Douglas Wilson-Spratt

As the co-founder, designer and racer of WSM Cars, Douglas Wilson-Spratt was the driving force behind the marque. Alongside Jim McManus, his vision in 1962 birthed a series of special-bodied racing cars that left an indelible mark on British club racing — and earned the marque its affectionate nickname, “Wuzzums”, bestowed by his wife Laurette.

A formidable driver in his own right, Douglas campaigned his own creations fiercely. He most notably raced WSM 206, one of the two ultra-lightweight fibreglass bodies constructed by Ray Halsall, alongside Mike White’s WSM 205. He also held onto a tenth body — later to become WSM 208 — for decades, which Tony Wilson-Spratt had completed in 2009.

Under his guidance, WSMs were entered in major events throughout the UK and Europe, proving that a small, dedicated British specialist could compete against larger, better-funded outfits on legendary circuits including the Nürburgring Nordschleife, where Peter Jackson took 3rd in class in the German Grand Prix support race in 1964.

Douglas had a career that preceded WSM Cars by many years — as a test driver for the Bristol Aeroplane Company in the late 1940s, and later involved in the Austin-Healey scene before establishing the Delta Garage business on the Isle of Man with Jim McManus. His influence on the Isle of Man motor racing community stretched far beyond the WSM marque.

In the early 2000s, Douglas gave his blessing to Tony and Paul Woolmer to begin the Sanction 2 build programme — new WSMs built under the same philosophy that he himself had established. He was an active presence in the project until near the end of his life.

Douglas Wilson-Spratt passed away on 12th April 2011. He is remembered with enormous affection by everyone who knew him — for his generosity, his technical knowledge, his dry humour, and his absolute dedication to the cars that carry his initials.

“One of the few things Douglas insisted on when we asked for his approval was that we adhere to his original mantra not to supply ‘kits’. This is exactly how he worked in period.”Tony Wilson-Spratt & Paul Woolmer