Mike Sparken [RIP] (merged)
#1
Posted 29 November 2000 - 23:17
One of the co-authors of the Data Book, David Holland had a conversation with Mike at Silverstone in 1990 where he was sharing the driving of an Alfa Romeo 158 in a demonstration.
It appears that shortly after that, he moved from Cobham to France. I have been given an address, which may or may not be current. I intend to write to it and see what happens.
If anyone has anything more recent, I'd be interested to know about it.
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#2
Posted 29 November 2000 - 23:41
#3
Posted 30 November 2000 - 07:52
#4
Posted 02 December 2000 - 04:46
#5
Posted 02 December 2000 - 13:42
He VERY nearly got a championship point too, finishing just one place behind Hawthorn and Castellotti's shared Ferrari. Then again, he was 6 LAPS behind their car!
#6
Posted 02 December 2000 - 13:52
#7
Posted 02 December 2000 - 14:26
#8
Posted 02 December 2000 - 21:21
#9
Posted 02 December 2000 - 21:38
I wonder if there is some way we can trace this man. He would be 70 years old now.
Interestingly, the Grand Prix Data Book lists him as French, having been born in or near Paris; but Franco Varani's great racing images site says he is American. I wonder actually, what nationality he is.
#10
Posted 15 December 2000 - 04:53
Tony said he was there again this year and suggested you contact him via the Pilotes Anciens.
#11
Posted 21 November 2007 - 11:48
#12
Posted 21 November 2007 - 15:00
#13
Posted 21 November 2007 - 18:10
#14
Posted 21 November 2007 - 20:17
Originally posted by Alan Cox
Last I heard, Mike was living near (or in) Monte Carlo.
Thats correct. Roy Salvadori told us about him living near to Monte Carlo, whe we talked to him at his home two years ago. Both families are in frequent contact.
#15
Posted 22 July 2008 - 20:52
Born in 1930 .
1955 GP Agadir M.Sparken (Los Amigos) 1.
1955 GP Dakar M.Sparken 8.
1955 Oulton Park Emp.Tr. M.Sparken R(clutch)
1955 Portugal GP M.Gregory (M.Sparken) 2
1955 Goodwood Easter M.Sparken 2
1955 Silverstone Int. M.Sparken 9 (8th?)
(1955 12h Hyeres M.Sparken /F.Picard in Picards car Retired)
1955 Le Mans M.Gregory/M.Sparken R
1955 GP Portugal M.Gregory 2
1955 GP Lisboa M.Gregory 1
1955 Beverly M.Gregory 2
Now I am making some conclusions which may not be right , so if any have more info , please.....
I have as yet found no more races with Michel P.
Only the first seems to be in connection with Los Amigos
In between Michel P.'s races Gregory had a try out and as the car later was sold in the US..........from where it some years later returned to Michel P.
Looks like Gregory took over some time in 55 and brought it to US !
The LM race with Gregory was an M.Sparken entry !
At the Silverstone race his car had no.18 ! A picture of a transporter in Karl Ludvigsens book Red-Hot Rivals shows (but not the race confirmed)a red Ferrari Monza with no.18 on top , and another below which is not fully visible , a Ferrari for sure , with perhaps a no. 4 . Now at Silverstone was only 1 Ferrari as far as I found , so which is the other ? The Piotti car which raced at Oulton and Goodwood only ?
Was his christened name Poberejsky or Pobrejeski ?
#16
Posted 23 July 2008 - 04:34
Vince H.
#17
Posted 23 July 2008 - 06:14
#18
Posted 23 July 2008 - 19:54
Originally posted by Bjørn Kjer
:Was his christened name Poberejsky or Pobrejeski ?
Poberejsky, unless someone knows anything different?
#21
Posted 23 July 2008 - 21:12
http://www.classicca...sis/502A600.htm
Ferrari Chassis Numbers (Ferrari Monza)
#22
Posted 23 July 2008 - 21:28
http://www.classicsc...sis/502A600.htm
(there's an 's' between 'classic' and 'cars')
#23
Posted 23 July 2008 - 21:39
#24
Posted 23 July 2008 - 22:41
Certainly a little less self-congratulation would be in order.
(Note the lack of use of smilies)
#25
Posted 24 July 2008 - 06:49
#26
Posted 24 July 2008 - 18:52
#27
Posted 26 July 2008 - 09:19
#28
Posted 07 October 2008 - 21:28
However, that's not the point of this post; I am interested to find out if anyone has a picture of the unique Vignale-bodied Aston Martin DB3 that Mike Sparken raced in Morocco in 1953.
Pritchard implies that it was a very stylish body shape.
#29
Posted 07 October 2008 - 21:40
Not much help, I know, but at least you know a photo has been published somewhere, sometime
#30
Posted 21 September 2012 - 09:02
Edited by Graham Gauld, 21 September 2012 - 09:22.
#31
Posted 21 September 2012 - 10:12
Mike ansd DSJ at VSCC Silverstone 1990, when Mike was to demonstrate the newly-restored Alfa
Edited by Alan Cox, 21 September 2012 - 10:20.
#32
Posted 21 September 2012 - 10:14
Roger Lund
#33
Posted 21 September 2012 - 11:10
#34
Posted 21 September 2012 - 11:31
#35
Posted 21 September 2012 - 11:33
For further infos. Sad to hear !
Edited by Bjorn Kjer, 21 September 2012 - 11:34.
#36
Posted 21 September 2012 - 11:38
#37
Posted 21 September 2012 - 12:14
Interesting that in Anthony Pritchard's book about Aston Martin, Mike Sparken is described as Franco/Polish.
However, that's not the point of this post; I am interested to find out if anyone has a picture of the unique Vignale-bodied Aston Martin DB3 that Mike Sparken raced in Morocco in 1953.
Pritchard implies that it was a very stylish body shape.
Is this the one your asking about Barry ?
More info here
#38
Posted 21 September 2012 - 13:03
Or did the announcement of Mike Sparken's death trigger a memory?
#39
Posted 21 September 2012 - 13:36
It's curious that this should surface today in the light of this sad announcement.
Or did the announcement of Mike Sparken's death trigger a memory?
I think someone wanted to reply to my post this morning and looked up the older thread about Mike Sparken. Perhaps both should be merged to avoid further confusion. By the way Mike Sparkens only drive in a grand prix car was at Aintree in the BGP 1955 he did not drive at Silverstone nor did he drive the Greene Maserati.
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#40
Posted 21 September 2012 - 13:49
Didn't see the GP but I saw the Monza at Oulton, a typical showery April day in Cheshire. Sadly we all grow older and the memories are all we have left.More sad news. I was lucky eought to see Mike Sparken race for Gordini in Grand Prix's at Silverstone and Aintree and in sports car events with his Ferrari Monza, and the Gilby Maserati. A fast and colourful driver and a great favorite. I shall always be grateful to him for enabling me to see an Alfa-Romeo Alfetta Grand Prix car for the first time. Another who will be remembered.
#41
Posted 21 September 2012 - 13:51
#42
Posted 21 September 2012 - 16:37
Mike Sparken drove the Gilby Maserati in the supporting sports car race to the British Grand Prix, Silverstone 1954. He was involved in a very spectacular 'incident' involving Salvadori's Aston DB3S, and the Austin Healey's of David Shale and John Deeley at Copse Corner right in front of me and young Bauble. Motor Sport published a series of pictures of the incident.I think someone wanted to reply to my post this morning and looked up the older thread about Mike Sparken. Perhaps both should be merged to avoid further confusion. By the way Mike Sparkens only drive in a grand prix car was at Aintree in the BGP 1955 he did not drive at Silverstone nor did he drive the Greene Maserati.
#43
Posted 21 September 2012 - 16:48
Mike Sparken drove the Gilby Maserati in the supporting sports car race to the British Grand Prix, Silverstone 1954. He was involved in a very spectacular 'incident' involving Salvadori's Aston DB3S, and the Austin Healey's of David Shale and John Deeley at Copse Corner right in front of me and young Bauble. Motor Sport published a series of pictures of the incident.
Eric
Apologies I thought you meant the 250F Maserati and not the sports car. Yes Mike told me all about the accident and was terribly worried as Roy had arranged for him to drive the car and he realised Roy would have seen him off the road and on the grass in "his" car.
#44
Posted 21 September 2012 - 20:22
Adieu, Mike.
#45
Posted 22 September 2012 - 08:19
DCN
Edited by Doug Nye, 22 September 2012 - 08:20.
#46
Posted 22 September 2012 - 11:24
Then we heard the cough of a race-engine, running really rough, and headed for the paddock. On their own, the early morning sunshine streaming through the plane trees, were Jim Stokes and Mike, starting the 158. Jim was on the manual electric starter looking for all the world just like a 1940s Alfa pit crew man, and Mike was in the car with ear-mufflers on. It was the first time I had heard this car run. Jim started it on petrol, which accounted for the roughness, and then switched the tank over to the methanol brew they were using. The engine note crisped up and for 10 minutes I stood on a huge railway sleeper behind the Alfa just soaking up the noise, the smells and the scene. It was wonderful - just the four of us, two working and two gawping.
Later in the day, I inadvertently gatecrashed a poolside meeting of Les Ancien Pilotes, ringmastered by Mike. I ended up talking to Jack Brabham until, too late, I realised he was deaf as a post, and then to Roy Salvadori and Toulo de Graffenried while they talked about the perils of living in Monte Carlo. All fairly surreal for a resident of metroland London like me.
As Doug says above, a great connoisseur : and a man of mystery. Sad to hear this inevitable news - to have owned a 2.9 berlinetta and a 158 is no mean achievement.
Nick
#47
Posted 22 September 2012 - 21:57
PS Lovely memories, Nick.
Edited by Alan Cox, 24 September 2012 - 09:03.