26 replies to this topic

[Gregor Marshall]

I'm not sure if this is the right area or even if I'm allowed to ask (Mods - please move or tell me off gently!!) but when clearing my garage getting ready for the 2008 race season I came across the following item:-





It should look like this:-



It was given to me in 1990 and it is off the Middlebridge Lola (T89/50 I think) used by Damon Hill in 1990. This was the season were Damon led a lot of races but had a lot of DNFs. I can't remember exactly but I think it came from an accident at Enna (or a practice accident at the Birmingham Superprix).

As I was 12 when my late Dad gave it to me (don't ask!!) and I haven't got the relevant Autosports confirming what led to Damon's retirements at the 6 races he retired from I cannot say exactly what race it is from but my question is in the title; is it worth anything?

Should I contact a specialist, should I put it on ebay, should I make something weird and wonderful carbon fibreish from it or should I just bin it?

Any thoughts suggestions would be appreciated.

[jcbc3]

Bin it.

No offense, but if you 'come across' something in your garage it can't have any value to you. I won't think anyone would bid you anything meaningful on eBay. Meaning that whatever you got for it, wouldn't be worth the hassle (unless you are a trader there and can just prop it in there as an aside).

No, on second thought. Advertise it here 'for free'. That way you know someone that appreciates obscure motorsport memorabilia get pleasure from it. (no, I'm not in the running for it)

[bigears]

If it is damaged from the Birmingham Superprix then I would like to get my hands on it!

I will have a look in my 1990 Motoring News collection and see if there is anything about Hill at the BSP.

[Lotus23]

Gregor, my first thought was to agree with jcbc3 and advise you to just toss it.

But my second thought was that you might have a little to gain and less to lose by trying eBay. I never cease to be amazed that one man's trash is another's treasure. (Put the Damon Hill photo first in your ad.)

You might also consider the "For Sale and Want Ads" forum here.

[bigears]

Had a look in the Motoring News' coverage of the 1990 BSP.

No practice accident for Hill, only had problems with stiff rear springs.

But he was involved in a first corner accident involving Paul Belmondo and Fabrizio Giovanardi.

But he crashed into Paul Belmondo's yellow car after Giovanardi's crashed into Hill. So that doesn't explain the red and black marks on the nosecose.



You can see Hill's front wing on the left.

[David M. Kane]

$50?

[Alan Lewis]

You can rule out the Silverstone International Trophy (supporting the Empire Trophy world sportscar race) from the retirement list; I was there and remember him coasting to a halt with something engine-related - definitely didn't hit anything.

APL

[KWSN - DSM]

Well...

I disagree with the posters who say 'bin it'.

It is not 'my thing' to collect used parts from Auto racing, however there are a LOT of collectors out there, and this specific item is:

1) A Damon Hill part, i.e. last English Driver to win the WDC.

2) Of know pedigree.

There is bound to be people out there, who would really really like to have this piece.

Is it worth anything? - Yes

Is it worth a lot - No.

Do not put it on e-bay just yet, leaf through some ad sections in Autosport, and call a few of the companies who sell various Motorsport memorabilia and get them to give you a price. Then depending on what they say, decide if you want to let them have if for certain funds, or go through e-bay and possibly make more.

If the companies are interested, expect them to sell it at a 400% markup.

[David Beard]

Originally posted by jcbc3
Bin it.

You must be joking. I'll have it! It would go very nicely with the carbon fibre Stewart F1 track rod I have hanging in the hallway.

(not into that 5s nonsense, are you?)

[jcbc3]

Originally posted by David Beard


You must be joking. I'll have it! It would go very nicely with the carbon fibre Stewart F1 track rod I have hanging in the hallway.

(not into that 5s nonsense, are you?)

Did you fail to read the rest of my post?

[David Beard]

Originally posted by jcbc3


Did you fail to read the rest of my post?

No!

[Simon Arron]

Damon creamed the Lola into the tyres to the inside of Turn One at Hockenheim (start of lap two, while leading, if memory serves), but I can't recall what colour they were painted.

He went off the road a few times at Enna, while trading the lead with Gianni Morbidelli - but then more or less everybody tended to crash, every season, at Enna. A duff battery ultimately accounted for him there.

Bigears has reported on the Brum mishap and all other retirements were down to his car falling to bits (of its own accord, not because he hit anything).

Hope that helps,
SA

[fausto]

Gregor, try to have it signed by Damon Hill, it'll surely add some appeal, at least for his fans

[bigears]

He did go off the track during the race at Enna but he didn't hit anything.

He spun on the second lap of the Hockenheim race and he did clip the tyre wall. The tyres were green.

But I seem to remember seeing some footage of Hill spinning off at Surtees during practice at the Brands Hatch F3000 event. What colour was the tyre wall at the outside of the uphill Surtees corner?

[Todd]

I went to a preseason baseball game between the Padres and the Angels last Friday. The seats were 40 feet from third base. After 3 innings in which there was ONE base runner, the bases were all replaced. During a preseason game. When they'd each been stepped on once. I asked my baseball following friend what was up, and he assured me that there are people who will buy the bases as keepsakes, and the demand is such that they are changed 3 times a game, whether they are still virgin white or not. If people will pay money to have some useless, clunky baseball bag that was as significant as a grass stain to the history of the sport, a bag that was there for a third of a preseason game from a sport with an incalculable number of real games played a year, then you might as well see if someone who is already suspect for caring about Damon Hill in the first place is interested in providing that thing with a place of honor over the TV set that dominates his life.

[Gregor Marshall]

Thanks for all the responses guys, much appreciated. I did mention it to Damon last year but he doesn't seem to have a great affection for old mementos (I also have a painting he did as a kid but that's another story!!).

Now I've slept on it I remember my Dad saying that during the accident there was an incident with a marshal's post and I remembered why I first "discarded" it, as my Mum thought the red droplets down the side were blood (not pictured by the way!!) and wouldn't let me have it in my bedroom and over the years when I've moved (I don't live with my Mum anymore!!) it's just always stayed in a box and gone into my garage(s).

As for the fact I kept it in the garge so it must be worthless to me comment; where would you put a blooming big battered nosecone in your home??

[Andrew Kitson]

Originally posted by Gregor Marshall
I did mention it to Damon last year but he doesn't seem to have a great affection for old mementos (I also have a painting he did as a kid but that's another story!!).

I'd like to see that!
Gregor, get DH to sign it next time you are in BRDC (in permanent ink marker) and tell him it will be auctioned for charity. I can put you in touch with the organiser of one that has Brian Lister, Jack Sears, Alan Henry, Martin Donnelly, Group Lotus, Frank Williams, Ian Walker etc. as keen supporters of a kids hospice in Essex. You'd be amazed what people pay for genuine signed stuff at these functions (especially when helping sick children ). I can see that making £300 or more at some of the functions I've been to. However you would never get that just selling for personal gain but a far better option than binning it..

[jcbc3]

Originally posted by Gregor Marshall
...
As for the fact I kept it in the garge so it must be worthless to me comment; where would you put a blooming big battered nosecone in your home??

That one was for me.

Your initial post came over as if you found it and went: "Oh, blimey. Yeah dad gave me this some years ago. Funny I had all forgotten about that".

But as I also stated, I think that if you don't intend to put it on display, you might consider giving it to someone who would.

[flat-16]

Andrew K is right on the money with his suggestion - I second that idea. If it goes to a worthy cause, I suspect people will pay a lot more.


Justin

[f1steveuk]

I'd guess that an undamaged, pristine F3000 nose cone is unique, and therefore priceless?

[fines]

Just like those ultra-rare unsigned copies of books of certain authors...;)

[f1steveuk]

Originally posted by fines
Just like those ultra-rare unsigned copies of books of certain authors...;)

oooh, I feel cut to the quick! I'm sure I signed the lot

[ensign14]

Hm, I can see a restoration project there...

[Gregor Marshall]

Originally posted by ensign14
Hm, I can see a restoration project there...

Haha!!
It's probably more original then the Bentley Middlebridge bought/were buying...allegedly.

[Gary C]

'I'm sure I signed the lot'
Nope! I have one of those extremely rare, un-signed copies which is therefore worth at least four figures!

[alansart]

I new the Atkinson brothers when they raced F3 in 1983. During Qualifying Ayrton Senna hit Greggs rear wing sideplate on Senna's 'hot' qualifying lap, going through Knickerbrook. Ayrton apparently came over and apologised afterwards saying "I needed the time and I needed you to get out of the way" (or words to that effect).

Gregg, knowing how good Senna was got him to sign the tyre mark on the wing sideplate. How much would that be worth?

Unfortunately I think the tyre mark and signature was polished off before the next race.

I do have a couple of PRS nosecones with a few tyremarks embedded in the paintwork. They ain't worth anything and if I sign them they'll be worth even less

[Gregor Marshall]

Originally posted by alansart
I new the Atkinson brothers when they raced F3 in 1983. During Qualifying Ayrton Senna hit Greggs rear wing sideplate on Senna's 'hot' qualifying lap, going through Knickerbrook. Ayrton apparently came over and apologised afterwards saying "I needed the time and I needed you to get out of the way" (or words to that effect).

Gregg, knowing how good Senna was got him to sign the tyre mark on the wing sideplate. How much would that be worth?

Unfortunately I think the tyre mark and signature was polished off before the next race.

I do have a couple of PRS nosecones with a few tyremarks embedded in the paintwork. They ain't worth anything and if I sign them they'll be worth even less

I think that would be worth quite a bit now!!

In this weeks Autosport there's an article on the new Classic Saloon series and you can see on Stacy Vickers RX7 were Dad signed it after racing (and winning in it) at Oulton Park in 2003 and Justin Law got Dad to sign his Mk2 Jag (ex-Coombs car??) after a great battle in the St.Marys Trophy one year (2003 again I think!!) at Goodwood.

Going back to the nosecone I think it's either put on ebay and seeing what it gets or donate to charity; the racing driver in me says ebay and the normal person in me says charity.