News
13 December 2021, – New Year Wheels Of Dreams.
WSM’s 407 and 301 construction and restoration respectively are underway at HQ and although they won’t make the stocking fillers, two happy owners have a year to look forward to. WSM 301 reverts to the original fast road and occasional race spec from 1965, and the Sanction Two car designated WSM 407 is ordered with similar performance.
1 December 2021, – What I Want For Xmas.
Even in the depths of winter while the WSM’s are mainly dormant, a young fan from nearby found his way to the WSM MGB driver’s seat. Dad races motorbikes, so obviously in the blood.
18 November 2021, – Equipe MGB 60.
WSM are signed up for Equipe’s grid at Silverstone on June 11th to celebrate the 60th birthday of the MGB. The planned 60 car grid for the 40 minute two-driver race should be a cracker and at least emulate the 2012 edition.
30 September 2021, – WSM 210 At Fund Raiser.
Long term owner Clive Cocks took WSM 210 to the 110-year old Kop Hill Climb event last week-end, and as only a few miles from Leighton Buzzard there were some knowledgeable spectators and commentators who recognised entrant reference 365 in the paddock and on the course. One chap recalled working near Delta garage in the 1960’s and always seeing some interesting vehicles going to and fro. And judging by the description regarding ‘substantial stature’, he remembered my mother and father boarding a Cooper S and beating a rapid path up Hockliffe St (obviously to make the most of time away from their youngest offspring).
The WSM went well, and according to Clive. ‘better than the Bianchi. ‘. There were plenty of famous faces at the event, with all proceeds going to charitable causes in the community, including another Manx connection in bike racer Maria Costello MBE, the fastest woman around the TT mountain course at 114mph until 2009.
6 September 2021, – Speed Records.
The Lakeland Motor Museum and the Ruskin Museum were very worthwhile visits while in the Lake District. Amongst a great array of evocative exhibits, the former had a great TT section, and at the latter we met Gina Campbell (left), daughter of Donald, the late land and water speed record holder in Bluebird. Alex (right) has a WSM following closely behind.
3 July 2021, – WSM 407 S.
A little bit of history repeating itself in that the order received for the next Sanction 2 WSM is for the Sprint version. American serviceman Joel Nelson took delivery in New York of his WSM 207 Sprint in 1963 (pictured after completion at Delta), and 58 years on as we imitate the original manifest, Andrew Storer has ordered WSM 407 in similar spec. The Pukka-Pies joint MD knows his way around a Sprite too, as a successful campaigner in the MGCC Cockshoot race series amongst others.
2 June 2021, – John Sprinzel.
Sad to hear of Shakey’s passing in Hawaii last week. A contemporary of my father’s during what were definitely fun years on the motorsport scene when an individual with imagination, enthusiam, charm and expertise could thrive amongst the big factory fish. Our condolences to Caryl and the family.
24 April 2021, – Breaking Out In WSM 402.
The Douglas is getting an airing on Sunday, a first for almost a year. National Drive It Day was created by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs in 2005 and provides an opportunity for historic vehicle enthusiasts and the public at large to celebrate the One Thousand Mile Trial organised in 1900 to prove the viability of the new invention, the motor vehicle. It’s also a chance to raise awareness and support amongst the public for the historic vehicle movement and keeping transport heritage on UK roads.
This year the FBHVC have teamed up with the NSPCC’s Childline® to raise money as an integrated part of Drive It Day in order to use the movement to contribute to a section of society that has needs help and support during the pandemic – vulnerable children. Lockdown has magnified all sorts of societal problems and the long days and weeks trapped in broken homes or abusive environments have put vulnerable children even more at risk.
The restrictions on social contact and the movement of people have seriously curtailed fundraising efforts for charities across the board and charities have found themselves underfunded, just at the moment when they need the resource the most. All profits from the official Drive It Day rally plate go towards the NSPCC’s Childline®
20 February 2021, – WSM 402 In Abingdon Monthly.
Chris Hale’s write-up in Safety Fast magazine reveals the passion Lorraine Noble-Thompson has for all things MG and in particular the Sanction 2 WSM. With one of two WSM’s currently North of the border, Lorraine is unfazed at racking up the mileage on two or four wheels, and a race licence is also on the horizon.
18 January 2021, – New Custodian.
BRSCC Mazda MX5 Championship runner Jack Willmott has acquired WSM 208. One of a trio of Hertfordshire family racing brothers, Jack replaces the Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Sprint with 208 and will join the Equipe GTS grids for 2021 alongside WSM 401 and the WSM MGB.
17 January 2021, – Tulip and Manx Tails.
Archives alive again and the 1963 Tulip Rally (left) in Holland with WSM 206 amongst the parc ferme entries in Noordwijk. Brian Culcheth’s book ‘Global Travels of a Rally Champion’ with Pablo Raybould also includes a shot of Brian disembarking for the Manx Trophy rally in May 1963.
13 January 2021, – Sixties Star.
Peter Flanagan in Sheffield is restoring the ex-Anita Taylor / David Wansborough Cooper S as originally prepared in Aurora Gears Racing colours. The log book records Delta Garages ownership in March 1964 before selling to Aurora in Sheffield for Anita to race in the BSCC that season. Sister to F1 driver Trevor Taylor who set up Aurora, Anita was high profile in her own right and raced saloon cars until 1967. Robbie Gordon from December 1964 and Wansborough / Newtune in 1965 continued the car’s racing history.
12 January 2021, – WSM in Japan.
Contact from Tazunu Kaneko at Parc-Ferme in Tokyo where WSM 203 resides. One of four exports in 1963, three of which were LHD, 203 is still active on track and has the original aluminium bonnet. Tazunu is well but a new strain of Covid has been discovered and a state of emergency exists in Greater Tokyo.
11 January 2021, – Combe Over.
Another snippet from Maarten Krikken is an assembly area shot from Castle Combe in 1965 with WSM’s 205 and 206 ready for action. Mike White is in the middle of the front-row with number 4, while DW-S is numbered 77 on the third row.
8 January 2021, – Belgian Banter.
Historic Marcos Register website co-ordinator Maarten Krikken has been in touch and it seems four years have passed since last contact. Potential Marcos restorations are on pause, but while viewing the Marcos website I noticed Peter Jackson pictured at Nurburgring in 1963 for the 500k event – thanks to Maarten and Peter for reproduction here. Peter recalls sharing the car with the late owner Tim Lalonde and leading the race until clutch issues arose.
7 January 2021, – The Tow Car.
For sale at the Graber Sportgarage, the Jaguar XK150 Estate in Switzerland. Would be great to see the car back on these shores. https://grabersportgarage.ch/en/sales/cars
6 January 2021, – Separation From Loved Ones.
Lockdown applying in the Isle of Man again as well as on the ‘adjacent Island’. At least WSM208 and 301 are with kindred spirits BXN and WSM202 in Bedfordshire, and the WSM MGB is marooned here with the odd venture over the TT Mountain course when weather permits. Rae Davis (WSM207), Clive Cocks (WSM210), Ian Hulett (WSM401), Lorraine Noble-Thompson (WSM402) and Michael Glore (WSM403) in Mississippi (pictured left) have their WSM’s on the doorstep, but Scott Murdoch is stuck in London and WSM405 is in Scotland.
News that with the WSM3000 finished, a trip to see the car’s instigator Malcolm Bridgland is on the cards whenever travel restrictions are lifted. It’s been 55 years since I was last in the car as a passenger, but looking forward more to seeing Malcolm’s reaction. He parted with the car after a couple of years ownership in 1967 and viewed the delapidated survivor at the WSM50 gathering in 2012. Current owner Robert Waterhouse has ensured a complete return to former glory has been achieved.
Race news
HSCC Gold Cup.
Few circuits bask in August sunshine quite like Oulton Park, nestled accomodatingly within the Cheshire woodland. The infield retail stalls and displays may have been a tad reduced on previous years, hardly surprising considering the existing restrictions, but spectator numbers seemed very healthy.
Q – Historic Road Sports grid of thirty two cars was heavily populated with Lotus Elans, Morgans, Triumphs and TVR’s, and Davison’s Elan took pole from Kivlochans AC Cobra on a time sheet split decisively down the middle where the WSM MGB on Dunlop ‘L’ sections was 16th.
R – Davison held the lead until the second lap when Kivlochan thundered through. Nothing but tenacious, Davison clung on until the sixth lap when backmarker traffic started to hinder his challenge and the Cobra stretched away. The WSM MGB just escaped the Selwyn Elan for 18th but could’nt overhaul Pomeroy’s Turner despite a faster lap.
Pits & Paddock.
Young fans graduate to WSM.
The familiar hat of Richard Cable was a welcome sight – our respective parents were very close for many years and the Cables are regular visitors at Oulton.
Good to see Brian and Pat Arculus, ex-WSM 202 owners and deserving thanks for resolving the WSM scrutineering issue. Brian cleaned up the Class E silverware in his trusty Lotus Elite, holding off Boland’s Lotus Seven S2 at the line for 13th overall.
The Manx flag also flew on the 70’s Road Sports grid where fellow islander Justin Wilson qualified 25th in his Lotus 7 S4. That lead to a race long scrap for 12th with Fisher’s Arkley and Wagstaff’s Alfa Romeo GTV.
Welcome Willmotts.
A blisteringly hot week-end and a war of attrition in Saturday’s 3 hour relay and Sunday’s 40 minute race as every driver earnt their spurs. Jack Willmott made a stunning start to the relay from third spot, his AC Cobra launched in to the lead at Redgate and the first run down the Craner Curves. But 15 minutes later the Cobra expired and left younger brother Joe and father Rick to complete 2 hrs 45 minutes in Healey 3000 and Jaguar XKE respectively. They did endure amongst the twenty-six teams, and spectacularly well in fourth place to the winning 50’s equipe of Maserati 250S and Lotus XV. Other Woolmer Classic Engineering entries included the Healey Hammers of Alex Hewitson and James Haxton in 9th, and Jonathan Smare in 11th-placed Oily Crankers.
Sunday’s 40 minute Equipe Classic Libre race was equally well baked, with the WSM MGB and Jack’s WSM 208 in close qualifying company at 26th and 27th and Rick’s temporarily ailing XKE in 28th. Those positions soon changed in the race and Jack ignored team orders to razz off and play amongst the MGB’s ahead. With adjustment made to rear suspension post-Silverstone, Jack revelled in the driveability and took home some Class 1 silverware, while Rick made up multiple places in the revitalised XKE with fourth fastest lap and fifth overall.
Pits & Paddock
Good to catch up with the Woolmer Classic Engineering team and the Equipe organisers after a hefty break. Kairen Bartram is at the excellent hub of the Equipe grids, new drivers and cars proliferate, and Rob Cull and John Pearson have retained the friendly but competitive ethos of Christophe and Jim alongside a healthy dose of efficiency. WCE had twelve cars to cosset over the week-end, from MGB to Healey 3000 to Porsche 356 to WSM Sprite and AC Cobra, and all done so with a smile.
Caught up with the Fast Moustache, alias David Beresford and one of the long standing founder Equipe drivers. He too remembered the 2005 Equipe race at Donington where the WSM MGB and David’s white MGB duelled throughout for 7th spot.
Pic courtesy of Andrew Haywood Smith
Donington At Last.
With travel restrictions lifted, the WSM MGB is entered for the Sunday 18th July Equipe GTS 40-minute race. Alongside will be Jack Willmott in WSM 208 who was out in June at MGCC Silverstone on the Pre-63 Equipe grid alongside brother Harry’s Jaguar XK.
A full day of testing on Friday at the Leicestershire circuit precedes the MGCC 3-Hour relay week-end and should shake out the cobwebs that have gathered since the Gold Cup in August 2019.
Equipe Fix.
Impressive list of races and venues from the Equipe organisers for the 2021 season. The 40 minute races include pit-stop and optional two driver. Now all we need is travel unfettered.
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