‘Autosport’ Show NEC 8th January 2009

Trade day on Thursday allows for a more leisurely look round the varied exhibits – It is now a huge show, from engineering at one end to the GP car exhibits at the other, with all types of race car series such as Ginetta, and Low-cost to Boss.  This year one had the impression that not only was there plenty of room around all the stands, but that the visitors were well down on previous years.  But from an Historics perspective, there was plenty to see and meet. 

Classic Team Lotus had their brand new race transporter with Clive Chapman and Steve in attendance, various Lotus publications for sale and several F.1 cars of various descriptions on display.  Clive mentioned that he still retained all his father (Colin)’s files about the Lotus 88 containing Colin’s detailed notes on the case to have this design accepted as compliant to the then F1 rules.  Andy Middlehurst was there, talking of his Lotus 43 – BRM H16, the Watkins Glen winning car, which had last run as a F5000, and had lain for 30 years, all complete, with blown up motor, in a furniture van!

The HSCC had an enormous stand area, much of it filled by green carpet: a woven carpet with a large HSCC logo would have been appropriate; on display were a large selection of F2 cars, promoting the new F2 Series – that’s what the show organisers had asked for, together with a selection of Classic F3 cars. There was one solitary 1.0 F3, the reputedly ex-Ronnie Petersen Tecno of Peter St. Barbe.  It looked beautiful at the front, though somewhat ‘dirt track’ caged at the rear.  Howden Ganley who competed with Ronnie race by race, pointed out that the 3rd place credited at Cadwell Park in 1969 was actually in the March 693, which James Hunt later drove at Brands Hatch after Ronnie had crashed it.  Howden also cast doubt on the idea that Ronnie may have had two Tecno’s that year: the ‘other’ is now in Sweden.  Funny to think that it is 40 years ago that I remember Howden with his green B17 Chevron F3 standing at 90º on 2 wheels & axles as he worked on it in the paddock at Anderstorp, while the rest of us were having a swim in the (then) swimming pool in the paddock or nipping off to the shops in town in those enlightened Swedish days!

It soon became clear that being based on either the Ferret Photographics stand of Ted Walker (with Graeme Simpson) or on the HSCC one would be rather like Piccadilly Circus, and you would meet everyone ‘in town’.  Steve Wilkinson and Keith Messer were looking positive about the new 1.0 F3 ‘Peter Hanson Trophy’ series with 28 promised entries for Brands Hatch and the Gold Cup, but less optimistic about either overseas entries coming to the UK, or vice versa.  Grahame White and Brede, with Alan Jones were looking after the stand, with Alain Defaille, Vincent Collard and Jean Paul Dispas of Motor Classic, the organisers of the Spa 6 hours in September and the Summer Classic using the stand as their base. Alain tells us that he is planning a big Historic Meeting at Zolder in 2010: we do hope it will be after 1st July when the local swimming pool opens for the season!

Formula Junior drivers were in abundance: Jeremy Bouckley, expecting to do a few races in Peter Denty’s T56; Len Selby looking forward to outings in his Lola Mk 5; Michael Ketcher, having sold the Elva 100, will have Rob Manger out in the 18, as soon as restoration by Richard Walbylof is complete: Sadly Richard, who also looks after the cars of Chris Phillips and John Quenby, has not been well of late.  M. Ian Robinson, who still flies Jumbo Jets into Europe was there with David Noble, and the Lola Mk 2 should be out at last this year after a 10 or so year restoration.  Simon Diffey admitted that 2008 was just too frenetic, and hopes for a more relaxed and enjoyable year 2009 in the gold 20.  Doug Martin (www.championplaques.co.uk) had his own stand and the business has really taken off, while his accounting practice has also been revived: so is incredibly busy. ‘Masters’ and some modern series have been regular customers and of course FJHRA and 500 OA have also used Doug’s engraved trophies on several occasions; we hope this activity will still allow Doug time to be out in the Elva 200.

Our other FJ standholder was Robin Longdon and ‘Miller Oils’; unfortunately Sue had a minor hospital op, and we missed Robin, on his way to collect her home.  H. P Tyres (hptyres@btconnect.com) who sell our Dunlop L section control FJ tyres, have moved from Whittlebury to the Long March Industrial Estate: John Pearson was to be found on the Dunlop stand.

We saw James Denty, who reported that Mark Osborne had bought the Lotus 22 at the Dawson Damer auction sale in Australia: not one of DD’s cars, 22-J-5 which has been for sale for some years, must have been slipped in to the auction at the last minute.  Geoff Richardson also reported new interest in FJ from at least two HFO drivers, anxious to double up on track time when making the long trip from the USA.

An interesting day and it augers well for Race Retro in March to be its usual preseason meeting place for FJ drivers this time as part of the HSCC stand.

DCPR