On Sunday 18th October a group of people including Bev Bond, Barrie Williams and myself joined Roger Keele and his family.  Roger is unable to get about these days due to illness so a plan was hatched to gather at his nursing home for refreshments and to indulge in a trip down memory lane.

Roger started by driving Karts made by his father – Keele Karts.  He was a talented driver who went on to motor racing in F4, F3 and would surely have gone much further had he not been diagnosed with MS.

Roger drove a Brabham BT21 at one point and the current owner, Alasdair Pike, transported the car to Buckinghamshire to join in the event.  The car was a great talking point and many stories were exchanged about the good old days.

A good time was had by all and Roger seemed touched by all the attention.

Photo attached shows (Left to Right) Barrie Williams, Bev Bond, Tony Keele, Dick Tarrant (mechanic to Stirling Moss), Alasdair Pike and Roger Keele.

Below is Bev Bonds' article on the reunion.

Michael Hedger

Back in Time

On the weekend of October 17th and 18th I was transported back in time when I was a guest of the HSCC at a cold and bleak Silverstone.  On the Sunday I went to visit an old friend from forty plus years ago, Roger Keele.  Roger and I used to race Karts and were known as the Bultaco boys.  His father made the Karts he raced and Sir Stirling Moss was a partner in Keele Karts.

Roger started motor racing in 1967 with a car made by his father, called the Matador, in formula 4.

1968 his father, Mike Keele, rebuilt a Cooper T83 owned by Alan Mckechnie which Roger raced in Formula 3.  He broke the lap record at Cadwell Park with this car and had frequent good results.

1969 Roger raced in Dr Joe Ehrlich’s EMC formula 3 car to good effect and also raced in formula ford.

1970 he raced the works development Palliser WDB3.Another season where he was a man to be watched with 2nd place at Castle Coombe and 4th place at the Gold cup meeting at Oulton Park.

1971 Roger raced a Formula ford Crossle.

1972 he raced for a team called Trabisco Kee back in Formula 3 with a Lotus 69 and Barrie Maskell as his No 1 and team mate.  At Monaco Barrie stuffed the car in practice and so Roger did not race and Barrie went off with that car as well.  The team folded shortly after.

1973 Roger did a few races for Alan Mckechnie in a March 723/4 and in 1974 his last race was at Mallory Park also driving a March 723 and then retired after having been diagnosed with a debilitating illness which prevented him from achieving his dream.

Roger was one of those racing drivers who had the talent but never really got the breaks or was in the right place at the right time.  I believe that with the right backing and luck and had he not had this illness he would have achieved his dreams of Formula 1.

Sunday was a great day meeting Roger and the family and friends after all those years and the attendance of Whizzo and other drivers relating stories from the past and a big thank you must go to Alasdair Pike for transporting his race car all the way from London for Roger especially as it was the car that Roger raced in 1969.  Roger seemed to have enjoyed himself and I am sure that all the enthusiasts for the Formula three screamers will remember Roger and wish him all the best.

Bev Bond