Bernard Unett - Autosport Championship 1965 and 1966

An Appeal

Before his British Saloon (Touring) Cars Championship victories in the 1970s Bernard Unett had considerable success driving Sunbeam Tigers in the Autosport and REDEX Championships of 1965 and the Autosport and Fred W Dixon Trophy of 1966.

1965 saw Bernard in an ex Le Mans Tiger (ADU 180B), and in 1966 driving for Alan Fraser in the so called 'Monster' Sunbeam Tiger.

He competed in 25 events in 1965, just missing being the overall winner of the Autosport Challenge Cup to John Miles but won his Class, also in the REDEX

In 1966 he raced the Monster in 20 odd events (alongside driving Hillman Imps for Fraser), with similar end of season results - 2nd Autosport + Class Winner and Class Winner in the Freddie Dixon Trophy as well.

In writing up his racing record in those two years for the Sunbeam Tiger Club magazine, the collected photographic record is pretty OK for '65 but I miss photos of Bernard and the Tiger from these meetings.

- Oulton Park; 2nd May 65 ( 2 races) #31

- Snetterton: 7th June 65 #61

- Snetterton: 18th July 1965 #?

- Silverstone: 2nd October 1965 #?

The photographic record for 1966 though is poor. Surprising since Bernard had gone from being a privateer in 65 to Team Fraser in 66. Still, these races miss photos:

-  Brands Hatch: 24^th April 66 #117

-  Brands Hatch: 8^th May #7

-  Croft: 12^th June 66 #123

-  Crystal Palace: 2^nd July #69

-  Silverstone: 9^th July #14 and #15

-  Crystal Palace: 6^th August #62

-  Oulton Park: 20^th August #42 and #40

Can anyone possibly help my quest, or point out possible sources.

Thanks

Ex-Editor Sunbeam Tiger Club (formerly STOC)

Graham, one possible source is John Willshire, the author of History of the Sunbeam Alpine - perhaps you already know him. He owns, or owned, Unett's Alpine XRW 302 and is researching and writing a book about Bernard, 'Racing Rootes'. Here's a Facebook link showing an email address:

 https://www.facebook...2/?locale=en_GB

Edited by john winfield, 25 March 2023 - 13:17.

Graham. I think you can halt your search for a photo from the Palace meeting on July 2 1966. In my programme from the day I have crossed his entry out, presumably because he was a non-starter.