Indeed, Ian, Rodney Bloor did make a brief return to the tracks last year with a beatifully-prepared Merlyn in historic FF. He owns the car jointly with Brian Classic, and Brian's son, Alex, made a very polished debut with it at last year's Gold Cup. I contacted Rodney in the middle of last year to try to attract him to a TNF meeting, as he lives fairly near to The Smoker, but I gather that he had been struck by illness and his return to the track was curtailed. He did attend the Gold Cup to see Alex race, and my best wishes go out to him that his health improves and that he might be able to join the northern chapter one day in the near future.

Rodney was the owner of Sports Motors (Manchester), whose premises were on Plymouth Grove, and he did run the quasi-works Brabham BT28 in F3 for Tim Schenken, having had quite a career himself in the sixties.

I'd long gone by then - I was fielding in the slips for Turnham Green CC when the replacement umpire told me the news about Villeneuve. My knowledge/interest had lapsed dramatically, but it was still sufficiently upsetting to make me bowl uselessly and score a duck. I vowed to try again to ignore motor racing forever...it was simply too upsetting.



Sports Motors were entrants for a number of drivers down the years, Gerry Birrell amongst them.

Isn't there a thread on here somewhere? (meaning, basically, I can't find it...)

April 1982. The Goombay Dance Band looms large in the charts with Seven Tears and Shakatak releases Night Birds. Best to stick to the cassette player, then, when driving to Oulton Park and Mallory on consecutive days...


April 25: Ian Jacobs peels into the Mallory Esses in his Matra Bagheera. I always appreciated Ian's efforts to turn up with something unusual (normally painted a vivid green).


It's Ian J's Jensen Healey... but yours truly is at the wheel. This was taken at Brands Hatch in, I think, 1983. I did a couple of laps and then came in to report that the temperature gauge was running a little high. Ian assured me it wouldn't be a problem, but I didn't feel comfortable carrying on. He jumped in to prove everything was OK... and got about as far as Clearways before the engine blew.


This is from OP on April 24 1982. I have no idea who's driving, but I quite like it because the Lodge gates appear to be sinking.


Colin Blower doing what Colin Blower does best.

Just want to thank everyone for posting this fabulous stuff...now...where do I buy these indestructible socks!!

http://www.blueshire.com/productcart/pc/vi...CFQ9QQgodOl4O-Q


....or better still, the trusty old eight-track cartridge player

My trusty Reliant Scimitar was equipped with an eight track. So much easier to operate than a cassette player & safer!

Staus Quo was my music of choice for the trip to Oulton; nowadays it is usually Fleetwood Mac (The Chain) or Jools Holland!

Hopefully this can be classified as Club Racing. The Avon Tour of Britian, mixing club and rally drivers with the odd F1 pro thrown in, all in GP1 Saloons. Taken at Knebworth Park, also famous for the odd music festival or 2.

Rod Mansfields Escort


Stan Clarks Alfa


Brother Rogers Capri


Denis Thornes Firenza


Howden Ganleys Citroen


I recognise the driver but can't for the life of me remember who he is!


Roger Bells BMW


I think this is Tony Drons Escort


Vern Schuppans Granada


Nigel Stovin-Bradfords Hillman Hunter

Totally great pictures chaps keep it coming !

I've just noticed that there appears to be a third person in the Stovin-Bradford car, hanging on to the roll over bar!

Or is his co-driver working from the back seat?

Great pictures! I think the Firenza is crewed by either Chris Coburn/Rodney Spokes or Paul Faulkner/Monty Peters, there was a time I would have been certain enough to lay good money on it

.......I have been known to make mistakes

Is it not Will Sparrow, Gerry's 'team mate' at Blydenstein/DTV?

I think it's Clive Doyle in Eric Stansfield's Dino (unless the programme has got it wrong!) in the Cheshire Cats Trophy Race, where he was up against the likes of Barry Fernaly (Honda S800), John Fletcher (Elan), Roy Yates (Ford Mustang - listed as "blue" on this occasion) and Mike Ridley in the Allied Rubber Products Morgan +4.

I think Will drove the yellow "Chunky Chicken" car in 1973, although in MN and Castrol/Autosport rounds he was a "DTV" driver, I could be wrong, it is getting warm in this anorak, clouding my judgement Andy!!!

Firenza above looks like Coburn - it's not Sparrow or Faulkner.
1973? (technically, T of B was a rally)

I'd wondered where Fiat got that idea from (for making Christian Geisdorfer ill on the 78 RAC Rally!).

I was out on that event, and he looked most odd (centrally?) in the back......over the back axle to increase grip, I wonder if Boreham would have got away with that one?

Some shots from the John Wallwork Volvo 4 Hour Relay Race Sept 28th 1985:




One could not gripe at the lack of variety....mind you it looks as if I covered the whole race from the outside of Lodge.



David Scheldt was the fourth driver in the "Team Squadra Tutta Forza" in his Lancia Stratos



Chris Shiptons E-Type was a member of the JDC Inter Marque Team



While Peter Grant in his Chevron B16 was one of six drivers that made up the Apollo Racewear Team Chevron

Kind regards

Phil

Barry Fernaly got an honourable mention at last evenings Liverpool Motor Club Social. As did John Fletcher abd his indecently quick Elan!

I remember Barry Fernaly being the first 'human pit board'
It was at Aintree on a Tuesday afternoon. The first two teams to front up had to base themselves at either end of the public footpath at Village and Bechers to act as "it is safe to cross the race track now" marshals for the public.
Barry had a potential customer out in one of his Honda S800 mini sports cars. Now it was fair to say this bloke wasn't very quick. In fact he was snail pace.
Barry was stationed at Village with stop watch and clip board. Each time his customer passed, the shouted conversation went something like this.
Barry " One fifty two"
Customer "Thank you"

I kid you not.

With a prod, I remember Barry too! He and his mates took a lot of Honda S stuff off my hands 30 years ago or thereabouts. I was living on the Wirral at the time, so remember Liverpool Motor Club too - in fact, one of the last competitive events I did in a Honda was their Autotest at the (Marine Parade??) Car Park at New Brighton sometime in the mid-70s. Say "Hello" for me, someone!

Six days without a picture...........cannot have that!

A trio of shots from the Thundersports Meeting at Oulton on Good Friday 28th March. The Thundersports Race was for the Gold Cup.



The Osella P9 of Gellini/Ranaccio fills the lens at Old Hall



The crowd look to be feeling the cold as the Chevron B26M of Holman Blackburn and Nick Oatway flashes past



The Lotus Cortina of Richard " Ace " Hill attempts to fend off the similar car of Chris Boon

Kind regards

Phil

Formula 3, 1978


Pere Nogues' Rushen Green March, while Derek Warwick perches on Nelson Piquet's Ralt.


Chico Serra's March, and the man himself


Derek Warwick, and the March which proved to be a poorer bet than his Ralt


Unipart March team of Ian Taylor and Tiff Needell


Thorkild Thyrring's Ralt, and Piquet leading Warwick

Phillip Bullman leads Serra

Thanks, ASDC. I might need to call on your collection of early 1980s programmes again shortly. Don't seem to have kept any post-1982. The word 'idiot' springs to mind.

Great pics there Alan.

'Tis almost a month since any club racing talismans were scanned for display here, so in an effort to redress the balance... The following were snapped at Aintree on May 3 1982.


It was always a good defensive mechanism to build a car more than half the width track's width... Jeff Wilson's BMW M1 in action. In the background - an improbable bit of symmetry that I've only just spotted, almost 26 years after I took the pic - Terry King can be seen thundering down the Railway Straight in Jeff's old VW Beetle (the ex-Mick Hill/Doug Niven car).


The Beetle arrives in the foreground.


Nowadays Malcolm Swetnam is team manager for CRS in the FIA GT Championship. Back then he was rubbing shoulders with the great, the good and David Winstanley in north-western FF2000 events.


Richard Street - runner-up to namesake Peacock in the '82 Champion of Oulton series. Anyone care to admit to ownership of those legs in the background?


A quiz of sorts... but only as a by-product of my own ignorance. I have no idea who this is, but somebody out there might know.

And finally, to prove that motor racing existed south of Knutsford in those far-off days when customer F1 cars were a viable proposition and some people (not me) bought Sutherland Brothers and Quiver records...


A dual composition that shows a) the unerring beauty of the Lydden Hill PA system and b) Dave Bettinson leading a six-strong Modsports field en route to victory - at an average speed of 74.07mph - on May 31 1976.

How did you get to Lydden in 76 Simon, a good bike ride for Phil and you that would have been... No idea about that strange FF, reminds me a little of the tragic Mickey Thompson car thats much discussed on here.

I was at Cadwell on Sunday, and had a good chat with Adam Ormandy, another intrepid Hale-Oulton cyclist he told me. And I found out something interesting re the Beetle...

That FF looks like a 1972 Titan to me - remember the works orange and white Derek Lawrence/Ken Bailey cars?
The same day that Lydden photo was taken, I was not that far away at Charlton FC ground watching The Who (when Keith Moon was still with us) supported by Little Feat, Widowmaker and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

like andrew I suspect it is possibly an elderly Titan.

:\

Ah Lydden Hill. I've had a few experiences there!

My first year of racing in 1980. I let my mechanic, helper, friend whatever he was called, have a race in my F750 on a strictly "you bend it mend it principle". He'd raced Classic Saloons, so was no novice. A few spins in practice bothered me a little (the car was crap, so there was an excuse!). Anyway come the race he dukes it out with another slow car into the last corner (Paddock?) and the other guy is off into the wall. All very avoidable by both parties and it became a bit heated afterwards until an official came along and told them they were both w*nkers!

A year later. Car totally rebuilt and slightly redesigned. Early race at Lydden. Not going well and start towards the back. Make up a few places at the off but the crankshaft snaps just about where that Lotus 7 is in Simon's pic. Where's the bar

1982, I've got a FF1600. Again I promised a drive to a mate (well he did lend me his 750 when mine had an "axle" problem testing at Silverstone). I'm working in Germany for half the month, so he decides to do a Lydden race whilst I'm away. No problem, but I can't resist seeing how he does. He'd never raced a FF, but was pretty good in 750's, so although not bothered about damage, I decided to turn up for the race. I'd worked it out that I could finish work on the Saturday about 8pm, hit the road and catch the early morning ferry from Calais, be at Lydden by the early hours of Sunday morning, kip in the car and so would be vaguely awake when they arrived a few hours later. Unfortunately my German registered car was pulled apart at the French border, so I ended up at Lydden at the same time as the race car, and I'd had virtually no sleep! Everything is ok with the racer, but 10 minutes before the start of practice the heavens open and my driver pulls out, feeling uncomfortable with the conditions. Not wanting to waste an opportunity, I see Dave Bradley, and hey presto I'm driving, knackered, in the wet (which I hate) and wearing someone else's helmet and overalls, which were to small for me

To be honest, I can't remember the race. But I didn't crash and didn't get in anybody's way. In fact I think I scored some Championship points.

Me in my car, with Nev's helmet & overalls, and looking for where the circuit goes!



I was back at work on Monday morning in Germany, although I don't think I made much sense!!!!!

Those were the days

Cadged a lift while staying with relatives in Herne Bay...

This weekend I'm planning a similar trip in reverse: north-west Kent to Oulton Park - my first visit to the hallowed turf for quite some time.

I concur with Steve and Andrew that the spinning Pre '74 FF1600 looks like a Titan, by the way, possibly a Mk6, but I remain curious about the driver's ID.

Great stuff SA. Pop over to the Club Formula Ford Race Centre ** for a Large Weak Tea No Sugar and a Digestive or two.

** You can't miss it, it will be between the fuel station and Paddock gate, manned by a friendly, chubby Scouser.

What Mr Arron is too bashful to admit is that the reason for his visit "home" this weekend is that he is to make his long-awaited debut behind the Knicker Brook microphone for the BRSCC meeting. Can't wait to get the low-down from him on the current crop of contenders in the North-West Club FF Championship.

For the sake of journalistic accuracy, I should point out that I will merely be perched alongside Richard Sproston - on the pit straight, I believe - and will be jabbering about the old days rather than trying to identify 37 Sports 2000 drivers. Richard tells me there are now three different Sports 2000 categories, which was news to me - too much time spent in the F1 paddock shelters you from the real world. I don't imagine any of the following will be involved, either...


Mallory Park, May 28, 1982: I think #18, barely in shot, is Alan Sidoron. Bob Moore is in Lola T592 #17, Peter Hall is in the older, red T492 and David Collins (another guess, frankly) is driving the Tiga SC81, #4. Bob Moore was involved with the John Kirkpatrick Racing Argo FF2000 team and once invited me to test Anthony Reid's JM14 at Snetterton. I received a phone call the evening before, however, advising me that the test was off. Anthony had been running at Snett during the day and had gone off so spectacularly that he'd actually clipped the bridge...


Another shot of the Hall T492, complete with evidence of lateral contact.


Mark Peters (Royale RP31) prepares to tackle the world's finest hairpin.


What's the collective noun for the Renault 5TS? I don't have the programme and will leave it to Mallory Dan to identify the drivers and their respective tyre pressures, fuel loads etc.

Don't forgot inside leg measurement & hat size! Plus a full breakdown on the R5TS rear suspension swinging arm!

Your mission Mr Arron……if you choose to accept it.


Is to bring Altrincham FC into the commentary via an acceptable link!!


Kind regards

Phil

Simon, you nearly got me there, there was no Mallory meet on May 28, that was a Friday. However, there was one on March 28... the "Caribbean Airways Race Day". Headlight was the Tricentrol RAC British Saloon Car Championship - no 'Touring Cars' in those days, quite right too.

Anyway, anorak on now, the R5s are lead by Bob Longfield, who won, chased by Stepehn Smith and Russell Martin. Sorry chaps I don't remember you at all.

The S2000s were racing for the Caribbean Airways Trophy (weren't they some Freddie Laker offshoot?). Race won by Fulmar Taylor's Royale, from our own GFM's March, and Jeremy Rossiter's Royale. The cars in the pic are the John Kirkpatrick Lolas of Alan Sidorov and, one Roger Moore, not that one I'm sure, Peter Hall, and, possibly lapping them, Richard Eyre's Tiga.

Prog in front of me, should anyone want to know any more....

Best of luck SA this weekend, are you after MAWP's role?

Oops... Put it down to my rubbish handwriting. Don't think Roger Moore is correct, though - he was definitely a Robert. Suspect that's a glitch with the BRSCC's typewriter.

And no, I'm not after MAWP's role - I just fancied a nice day out on home turf. I might even wheel out the (non-digital) Pentax Z-70 to see if I can frame Sports 2000 cars more accurately than I used to...

As I am Duty Manager at this weekends event, I will be listening with great interest to Simon's debut. I had a go last year when MAWP couldn't make it to the 750MC meeting (of all the shoes to try and fill!). Full respect to those who do it week in week out.
A fond memory of Sports 2000 of the past was watching Dud Moesley in rhe plywood Modus. Is there any truth in the rumour that it was heavier in the wet due to water absorbtion?
Dud has made a comeback of late, I hope he is running this weekend!

The Motus should have been OK so long as it was made from MARINE Ply which does not absorb water! In fact it would have floated over the puddles!

Any ideas why Peter Hall has the Bell & Colvill sponsorship blanked off in this shot, yet has it unadorned with tank tape in Simon's second, three-quarter view?

I'm going to attempt to name the occupant of the spinning Titan.....

Anorak on

Derek Fowler?

Anorak off

The Bailey Titan. My apologies for the quality of the picture.

I'm intrigued to know what the F5000-sized object adjacent to the Bailey Titan might be...

His Atlantic Lola

To underline the overwhelming Tricentrolness of the occasion...


Andy Rouse stars in the first of a series of fairly dull single-car shots that seem to have been that day's photographic delicacy.


Rad Dougall, a bit of asphalt, some grass and a touch of white paint.


I think there were a couple of RS2000s knocking around at the start of 1982. If memory serves, Mike Buckley drove #27 - I should remember that, because the 108 Altrincham-Manchester bus used to pass the garage where it was stored - and Tony Dickinson raced #33. Buckley had a sizeable shunt during the BSCC race supporting the 1981 British GP at Silverstone and I don't think he appeared much in '82.


"Wish I could be like Terry Watts..." In 1967, Ray Davies came alarmingly close to writing an anthem about a future Talbot Sunbeam racer. I suspect the Talbot main dealership in Stoke has long since vanished.


Jock Robertson and the 1.6 Ford Fiesta - a specification contemporarily unavailable at your local main dealer, I believe.


And finally... Alan Curnow gives his right rear tyre a little respite.

Totally OT, but I often found that song running through my head when watching Patrick Watts race, first in Mini Se7ens and then higher up the tree. I don't think I ever saw Terry race . . .

Very nice!

Hi Alan

My guess would be that the scrutineers had asked to see his entrants licence and he was made to do this because he couldn't, it used to happen quite a lot. I remember Brolly Booth having to do it once as he hadn't realised he needed one at the start of the season! He still had the brolly picture, but had to cover up the Hoyland Umbrellas lettering.

I will correct myself, before someone else does.
It would be the lack of an 'Advertising' licence. In those days you had to have a race licence to drive, an entrants licence to run someone and an advertising licence to put sponsors names on the car!

The lack of an advertising licence was quite common in those days and quite a few people were made to cover up the sign writing. The crafty ones took most of the sticky off the tape, so it fell off after a few laps