65 replies to this topic

[Paul Taylor]

Having just purchased an FF2000 Sparton, I would like to learn more about them...Race results, who ran them, how many were built...

[Stephen W]

Originally posted by Paul Taylor
Having just purchased an FF2000 Sparton, I would like to learn more about them...Race results, who ran them, how many were built...

Well you could start the ball rolling with a couple of pics and the history of your car as known.

[Paul Taylor]

Well, it's an SF79, chassis no. 009. The HSCC papers were registered by David Higgins ten years ago.

I have an old picture of it which I will post later today which was probably taken when it raced originally...rear wing endplate has a sticker saying "'2000' Computacar Championship" and another saying "Jeff Sharpe Racing".

Kelvin Jones Motorsport owned it not so long ago as well.

The car, as of yesterday:

[Mallory Dan]

Paul, not many Spartons at all were made, purely as a guess, something like 10 FF1600s, 4 or 5 FF2000s, 6 or 7 FTalbots, plus 2 F3s. The 2000 car was mainly run by the 'works' ie Paul Jackson and Barry Maskell, I can't recall many, if any 'customer' FF2000s. If yours is chassis 9, I guess the first 8 made were 1600s plus amybe 1 or 2 other 2000s. They were OK cars in period, but I don't think ever won any races in the main FF2000 championships of the era. Not as quick as the contemporary Reynards, Deltas, Royales, Crossles etc.

[Stephen W]

Originally posted by Mallory Dan
Paul, not many Spartons at all were made, purely as a guess, something like 10 FF1600s, 4 or 5 FF2000s, 6 or 7 FTalbots, plus 2 F3s. The 2000 car was mainly run by the 'works' ie Paul Jackson and Barry Maskell, I can't recall many, if any 'customer' FF2000s. If yours is chassis 9, I guess the first 8 made were 1600s plus amybe 1 or 2 other 2000s. They were OK cars in period, but I don't think ever won any races in the main FF2000 championships of the era. Not as quick as the contemporary Reynards, Deltas, Royales, Crossles etc.

There were a couple made it into the hillclimbing scene. Also if memory serves one of the FF1600 cars was used extensively at Oulton Park in the Champion of Oulton series.

[Henk A. Hazelaar]

Hi Paul,

At first congratulations with your buy of this unique FF 2000 racing car.
With your information I will searching my archive for more details.

Hereby also information about the Sparton FF 2000 1985:









Best regards,

Henk A. Hazelaar

[Cirrus]

Although Spartons didn't win any full championship rounds, Barrie Maskell and Paul Jackson were both capable of top three finishes - very good results considering the cars were run on a limited budget, and they were up against the likes of David Leslie. Barrie Maskell had been doing F3 ten years earlier, and was no spring chicken, but a very good driver.

I believe Paul Jackson is still involved with GP2, and continues to be interested in the cars he built. The other guy involved in Sparton was Norman Pierce. There will be another Sparton out this year in Historic FF2000, driven by Mark Pierce - I wonder if they are by some chance related?

[Henk A. Hazelaar]

Hereby a photograph of the Sparton SF 79 Formula Ford 2000 of Dutch driver Gerard van Dam.



Best regards,

Henk A. Hazelaar

[Cirrus]

That looks more like an SF80, but minus the "ground effect" sidepods it sported when it was launched. It actually looks very much like the car Mark Pierce will be racing this year.

[Paul Taylor]

That has much sleeker lines than my SF79...Custom bodywork maybe, or original?

[Mallory Dan]

Who had the 2000 that ran in Lydden Libre for a while in the late 70s/early 80s, may even have won the series? I recall Tristan Batch and Roger Algar in 1600 Spartons too.

[Phil Rainford]

Originally posted by Stephen W


There were a couple made it into the hillclimbing scene. Also if memory serves one of the FF1600 cars was used extensively at Oulton Park in the Champion of Oulton series.

Steve you probably mean this Sparton SE316 of Nigel Morris......



PAR

[Phil Rainford]

Originally posted by Mallory Dan
Who had the 2000 that ran in Lydden Libre for a while in the late 70s/early 80s, may even have won the series? I recall Tristan Batch and Roger Algar in 1600 Spartons too.

Lets not forget Alard Kalff in his Sparton SE316 who did win FF1600 races during 1983.....

PAR

[Henk A. Hazelaar]

Hereby a photograph of the first Sparton Formula Ford 1600 - year 1978.



Best regards,

Henk A. Hazelaar

[Cirrus]

I'm sure that cockpit surround was based on an early Ralt RT1 (there were a lot of those around in 1978, all the RT1 owners had upgraded by then - I used one on Cirrus 004).

[Phil Rainford]

One of the early Sparton FF1600 cars running in the mid 1980s at Oulton Park.....




PAR

[Chris Townsend]

Originally posted by Paul Taylor
Well, it's an SF79, chassis no. 009. The HSCC papers were registered by David Higgins ten years ago.

I have an old picture of it which I will post later today which was probably taken when it raced originally...rear wing endplate has a sticker saying "'2000' Computacar Championship" and another saying "Jeff Sharpe Racing".

Kelvin Jones Motorsport owned it not so long ago as well.

If my memory serves me right Barrie Maskell was run by Jeff Sharpe rather than by the works

Chris

[Paul Taylor]

Barrie Maskell wasn't tall by any chance, was he?

[Stephen W]

Originally posted by Paul Taylor
Barrie Maskell wasn't tall by any chance, was he?

Not particularly.

Sparton also fielded the bulk of the Formula Talbot cars.

[timf5000]

Originally posted by Mallory Dan
Who had the 2000 that ran in Lydden Libre for a while in the late 70s/early 80s, may even have won the series? I recall Tristan Batch and Roger Algar in 1600 Spartons too.

Dan, I think the Lydden driver was Stuart (Stewart?) Phillips who later ran a March 80A Atlantic.

[Mallory Dan]

Yes thats the man Tim, possibly the most winning Sparton driver ever??

[Cirrus]

Originally posted by Paul Taylor
Barrie Maskell wasn't tall by any chance, was he?

No, Barrie wasn't tall. He had a very distinctive helmet design - lots of stars all over it.

[Stephen W]

Originally posted by Cirrus


No, Barrie wasn't tall. He had a very distinctive helmet design - lots of stars all over it.

I know it ain't a Sparton but ...................



Mallory Park (1972) driving a GRD 372.

Last time I saw that many stars I'd banged my head on the mangle!

[alansart]

The only Sparton picture I can find is this one from the Festival in 1982.



Can't think why he spun.

[Cirrus]

Actually, Barrie's helmet design is one of my favourites. When my current helmet needs to be pensioned off, I'm seriously considering a design based on Barries.

Barrie was, and I'm sure still is, a great bloke. When I was doing F4 in 1979, we were often at the same meetings as FF2000. He always had time for a chat, and a cup of coffee. Sadly, a domestic accident some years ago left him without the use of his legs, but he has competed since, in suitably adapted cars.

[Phil Rainford]

Originally posted by alansart
The only Sparton picture I can find is this one from the Festival in 1982.



Can't think why he spun.

Some guy from Stevenage in the PRS ;) while it is Jim O' Connell in the Spartan FF82 from Heat Seven of the Festival.

PAR

[alansart]

Originally posted by Phil Rainford


Some guy from Stevenage in the PRS ;) while it is Jim O' Connell in the Spartan FF82 from Heat Seven of the Festival.

PAR

...and both not fast enough

Some other hero comes from Stevenage. He's done slightly better than me.............

[Phil Rainford]

Well you were up against:

Gianfrancio Cane
Allard Kalff
Mike Taylor
Wally Warwick
Tom Brown
Mike Thompson
Richard Peacock ( Calm down Mr Smith )

and .............................

Fredrick Skoghag Whatever happened to him?

PAR

[alansart]

Originally posted by Phil Rainford
Well you were up against:

Gianfrancio Cane
Allard Kalff
Mike Taylor
Wally Warwick
Tom Brown
Mike Thompson
Richard Peacock ( Calm down Mr Smith )

and .............................

Fredrick Skoghag Whatever happened to him?

PAR

Was Allard Kalff in the Sparton? He did have the works drive at one time.

A friend of mine was Freddie Skoghag's mechanic. Freddie was a nice bloke but an absolute nutcase on the track!

My first Festival as a driver and I was absolute crap

[Phil Rainford]

Van Diemen RF81,he was not in a Sparton until 1983

Had a look at some of the other entrants......

Maurizio Sandro Sala
Martin Donnelly
Anthony Reid
Andy Wallace
Mauricio Gugelmin
Volker Weidler
Perry McCarthy
Julian Bailey
Johnny Dumfries
Jo Winkelkock

...they all went on from FF1600


PAR

[Andrew Kitson]

Jacko ( Paul Jackson ) is still very much involved with GP2 yes, based up here at Attleborough. He is team boss of leading team iSport International which he runs with Gavin Jones ( Bill Jones' son). iSport have won the title with Timo Glock and also ran Bruno Senna last year.

Jacko and Gav were previously managers of David Sears' F3000 B-team, 'Den Bla Avis' and then 'Petrobras', when David had two F3000 teams running from his Griston 'Supernova Racing' base (from the old Argo factory).

[Paul Taylor]

So does anyone know who Jeff Sharpe Racing ran in the SF79 in the FF2000 Computacar series?

[coupekarter]

http://img23.imagesh...ge=sparton1.jpg

March 1980 Brands, Sparton FF2000

This was the first round of the Classic FF2000 championship (Martin Brundles first single seater race).
I found the Sparton to be an easy/forgiving car to drive, but not a car that could be "hustled" to go faster. Good car.
Should add that although I can't remember for sure who took this, it might be a Fred Scatley/Ferret Photographic picture, so thanks to them!

[Henk A. Hazelaar]

Hi Paul,

Found a programme in my archive of the 1978 Allied Polymer/Lords Traverners Formula Ford 2000 Championship race, Sunday 3rd September 1978

85 - Barrie Maskell / Bradford - Sparton F278 Holbay





Best regards,

Henk A. Hazelaar

[Paul Taylor]

Thanks Henk.

[Mondiale M85S]

Fredrik Skoghag, what a loony................

from memory, he did a couple of Champion of Mallory rounds and caused havoc, he put someone hard into the slabs at the hairpin in one incident.

Again, from memory, was he in a Richard Owen run PRS 82FF?

[alansart]

Originally posted by Mondiale M85S
Fredrik Skoghag, what a loony................

from memory, he did a couple of Champion of Mallory rounds and caused havoc, he put someone hard into the slabs at the hairpin in one incident.

Again, from memory, was he in a Richard Owen run PRS 82FF?

I think he was for a while but then changed to a Reynard.

[Phil Rainford]

Entered in the Festival in a Formula Services PRS 82F.......

PAR

[Mondiale M85S]

Going for anorak points here, and i'm afraid this has naff all to do with Sparton....

Fredrik Skoghag's team mate was a Mexican by the name of Rocky Lozano, a quick sounding name if ever i heard one.

[alansart]

Originally posted by Phil Rainford
Entered in the Festival in a Formula Services PRS 82F.......

PAR

Must of had the Reynard in 83.

Back to Sparton. Allard Kalff was using a Champion of Oulton race as a bit of extra practice as it was his first time at the circuit. We are getting out of our cars after Qualifying and Allard wanders over and say's "I've done a 1m 7secs is that any good around here". We say it's only a few 10ths off the record. He shrugs his shoulders and strolls off mumbling "Must try harder, must try..."

[Phil Rainford]

Originally posted by alansart


Must of had the Reynard in 83.

Back to Sparton. Allard Kalff was using a Champion of Oulton race as a bit of extra practice as it was his first time at the circuit. We are getting out of our cars after Qualifying and Allard wanders over and say's "I've done a 1m 7secs is that any good around here". We say it's only a few 10ths off the record. He shrugs his shoulders and strolls off mumbling "Must try harder, must try..."

Having said that you were not adverse to mix it with the hotshots......





PAR

[alansart]

Originally posted by Phil Rainford



Having said that you were not adverse to mix it with the hotshots......





PAR

I wouldn't call it mixing, more like as they disappeared off into the distance.

Kalff must have done a 1min 6sec - it was a long time ago!

[Henk A. Hazelaar]

Hi Paul,

Hereby the answer of Jeff Sharpe Racing.
A long-time sponsor of Barry Maskell.
Your car is maybe the works Sparton FF 2000 of 1978.



I hope you like this very interesting news.

Best regards,

Henk A. Hazelaar

[Paul Taylor]

Chassis plate says "MAR 1979"...would that have been updated if the car was update to 1979 spec?

[Henk A. Hazelaar]

Other information about the Sparton Racin Cars from my archive:

Advert Autosport 1st November 1979 - page 34



Autosport 22nd March 1979 - page 44



Autosport 1st March 1979 - page 42



Autosport 1st November 1979 - page 39


Autosport 8 th February 1979 - page 45




Best regards,

Henk A. Hazelaar

[Henk A. Hazelaar]

Originally posted by Paul Taylor
Chassis plate says "MAR 1979"...would that have been updated if the car was update to 1979 spec?

???????????????

Best regards,

Henk A. Hazelaar

[Paul Taylor]

Nevermind Henk, I confused myself...

Thanks very much for all this extra information!

[Henk A. Hazelaar]

Paul,

Hereby more information about the Sparton FF2000 cars,

Autosport, 7th September 1978, page 50



Advert Autosport, 9th November 1978



Paul, if you like more information please contact me (private mail).

Best regards,

Henk A. Hazelaar

[Mallory Dan]

Just seen a mid-82 MP prog, there was a F Talbot race. Jeff Ward's Sparton, I've noted the chassis no as -022. Thought someone would like to know...Other Spartons were entered by Tony Kenworthy, Sean Walker, Andy McKechnie, and Dig Hastilow. Also entered, but non-starting, was Paul Dalton's Royale RP5, the ex-FAt car I assume???

[RTH]

I am sure Simon Hadfield had a one-off drive in a current F3 Sparton in the early to mid '80s. Prior and since he has raced historic cars.