14 replies to this topic

[Jon Saltinstall]

The regular adverts that Shell posted in the motoring press during 1973 to celebrate the successes of its sponsored drivers refer to a “Grand Victors’ Race” for all those who had won for them, that would take place at Brands Hatch “at the end of the year.” 

Indications are that the drivers were to compete in Ford Escort Mexicos, as had been used in the various national Mexico Challenge Trophy events across Europe. However, this “Grand Victors’ Race” was not to be confused with the various Ford Escort Mexico Celebrity Races that John Webb had organised throughout the year at the various circuits he managed.

The nearest possibility I can find for it having taken place is a promotional “relay race” that was staged as part of the F5000/F3/FF meeting on 21 October where teams of three (a runner, a cyclist and a driver) competed against each other. However, this feels more like one of the “Celebrity” events as although some of the drivers were professionals (one being Lella Lombardi, who was a ShellSport winner from an Escort Celebrity race earlier in the year), others most definitely were not; the driver for the relay team that won outright was Webb’s secretary!

There is no reference to the “ShellSport Grand Victory Race” on the card for the meeting that was stopped by heavy rain on 4 November, and from 11 November onwards Brands hosted Club events for the rest of the year. Can anyone cast any light on whether this race actually happened, or maybe even attended it?

[LotusElise]

The relay was possibly the most barking mad motorsport idea ever, but there's not many events where the only female F1 points scorer, Britain's first black cycling champion and the hairy bloke who inspired the 118 adverts all competed together.

 

I think the problem with the Shellsport celeb and champions' races was that the grid was sometimes only decided on the day and therefore not recorded in programmes.

[Thundersports]

John Webbs Secretary was a Lady called Brenda Parfitt.

[Collombin]

"Brenda Parfitt - Her Authorised Competition History". Fills a gap I suppose.

[LotusElise]

Knowing Webb and Shellsport, Brenda probably did race at least once.

 

The winner of the car section of the relay was Angela Kearns, who later did some of the Shellsport Escort races. I think she did work for Shellsport or MRD in an administrative role at some point.

[2F-001]

What a fascinating find…

 

re. the black cyclist mentioned above (Maurice Burton) - I saw him race on the track numerous times as a schoolboy and Junior, and was there when he won the Junior National Sprint title.

I believe he still owns a bike shop in South London. He was a lovely lad; and is presumably now a lovely chap - I haven’t seen him for a long, long time.

 

The other cyclists were all fairly well-recognized names - the first away Geoff Cooke (Commonwealth champion in the Tandem Sprint, and winner of an unfathomable number of titles as a senior and then as a ‘veteran’) is another I saw race very many times.

 

(Apologies for the diversion.)

[Sterzo]

^ De Ver Cycles in Streatham, and yes, it's still there.

[Vitesse2]

^ De Ver Cycles in Streatham, and yes, it's still there.

Heh. Technically in Norbury. The historic boundary is the middle of the road there. I lived a couple of hundred yards up the hill from there and drank in the same pub as De Ver's original owner Peter Verleysdonk. I even bought a bike from him! The pub's been demolished and was on the site which is now a branch of Lidl.

[Jon Saltinstall]

"Brenda Parfitt - Her Authorised Competition History". Fills a gap I suppose.

A very small gap, Ian!!

[Jon Saltinstall]

Brilliant stuff - but the question remains, was there a separate Grand Victors’ Race as proposed, and if so, when?

[LotusElise]

I can't find any references to one in any newspaper archive. It was either cancelled, or had no noteworthy entries.

[Jon Saltinstall]

That was pretty much the conclusion I’d reached too. I guess if few or none of the ShellSport victors were available, there would have been little point in holding a Grand Victors’ Race.

Edited by Jon Saltinstall, 24 November 2023 - 23:29.

[Sterzo]

"Brenda Parfitt - Her Authorised Competition History". Fills a gap I suppose.

Now, a biography of John Webb would fill a gap. A man who made a real contribution to the health and happiness of many of us, while, shall we say, exploring the margins of what constituted a "purist" view of motor racing.

[Vitesse2]

I wonder if the late 1973 OPEC embargo on oil sales might be at least part of the reason it was quietly dropped? The UK and the Netherlands were two of the countries named by OPEC as having supported Israel in the Yom Kippur War. High-profile 'wasting petrol on pointless motor racing' wouldn't have been a good look for Shell.

[LotusElise]

Now, a biography of John Webb would fill a gap. A man who made a real contribution to the health and happiness of many of us, while, shall we say, exploring the margins of what constituted a "purist" view of motor racing.

 

I would read it. Although his motives were not altruistic, he did more to support women in motorsport than anyone else in the 1970s. The commercial tie-ups he managed for British race meetings have never been bettered. The equivalent of someone like Netflix or Sainsburys sponsoring a GB3/GB4 race weekend.