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Jeff Heselwood R.I.P.


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#1 Rupertlt1

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Posted 17 December 2019 - 11:20

Jeffrey Walter Heselwood (1948-2019)

Always well turned out Jeff Heselwood was a battler.

He started out in racing in the UK as a mechanic, in the 1971 Formula 2 season, initially with Ron Dennis and subsequently with the Automovil Club Argentina team, running Brabham BT36s for Carlos Reutemann and Carlos Reusch. A season driving a Ford Escort Mexico racer followed in 1973.  By this time Jeff had established a garage business, Jemwood Cars, at Cobham, Surrey.

By the eighties he had run out of road in the UK and decided to try Hong Kong, arriving in December 1984. He embarked on the precarious life of a freelance journalist, writing on motoring topics and every other subject under the sun. Credits included the South China Morning Post and Hongkong Standard where they typically paid $1HKD a word. He soon branched out into broadcasting and public relations. Covered the Asia beat, also Formula One on RTHK radio. 

For the Macau Grand Prix he edited and produced a glossy magazime called Motorsport Macau, later named for the year, for example MotorSport'94

He regaled us with yarns from the old days about Ron Dennis and other UK racing chums. He was a regular visitor to the British Grand Prix on trips back home. 

Seen behind the bar in Pomeroy's Wine Bar upstairs on Level 3, The Mall, Pacific Place, HK, where he was Managing Director, in a brief business venture. Jeff also operated a bookshop franchise, Dymocks, in the Peak Tower for a while. 

No stranger to the Old China Hand, Wanchai; Dublin Jack's, Central HK; the Foreign Correspondents' Club, HK; also Oskar's Bar, Holiday Inn, Macau.

Latterly Jeff lived and worked in Thailand.

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 02 March 2023 - 07:19.


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#2 JacnGille

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Posted 18 December 2019 - 13:18

Sad news



#3 Rupertlt1

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Posted 19 November 2021 - 09:41

I've been struggling to stand up the story of Jeff Heselwood and his Escort Mexico racer, but sure enough he is entered at:

Ingliston, The Burmah Trophy Race Meeting, Sunday 15th April 1973, Event 6, 10 laps, GROUP 1 PRODUCTION SALOON CARS, Price range "£1051 — £1500": #22, J. HESELWOOD/Jemwood Cars, Ford Mexico, 3rd in class

Brands Hatch, 6 May 1973, Castrol Production Saloon Car Race, #39 Jemwood Cars (Dvr: Jeff Heselwood), Ford Escort Mexico, 1601

Thruxton, B.A.R.C., Sunday 17th June 1973: Event 7, Britax Production Saloon Car Race, #22 Jemwood Cars (2nd Reserve), driver Jeff Heselwood, Ford Mexico, 1601 c.c., burgundy/turquoise. Among the other competitors is #2 Les Leston, Chevrolet Camaro Z28, another future Hong Kong wallah.

Jemwood Cars turns up as the entrant of Nigel Stovin-Bradford in 1974 driving a Moskvitch. Peter Wallace and Arthur Coulson are also entered by Jemwood Cars Ltd in a Ford Escort on the Dukeries Rally in September 1974.

Jemwood Cars existed through the 1970s, receiving this glowing tribute in the Multicylinder (Journal of the Pre '50 American Auto Club) from November 1978:

"Finally I would like to advise members in Surrey and surrounding counties about the restoration work of JEMWOOD CARS LIMITED, of SILVERMERE FARM ESTATE, BYFLEET ROAD, COBHAM, under the direction of Jeff Heselwood. This company is undertaking the restoration of my HUDSON and I have found them to be very helpful, sincere, thorough and conscientious. Perhaps more important is the fact that they keep me informed as to progress and remind me to visit them when they have reached an important or interesting stage. I have no hesitation in recommending this Company, particularly for mechanics and/or bodywork and, needless to say, I am not associated with them in any way, (other than as a customer).

That's all for now.

Best Wishes

BILL FOOTMAN

(Membership 1072)

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 November 2021 - 10:00.


#4 68targa

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Posted 19 November 2021 - 11:38

He is listed in the programme for Oulton Park, 7 Oct 1973, Britax Production Saloon race.  Event 4 - #175 - Jemwood Cars - Escort Mexico, colour Maroon. It seems he non-started.  He is shown as having earned 1pt in his class in the championship by this time of the season with class leader Bernard Unett on 36pts.



#5 Rupertlt1

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Posted 19 November 2021 - 20:37

Jemwood Cars had three entries on the July 1974 Avon Tour of Britain:

Class D4 (Up to 1600 c.c. — up to £999)

#96 Jemwood Cars Ltd., John Lyon, Moskvich 412

#97 Jemwood Cars Ltd., John Sheldon/John Comley, Moskvich 412

#99 Jemwood Cars Ltd., Chris Hiatt-Baker/Bob Mason, Moskvich 412

 

https://forums.autos...n/#entry3294888

 

2 finishers:

57th John Lyon/Jonathan Mathias

65th Chris Hiatt-Baker/Bob Mason

 

RGDS RLT  


Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 November 2021 - 21:49.


#6 Rupertlt1

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Posted 01 March 2023 - 20:55

Cobham man on

British Tour

Cobham businessman Jeff Heselwood is pictured above

just before the start of last weekend’s marathon Avon

Tour of Britain. Jeff owns "Jemwood Cars" at 1 Silver-

mere Farm Estate, Byfleet Road, Cobham.

Esher News and Mail, Thursday 12 July 1973, Page 33

 

The car shown is possibly an Escort Mexico. Can anybody add anything? Entry list?

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 01 March 2023 - 21:23.


#7 Rupertlt1

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Posted 18 December 2023 - 06:45

Autumn Leaves Rally, South Bucks M.C., November 1968, Oxford start

"while Scorpion winners Jeff Heselwood/Roger Powell (Cortina GT) were a further 2 mins adrift in third place."

Autosport, 15 November 1968, Page 38

 

Any information on the Scorpion Rally 1968?

(Could this be Sutton and Cheam Motor Club?)

 

Jeff Heselwood was #60 on the Avon Motor Tour of Britain, 1973, with navigator Roger Griffiths, in a Ford Escort Mexico, Class B — £1050-£1500. (For a full entry list see Autosport, 5 July 1973, Page 35.)

 

https://www.ewrc-res...f-britain-1973/

 

Do any photographs exist? Stills from a film?

 

RGDS RLT 


Edited by Rupertlt1, 09 January 2024 - 05:48.


#8 Rupertlt1

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Posted 18 December 2023 - 17:13

 

#60 is seen spinning at 1:40 in this film at Llandow.

This was the first circuit race of the Tour, starting 12 noon Friday 6th July 1973.

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 18 December 2023 - 17:37.


#9 Rupertlt1

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Posted 19 December 2023 - 04:04

More fragments:

Mallory Park, Castrol Anniversary Touring Car Championship, Round 1, Sunday 10 March 1974

Looking immaculate was the ShellSport-assisted BMW

3.0 CSI which Tony Lanfranchi was driving

for the first time as the car was only com-

pleted on the day before the race. Jeff Hesel-

wood of Jemwood Cars has carried out the

immaculate preparation job on the car, which

uses a Denny Rowland prepared engine and

is entered and supplied by London BMW

dealer Nicholas Van Der Steen.

DNF, broken piston.

Brands Hatch, Castrol Anniversary Touring Car Championship, Round 2, Sunday 17 March 1974

"Unlucky Tony Lanfranchi suffered more

dramas with the Rowland-prepared engine in

his ShellSport BMW 3.0 CSI; after the Mal-

lory disaster, standard parts had replaced the

broken ones but even then he only managed

seven laps of practice on five cylinders before

a rod went through the block. The car's

entrant Nick Van Der Steen thereupon kindly

permitted the removal of an engine out of a

Standard CSI, with 15,000 miles on the clock,

in his London showroom to be fitted into the

BMW, looked caringly after by Jeff Heselwood

of Jemwood Cars."

"Lanfranchi's BMW steadily closed on Hine for second place

overall and took the runner's-up spot with

three laps remaining much to the credit of

Tony and the Jemwood preparation." 

Silverstone, Castrol Anniversary Touring Car Race, 6-7 April 1974

"The 2501 to 4000 c.c. class should be very interesting indeed with Tony Lanfranchi favourite

for victory with his immaculate BMW 3.0 CSi lovingly prepared by Jemwood Cars."

 

See: https://forums.autos...chi-roger-bell/

 

£2250 ex Van Der Steen, Tony Lanfranchi 3.0 CSI Coupe, 1973 M regd

Well known very competitive car. 2nd in the Avon Tour of Britain,

unfortunately at the moment complete with broken engine (piston, valve

and head damage) but complete with all trim etc, to make into a

road car, or of course a very competitive racing car with just the engine

rebuild, The retail value of this car is £5000 !

Telephone: BUCKLOW HILL 830423

Autosport, 14 November 1974, Page 56

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 December 2023 - 05:48.


#10 Rupertlt1

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Posted 21 December 2023 - 06:12

Silverstone, Britax Production Saloon Car Race 'A', 1 April 1973, 15:45, 10 laps

The Britax Saloons were split into two

races, the first for the up to £800 and

£1050 to £1500 classes. The rumour that it’s

all a fiddle so that Lanfranchi gets two

drives was officially denied! Bernard Unett

showed all how a G1 car really ought to

be driven and led into Copse for the first

time and that was the last any other com-

petitor saw of him as he pulled away to a

convincing win. As the field poured through

Woodcote for the first time Peter Slade’s

Firenza had a frightening roll which also

involved Jeff Heselwood’s Mexico. Heselwood

was able to continue for a lap and Slade

only suffered a bump on the head and a

severe shaking.

 

See: https://forums.autos...p/#entry9674150

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 21 December 2023 - 06:16.