15 replies to this topic

[plombpied]

Does any one have personal memories of John Willment or JWA, which of course ran the "works" GT40's at Le Mans for their last two Le Mans victories & then moved on to run the fearsome Porsche 917. He also ran a variety of Ford products in the BSCC & other events - remember the Cortina GT's, Galaxies & Escorts & even Ford Prefects and a Mk 3 Zodiac? Any info, anecdotes memories or photos gratefully received, for possible inclusion in a book about John & his activities. Over to you!

Edited by plombpied, 26 May 2010 - 11:39.

[David Wright]

Does any one have personal memories of John Willment or JWA, which of course ran the "works" GT40's at Le Mans for their last two Le Mans victories & then moved on to run the fearsome Porsche 917.

It was John Wyer who ran the Gulf GT40s and Porsche 917s.

[hansfohr]

Does any one have personal memories of John Willment or JWA, which of course ran the "works" GT40's at Le Mans for their last two Le Mans victories & then moved on to run the fearsome Porsche 917.

It was John Wyer who ran the Gulf GT40s and Porsche 917s.

Actually John Willment AND John Wyer (founders of JWA Engineering) ran the GT40's at Le Mans in 1969 and 1970.

Edited by hansfohr, 26 May 2010 - 16:03.

[hansfohr]

For more info on John Willment and his cars:
http://www.500race.o...es/Willment.htm
http://www.thewillmentgroup.com/
http://forums.autosp...pic=64817<br />http://forums.autosp...hp/t121302.html
http://www.johnstark...rticles_06.html
http://www.grandprix...tries.php?d=255
http://www.classicdr...;lCarID=1716093
http://www.secondstr...upe/Olthoff.htm
http://search.freefi...y=John Willment
http://www.racebears...llmnt63web.html

etc. etc.

[David Wright]

Actually John Willment AND John Wyer (founders of JWA Engineering) ran the GT40's at Le Mans in 1969 and 1970.

While John Willment and John Wyer were indeed the founders of JWAE, John Horsman's "Racing in the Rain" does not mention John Willment's involvement in the Gulf racing program, except that he lent them his dynamometer. Are you sure he really ran the Gulf GT40s?

[hansfohr]

While John Willment and John Wyer were indeed the founders of JWAE, John Horsman's "Racing in the Rain" does not mention John Willment's involvement in the Gulf racing program, except that he lent them his dynamometer. Are you sure he really ran the Gulf GT40s?

Probably only on paper, the official entrant was JWA which comprised JW & JW.

[EDWARD FITZGERALD]

Probably only on paper, the official entrant was JWA which comprised JW & JW.

S0me years ago Alan Putt was researching a book on Willement along with a second writer , the project was aborted after a year or two , IIRC there were too many closed doors in the way .

[fbarrett]

Talk with Jack Sears, who drove for Willment; his autobiography, Gentleman Jack, was published a few years ago. The Willment Coupe (his version of the Cobra Daytona Coupe) is in the Shelby American Collection in Boulder, Colorado (www.shelbyamericancollection.com, I think).

Frank

[bradbury west]

I recall the Prefect being used by Jeff Uren to demo studded tyres on Streatham? ice rink in 1960-ish. Perhaps a detailed history might throw up some truth of who funded/owned the Godiva engines used by Emery in '66.
Roger Lund

[arttidesco]

I recall the Prefect being used by Jeff Uren to demo studded tyres on Streatham? ice rink in 1960-ish. Perhaps a detailed history might throw up some truth of who funded/owned the Godiva engines used by Emery in '66.
Roger Lund

In the late 80's I worked at the Volvo Dealership at the other end of Streatham High Street from the Ice Rink, one day during a sales brain storming session we came up with the idea of doing a 340 promotion on ice at the Ice Rink, I can't remember exactly why the idea floundered, but am thrilled to hear some one else had already given it ago :-)

Wonder if I dare ask if anyone has any pix ?

Edited by arttidesco, 01 June 2010 - 15:56.

[bradbury west]

It would have been in The Autocar or Autosport, since that is how I would have been aware of it, and I recall a light coloured car in profile on the ice with Uren looking out of the driver's window, possibly in The Motor also. This is where we need an Autosport Index..............
RL

[plombpied]

Does any one have personal memories of John Willment or JWA, which of course ran the "works" GT40's at Le Mans for their last two Le Mans victories & then moved on to run the fearsome Porsche 917. He also ran a variety of Ford products in the BSCC & other events - remember the Cortina GT's, Galaxies & Escorts & even Ford Prefects and a Mk 3 Zodiac? Any info, anecdotes memories or photos gratefully received, for possible inclusion in a book about John & his activities. Over to you! :clap:

Whilst John Wyer was undoubtedly a superb Team Manager (as was Jeff Uren, who previously fulfilled this role for John Willment, JWA stood for John Willment Automotive. Willment's influence & very close links with Ford in America, which were forged during the Cortina GT/Ford Galaxie programme, were pivotal in JWA buying the Ford GT40 programme from Ford & continuing to run them at Le Mans. John Wyer may have been much more "visible", but perhaps he was just a better self-publicist than John Willment?

[plombpied]

Whilst John Wyer was undoubtedly a superb Team Manager (as was Jeff Uren, who previously fulfilled this role for John Willment, JWA stood for John Willment Automotive. Willment's influence & very close links with Ford in America, which were forged during the Cortina GT/Ford Galaxie programme, were pivotal in JWA buying the Ford GT40 programme from Ford & continuing to run them at Le Mans. John Wyer may have been much more "visible", but perhaps he was just a better self-publicist than John Willment?

[Bjorn Kjer]

Sorry , but I have to say you are not right in my opinions : It was not JWA (Race Proved by Willment) who ran the Gulf GT40 's and winning LeMans twice . It was JWAE , which was JW Automotive Engineering (Ltd). This was a company started 1/1 1967 (replacing Ford Advanced Vehicles Ltd.) by John Willment and John Wyer as financial partners , thus the JW. John Horsman being a Director as well as Deputy for John Wyer .
As per 1/1 1972 Gulf Oil took over with the name Gulf Research Racing Company with John Horsman as Managing Director , John Wyer and Grady Davis (of GulF) being Directors. JWAE still existed however , leasing buildings and machine tools to GRRC untill 30/11 1975.
JWAE was wound up by auction sale at Slough of all their equipment and machine tools (all that had been purchased from Ford at the end of 1966) , while all of Gulf's material etc. was not at that auction, but was sold privately , including the Gulf GR6 cars chassis GR(/801 & 802.

[plombpied]

Whilst John Wyer was undoubtedly a superb Team Manager (as was Jeff Uren, who previously fulfilled this role for John Willment, JWA stood for John Willment Automotive. Willment's influence & very close links with Ford in America, which were forged during the Cortina GT/Ford Galaxie programme, were pivotal in JWA buying the Ford GT40 programme from Ford & continuing to run them at Le Mans. John Wyer may have been much more "visible", but perhaps he was just a better self-publicist than John Willment?

I fully agree on the JWAE name - but without John Willment's long-standing & successful relationship eith Ford Motor Co & Holman & Moody, the partnership would never have had the chance to get the FAVO vehicles & equipment. John Willment later became less involved and basically withdrew, leaving John Wyer to carry on - but Willment's influences, contacts & input cannot be overlooked.

[Bjorn Kjer]

This thread is on Willment , and I would like to know more , but apart from the posts here and the other threads , as well as the used to be website , I hit a wall. I did not want to pull the one ahead of the other , sure Willment put a lot of finance to it. I just wanted to make sure that the seemingly common misunderstanding I found, especially in articles , thus authors , that the team was John Wyer Automotive Eng. , was neither right . So , it is JW Automotive Engineering (Ltd.).. or JWAE . (Founded by Willment and Wyer) !

Edited by Bjørn Kjer, 14 August 2010 - 05:07.