30 replies to this topic

[Hawkeye]

Just racking my brains, to recall whether or not anyone has ever raced a 917 at Oulton, particularly 'back in the day'?

 

I suspect not, though possibly David Piper might have - anyone know?

 

 

 

[john winfield]

I don't ever remember seeing or reading of a 917 racing at Oulton. Jo Siffert raced one at Thruxton in April 1971, beating the Chevrons and Lolas in the RAC round. I'm not sure if the Gulf team did any other non-WC events that year.

[Henk Vasmel]

I have 917's at Brands Hatch (obviously), Silverstone (Interserie), Thruxton (Siffert won twice ('70 and '71) and Neuhaus) and Croft (again Neuhaus, Interserie). No Oulton Park in period.

[2F-001]

One (at least) of Siffert's Thruxton races with a 917 was televised; I remember it being a fairly spectacular performance.

[Bloggsworth]

I don't ever remember seeing or reading of a 917 racing at Oulton. Jo Siffert raced one at Thruxton in April 1971, beating the Chevrons and Lolas in the RAC round. I'm not sure if the Gulf team did any other non-WC events that year.

 

I don't suppose he took Church flat...

[john winfield]

I don't suppose he took Church flat...

 

No, but if Pedro had been there they might have gone through side by side....

[pete53]

I have 917's at Brands Hatch (obviously), Silverstone (Interserie), Thruxton (Siffert won twice ('70 and '71) and Neuhaus) and Croft (again Neuhaus, Interserie). No Oulton Park in period.

I agree. I can't recall there being any event being run at Oulton around that time that would have been suitable for 917s. Most domestic International races for sport cars from 1970 onwards had a 2 litre limit. Apart from the annual 1000K at Brands the only events for big sports cars in the UK in the early 70s were the the Thruxton & Interserie races, with no such event being run at Oulton.

[Hawkeye]

You're probs right pete53, though I can of course recollect big-engine sports carsupport races at Gold Cup etc, with loads of T70's, GT40's, Ford F3L etc but maybe they were a tad earlier in time, pre-dating 917's.

 

Ah, memories of Jo Bonnier and Mike De'Udy banging wheels and more.............

 

[Alan Cox]

As others have reported, they can't recall one being raced - either in period or in historics. I'm pretty sure that's correct. I have a feeling that one may have appeared at a test day, or corporate event, but not certain.

[pete53]

You're probs right pete53, though I can of course recollect big-engine sports carsupport races at Gold Cup etc, with loads of T70's, GT40's, Ford F3L etc but maybe they were a tad earlier in time, pre-dating 917's.

 

Ah, memories of Jo Bonnier and Mike De'Udy banging wheels and more.............

 

That's right, there were a number of races for large capacity sports cars in the late 60s at Oulton including the TT and support events at the Gold Cup (including the Bonnier/DeUdy scrap in 1968) , but, after 1969, the powers that be decided the national sports car championship would be only open to cars of 2 litres and less. And, of course, by the end of 1971 the FIA had decided that the World Championship of Makes would be limited to 3 litre cars. Interserie then became the only outlet in Europe for the big cars.

[Dick Dastardly]

....and remembering Paul Hawkins who lost his life in a Lola T70 during the 1969 TT at Oulton Park....  

[bradbury west]

Not forgetting the talented Dick Protheroe testing his Ferrari
Roger Lund

[Gregor Marshall]

Would any have raced that Oulton Park in the 1980s in the Atlantic Computers championship?  They definitely visited Oulton Park in 1982 and I know in the Minolta Trophy races (July and October) at Silverstone in 1981, there was at least one 917 entered (for Derrick Bell from memory).

[alansart]

Would any have raced that Oulton Park in the 1980s in the Atlantic Computers championship?  They definitely visited Oulton Park in 1982 and I know in the Minolta Trophy races (July and October) at Silverstone in 1981, there was at least one 917 entered (for Derrick Bell from memory).

I attended most of those races but never saw a 917.

I don't think I've seen a 917 on track since the early 70's WSC and Interserie events.

Edited by alansart, 27 July 2017 - 09:03.

[opplock]

I have. Kremer entered a car described as 917 K81 in the 1981 Brands Hatch 1000k. It was driven by Bob Wollek and Henri Pescarolo according to programme. The car also raced at Le Mans but disappointingly was unsuccessful on both occasions.  

[alansart]

I have. Kremer entered a car described as 917 K81 in the 1981 Brands Hatch 1000k. It was driven by Bob Wollek and Henri Pescarolo according to programme. The car also raced at Le Mans but disappointingly was unsuccessful on both occasions.  

This one

http://www.ultimatec...e-917-K-81.html

[MCS]

(Sadly) I don't think a "real" 917 ever raced at Oulton Park - more is the pity.  I could also say the "real" Oulton Park as well of course.

[Dick Dastardly]

I saw a Gulf 917 at Silverstone, I think it was back in the days of the Coys Historic Festival late 90s....driven by Derek Bell, I think it was demo'ed rather than raced

[Stephen W]

I saw the 917s race at Brands in 1970 & 1971, I also saw 917s at Silverstone in Interserie races. Then there was an historic event at Silverstone (at a GP if I remember correctly) in which Derek Bell drove a silver 917.

 

However back to Oulton Park and I don't remember ever seeing a 917 racing there.

Edited by Stephen W, 29 July 2017 - 07:43.

[2F-001]

I saw a 917 run on the GP circuit at Silverstone.

My memory says it was all-over silver with no major sign writing, that Bell was driving - and I had the feeling it was a demo rather than a race (but lapped essentially unaccompanied).

I don't, however, remember the date or the event.

 

Sadly, did not witness the '70 or '71 event, but did see the Kremer 're-creation' race. I think it led briefly during one of the pit-stop cycles but expired out on the circuit?

Edited by 2F-001, 29 July 2017 - 09:30.

[Hawkeye]

Picking up on remark by Dick Dastardly, I well remember being there on that dreadful day when Hawkeye was killed - so sad and a major loss to the sport.

 

Definitely a hero of mine !

[swintex]

Just a random thought.

 

I wonder if the silver Bell demo car was the Count Rossi road going example? That's benn silver whenever I've seen it.

 

Richard

[arttidesco]

Just a random thought.

I wonder if the silver Bell demo car was the Count Rossi road going example? That's benn silver whenever I've seen it.

Richard

The silver Rossi 917 was an ex works racer chassis 030, certainly not to.be confused with the silver 917 Derek raced in the GP support race at Silverstone in 1981, I never established what the chassis number was of that car but IIRC it was lent by then owner David Piper to
the Kremer Bros who used it as a template to create the 917 K81.

[GazChed]

ISTR that David Piper raced his 917 as part of a glorious field of pre 1972 sportscars at the Thruxton Silver Anniversary meeting in 1993 . Wonder what next years Golden Anniversary meeting will feature ? Sorry , still nothing to do with Oulton Park though .

[2F-001]

... not to be confused with the silver 917 Derek raced in the GP support race at Silverstone in 1981...

I didn't think I was at that meeting (certainly not for race day, which I recall watching on TV) - I wonder what it might have been that I saw?

Do you know if Bell's drive was on practice day rather than race day? Or might he done a demo the day before perhaps? I didn't think I was there for practice either, but I'm beginning to be less trustful of my memory...

[Tim Murray]

According to the programme the race was run on the Friday at 16.20 (all the other races including the GP ran on the Saturday). Derek's Porsche 917K was #62 and was entered by P. D. Norman Electronics Ltd. Listed engine size 5400 cc (!).

[2F-001]

I'd better see whether I kept the programme from this meeting "I didn't attend"…!

[Gregor Marshall]

I have programmes for both races, but in storage after moving - I'll see if I can get to them in the next couple of days.
I have a feeling Derek won the first Minolta Trophy race in the July and my Dad won the second in the October - it's a lovely trophy ;)

[dolomite]

I remember seeing D Bell in the silver 917 at the 1981 Silverstone GP meeting. I think I may have a couple of photos. I'm fairly sure I also took a photo of a Gulf liveried 917 at the 79 GP which I think was on static display.

[2F-001]

... and my Dad won the second in the October - it's a lovely trophy ;)

Which meeting would that have been, Gregor? The traditional Silverstone "Finals Day" perhaps?

 

 

It seems I spectated at a meeting I didn't know I'd attended and/or watched something without realizing it was a race...

That's worrying!

[Gregor Marshall]

I suppose it must have been (everything is in storage currently), as it was October 4th and he only then raced at Oulton on the 10th, Brands on the 18th and then Thruxton on the 23rd, no more races in the UK that season (there was the Dubai GP on the 3rd/4th December and the Can-Am 917 raced in that race, not very successfully though, as it had been dropped off the crane when unloading from the ship!!).