26 replies to this topic

[bigears]

I stumbled across those photos from Flickr and I have contacted the owner of the photos. He said that he is not sure when the photos were taken. Maybe you chaps could help me here?

It was a parade of cars in the Birmingham City Centre at the New Street road.





The Birmingham Motoring Festival took part in 1970, 1972 and 1975 with the 'On The Streets' cavalcade in 1978 and 1980.

I can't ID the cars and the drivers at all so if you could ID the cars and when it took place then it would help me a lot.

Thank you.

[fines]

Certainly not earlier than 1973, and hardly later than 1977!;)

[bigears]

So naturally it would be the 1975 then...?

Could anyone ID the cars and maybe the drivers as well please?

[Alan Cox]

A number of cars in the pictures are hillclimbers, although I can see a white Lola T400 F500 car - possibly the McKechnie/Len Gibbs car (HU8)? Looks vaguely like Richard Scott's Durex colour scheme and with the tall airbox looks more likely to be 1975.
John Stokes' "Bogarts of Birmingham" F3 March 753 is the white car in the foreground of the second pic., and is the orange McLaren to his left Roy Lane in the car in which he won the '75 RAC Hillclimb Chapionship?
Could the blue McLaren (front right of the first pic) be Martyn Griffiths?
I'm sure that Steve Wilkinson will be able to fill in any gaps.

[bigears]

Could anyone confirm or ID any more drivers featured in the photos?

Where can I find Steve Wilkinson?

[bigears]

I have received a nice batch of photos from the 1978 Birmingham Motoring Festival, in courtsey of John Porter.

I am wondering if anyone could help me to ID the cars and the drivers for me please?























Thank you.

[Twin Window]

The top photo shows what looks like a pair of F1 Hesketh 308E chassis, with Bob Evans' ShellSPORT entry the nearest.

Next down is a Bugatti

The third shows (back to front) a 1976-spec Ferrari 312T2, an Ensign MN175 or 176 (Geoff Lees' car?), another DFV-powered chassis and in the foreground one of the Heskeths from photo 1.

Fourth pic appears to be a Ford GT40, but could be a replica I suppose.

Pic five has a white Porsche 908 in the foreground, a yellow Ferrari 512M which I recognise (but forget the owner/driver), Ian Bracey's Ibec Le Mans car and the #32 Lola T70 which, like the Ferrari, I recognise but can't recall the details.

In the sixth photo is, I think, a Lister which I took a photo of at Brands in '74

Below that is the Ferrari 312T2 again.

Photo eight shows I think a white Chevron B8, the Lister again, and a Porsche 911 with a couple of other cars I don't recognise.

The ninth photo seems to be a BL Motorsport display with two Triumph Dolomite Sprints on the right (#1 being a Gerry Marshall car I reckon), a Triumph TR7 V8 rally car (Tony Pond's at a guess), an MG Midget and what looks like another TR7.

Pic ten is another view of the Ferrari 312T2, illustrating that it had Lauda's name on one side and Regazzoni's on the other.

The last photo shows Simon Riley's Brabham BT33 fitted with a BT37 nose in the foreground, next is a March I think (a 74?) and is that a white Elden?

You'll get way more from the others David!

[bigears]

That's a good response!

Thank you so much.

I hope someone else will add in some more details.

[Alan Cox]

As Twinny says, the first pic is of the Cooper Industries' Heskeths, driven by Bob Evans and team-owner John Cooper in Group 8. Can't identify the T35B driver. In the background of pic 3 is, indeed, the Geoff Lees' Mario Deliotti-owned Hi-Line Car Stripes Ensign from the same series. The GT 40 is a genuine car, chassis 1010, ex-Essex Wire/Peter Sadler and was converted for road use and was owned in the 1980s by Brian Poole. The 512M is the ex-Scuderia Montjuich car (1002) owned by Robert Horne, and which he used to break various British land-speed records. Car 32 in the same pic is Geoffrey Marsh's Marsh Plant Lola T70 3B. I think the Lister No 40 is Bobby Bell's. Can't help you beyond this - shame John's flash seemed to be a little bit "underpowered".

[fines]

Originally posted by Alan Cox
shame John's flash seemed to be a little bit "underpowered".

And I thought my monitor settings had gone awry!

[bigears]

Yes, he mentioned that the makeshift paddock in the wholesale market was a bit dark and he tried his best to improve the photos after scanning the slides.

fines, I assure you that there is nothing wrong with your computer monitor.

[Gregor Marshall]

The Lola T70 is definitely Geoffrey Marsh's and was raced by Richard Bond and then Dad in 1981 and the number 1 Castrol/Triplex Dolimoite is Dad's from mid to late 1978.

[Mallory Dan]

The Hesketh 308Es and Lees Ensign are from the '78 Aurora series, not G8, which ended here in '77. Next to the Riley Brabham, is that a climbing 'Pilbeam-ised March', Martyn Griffiths maybe? And next to that I think is a Crossle 33F FF2000 car, Chris Skellern perhaps?

[bigears]

Let me get this right...



Which one is the _____ McKechnie/Len Gibbs Lola T400 F5000 car and Richard Scott's Durex sponsored unknown car?
The Durex sponsored car, who is driving it and what car is it?
Who can identify the black with the Middleton sponsorship car?
Martyn Griffiths in the unknown blue McLaren hillclimber?


Roy Lane in the unknown orange McLaren. which he won the 1975 HillClimb championship?
John Stokes' "Bogarts of Birmingham" F3 March 753 car.

If anyone got any more information then I would be very grateful!

[bigears]

*A pair of Cooper Industries sponsored Hesketh 308E cars used for the Aurora Series driven by Bob Evans and team-owner John Cooper.
*Any idea of the white car in the background?


*A Bugatti Type 35B (any chance on the driver?)


*A Cooper Industries sponsored Hesketh 308E car used for the Aurora Series driven by John Cooper.
*Who driven and what is the blue car with a concrete company sponsor on it?
*Geoff Lees' Mario Deliotti-owned Hi-Line Car Stripes Ensign from the same series
*A 1976-spec Ferrari 312T2 with both Lauda and Regazzoni's names on it.


* Any guess on the grey Ford GT40 on the left?
*A Ford GT40 (chassis 1010) ex-Essex Wire/Peter Sadler and was converted for road use and was owned in the 1980s by Brian Poole.


(from left to right)
*A white Porsche 908 (owner/driver?!?)
*A Ferrari 512M is the ex-Scuderia Montjuich car (1002) owned by Robert Horne, and which he used to break various British land-speed records.
*Ian Bracey's Ibec Le Mans car.
*Geoffrey Marsh's Marsh Plant Lola T70 3B (#32)


*Bobby Bell's Lister Jaguar (#40) (more details on car?)


*A 1976-spec Ferrari 312T2 with both Lauda and Regazzoni's names on it.


(from left to right)
*A white Chevron B8.
*?
*?
* Bobby Bell's Lister Jaguar (#40) (more details on car?)
* A Porsche 911


(from left to right)
* A Triumph TR7?
* A MG Midget
* Tony Pond's Triumph TR7 V8 rally car?
* Gerry Marshall's Castrol/Triplex Triumph Dolomite Sprints (#1) from mid to late 1978 (used for what racing series?)
* A Triumph Dolomite Sprints (#94) (any info on driver/owner/racing series?)


*A 1976-spec Ferrari 312T2 with both Lauda and Regazzoni's names on it.


(foreground to background)
* A white Elden? (any info on driver/owner/racing series)
* A blue/yellow Match 74?
*Simon Riley's Brabham BT33 fitted with a BT37 nose.

Any more additional information or anything to fill in the gaps, please help me out.

Thank you very much.

[bigears]

Originally posted by Mallory Dan
The Hesketh 308Es and Lees Ensign are from the '78 Aurora series, not G8, which ended here in '77. Next to the Riley Brabham, is that a climbing 'Pilbeam-ised March', Martyn Griffiths maybe? And next to that I think is a Crossle 33F FF2000 car, Chris Skellern perhaps?

Which set of photos are you referring to?

The 1975 or 1978 batch?

[Dutchy]

It looks like Richard I'Anson driving the Bugatti which makes me think it might be Nick Mason's T35B which he looked after (IIRC he worked for Tula Engineering).

The Lister-Jaguar looks more black than green to me in which case it would be Stephen Langton's car, Registered WTM446 (which we all know was transferred to another car many years before this car "appeared").

[Gregor Marshall]

Originally posted by Dutchy
The Lister-Jaguar looks more black than green to me in which case it would be Stephen Langton's car, Registered WTM446 (which we all know was transferred to another car many years before this car "appeared").

If the List Jag is WTM446 (I can't see it well enough) then it belonged to Barry Simpson, not Stephen Langton and Barry bought it from Hexagon around 1972/3 (after Dad had used it to win the last ever race at Crystal Palace on the 23rd September 1972).

Barry raced it thoughout the '70s (with Dad doing some testing in it too) and eventually Dad raced it again at Silverstone on the 14th September 1980 when his Lister (YCD422) had a problem in practice and Barry kindly offered Dad his car so that he could win the Lloyds & Scottish Championship and Barry also had a bad back and didn't feel fit enough to race.

Unfortunately the bad back was later diagnosed as cancer and he passed away in 1983 I think.

And yes, it is that registration/car that was the subject of the recent high court case and in the 1970s was (as far as I'm aware) known to be the Costin Coupe.

[Dutchy]

Oh dear. I wish I hadn't mentioned it!

Gregor, I wasn't referring to the spaceframe Lister (now in its 1963 coupe guise) which I recall both Barry Simpson and your father driving. I was at the Palace to witness him win the last race there.

Stephen Langton's black "Knobbly" also carried the WTM446 registration number and it's that car which I think is depicted.

The court case has been well documented on TNF in the past.

[Gregor Marshall]

Originally posted by Dutchy
Oh dear. I wish I hadn't mentioned it!

Gregor, I wasn't referring to the spaceframe Lister (now in its 1963 coupe guise) which I recall both Barry Simpson and your father driving. I was at the Palace to witness him win the last race there.

No, I'm glad you did as I'm always keen to learn more!!

So was there a normal or a Knobbly Lister that also carried WTM446 in the '70s and that belonged to Stephen Langton? I don't want to go over old ground so just interested to know. Happy to go off-line if easier.

[Dutchy]

There was. A search of TNF should give you the whole story

[Gregor Marshall]

dutchy - I know all of that story (Dad's evidence was used in court) but I hadn't realised there were two cars in the '70s with the same registration - interesting.

[simonf]

Howdy

Some useless information about those 2 Hesketh cars - my holiday job in 1978 was gofer-ing for the John Cooper team. They were based in the stables at Hesketh's place in Easton Neston, so the whole place reeked of motorsport.. The cars were prepared by a couple of Kiwis under the direction of Brian Stewart - the Hesketh operation itself was still going but in the guise of engine building and some fabrication work. The other project was the infamous Hesketh Bike, which was being designed by committee behind closed doors - Frank Dernie was heavily involved...

The Cooper cars were also spotted in a Vauxhall (Chevette?) ad of the time - man goes into garage to test drive car, ends on fairground ride, and F1 track etc. etc. - a very windy day at Snetterton I seem to recall, for the sake of half a sec on the telly.

I did 3 races over that Summer - Thruxton, Brands and Snetterton I think and a bit of testing - great fun, although I think budgets were pared right down... Geoff Lees sat in for John Cooper at Brands but I can't remember if he was any good. I spent a lot of time tidying up the cars post-race, fixing bodywork, rolling tyres etc.

If anyone has any pictures of these cars I'd love to see them...

best rgds

sf

[Mallory Dan]

Howdy

Some useless information about those 2 Hesketh cars - my holiday job in 1978 was gofer-ing for the John Cooper team. They were based in the stables at Hesketh's place in Easton Neston, so the whole place reeked of motorsport.. The cars were prepared by a couple of Kiwis under the direction of Brian Stewart - the Hesketh operation itself was still going but in the guise of engine building and some fabrication work. The other project was the infamous Hesketh Bike, which was being designed by committee behind closed doors - Frank Dernie was heavily involved...

The Cooper cars were also spotted in a Vauxhall (Chevette?) ad of the time - man goes into garage to test drive car, ends on fairground ride, and F1 track etc. etc. - a very windy day at Snetterton I seem to recall, for the sake of half a sec on the telly.

I did 3 races over that Summer - Thruxton, Brands and Snetterton I think and a bit of testing - great fun, although I think budgets were pared right down... Geoff Lees sat in for John Cooper at Brands but I can't remember if he was any good. I spent a lot of time tidying up the cars post-race, fixing bodywork, rolling tyres etc.

If anyone has any pictures of these cars I'd love to see them...

best rgds

sf

Simon, did John C own the cars do you know, or hire them from Hesketh? That year he ran the ex-Cook/works Hesketh 308C/Williams FW05, then bought the ex-Divi Surtees TS19 for Bob Evans, then got the 2 308Es. So if he owned all these outright, thats quite a lot of cash he spent! And re Lees in the car, that was the Brands August Bankie race I think. OTOH he was faster than Evans, but still behind Trimmer and Villota in Mclarens. And behind South's F2 March.

[frp]

(from left to right)
*A white Porsche 908 (owner/driver?!?)
*A Ferrari 512M is the ex-Scuderia Montjuich car (1002) owned by Robert Horne, and which he used to break various British land-speed records.
*Ian Bracey's Ibec Le Mans car.
*Geoffrey Marsh's Marsh Plant Lola T70 3B (#32)

Is the Porsche not a 906, judging from the square-cut headlight cover?

[simonf]

Mmmmm...not sure...i would guess it was some sort of hire deal.. Long time ago and at the time wasn't privy to the wheelings and dealings going on behind closed doors. I'm pretty sure one of the 308Es ended up hillclimbing a year or two after. Lees was deffo the Brands race - took us ages to make a seat for him: skinny little bloke..!

sf

Simon, did John C own the cars do you know, or hire them from Hesketh? That year he ran the ex-Cook/works Hesketh 308C/Williams FW05, then bought the ex-Divi Surtees TS19 for Bob Evans, then got the 2 308Es. So if he owned all these outright, thats quite a lot of cash he spent! And re Lees in the car, that was the Brands August Bankie race I think. OTOH he was faster than Evans, but still behind Trimmer and Villota in Mclarens. And behind South's F2 March.

[Dutchy]

Is the Porsche not a 906, judging from the square-cut headlight cover?

Might it be Martin Hone's 906? IIRC he was one of the people who got the ball rolling in the first place.