24 replies to this topic

[DavePoole]

Hi All,

I'm researching the history of the special lightweight Reliant Sabre Six known as the "Sprint" (876 HWD).  It was used during 1964 for 11 events so i'm told, however I can only find 10 events so far.

Does anyone have any programmes for the following events and can help confirm and fill in the missing data. 

DATE: April 1964  - EVENT: Loton Park – DRIVER: Bobby Parkes - Car No.???? - RESULT/Time: 3rd Place (41.72) 

 

DATE: 2nd May 1964  - EVENT: Castle Howard – DRIVER: Arthur Rusling - Car No.???? - RESULT/Time: Class Win (38.28) 

 

DATE: 10th May 1964  - EVENT: Longleat Manor – DRIVER: Tony (A.E.) Marsh - Car No. ???? - RESULT/Time:  3rd Place (46.28s)

 

DATE: 23rd May 1964  - EVENT: Barbon Manor – DRIVER: Bobby Parkes - Car No. ???? - RESULT/Time: Class Win (32.712s) 

 

DATE: 24th May 1964 – EVENT: Leighton Hall – DRIVER: Arthur Senior – Car No. 75 - RESULT/Time: ????

 

DATE: 31st May 1964 - EVENT: Firle (Bo-Peep) – DRIVER: Arthur Rusling – Car No. ???? - RESULT/Time (26.11s)

 

DATE: 7th June 1964 - EVENT: Prescott –      DRIVER: Tony Marsh – Car No. 88 - RESULT/Time ????

 

DATE: 14th June 1964 - EVENT: Shelsley Walsh – DRIVER: Tony Marsh – Car No. 11 - RESULT/Time: 3rd Place (39.76 secs) 

 

DATE: ???? October 1964 - EVENT: Castle Howard - DRIVER: Bobby Parkes – Car No. ???? - RESULT/Time: (38.924s)

 

Date: ???? October 1964 - EVENT: Scarborough Hill Climb (Olivers Mount Circuit) - DRIVER: Bobby Parkes – Car: Number 106 - RESULT/Time: (54.211s)

I have two other photos but i'm told that they may be later possibly 1965 as it has the twin headlight bonnet fitted.

Does any recognise where these photos were taken or know from the door numbers where it was competeing?




Many Thanks in advance

Dave Poole 

Edited by Vitesse2, 11 February 2017 - 16:12.

[Rupertlt1]

#98 looks like Firle. (Note the Morris Minor van has a Brighton address on the side - Firle being the only place on your list nearby.)

Does the banner say British Automobile Racing Club?

B.A.R.C. dates:

1965: 20 May, 29 August

1966: 29 May, (note the August Bank Holiday event was cancelled)

I'll have a look among my souvenirs.

 

Autosport, 8 April 1966, Page 554:

SUNBAC Ragley Park Hill Climb, 3 April 1966, Wet

B.T.D.: R.E. Marshland (Reliant Sabre) 30.82 sec

B.T.D. went, improbably, to Bob

Marshland's ex-works Reliant Sabre in 30.82

secs., about 9 secs slower than the absolute

hill record. Not that this detracts in any

way from Marshland's fine performance in

the teeth of tough Ragley opposition, which

proved, among other things, that somebody

has been doing some realistic sorting of the

Reliant's suspension department! And even

at that, the car spent some time doing

dramatic things sideways up the bank on its

second run.

Byline HOWARD BILEY.

 

Edit: Was he Bob Marsland? From Bromsgrove, Worcestershire?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 12 February 2017 - 16:21.

[Allan Lupton]

I can't really help but I thought I remembered handicapping a rather quick, but more normal-looking, Sabre with that registration at Eight Clubs Silverstones in the 1970s. Driven by one Robin Rew as I recall, before he went on to develop and use a turbocharged Scimitar.

[Rupertlt1]

Castle Howard (five miles west of Malton), Sunday 18 October 1964, Yorkshire S.C.C. (Source: Motor Sport, Oct 1964, Page 800.)

 

The Scarborough meeting was held Sunday 11 October 1964. (Source: 1965 programme.)

 

The Prescott Archivist, Paul Gibbons, B.O.C., should be able to help.

 

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 13 February 2017 - 15:30.

[DavePoole]

#98 looks like Firle. (Note the Morris Minor van has a Brighton address on the side - Firle being the only place on your list nearby.)

Does the banner say British Automobile Racing Club?

B.A.R.C. dates:

1965: 20 May, 29 August

1966: 29 May, (note the August Bank Holiday event was cancelled)

I'll have a look among my souvenirs.

 

Autosport, 8 April 1966, Page 554:

SUNBAC Ragley Park Hill Climb, 3 April 1966, Wet

B.T.D.: R.E. Marshland (Reliant Sabre) 30.82 sec

B.T.D. went, improbably, to Bob

Marshland's ex-works Reliant Sabre in 30.82

secs., about 9 secs slower than the absolute

hill record. Not that this detracts in any

way from Marshland's fine performance in

the teeth of tough Ragley opposition, which

proved, among other things, that somebody

has been doing some realistic sorting of the

Reliant's suspension department! And even

at that, the car spent some time doing

dramatic things sideways up the bank on its

second run.

Byline HOWARD BILEY.

 

Edit: Was he Bob Marsland? From Bromsgrove, Worcestershire?

 

RGDS RLT

Hi RLT,

Thank you very much for your time and for the updates.  I'll amend my list!

Bob Marsland was indeed Robert Marsland, but the info I had says:
 

"Bob Marsland
04 Oct 1942

Oldham, Lancashire

 

Lives in Marple, Cheshire. Decent hillclimber, sprinter, Interserie and Formula Libre driver, but single-seaters weren't really his forte. Marsland also raced in sportscars between 1976 and 1978, all of them in a Chevron, be it a B31, B36 or B26. Marsland competed in sprints throughout the 1970's. Although Marsland is most identified with a Chevron, he also raced a Reliant Sabre modified sprint car (it was an ex-rally car) in hillclimbs and sprints, becoming a challenger to Tony Marsh."

Does anyone know if he is still about?

Kind Regards

Dave Poole 

[DavePoole]

I can't really help but I thought I remembered handicapping a rather quick, but more normal-looking, Sabre with that registration at Eight Clubs Silverstones in the 1970s. Driven by one Robin Rew as I recall, before he went on to develop and use a turbocharged Scimitar.

Hi Allan,

Indeed, Robin Rew did many events in the lightweight Sabre.

Cheers

Dave Poole

 

[DavePoole]

Castle Howard (five miles west of Malton), Sunday 18 October 1964, Yorkshire S.C.C. (Source: Motor Sport, Oct 1964, Page 800.)

 

The Scarborough meeting was held Sunday 11 October 1964. (Source: 1965 programme.)

 

The Prescott Archivist, Paul Gibbons, B.O.C., should be able to help.

 

 

RGDS RLT

Thanks again for the info!  That's a great help

I will get in contact with Paul Gibbons too.

Many Thanks

Dave Poole 

[Dick Dastardly]

Hi Allan,

Indeed, Robin Rew did many events in the lightweight Sabre.

Cheers

Dave Poole

I know Robin did the '78 Barbon in 648 GUE....
Anyone got a full set of results for the '78 Barbon?....
I'd like to see how Robin's time compares to Bobby Parkes's 32.712 from 14 years earlier, albeit that was in 876....

Edited by Dick Dastardly, 01 March 2017 - 16:09.

[Rupertlt1]

Loton Park Hill Climb, 26 April 1964, Severn Valley M.C. (Source: Motor Sport, April 1964, Page 232.)

 

Any progress on the eleventh event in 1964?

 

I have Bodiam Hill Climb, New House Farm, Bodiam, Sussex, Saturday 17 October 1964:

#91 A. Rusling, 62 Sabre, 2553, no times recorded in marked up programme, looks like DNS.

Perhaps the car went to Castle Howard that weekend, in preference?

Another car altogether? What year is 876 HWD?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 15 February 2017 - 19:03.

[DavePoole]

RLT,

I hadn't found any more info regarding the 11th race, so hopefully your Bodiam Hill Climb data will fit in nicely as the 11th event.

I've got a bit carried away with the research and decided to look at the whole motor sport history of 876 HWD.
 

876 HWD - Originally built for Le Mans 1964, but entry was oversubscribed, so used for National and International Hillclimbs. 

 

1964 - 11 OUtings - 4 x Class Wins - 1 x 2nd place - 5 x 3rd place 

 

Owned by Reliant 1963 to 1965

Rob Marsland bought it from Reliant 1965?

Mike Duncan (Morgan Agent in Halesown) bought it from Rob Marsland

Robin Rew bought it from Mike Duncan in 1968.

 

 

 

DATE: 26th April 1964  - EVENT: Loton Park – DRIVER: Bobby Parkes - Car No.?? - RESULT/Time: (41.72) 3rd Place - (Source: RLT Autosport Fotum/Motor Sport, April 1964, Page 232.)

 

DATE: 2nd May 1964  - EVENT: Castle Howard – DRIVER: Arthur Rusling - Car No.?? - RESULT/Time: (38.28) Class Win

 

DATE: 10th May 1964  - EVENT: Longleat Manor – DRIVER: Tony (A.E.) Marsh - Car No.56 - RESULT/Time: (46.28s) 3rd Place (Source: Photograph via Ted Walker)

 

DATE: 23rd May 1964  - EVENT: Barbon Manor – DRIVER: Bobby Parkes - Car No.?? - RESULT/Time: (32.712s) Class Win (Source: Autosport 5th June 1964, Page 818)

 

DATE: 24th May 1964 – EVENT: Leighton Hall – DRIVER: Arthur Senior – Car No. 75 - RESULT/Time: ???? - (Source: R.S.S.O.C. Archive Photo)

 

DATE: 31st May 1964 - EVENT: Firle (Bo-Peep) – DRIVER: Arthur Rusling – Car No. 98 - RESULT/Time 26.11s Class Win

 

DATE: 7th June 1964 - EVENT: Prescott – DRIVER: Tony Marsh/Arthur Rusling – Car No. 88 - RESULT/Time 60.431 secs & 64.884 secs (Source: Email from Paul Gibbons - Archivist B.O.C) 

 

DATE: 14th June 1964 - EVENT: Shelsley Walsh – DRIVER: Tony Marsh – Car No. 11 - RESULT/Time: (39.76 secs) 3rd Place

 

Date: 11th October 1964 - EVENT: Scarborough Hill Climb (Olivers Mount Circuit) - DRIVER: Bobby Parkes – Car: Number 106 - RESULT/Time: 54.211s - (Source: R.S.S.O.C.Photo RLT & Autosport Forum/1965 programme.)

 

Date: 17th October 1964 - EVENT: Bodiam Hill Climb, New House Farm, Bodiam, Sussex - DRIVER: Arthur Rusling -  Car No.91 - Result/Time: DNS  (Source RLT Via autosport Forum)

 

DATE: 18th October 1964 - EVENT: Castle Howard - DRIVER: Bobby Parkes – Car No. ?? - RESULT/Time: (38.924s) - (Source: Motor Sport, Oct 1964, Page 800.)

 

 

Extra Data:

 

DATE: 3rd April 1966 - EVENT: Ragley Park Hill Climb - DRIVER: Bob Marsland – Car: ??? - RESULT/Time: 30.82s (Source: RLT Autosport Forum/Autosport, 8 April 1966, Page 554)

 

DATE: 30th May 1965 - EVENT: Firle? - DRIVER: ???? – Car: Number ??? - RESULT/Time: ???

 

DATE: 29th August 1965 - EVENT: Firle? - DRIVER: ???? – Car: Number ??? - RESULT/Time: ???

 

DATE: 29th May 1966 - EVENT: Firle? - DRIVER: ???? – Car: Number ??? - RESULT/Time: ???

 

DATE: ??? 1967 - EVENT: Castle Combe - DRIVER: Bob Marsland – Car: Number 50 - RESULT/Time: ???

 

DATE: ??? - EVENT: ??? Hillclimb - DRIVER: ??? - Car No.47 - Result/Time: ??? (Source: Photograph)

 

DATE: ??? 1973 - EVENT: Silverstone/Cussons Classic Car Championship - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.131? - Result/Time: ??? (Source: T&CC March 1975)

 

DATE: ??? 1973 - EVENT: Aintree/Cussons Classic Car Championship - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.131? - Result/Time: 4th? (Source: T&CC March 1975)

 

DATE: ??? 1973 - EVENT: St John Horsfall Race Meeting (A.M.O.C.)/Cussons Classic Car Championship - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.??? - Result/Time: ??? (Source: T&CC March 1975)

 

DATE: ??? 1973 - EVENT: Mallory Park/Cussons Classic Car Championship - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.??? - Result/Time: ??? (Source: T&CC March 1975)

 

DATE: ??? 1973 - EVENT: Oulton Park/Cussons Classic Car Championship - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.??? - Result/Time: Crashed at "Old Park" (Source: Thoroughbred & Classic Cars March 1975)

 

Date: ??? 1974 - EVENT: Silverstone?/Pomeroy Trophy - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.51 - Result/Time: ??? (Source: Photograph via Ted Walker)

 

DATE: ??? Eater Monday 1976 - EVENT: Round 2 - Silverstone/Rochas Classic Car Championship/BRDC - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.??? - Result/Time: ??? (Source: T&CC June 1976)

 

DATE: June 1976 - EVENT: Round 3 - Brands Hatch/Rochas Classic Car Championship/A.M.O.C. - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.??? - Result/Time: ??? (Source: T&CC July 1976)

 

DATE: 20th June 1976 - EVENT: Round 4 - Mallory Park/Rochas Classic Car Championship/BRSCC - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.??? - Result/Time: ??? (Source: T&CC September 1976)

 

DATE: 20th June 1976 - EVENT: Round 6 - Silverstone/Rochas Classic Car Championship/ - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.??? - Result/Time: ??? (Source: T&CC September 1976)

 

DATE: August 1976 - EVENT: Round 7? - Silverstone/Rochas Classic Car Championship/ - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.??? - Result/Time: ??? (Source: T&CC November 1976)

 

DATE: 1976 - EVENT: Round 8? - Thruxton/Rochas Classic Car Championship - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.??? - Result/Time: ??? (Source: T&CC November 1976)

 

Date: ??? 1976 - EVENT: JDC Silverstone - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.17 - Result/Time: ??? (Source: Photograph via TEd Walker)

 

Date: Sept 1976 - EVENT: Thruxton - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Result/Time: ??? - Car No.20 - Result/Time: ??? (Source: Photograph via Ted Walker)

 

DATE: 1978 - EVENT: 10 Lap Scratch Race/Silverstone/BDC - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.18? - Result/Time: ??? (Source: T&CC February 1978)

 

DATE: 1978 - EVENT: 8 Lap Handicap Race/Silverstone/BDC - DRIVER: Editor of of T&CC - Car No.18? - Result/Time: ??? (Source: T&CC February 1978)

 

DATE: 1978 - EVENT: Shelsley Walsh - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.135 - Result/Time: ??? (Source: Old Motor October 1980)

 

DATE: 6th March 1982 - EVENT: Pomeroy Memorial Trophy Competition/Silverstone - DRIVER: Robin Rew - Car No.48? - Result/Time: 1st Overall (Source: Motorsport April 1982)

 

Here's a photo of Bobby Parkes at Scarborough Hill Climb with 876 HWD (11.10.64) with its original bonnet and grille,



Dave Poole 

Edited by DavePoole, 06 March 2017 - 15:12.

[Rupertlt1]

Dave,

 

You have this:

 

Bodiam Hill Climb, New House Farm, Bodiam, Sussex, Saturday 17 October 1964:

#91 A. Rusling, 62 Sabre, 2553, no times recorded in marked up programme, looks like DNS.

 

Firle dates should be (my bad):

1965: 30 May, 29 August

 

1966: 29 May, (note the August Bank Holiday event was cancelled)

 

RGDS RLT

[Dick Dastardly]

My understanding [could be wrong though]...it was the 64 Le Mans it was built for...
and it had the engine from the wreck of 649 GUE after that had been recovered back to Tamworth from the Turini Jan '64....
...which sort of fits in that the above dates for hillclimbs etc start in the Spring of '64....

Dave, can you put the archive photo on here of Dad at Leighton Hall, please? I'd like to see that if possible......
I was a primary school kid then, I rode down with Dad to Leighton Hall that am from Brotherswater [I'd hoped to ride up
with him when he did his timed runs!, obviously I couldn't].....I remember having to stop to change a rear wheel [or maybe
both] on the A6 at Beetham, a few miles north of the venue...Years later, I did wonder whether we'd stopped so Dad could
fit slicks on to rubber them in !!! Dad couldn't remember even stopping...

The Reliant mechanics had taken it to Barbon on Sat for Bobby to drive, they then brought it to Brotherswater Sat eve then
took it after away Leighton Hall on the Sun [friends took Dad & I back home]

Edited by Dick Dastardly, 19 February 2017 - 11:39.

[bradbury west]

Talking of Barbon and Leighton Hall, does anyone have any original photo sources for those two venues in 1966,7,8 & 9 as two of my researched marque cars competed there in that period?
Always optimistic
Roger Lund

[RobMk2a]

Does anyone have more info / photos for Bobby Parkes, as mentioned previously Bobby was George Humble's co-driver on the 1963 Monte Carlo Rally in a TVR Grantura Mk3 No.143 (Probably YFR 752).

Thanks

Rob

[Dick Dastardly]

#98 above is mentioned being at Firle.....reading another thread on here about Ditcham Hill Climb in the Chichester area, could that also be a possibility? That venue was used 1968 - 72.

[DavePoole]

Hi,  I've found a couple of extra photos in the archives of car 98 thought to be at Firle.

Any other thoughts on wethere this is Firle or another  hill climb?

 

The colour photo has a processed date stamp on the back "September 1964"

 

 

 

 

Here's two other photos I have no details on.  DOes any know where and when this was and who was driving/sharing?

 

Many Thanks in advance!   

 

[DavePoole]

#98 above is mentioned being at Firle.....reading another thread on here about Ditcham Hill Climb in the Chichester area, could that also be a possibility? That venue was used 1968 - 72.

I'm sure 98 is circa 1964 as the colour photo I've just added was processed in September 1964.  

[DavePoole]

My understanding [could be wrong though]...it was the 64 Le Mans it was built for...
and it had the engine from the wreck of 649 GUE after that had been recovered back to Tamworth from the Turini Jan '64....
...which sort of fits in that the above dates for hillclimbs etc start in the Spring of '64....

Dave, can you put the archive photo on here of Dad at Leighton Hall, please? I'd like to see that if possible......
I was a primary school kid then, I rode down with Dad to Leighton Hall that am from Brotherswater [I'd hoped to ride up
with him when he did his timed runs!, obviously I couldn't].....I remember having to stop to change a rear wheel [or maybe
both] on the A6 at Beetham, a few miles north of the venue...Years later, I did wonder whether we'd stopped so Dad could
fit slicks on to rubber them in !!! Dad couldn't remember even stopping...

The Reliant mechanics had taken it to Barbon on Sat for Bobby to drive, they then brought it to Brotherswater Sat eve then
took it after away Leighton Hall on the Sun [friends took Dad & I back home]

 

Hi,  I think you may be right looking at the dates again.  Many Thanks!!

Were these the photos you were after?

Edited by DavePoole, 06 March 2017 - 15:01.

[Rupertlt1]

I'm sure 98 is circa 1964 as the colour photo I've just added was processed in September 1964.  

 

These pics of #98 are at Firle, the right hand bend just after the startline. (There are only two corners at Firle, the one in the pictures and a sharp left just prior to the finish.)

 

RGDS RLT

[DavePoole]

These pics of #98 are at Firle, the right hand bend just after the startline. (There are only two corners at Firle, the one in the pictures and a sharp left just prior to the finish.)

 

RGDS RLT

 

Many Thanks for the confirmation and the other edits.

Cheers

 

Dave Poole

[Rupertlt1]

Aren't the pics at post #18 taken at Castle Howard? RGDS RLT

[DavePoole]

Aren't the pics at post #18 taken at Castle Howard? RGDS RLT

Car 75 was at Leighton Hall, but yes the other one was at Castle Howard, but I don't know the car number.

 

I wasn't born until 1969, so that's why i'm struggling and really appreciate everyone's help lol 

[Dick Dastardly]

The above photo #75 isn't Leighton Hall.....the buildings don't match, so am guessing they're both at Castle Howard

 

http://www.leightonhall.co.uk 

Edited by Dick Dastardly, 06 March 2017 - 16:32.

[Rupertlt1]

I've been contemplating a thread re Castle Howard, first run in 1959. I'll start one soon, unless anybody wants to go ahead?

 

RGDS RLT

[RS2000]

3rd and 4th photos in post 16 must be Loton Park? Can't think where else Wellington and Shrewsbury paper (banner) would feature.