Donington Collection closing (Merged)

OT quite a bit, but by chance I just saw this is in the September 1958 issue of Motor Sport, in the "wanted" section of the small ads.

"Wanted: Mercedes-Benz 1908 or 1909 model. Reply Wheatcroft, "The Firs", Leicester Road, Wigston Fields, Leicester. Telephone Wigston 2726."

The very man or just a coincidence?

Edited by nicanary, 17 October 2018 - 11:16.

Another from 1994 visit

Just half of the Alfa Romeo Bimotore's 16 cylinders

Stephen

I just received an email telling that there's a new book coming out called Donington Park - The Pioneers, apparently the definitive history.

It's due to appear in November, just in time to celebrate the closure of the museum no doubt...

Also see here regarding the book.

Frustrating, but I am sure someone, probably Tom, told me who Starkey was... but can I remember!

Hmmm ... just got back from a final walk around the museum. No Panzer IV or Sherman, although there is a (Kevin) Magnussen McLaren. If you’re thinking of dropping in be quick as it’s emptying as I type,

MP4-29, with the penis nose looking like Jar Jar Binks.

Also see here regarding the book.

 

Frustrating, but I am sure someone, probably Tom, told me who Starkey was... but can I remember!

Think, damn it, think!!  There are many here greatly frustrated by our failure to uncover the identity of Starkey.

Edited by Steve L, 17 October 2018 - 21:26.

Think, damn it, think!!  There are many here greatly frustrated by our failure to uncover the identity of Starkey.

Wasn't he the drummer in some 60s pop group? At the moment though, their name escapes me.

Wasn't he the drummer in some 60s pop group? At the moment though, their name escapes me.

I think it was Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.

The front 8 cylinders of Bimotore

Stephen

By my 1997 visit this monument to Senna and Fangio was erected towards the entrance to the collection.

Stephen

The Collection in 2007.

https://www.flickr.c...157630466351458

Great pictures - thanks Alan.

So will the Wheatcroft owned "vehicles" be kept by the family or sold off, do we know?  Or did I miss something along the way - in which case my apologies.

Anyone here familiar with  Le Manoir de l' Automobile museum about 20ks south of Rennes in France an amazing place also the work of one man.

Yes I've been, and The Manoir d l'Automobile place raised an interesting point that hasn't been discussed so far.

I love a good car museum, and I've visited places all over Europe, though almost always with the non-UK ones, on holiday trips with my dear wife Anne in tow. We went to Le Manoir and loved it, partly because it's close to a pleasant small French town in Loheac, and partly because it appeals to people other than car enthusiasts, we spent a few hours in there, and Anne enjoyed the whole experience as much as I did. A few years ago we went to the Schlumpf place in Mulhouse, my number one of all time, and I had to prise her away from it after 6 hours, though that included lunch in their excellent restaurant, and only last month we were at the Louwman Museum near The Hague in the Netherlands. We arrived at 11am, and only left when they started closing the place at 5pm, so six hours. I didn't have time to see the last two halls at all, and we agreed that we could have done with another hour or two, so we plan to return. The reason that neither of these places sowed even a trace of marital discord is that they've made a conscious attempt to appeal to non-dedicated people, audio tours that tell of past owners and similar topics, intelligently written descriptive placards etc. Anne is very far from being a car devotee, but she was presented with plenty to hold her attention in all the places I've mentioned. The Wheatcroft Museum on the other hand has never made any attempt at this, not really a criticism, as I can't immediately suggest ways in which they could, but while the place in its prime was heaven to people like us, it had effectively distanced itself from about half of the World's population. Kevin's Military vehicles would have lessened it's appeal even further. As the place was largely an expensive hobby for Tom, I doubt if this was something that would have bothered him too much, but I'm sure that it would have been possible to do things that might have helped to overcome this very obvious deficiency and widen the appeal of the place. With Tom no longer around, maybe even that wouldn't have helped very much though, upon inheriting the place, Kevin should at least made attempts to build on its car fan attractions and widen the appeal.

I was at Donington in July or August 1983, timed to coincide with a classic car race weekend.

I was at Donington in July or August 1983, timed to coincide with a classic car race weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for these pictures; I was there around the same time and they jog some very happy memories. Looking at your pictures, I can see why I loved the place - but I can also see with much greater clarity than I did at the time why someone who was not racing-obsessed would not.

By my 1997 visit this monument to Senna and Fangio was erected towards the entrance to the collection.

 

 

Stephen

Shame they didn't get the year of JMF's death right.......  I noticed this when I visited about 10 years ago but there was no one around to mention it to !

Excellent photos, Ens - thanks. The green Matra is the one and only MS9. I’m puzzled by its green front suspension - I don’t recall it looking like that in the 1968 SA GP.

I agree , Never as green as the exhibition model, which to me is a ridiculous interpretation of what MS 9 looked like that day

I feel like opening an MS9 thread about this.

Edited by StanBarrett2, 18 October 2018 - 21:59.

 

 

MP4-29, with the penis nose looking like Jar Jar Binks.

Chinese penis... Shirley?

Pages from brochure when the Collection originally opened in 1973 (your work, Doug?). I grew up about eight miles from Donington, so was lucky enough to attend often. I really miss some of Wheatie's early exhibits....

Edited by Jon Saltinstall, 19 October 2018 - 12:22.

Jo Marquardt?

Thank you for sharing this brochure. Am I right in concluding that several cars had left the collection by 2000? 

The Ferrari 500 is shown with #15, yet on dark borranis also later it appeared with #5 yet wrongly depicting the British GP winner with white roundels on the tail. Model car makers copied these errors, testifying that they used the collection form many their (limited) research.

It would be interesting to know where some of the sold cars have gone?

 

The De Beaufort F2 went here, a good home I guess yet restored and out of his orange jacket....

http://www.prototyp-...felrennen-2012/

BTW I missed the Porsche in the brochure Jon posted. Was it added later to the collection? This was one of the two F2's De Beaufort used, difference being the height of the roll bar.

Actually this car was his accident car...

The Cisitalia also moved to Hamburg, displayed ... ehm unassembled.

Edited by Arjan de Roos, 19 October 2018 - 11:10.

Just corrected the "invisible" page.

An yes, Arjen, as I recall it a few of these had gone by 2000.... Doug would be the best person to confirm which ones, of course!

I have a couple of later brochures which I will try and scan / upload next week.

Edited by Jon Saltinstall, 19 October 2018 - 12:26.

It would be interesting to know where some of the sold cars have gone?

I think the Bugatti T73 went to America (having 'orrible cycle wings fitted), the "Auto Union" and Cisitalia to Germany (but weren't C&G meant to be building the latter at one point?).

But the Alfa Bimotore and Ascari Ferrari...?

A few years ago while I was visiting H&H, Dick Crosthwaite also dropped in and he had the Cisitalia in the back of his van, so yes they were going to (re)build it.

It would be interesting to know where some of the sold cars have gone?

Edited by Alan Cox, 19 October 2018 - 13:51.

The Scarab is with Julian Bronson, the Clark Lotus 21 is with Tony Best, the Moss Lotus 18 with Adam Lindemann, the Ferrari 312B and McLaren M2 and, I think, the M7 with Richard Mille, the BRP-liveried P25 BRM and the BRM P48 with Barrie Baxter, the McLaren Monaco-winning Cooper T60 with Richard Wilson and the March 701 with Roger Wills to list a few that I know of

Roger Wills had the March 701 but I think may of sold it on. Is this the car involved in the tragic Zandvoort crash? Wills also had the 6 wheeler Tyrrell but again I'm not sure if he still has it.

Edited by alansart, 19 October 2018 - 15:00.

BBC also has news

https://www.bbc.com/...rshire-45823624

"Over 45 years, more than 2.5m people have visited the attraction." Anyone ever saw 150+ visitors on one day?

Roger Wills had the March 701 but I think may of sold it on. Is this the car involved in the tragic Zandvoort crash? Wills also had the 6 wheeler Tyrrell but again I'm not sure if he still has it.

The real name of the above-mentioned "Auto-Union" is Sokol 2000 (also known as the Sokol 650, although it seems to be rather fictional index than the real one).

BTW, I also had the fortune to visit Donington museum in 2012 (thanks to Ralph Colmar, who gave us a lift) and was really impressed both by the exhibits and by the almost total absence of visitors...

Edited by Alexey Rogachev, 19 October 2018 - 17:52.

The Scarab is with Julian Bronson, the Clark Lotus 21 is with Tony Best, the Moss Lotus 18 with Adam Lindemann, the Ferrari 312B and McLaren M2 and, I think, the M7 with Richard Mille, the BRP-liveried P25 BRM and the BRM P48 with Barrie Baxter, the McLaren Monaco-winning Cooper T60 with Richard Wilson and the March 701 with Roger Wills to list a few that I know of

There was also an ex Clay Regazzoni Ferrari 312T there when I first went in the early 80's. Anyone know where that went?

Edited by chr1s, 19 October 2018 - 19:45.

Anyone ever saw 150+ visitors on one day?[/size][/font][/color]

 ...the McLaren Monaco-winning Cooper T60 with Richard Wilson...

I don't believe it!

I fear I last visited the Collection sometime in the early 1990s - and I have no idea today how many cars have already been sold.  I am indeed guilty as charged of writing that original catalogue, and I worked very closely with Tom from 1970-71 to around 1982-83, sometimes in the early days spending two or three days there each time I travelled north of Woking.  Over the years I found that the best - and safest - way to work with Tom was from 144 miles away.  He didn't really like younger enthusiasts disagreeing with him - and I have always tended to say what I think...often without really thinking (or caring) of the fallout... 

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 19 October 2018 - 22:37.

Over the years I found that the best - and safest - way to work with Tom was from 144 miles away. He didn't really like younger enthusiasts disagreeing with him ...

The Scarab is with Julian Bronson, the Clark Lotus 21 is with Tony Best, the Moss Lotus 18 with Adam Lindemann, the Ferrari 312B and McLaren M2 and, I think, the M7 with Richard Mille, the BRP-liveried P25 BRM and the BRM P48 with Barrie Baxter, the McLaren Monaco-winning Cooper T60 with Richard Wilson and the March 701 with Roger Wills to list a few that I know of

I heard that Richard Mille also has the four wheel drive cars - Cosworth, McLaren, Matra. Presumably the Lotus and BRM as well.

I fear I last visited the Collection sometime in the early 1990s - and I have no idea today how many cars have already been sold.  I am indeed guilty as charged of writing that original catalogue, and I worked very closely with Tom from 1970-71 to around 1982-83, sometimes in the early days spending two or three days there each time I travelled north of Woking.  Over the years I found that the best - and safest - way to work with Tom was from 144 miles away.  He didn't really like younger enthusiasts disagreeing with him - and I have always tended to say what I think...often without really thinking (or caring) of the fallout... 

 

DCN

The original (only?) catalogue is still one of my favourite books, it's very informative and I'd be very happy to have pretty much any of the cars in it.

I've always found single seaters more interesting than sports cars (hence I've not made a fortune from them!) and the collection was truly unique from that point of view.

Nowadays there are a few people who have large single seater collections but they all tend to be pretty similar - like the Dutch collection of 70+ post 90s cars of which only a couple grab my attention.

BTW, I also had the fortune to visit Donington museum in 2012 (thanks to Ralph Colmar, who gave us a lift) and was really impressed both by the exhibits and by the almost total absence of visitors...

Edited by Alan Cox, 20 October 2018 - 13:27.

We also remember it - a wonderful day indeed, as well as all our journey to the UK 

I was under the impression that the 312B went to an American owner - has it gone from him to Mille?

DCN