There have been many changes, and a few discoveries, in the Formula Junior World, ahead of the Diamond Jubilee World Tour, so we should see many new cars and drivers on the Circuits, but most importantly, almost all the old ones still around, racing or otherwise.

Chris Drake was the first to move, coming back from the Swiss border with Lawrence Sufryn’s Series 1 Terrier T4/01, and has already been out at Mallory Park and Oulton Park. Jonathon Hughes made a trip to USA, and came back with Lawrence’s Series 2, T5/1, also ex-Brian Hart, and Ugo Piccagli’s Gemini–Ford Mk II 1025. Jonathon had already bought Richard-Ellingworth’s Gemini-BMC Mk II, 1018, ex Tony Goodwin and Ian Bankhurst, but this has now gone to James Owen, who has sold his Blue Elva 200-BMC 200/08 to newcomer, James McBrien, but the car is likely to stay in the care of Iain Rowley at Delta.

Also back from the States is John Sykes, with the drum braked Merlyn Mk 3, 12R from Paul Flanery in Florida to compliment his front engine Merlyn Mk 2 6R, which is nearly race ready, and the “Magic” Merlyn Mk 5/7 ex Denis Welch, while Harindra de Silva has taken the ex-Simon Goodliff, Brendan Roberts, Hans Matti Lola Mk2 BRJ 20 back to USA, where the Gemini Mk IV ex Ollie Crosthwaite is being readied for the Jubilee, an essential requirement of Howden Ganley’s patronage!! Simon himself has acquired the Nike Mk 1, which Duncan drove at Goodwood in 2012, and is currently awaiting the arrival of his new short stroke engine, blocks permitting, from Nick Swift. And for anyone interested in another Lola Mk2, the very original Lola Mk 2 FJ-7-60 of Tony Steele, in one family ownership for over 40 years has just come on the market.

We are all delighted that Bob Birrell is out of hospital, but when things looked a lot gloomier, Bob sold the ex-Tony Goodwin, David Pratley Lola Mk 2 SAG-4 to Christian Traber, and Bob is now looking at a Lotus 20 for his new “slimline” return.

Roger Ealand is the beacon of Formula Junior, shining bright across many Continents from Australia, and we are so pleased that he too is making a remarkable recovery from a recent removal of a brain tumour: however Roger has passed a number of his cars into good hands, keeping only the Australian based Lotus 18, chassis no 796. The Rennmax BN-1 of course went to Phil Hall, sadly a little damaged at Silverstone, and now the Wren has gone to Marty Bullock, to supplement his Lotus 27, while the Koala is now with much experienced, but FJ opener, Mike Rowe, from Bunbury, WA, and Kim Shearn will be out this weekend at Somona with the former Ealand US based Lotus 18 –J-818. To round the circle, Roger’s old Gemini-Ford Mk II 1041 has just been acquired by the very enthusiastic Max Pegram.

Also over in USA, it looks as if Tupper Robinson’s Lotus 20-J-942 may change hands shortly, while back with Alan Baillie, his Lola 5A is for sale. Tupper of course still has his front engine fleet of Elva 100/36A, Bandini 053, Scorpion-BMC 500S-7-Ex, and F3 U2 Mk 4. Also over in USA, Mark Gillies has just offered for sale his ex-Marv Primack Lotus 18 J-715, and the ex-Tom Claridge  Lotus 22 frame 22/29, still with its 1500 t/c , but ready to convert back to correct FJ spec, while the  lovely 18 J-770 of Jack Boxstrom  ex-Travis Engen  is “under interest”. Marv Primack, of course, still has his other 18, J-716. Fantasy Junction are also just offering the ex-Malcolm Templeton, Chris Ball, David Stevenson Lotus 22-J-19. Also down at Alan Baillie’s is the PLW, one of the first ever front engined FJ’s, which Barbara Woodward plans to sell.

Brabhams are hard to come by, so another new FJ recruit, Cameron Jackson is the lucky purchaser of Simon Ham’s long owned Brabham BT 2. David Noble has sold his ex-Frank Tiedeman Lotus 20, which he bought at the Goodwood auction a few years ago  to Rob Thornton, but retains his ex-Len Selby Lola Mk 5 BRJ 45. Equally any Lotus 27 is highly sought after, and Michael Hibberd has passed on his 27-JM-32 to Larry Kinch, who is looking for a matching pair, to put son, Nathan behind the wheel too.. Since then, Michael has been out in his customer, Rudolf Ernst’s Brabham BT2, but is looking for a new FJ challenge of his own for next year.

Down at MRM, Dr Mark Green’s Lotus 18-J-739 is now ready, after rebuild, for testing with the first of the MRM 5 gearbox production run of new FIA compliant Renault boxes, while Mark’s other 18, under restoration, J- 707 has been sold to Jeremy Deeley. MRM have also rebuilt two original ERSA boxes for Jeremy, one for the ex-Oskar Christen 60/13 which will be back on the track at Dijon, after a rebuild by Guy Sheppard, who has also completed Erik Justesen’s T 56 ex Dickon Daggit. MRM are refreshing Roger Woodbridge’s Ausper T4-700, with correct Renault box to replace the former FIA concession Hewland, and Roger has also bought the ex-Fabio Verin Volpini 012, while Tony Nobles’ ex Michael Ashley-Brown Volpini 011  is currently at Roaches for a new roll bar, while Michael is already racing his new toy, the ex-Bob Egginton Britannia B1/02, with BMC motor while the Peter Green/Andrew Taylor rear engined car B1/03 must be one of the best buys available. Also down in Ower, nr Romsey, Keith has delivered back the ex-Terry Ogilvie-Hardy Project X to Duncan, and his Gemini Mk II FJ/11/59 is now having its correct BMC long stroke refitted, while Stuart has set the Brands Hatch Superprix 2016 FJ Festival as the target date for the drum braked Alexis HF 302(ex-Project XR) to return to FJ racing.

It was heart-warming to see Franco Beolchi in the paddock at Monza with the B.J.C. FJ, and now another most exciting discovery is the 1962 rear engine drum braked Italian FB-Ford, now offered for sale by Mistral Motors in Verona, with old FIA papers, and period history to boot. Other drum braked cars, offering an amazingly low entry point into the Diamond Jubilee, and still for sale, include David Hall’s little blue BMC Mk 2, David Drew's RAM 04, Charles Cook’s very fast little Envoy-Ford 003, Jeremy Bouckley’s North Star Mk 1-Ford; Sue Spence’s Elva 200/10 –Ford, Phil Venables unique Australian NOTA 0038, Tim Bishop’s Zetter-DKW, the Lola Mk3’s of Joos Tollenaar (BRJ 32) and Robin Longdon (BRJ 31), and the bevy of Lynx’s at MRM, the Borgward engine car 109, and one of the BMC cars 105, all complete, and one BMC engine project 104. Justin Fleming’s Ford engined Lynx 108 has now been rescheduled for full restoration. But across in Holland there has been late interest in Gerard Van’t Hoog’s 18-J-788 which may now be in new hands, while also spotted over at Zandvoort was the reappearance of the front engine FJ Hirondelle ex Willie Blankevoort of Cees Lubbers. One that did sell, however, is the Dolphin International of Deryk Young which sold at the H and H auction to Geoff Underwood in IOW, and is now being restored by Anthony Goddard, next to his Brewery.

Ezio Repetto continues to dig out interesting cars for sale in Italy, and is now offering Alessandro Ripamonti’s ex Ed Glaister, Guido Romani front engine Yimkin-Ford  FJ, as raced at Goodwood in 2006, while incredulously, the front engine Faranda has not found a new home, nor, back home, Spencer Elton’s Elva 100 ex John Quenby, Mark Witherspoon. Shortly, another Elva 100/49A may be on offer as Tom de Gres has been very pleased with his Cooper-BMC/ERSA FJ-40-62, restored by David Abbott, and his ex-Mexico Stanguellini CS 001178, restored by Dan Setford, and realises that he can only race one at a time!!

By DCPR