25 replies to this topic

[Rupertlt1]

Starting at the beginning, can anybody say what happened at the first meeting?

 

R.A.C. Permit for hill Climb

The R.A.C. competitions

committee has granted The

Severn Valley Motor Club a

permit to hold its first com-

petitive event at Loton Park,

near Shrewsbury, on July 2. The

hill climb will be formally

opened by Sir Michael Layton, (sic)

the owner of Loton Park.

Birmingham Daily Post, Monday 20 June 1960, Page 4

 

The owner referred to was Michael John Bryan Leighton.

 

There was also an event scheduled for 3 September 1960, Severn Valley M.C.

"The first event will be a

members' testing day on April 

23, followed by a similar event

on July 2. The first competitive

event will be on September 3."

Birmingham Daily Post, Monday 18 January 1960

Some confusion here. Any history welcome.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 28 June 2021 - 04:43.

[Stephen W]

https://www.youtube....h?v=l9OLAVcxe3Y 50 Year Celebration

 

There is a DVD that should still be available from Hagley & District Light Car Club which shows one of the 1960 events entitled LOTON PARK hill climb 1960 - 2010 

 

Try their website www.hdlcc.com

[Rupertlt1]

There is a film from 19 October 1964 here:

 

https://www.macearch...park-hill-climb

 

How many cars can we identify?

 

RGDS RLT

[Stephen W]

I think the film is from two separate meetings.

 

#95 & #101 Tony Griffiths - BRM P48

 

Peter Boshier-Jones in the pale coloured Lotus 22 Climax s/c

[Rupertlt1]

The film opens with the #6 Cooper sports-racing, registration 777 CPJ, but who is the driver?

Possibles: Tony Van Moyland, W. J. Elmes, (Patsy Burt)?

Note car does not have a central seat.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 01 July 2021 - 06:48.

[Rupertlt1]

In the 1964 film (see above):

 

#53 Alan Minshaw, Argyle Motors Reliant Sabre.

 

#66 Reliant, registration 811 FUE

 

Photo caption:
Norman Wisdom, the comedian,
at the wheel of his new Reliant
Sabre Six. He will use the Tam-

worth-built car to open a motor

sprint meeting at Southport on

Sunday. Competing at the meet-

ing will be the Argyle Sabre

Team which will be entering

events throughout the country

this season. The team consists

of two Sabres and two Sabre

Sixes.

Coventry Evening Telegraph, Wednesday 19 February 1964

 

Refers to Sunday 23 February 1964: West Lancs M.C., Marine Drive, Southport Speed Trials.

(Fastest time of the day was by P. Scragg in an E Type Jaguar with 33.18 seconds. Wet.)

 

Argyle Motors were in Birkenhead?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 02 July 2021 - 06:30.

[Jagjon]

Yes Argyle Motors   had showrooms on the old Chester road direction out of Birkenhead.

[Rupertlt1]

New Merseyside Car Race Team

A new Merseyside racing

team, the Argyle Sabres,

make their first appearance

on Sunday when they com-

pete in the sprint events

organised by the West Lanca-

shire Motor Club at Southport.

The team has been formed

by Mr. Charles Leake,

managing director of Argyle

Motors (Birkenhead) Ltd.,

who has invited three well

known Wirral amateur racing

personalities to drive the cars

for him in unlimited sports

car classes. 

Behind the steering wheels

of the three Sabres on

Sunday will be Mr. Graham

Austin of Birkenhead, runner

up in last year's hill-climbing

championship; Mr. Alan

Minshaw, of Irby, a well

known circuit driver, and Dr.

Ian Entwistle, West Kirby

racing enthusiast and a

member of the Bugatti

Owners' Club.

Our picture shows one of

the three cars being specially

prepared in the firm's work-

shop in Conway Street,

Birkenhead, under the super-

vision of Mr. Ken Edwards,

27 - years - old foreman

engineer.

"The outing on Sunday is

in the nature of an experi-

ment," he said, "to test the

work already done on the

cars and to find out if any

further modifications are

desirable for competition

purposes," said Mr. Leake.

Liverpool Echo, Friday 21 February 1964, Page 9

 

Is he Graeme Austin?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 06 July 2021 - 09:48.

[Rupertlt1]

Loton Park Hill Climb, Severn Valley Motor Club, Saturday 22 July 1961

Course

Record at

Loton Park

Mike Hatton (Birmingham)

set up a new course record at

the Loton Park, Alberbury, hill

climb of the Severn Motor Club

on Saturday.

In his Cooper, Hatton twice

broke his own previous record

for the course of 35.68sec. set

up last year. On his first run

on Saturday he recorded

34.21sec and intended to forgo

a second run until Peter Boshier

Jones (Lola Climax) did 34.40secs.

Hatton then decided he might

be able to improve still further

and made another attempt, to

succeed with a time of 33.95sec.

Birmingham Daily Post, Monday 24 July 1961, Page 6

 

Does anybody have Mike Hatton at Loton Park in 1960 — 3 September? 2 July?

 

Mike Hatton smashed the record at

the Loton Park hill-climb on 22nd July

with a resounding 33.95 secs.. and Peter

Boshier-Jones pushed his Lola up in

34.40 secs. to make second best time.

David Boshier-Jones, making one of his

rare appearances, also tried the Lola but

was over one second slower than his

younger brother! Daniel Richmond

ascended his Downton Mini in 40.40 secs.,

which beat the class-winning 3.8 Jaguar

and most other people too.

Autosport, 23 February 1962, Pages 274-275

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 03 July 2021 - 09:10.

[Rupertlt1]

Loton Park Hill Climb, Severn Valley Motor Club, Saturday 29 April 1961

The Loton Park hill-climb on 29th

April saw Mike Hatton make B.T.D.,

with a new record of 35.68 secs. Peter

Boshier-Jones's ex-Edward Greenall

sports Lola was second in 35.92 secs.

David Boshier-Jones emerged from re-

tirement and tried Patsy Burt's Porsche,

but was unable to break 38 secs., while

Patsy took over 40 secs. Jim Berry

clouted the bank with his ex-Rob Walker

"B"-type Syracuse Connaught and Josh

Randles also had a "moment".

Autosport, 23 February 1962, Page 273

 

This looks suspiciously like the record time referred to in the previous post (not 1960) — the first year of 1960 remains a black hole in Loton Park history? 3 September? 2 July?

 

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 04 July 2021 - 21:14.

[Rupertlt1]

Rob Pennington has two programmes for Loton Park:

 

S.V.M.C. — 29th April 1961 says the Course record is G.P. Smith, Lotus, 36.76 secs, 2/7/60, this is also the Class 2 record 1001cc-1300cc

 

S.V.M.C. — 21st July 1962 Course record I. McLaughlin, (Cooper), 33.93 secs, 28/4/62. G.P. Smith is entered in a TVR 1622cc at this meeting. He won the "Fulwood Trophy for fastest sports car: G. Smith (Wem), T.V.R., 38.16 sec." —  Birmingham Daily Post, Monday 23 July 1962, Page 3.   

 

So we can be certain that the first meeting at Loton Park was held 2 July 1960, with G. P. Smith, Lotus, as our first ever winner?

 

Who was G. P. Smith?

 

Aintree, Aintree Circuit Club, Saturday 2 May 1959

First race proper was a seven-lap

scratch event for open cars up to 1,300

c.c. This produced a fine scrap between

E. L. Hine and G. P. Smith, both driving

Lotus-Climaxes; nose to tail they circu-

lated, Hine just in front and at the flag

not a car's length was in it! E. Pantlin,

similarly equipped, took a good third,

whilst the award for non-Climax-engined

cars went to H. Whiteside (Lotus-Ford).

Incidents in this event included a retire-

ment on the line by A. C. Wood with

clutch failure and a spin at Club Corner

by E. Pantlin (Lotus-Climax) who

continued.

Results

Open Cars up to 1,300 c.c.:

1. E. L. Hine (Lotus-Climax) 76 m.p.h.

2. G. P. Smith (Lotus-Climax)

3. E. Pantlin (Lotus-Climax)

Fastest lap: Pantlin, 79.78 m.p.h.

Autosport, 15 May 1959, Page 638

 

G. P. Smith came fourth in Class 11 & 12 in the TVR Grantura Mk 2 (58.86 sec) at Harewood Hill Climb, 21 April 1963:

 

https://harewoodhill...d-Hillclimb.pdf

 

[Wikipedia ref Loton Park has for the longest time said "The first ever winner was Peter Foulkes in a Cooper Climax."

This is not backed by a reference and looks to be wrong. Did he feature at the meeting 3 September 1960?] 

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 06 July 2021 - 06:59.

[Stephen W]

Rob Pennington has two programmes for Loton Park:

 

S.V.M.C. — 29th April 1961 says the Course record is G.P. Smith, Lotus, 36.76 secs, 2/7/60, this is also the Class 2 record 1001cc-1300cc

 

S.V.M.C. — 21st July 1962 Course record I. McLaughlin, (Cooper), 33.93 secs, 28/4/62. G.P. Smith is entered in a TVR 1622cc at this meeting.

 

So we can be certain that the first meeting at Loton Park was held 2 July 1960, with G. P. Smith, Lotus, as our first ever winner?

 

Who was G. P. Smith?

 

RGDS RLT

 

I watched the H&DLCC DVD again over the week-end and Sir Michael Leighton's film of the first event is part of it. In the voice over Sir Michael does credit G.P. Smith with setting FTD in what appears to be a Lotus XI.

[Rupertlt1]

I updated post #11 to read:

 

S.V.M.C. — 21st July 1962 Course record I. McLaughlin, (Cooper), 33.93 secs, 28/4/62. G.P. Smith is entered in a TVR 1622cc at this meeting. He won the "Fulwood Trophy for fastest sports car: G. Smith (Wem), T.V.R., 38.16 sec." —  Birmingham Daily Post, Monday 23 July 1962, Page 3.

 

So G. P. Smith was from Wem, Shropshire.

 

RGDS RLT

[RobMk2a]

I updated post #11 to read:

 

S.V.M.C. — 21st July 1962 Course record I. McLaughlin, (Cooper), 33.93 secs, 28/4/62. G.P. Smith is entered in a TVR 1622cc at this meeting. He won the "Fulwood Trophy for fastest sports car: G. Smith (Wem), T.V.R., 38.16 sec." —  Birmingham Daily Post, Monday 23 July 1962, Page 3.

 

So G. P. Smith was from Wem, Shropshire.

 

RGDS RLT

I have the following records for GP Smith in his TVR Grantura 

 

23^rd June 1962 Aintree

8^th July 1962 Elvington

21^st July 1962 Loton Park

11^th August 1962 Oulton Park

21st April 1963 Harewood 

25^th August 1963 Shelsley Walsh

24^th May 1964 Barbon dns

14^th June 1964 Shelsley Walsh

Edited by RobMk2a, 06 July 2021 - 07:52.

[Rupertlt1]

More from Rob Pennington:

 

21st July 1962, Loton Park Hill Climb

GP Smith

P131 Autosport report 27th July: 1,001 - 2,000cc 1 GP Smith TVR 38.16 sec just pipped Ray Meredith Plus 4 38.19 secs

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

1962:

North Staffs Motor Club are, on 17th June, holding a

hill-climb at Loton Park. Entries are

invited from members of B.O.C., M.A.C.,

J.D.C., M.G.C.C., Severn Valley M.C.,

Porsche O.C. and Mid-Cheshire M.C.

There seems to be classes for every type of

car—apart from karts—and the entry list

is open until 5th June. The secretary of

the meeting is J. H. Greenwood, Walley

Street, Biddulph, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

21st July 1962, Loton Park Hill Climb

The 18-strong class for sports touring

cars 1,001-2,000 c.c. produced the

winner of the Fullwood trophy

for fastest sports cars in Gerald

Smith (T.V.R.) 38.16. He had

previously held the course record

in 1960 with a Lotus XI.

 

He is Gerald Philip Smith: 

 

https://www.racingsp...p-Smith-GB.html

 

RGDS RLT 

[Rupertlt1]

1967 Loton Park

April 23, July 30, Oct 15

 

See: https://forums.autos...e/#entry9522204

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 12 July 2021 - 08:13.

[Rupertlt1]

AT LAST THE FIRST EVENT:—

 

Loton Park Hill Climb, Severn Valley Motor Club, 2 July 1960

Fastest time of day: Gerald Smith (Lotus XV) 36.76 secs

Saloon cars up to 1000c.c.

1. Ken Heywood (Austin 7) 47.27

2. A. Hand (Austin 7) 48.02

Sports cars under 1000c.c.

1. Vic McChesney (Lotus) 40.36

2. Dr. I. Gordon (Lotus) 42.59

Saloon cars 1000c.c. to 1500c.c.

1. D. Wood (Sunbeam Rapier) 46.81 (same time - class awarded on average)

2. J. Shanks (M.G. Magnette) 46.81

Sports cars 1000c.c. to 1500c.c.

1. Peter Foulkes (Cooper-Climax) 38.04

2. John Barrowclough (Elva-Ford) 42.24

Sports cars 1500c.c. to 2000c.c.

Peter Foulkes (Triumph TR3a) 41.88

Sports cars 2000c.c. to 3000c.c.

Mike Smith (Jaguar XK120) 40.92

Karts

Barrie Gorst (Hudson Kart) 44.93

Photo caption:

"36.76SECS. ON HIS SECOND RUN

gave G. P. Smith (Lotus XV) f.t.d. and

course record. This "Journal" photo

shows him at speed on Cedar Straight."

 

"Fastest time of the day (and initial

course record) went to Gerald Smith, of

Wem, in the ex-David Buxton Lotus XV,

when he did 36.7secs with his second

run. He got below this on a later non-

competitive run, but that doesn't count."

Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News, 9 July 1960, Page 20

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 28 July 2021 - 11:59.

[Rupertlt1]

Loton Park, Severn Valley Motor Club, 3 September 1960, 2nd event, wet and slippery

Provisional Results

Fastest time of the day, Loton Park hill climb trophy and replica:

Vic McChesney, Lotus VII, 39.51 secs

Fastest production saloon car, Trafficator's trophy and replica:

Ken Heywood, Morris Mini Minor, 45.93 (class record up to 1000 c.c.)

Fastest vintage car (handicap), Bryan Corser trophy and replica:

M. Maguire, M.G. "M" Type, 53.29

Fastest car in classes 1 and 2, Aubrey Lucas trophy and replica:

Vic McChesney, Lotus VII, 39.51 secs

Class 1 — Production saloon cars up to 1000 c.c.:

1. M. Williams, Morris Mini Minor, 46.65

2. R. Barrett, Austin 7, 46.78

Class 2 — Production sports cars up to 1000 c.c.:

Dr. I. Gordon, Lotus VII, 41.62

Class 3 — Production saloon cars, 1001 to 1500 c.c.:

1. John Dorey, Commer Cob, 48.29

Classes 4, 5 and 6 — Sports cars 1001 to 2000 c.c. and saloon cars 1501 to 2000 c.c.:

1. Peter Foulkes, Cooper-Climax, 40.71

2. John Barrowclough, Elva-Ford, 42.42

3. G. Hoyle, Morgan Plus 4, 42.97

Classes 7, 8, 9, and 10 — Sports and saloon cars, 2001 to 3000 c.c. and over:

1. Mike Wright, Jaguar XK120, 40.61

2. L. D. Abbott, Austin Healey 100M, 40.92

Class 11 — Vintage cars, handicap class:

1. A. D. Mitchell, Rolls Royce, 63.29

Class 12 — Go-Karts:

1. A. Williams, Fastakart, 46.04

2. F. Williams, Go-Kart, 51.96

Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News, 10 September 1960, Page 1

 

RGDS RLT

[Odseybod]

Interesting to see three Minis competing and doing well, just a year after the car's launch - at least, I assume the runner-up Austin 7 in Class 1 is actually an Austin Se7en. The first Cooper version appeared a year later, so these would be standard 850s.

[Rupertlt1]

Interesting to see three Minis competing and doing well, just a year after the car's launch - at least, I assume the runner-up Austin 7 in Class 1 is actually an Austin Se7en. The first Cooper version appeared a year later, so these would be standard 850s.

 

Loton Park, Severn Valley Motor Club, 3 September 1960, 2nd event, wet and slippery

"Trafficator's" Trophy

My trophy, for fastest production

saloon car, was won in convincing

fashion by Ken Heywood, Shifnal, who

took his much-modified Morris Mini-

minor up in 45.93, establishing in the

process a new class record for saloon

cars under 1000 c.c. Mr. Heywood told

me afterwards that he has spent many

late nights fitting twin carburettors,

special high compression head, and

polishing ports and mating the manifold.

 

To show further how potent this car is, the class award went to M. Williams driving the same car for the very first time!

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 29 July 2021 - 12:29.

[Rupertlt1]

David Buxton Limited

Lotus Fifteen 1959. Latest series twin cam

1500 unit fully overhauled, Webers, five or four speed

box as required, latest brakes. Whole car in ready-

to-race condition, complete with many spares £1,295

SHOWROOMS & OFFICES: 59-61 LONDON RD., DERBY (A.6) WORKSHOPS & SERVICE: SPONDON, DERBY

Autosport, 11 March 1960, Page 347

[Derwent Motorsport]

Williams in a Fastakart.  Did not Barry's dad make them?

[dgs]

Tony Marsh mentions in his autobiography that he had few outing in 1988 in his Marsh Special, one of these being at Loton Park, where he spun the car on its own oil at Triangle.

 

Does anyone know what meeting this happened ? 

[Rupertlt1]

Tony Marsh mentions in his autobiography that he had few outing in 1988 in his Marsh Special, one of these being at Loton Park, where he spun the car on its own oil at Triangle.

 

Does anyone know what meeting this happened ? 

 

Easter Monday, 4 April 1988? (Hagley & District Light Car Club: Round 1 of the Guyson USA British and Pound Garden Buildings Midland Hill Climb Championships).

 

Also ran at BOC's 50th anniversary at Prescott, 24th July 1988:

"Tony Marsh was there in the Marsh Special which he had now bought back off Graham Galliers. The old master recorded 47.20s, 0.5s faster than his 1967 BTD time. All his old enthusiasm was rekindled and he was threatening a new twin-turbo-boosted March-based car for 1989!"

Uphill Racers by Chris Mason, Page 382

 

There was a Hagley & District Light Car Club event at Loton Park, Sunday 21st August 1988, (Round 8 of the Pound Garden Buildings Midland Hill Climb Championship).

 

At the risk of upsetting the Wikipedia wallahs they are still showing the wrong first winner. Simply not a trustworthy source.

See: https://forums.autos...b/#entry9545216

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 08 October 2023 - 12:17.