B.S. Stillwell

The Pitstock Holden.

This is the 1968 Warren Pitstock Special 3400cc.


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Any photos of Bibs BT11a,as that has been bought also and will be coming back to Australia for restoration,before heading of to Europe to race.

Here are a couple of B & W pics of Bib taken at Mallala in I think 1962 -
I may have posted these photos previously in the Aussie Motor Racing thread but as this particular thread is really dedicated to Bib I felt it only proper that they should be included here as well.

Bib in the Cooper Monaco


Bib being presented with winner's trophy.
(I know Bib liked this particular photo as he asked me for a copy)

Kaydee,

Great photos, the one of Bib and trophy is fantastic. You mention 1962, so I'm guessing the October 8th Gold Star meeting.

Stephen

One pic looks like it was a sunny day, the other like it's been raining...

Were they from different meetings?

Kaydee,

Great photos, the one of Bib and trophy is fantastic. You mention 1962, so I'm guessing the October 8th Gold Star meeting.

Stephen

Stephen,
I think the photo of Bib with the trophy is probably from the Dec 28th SA Tourist Trophy meeting - which was a wet day - see pic below.

Le Mans start for 1962 SA Tourist Trophy - Bib is no 6.

Ray, you are correct, the other photo of Bib in the Monaco was obviously taken on a different day.
The weather is different, Bib's hairstyle is different and the car number is 66, not his usual number 6.
It could have been taken during the October 8th Gold Star.
Kevin

One pic looks like it was a sunny day, the other like it's been raining...

Were they from different meetings?

Ray,

This photo of Bib in the Monaco -

really goes with this one - as both were taken in the pits at Mallala on the same day...


Kevin

Still the same car again (I presume there was only one Monaco in the stable?) in 1964 at Mallala.......



Has also been put up on Mallala thread.

Beautiful car, where is it these days?

Originally posted by kaydee
Ray,

This photo of Bib in the Monaco -

really goes with this one - as both were taken in the pits at Mallala on the same day...

And it belongs on the Transporters thread...

Good atmosphere pic.

Kevin,

Thank you for confirming the date of the Bib Trophy photo and the additional photos you've added. Is that photo of the SA Tourist Trophy start a frame grab from some footage?

The photo with the B S Stillwell transporter is brilliant. #16 on his other Cooper confirms this as the Gold Star meeting.

Do you have any memories you can share about Bib, when you were working with Derek? Or just Bib tales in general?

Stephen

Bib Stillwells Cooper Monaco AGP1962.





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Still the same car again (I presume there was only one Monaco in the stable?) in 1964 at Mallala.......



Has also been put up on Mallala thread.

Beautiful car, where is it these days?

James,

From what I can work out, the great photo of your dad's is most likely from the October 12th, 1964 Mallala Gold Star meeting. Bib is in the Cooper Monaco, now sporting the ex Arnold Glass BRM Scarab V8 engine. In fact the BRM was scattered amongst 3 cars at that meeting. The original 4 cylinder BRM engine was in the Fraser/Vercoe Cooper (ex Davison Longford pub crash car). With the BRM chassis now sporting a Ford Fairlane V8 with John Allison.

Lex Davison is in the rebuilt Repco Brabham after a big shunt at Lakeside the month before and the Elfin Monos are out in force. This isn't the Gold Star race, as Bib was saving his Repco-Brabham for the main race.

In more recent years the Stillwell Monaco has been racing in the UK again, IIRC with John Harper.

Stephen

In more recent years the Stillwell Monaco has been racing in the UK again, IIRC with John Harper.

Frank Sytner

James,

From what I can work out, the great photo of your dad's is most likely from the October 12th, 1964 Mallala Gold Star meeting. Bib is in the Cooper Monaco, now sporting the ex Arnold Glass BRM Scarab V8 engine. In fact the BRM was scattered amongst 3 cars at that meeting. The original 4 cylinder BRM engine was in the Fraser/Vercoe Cooper (ex Davison Longford pub crash car). With the BRM chassis now sporting a Ford Fairlane V8 with John Allison.

Lex Davison is in the rebuilt Repco Brabham after a big shunt at Lakeside the month before and the Elfin Monos are out in force. This isn't the Gold Star race, as Bib was saving his Repco-Brabham for the main race.

In more recent years the Stillwell Monaco has been racing in the UK again, IIRC with John Harper.

Stephen

Yep, the slide is marked Mallala '64, with the Monaco as having Buick power by that stage. Red Mono on RHS of second row is Garrie Cooper.

Yep, the slide is marked Mallala '64, with the Monaco as having Buick power by that stage. Red Mono on RHS of second row is Garrie Cooper.

I think the Mono is chassis number 6441.

what a great line-up, would have been an interesting race to watch but i was zero back than. Anyone know what happened, who won and places etc? Cheers, James

Lex Davison won the race. The Rilstone Elfin was losing oil and the officials were oblivious to the slippery conditions left on the track. So Bib wasn't able to use all the horsepower of the Scarab in the Monaco. He finished 2nd, Tony Osborne in his Cooper was 3rd.

Stephen

That '64 Mallala meeting was the debut for the Mono in the Gold Star.
Cooper in M6441 was 3rd behind the 2 BT4s, Bill Pile in M6442 was 4th, Granton Harrison in M6445 6th and Jack Hunnam DNS in M6443 with engine issues.
The missing number from the set, M6444, Bob Jane had at the next round the Hordern Trophy.

A couple more pics of Bib that really belong in this thread... (some of which I've posted previously in another thread)


Bib and Sir Jack at Longford March 1960


Bib and Sir Jack at Longford Feb 1965


Bib and Sir Gawaine Baillie at Longford 1965


Bib and Sir Jack in the Historic Garage during one of the early Adelaide F1 races

Kevin,

Absolutely brilliant stuff, you spoil us with the photographic history you captured.

Be assured for us too young to have been there, they are much appreciated.

Stephen

A couple more pics of Bib that really belong in this thread... (some of which I've posted previously in another thread)


Bib and Sir Jack at Longford March 1960


Bib and Sir Jack at Longford Feb 1965


Bib and Sir Gawaine Baillie at Longford 1965


Bib and Sir Jack in the Historic Garage during one of the early Adelaide F1 races

The photo of Sir Jack at Adelaide,he looks fit enough to jump in and drive and win.

So I guess I am about 14 or 15 years of age and always interested in car racing. My Dad is a Holden Dealer and he says come on I will take you for a visit.

First we visit Bill Patterson at Ringwood, a Holden Dealer, whom my Father knew. I was shown the White Cooper with the blue stripe down the centre but the engine or transaxle was out of it, so no sitting in it. Mr Patterson answered my 101 questions.

The Canadian Hell Drivers were appearing at the time at Calder Raceway, sponsored by Patterson Holden. One of the cars was in for panel repairs and Mr Patterson was non too impressed at the bill he was having to foot. They were EH Holdens and it was there second visit.

Then it was off to Kew to visit another Holden Dealer, who my Father said was a real gentleman.
There, Mr Stillwell allowed me to sit in his Cooper Monaco which still had the Climax engine in it but he did tell us he was going to put a V8 in it. I was mightily impressed. His racing car was, I think still a Cooper, so pre Brabham days. Mr Stillwell and my Father were talking business all the time but I do remember my Father saying “maybe the Bosses at Ford will be easier to deal with Bib.” Something that didn’t mean much to me at the time. My Father had many a run in with the Holden Management as he was originally an Oakland Dealer.

Stillwell’s mechanic at the time was a man introduced to us a Lou. He didn’t have a lot of time for a kid like me. So between Mr Stillwell talking to my Father and Lou’s reticence I did not have many questions answered.

Nonetheless I have always followed the Stillwell career.

I am somewhat hazy on some of the details but I think it was 1963-1964 and cool weather, so mid year. Gosh it is hard to pin down timeframes.
Two things that stick in my mind on the Monaco, were the kiddy car horn and an old Austin handbrake lever attached by a fragile wire to the brake pedal. As a Sports Car it had to have both though they were ineffectual.
Many years later, at a Sandown meeting, I was able to introduce my son to Mr Stillwell, who was there for demonstration laps in his green Lola T330. My Son was impressed, Mr Stillwell, remembered me and still a true gentleman, spoke fondly of my Father.

I was a lucky boy but perhaps didn’t realize it at the time.

Formula 5000,

Great recollection of your meeting with Bill & Bib.

Going by the caption for the Australian Motor Sports issue where the Hell Drivers appear with 2 EH Holdens - Dec 63 - they were touring around Australia for quite a lengthy period, "...every State between now and next April (1964)."

Interesting comment you make about the Scarab V8 going into the Monaco, it must have been planned for some time. From what I can work out, (in this form) it didn't re-appear in racing until around October 1964.

Stephen

It was also clearly when Bib was into Brabhams...

His first Brabham race was in February 1963 at Warwick Farm.

Bib on the starting grid at the Mallala AGP meeting in 1961

The photo of Sir Jack at Adelaide,he looks fit enough to jump in and drive and win.

I tghink Jack did one year,,,, in the Classic support races. Though he was doing that up until a few years ago.

Any ideas why he went to the BRG/Yellow for the Brabham cars?

Any ideas why he went to the BRG/Yellow for the Brabham cars?

Probably to do with Bib being backed by BP then.

Stephen

Bib in his Maserati 250F at Albert Park in 1958... (with yellow nose trim)

Bib in his Maserati 250F at Albert Park in 1958... (with yellow nose trim)

I would suggest the one day crowd was more then a single day at this years AGP

Does anyone have a picture of Bib's MG Magna from the 1940's? After the war Bib bought from John Summers (the legendary pre war Australian grand prix driver and Wing Commander) an L type, chassis number L0403 I believe, and registered in Victoria 145.336. He competed at Rob Roy hillclimb in April 1947 and Tarrengower the same month. By the time the car appeared at Nowra in 1947 it had a pointed tail instead of the manxed tail (or have I got that the wrong way around?). The L type was sold in 1948 to car/truck dealer Wally Feltham who had unfortunately inverted an MG P type (1424 I think) at Bathurst in 1946. Was the L type used to build the Wally Feltham Special monoposto (described in John Medley's book on the history of Bathurst as a 1087cc Magna engine in a shortened Magnette chassis)? Wally used to tow the special behind his black MG SA saloon.

Cheers,
Matthew.

Matthew,

In Bib's brilliant 1999 calendar published for his 50th anniversary in the motor trade, there's a photo of Bib in the #38 MG at Nowra. It's boat-tailed and the photo caption just states "MG Magnette, Championship of NSW, Nowra, 1947."

Stephen

I'm sure there were photos in contemporary issues of AMS

Matthew,

Bib's TC is listed in the AMS report for the January 27th Ballarat RAAF aerodrome meeting - the first postwar meeting held in Victoria. Of course a race meeting wouldn't have happened in those days without the various MG's and this is the case with Ballarat.

The AMS report for the King's Birthday (June 16th, 1947) long weekend, Nowra RAAF aerodrome 'Championship of NSW' meeting, mentions Bib and in the results his car is listed as a Magna. Again plenty of MG's. No photo of Bib's car, but there is of Hope Bartlett's ex Tomlinson (#11) & Bill McLachlan's (#22) TA specials.

Stephen

Thank you David and Stephen, I will keep a watch out for any photos.

Cheers,
Matthew.

So where did I recently see an internet pic of the Feltham Magna/ Magnette single seat special with its waterfall radiator grille at Rob Roy?( I thought I saw it on your site, Matthew?)?

Gday John, thank you for joining in. Yes, there is a photo of the Feltham Special on page three of my site. I am assuming Wally constructed this car using Bib's car for parts but I could be wrong. Anything you can add John?

Matthew.

Time to un-park this thread from the TNF archive.

 

Another photo from Tony Johns collection... 1996 VHRR dinner for the first AGP in Melbourne. Bib (standing) catches up with Eoin Young. Also present, Tony & Christine Johns and John Large (perhaps - Tony??)

 

 

Stephen

 

 

Actually, while I remember Classic Throttle in Sydney are currently advertising an ex Stillwel XK120. Slightly more than when new.

 

https://classicthrot...k120-ots-ivory/

 

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 29 April 2020 - 07:15.

Time to un-park this thread from the TNF archive.

 

Another photo from Tony Johns collection... 1996 VHRR dinner for the first AGP in Melbourne. Bib (standing) catches up with Eoin Young. Also present, Tony & Christine Johns and John Large (perhaps - Tony??)

 

 

Stephen

I'm trying to think where that dinner was ,as i would have been there .

 

Perhaps that was the dinner they had at the I think Savoy hotel Little Collins st?

 

To the far right is Ron Towlnley. And Tony with the bow tie to the left of Bib.

Rob, #55 VHRR Journal has it in the calendar as 9/3/96 at the George Hotel, St Kilda. So probably the night you got up to way too much mischief.

 

Possible report about it in #56, but I don't have it.

 

Stephen

Rob, #55 VHRR Journal has it in the calendar as 9/3/96 at the George Hotel, St Kilda. So probably the night you got up to way too much mischief.

 

Possible report about it in #56, but I don't have it.

 

Stephen

So many meetings so many events ,I can't remember being there Stephen.

Was a great club ,made so many friends ,sadly many have passed on ,Murray ,Kel,Geoff ,Roger,,Don  while not a close friend Bib who was blue blood with his history and past and then present cars.Was always very approachable ,I got the feeling he was a shy man?

 

One Sandown meeting he lined up the Lola T330/332?,GT40 and the BT31 ,the GT40 was stunning in the Stillwell colours .

 

One year at the Island the BT33 he thought he had the measure of the F5000s as in those days the early Phillip island historic meet was division racing not class.Its a shame there has never been a book on his life and racing .

 

In the mid 80s I worked for City Ford as a finance manager ,we would go to Ford dealer meetings ,it was like a whos whos ,somewhat  clan groups,be the Stillwell group ,Hunt group and the City Ford lot ,as if you were part of a gang.Bib was always well dressed and forthright re the dealers and what they needed .I've got a feeling he was very much behind the dealer network setup during the Moffat 76/78 period?

 

I live not far from his old home in Cotham road Kew  "Charleville" Stillwell bought it in 1964 ,think it was sold when he moved to Tucson .

 

Many year latter I often went to Tuscan ,anyone you spoke to who picked up your accent ,would ask "do you know Bib ' ect as he had sizable dealerships in Arizona.

 

Ford did the wrong thing by Stillwells in the Keating recession ,yes his group had huge debt ,but to his credit he sold his collection to help reduce debt ,and now the Stillwell group of companies is massive ,now run by various family members.

 

Rob.

By sheer coincidence I was reading some old mags on the weekend and found a multi-page interview with Bib in the Sep/Nov 88 issue of 'Sports and Classic Cars Australia.

It has a number of pics from that Sandown meeting and he also listed the other cars that were in his possession at that time.   Two other Brabhams, a '65 F2  BT14 and a BT33 ,  a Maser 300S,  a Mirage sports car (with DFV power) and a Williams FW08.   Great stuff

By sheer coincidence I was reading some old mags on the weekend and found a multi-page interview with Bib in the Sep/Nov 88 issue of 'Sports and Classic Cars Australia.

It has a number of pics from that Sandown meeting and he also listed the other cars that were in his possession at that time.   Two other Brabhams, a '65 F2  BT14 and a BT33 ,  a Maser 300S,  a Mirage sports car (with DFV power) and a Williams FW08.   Great stuff

The BT14 was his Formula two car he won the 1965 series with.

 

his old home in Kew is for sale at the moment 22.5 million Aus.

 

 

Bib Stillwell in search of an apex at Calder circa 1963, Cooper Monaco - Climax or Buick V8 I wonder? 
 

(Ashley Tracey)

If it's '63 it's the Climax, it seems he didn't put the Buick into it until 1964...
 

Originally posted by Lola5000
The BT14 was his Formula two car he won the 1965 series with.....

That would be the Joseph Lucas/Lex Davison series...

He also won the single-race ANF 1½ Championship at Bathurst.

 

 

 

 

.

Edited by Ray Bell, 07 March 2022 - 20:19.

March 2023 Motor Sport arrived in Aussie newsagents this week and it has some great Mallala and Sandown related photos from a gent named Jim Stratmann.

 

Three of the 6 photos used are Bib Stillwell's Cooper Monaco and T53 at October 1962 Mallala Gold Star. There's also a great John Youl T55 photo with Geoff Smedley at the same meeting.

 

The 2 other photos relate to Bill Patterson at the October 1961 AGP meeting, again Cooper-mounted and Jack Brabham BT4 at March 1963 Sandown International.

 

 

Stephen

S,

 

I thought the name rang a bell.

 

Gordon Cruickshank sent me that Stratmann spread on Friday 13, January to help with caption wording places/dates/tipo numero details. So if MotorSport cocked any of them up up I am the nuffy responsible. My only defence is a Friday 13th one...

 

13 January final edit phase to in-shop in Oz early May is a loooong time!

 

m

Edited by MarkBisset, 06 May 2023 - 02:16.

Mark, all the numbers stack up for the events mentioned. Made slightly easier with Youl and Stillwell not running their usual numbers. Bill Patterson idenfication is always a challenge, more often than not he was car 9.

 

Got an MS email the other day that June issue was out. So that's about normal to be 3 issues ahead of what our newsagents have.

 

 

Stephen