29 replies to this topic

[simonlewisbooks]

I've put together a website on the series ( http://www.motorspor...specialGT1.html ) covering 1984-2000 - what might be considered it's golden-age.



The was the era of consderable diversity and development, stretching from the days of Modsports Elans and Special Saloon Imps in the mid 80s through the exotic Group B MG 6R4s, GpC Jaguars, Skoda-Rover & Mustill Escort Mk1-RS500 in the early 90s to the assorted prototypes,Mallocks, Ultimas and Prosports in the middle and end of the decade.

Among the dozens and dozens of photos I found in my own archives are a number of mystery cars and I could use some help with identifications and background....

This Lotus Europa appeared in October 1987 but isn't on the entry list and I don't think it appeared again afterwards. Sorry it's such a crap photo...


A Cobra 427 replica, again not in the programme from March 1993


Lastly one that was listed, as Tony Sheppey in a Royale RP37/Cosworth.
A weird looking device with a Ferrari badge on the nose. Anyone know the story here?


Can anyone add some detail?

Contributions to the website, photos, stories or corrections to anything written are most welcome. I've had some much-appreciated help from several TNF'rs already.

[Darren Galpin]

One race I always remember is when Dave Coyne turned up in his Lancia Stratos Cosworth. Was leading by almost a lap when his engine caught fire. Did the final lap dropping bits of engine around the circuit, parked up just after the finishing line (still in 1st) with the car still alight. The mechanics in the pitlane were rather anxious that the fire should have been put out, but the marshals didn't really want to run across the track with so many cars still coming across the finishing line at the time. So the mechanics grabbed two fire extinguishers which were lying on the ground (which had been used earlier in the day by the marshals and were awaiting collection for refill), legged it across the circuit (just being missed), and luckily found that there was still some dried powder left in the extinguishers. Must have been circa 1993, as I drove myself to RAF Farnborough for marshals fire training not long after that, and I was borrowing my fathers car and not yet at university at the time...... (shows my age!)

[frp]

A Cobra 427 replica, again not in the programme from March 1993

Simon,
I have the driver of the Cobra rep as Nigel Winchester. Presumably, I copied it from the qualifying or race result sheet.

Andy

[simonlewisbooks]

One race I always remember is when Dave Coyne turned up in his Lancia Stratos Cosworth. Was leading by almost a lap when his engine caught fire. Did the final lap dropping bits of engine around the circuit, parked up just after the finishing line (still in 1st) with the car still alight. The mechanics in the pitlane were rather anxious that the fire should have been put out, but the marshals didn't really want to run across the track with so many cars still coming across the finishing line at the time. So the mechanics grabbed two fire extinguishers which were lying on the ground (which had been used earlier in the day by the marshals and were awaiting collection for refill), legged it across the circuit (just being missed), and luckily found that there was still some dried powder left in the extinguishers. Must have been circa 1993, as I drove myself to RAF Farnborough for marshals fire training not long after that, and I was borrowing my fathers car and not yet at university at the time...... (shows my age!)

Remember it well Darren! There's a photo on the site of the car starting to burn with a lap or two left to run... http://www.motorspor...GT-stratos.html

[simonlewisbooks]

Simon,
I have the driver of the Cobra rep as Nigel Winchester. Presumably, I copied it from the qualifying or race result sheet.

Andy

Cheers Andy, I'll add his name to the site.

[MrGoldenEra]

Simon, great website - well done!

I first started spectating at Combe during the mid 90's and always had a sift spot for the GT's. I have lots of photos and video footage (all VHS I'm afraid) from this period. I will get some of the best pics scanned in for you.

Some of the best races I remember were towards the tail end of the 90's / beginning of the 00's with some great battles between, amongst others Chris Lord, Mike Millard, Howard Spooner and Phil Armour all in Prosport LM3000's. The racing did sometimes get a little close for comfort! :-0

Three cars that really stick in my mind for being a bit different and sounding fantastic were the rotary motivated car of Dave Green (Darren) and Geoff Thorne (Lola), the latter was often seen spitting rather large flames on the overrun! Norman Lackford (who is still racing the the series in a Radical) used to run a 1500cc BDA powered Saxon SRC, which I can vividly remember making a rather strange hunting noise at low revs rising to a penetrating scream as the revs rose!

Great days!

[Kevan]

That Brian Chatfield M3 rings bells with me- this pic of what looks like the same car with slightly less-modified bodywork appeared in the Thundersaloon thread a while back...
http://farm4.static....16a0c33ba_b.jpg

....and I'm sure I've got photos of it I took during either a Thundersaloon or Modsaloon race at Brands.

From the green/blue/white paintjob it looks like one of Alpina's DTM cars from 1988-ish...
http://www.alpina-au...lestones_16.jpg

Edited by Kevan, 04 March 2011 - 16:19.

[simonlewisbooks]

Simon, great website - well done!

I first started spectating at Combe during the mid 90's and always had a sift spot for the GT's. I have lots of photos and video footage (all VHS I'm afraid) from this period. I will get some of the best pics scanned in for you.

Some of the best races I remember were towards the tail end of the 90's / beginning of the 00's with some great battles between, amongst others Chris Lord, Mike Millard, Howard Spooner and Phil Armour all in Prosport LM3000's. The racing did sometimes get a little close for comfort! :-0

Three cars that really stick in my mind for being a bit different and sounding fantastic were the rotary motivated car of Dave Green (Darren) and Geoff Thorne (Lola), the latter was often seen spitting rather large flames on the overrun! Norman Lackford (who is still racing the the series in a Radical) used to run a 1500cc BDA powered Saxon SRC, which I can vividly remember making a rather strange hunting noise at low revs rising to a penetrating scream as the revs rose!

Great days!

Cheers ! I can use some late 90s stuff, I was competing in the Saloon Car cup there from 95 and you know how it is when you're busy with your own race, the chance to take photos , or even watch other races suddenly reduces. Most of my photos are pre-95 as a result.
The Prosports always amazed me, they didn't have particularly potent engines and looked bulky compared to, say Chris Gilbert's Lola or Nigel James Ultima, yet they were soooo quick. I remember Matt Aitken being very fast in one until he ran out of road at Old Paddock....ouch!

[Darren Galpin]

I remember Matt Aitken being very fast in one until he ran out of road at Old Paddock....ouch!

And Camp. And.....

Used to be fast but a frequent visitor to the scenery.

[8700023f]

My 'new' car - a Reliant Kitten with a V8 engine - was apparently a class winner in the series back in the early 90s... Do you have any pictures? It would have been driven by Brian Scholey I think

Should be back on track this year!

[Darren Galpin]

Dave Coyne was at Combe on the 4th April 1994. Here is a picture of the back of the car without the engine cover (before the fire) - all images copyright me!


That was a 3 litre Cosworth turbo.

Other cars in the Special GTs:


Aston Martin DB6


Rear of Brian Chatfield's Jaguar XJR11


Special GT's in the paddock.

[Geoff E]

I first went to Combe in 1995. In those days only Chris Gilbert could give Bob Light a run for his money. There were usually 2 or 3 "Imps".

Gilbert packed it in and Light had it all to himself. John Robinson from Guernsey was usually second.

[simonlewisbooks]

Thanks for the photos Darren. Doesn't the mere sight of a DFV in the back of that Stratos stir the blood!

The Yellow Chevron is Richard Borthwick's Vauhall-powered B61 I think. Behind it is Brian Fisher's B16 lookalike(really a Darrian chassis with a Chevron body) and John Pugsley's wierd looking Tiga sports 2000.
The B61 is similar to the one Brian Fisher ran in 1992 , always entered as a "Chevron Sports" with Cosworth turbo engine

Same chassis perhaps?
Brian also ran a strange cycle winged Chevron in 1995

A different chassis I would imagine (roll hoop totally disimilar) . Any idea what type it was?

[La Sarthe]

Simon,

Looking for the Europa-clone it turns out it was entered in a separate Sports GT Challenge race on 15th October 1988. The driver was Richard Gamble and the car was entered as a Lotus March Europa, powered by a 3.9 Rover. He finished third in the race. Unfortunately my photo's as blurred as yours but at least you weren't imagining things.



There was a typically mixed entry in what I assume was a follow-on to the old Donington GT series? - there's a points table at the back of the programme so it wasn't just a one-off race. Another Europa, albeit based on a Lola chassis and with a 1500 engine was entered by Brian Brady - he finished 6th and won his class. Certainly low-line isn't it?



Winner of the race was John Kent in his modified TVR. The engine is down as a 2-litre Cosworth but I'm not sure which type - a Sierra Cosworth perhaps?



In second place was Graham Hathaway in his RS200. Didn't he rallycross this at one point?



There was a Castle Combe Special GT race at the same meeting of course. The winner was Sam Nelson in his Metro 6R4. This was fairly standard compared to David Appleby's version.



The only other photo I have from this meeting is of Trevor Panter in a Rover Vitesse. He finished 9th and 3rd in class.



If there are any cars from the 80s you're after a photo of let me know and I'll have a look.

Peter

[Mallory Dan]

No idea, Simon, and ain't a weird one! The nose is pure '77 Chevron single-seater, ie B38-39-40, though.

[Mallory Dan]

The 1st Europa may be the car Colin Bennett built in about 1981-82, based on a March 803. Was it run by Eric Paterson, in Donny GTs, with a 1500 BDA?

[Roy C]

Winner of the race was John Kent in his modified TVR. The engine is down as a 2-litre Cosworth but I'm not sure which type - a Sierra Cosworth perhaps?

It was a highly-modified TVR S-series, known as the "Cosworth Turbo S", with a Group A spec Cosworth Turbo engine from a Sierra Touring Car.

[Thundersports]

Hathaway did Rallycross that RS200 in the 80s but not very often.

[simonlewisbooks]

Thanks chaps.

Peter - Great photos. Many thanks for your offer I'd be very interested in any photos of Brian Fisher's Skoda that won the 87 and 88 title, Robin Harvey and Steven Roberts' Davrians from the previous two seasons and Brian Cutting's Stiletto, which would complete the coverage of champions back to 82
Plus anything that catches your eye really.

Meantime that Sports GT race explains why even Combe archivist Pete Stowe was at a loss to identify the red Europa....wrong flippin event!

I can't find my programme for that meeting which is annoying. I had no recollection of there being a separate Combe GT race on the same bill. Strange to have two almost identical classes. If you have an entry list for the Combe Gt's any chance of posting it? I wonder if any of these entries doubled-up in both events? If not I shall have to ditch the RS200 , the Europa and the TVR from my site to avoid confusion.
My dodgy memory was that Mark Hales drove the TVR and that it was called a 'Tuscan' by the commentators, just shows how crap I would be as a witness in court
But hey it was 24 years ago....

I do remember the white Europa. Didn't Trveor Panter run a Martin-Rover on the hills with the same PUBS N CLUBS sponsorship a year or two earlier? Or is that my imagination at work again


Mallory Dan - I've got a side view of Fisher's "F1300" style Chevron , I'll scan that one in and post it, it looks, if anything, even stranger from that angle!

[MrGoldenEra]

As promised here are some of my pictures taken from the Castle Combe paddock, this little selection are from 1998.

http://www.goldenera...mulaford.com#22

The 6.6 litre Chevy powerhouse in Bob Light's Prosport based Stealth B6 Sport - what a car!!!

http://www.goldenera...mulaford.com#23

An unknown Prosport LM3000, sans a diveplane, a slight aerodynamic imbalance one might think.

http://www.goldenera...mulaford.com#24

The potent rotary engine installed in the Lola T86/90 chassis of Geoff Thorne. Note the amount of silencers required and despite these it still struggled to meet the strict noise limits!

http://www.goldenera...mulaford.com#25

The unique (?) Saxon SRC of Norman Lackford, complete with screaming 1500cc Ford BDA.

I will have a hunt around in the attic for more pics from the late 90's as I know I have lots (somewhere)! :-)

[Darren Galpin]

More of Brian Chatfield's Jaguar, from 31st May 1993 meeting.

[simonlewisbooks]

My 'new' car - a Reliant Kitten with a V8 engine - was apparently a class winner in the series back in the early 90s... Do you have any pictures? It would have been driven by Brian Scholey I think

Should be back on track this year!

Sounds intriguing! I don't recall it at Combe and having had a look can't see anything among my own photos. I reckon this one appeared at OULTON and other circuits in a northerly direction.There may even be a photo on one of the other threads(Personal photos from the track)?

[Tim Murray]

I reckon this one appeared at OULTON and other circuits in a northerly direction.There may even be a photo on one of the other threads.

Spot on Simon - here are a couple, from DarrenW's great series of photos from Oulton Park that he posted in the 'Personal photos of British club racing' thread:

27th May 1991:

Car 16 - Reliant Kitten 3500cc - Brian Scholey by retromotoring, on Flickr

Same...

Car 16 - Reliant Kitten 3500cc - Brian Scholey by retromotoring, on Flickr

[8700023f]

Spot on Simon - here are a couple, from DarrenW's great series of photos from Oulton Park that he posted in the 'Personal photos of British club racing' thread:

I'd seen the other thread, but something in the pile of paperwork I received with the car mentioned Combe GTs IIRC - shall go back through it tonight to check!

[simonlewisbooks]

From the side the Kitten reminds me of a Short-Quattro in Pikes-Peak spec!

I definitely don't remember it at Combe but I wasn't at every meeting so you may well be right. Wild looking car

[8700023f]

My mistake! Apparently it was the Ace Mobile Windscreens (or Lynton Trailers?) Sports and Saloon Championship - is this the forerunner of the NW Sports & Saloons?

Edited by 8700023f, 08 March 2011 - 16:41.

[simonlewisbooks]

One of my favourite entries in the series, Derek Tyndall's XJ220-engined "Escat" ...



Derek's mechanic "Motty" works at the local tyre-bay so I really must get round to asking him what happened to this car.

I wonder if this sort of mad device will be eligiable for the newly announced "Saloon Libre" or "Sports Libre" mini-series at Combe?
The former sounds like it could be a haven for old Thundersaloons and the latter for old Thundersports...if only they can be made quiet enough...

[roversfan090]

wow only just saw this thread once again simon what a great thread always intrested in the history castle combe and looking back at the special gt's mad era seems topical with castle combe announcing libre races for 2011 big thanks for all these great photos and a great website simon

[Sharman]

I recall an Esprit with a straight 8 installed, 2 Yamaha 4s on a common crank I think. Somebody will tell me if I'm wrong no doubt. It looked to be a very neat and tidy bit of engineering.

[Thundersports]

One of my favourite entries in the series, Derek Tyndall's XJ220-engined "Escat" ...



Derek's mechanic "Motty" works at the local tyre-bay so I really must get round to asking him what happened to this car.

I wonder if this sort of mad device will be eligiable for the newly announced "Saloon Libre" or "Sports Libre" mini-series at Combe?
The former sounds like it could be a haven for old Thundersaloons and the latter for old Thundersports...if only they can be made quiet enough...

That car was originally designed for Thundersaloons; i'm really not sure about those wheel spats!!! It's taking the whole Jaguar theme a bit too far.

Edited by Thundersport, 09 March 2011 - 23:53.