News
HRDC.
December 10th – A proposed new format of grids from the organiser of the ex-Top Hat series – more at ‘Race News’.
WSM video.
November 15th – Technology catches up with wsmcars. In-car video courtesy of cameraman Paul Webb and technical support from Mick Juchnowicz has enabled us to attach coverage via YouTube – go to ‘Race News’ 2010.
WSM 403 S2.
November 13th – pictures of the latest new arrival courtesy of the team in obstetrics.
Sebring History.
November 12th – Email received from George Katz.
‘Whilst archiving a suitcase full of old slides and photos for posterity I came across some pictures of a car I used to own in the 1960’s which might be of interest to you. I part exchanged my “hot” Mini for a Sprite which I bought from a mews garage in Swiss Cottage London, now long gone ( I probably saw the ad in Motorsport which I used to read at that time). The guys told me that it had been owned and raced by Douglas Wilson-Spratt and at the time the number plate was JAX 12. When I picked up the car they had changed the plate which I was annoyed about so they reduced the price of the car by about £50.00. The bonnet was fibreglass and the rear end was aluminium and it came with a detachable hardtop. I kept the car for about 7-8 years. I made the mistake of buying a new car (a TR4a) before selling the Sprite, so it languished on the drive for about a year before selling it on to a policeman. Does this car still exist? If so perhaps you could put me in touch with present owner as I have other photos of the car, and could let them know further details. Regards ‘
We passed details to Healey registrar Paul Woolmer – ‘ I am certainly aware of your old Sprite. As you say it was originally registered JAX 12, and owned by Jack Wolchover. Mainly used as a rally car on club and occasional national events, it was modified by Peels of Kingston with a light alloy rear and doors. The work was almost certainly commissioned by John Sprinzel Ltd of Lancaster Mews. It also had the ‘works’ spec wire wheel and disc brake conversion. The car now lives in the USA and I will contact the owner and ask if I can pass his details to you. In the meantime, I would be grateful to receive any additional photos you may have to add to my file on this interesting Sebring Sprite.’
Pinkerton Investigates (2).
November 11th – Following September 6th email from Robin Pinkerton, the story comes full circle with solicitor George Plenderleath offering for sale his smart blue MGB overdrive roadster. George lived near Delta Garage in Leighton Buzzard for many years, and having owned the car since purchased from Robin at Pinetrees Motors in Edlesborough in 1972, George has driven 42,000 miles and invested in a new hood which gives improved visibility. The car was resprayed in the 1990’s and the original colour was retained. For more information, please see the ‘For Sale’ page on this website.
Rev Countered.
November 8th – Great pic of MEG and a garlanded Gordon Elwell on the front cover of the Austin Healey Club monthly magazine. As third placed driver in the Fordwater Trophy at the Goodwood Revival, after stunning the faster machinery around him by leading for two laps off the grid in his Sebring Sprite, he thoroughly deserves the accolades.
WSM S2.
November 5th – Contact from ex-NASA engineer and Healey historian Bill Emerson as he organises the donor car for his WSM S2 GT. The HAN8 car shortly enjoys a trip across the pond to England before stripping off and slipping into something sexier in Colmworth. The author of several ‘Healey’ books has long been an admirer of the WSM shape, and the interest was cemented by Bill’s visit to the Isle of Man on June 3rd to interview the designer.
Newborn ‘GT’.
October 29th – The first S2 ‘GT’ made its entrance today – the clock on the wall indicates 9.40am when the three hour labour began and, although contractions began the previous day, a strong and healthy 30kg has reportedly ‘thrilled’ the new parents. WSM 402 S2 is a much anticipated sibling to 401 in Luton.
Goodwood sounds.
Hearing the 1.5 litre V16 supercharged BRM at the Revival in September reminded me of the recording made for Nick Mason’s book ‘See Red’ at Silverstone a few years ago, audible the entire way around the circuit from the pit lane – click on
Goodwood test.
September 8th – A busy Revival test day with wet and dry conditions. Fordwater grid entrant Neil Hardy ran well in Bill McDonough’s immaculate Speedwell Sprite, and Nick Swift in the Stefan Wray Mini Dart confirmed his potential with rapid times in the dry afternoon sessions. The Alfa Giulietta SZ of Liz Halliday made a steady Goodwood debut, while the WSM MGB was out for the first time on L section Dunlops, as now required on the Fordwater grid, and posted similar times to the wider M section performance – both cars were initially hamstrung by silencer issues.
Freddie March Trophy driver Mick Darcey brought his stunning Healey 100S, previously out in the Mille Miglia earlier this year, and multiple Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen jumped between Audi RS6, Aston Martin DBR1 and Ferrari 330LMB in preparation for his Austin A95 Westminster drive in the St Marys Trophy.
Ex-WSM 202 owner John Pearson and Equipe GTS racer Nick Crewdson called by, and Nick remembered the WSM MGB while working with Stephen Langton in Kent when the WSM was raced by daughter Amanda Langton in the 1980’s.
Pictures courtesy of Paul Webb, WSM transport courtesy of fellow Equipe GTS racer Brian Arculus.
Pinkerton Investigates.
September 6th – The Delta Garage Sales Manager in 1972 was Robin Pinkerton, with whom we keep in touch and see occasionally at race meetings in the UK. That year he sold a new MGB Roadster in blue to a regular customer, solicitor George Plenderleath – having now done 42,000 miles in the car, George feels its time to sell it.!
WSM3000 Memories.
August – A thank you to racer Mike Youles, who kicked off the following with an email to wsmcars.com –
“I had lunch today with a friend of mine’s uncle, a Mr Michael Levey. In the 1960’s he was a car trader in central London and we were viewing old slides of the American cars he used to deal in, together with Cooper S and Lotus Cortinas he had owned. Amongst the slides were pictures of the maroon WSM3000 which he had owned for a while during that period. As a fellow car enthusiast would it be helpful to you if I obtained some copies of the slides and a brief note of his ownership?”
From Michael Levey
” In December 1966 I was a car salesman at Shaw and Kilburn at the St Johns Wood roundabout in London (now demolished I think). A fellow salesman Rob (not sure of his surname) said he had seen an advert for an exciting car and as he could not afford it on his own we should buy it together. He purchased the car, taxed and insured it in his name “Rob.”.
The total bill was around £1,400.00, slightly more than a new Healey 3000 MkII at that time. We decided to share it alternately for one week each and with the toss of a coin I won it for the first week. During that week I took it to our rugby club Christmas dinner dance at the Burford Bridge Hotel, Boxhill near Dorking where I live. Susan, now my wife, wore a long lemon coloured dress and on getting out of the car I blipped the throttle to show off – as the exhausts came out just behind the front wheel on her side it left exhaust marks on her dress! She still hasn’t forgiven me and still has the dress! The rest of the evening was spent taking friends on very hairy trips up and down the Boxhill bypass. it was wet too.
In July 1967, Rob was getting married and moving to Essex so we decided to sell the WSM. I think we made a good profit of £250.00 each. The photos are taken from old colour slides I took of the car outside the showroom at Shaw and Kilburn. I know the date because it is printed on the colour slide frames. Hope this may give you a bit more of the car’s history. I have fond memories of this car and have often wondered what happened to it.”
We described the rest of the known history to Michael and the car’s current whereabouts – ed.
Alfaholics.
July – Frances Lobb continues to enjoy the fruits of South African hospitality, and seemingly an inexhaustible supply of free week-ends from Lloyds Bank (left).
Manx resident and Classic regular Justin Wilson is planning an ARDS course and Alfa purchase for 2011. Past loves include Mk 1 Cortina and Renault GTA amongst others, but the feelers are out for a Giulia Sprint GTA or similar.
Equestrian and sportscar driver Liz Halliday brings her fathers Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Coda Tronca to the Goodwood Revival on September 16th – one of 29 made, the car was returned to the track at the 2010 Silverstone Classic to help celebrate the Alfa Romeo centenary –
“It’s a huge honour to be invited to race in the Fordwater Trophy,” she said. “I really wanted to be involved this year to celebrate Alfa’s 100th anniversary and I’d like to sincerely thank the organisers for accepting my entry. It means a lot to my Dad to know I’m racing his car at such an incredible event, and I’m just sad that he’s not well enough to travel.” Halliday has driven the notoriously demanding Goodwood circuit before, but has never raced there and is
looking forward to the challenge. ““It’s very fast with not much run-off, so I know how difficult it is,” Halliday said. “The first part of the track is really quick, but although the SZ isn’t the most powerful of cars, it is fairly nippy and I hope that will help it around the latter part of the circuit. Really we’re there to showcase the car though. It’s a really beautiful little machine and will fit in perfectly in the Fordwater Trophy. A lot of my racing friends have driven at the Revival before, but I haven’t, so I’m really excited to give it a go – this one’s for you Dad!”
The Golden Bentley.
July – Hall & Bradfield are advertising one of DW-S’s old favourite’s – click on for more at Chassis 703
Senior TT.
June 11th – The section at Glen Vine is said to be taken at 160mph – you can hear them approaching down the Ballahutchin hill for the right handed kink by the traffic lights for which some don’t lift – and the racing line at full beans must be a 6″ margin at the very most between the pavements. Paul Dobbs died here earlier this week in the SuperSport TT race, and this rider in third place at the time Guy Martin, had broken ribs and other injuries but not life threatening. Guy did try to get on a stretcher unaided and was more concerned about his broken little finger hampering his favoured tea habit.
The first picture shows the airborne petrol tank making its escape, while the rest of the bike is about to appear over the brow on the left in the brightest of the flames. Camera man Noel O’Reilly says he involuntarily backed away into his brothers garden in which he was standing as pictures two and three unfolded. It was the third lap and not long after the refuelling stop, hence the fireball.
The race was red flagged and re-started later as a 4 lapper instead of 6, after the fire brigade doused the roadside conflagration amongst the hay bales.
Sunday – Super Sprite.
June 5th – Swopping the tow car in the paddock on Saturday to enable a stricken Healey 3000 to be recovered meant our wheels for a while came in the shape of the prototype ‘Super Sprite’ –
“The car was built by the Donald Healey Motor Company during 1962 to a Les Ireland design, allegedly from earlier sketches by Gerry Coker. Built to assess the viability and performance advantages of fitting an 1100cc Coventry Climax engine, the car was also fitted with disc brakes on all four wheels. The chassis is original Sprite Mk1 and modified to accept the special aluminium outer bodywork and unique forward hinging bonnet made at the Donald Healey Motor Company by Bill Buckingham.”
It was a delight to drive and little excuse was needed for wandering off to a not-too-nearby pub. The journey took me straight back to the late 1960’s and early 70’s when the 80 mile school run to and from Bedfordshire to Kent every term was made in Sprite’s and yours truly perched (very non-pc these days) on the transmission tunnel between driver and (seated) passenger. Nippy performance, compliant suspension and manoeuvreability that stems from lightness and design was a wonderful reminder of how rewarding such cars are in these days of technological and overweight behemoths.
Saturday – Volkert Wels.
June 4th – We met MGB restorer Volkert Wels, and he asked if his MGLive prize winning MGB GT and roadster could be photographed alongside the WSM. The cars were a credit to his craft, and it was frankly astonishing that these gleaming gems had been driven from Holland for the event. The attention to detail was flawless, and I for one never saw a showroom MGB looking quite as brand spanking.
Friday – Griffiths Bump.
June 4th – Its a small world. At the end of Friday’s test day on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, the opportunity to cycle around the 3.19 miles in glorious evening sunshine was too good to miss. Bumping into and chatting with a family group alongside, after half the lap it transpired I was talking with Simon Griffiths, Manx Classic regular Rob Griffith’s elder brother. Rob brought his mighty blue Midget to the Isle of Man on a few occasions and joined us in Glen Vine in the days of the WSM pre-event get togethers. Back in the pitlane garage are pictured Rob (left and still bottle blonde) and Simon (right), a long way off their 40 minute pitstop race at 5.18pm on Sunday in which Rob and colleague John Staines finished third overall.
Thursday – Fleeting TT visit.
June 3rd – Author, historian and Healey officianado Bill Emerson made a brief visit to the Isle of Man, arriving at 6pm on Thursday. His main objective was to record DW-S with WSM 208, but we also watched sidecar and solo practice from the Railway Pub in Union Mills that evening, and managed a quick lap of the TT course at 5.30am on Friday morning before catching the 7am sailing back to Heysham on the way to Silverstone.
WSM 205.
May – Picture kindly supplied by John Adams who contacted us today, is of Mike White in WSM 205 at Goodwood in 1963. John has an interesting collection of slides and negatives, mainly from Goodwood in the 1960’s. It was not until pointed towards our website by Sprite owner Jonathon Whitehouse-Bird recently that he was able to identify the car.
Mille Miglia.
May – Thanks to Mick Darcey’s gorgeous 1954 Healey 100S being included at number 311, Paul Woolmer and Paul Webb trailered the car to Italy on May 4th for the retro classic. Following in Moss and Jenk’s SLR footsteps from the 1950’s, as support crew they were on the go as they kept up with the event and the car they recently finished restoring. As the pictures illustrate, Mick and navigator Steve Hutchinson were in good company.
Fordwater WSM’s.
April – Invitations for WSM 202, WSM 207, WSM 210, the WSM MGB and Paul Woolmer’s Sebring Sprite ‘BXN’ have been issued for the September classic. The same five were included in the 2006 event, but since then WSM 202 changed hands and Brian Arculus will hope for better luck than Paul had in 2003 (water pump failure) and Jim Lowry in 2006 ( bonnet damage). The missing WSM Sprite this time around is 301 which excelled in the hands of Ian Hulett in 2006. Deep Sanderson’s, Mini Gem, Ogle, Mini Dart, Speedwell Sprite’s and more rarities will make for interesting viewing and competition.
Progress 401 S2.
April – pictured, the FIA spec roll cage which has been installed. It has been manufactured to meet appendix K requirements, and follows the roof line and the front screen pillars whilst not intruding into the door aperture. Next up is the secondary rear hoop and bracing.
April Tool.
With the Goodwood Revival test day for the Fordwater grid scheduled for this morning (April 1st) and WSM’s out in strength, the last thing we wanted to hear was that an ‘incident’ had taken out two cars before a wheel was even turned on track. I received a call at 8.45am from the paddock to reveal that 207 and 210 had sustained damage and frantic work was under way to patch them up. The combination of a busy morning at work in the Isle of Man, and a convincing telephone delivery from a trusted source caused much gnashing of teeth and thoughts of how careless people can be.
Deep Sanderson owner Guy Loveridge is no longer on the WSM Christmas card list, and subsequently there may be reports of a DS being parked in a very uncomfortable place.
Slippery Coupe’s.
March – Entries are posted for the 1st April track day (see below) at Goodwood from Brian Arculus with WSM 202 (living around the corner helps), Clive Cocks with WSM 210, and Paul Woolmer with BXN.
Entente Cordiale.
March – Anglo/French relations are alive and kicking as the sale of the Arculus TR3a on our ‘For Sale’ page demonstrates, and the new French owners plan to continue campaigning the car in ‘Equipe’ GTS races. This could be good news for all of us if Marc and Veronique Lafon’s champagne welcome at ‘Equipe’ BRDC Silverstone last year is set to become a national trait.
Goodwood Revival.
March – Organisers have invited under 1500cc cars of a type that raced between 1960-66 in the Fordwater Trophy to a track day on April 1st. Limited to 35 cars and 105d, the full day is intended to display candidates for the slippery coupe grid in front of advisor Julius Thurgood.
Lie In & Study.
February – ‘Equipe’ GTS race series organiser Christophe Wilmart introduced the Oxford Universities Motorsport Foundation (OUMF) team, a student initiative founded in July 2005 which provides “hands on” practical experience of motorsport to the students of Oxford and aims to bridge the increasing skills gap that is threatening all engineering and manufacturing industries in the UK. By introducing predominantly engineering students to the world of racing car preparation and component fabrication, as well as team management, OUMF aims to enhance the quality of students graduating into all manufacturing and engineering industries as well as bring new blood into the historic and contemporary racing arenas. The OUMF will run a red 1959 Elva Courier, pictured at the 2005 Revival.
WSM S2’s.
February – snow dented progress a little lately with the Bedfordshire lanes impassable, but Ian Hulett has collected the shell and provisionally married up the lightweight ‘Sprint’ body with the WSM 401 floorpan. Meanwhile the roadgoing GT version WSM 402 remains at Colmworth in readiness to secure the body to the chassis.
Hill Climb.
January – Santa delivered a photographic negatives scanner to the Hill household and the ensuing search through dog-eared Kodak pouches revealed ex-WSM 205 owner Geoff Hill at Harewood hillclimb circa 1962/63 in his 1959 Austin Healey Sprite. Bought as a standard Sprite in 1961, Geoff started doing sprints and driving tests and won a few local events with the SYCEC (South Yorkshire Car Enthusiasts Club). He supercharged and modified the engine with a cam and special Healey head, fitted a close ratio Mk2 box and uprated the suspension while also fitting wires and front discs along with the Williams & Pritchard Sebring bonnet. He won a National test outright and as a result was asked to join the three car Austin Healey Club team which won the Morgan 4/4 Trophy twice – the team was overseen by BMC competitions guru Peter Browning. The car was sold when the lure of a Healey 3000 proved irrisistible, but four months later the Sprite was written off in an accident with the new owner at the wheel.
Gathercole Playtime Purchase.
January – David and Lorraine were married on 10th July 2004 and have just invested in a ‘sharing toy’ as Lorraine describes it.
Bentley Bloke.
January – The upside to a delayed sailing from Birkenhead with WSM 208 was meeting Manx resident Bill Creasey in the quayside queue. He stepped out of a chauffer-driven Bentley on recognising the WSM from his time with the Sporting Owners Drivers Club in the 1960’s and ownership of a Frogeye for competition. The ensuing chinwag revealed a self-confessed car nut and in the 1960’s as finances permitted he progressed through the ranks of sports cars, including a share of pal John Hingley’s Lotus Elite (stage 2 Climax & ZF box). Bill then raced a Brabam BT14, Chevron-Ford B10/17 and Brabam BT30 prior to becoming involved with hotshoe Graham McRae in an M10B McLaren, then in his GM1 F5000. Bill bought a third share in the BS Automotive F3000/F2 team founded by Bob Sparshott in 1976 and were winners of the inaugural European title – drivers included Mark Blundell, Andrew Gilbert Scott, Giovanni Amato, Dominiqe Delest, Michael Ferte, Tomas Kaiser and 1985 F3000 championship winner Christian Danner. Although many of Bill’s period pix were lost in a Spanish flood some years ago, a visit to his Onchan address is forthcoming.
Great Scott.
January – An email from Scott Yturria of San Ramon, California revealed him to be an ex-owner of WSM 210 between 1968-1972. Scott found the WSM cars website recently and tells us he purchased 210 from Dave Collier, a local Jaguar car dealer and family friend in Florida, after Scott missed out on a Fiat Abarth 750GT Zagato in 1967 and wanted something similar in body style. He drove 210 throughout his College days and admits it was usually the centre of discussion when the British sports car enthusiasts met. Scott sold the car to a college student in Florida, and replaced the WSM with a 1971 Lotus Elan SE.
Once a petrol head, always a petrol head – Lotus Europa and Esprit Turbo, Lamborghini Countach and Miura, Maserati Bora and Merak, and Ferrari 246, 308 and 512 have passed through Yturrian ownership. Scott has a small collection of F1 cars and a Group C car which he uses on the track occasionally, but he still would like to have the WSM back, so they are for sale – see the ‘For Sale’ page on this website.
Race news
Hulett Swings In Sixties.
The Luton-based Sprite racer had a day to remember at the CSCC Bank Holiday Mallory meeting. Pole position and lights to flag victory in the 41 lap Swinging Sixties race is the type of result we want to see next year with the lightweight WSM currently under construction.
Speedwell Entry.
Good news for the Michael and David Wylie equipe, as the grid organisers have found a spot for the Belfast-based Speedwell Sprite that did so well in the 2006 Fordwater race.
Premature.
MGA Sebring racer Simon Gurney is on the entry list for Silverstone – after mechanical grief at the MGLive event, resting the pedals was the stated aim, so we’re glad to see the change of heart.
MGLive – Silverstone 4th/5th/6th June.
The WSM MGB gets first WSM look at the new GP circuit at the annual MG jamboree – a strong 30+ entry for the ‘Equipe’ GTS grid will ensure the two scheduled races are as competitive as usual. Pictured left in 2007 at the MGCC event, only WSM 301 (no 16) will not be making a return visit in 2010.
Manx Classic – April 22nd/24th.
After losing the 2009 edition, the Three Hills event resumes with the Thursday evening sprint on the TT course from the Grandstand. The Sloc in the South hosts Friday’s competition, and the jewel in the crown Llerghy Frissell climb out of Ramsey on Saturday.
Event report: Brands
April 10th/11th – ‘Equipe’ GTS at Brands Hatch MGCC.
Welcome back the old, in with the new – first qualifying of the season featured four newcomers amongst a strong 27 car grid – the immaculate Class 2 Lotus Elite of Belgian Jean Saeys and the Class 3 Ding Boston Elva Courier (pictured) run by the Oxford University Motorsport Foundation, were welcome additions. The ex-Brian Arculus TR3 of Olivier Penat and Jean-Marc Avezou made a return, as did the ex-Neil Howe TR4 in the hands of series returnee
Dominic Spicer.
Q – A top three without an MGB is an unusual footnote for a series that originated under the MGTeam banner, but ‘Doc’ Ashworth’s TVR1800S and the TR4’s of John Andon and Pete Foster took full advantage of sunny and dry conditions to post times under one minute. First MGB was the fast improving Nick Crewdson, leading five B series cars from
1.00.207 to 1.00.984, with Class 3 headed by the Boston Courier, Class 2 by Tony Wilson-Spratt’s blue WSM, and Class 1 by Chris Clegg in the superbly presented Sebring Sprite.
Race One – The Foster TR4 was running on three cylinders off the line and caused mischief in the following ranks as avoidance became a priority, but Ashworth made the best of his pole position and put in a blistering fourth lap while fending off a fired up Andon. The battling B’s took advantage of Foster’s retirement, headed by Bicester resident Mike Harris from sixth spot as he squeezed past the Crewdson B into third. Meanwhile, Andon’s persistancy paid off and he dived underneath Ashworth at
Paddock and drew away for a well deserved second win in the series. Ron Watt, Graham Shrigley Jones and Jonathon
Stock in brother Jerry’s MGB settled 5th to 7th amicably eventually, and newcomer Penat resisted the Bob Allen MGB by a whisker for 11th. Ashworth, Boston, Saeys and Clegg wrapped up Class honours.
Fastest Laps: Class 1- Clegg 1.06.304 Class 2 – Wilson-Spratt 1.01.176 Class 3 – Boston 1.03.333 Class 4 – Ashworth 58.587 Class 5 – Andon 58.579
Race Two – The scheduled half hour race number 23 left ‘Equipe’ at the mercy of the days events, and with incidents
involving the previous Mazda MX5 and BCV8 grids, the timetable contracted until the ‘Equipe’ distance was halved. Nevertheless, another gripping race unfolded as Andon led away from Ashworth and Foster, but the latter retiring on lap 6 with a repeat of the misfire that blighted his first race. Stock used all his racecraft to repel fellow B pedellers Tim Patchett and Graham Bates as less than a second separated the trio, and a similar story unfolded as the blue WSM held off the charging Allen
and Iain Patterson MGB’s. At the front, Andon yielded to Ashworth’s pressure mid race and although Andon kept the heat on,
Ashworth remained unflustered to the flag where one hundreth separated them. Harris and Crewdson repeated third and fourth, and Colin Elstrop’s Spitfire and Peter Bolderson’s MGB rewarded paddock toils with 12th and 18th respectively. Class winners were Andon, Boston, Wilson-Spratt and Clegg.
FLs: Class 1 – Clegg 1.06.528 Class 2 – Wilson-Spratt 1.01.597 Class 3 – Boston – 1.01.784 Class 4 – Ashworth – 58.731 Class 5 – Andon 58.979
Pit & Paddock
Click on for in-car video courtesy of Paul Webb
Furtive goings on – Boston and Edney concoct fuel additive in trailer shelter with OUMF adviser
Rob Cull has his race winning TVR in bits at present, but is aiming to get finished for the next round in May
The winners rostrum for Saturday’s race was the Andon TR – left to right Andon, Ashworth and Harris with the gorgeous brolly dollies Blandine and Sarah
The WSM team create an effective blanket over 208’s first race war wounds
Bob Allen greets Jim Lowry (out of shot)
No comment – all the obvious ones have already come my way thanks.
Click on RESULTS courtesy of TSL Timing
MGCC race organiser Dave Saunders had the look of a troubled man as circumstances conspired to back up the race timetable on Sunday. However, not all the delays were simply red flag moments – you cannot legislate for a driver needing hospitalisation after a crash, nor for a driver falling ill in the paddock and both requiring airlifting out of the circuit (rules prevent circuit use while helicopters are in action). We wish both drivers a full recovery
Pictures courtesy of Paul Webb – all the above, and many more, are available in full fat format.
Next ‘Equipe’ GTS rounds at Zandvoort on May 15th/16th.
Event report: Cadwell
September 4th/5th – FM Tunes In At Cadwell.
Cadwell hosted the penultimate rounds of the Equipe GTS series for 2010, and the first visit to the Lincolnshire circuit, referred to as the ‘Mountain’ course in reference to a mini Nurbergring, for the Equipe grid was an eventful one. The hugely unfortunate Jerry Stock ran part of the test day on Friday before a terminal engine problem wrecked the week-end.
Practice – MGB’s filled the top three, with Fast Moustache David Beresford the pacesetter and Mike Harris continuing his 2010 form with second. The TR4’s of John Andon and Pete Foster were three and four seconds off the pace, an inexplicably large margin that caused much head scratching, and John Yea completed the B lock out. Newcomer Peter Hesz was having his first race in WSM 208 and alongside Clive Cocks in WSM 210 who was adjusting to new L section tyres ahead of the Goodwood Revival.
Race One – Harris kept the pressure on the FM throughout the race, but the wily Grandfather is an experienced Cadwell fan and was never compromised. A 3.8s margin at the chequer did’nt represent how closely matched throughout much of the race they were, and although Andon got the better of Shrigley-Jones and Yea, the thirty second gap to the third place TR4 was indicative of the leading pair’s pace. Foster bettered his practice time by 3 seconds but Yea
would’nt yield for 5th. The B’s of Graham Bates and Stephen Bolderson scrapped for 8th and despite a faster lap, Junior Bolderson was unable to breach the stout Bates defences – he’s definitely beaten the anorexia. A spinning Hesz parked the WSM gently into the barrier in front of a grandstand populated by the WSM owner.
Race Two – Something in the Chinese banquet fired up Andon on Saturday night – perhaps it was the loss of his noodles – but he took the lead, lost it to Beresford and second to Harris at one point, before storming back with fastest lap and pressing the FM to the line. Foster too came back into form, and held off the rampant B’s of Shrigley-Jones and Yea with a best lap some 4.5s better than his practice for 4th. A right barney towards the back between Roy Chamberlain’s TR3, Junior
Bolderson and Wilson-Spratt back in the
blue WSM looked settled after minor contact between the TR and the B through Park, but Bolderson clawed in the WSM for a well deserved 9th. Tim Patchett sealed a quiet week-end while picking up a pair of 7th places, but the broadest smile of the day was FM broadcasting from the white and black Beresford B as he celebrated his first wins in Equipe GTS.
Pit & Paddock
Click on for in-car video from WSM 208 courtesy of cameraman Paul Webb.
and courtesy of Stephen Bolderson for in-car footage from his MGB.
. Cocks raided the (parts) bin for WSM 210
. Gallic flare out
. The Bates changing room needs enlarging
. Susie also gets a lot of polishing done
. Mind games from Cocks before jumping the start and reporting to the beak
Click on for results
Next Equipe GTS rounds 12/13 at Snetterton on October 2nd/3rd.
Event report: Goodwood
September 17th-19th Goodwood Revival.
The Fordwater Trophy grid reverted to ‘slippery coupe’ format, and was on paper a more competitive gathering of the smaller capacity cars than had previously been the case in 2003 and 2006. Test day times the previous week had given a guide to the possible front runners –
Practice on Friday saw engine-builder Nick Swift set a 1.34.5 pole in the Mini Dart, with Rae Davis (Mini Gem 1.38.2) and Gordon Elwell (Sprite 1.39.3) making up the front row – the WSM flag flyers were Ivor Miller (11th), Brian Arculus (14th) and Clive Cocks (21st), while the WSM MGB chose to misbehave shortly before assembly for practice, then fail completely first lap out and was banished to the back of the grid. Several yellow and red flags compromised the session severely, but the wheels literally came off when the Deep Sanderson of Richard Meins spun out of the chicane and the rear axle hubs failed. Neil Hardy’s Speedwell necessitated an engine change.
Race – Elwell produce a stonking start in MEG to lead from Swift and Davis, but the WSM of Miller retired after failing to get off the line and was nudged in the rear by an unsighted Nick Wigley in the Ogle. The WSM MGB compounded the misery with a failed rotor arm on the out lap, alongside the unfortunate James Willis with a broken diff on his MG Midget Jacobs Coupe. For two laps Elwell kept Swift, Davis and Shaun Rainford in the Lenham GT at bay, but as Swift elbowed past through St Marys, Elwell was compromised and swallowed up by Davis and Rainford. Two laps later and Elwell schemed his way back past Rainford, but Swift and Davis had pulled out a significant margin. Paul Woolmer was making progress
from 7th in his Sebring
Sprite, and the Deep Sanderson of Simon Diffey (left) was hassling Chris Clegg’s Sebring for 10th. David Wylie’s 13th qualifying spot belied the true pace of the Speedwell and Mike Haigh’s Lenham GT hung on in 5th as Wylie came good in 6th. Davis retired on lap ten, and although MEG’s challenge faded as Rainford put in fastest lap while closing on Swift, Elwell had excelled in keeping it close. Arculus and Cocks brought home the WSM bacon in 9th and 17th, while Bob Ridgard (MGB Coune Berlinette) and James Wiseman (Alfa Giulietta SZ) squabbled entertainingly over 15th. Woolmer’s 4th place made up for two previous Goodwood disappointments, but Swift was never truly troubled after the loss of Davis and despite Rainford’s 11th lap charge, had a comfortable 3 second margin at the flag.
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Pit & Paddock
In 2006, Alex Rooke was pictured in WSM 301 by his grandfather and ex-WSM 201 owner Clive Rooke at the Revival. Alex is pictured again, this time beside WSM 210.
Good to see Manx connections over the week-end, including David Mylchreest and Peter Waters stopping by in the paddock, and Christophe Wilmart, Mike and Sarah Harris (left) and John Pearson and Nick Crewdson from the Equipe GTS race series. Ex-Spridget racers David and Lorraine Gathercole were the usual party animals at the Ball, especially with David having completed his race that afternoon, and Healey historian Bill Emerson popped over the pond for the week-end. Former WSM owners Clive and Anna Rooke called in, as did Healey officianado Peter Dulieu, and Steve Whistlecroft, son of Dennis who co-owned the WSM MGB with Barry Sidery-Smith in the 1970’s.
. Future WSM owner Lorraine Noble-Thompson in good (nurses uni) form with two Doug’s ahoy
. Mick Darcey’s 100S ready for the Freddie March Memorial Trophy
. ‘Equipe’ racer and Ken Dodd’s French cousin Marc Lafon and wife Veronique with Mike and Sarah Harris
Paddock Peeks.
The Ball.
Pictures courtesy of Sarah Harris, Lorraine Noble-Thompson and Paul Webb
Thanks to Ian Hulett and Murray Henderson (left) for their voluntary help, Roy Gillingham (right) and his team for jumping in at short notice, Brian Arculus for stashing the WSM MGB for a few weeks and thanks to Peter Hesz for the WSM teamwear.
Event report: Manx
April 22nd/23rd/24th – Marvellous Manx.
A hugely enjoyable and slickly run three days of sprint and hillclimb events was just reward for a mountain of work carried out by Manx Motor Racing Club organisers – good weather, knowledgeable marshalling and enthusiastic spectators were the icing on MMRC’s cake –
Governors Sprint – The change from the awkward Bray Hill arrangement, to a blast up the TT course past the Grandstand and through Governors Bridge was a brilliant concept and met with almost universal approval. The only change suggested by drivers in large and small machinery was to smooth out the chicanes which were set too deep into the side roads off Glencrutchery Rd – it was more autotest than sprint and detracted slightly from the spectacle. John Holt’s MG
Midget (right) took out the Governors cones, but overall an incident-free evening kept the schedule on track. Local Jaguar and MG dealer David Mylchreest was fastest classic in his MGB, with overall fastest to Andy Hardy’s Caterham Seven
The Sloc Hillclimb – An extended course caught many off guard first time out, but again it was an improvement on an already challenging climb. The bumpy nature of the A36 provided nerve jangling moments, and high in the list of entertainers were local Dave Musgrove’s rapid Mini (right), and the outrageous Hyabusa-engined Mini of visitor Allan McDonald (left). Fastest classic went to Steve King’s Ford Escort Mk 1 and Steve O’Donohue was fastest overall in a Caterham Seven.
Lhergy Frissell Hillclimb – The jewel in the MMRC crown drew crowds to Ramsey Hairpin and The Gooseneck for the largest field of the three days. From Andrew Harrington’s delightful MG J2 Midget with 847cc, to 5.7 litres of awesome GT40 behind Jonathon Gough, the sensation factor was omnipresent. The Caterham jockeys were predictably in the hunt, with Paul Dangerfield putting up FTD, and the thundering Chevrolet Camaro of Tim Boles topped the classics
despite pal Bob Ridgard’s tinkering (right).
The MMRC award for the Overall Post-1981 champion deservedly went to Andy Hardy, the effervescent host from The Courthouse in Douglas, while Overall Classic Pre-1981 was headed by Tim Boles (left).
The Northesk Trophy for the Best Team Effort went to Team Nil Desporandum, consisting of Nick Cussons, Adrian Kermode and David Mylchreest.
Pit & Paddock
Good to see Spridgeteer Eric Grundy returned from French exile – although I seemed to be the last to know.
Resident Michael Savino (left) had wife’s Peugeot 205 GTI in action and not his 600bhp battleship.
John Bate and Jonathon Gough resisted GT40 mischief on the Mountain as in 2008.
The Dutton Phaeton of Tom Babbs (right) emitted a mighty V8 rumble.
Adam Smith’s Fraser Nash Supersports soundtrack was spectacular.
Action photographs © Paul Hardiman 07770 502221 or click on here
Event report: Pembrey
24th/25th July – Ashworth’s Win And Lambert’s Spoils.
The ‘Equipe’ GTS foray west to Pembrey and the VSCC meeting produced close racing and a peek at some fascinating pre-war engineering courtesy of the Richard Seaman Memorial event –
Race One – Brian Lambert and Mike Harris got the MGB jump on everyone, but a slice of luck for the Mark Ashworth TVR 1800S
appeared when Keith Page seemingly missed a gear out of Hatchets. This momentarily held the pack and gave Ashworth the
opportunity to bolt and chase down the Lambert/Harris battle. He cleared them both in good order and took a lead he would not relinquish, looking comfortable on a margin to Harris of less than a second at the flag. Pete Foster led the chasing throng, and WSM interest centred on Clive Cocks bringing home the bacon in 10th.
Race Two – Ashworth’s day was done as the car suffered brake failure in the paddock shortly before the start, and with the
demise of leader Harris with half shaft failure, Lambert strolled off with the result. Foster added another podium to a long list, and series regular John Yea was rewarded with third place. The MGB’s of father and son Peter and Stephen Bolderson finished both races, with the younger generation taking the family spoils on each occasion, while Lambert took aggregate honours for the week-end.
Pictures courtesy of Graham Bates
Swift recovery wishes to Lotus racer Pat Arculus, hospitalised on Wednesday 4th August for a scheduled pit stop
Next ‘Equipe’ GTS round at BDC Silverstone August 7th.
Event report: Snett
October 2nd/3rd – Top Dogs Triumph at Snetterton.
The ‘Equipe’ double-header half hour races came up trumps for the season finale, and series organiser Christophe Wilmart knows this excellent series is in rude health when entries and racing are of such high quality at the book-end of the season.
Practice – Guest driver Mark Ellis grabbed pole in his rapid MGA on Saturday morning, with John Andon (TR4), Mike Harris (MGB) and Pete Foster (TR4) less than a second behind. Helen Elstrop took the TVR Grantura to 14th fastest in what transpired to be an ailing car.
Race One – Andon knew the key to usurping Ellis was off the dry grid, just as Harris surmised that Foster generally produced much better race pace than qualifying times and a strong start was vital. Foster faltered off the line and fell to 6th on lap one, with John Yea and Tim Patchett reaping the benefit in 4th and 5th behind Harris. Andon got his wish but Ellis clung on and only a mistake from Ellis on lap11 allowed Andon breathing space to build a margin for keeps. Foster got Patchett and Yea back in consecutive laps, and caught
Harris on lap 8 for third, and a superb MGB dogfight for 8th went John Pearson’s way, with Dave Alston and until his 13th lap retirement, series returnee Paul Freeman providing the cut and thrust. Mark Way was sidelined on lap13, but only after close racing with the WSM MGB and latterly with Roy Chamberlain’s TR3 – it would prevent him starting on Sunday however. The Triumph Spitfire of Colin Elstrop convincingly won Class 2, and John Hatton (MGB) and Mark Shears (Morgan +4) were hammer and tongs at the flag for 12th while Andon chalked up a convincing win.
Race Two – A greasy but drying track on Sunday morning greeted a grid formed in finishing order from race one, and two green flag la
ps were sensibly installed. Foster pulled a great start to bag the lead, but Ellis retaliated and built a 7s gap by lap 9, while Andon could’nt stave off the MGB of Harris and was’nt happy with the wet set-up. Meantime, race one DNF Alasdair Bruce (MGB) was charging from the back and caught Andon on the 13th lap for 4th. The ever drying track was suiting the ex-Aston man Foster, and suddenly on lap15 the gap was
closing to Ellis and then halved to 3.5s by lap 16. Ellis’s lap times were consistently 1.31s/32s, but Foster’s dipped to 1.30s and Ellis had mirrors full of TR4 by the 18th lap. Foster slid by with a 1.29s to lead with one lap left for Ellis to respond, but despite fastest lap, a sporting Ellis (left) concluded Foster’s drive merited the win. Elstrop cleaned up Class 2 again, with the single race entry Brian Arculus WSM doing well to come through from the back to14th.
Pit & Paddock
Click on for results courtesy of tsl sports timing
Faux pas and double edged swords come to mind – while talking with 1958 and 1963 saloon car champion Jack Sears, I complimented the 80 year old on his support of grand daughter and MGB racer Suzanne on the ‘Equipe’ grid. A little later he stopped by the WSM and true to his sobriquet gently explained that although Suzanne thinks I’m wonderful, she was in fact his daughter.
Absent from ‘Equipe’ grids this season before today, MGB pilot Paul Freeman has moved house closer to his Alexander Sprite being prepared by Colmworth Classic Cars in Bedfordshire ahead of 2011 entry to ‘Equipe’ racing.
Convivial Lancia Fulvia entrant Stuart Downward drives the car to the races, pitches tent, cooks at basecamp and still has time to become a father in 3 months.
Better fortune for Brian Arculus at Snetterton with WSM 202 than Donington the previous day – at the VSCC SeeRed meeting his leading Lotus Elite suffered damage from a backmarker in the pre-1960’s Sports Car race.
Its official – with no beer goggles in sight, the Red Lion in Kenninghall has the prettiest barmaid in Norfolk. This solemn accolade was unanimous from all ‘Equipe’ residents circa 11pm local time on Saturday.
Cocks Conundrum – much scratching of head while WSM 210 feels and sounds quicker than ever, but times are slower.
Weather – Norfolk – Snetterton – October? Sunny Saturday and mildly moist on Sunday. Whoever thought otherwise.
Race two – l to r Mark Ellis, Mike Harris, Pete Foster and Christophe Wilmart with worldwide talent.
Ex-WSM 202 owner John Pearson (left) with Clive Cocks (WSM 210).
JP catching up with a past love.
The Arculus equipe in readiness after Donington dramas the previous day.
Peter Bolderson, Stuart Downward and John Andon discuss bbq arrangements.
Event report: Stone
4th/5th/6th June MGLive – Silverstone GP.
‘Equipe’ GTS shone at the highlight of the MG season, not only producing forty eight cars for practice on the GP circuit but providing some of the best racing of the week-end from a grid comprising of MG, TR, Healey, Lotus, Elva, Morgan, TVR, Porsche, Lancia and Sunbeam.
Salvete and an ‘Equipe’ welcome to Peter Carrington TVR Grantura 1800S, Ed Foster & Will Foster MGB, Anthony Childs & Christopher Overton Porsche 356a, Roy Chamberlain TR3 and Simon Skentelbery MGB. Brian Ireland also returned to the series with his pristine MGA roadster.
Q – Eyebrows were raised when qualifying times revealed Mike Harris to have taken pole by half a second. James Cottingham alongside may have not been surprised at being usurped, but definitely so at the margin and the culprit. Third to fifth Brian Lambert, Jerry Stock and David Beresford were more likely candidates as established MGB front runners, but certainly Mike pulled a rabbit out of the hat and in hindsight his improvement over the last year was a foretaste. The unfortunate Harvey Woods suffered mechanical gremlins that prevented him taking the grid for race one.
Race One – By the end of the first lap Cottingham and Lambert had pulled a stroke on Harris, and Beresford’s fast moustache nosed past on lap two. Lambert was in determined mood and passed Cottingham, only for the DK Engineering car to retake the lead on lap four, but after demoting a frustrated Harris to 5th, Stock’s challenge ended on lap 4. Ron Watt had failed to
qualify his MGB and he wasted no time in getting from the back of the grid to 17th of the 41 starters and enjoying hassling Graham Bates to the line, while Pete Foster was still having minor niggles with his car and could’nt match Class 5 winner John Andon’s pace by an unusually large margin of 16s for this pair of well matched TR4’s. Lambert meanwhile took the bit between his teeth and scrabbled past to the front again on lap 5, this time his cause sealed by a huge moment for Cottingham and resulting in a 3.5s margin at the flag. The FM could do nothing to reel in Cottingham, and Harris was sure to be disappointed with his
first pole position result. Stephen Bolderson at last had a race devoid of MGB mechanical woes and fully deserved 22nd place, and Diane Osbourne continues to impress in her MGB, despite a misfire on this occasion. Class 2 was dominated by the Lotus Elite of Brian Arculus, with Anthony Childs topping Class 3 in his superb Porsche 356a. The WSM MGB was black flagged on lap 6 for a fluid leak but after examination in the pits allowed out again.
Race Two – Harris was helping celebrate his mothers 90th while Cottingham and the FM got the best of the starts for first and second, but Lambert was loitering with intent and on lap 3 demoted the FM. Lambert filled the Cottingham mirrors and the pressure told on lap10 as the ex-single seater driver found a way through and held on to the flag. Andon and Foster again had
a wonderful scrap for Class 5 honours, while Stock stormed up the grid from the back to a quite remarkable 6th place and had the Andon/Foster battle for 4th in his sights. There were two midfield barnies going on – firstly Bolderson, the James Willis Midget and MGB’s of Mark Way and Ian Conway ducking and diving, and the second group of MGB mounted Steve Hall,
Roy Chamberlain’s TR3 and Simon Skentelbery in the MGB once owned by Jim Lowry all being caught by the WSM MGB. Tim Patchett’s MGB tore up to 18th off the back of the grid having lost an exhaust on Saturday, while the WSM Sprite of Clive Cocks and MGB of Barbara Lambert were still locked together at the chequered. Lancia Fulvia driver Stuart Downward richly deserved the best of a good tussle with the Porsche 912 of John Hatton, while Willis took a comfortable Class 3 win and Arculus an even easier Class 2.
Click on for results from TSL Timing
Click on for in-car video courtesy of Paul Webb
Pictures courtesy of Peter French of Flying Tigers photography and Bill Emerson and Paul Webb
Pit & Paddock
Vale and a sorrowful adieu to Simon Gurney who maintains he’s retiring from racing. Hopefully the mechanical gremlin that curtailed his Sunday race was not the deciding factor as this likeable character has been campaigning his superb MGA Sebring for many moons and will be missed.
Two wins, two fastest laps – do meetings get much better for the Lambert clan.?
A thank you to Dave Saunders, Steve Carr and the Gammons family at the MGCC for a well drilled race meeting.
Puzzled looks around the WSM MGB after black flag.
It was a close run thing for Driver of The Weekend – Brian Arculus steered the dimunitive 1172cc Lotus Elite into 13th in race one, and 9th in race two – but Jerry Stock’s drive from last to 6th in race two was the clincher.
Spotted – Midget racer and Manx Classic visitor Rob Griffiths (left) still sporting the bottled-blonde.
You had to feel for Murray Henderson – after kicking around most of the week-end, the MG Midget Challenge racer saw driving partner Ian Hulett complete a sunny first race in 7th spot at lunchtime on Sunday – by 4.45pm the heavens truly opened and Murray’s third lap spin and heavy contact on slicks ended with a visit to the Medical Centre where at least they did’nt comment on his beige race suit.
Next ‘Equipe’ GTS rounds at Pembrey July 24th/25th.
Event report: StoneBDC
August 7th XXXX at Silverstone.
After maxing out the MGLive double header in June on the GP circuit, a mammoth thirty eight cars joined the ‘Equipe GTS’ grid on the Silverstone National circuit. The 61st Bentley Drivers Club meeting, the longest continuous annual event at one venue, cemented the ‘Equipe’ series burgeoning reputation as the best grid for 50’s and 60’s sportscars to strut their competitive stuff –
Q – A rapid assembly area departure caught some drivers napping, and left half the grid threading back through the paddock to a pitlane departure. John Andon and Pete Foster set the pace in Class 5 TR4’s, with the top ten completed by two TVR Grantura’s and six MGB’s within two seconds of pole. Mark Hoble in 15th led the Morgan +4 gang, with the MGB of Suzanne Sears fronting up the Ladies challenge and Elite-mounted Brian Arculus dominating Class 2. Keith Hampson
headed Class 3 with the ex-Le Mans Sunbeam Alpine. The WSM MGB suffered a fuel feed problem and completed six of
the possible 12 laps for a 30th grid position, while the unfortunate Nick Wilkins MGA stubbornly refused tlc and was placed on the back of the grid.
R – Oil spill from the previous race was earmarked at Copse, and showers prior to the green flag lap identified to several that the racing line was still compromised. A clean start from front row protagonists Andon and Foster was expected, as the two spar regularly wherever
they race. The MGB’s of (unwell) Mike Harris, fast moustache David Beresford, Adrian Johnson and Graham Shrigley-Jones were in the hunt, and
the TVR’s of Malcolm Paul and ‘Equipe’ debutant David Thompson threatened early on. Hoble parked the Morgan after 7 laps, leaving Mark Shears to head up the brand, while the WSM of Clive Cocks lasted until it confirmed the lack of performance in practice was engine orientated. Alistair Pugh confidently hurled the Spitfire Le Mans around the early laps traffic in a vain attempt to stay with the Arculus Lotus, and Pia Bianci impressed with an assured drive in her first ‘Equipe’ start to 19th from 25th. Thompson set fastest lap in clear air on his penultimate tour but had to settle for 8th after
a mistake and recovery to within less than a second of Paul’s TVR. Jonathon Stock kept spectating brother Jerry happy and the TR4 of the improving Dominic Spicer at bay for 11th, while Mark Way and Mark Shears in MGB and Morgan +4 tussled entertainingly with a fuel surging WSM MGB for 22nd. At the front, Foster could’nt give a XXXX and kept Andon at arms length to the flag through a masterful demo of dissecting traffic with minimum disruption, with Harris heading the fading MGB horde in third.
Pit & Paddock
Terence Whitelegg had use of the Bill Kirkpatrick MGB (19) and posted a competitive 20th place in his first ‘Equipe’ race.
. Nick Crewdson cut his ‘Equipe’ teeth with pal (left) John Pearson’s help two seasons ago.
and can now four wheel drift in reverse.
John ‘Farmer’ Hatton – a fine 4th in a wet Allcomers Handicap, and followed up with 17th in the ‘Equipe’ race
. Le Patron, Christophe Willmart
Wife Suzie, normally vociferous, was noticeably absent and yet still Pete performed.
. John Andon just heard that Graham Bates said he was getting the drinks in later.
Tim Patchett (left) and Pia Bianci hear the same story from the horses mouth.
. Pia Bianci was conveniently available for a pic beside her husbands ex, the WSM MGB
Le Patron checks in with Le Boss.
. l to r Mike Harris, Pete Foster, John Andon avec brolly dollies
Wags get up to all kinds of mischief while the racing happens – check some cool photography from Sarah J Harris –
Action pix courtesy of Paul Webb
Click on for results from HS Sports Timing & Results Systems
Next ‘Equipe’ GTS rounds 10/11 at Cadwell on September 4th/5th.
Event report: Zandvoort
May 15th/16th – ‘Equipe’ GTS at Zandvoort.
Practice – After the absence of MGB’s from the top three qualifying at Brands in April, Jerry Stock produced a lap over a second quicker than the TVR-mounted Ashworth’s Mark and Simon and the TR4’s of John Andon and Pete Foster – and the next MGB was nearly five seconds adrift.
Race One – Off the line and Stock got marooned behind Mark Ashworth while Simon vamoosed up front, and an 11 second margin at the flag left a frustrated Stock on the bottom of the podium. The WSM Midget of Brian Arculus kept the Richard McKoen Midget at bay in Class 2, and John Andon headed up the TR4 battle with Pete Foster.
Race Two – It was deja vue until the race stewards imposed a 10 second penalty on Simon Ashworth for a jumped start. Stock hassled Mark’s TVR all race long but Simon pulled out a 5 second lead and set fastest lap again – the penalty dropped him to third. Mike Harris was the best of the MGB rest, posting 4th after a solid 8th in race one. Graham Bates beat the race one mechanical maladies for 9th, while Jean Sayes had a 12 second margin on McKoen in Class 2. Foster took Class 5 as Andon’s race ground to a halt and Simon Gurney’s MGA maintained a flawless Class 3 record for the week-end.
Pit & Paddock
Startline troubles brought grief to WSM – at Brands the fibreglass 208 took a knock, while WSM 202 received a tap here.
WSM 210’s new engine seems to be a hit with pilote Clive Cocks – reports of ‘smoother power delivery’ came with lap times on a par with WSM 208.
We wish Terry Bryant well after a heavy collision with the scenery – Terry was unhurt but the MGA will need much tlc
Click on for results
Pix courtesy of roving reporter Sue Cocks
Next ‘Equipe’ GTS rounds at Silverstone June 5th/6th.
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