ELVA 50th ANNIVERSARY RACES,  MALLORY PARK,  22nd MAY 2005

The BARC kindly hosted two great one marque races for Elvas,  to celebrate 50 years since Frank Nichols first said “elle va”  and away they went, … to literally hundreds of race wins and thousands of races across the globe !  So Formula Juniors and for  Sports Cars were forgathered at Mallory Park, fittingly still owned by longtime Elva racer, Chris Meek.

Elvas hold a particular place in the affections of all who appreciate Formula Junior because an Elva 100 was the first, and only, British FJ car to start in the first ever UK race for Formula Juniors, at Snetterton in April 1959. and the first British FJ car to win an International FJ race, Cadours in September 1959.

19 Formula Juniors graced the paddock – an amazing tribute to the First historic formula , celebrating its own 30th anniversary this year. 10 were the front engined Elva 100s, of particular note being the red 998cc car of Alan Patterson , who has owned and raced this very car since NEW, and flew in from USA for the occasion, Formula Junior stalwart  and senior Credit Suisse executive Crispian Besley, who had put so much effort into gathering cars for the event, and   John Truslove, who has battled beyond belief to make his two-stroke DKW powered car work to effect. Dickon Daggit  flew in from his native South Africa  and  was also  DKW powered,  his Scorpion , being an export model produced by the Ryetune company an associate with Elva Cars. They differed mainly in having semi trailing arm rear wishbone suspension . The 200 Series rear engined cars included Grant Stephen, from Duns, Scotland  and ace Historic racer,Martin Walford in Stuart Rolt’s ex FISA Trophy winning car , and also  Ken Aylett who is normally spannering for Mike waller, after an all-nighter, finally finishing  his car especially for this event after a seven month restoration and it looked absolutely stunning in tartan red.

Finally the 300 Series was represented by Chris Drake, but that in itself was a story, as Chris had crashed badly at Pau the previous weekend , and spannerman Malcolm had driven straight to Peter Denty. Peter had pulled out all the stops, repaired the bent chassis , restored the bodywork ., and the impossible happened : the car was at Mallory four days after arriving in Norfolk as if nothing had happened . It actually brought tears to the writer’s eyes !! –

And there was one special invitee, Bill Grimshaw in his Moorland. This car was the forerunner of the Gemini, arch rivals of Elvas, and it was the first FJ across the line at Brands Hatch in August 1959. This was actually the first UK race when a Junior was classified as a finisher and it beat the Elvas to the class win.
They were out for revenge today!

Qualifying was like the Curate’s Egg, good in parts, or rather more accurately, good for some.
Mark Woodhouse’s throttle pedal came adrift but not before he had bagged 3rd grid place,
Dickon’s car drained it’s diff oil into the undertray,  Paul Dixon’s car was mildly incontinent whilst both John Truslove and Paul Smeeth suffered engine problems; Paul’s block cracked.
Martin Walford came out on top, but Chris Drake was merely one second slower than Martin with Mark Woodhouse a fraction behind him. Bill Grimshaw then stormed the Moorland into 4th, completing the second grid row very nicely.

Poor Robin Lackford ,though, had major problems with his race car transporter by way of a burst oil cooler. This caused him so much grief that come race time he generously gave his Elva drive to Duncan Rabagliati.-10 minutes before the race start !!  Duncan was obliged to start from the back of the grid but happy for it.

There was much jockeying to begin with but Martin Walford had it well and truly sewn up, gradually drawing away from fast starting Mark Woodhouse and Chis Drake held 3rd, sometimes closing when lapping back markers.
Another battle ensued when Crispian Besley made a better start than Bill Grimshaw in the Moorland and Bill took several laps to get past him. However he could do nothing about Andrew Spence who had slotted into 4th and stayed there, ahead of Bill, and Crispian’s smart red 100.
It was a good clear race with no major offs and at the flag it was flying
Martin Walford, just 3 secs ahead of Mark Woodhouse who drove his wheels off (literally).
As Mark’s car wobbled it’s way into the paddock with a half shaft broken, he said that it had felt a bit peculiar in the last couple of laps!
Duncan made sense of the gear selection because he came home 13th in Robin’s car whilst Robin himself successfully replumbed the oil system on his transport so he could at least get home.
The fact that the first 3 places were occupied by one from each of the 3 different Elva models was a rather nice touch and all the participants were immensely proud to have been at this very special event.

It was now time for the sports cars , and although the grid was smaller, it lacked nothing for quality with  Simon Hadfield bringing along a couple of cars , and piloting the Mk 8 himself , and Matthew Watts, straight down from Croft the day before, in the Mk7S kindly loaned by David Brown , who will, himself, be back behind the wheel again soon , this time in a Formula Junior – but not an Elva !! Dion Kremer was also in a Mk 7, David Brock-Jest, Historic Legends racer, and F2 Aston-Butterworth owner, in his Mk5, Simon Peach in a Mk 4, and one of motor racing’s loveliest characters, dangerous sportsman, Ding Boston in his Courier amongst the others

Simon was comfortably clear of Matthew in practice , but the race was a different story , with Matthew hanging on to Simon’s tails, and even getting in front at one stage, but wily Simon was just half a second ahead at the flag – Behind these two there was an even greater battle, with Dion Kremer just pipping Simon Peach by two THOUSANDTHS of a second at the flag !! So close that Simon was ushered in to collect the third place award, perhaps fitting in view of his efforts to get the whole event together. John gross’ Courier was the only retirement.

There were more photos and much animated conversation during the prize giving, which was enhanced by the presence of Chris Meek, and Roger Dunbar, who has kept the Elva flag fliing over the last few decades, made Trophy presentations to the winners, and Simon Peach , who had originated the whole 50th anniversary idea, gave a beautiful Elva momento to all participants.

Peter Jackson / Duncan Rabagliati