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Race Retro 2012 – Stoneleigh – 24th – 26th February

Just back from Holland on Tuesday night after staying with Dick Van Amsterdam and both attending Ad den Teuling’s funeral at Breda – an appreciation with music, readings and racing slides – not least featuring the two Formula Junior OSCA J002 and J003 which he and Gÿs Van Beusekom brought in from the USA in 1978, the Rodney Tolhurst Elva 100/76 which Ad drove at Zolder when he and I (Alexis) battled in 1994, and his race victory in Alan Baillie’s Lotus 27 at Zandvoort on 29 Aug 1993. Alan and Robert were both there too, and Josie Cleaver (formerly Tolhurst) had also flown in from Majorca.
So even more than the usual rush to gather paperwork, old mags, flag, pack suitcase (Mair, of course!) and head for Stoneleigh – I’d previously had the idea of making the promised visit to Northampton to sort out the HTP for Ray Mallock’s FJ U2, but it was already 3pm before the radio announced a semi-closure on the M40 North of Banbury, so I diverted (albeit near Northampton!) crawling up the interminable 50 mph section of the M1 to the M45 and coming in the ‘back way’ to Stoneleigh Park via the villages. 
Our show car, the newly restored and unique Hillwood-FIAT FJ of Michael Waller was already on the stand, with Grant Wilson to join me behind the desk, before Bob Birrell arrived on Friday afternoon.  We shared the spot with Robin and Sue Longdon of “Millers Oils”, our UK sponsors, and once again we were very grateful to the HSCC for being part of their stand, in prime position on ‘speed street’, with for company, an iconic M4A McLaren F2 and a Trojan F5000 stated to be ex Alan McKechnie,  Bob Evans but which Patrick Summer did not recognise as the F5000 Trojan ex McKechnie that he had owned and raced, which went next to Dick Van Amsterdam  - for the engine.  Other FJ’s at the show were the smart Condor SII of Keith Roach sharing location with the body of one of the new replica Mercedes Benz W125 GP cars being built jointly with Crosthwaite and Gardiner; C&G themselves had the 5 speed ERSA box on show, which they are developing for the Cooper T59 FJ cars, and the anticipated 20 batch should be available at a realistic price during the year. Already in correct ERSA/BMC trim is FJ-39-62 recently in Italy with Guido Haschke, but formerly rebuilt by Grant Wilson for Kevin Steele, after being found 20 years after incarceration in a container at Privett in Hants, and later raced by Martin Sheppard - an offer in the £60-£65k region is being sought for this, new class E2, contender, by Glyn Jones from Hall and Hall;  Automotive illustrator Martin Squirres was busy doing a pen and ink of this as I passed.
There were no 500’s to be seen this year, but the F3 1000cc HRA had Andrew Thorpe’s red Lotus 31, John Counsell’s March 703 and Dr Gareth Williams’ Lotus 41.F3.12b and FJHRA member Ian Forward had a (FJ ineligible) newly built F3 chassis, carrying BT21B-1 on their stand.  BRM’s always excite, and there was a P.153 on the Vintage Racecar Journal stand, the so original Techcraft BRM, 4 originally of Peter Lawson, fitted with the engine and 4 WD from the Period 4WD BRM F1 car that Peter has used until he crashed at Rest-and-Be-Thankful on 29/06/1968 and FJ hopeful Simon Durling had Brabham BT18 V8 F2.44.66 ex Bryan Eccles on the MAC stand.
Although the car itself was not present, automobile dealer, and former 500 hillclimber, Spencer Elton had the ex-Mark Witherspoon Elva 100 on offer, which he had taken in part exchange for the very original early Tecno F3/1000 ex Malcolm Usher and raced in period by Carlo Facetti.  Interestingly Spencer recounted that he had once taken a Paramount Roadster in part exchange for some highly valuable motor car, much to father Tom Elton’s displeasure – he promised to send a copy of the receipt.
Also pictured on the wall only  - this time of the Lotus Racing parts Company KELSport of Pat Thomas was a real rarity, Lotus 32.F2.2 which had recently been unearthed in Ireland which sounded remarkably like the ex John Gilmeister F3 run from “under the arches” in West London. Stefan Weinbach was over from Germany. He will be running a 951cc BMC in Class E1 next year, in his ex-Fitzwilliam, Paul Dixon Elva 100, which features at Cadours in Dr Tony Goodwin’s new book “Doctor on the Grid” - a review of which will appear shortly, but in brief it is a gripping account written “as it was” of a long racing career inter alia in Formula Junior, F3, and B8 Chevron when motor racing was dangerous.  Many didn’t survive, and reading the book it is quite surprising that Tony was amongst those that did! Tony had signing sessions at ‘Chaters’ for his MRP publication, but was not advocating authorship of 1000 copies as a recommended way to riches – especially if you deduct a stay at the Kenilworth Holiday Inn and a night out with Carol Spagg and Ellie Birchenough of HMRN, en route.
John Styles has continually to tossup between his work for Brian Mitcham and Paul Hewes – Brian won this time, with John in tow on Friday, Brian clutching a copy of his U2 papers to show that Alan Putt had thought that U2’s used both BMC and Ford gearboxes – meantime Paul Hewes came alone on Sunday to (successfully) enjoy the pleasures of Dr Mark Green’s treadmill – as did many others during the weekend, including Bob Birrell (twice) and Mark Linstone – with an extremely unchanged and youthful looking 82 year old father Cyril in tow – having together completed the rebuild of the ex-Birrell BT6 chassis for David Methley, and now concentrating on readying the BT21 F3 that Mark has resurrected.
A number of car movements and discoveries were revealed during the show – Anders Eriksson’s ex-Horst Bruning Lola Mk5 is heading to Portugal for Historic FF driver Joao Paulo Campos Costa, Bruno Rösler’s  Joker – DKW, which so frequently burnt pistons in the 90’s FJ races in Sweden, has been sold to Patric Bjurhovd from Höör, who also owns seven F12 DKW saloons – so plenty of spares!!; the outstanding bill at Olle Linde’s workshop on the no 4 Alfa Dana FJ rear engined has been settled by Danish 500 Alfa Dana driver Thorkil Kirk Simonsen, so he has perhaps assumed ownership of the project as well.  Another new Alfa Dana, this time a 500, has moved from “Pip” Klaberg of Denmark to Poole, Dorset resident and stalwart S.W. Hillclimber John Forsyth, used to considerably more power, with the ex- Stefan Johansson F3 Chevron B47 BDA, a Mk24 Mallock-BDA, and more recently a Pilbeam MK58 with F1 DFR – however he’s a versatile chap, having trialled as well, so the little Alfa Dana should be in good hands.
New discoveries include an original Lotus 22.J with frame number 22/23 in Switzerland, originally found in poor condition in France, although now only in ‘demo’ trim, and a previously unknown Merlyn Mk3 found in Wales – literally offered up by a scrapman! This comes only a few days after the remains of the ex-Rodney Seow (Singapore) Mk5 FJ had been traced in New Zealand. Clive Hayward is going to be busy in the parts department at C.R.D!
On the subject of lost cars, the story of Michael Waller’s Kieft came up.  Around the 1980’s, Frank Tiedeman had mentioned that he had a Kieft FJ stored in a lock up in West London – by the 2000’s, he had completely forgotten about it, and I had to remind him of its existence and that it was now time for restoration – a similar story came up about Rod Tollhurst.  He did of course have many FJ’s. but he lent a Stanguellini to another driver to assist a restoration – three years later that driver said to Rod – ‘can I bring you Stanguellini back’ – what Stanguellini, said Rod?!
And of course there are always the one’s “that aren’t” – including an original Mk III U2 that Jan Nycz discovered, quite by chance, advertised in Warwickshire as a “Lotus Mk 6” in a Kit Car magazine, with Morris Minor gearbox and crossover front swing axle, and originally a Ford engine. It is now owned by Gil Corliss– but sadly not a FJ.
Duncan may not be a visionary, but he saved a great many trials cars in the 80’s, now dispersed into safe hands, Edwin/Cliff Jowsey (2 x Alexis), Dave Lecoq (Alexis and Cannon), Stuart Roach (3 x Alexis) and Dick Crosthwaite (1) but he still owns the ex Ken Humphreys Alexis 202 HOK which is heading towards Shepshed for restoration and then use by Simon Hadfield.  The new Historic Trials Association formed to bring these last road registered Trials cars back into (gentle) action had a prominent stand with RPD 4, Cannon # 8, on display, now owned by Martin Grundrod; it was owned for 40 years by John Hepenstall of Huddersfield, after its Gold Star winning days in the hands of Rex Chappell and then Eric Jackson.  Duncan once thought that one of his cars was this ‘Can-Cotton’, but a new box of, suddenly well thumbed, Trials Car photos on Ted Walker’s Ferret Photographics stand with a large selection of newly printed James Brymer prints, may now solve this longstanding conundrum, which once ended up in the Cockermouth Country court of all places!
Friday was much the busiest day at the show, especially for Formula Junior drivers, and visitors included the T59 Cooper brigade – our stars Jon Milicevic, whose wife Mary is very poorly at the moment – we all wish her well; Sam Wilson whose ex Eddie Perks, RSA, Lotus 20 which he has been working on for 4 years should be ready to replace the Cooper after Cadwell Park; Simon Armer, the Cooper still unsold,  although there have been several interested parties, including one from New Zealand: Steve Smith, making a late start this year; and George Cooper with Carol – and of course Peter Jackson planning a few expeditions with Brian Joliffe for Brian to race their T56 – as well as T67 drivers Anthony Binnington and Steve Jones, who collected the ‘spare’ 6 speed ERSA box from Barrie Baxter to fit to his car – ’74 Elden FF driver Mike Broome, cousin of Reg who had the T67 that appears at the Wiscombe Hill Climb, has recently joined as an FJHRA member, looking for a FJ, and we provided words of advice in that direction.
New Gemini MkII owner Mike Fowler drew up in the car park – right next to long time Mk II owner, David Cranage – how they got into conversation is a mystery but let’s hope David can get that Metallic blue car out again after its sole appearance at Mallory Park now many years ago.  But Tony Pearson, at least, is making progress with his, while ‘Dad’s Bandini is waiting an engine from Peter Lander at Sigma Engineering – in between all those Jaguar Motors that Peter has been building for E-Types – and a service on Duncan’s Arnott which is still there awaiting collection – no it wasn’t overheating: the temperature gauge is calibrated in Fahrenheit not centigrade!!!
The Swedish were all there to pay their 500 F3 dues - Per Hågman, Olle Linde, Rickard With amongst others, while regular show attendees, Åke Axelsson and Leif Norberg were also over for the F3 1000 dinner on Saturday night at the Holiday Inn, Stratford-on-Avon, as was period F3 driver Ferdinand Gustafson, to collect his Trophy.  With two stand alone races this year, at Cadwell Park and Croft, a shared grid at Spa in June (with HFF’s) and an HSCC supported race at October Dijon, the group were in good heart, and the three separate groups; Keith Messer’s 1000cc F3HRA, Historic F3 1000 Europe, and HSCC CRC largely steering in the same direction. A number of other continentals came over for the function and it was good to see our friends Christoph Widmer, Robert Retzlaff (BT15’s); Klaus Bergs with his wife (BT28); Swiss dentist Jurg Tobler (B17); Rudi Fischer (Tecno); and led by Francois Derossi (B17) all receiving awards.  Ex –F3 racer Barrie Williams gave a few words and we were expecting a chap on the top table with dickie bow and all to be the star turn of the evening – but he turned out to be an old friend of Keith, who hadn’t studied the dress code! There was a vociferous showing from the Southern contingent of FJ cum F3 racers, Tizzard, Chapman and Methley, and a quieter table for Alexis HF802 owner Ian Bankhurst and his team, while it was good to see Nigel Miller back on duty, and Steve Wilkinson, though no major Trophies this year  - saddest news was that Trevor Messet (Chevron B9 & BT21) had lost his battle with illness earlier in the month.
With the first team still recovering from Reims, Team Bond sent their reserves to Stoneleigh. Gil Duffy looking forward to sweeping up Class B1, and David Cross still awaiting delivery of his books on race car transportation – One of only 3 copies to escape the publisher’s dispute got rave reviews in Classic and Sports Car: for the anoraks, the Scampolo is in fact a Monopoletta!
Front engined Elva’s were well represented by Justin Fleming and John Arnold, Robin Lackford, and Peter Jones – the ex Peter St Barbe car now due out with nephew Simon ahead of the ex-John Truslove DKW version, while we also saw Bill Grimshaw (Moorland), Richard Pugh (‘Stanley’ the green Stanguellini) and Kevin Musson, (working all night on the front engined Dolphin (UK) – Ford), from the front engined brigade.
Tony Steele and Ann spent a day on the stand – with the tragic accident involving Merrick Taylor, Kieft and Taraschi plans are on hold so the Lola is being readied, now Tony has finished researching information for Duncan’s new book on Historic 500cc F3, and the next early HFJ volumes: not many drivers still racing have a Historic career back to the ‘70’s (except Alan Baillie of course!), so his records and scrapbooks have proved invaluable.  Merrick’s private family funeral was to be on Friday, and the memorial service will be on 7th June at Coventry Cathedral.
Thursday evening was spent with Francesco Santos at the ‘Italian’ in Kenilworth. Following a breakdown of relations with the Algarve Circuit, the end of season meeting ‘in the sun’ may now be at Estoril instead – with the same free hotel and other goodies retained from the previous Algarve package. Carol Spagg and Ellie were present from HMRN and Duncan Wiltshire for MRL; they are reviewing the situation.  Historic racers Malcolm Verey and Eamon Ledwidge were there too – I suppose to make up numbers (HGPCA are going to Imola): we all went Dutch - 24 hours later and the Masters dinner prizegiving was an altogether grander affair at the Mallory Court Hotel. Not much crossover with FJ, only Stefano Rosina (Moretti Branca), Geoff Richardson, and Chris Fox (actually working on restoration of Stefan Kringler’s two Lola Mk3’s, and hoping to drive one of them himself), apart from prize winners Michael Schryver and Simon Hadfield. Rachel Bailey of Masters was very friendly – we talked about Barcelona Historic in 2013 (Barcelona has been getting the ‘most enjoyable’ ratings for its 2011 Historic Event, even if numbers were low) and May Brands next year too, for the FJ’s.
More drivers came by Saturday as we had seen Jack and Mark Woodhouse (Elva 100 & Lotus 22), Jon Gross (Envoy) – Peter Green and Son-in-law Andrew Taylor; The Cooper T56 going slower than expected so maybe not out until Oulton Park, but the Envoy now sold to Charles Cook, who is looking at another Envoy or Merlyn for a prospective team mate;  former Lotus 18 and Gemini II owner Daan de Smedt, still interested in FJ – Mike Ketcher and John Perry, who is restoring Mike’s 18 and hoping for a drive – Kevin Whittle, also Lotus 18 owner, joined me at the HLR Registrar’s meeting: not a very happy unit, with clashing personalities and disarray in both finances, and membership records; Kevin has too many projects and would consider parting with the 18; Peter Hardiman and I left the meeting early.
Peter Denty has had a sever dose of flu and missed the show, but ‘works’ driver Jeremy Bouckley, who shared a stand with North Star FJ owner, Martin Cowell, is hoping that he will be on the track for 3 races this year, albeit delayed – as has been the Nike, not just because the BMC failed its test pre delivery from Tony Steele – hopefully the problem will be resolved shortly.
 Westie Mitchell was still smiling about the De Tomaso ’63 FJ although unlikely to be race ready before the end of the season, while I reacquainted himself with his Dad, who had raced a Trevellick 500 before trading this in to Kieft Sports Car Co, then owned by a youthful Merrick Taylor, and acquiring a Cooper instead.  Marcel Spiess was also there from Switzerland, as were Urban Fassler and Johannes Kistler, well satisfied with selling most of his goodies on his stand before Saturday evening: he is still preparing his BWA F3 1000 - come evening, Brian Urlwin came to photograph the Hillwood and take the photos back to Norman, who has already been to see it at Michael Waller’s.  The tears in his eyes reflected the excitement: Norman hopes to be there to see it running at the HGPCA test day in April. And there were many other visitors to the stand, and lots more snippets, but for another day…!
Sunday was even quieter – Bob Birrell did a sterling job to hold the fort with Duncan, who headed home after ‘tea’ with a trip to Yorkshire ahead the following day.
We enjoyed the show, and it had been a useful “beginning of term” for 2012.  Thanks to our helpers, to Michael Waller for loan of his Hillwood, and to “Millers Oils” and especially to Grahame White and Alan Jones of HSCC for their company and for letting us share their stand again.
DCPR