7 replies to this topic

[Sonny]

Is there anybody out there who has information on this English race car team that used to run 3 Lotus 23s in the 1960s one for a Mike Beckwith, another for a Tony Hedgebourne and the third for the occassional drive by the one and only J Clark. I am also seeking info on their personell of that era and their current whereabouts in particular their cheif mechanic a Colin Knight and his colleague Alan Jarrett to assist me with a historical project that I am doing on their Lotus 23s. All leads would be welcomed.

[Coogar]

Hazy memories here, but as far as I can recall, Mike Beckwith was a top salesman (sales manager even ?) for Normands Ltd, a major multi-franchise car deealership during the sixties.
He and former Alfa Romeo driver Tony Hegbourne were very successful in their Lotus 23s and the team seemed to have close links with the Lotus factory - hence the J.Clark appearance.
Don't know what happened to Mike Beckwith, but ISTR Tony Hegbourne perished in a racing accident not long after that period.
Further hazy memories suggest that there might have been a Normand F3 team subsequently, but others will, no doubt, know all.......

[EDWARD FITZGERALD]

did mike beckwith not race an f3 car using daf variomatic transmission ?

[Ted Walker]

Mike Beckwith is very much "alive and kicking" as he purchased some photographs from me of his early days,as like most drivers never bothered with them in period.

[EDWARD FITZGERALD]

Motor Sport October 1964 , carries a piece on the team , in 1964 they went F2 using Coopers they were not very successful , Hegbourne winning only once at Avus , the team closed at the end of 65

[Criceto]

I can also confirm Mike's status of "live and kicking", although not as recently as Ted's contact I suspect.

I bought a Hillman Avenger from him a few years back and rather startled him by asking if he was the same M Beckwith who had run the Brabham-DAF.

And if you ever read this, Mike, the Avenger served me well - very happy with it!

[Doug Nye]

Mike Beckwith was something of a hero of mine in my cub reporter days - in 1962 his first Normand-backed 23 won virtually everything in sight. In 1963 they ran three 23Bs I think, from memory, all in white with red and blue longitudinal centreline stripes - exquisitely prepared - and driven by Beckwith, Tony Hegbourne (in my experience you really could not meet a nicer bloke) and (as a guest star) Jim Clark himself. Mike and Tony went on to run Normand-entered F2 cars in 1964 - but Mike made a serious mistake and chose Cooper chassis though I think Tony excelled at AVUS (??). It was only then that Tony drove the Alan Day Racing Alfa TZ and he crashed at very high speed at Spa and lost his life. Mike had a one-off Formula 1 drive for BRP at Oulton Park - got in a muddle and knocked a couple of wheels off against the bank at Old Hall Corner...again from memory.

So far as I known he's still pumping air ... I last saw him a couple of years ago at Goodwood...

DCN

[Rosemayer]

Heres a little on Beckwith

www.classic-daf.nl/history/ pic_f3.html

www.classicscars.com/wspr/results/ bscc/bscc1968.html

www.vintagegarage.com/lotus71.html

www.classicscars.com/wspr/results/ interserie/interserie1970.html

www.formula2.net/F265_1.htm

www.experiencelemans.com/en-us/ dept_170.html