Shelsley Walsh Classic Nostalgia meeting - 16/17 July 2022 (merged)

It seems appropriate that  Shelsley Walsh in displaying  20 BRM's at forthcoming (16th-17th July) Classic Nostalgia meeting, can also claim to he the only course used by the British Hill Climb Championship that has had three drivers in BRM's able  to claim points in a top ten run-off.

 

This happened at Round 10, Shelsley Walsh, 26-08-1962 with following drivers

No 122 Tony Marsh (BRM P48, chassis 484) 1st 38.44"

No 124  Ray Fielding (BRM P48, chassis 486) 5th, 39.95"

No 101 David Good (BRM P48, chassis 484)  6th, 40.85"

 

The nearest I believe any other course came to that record was the next round (11) held at Prescott, 09-09-1962 when following drivers competed

No 58  Tony Marsh (BRM P48, chassis 484)  1st, 49.67"

No 56  Ray Fielding (BRM P48,, chassis 486)  5th, 50.84"

A third driver was at meeting as a late entry (not shown in programme) that was Lord Doune, who was a guest/second driver in Ray Fielding's car, entered as 56A, he managed a time of 58.72" (9th in class run) but would not have been  allowed to run in Championship top ten run-off as not registered to compete.

 

During the period 1961-1969 a total of seven drivers managed to get in a Championship top ten run off in BRM cars

Tony Marsh, Ray Fielding, David Good, Phil Scragg, Tony Griffiths, Peter Lawson, John Cussins.

Would these cars in 1962 still be in full Grand Prix spec or would they have been running slightly de-tuned or whatever?

Would these cars in 1962 still be in full Grand Prix spec or would they have been running slightly de-tuned or whatever?

BRM found it difficult to build engines in quantity with matching power outputs. This applied at all times of the company's existence. The best engines went in the prime factory cars. Privateers grumbled about quality and BRM chased them to pay their bills. In 1962 of course, the BRM P48 was no longer a current F1 car so privateers would have been supplied with whatever was available. My question is whether the best surplus remained in the UK or headed to Australia/NZ.

Doug Nye tells us that Tony Marsh's car was one of the late spec, wishbone-suspended, 4-brake cars. It had been raced by Graham Hill in Intercontinental Formula events. Fielding's was the older design, strut-suspended with three brakes. His engine was apparently from 1958.

This happened at Round 10, Shelsley Walsh, 26-08-1962 with following drivers

No 122 Tony Marsh (BRM P48, chassis 484) 1st 38.44"

No 124  Ray Fielding (BRM P48, chassis 486) 5th, 39.95"

No 101 David Good (BRM P48, chassis 484)  6th, 40.85"

 

This round was "badly affected by the weather". Marsh had clocked sub 35s in 1961 and sub 34s in June 1962.  FTD in August 62 was by a Vincent motorcycle.

https://www.autospor...ekend/10338374/

 

As there were a few TNFers at this fantastic meeting, I'm surprised that there is no topic (that I can find), especially with there being such a great collection of BRMs, one of the largest ever (certainly the biggest I've ever seen!!), plus a lot of other historic cars, including a fantastic display of Group B, Group A and WRC Rally cars and even a small Gerry Marshall Tribute Celebration.
There was also a fantastic Lancaster Bomber flypast on the Saturday and Spitfire flypast on the Sunday and also not forgetting the history and beautiful setting of Shelsley Walsh itself.

I was very honoured to be part of the GM demo, driving a 1964 Austin Cooper S that Dad had raced in 1965, but probably more commonly known for it's Anita Taylor (being called 'Minty') and Jon Aley links.

I only first visited Shelsley in 2020, helping Denis Bissell compete for the first time in 46 years in his Rivers Fletcher Buckler Ballamy Special, but restrictions were in place, so this time I really got to see and enjoy the whole Shelsley Walsh experience and can’t wait to go back.

Great to finally meet Alan Cox and Simon Lewis, both of whom I've only communicated with electronically, firstly on here for 16 years and also on Facebook.

I have been to Shelsley Walsh many times (always for the Championship meetings- which are always exciting). However I wanted to attend for first time the Classic Nostalgia meeting to see and hear the BRM cars,  which included period models as well as a new BRM V-16 continuation car.

 

Hearing the BRM V-16 continuation car off the start line was worth the entry fee.

 

Tucked away from the paddock, near to the BRM-Gas turbine (Le Mans car) was a BRM P48, chassis number 484. This was an ex-works car, mainly raced in period by Jo Bonnier. It was purchased in mid 1961 by Tony Marsh, who raced the car for the first time at Shelsley Walsh Championship meeting on 27-08-1961 where he not only recorded 1st place in Championship run off with time 34.41", but set a new hill record. The car at that meeting was fitted with  2.5 litre BRM engine. Later in year at the  Lewis-Evans Trophy - Brands Hatch- 01-10-1961, a non-championship Formula 1 race, Tony Marsh won in same chassis, fitted with a Climax FPF, 1.5 litre engine. By completing this he became the first (and only) person to win a hill climb championship round and a Formula 1 race in the same car/chassis. I do not think this will ever be achieved again.

 

Tony Marsh was the first driver to win a hill climb championship round in a BRM and by winning the Lewis-Evans Trophy race, became the first driver to win a race in in a privately owned BRM.

 

All in all the Classic Nostalgia event was a hit with me, with BRM cars, Rally cars, Formula 3 (1950's F3 cars) amongst the treats to see and hear   

I was there on the Saturday as an "early" birthday treat. I couldn't remember the last time I'd been , at least 15 years. Back in the 70's and 80's it was almost a home from home.

 

The array of cars was incredible really and , as dgs, says hearing the V-16 blast up the hill was an experience never to be forgotten.

 

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself and it won't be such a long time now before I'm back. Even my wife enjoyed it and has picked out her spot to take a chair and sit in next time we go!

 

She didn't quite get the the FreiKaiserWagen however

I competed there on the Saturday with my 1967 Formula 2 Mallock, and was opposite the FreiKaiserWagen in the paddock. What a machine that is! The Classic Nostalgia meeting is always a highlight and a delight, and Shelsley is a terrific course. The championship in which I compete - the BOC Fassi Classic Speed Championship (www.classichillclimb.com) - will be back at Shelsley on Saturday 17 September if any TNF folk fancy avoiding the Goodwood Revival.

Christopher W.

Was there Sunday using the family Nikon D3400 and kit 18-55mm lens - travelled light.

 

A few snaps below (sorry, not a comprehensive review) including the impressive continuation V16 off the line.

 

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzYuMu

 

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzYuEy

I competed there on the Saturday with my 1967 Formula 2 Mallock, and was opposite the FreiKaiserWagen in the paddock. What a machine that is! The Classic Nostalgia meeting is always a highlight and a delight, and Shelsley is a terrific course. The championship in which I compete - the BOC Fassi Classic Speed Championship (www.classichillclimb.com) - will be back at Shelsley on Saturday 17 September if any TNF folk fancy avoiding the Goodwood Revival.

Christopher W.

 

Ah yes , your Mallock - my wife liked that - she thought it was "sweet looking" which from a complete non-motorsport fan I suppose is high praise indeed 

 

We walked the whole course and was on the finish straight when the V16 came past , you could feel the air tremble and then when the BRM Can Am went past you felt the ground tremble as well - that impressed her and maybe , just maybe , gave her some understanding of why I have spent over the last 50 years being a Motor Sport fan.

 

When you hear those cars go by it's impressive and I said to her to just imagine them racing at close quarters for many hours on circuits that are a bit twistier than Shelsley

Onboard footage from the BRM V16: https://youtu.be/A4w22LJrLeU