18 replies to this topic

[Giraffe]

I'm not sure if this is common knowledge or not, having been out of the loop for some time due to illness, but over lunch last weekend with Richard Barnes (of SPA Design),, he tells me of news from Colin Essex (of Swallow Racing) that Kevin Wheatcroft has built a museum dedicated to Roger Williamson which will open on the 50th anniversary of his death next year.

Richard tells me the weekend before last, Rick Hall took the Williamson transporter (restored by Peter Smith) to Bourne and loaded up three of Roger's cars, taking them to Arnesby, the location of the museum.

The pics of the transporter were taken en-route in Colsterworth.

 

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Edited by Giraffe, 18 October 2022 - 22:51.

[barrykm]

I'm looking forward to seeing pics of the cars.

[GreenMachine]

I presume the statue from the Donington museum will be relocated?

[Gary C]

This is good news.

[alansart]

Interesting Tony. I wish it every success and hope to visit when it's open.

I guess some of the exhibits from the old Donington Collection will be on display.

Roger Williamson's F3 March 713 by Alan Raine, on Flickr

Roger Williamson's F2 March 732 BMW by Alan Raine, on Flickr

Edited by alansart, 19 October 2022 - 13:43.

[E1pix]

This is really great news.

Even across the pond, that poor guy made a permanent impact for the worst reasons that racing could muster.

I love the idea of reversing that; for Roger’s memory of how he *lived*, and for racing itself.

All my deepest respects for the players making this happen. I salute them all.

[doc knutsen]

This is really great news.

Even across the pond, that poor guy made a permanent impact for the worst reasons that racing could muster.

I love the idea of reversing that; for Roger’s memory of how he *lived*, and for racing itself.

All my deepest respects for the players making this happen. I salute them all.

i greatly admired how Roger Williamson made it to the top, and how Tom Wheatcroft took him under hos wing. Zandvoort, which i visited in 1965 and for F2 in 1968 (Chris Lambert) carries some very sad memories. This initiative in honour of Roger is much appreciated. But let me say how the use of orange smoke flares at contemporary Grands Prix is almost sickening to me...smoke at a motor race brings back memories of such as Roger Williamson, Piers Courage, Jo Siffert, and countless others.

[Doug Nye]

I remember the transporter well, sitting in the back of it in the paddock at Brands Hatch, having a long chat with Roger.  I'd asked him a question about something or other and, while he was responding, a wasp flew in between us, darting back and forth.  

 

Roger just calmly glanced at it, levelled his gaze on me, continued with what he was saying yet simultaneously flicked out his hand, caught the wasp in mid-flight and crushed it.  Whap!  

 

Just like that.

 

I thought then, coo - this chap's reflexes are special.

 

He did indeed possess huge talent.  Unforgotten...

 

DCN

[john aston]

i greatly admired how Roger Williamson made it to the top, and how Tom Wheatcroft took him under hos wing. Zandvoort, which i visited in 1965 and for F2 in 1968 (Chris Lambert) carries some very sad memories. This initiative in honour of Roger is much appreciated. But let me say how the use of orange smoke flares at contemporary Grands Prix is almost sickening to me...smoke at a motor race brings back memories of such as Roger Williamson, Piers Courage, Jo Siffert, and countless others.

 I have seen cars on fire at race tracks,  but never emitting orange smoke and I actually enjoy seeing the exuberance of Dutch fans , almost rivalling their tifosi  counterparts  in  Monza .  I find such public displays a welcome contrast to the po face seriousness of many of the sports' key players . I well remember the horrors of the past and am delighted that a sight which once was ominous is now so joyously frivolous .  

[Lee Nicolle]

To me the world does not need smoke bombs at any venue. Just yobbo behaviour.

The crowds of orange shirts though really does show the support for Max and is very appropriate.

[Red Socks]

IIRC the truck/bus conversion was made by RW's father - Dodge who many years later ran the petrol pumps at Donington.

I was involved with Talon Engineering when they were running litre mini's when RW was racing the litre Anglia and RW's truck inspired Mike Darrieulat to get Dodge to build a coach conversion for the Talon mini's.

Best memory of RW  will always be sitting on top of the pill box at North Tower corner at Crystal Palace- v. naughty but sometimes the marshals looked the other way - RW giving a running commentary on the lines being taken around the corner by the F3 racers.

I don't say he was there to learn but he didn't miss a trick.

[LodgeCorner]

This is great news and a fine tribute to a great racing driver.

 

I very much remember his amazing driving feats in his Ford Anglia, it was incredible how quick he was in it. He was also very approachable in the paddock and was happy to chat, even with schoolboys(!), happily answering any and many questions.

[FLB]

 

I very much remember his amazing driving feats in his Ford Anglia, it was incredible how quick he was in it. He was also very approachable in the paddock and was happy to chat, even with schoolboys(!), happily answering any and many questions.

 

[doc knutsen]

 I have seen cars on fire at race tracks,  but never emitting orange smoke and I actually enjoy seeing the exuberance of Dutch fans , almost rivalling their tifosi  counterparts  in  Monza .  I find such public displays a welcome contrast to the po face seriousness of many of the sports' key players . I well remember the horrors of the past and am delighted that a sight which once was ominous is now so joyously frivolous .  

The Grosjean accident in the Haas happened after dark. The orange fireball in the distance (camera following the leaders) did look ominous to me.

[Giraffe]

The museum opens tomorrow, the 50th anniversary of Roger's fatal accident and I shall be present at the ceremony & shall endeavour to post something in due course.

[RCH]

Where is the museum? I remember Roger when he was on a forum organised by Leicester Colleges Motor Club just before he started in F3 following his success in the Anglia. He came across as modest and unassuming yet determined. We were mostly a rally crowd, Will Sparrow was there, yet Roger made a great impression.

 

I have to admit the orange flares annoy me and I can never hear of Zandvoort without thinking of Roger and David Purley's bravery. 

[Doug Nye]

It was that self-evidently steely determination - when confronted by zero funding - that so engaged Tom Wheatcroft in the first place.  As a local Leicester lad who not only wanted to succeed, but also had both the talent and the dedication to do so, Roger was a natural choice for Wheatie to make.

 

DCN

[2F-001]

Roger was our "local boy made good" when I was growing up. I hope I might be able to see the museum some time when I'm back visiting "home".

[buswalker]

Does the Museum have a web site where one can discover the location / opening times etc.?