1976 saw another new Barracuda with a 75hp Stinger (painted in go-faster stripes to replicate James Hunt’s racing car at the time). Then another new Barracuda in 1977 with the new ‘picklefork’ design.

1974 saw Brian’s first (and thankfully only) serious racing accident. Like so many of his stories it involved Alan Langdon; Alan always drove his boat to the limit and encouraged Brian to do the same (to be fair not much encouragement was needed). At the Bristol Grand Prix Brian lost control on a turn whilst chasing Alan and ended up in the water, he surfaced underneath the engine (which luckily had stopped) and the prop sliced his leg open. A quick visit to the Bristol Royal Infirmary (where he discharged himself) resulted in a huge scar on his knee but his need to race not diminished.

1977 was one of the most successful as he finished 4th overall in the SE National championships with Powerboat and Waterskiing magazine writing that in his race

In 1975 Johnson brought out the 75hp ‘Stinger’ engine and the BBC were persuaded to broadcast ‘Formula Johnson’ racing (SE class) live on Saturday afternoon’s ‘Grandstand’. Murray Walker provided the commentary and provides a lovely photo of himself sitting astride the rear cowl of Brian’s boat in his autobiography. Murray always had a lot of time for powerboat racing but, unfortunately, the viewing public were not so enamoured and the Formula Johnson event was not repeated.

The Hallmark

A new boat in 1975 was destroyed at Chasewater when Andre Dierckx went over the top of Brian and sliced the boat in two. Neither driver was hurt although a sympathy 5

at Iver Heath in August “…he drove one of the best races of his life”.

stinger). The aim was to promote the Johnson brand and improve the skills and knowledge of those directly involved with powerboat racing. This was attended by Andrew Elliott, Mick Chick and Ken McCrorie amongst others.

Later the same year the Hallmark Racing project was launched; an innovative new engine designed with George Higgins amongst others. Unfortunately it did not perform well and was retired mid 1978….but it did start a lot of conversations when seen!

A similar teaching event for Junior Racing drivers followed as Brian’s son, Nick, was racing in the Junior class. The Rouen 24hr race in 1978 saw the first all British team win for more than a decade. Drivers Tony Rowe, Roger Hedge and Tony Colville drove a blu-fin with 65hp Johnson (race prepared by Grimshaw Engineering); whilst this was not the fastest boat it was the most reliable unlike most of the other crews.

Brian now thought ‘big’; he wanted to attract a sponsor looking for maximum exposure at National (and some international) race meetings by promoting a large team made up of smaller class boats. Purimachos ltd, who manufactured Jetcem quick setting cement, agreed to sponsor an 8 boat team with the aim of winning national championships in NE, NF, SD and SE classes.

This win gave Brian so much satisfaction, as did all the boats to come with ‘Grimshaw Racing’ written on the side. Throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s Brian wrote an ‘Outboard clinic’ column for Powerboat (later Powerboat and Waterskiing) magazine. Many other articles were penned including setting up race engines and boats alongside race reports. Ros Nott from the magazine always referred to him as the ‘Admiral’. In the late 1970s Brian combined with Outboard Marine’s Service school to hold a high-performance service course for racing drivers and mechanics of Johnson Outboard Engines (linked in with the Johnson 75

Drivers were approached from a variety of clubs and with a variety of experience (Brian also wanted to nurture up and coming talent).

•

class. A fair few top 3 placings were won over the 2 years with Bruce cited as ‘the one to watch’.

NE class drivers; Mick Chick and Andrew Elliott (previous 4 x Junior champion). • NF class; John Lewis, Will Taylor and Stuart Williams. • NSD class; Steve Kerton. • SE class; Brian Grimshaw (also team manager) and Nick Mawby. In their first season (1979) the Jetcem team won more races than any other racing team in the UK, John Lewis broke the NF British National Speed Record at Lake Windermere and Nick Mawby and Steve Kerton won their respective class National championships.

Brian’s last fling into a large powerboat team was as team manager for the Dupes Colour team in 1985. At the start of the season there were 4 boats; T1 class monohulls; Jane Andrewartha and Bruce Babbington and Formula 4; Mike Cordy and Marc Rolls. After a brilliant drive at the Bristol Grand Prix Owen Morse joined the team followed by Tony Williams in a Formula 2 boat in June (whilst still recovering from a shoulder injury). In August Anthony Hiscock in a Formula 3 boat joined giving a 7 boat team for the London Grand Prix in August.

The following year the team lost Steve Kerton but gained Peter Faithful in the SE class (previous National champion). Results were not quite so consistent this year but Nick Mawby won the SE National championship and a young Andrew Elliott was 3rd in the NE nationals.

Once again Brian was managing the largest powerboat team in a season. Tony Williams won the National Formula Grand Prix title that season.

Mick Chick and Andrew Elliott took part in the annual London inflatable marathon in 1980 with their Jetcem boat; an event well attended by racing drivers in their ‘off’ season!

Away from powerboat racing Brian enjoyed boats in many different forms; canoes, dinghies and inflatable dinghies were obtained for his grandsons to enjoy on the River Exe with expeditions down river in Dorys and cabin cruisers from when they were tiny. Brian and Marian had various cabin cruisers with their last boat being a Doral in 2006; this worked very well as a floating holiday home when moored at Dartmouth!

Although no longer racing himself Brian continued to assist younger and less experienced drivers gain their racing wings. The Grimshaw Racing Team grew in the early 1980s from Bruce Babbington and Owen Morse in the NE class to include father and daughter Rupert and Denise Alcock in the NF

In the early 2000s Brian enjoyed helping to crew a yacht on balmy summer evenings on 7

the River Exe. He then took his International Sailing certificate whilst on a sailing holiday in Greece in 2005 so he could sail ‘properly’.

By January 2021 it was obvious that his illness had won and Brian died peacefully at home. His daughter, Jackie, had the luxury of being able to write down a lot of her father’s stories from his life before he died as well as ploughing through the hundreds of photos, programmes, magazines and newspaper articles from his racing days.

Various other watery holidays were enjoyed with Marian, the most adventurous being a 2 week expedition rafting down the Grand Canyon and sleeping rough for their Silver wedding. Any holiday would involve floating on water in some way (see photo page 7 right hand side, when on a Ranch holiday in the USA, learning to ride a horse being another activity in the 1990s).

From the lovely messages, cards and comments we have received Marian, Nick, Jackie and all the rest of his family have gained great comfort from knowing that Brian was admired, appreciated and valued as a friend and colleague in all aspects of his life. It’s lovely to know that he can be recorded as having a big influence on the success of UK powerboat racing at its (arguable) heyday in the 1970s/80s.

2020 saw Brian a lot more poorly (he had been diagnosed with a rare illness in 2006 and defied the Doctor’s life expectancy) but celebrated a wonderful year for the family; all of his 4 Grandsons were successful in their chosen careers and he had 2 new great grandchildren born. To cap it all his beloved Exeter Chiefs won the rugby double (with his friend and previous fellow racing driver, Tony Rowe, as chief executive of the club).

The above piece was written by Brian’s daughter, Jackie Millichap.

The Jetcem Team (from left) Stuart Williams, Mick Chick, Will Taylor, Andy Elliott, Tony Humphries (Purimachos), Brian and Nick Mawby.

Brian racing his Tremlett hull. Coombe Cellars 1966.

Brian with co-driver Jeff Turner in Little Gem. Coombe Cellars 1962

Brian Reginald Grimshaw Born: 17.06.39 Started racing: 1961 Retired from racing: 1986 Vice Chairman of the RYA Sportboat Committee late 1970s and early 1980s The following piece was supplied by Brian May 2012.

1966 was also the year that Chris Tremlett and myself decided to try our hand at Class 111 Offshore racing where I was to prepare and fit the engine, in this case a 100 hp Mercury, and Chris was to supply the boat. Probably the top Class 111 race at the time was the Putney Calais. In those days you actually had to know a bit about chart reading and compass work as there was no GPS to get you home if you got lost. That season brought us quite a bit of silverware.

I started racing in 1961 and my first racing boat, Little Gem, was a Derry powered by a 50 Mercury competing in class ET. In the early 60s most outboard racing was 2 up and the codriver was used to balance the boat when cornering. I won my first race competing in the Hook Trophy at the South Devon Watersports Club (SDWC), where racing was held, tide permitting, at Coombe Cellars, at the top of the Teign Estuary.

In 1967 I returned to Circuit Racing and that year teamed up with Ben Brown to race a Shakespeare powered by a 50 Mercury in the Paris 6 Hour race to finish 3rd in their class.

I had soon got the racing bug and in 1964, I approached Chris Tremlett to build me an XT racer. Chris was becoming well known at the time for building hot moulded ski boats that were both light and strong. The boat called Jackie G, named after my daughter, was initially raced 2 up in the then XT class but this was then raced in 1965 as an XU class with just one driver on board. This boat was placed in the top 3 finishers in 8 of the 1965 National races including the Havoline Trophy and the British Class Championships. The photo shows a Tremlett XU fitted with a Merc 100.

Earlier in the season I was approached by John Robertshaw to race with him in the Cowes Torquay race. The boat was a Tremlett powered by two of the latest Aston Martin DB6 engines. One of the distinctive features of this boat was that it must have had the loudest exhaust noise of any boat in the race; it was deafening. All was going well until the boat reached Berry Head, off Torquay, where it seized up due to gear box failure and that was that.

In 1966 Chris Tremlett decided to build a small deep Vee boat and I was approached by the then Electrolux Penta Company to race their 600cc Penta engine in the Paris 6 Hour race competing in class DU. In those days there were about 85 boats racing and the barges still ploughed through the course! This made the water quite rough and although I finished a respectable 3rd in class the engine finished the race being tied together with lengths of rope as the rubber mounts were shot and the engine had nearly shaken itself to bits.

An engineer by profession, I was always keen on the design and preparation of two stroke outboard motors and so it was in 1973 that I teamed up with Tony Hall and George Higgins to try to produce a UK built OE 850cc engine called the Hallmark. This project was short lived as it was impossible to compete with the large budgets of the major outboard manufacturers. 1973 was also the year that I started writing my Outboard Clinic column for Powerboat and Waterskiing magazine. 11

In the early 70s I got together with Grant Morton of Birmingham Powerboats to produce a competitive SE racing catamaran. Again I was to produce the engine and Grant the boat. I had now switched to the 70 hp Johnson for power. Grant’s Barracuda cat was soon to become the way to go in the SE class. This very successful association with Grant Morton and later Bob Nelson lasted well into the 1980s.

classes which were being dispensed from the Jetcem caravan. The team won the National NF Championship with Stuart Williams and The SE Championship with Nick Mawby and me coming in as runner up. In 1980 the team was joined by Peter Faithfull as both he and Nick Mawby wanted to race abroad more. The Jetcem sponsorship certainly injected a lot of interest in the smaller classes and continued until 1982 when Purimachos decided to explore other forms of promotion.

The SE class was given an extra boost in 1975 when Johnson brought out the 75 Stinger outboard. It was in 1975 that Bob Glenn, the MD of EP Barrus, the importers of Johnson outboards, together with Charlie Sheppard persuaded the BBC to broadcast live on BBC Grandstand circuit racing from the CMBRC course at Fairford. I took third place with the Barracuda Johnson.

In 1983 I re-formed the Grimshaw Racing team with Bruce Babbington and Owen Morse driving the new Johnson 60 Sport in class NT2 and Rupert and Denise Alcock driving the 75 Stinger Johnson in T1. The next couple of years saw the team gain many successes both in the UK and abroad.

During the late 70s a Battle Royal was developing between the two big manufactures of Outboard motors, Mercury and OMC and major sponsors were being attracted into sponsoring ON and OZ racing. With this in mind I wanted to sell the idea of sponsorship for the smaller classes and the best way to sell the idea was as a team package. Spectators were thrilled by the high speeds of the ON and OZ classes (Formula One) but equally they also enjoyed much closer racing in the smaller NE and NF monohull classes as these racers did their best to keep their boats on the water at venues such as the Bristol Docks races.

I retired from active involvement in Racing in 1986.

I approached Powerboat Publicity Services run by Philipa and Stephan Neil-Mee and discussed my idea with them. They subsequently introduced me to Tony Humphries of Purimachos, the manufactures of Jetcem, and as a result the Jetcem Racing team was formed in 1979. The initial team consisted of Mick Chick and Andrew Elliott in NE, Stuart Williams, John Lewis and Will Taylor in NF and Nick Mawby and me in SE. The Jetcem team made quite an impact in their first year providing the sponsor with a high visual impact at each race and providing sustenance to all the drivers from the smaller 12

Above from left: Ron Whitney, Jon Stevens, Brian and Dave Cox. Rouen.

Below from left: Derek Issit (brown overalls), Ken McCrorie (red overalls), Brian on boat and Ken Deller (looking up). Paris.

Peter Faithful (54) and Brian Grimshaw (57). Bristol 1980

Brian, Bristol 1980

Condolences Nigel Aldrich It was him and Derek Rundle that originally got me into the sport.... Great people. Owen Morse RIP. It was Brian that gave me my first competitive outfit 60 Johnson on a Bristol: team-mate Bruce Babbington: good memories. Roger Mayling Very sad news R.I.P. Brian, one of the two people who created my love for Powerboat Racing. Robert Williams This is very sad news. I grew up alongside Brian, with my father and father-in-law and myself, racing at coombe cellars. My sincere condolences to his wife Marion and family RIP Brian. Ken McCrorie I can’t tell you the number of laughs I had with Brian, he was so lovely to work with. Bought my first Johnson motor from him, collecting it from his workshop in Topsham. He then organised and ran the Jetcem Team, first to have a number of different classes in one team from monohull to SE’s. It just seems over the past few months we have lost so many greats from the sport. Good on you Brian, for what you did for the sport but more importantly the friendship. Antoine Sire The passing away of Brian Grimshaw makes me extremely sad. He came very often to the Paris and Rouen races and he would always come, have a chat and give useful advice for my boat. Very friendly and wise man, with a lot of humour! David Pillow A great guy. RIP Brian Lisa Kent Sad to hear this. Fond memories of Brian during the years of racing with my Dad, Derek Rundle. Sending love to Marian and family. Lisa xx Michael Pillow Very sad news; the sport desperately needs people like him. Miles Jennings Very sad news. Brian contributed in so many ways to the Sport. An unsung powerhouse. Heidi Lee Webber RIP Brian, one of the nicest people in boat racing. Honourable and always friendly and professional.

Bill Owen Oh that is sad news. The sport owes him so much. May you rest in peace. Roger Mayling Very, very sorry to hear of the passing of Brian who had a profound influence on my developing a life-long love of all things Powerboat Racing. He and the Members of South Devon Watersports Club were amazing to me personally. Condolences to the family, R.I.P. Brian. Pat Ainge Oh so sorry will never forget his banter rest in peace Brian Sue Adamson Condolences to Brian’s family. A gentleman racer. Anne Walder So sorry to hear this. Brian was a gent and so helpful to us all when we started racing, RIP Brian, condolences to all the family. Jonathan Swarbrick So sorry to hear this. Brian was one of the first people I met in powerboat racing. He gave me a Johnson, grey race jacket when I was 17 and I never stopped wearing it! Nice memories. Condolences to all the family. RIP Brian Billy Field RIP Brian. Like many, you gave us the tools to start boat racing and supported so many. Say hello to ACE who you so passionately believed in. Jack Wilson Gentle and very knowledgeable lad. He was there from the start of powerboating as we know it! Steve Kerton Sad news Brian gave me my first opportunity of sponsorship with Jetcem Team Great man RIP Brian

Left: Brian, John Stevens, Dave Cox and Ron Whitney at Rouen.

Below: Brian (facing right), Ken McCrorie (in red) and Nick Mawby (in Blue).

Left: the team working on the boat in Paris.

Bruce Babbington Remembers Brian Bristol hull molds for a one-off boat. He knew I worked for Brian and was not happy. I quickly realized that he thought Brian had somehow snubbed him over something in the past.

Brian (The Admiral as he was affectionately known) rescued my mediocre racing career when he offered me a team drive with the newly released Johnson 60 Sport. He could see something in my ability and I did not want to disappoint his trust. The first race was to be Bristol docks 1982. With only 2 laps of practice on an engine only run for 10mins from new, I came second in the first international heat. I ended the weekend 2nd in the international and 3rd in the national class T2.

I knew this was very unlikely and when I told Brian, he called Charlie and the air was cleared. The boat was built and was a great success. It weighed just under 100lbs, with great acceleration and handling. Brian after much negotiation got a sponsorship deal for 4 drivers with Dupes Colour. I think the sponsors where very happy with the professional way the team performed under the constant guidance of Brian.

I not sure who was more stunned, Brian or me; he was not expecting anything above mid field. That weekend was such fun. Brian put me under no pressure and was always very encouraging and positive. I can’t ever remember him being overbearing or demanding while racing or later working for him. As a manager he selflessly promoted the team and the drivers. I was one of many drivers he was instrumental in giving a start in circuit racing.

At the end of the season I retired from Racing and shortly after went to live in Kenya. I kept in touch with Brian when I returned and was always entertained with his informative recounting of “the news” in Topsham and the racing world. Brian had great insight and supported those he thought had potential. He also had a dry, wicked sense of humour, which enabled him to treat what could have been a great faux pas, as an opportunity to learn and preferably not repeat. His support and belief in me on a personal level enabled me to achieve heights I would not have anticipated. He provided a friendship that did not wane and I am sincerely appreciative of all the local and world racing news he was always keen to fill me in on, his banter and wisdom and most particularly, his unfailing belief in my capabilities. Thank you, Brian.

Bruce racing in Bristol 1980

At the end of 1984 we decided to build our own boat, constructed in foam sandwich /Kevlar. Brian negotiated the use of a workshop on Topsham quay from the local council where we would build it. I rang Charlie Sheppard and asked if we could hire his 20

World Records

Brian racing at the London Motor Boat Racing Club, Iver Heath, 1977

From left: Bruce Babbington, Owen Morse, Denise Alcock, Brian and Rupert Alcock.

Fast On Water’s latest acquisition – A Wilson hydroplane from the 1950s