Race Retro – International Historic Motorsport Show 2013

FJHRA [with flag flying, after it had been retrieved from Wimbledon at hour zero in a late night dash by the ever kind and helpful, Mike Hedger] were once again sharing the main arena stand kindly courtesy of the HSCC, with Alan Jones and Grahame White in regular attendance. This year Formula Junior was represented by Andrew Tart’s class winning Bond FJ2 with plastic monocoque (3 years before the Lotus 27) and frontwheel drive, owned by period driver Jon Goddard-Watts. With bonnet off the Bond attracted large crowds, including many excited engineers of a certain age scratching their heads!! Andrew, with Lyn, Gil Duffy and Jon and Jenny were all there to answer queries. Also on show, elsewhere, were Andrew Hibberd’s Lotus 22 on the BTB exhausts stand, Robin Longdon’s Lola Mk2, with Robin, on the Millers Oils stand, Jeremy Bouckley’s Smith F2 on the Shenton and District Motor club “Curborough” display, Sean Mooney’s mystery F4 behind our stand, while the F3 1000cc HRA displayed the Roach’s newly restored Cooper-Ford T83 F3-1-66, Mark Witherspoon’s early Tecno T 00204 [both up for sale] and new Crossle Cars (and Condor S1 FJ) owner, Paul McMorran’s Crossle 17F, Paul also having an adjoining Crossle Cars stand with Arnie Black (with Mary) prominent in attendance.

Other places of particular FJ interest were Crosthwaite and Gardiner with parts for the new ERSA 5-speed gearbox, suitable for the T59 FJ Coopers; and Ted Walker’s Ferret Fotographics with a mass of early FJ photographs, including some for Colin Nursey of the ex-Chris Summers Lotus 18 # 910, recently acquired from Mark Green.
Star visitors were undoubtedly the returnees from the NZ series, positively glowing, not only from the sun, but from the fun of racing Downunder.  Sue and Paul Smeeth (Lotus 22), Peter Anstiss (Lotus 20/22), the aforesaid Robin (with Sue) Longdon (whose Mk3 Lola is progressing well, the special Mk1 Hewland gearbox, peculiar to this car, being the last major task), and Col Bob Birrell, who had held it all together. Also John and Kitty Chisholm, poor John nursing his injured left hand from a kitchen accident in Australia, but hoping to be back, at least in his Arnott 500, by mid season.

Many FJ drivers called to greet us and collect magazines from Sarah, over from Lithuania for 2 days, and Duncan and Grant (with Penny).  Noted visitors included Martin Aubert from Spain (who had recently bought the Peter Denty Lotus 20)  - and Peter and James Denty themselves, as busy as ever; Reijo Heurlin (Elhoo and RV Special) from Finland; Andy Prill (Lotus 20/22); Jac Nelleman [Volpini and Alfa Dana FJs] with poster and brochures about the street race in Copenhagen, which he is organizing for the front engine FJs – lots of interest there, for Copenhagen with its waterways, and “ Die Lorelei “ and Tivoli Gardens is an A1 tourist destination, and the relocating of the circuit will give Colonel “Bob” another scalp to add to his Circuit total.

John Harper, FJ racer in the 80s popped by, he and ex FJ Lotus 20 owner Brian Horwood having both been stood down from the HGPCA board, on the new 8 year rule. John and Sarah Hutchison have added the second of Karl Heinz-Wagner’s Envoy Mk 1s to their Lotus 18, with son John Jnr, the ex AMOC Comps secretary being destined to complete the restoration during his Summer break from the ski slopes. Eric Perrin, who seems to ferret out all the slumbent FJs in Switzerland was over for the HLR meeting - which Duncan attended as Lotus 18, 20,22 , and 27 Registrar, with Lotus 18 owner, Kevin Whittle, as i/c of the later  small bore monocoques– the meeting, pleasingly, less fractious this year. Another Lotus 18 owner, Mike Ketcher, hopes for restoration progress this year, confirmed by his restorer, John Piercy.

Plenty of people expressed a future interest in FJ cars, from Allard OC stalwart, James Smith ; F5000 (and past HFO) owner, Mike Whatley; ex FJ [in Canada], ex Alta-Jaguar [in Kenya] and recently GT40 racer, Chris Ball’s son Nick to John Forsyth, who used to own an Alexis Trials car in period, and has recently imported an Alfa Dana F3/500, while Jerry Thurston is looking for an early Alexis F Ford for restoration to graduate young son Ed from Karts. Already well ensconced in FJ, and watching the public admire his Lotus 25 on centre Display at the Exhibition Entrance for the 50th anniversary of the marque’s first World Championship title, one of last year’s FJ revelations, Nick Fennell is  flirting with the idea of getting one of the Len Terry designed Terrier T4s into his stable. We were able to distribute a few of Mark Green’s flyers for the four Lynx FJs, recently imported from Australia while Mark worked round the clock all weekend servicing driver’s medical requirements, while another car in people’s minds is the ex Malcolm Cook ex Jim Kennedy Lotus 20 that William I’Anson has for sale, having exchanged his SCA engine BT 10 which Grant Wilson restored, with Malcolm. Spencer Elton’s Automobilia had upgraded to Hall 1, and there is interest in his beautiful ex-Mark Witherspoon Elva 100.

Evening activities included the usual Indian in Kenilworth, joined by the new FJHNA team of Nick Grewal and Joseph DeLucia – six stand alone races in USA now arranged, including an October grid for 45 FJs at the Circuit of the Americas, Austin ,Texas, and of course, Murray Smith’s Lime Rock Festival. Friday was the F3 1000 HRA Dinner organized by Michael Hedger and Keith Messer in a splendid Stately Home [ex Prep school!!], Wroxall Abbey Estate. Quite low key this year, with no prizegiving, but Period drivers included Mike Walker and Dave Berry, and overseas visitors, Francois Derossi from France, Klaus Bergs from Germany  and Leif Bosson from Sweden ;Simon Armer, now March 703 equipped was also there with Cathryn, and Brian Mitcham, in motorized wheel chair, and Vanessa, with Mike Hedger. Johannes Kistler was at the Show, [but not the dinner] looking forward to returning to F3 in his Tecno, and trying to identify a mystery single seater chassis that he has uncovered in the Swiss mountains. Saturday night, with Sarah back to Lithuania and Grant heading home, saw Duncan catching up with MSA’s John Symes [busy with Rod Parkin and Robert Ellis answering licence and HTP queries on the MSA stand] and sampling Malaysian cuisine in Kenilworth.

Visitor numbers seemed to be well up this year, unless it was more people sheltering from the cold!! Sunday, especially, was busy all day , while in previous years it has been almost deserted. No Masters stand this year, but 750 MC still in place, and HGPCA and VSCC shared their usual spot, opposite Carol Spagg with U2TC, Richard Culverhouse was back from Florida, with CSCC, and plans a major Historic event at Daytona in 2014, to include US FJs. Buoyant for 2013 was the Historic Trials Car Register with David Baldock’s Cannon  ex Rex Chappell XXB 680 and Martyn’s prototype Lotus Mk 6 Trials car HEL 46 on display. They are anxious for more Alexis HF IIIs to appear.

A good show… Now on to the racing in only THREE weeks... HSCC Donington Park...

DCPR