Bev Bond

Here's Bev entering the pits under the iconic Motor bridge at Oulton during the British Empire Trophy meeting in May 1970. I hope to see the scene repeated in the near future, maybe at this year's Gold Cup meeting?

Sadly no chance of it being repeated with 100% accuracy since the disappearance of the late-lamented and much-missed footbridge

Sadly no chance of it being repeated with 100% accuracy since the disappearance of the late-lamented and much-missed footbridge

There was nothing like being on it whilst a F5000 passed beneath it! IIRC they stopped foot traffic over the bridge for the start, and maybe first lap, but after that it was business as usual!

There was nothing like being on it whilst a F5000 passed beneath it! IIRC they stopped foot traffic over the bridge for the start, and maybe first lap, but after that it was business as usual!

Re post 44 from giraffe, the Chevron B9 at Brands is indeed driven by John Sykes but has been restored by and is owned by Steve Wilkinson who also runs a Brabham BT21 in One Litre F3. Both cars will be out at Cholmondely this week-end if any Northeners want a closer look.

Re post 44 from giraffe, the Chevron B9 at Brands is indeed driven by John Sykes but has been restored by and is owned by Steve Wilkinson who also runs a Brabham BT21 in One Litre F3. Both cars will be out at Cholmondely this week-end if any Northeners want a closer look.

Steve Wilkinson along with Keith Messer is behind the 1000cc Formula 3 Historic Racing Association, is he not? www.1kf3hra.org.uk

http://1000ccf3histo...ciation.org.uk/

I shall take great pleasure in seeing them at Cholmondeley this weekend!

Edited by Giraffe, 16 July 2009 - 07:30.

By giraffe138 at 2009-07-16

This is the view Bev got from last place on the grid as the flag dropped at Oulton for the British Empire Trophy. I sneaked the shot as a young Startline Marshal that day.
24 cars started that race, and Bev managed to pass them all in 30 laps! He was back there because a pluglead had jumped off in his heat!
Now to recreate a similar grid next year at Monaco would allow the organisers to trouser a whopping 100,800 euro's in entry fees alone @ 4,200 euros per car!!!

Edited by Giraffe, 16 July 2009 - 08:44.

Steve Wilkinson along with Keith Messer is behind the 1000cc Formula 3 Historic Racing Association, is he not? www.1kf3hra.org.uk

http://1000ccf3histo...ciation.org.uk/

I shall take great pleasure in seeing them at Cholmondeley this weekend!

Both Keith and Steve have put a huge effort into promoting One Litre F3, providing a stand at Stoneleigh in 2008 and 2009, and at the invitation of HSCC, had a presence at Eurosport 2009. Their enthusiasm as well as that of people like Dave Pullen, together with the HSCC's Chris Sharples and Alan Morris has been rewarded by the success of the Peter Hanson Trophy. Francois Derossi and Geoffroy Rivet bringing two rounds of the European Championship to the UK has been a further boosted matters, to say nothing of the chance to race at Monaco. Belts will be worn tighter next year!

The definitive 1 Litre F3 book is still waiting to be written. Juerg Dubler's books are the best account I've seen so far. I have attempted to translate them into English myself, but my French simply isn't good enough to do them justice - despite hugely enjoying the parts I have understood. I'm sure there would be a limited (but very appreciative) market for them, if someone were to rise to the challenge...

The book that F3Wrench is writing sounds good. This classic period of junior single seater racing needs to be documented while the main protagonists are still with us.

I wonder if Cyd Williams can be persuaded to turn out at the Peter Hanson Trophy at the Gold Cup meeting at Oulton? A true local hero if ever there was one in F3. ( So much so, it gave him the opportunity to write off Frank Williams' F1 March 701 whilst attempting to demolish the Bailey Bridge!!!)

Bit of back on track here; previously posted but better sized. I love this pic of Bev, if only for the domed Barker & Dobson sweets cabin in the background! If you told the young folk today...............


By giraffe138

By giraffe138, shot with DSC-W215 at 2009-07-19

I was pleased to see 1 litre F3 stalwarts of Steve Wilkinson and Co. running at Cholomondeley yesterday without silencers! For once they sounded "right"


By giraffe138, shot with DSC-W215 at 2009-07-19


By giraffe138, shot with EX-M2 at 2009-07-19

Chevron B9 (That I'm told was debuted by Peter Gethin before Tim Schenken) and Brabham BT21 respectively.


By giraffe138, shot with DSC-W215 at 2009-07-19

Nigel Bancroft's Tony Mantle owned Chevron B17 seen here with Antony Taylor's B24 in the paddock, gave the barriers a good clout at Chapel as I was on the footbridge to the car clubs.

Edited by Giraffe, 19 July 2009 - 10:48.

Regarding Rene Ligonnet and his engineless car at Brands, I had this e-mail from Helen Malkie on Friday.....

Hi Tony,

Sorry for the slow reply but it has been a very busy week somehow.

Rene's car did get to Brands but the engine (new rebuild) gave up the ghost on Friday so it didn't run. The engine builder had done a very poor job and was 'sacked' by the time he turned up on Sunday. It has now gone to Stuart Rolt & may be out at Oulton Park Gold Cup depending on silencing issues for the race. Rene still intends to do Monaco though. It is a B15 not B9.

All the Best,

Helen.

Looking forward to Oulton Park in August & seeing Rene run, and hopefully meeting up with Bev again at the scene of his 1970 triumph? ?


By giraffe138 at 2009-05-18

Great pics as usual Giraffe, I'm just gutted the cars ran with silencers at Brands but not at Chomondeley!

Cirrus, the book is well on its way, but I think I'll need to consult a lawyer before I publish in case I get sued for defamation!

I spent a bit of time with Bev back in 1969, when my driver Andy Sutcliffe and I hooked up with Brendan McInerney's Henderson Baty March team. My first impressions of Bev were that he was one of those unfortunate guys who looked quite tough and rugged, but had a rather high squeaky voice; and when he got excited - which he did a lot - his voice got higher and squeakier!

We (Andy and I) spent a lot of time with Bev, his mechanic Twiggy, Brendan, Mike Beckwith, and one or two others en route to Finland for an F3 race at Hameenlina. Bev was actually a lovely chap, friendly and generous and easy to talk to, but awkward to the point of embarassment in company - and very uncomfortable in the presence of members of the opposite sex.

We left Helsinki for Copenhagen in the car ferry "Finlandia", which had amongst its passengers a great many Scandinavian beauties heading back to college in Hamburg. Andy, Twiggy and I were acting like kids locked in a sweet shop, but poor Bev spent a lot of time at the bar looking very nervous.

Bev had a silver Ford Corsair tow-car, which looked in his own words like a "pregnant duck" with massive spring assisters on the back for towing the trailer, and I had a Ford Zodiac with trailer. We left Copenhagen en route for Rouen at a fair old lick, hammering off through Denmark with my Zodiac in the lead with Bev tucked in my slipstream. He outbraked me into a roundabout and nearly took me out with his trailer, but it was bloody good fun. Twiggy in the Corsair, and Andy in the Zodiac, slept through the whole thing.

We then got nicked by the Danish police for speeding with a trailered vehicle after being reported by some Danish driver we had passed several miles back, and who was receiving medical attention for a sudden bowel disorder as a consequence. Fortunately Brendan turned up in his VW transporter and paid our fines. Must pay him back some time...

After a marathon drive to the F3 race at Rouen, we didn't see much of Bev after that; he got quite serious about his career and seemed to be a bit unapproachable as he got more successful. I do remember him fondly though, and no doubt a very talented driver in that most competitive of formulas.

Hi. I'm replying to your article concerning me(Bev Bond)I am alive and kicking and have been attending some of the Peter Hanson Trophy races and will be at Oulton Park in August.If you are coming I would love to meet you again an talk about old times and also that drive from Hamenlena to Rouen.There is a possibility that I may race in some of the F3 screamer races next year.I have got my licence and racing gear and am ready to race this year if something comes up.Enough for now.Bev.

Bev is hoping to get a drive in his old Lotus F3 car ,thanks to the cars current owner ,but to date he has nothing finalised . The race suit etc has been "loaned" to him because he obviously can't rush out and buy all the gear for just one race.

I was asked if I would like to drive in the parade lap.Of course even at my age I could not refuse.Bev Bond

I never was sure of his background, but I always enjoyed his press-on style of driving in F3.

I think it's fair to say that sometimes he had a reputation as a prickly customer - I remember reading a magazine article ("Car", I think) about the final season of 1-litre F3 in Britain. This featured interviews with several F3 drivers of the day, who were asked for their opinions of fellow competitors. One driver, can't recall who it was, described Bev Bond as being "prone to brain fade". Rather than laugh this remark off, Bev wasn't too pleased about it, and the magazine were forced to publish an apology in a later issue.

Hi there.
I notice that a lot of the articles on this bullitin board talk about these nick names given to drivers from that era it just a pitty they can't talk about the fun and excitement and noise these particular cars made.Also the enjoyment that they gave to the spectator and the fact that you could at that time talk to the drivers instead of the way it is now where they are locked away behind closed doors.If you want a really good weekend watching motor racing I suggest you go to the HSCC meetings as they really bring back those nostalgic days.I am going to Oulton Park in August for the Gold Cup meeting and would be only to pleased to meet and talk to any spectators and also any "Ancien Pilotes".
Bye for now.
Bev.Bond

Welcome, Bev. Looking forward to your visit to the Gold Cup in August.

Hi. I'm replying to your article concerning me(Bev Bond)I am alive and kicking and have been attending some of the Peter Hanson Trophy races and will be at Oulton Park in August.If you are coming I would love to meet you again an talk about old times and also that drive from Hamenlena to Rouen.There is a possibility that I may race in some of the F3 screamer races next year.I have got my licence and racing gear and am ready to race this year if something comes up.Enough for now.Bev.

Great to see you on the forum Bev, and glad to see you're still raring to go! Those days were just brilliant weren't they, and from a mechanic's perspective, I reckon you were one of the sharpest drivers on the track, so quite the opposite of suffering from 'brain fade'! My recollection of those days was that most of us spent many nights putting the F3's back together after the races, so no-one should be in any doubt that it was hairy and dangerous in the extreme; to be quick in that formula took a lot of skill and guts, and you should be jusitifiably proud of being one of the best.

Anyway, when it comes to accusations of brain fade in F3, I think Mr Hunt cornered the market on that ...

Anyway, when it comes to accusations of brain fade in F3, I think Mr Hunt cornered the market on that ...

.....and look where it got him.....................

I digress; wonderful to see you on your thread, Bev! As you can see from my input on this thread, I am a fan of yours from those heady days, and look forward to meeting you at Oulton, and then hopefully following you to Monaco next year! It would be good if a way could be found to get you back in the GLTL 59; surely with your history and pedigree, it would be a publicity coup to have you back in it? Is it a question of £££??? I'm sure you will get a ride soon off someone in F3!

All the Very Best, Bev!

Edited by Giraffe, 20 July 2009 - 15:50.

.....and if you have any influence at all with James Wigmore who now owns the car, try and convince him to give Bev a run in it, and let me know if it's likely to happen please, as I'd like to be there again to wave him off!



James Wigmore is in fact the man who is hoping to get Bev out in the car . Quite why the holdup I can't say .
If it all comes to nought ,I could always contact Frans Kinkel in Holland who bought Bevs (our)old 713M and see if Frans is willing to give him a run in it ,probably in one of the HMR (Dutch Mono) rounds

Hi there.Just read this and I really appreciate that someone is pushing for me to get back to racing the F3 screamers.If you are able to contact Frans Kinkel can you give him my email address bevbond1@btinternet.com asI would love to talk to him about my old 713 and also the possibility of a drive.Of course It would be great if Jamie Wigmore came up with a drive for next year for me ,especially if we could get an entry to Monaco next year.(as you know I came third in that car in 1970 with Team Lotus)
Bev Bond.

@Bev.Bond
May I ask whether you are willing to contribute in a certain way to this thread?
I would be grateful.

@Bev.Bond
May I ask whether you are willing to contribute in a certain way to this thread?
I would be grateful.

Hi Reinhard.
Depends on what you wish to know.I am always willing to talk to people about those fantastic days of the F3 screamers.Concerning Jamie Wigmore and the Lotus 59 I drove in 1970 at the moment I am still waiting for Jamie to decide how he is going to arrange for me to drive the car.I do hope it comes off at least for next year but I also have an offer to drive a March 703 for next year and am waitng for the guy who owns it to contact me later in the season with a view to going to Mallory Park for a test day.
Look forward to trying help you out with your request.
Bev.Bond

Hi Reinhard.
Depends on what you wish to know.I am always willing to talk to people about those fantastic days of the F3 screamers.Concerning Jamie Wigmore and the Lotus 59 I drove in 1970 at the moment I am still waiting for Jamie to decide how he is going to arrange for me to drive the car.I do hope it comes off at least for next year but I also have an offer to drive a March 703 for next year and am waitng for the guy who owns it to contact me later in the season with a view to going to Mallory Park for a test day.
Look forward to trying help you out with your request.
Bev.Bond

Hi Bev,
I think he's looking for your D.O.B. for the thread! Tell me, is the Wigmore 59 really the chassis you drove, or another?

I think he's looking for your D.O.B. !

Exactly.

September 19th 1970. Round 10 Lombank F3 Championship. Bev was on pole, but crashed out of the race on the penultimate lap, along with Tony Trimmer and Cyd Williams. Bev shared fastest lap with Dave Walker and Carlos Pace, while Barrie Maskell went on to win with the NERO Chevron B17.

September 19th 1970. Round 10 Lombank F3 Championship. Bev was on pole, but crashed out of the race on the penultimate lap, along with Tony Trimmer and Cyd Williams. Bev shared fastest lap with Dave Walker and Carlos Pace, while Barrie Maskell went on to win with the NERO Chevron B17.

Hi alan.What circuit were these pictures taken.I've changed a bit since then but still have got the same fire in my belly.Great pictures.Are you coming to Oulton Park in August for the Gold Cup if so see you there.
Bev.Bond.

Hi alan.What circuit were these pictures taken.I've changed a bit since then but still have got the same fire in my belly.Great pictures.Are you coming to Oulton Park in August for the Gold Cup if so see you there.
Bev.Bond.

The circuits changed a bit since then as well. It's all clean and tidy, thanks to Mr Palmer.

Sadly the Paddock is now a vast expanse of tarmac. Personally I feel the old grass areas were much better - apart from if rained a lot

Hi alan.What circuit were these pictures taken.I've changed a bit since then but still have got the same fire in my belly.Great pictures.Are you coming to Oulton Park in August for the Gold Cup if so see you there.
Bev.Bond.

I'm guessing that has to be Oulton, bottom of Clay hill for #2?

Were there GLTL F3 cars based at a stables in Didsbury, Manchester by any chance?

Well that's just great llmaurice, and nobody would be more pleased to see him get a drive that me, as you can tell from this thread! However, what was he doing kitted up at Brands if he didn't have a drive? Was he just demonstrating how keen he is??? And I didn't insinuate the gear he was wearing wasn't his?!?!


By giraffe138 at 2009-05-18

.....and if you have any influence at all with James Wigmore who now owns the car, try and convince him to give Bev a run in it, and let me know if it's likely to happen please, as I'd like to be there again to wave him off!

I will be bringing the original of this for you to autograph at Oulton Bev, and then I'll get another one taken with you at Monaco which will round off 40 years nicely to the month!

(PS If it isn't the Barker & Dobson cabin in the background, it's the Milk wagon! Imagine, you could buy a pinta full fat milk in a paper cup!!!!)

Edited by Giraffe, 22 July 2009 - 19:06.

September 19th 1970. Round 10 Lombank F3 Championship. Bev was on pole, but crashed out of the race on the penultimate lap, along with Tony Trimmer and Cyd Williams. Bev shared fastest lap with Dave Walker and Carlos Pace, while Barrie Maskell went on to win with the NERO Chevron B17.

He sure did! I was Barrie's mechanic at the meeting at Oulton Park, and the first time I had a winning driver at a major F3 meeting !

As an aside, I saw a really nice Lotus 69 at Castle Combe at a Classic F3 race back in June driven by Albert Clements, in the Team Gold Leaf colours. Is this one of the original Bev Bond/Dave Walker cars?

As an aside, I saw a really nice Lotus 69 at Castle Combe at a Classic F3 race back in June driven by Albert Clements, in the Team Gold Leaf colours. Is this one of the original Bev Bond/Dave Walker cars?

By giraffe138


By giraffe138


By giraffe138


By giraffe138


Nice car it most certainly is, but I'm pretty sure that it was not a GLTL car originally.

Edited by Giraffe, 23 July 2009 - 09:24.

Nice car it most certainly is, but I'm pretty sure that it was not a GLTL car originally.

That's the one, and what a beautifully prepared car that is - probably better than the original GLTL cars !

And great pics Giraffe - are there ANY cars that you don't have a picture of ??

That's the one, and what a beautifully prepared car that is - probably better than the original GLTL cars !

And great pics Giraffe - are there ANY cars that you don't have a picture of ??

Well here are 2 pics of Bev's mates for you to identify, F3Wrench; the first guy won at Monaco earlier in the month this shot was taken, beating Bev into third place, and the second is of a great lost talent who finished fourth......


By giraffe138 at 2009-07-23


By giraffe138 at 2009-07-23

Edited by Giraffe, 23 July 2009 - 10:27.

That'll be Tony Trimmer and Gerry Birrell then?

Had to think with the Saltair helmet, thought it might be Richard Scott but his Brabham was blue. I guess the Sports Motors Manchester logo was a bit of a giveaway though!

I take it that Gerry has passed on then from your comment? Sad to hear it if so, he was exceptionally quick. I remember once at Thruxton that the scrutineers insisted on pulling Gerry's engine apart after he won an F3 race, because they thought it must be over-capacity! Of course it wasn't...

Gerry was sadly killed in F2 practice at Rouen in 1973, a great lost talent indeed.

Just the other day I was watching the video of him, Trimmer, Dave Walker, Beuttler, Hunt, Morgan, Scott & co in that titantic F3 battle at Crystal Palace in 1970 that was broadcast on the BBC. The one when James 'lumped' Morgan at the end.

By giraffe138


By giraffe138


By giraffe138


By giraffe138


Nice car it most certainly is, but I'm pretty sure that it was not a GLTL car originally.

Hi there.
It was'nt the car that Dave and I drove in 1970 as it is a 69.Ours was a Lotus 59 with the screamer engines in.I did meet the gentleman that now owns this car at Silverstone HSCC meeting.And a pleasant day was spent by me talking to him and all the other competitors.I hope that I can come and join you next year with a regular drive.
Bev Bond

Just the other day I was watching the video of him, Trimmer, Dave Walker, Beuttler, Hunt, Morgan, Scott & co in that titantic F3 battle at Crystal Palace in 1970 that was broadcast on the BBC. The one when James 'lumped' Morgan at the end.

Happy days

Edited by alansart, 23 July 2009 - 11:58.

Here are the Formula 3 screamers being allowed to do just that on the straight immediately after the start at Cholmondeley on Saturday July 18th....



By giraffe138 at 2009-07-2

Steve Wilkinson in the Brabham BT21.



By giraffe138 at 2009-07-29

John Sykes in the Chevron B9.



By giraffe138 at 2009-07-29

Nigel Bankroft in the Chevron B17.

Looking forward to seeing all of these cars and Bev once again at the Oulton Park Gold Cup meeting.

I never was sure of his background, but I always enjoyed his press-on style of driving in F3.

I think it's fair to say that sometimes he had a reputation as a prickly customer - I remember reading a magazine article ("Car", I think) about the final season of 1-litre F3 in Britain. This featured interviews with several F3 drivers of the day, who were asked for their opinions of fellow competitors. One driver, can't recall who it was, described Bev Bond as being "prone to brain fade". Rather than laugh this remark off, Bev wasn't too pleased about it, and the magazine were forced to publish an apology in a later issue.

I never ever read Car magazine so I don't think it was in that one.Anyway we all had nicknames ascribed to us and one even went on to win the world Formula 1 championship,he even had punchups on the way.As to my background here is a short record.
I started doing go karting.About 1965 whilst still karting a guy called Johny Walker built a kart with suspension all round and asked me to drive it but it never really was much good.He then designed and built a small single seater car and fitted a 250cc engine(Formula4) and I agreed to drive for him.Unfortunately that really came to nothing but I got the bug for single seater racing.I then purchased a Cooper T72 for £250 fitted with a BMC engine which apparently according to the advert had just been reconditioned by Downton engineering of Salisbury.On closer inspection this was found to be untrue but thats another story.One day at Brands while I was testing the Cooper a guy went off coming out of Clearways and wrote his car off.I purchased from him the engine which was a sidedraft MAE.I then happened to meet a guy whose wife I had rescued from the mud as the tide came in quite a few years earlier told him I was motor racing and he agreed to come to Brands on a test day.He seemed to be impressed and offered to purchase Harry Stillers 1967 championship winning car for the 1968 season. A Brabham BT21b.I had considerable success with this car establishing some lap records and winning against some formidable opponents and represented the country in the European Nations Cup Team championships(which I did three years running.1969 with Race Car International.1970 with Gold Leaf Team Lotus).
1969 I raced for Brendan Mcinerny in his Race Car Internatials team starting the season with a Brabham BT21b and later Brendan purchased a Brabham BT28 fitted with a Holbay engine.Brendan and I had some memorable time together going racing all over Europe and I do hope that he is still with us as I would love to meet him again and talk about old times.Can someone get hold of him and see if we can get him to come to Oulton Park for the Gold Cup meeting.If anyone knows of his whereabouts can they let me know.
After a big crash at Karlskoga at the European Nations Cup meeting on return to the hotel in Karlskoga ther was a telegram for me from Collin Chapman asking me if I would like to drive for him at Zandvoort the following weekend if so get my !!! back to the factory for a seat fitting.I arrived at the factory on Tuesday had a seat fitting but no run in the car.I met the team at Zandvoort and was leading the race until the throttle stuck giving me only half throttle.That was the end of that race but I had three more races before the end of 1969.Winning all three.
!970 raced for GLTL.Most memorable race and probably one of the best races of my career was at Oulton Prk at the British Empire Trophy race where after having competed for the lead in the heats the car went onto 3 cylinders but I kept going and came dead last.Because my team mate had come together with Bert Hawthorne in his heat(Bert I think landed up in the a small grandstand) and a couple of other cars packed up I somehow managed to squeeze onto to the back row of the grid.I believe Tony Trimmer and James Hunt were on the front row.Anyway I came from the back and won the race.I received a telegram from Collin Chapman (which I still have today).
1971 I drove for Morris Nunn who designed and built the superb Ensign car(in his garage at home)That car was a stunner.Does anybody know where it is now and who owns it.Because of a blowout in practice for the support race to the British Grand Prix which pitched me into the sleepers and writing off one side of the car because Mo was running on a limited budget and needed money to repair the damage which I did'nt have we amicably parted.(At that time we were 22 points in the lead in the championship.March cars sold me a a new formula 3 car cheap and my dad (Bless him)helped pay for it and I tried to carry on on my own.
1972 I drove for Dr Ehrlich(Of EMC motorcycle fame) without much success.
1973.Met up with Harry Stiller again and drove for him and Custom Made windows in a Formula Atlantic car.
1974 Harry and Custom Made purchased a new March Atlantic car which I had much more success in.About halfway through that year I decided to retire and we got Allen Jones to race it with me as Team Manager.Notable success that year was at Brands Hatch support race to The F1 grand Prix when Custom Made Harry Stiller Racing entered two cars the other one was Dave Morgan in his own car but under the team colours and the team got !st and 2nd place.
1975 and Custom Made Harry Stiller Racing purchased a Hesketh for Allan to race in the World Champioship.The rest you know about Allan.
After having been invited by the HSCC as a guest I have attended the Peter Hanson Trophy racesand am going to Oulton Park at the end of August for the Gold Cup meeting.Thanks to Nigel Miller he let me drive his super Brabham BT21 at Brands on the parade lap for which I am most grateful and I am hoping that perhaps I might get a drive in the Pter Hanson trophy races next year in either the GLTL Lotus owned by Jamie Wigmore or a March 703 owned by some one who has said I could drive it next year and that hopefully he will contact me later this year to arrange a test day at Mallory Park.Here's hoping.
Thanks for all the interest shown its really quite humbling.
Bev.

Edited by Bev.Bond, 01 August 2009 - 11:43.

That's a great story, Bev! Many TNF'ers would like to see you out again next year! Doubtless you have read all of this thread and will know that your telegram from Colin Chapman is the stuff of legend; is there any chance you could scan it and post a copy here on your thread?
Look forward to seeing you at Oulton Park!

For the record, here is the grid line-up and results for the epic final of the British Empire Trophy, 25th May, 1970.


By giraffe138

Cyd Williams who was on pole, broke a camshaft on the warm-up lap, & was unable to start. Keith Jupp withdrew from the grid with gearbox problems.

Edited by Giraffe, 01 August 2009 - 12:11.

1971 I drove for Morris Nunn who designed and built the superb Ensign car(in his garage at home)That car was a stunner.Does anybody know where it is now and who owns it.Because of a blowout in practice for the support race to the British Grand Prix which pitched me into the sleepers and writing off one side of the car because Mo was running on a limited budget and needed money to repair the damage which I did'nt have we amicably parted.(At that time we were 22 points in the lead in the championship.March cars sold me a a new formula 3 car cheap and my dad (Bless him)helped pay for it and I tried to carry on on my own.

The excellent www.f3history.co.uk covers the 1971 season. Lots of pictures, results etc.

Go to races, 1971 and then select the races from the calendar

Edited by alansart, 01 August 2009 - 12:00.

The F2 Register also has a good record of entries and results.
http://www.formula2....71_Index_GB.htm

By giraffe138

Programme signed by Bev Bond, Cyd Williams & a 22 year old James Hunt.

Results for 1970........

http://www.formula2....370_IndexGB.htm

Edited by Giraffe, 01 August 2009 - 12:22.

That's a great story, Bev! Many TNF'ers would like to see you out again next year! Doubtless you have read all of this thread and will know that your telegram from Colin Chapman is the stuff of legend; is there any chance you could scan it and post a copy here on your thread?
Look forward to seeing you at Oulton Park!

For the record, here is the grid line-up and results for the epic final of the British Empire Trophy, 25th May, 1970.


By giraffe138

Cyd Williams who was on pole, broke a camshaft on the warm-up lap, & was unable to start. Keith Jupp withdrew from the grid with gearbox problems.

Hi there.
I have got that telegram and I have done a copy but how do you put it onto the thread.As soon as I know I will put it on.Hope it comes out as the ink has faded a little but is still readable to the naked eye.
Bev

Bev, posting requires the use of a hosting site such as Imageshack. One solution on this occasion would be for you to e-mail the copy to me and I will post it for you if you like?. I will PM you with my e-mail address.

PS It would also be nice to hear how you came to be driving the Hepworth Ferguson F5000 car?!?! I suppose this is another reason for you to be at Oulton for the Gold Cup, being an ex- F5000 pilot?

Edited by Giraffe, 02 August 2009 - 11:47.

Posted on behalf of Bev Bond......


By giraffe138

Well done Bev! What a memento!

Edited by Giraffe, 02 August 2009 - 15:42.

By giraffe138

By giraffe138 at 2009-08-02


By giraffe138 at 2009-08-02

By giraffe138

I reminded Bev that he has another reason to be at Oulton for the Gold Cup, that being that he drove the Hepworth-Ferguson 4WD at the opening Good Friday 1969 meeting at the circuit and then again on the Monday at Brands Hatch before the car was outlawed. Bev told me that Chris Sharples had said that he had received some contact regarding an entry for the car at the Gold Cup, but now having been in contact with Steven Hepworth this morning, I have discovered that the car is now running a non-period Chevrolet, and is thus ineligable to race. There is however the possibility of some demo laps, so I have put Bev in contact with Steven and copied Chris Sharples; let's hope something comes of it!

Which race at Silverstone did he finish flatout backwards and in what position driving the GoldLeaf Lotus?.

By giraffe138

It was at the 1970 International Trophy at Silverstone and here is Bev preparing to execute that difficult feat whilst being passed by Dave Walker and Ian Ashley!
Bev finished in fourth place, 1.2 seconds covering the first six finishers!

(Pic courtesy of our own Steve Wilkinson. I can't ask his permission as he was struck by lightening 2 weeks ago, and is still not back online!)

In fourth place that day was this man in this car....


By giraffe138

The late and truly great Carols Pace with the Jim Russell Lotus 59A pictured at the British Empire Trophy at Oulton .

Edited by Giraffe, 26 November 2013 - 11:44.

By giraffe138

I reminded Bev that he has another reason to be at Oulton for the Gold Cup, that being that he drove the Hepworth-Ferguson 4WD at the opening Good Friday 1969 meeting at the circuit and then again on the Monday at Brands Hatch before the car was outlawed. Bev told me that Chris Sharples had said that he had received some contact regarding an entry for the car at the Gold Cup, but now having been in contact with Steven Hepworth this morning, I have discovered that the car is now running a non-period Chevrolet, and is thus ineligable to race. There is however the possibility of some demo laps, so I have put Bev in contact with Steven and copied Chris Sharples; let's hope something comes of it!

For the record (correct me if I am wrong Steven ) but this is DH (Dave Hepworth driving) not Bev Bonds.
Spoke with Harry Stiller of late and he mentioned he thought Bev is somewhere on the Dorset coast and for a while ran a local driving school.

For the record (correct me if I am wrong Steven ) but this is DH (Dave Hepworth driving) not Bev Bonds.
Spoke with Harry Stiller of late and he mentioned he thought Bev is somewhere on the Dorset coast and for a while ran a local driving school.

Indeed (it's Tony by the way!) it is David Hepworth, but it is the car in question! Otherwise, you would appear to be correct! I am searching for a pic of Bev in the Hepworth in his "Wacky Racers" helmet & goggles!

Edited by Giraffe, 04 August 2009 - 09:17.