11 replies to this topic

[rbm]

So what happened in the Wills Trophy race at croft in 1966?
Of the 32 entrants, 28 qualified but only 10 finished

1st John Surtees Lola T70 mk2
2nd Hugh Dibley Lola T70 mk2
3rd Tony Dean Brabham BT8
4th Innes Ireland Willment BRM
5th David Hobbs Ferrari 250 LM
6th Julian Sutton Attila mk7
7th Malcolm Wayne Elva mk8
8th Nick Cussons Ford GT40
9th Geoff Breakwell Brabham BT8
10th P Clarke Ferrari 250 LM

DNF Brian Redman Lola T70 mk2 (accident)
DNF Bruce McLaren McLaren Elva mk2
DNF Chris Amon McLaren Elva mk2
DNF David Prophet McLaren Elva mk2
DNF Gerry Kinnane Crossle
DNF Brian Muir Lotus 30
DNF J Delmar-Morgan Brabham BT8
DNF John Pollock Crossle
DNF David Driver Elva
DNF Ben Moore Lotus Ford
DNF Eric Liddell Ford GT40
DNF Jeff Edmonds Ferrari 250 LM

DNS Gerry Ashmore Lotus 40
DNS John Dean Lotus 30
DNS Chris Ashmore Elva
DNS W Freer Lola mk1


DNQ Denny Hulme Lola T70 mk2
DNQ Derek Bennett Chevron B4
DNQ John Blades Ginetta G4
DNQ Digby Martland Chevron
DNQ T Wilson Wilson GT
DNQ M Walton Diva

Also how did the qualifying work?
As it was not the just the fastest 28, for instance Digby Martland was 13th fastest, but did not qualify.

And finally, does anyone have and pictures of qualifying? Looking for any showing the Wilson GT?

Edited by rbm, 22 January 2012 - 19:29.

[Alan Cox]

I posted some Roger Ellis transparencies from this meeting many moons ago on one of the "Personal photos" threads, but they have now disappeared. I will try to resurrect them for you, but it may take a few days. Didn't have any of the Wilson GT, of that I am sure. The weather conditions were a trifle grim, IIRC.

[pete53]

I have the Autosport race report somewhere which I will try and find tomorrow, but as Alan says, the weather wasn't too good ( I believe it was even worse the following year). Also, those big Group 7 racers were never that reliable at the best of times and a high attrition rate was something of the norm.

[pete53]

I now have both the programme and race report in front of me. The Wills Trophy was actually run in two 10 lap heats and a 30 lap final.

The first heat was for the over 2 litre cars and the second was for the under 2 litre entries. The regulations stated that the first 6 finishers in each heat, plus the next 12 fastest competitors, would qualify for the final - a total of 24. After non-starters had been posted, 16 cars started the over 2000cc heat and only 10 the 2nd heat for smaller cars (i.e. 26 in all).

Surtees (Lola) won the first heat and Innes Ireland (Willment) won the second. In the end 21 cars lined up for the final. Presumably the reason for there not being enough cars to fill the proposed grid of 24 cars was simply a result of incidents in the heats rendering the other potential runners as unfit to start.

And yes, it did rain during the final with Surtees going on to win by 2 clear laps!! Autosport mentions a number of retirements, some caused by the weather conditions and some mechanical. In fact, we are told that after 20 laps only 9 cars remained on the road.

The Wilson GT was among the non-starters in its heat although whether it made it to the circuit in the first place is not recorded. Likewise, Digby Martland never started in his heat (although he did come out and win the final race for GT/Saloons in his Chevron). The most prominent non-starter was Denny Hulme whose Sid Taylor Lola had an engine blow-up.

[Derwent Motorsport]

I think I was there (or it was the following year) and it was very damp.

What was the Wilson GT, does anyone have a photo?

[Alan Cox]

The Wilson GT was among the non-starters in its heat although whether it made it to the circuit in the first place is not recorded.

According to racingsportscars.com the Wilson GT practiced and qualified 23rd fastest at 1m 25.6s but was listed as a non-qualifier.

What was the Wilson GT, does anyone have a photo?

Richard (rbm) has also started a thread on Ten-Tenths in which he has posted a photo.

[pete53]

I think I was there (or it was the following year) and it was very damp.

1967 was certainly damp to say the very least. Have you seen this footage on youtube?


Pete

[rbm]

the Wilson as it is now.

[rbm]

According to racingsportscars.com the Wilson GT practiced and qualified 23rd fastest at 1m 25.6s but was listed as a non-qualifier.
 

 

Tim Wilson is still a tad miffed having set a faster time than a number in the other heat.

 

 

The Wilson GT at Ingliston in '66

[bradbury west]

Alan, do you have (access to) any photographs from Croft in 1965 at all,  and/or northern hillclimbs in the mid/late 1960s? I can supply a schedule of events and car nos.

Roger Lund

[Alan Cox]

I'm afraid not, Roger. The photos posted previously on TNF of Croft 1966 were by Roger Ellis, but they are no longer available. All of my photos from Barbon in the 1960s have been posted on the hiillclimb thread over the years. That was the only venue that I visited in those years.

[bradbury west]

Alan, many thanks

RL