The Roaring Season

I'm picking these out in alphabetical order in bunches, just in case there is no real logic to the posts, then they sort themselves out in date order.

1956 - Mallory (dad's pic).

1966 Mallory - Lola - either Denny Hulme or Syd Taylor having a bit of an issue with the hairpin. Lotus 30 - note the colour differences between Ilford film (above) and Kodak. I stuck to Kodak from then on and Ilford for B & W. 1970 - Scraggs Lola special

If it was the 11th of April '66 then it was Sidney Taylor.

Denny was at Goodwood. Both finished second

Correct Michael. This is a link to the entry list and result - race 1. I suppose I should have checked, especially as I'd scanned it and it is on my own website.

http://www.monza.org.nz/UK_entries/mallory2/166_0411_01%20Mallory.jpg

1970 - Brian Martin with his Martin.

"The driver/constructor himself had bought his first car – an MG TA – at the age of 18. He used it for sprint events but wanted more power so installed a Ford 105E engine with which he began circuit racing in 1962. His MG-Ford hybrid became known as the Martin BM1. His replacement BM2 was a Lotus 7 modified with independent rear suspension and a Diva body, while the BM3 featured a Martin-designed body on that same chassis. The Martin BM4 was a 1967 GT car, BM5 a 1968 GT Coupé powered by a 1500cc pushrod Ford engine (later a twin-cam), while BM6 was the 1969 GT Coupé with 2-litre BMW engine and Hewland FT200 transaxle, and the BM7 originally its open sports-prototype replacement for 1970."

Nicely turned out. He came from Essex way then moved to Wakefield Yorkshire. Above from a Bonham's blurb on the attractive Martin GT which was up for sale. 1973 Racing Car Show Lola 1978 NSSCC Sprint at Donington. Used to hate the scrutineering queue. 1980 - Lotus 30

Chapman conquered F1, F2, F3, Junior, FF for a bit, Indianapolis, small engine sports cars (i.e. up to circa 2.5 litres), the Tasman series and of course contributed to the iconic Lotus-Cortina. There will be other things I haven't mentioned as well.

But 'big' engined sports cars eluded him. The Lotus 30/40 (I will refrain from the normal quoting of R.Ginther - if indeed it was him) wasn't even attractive so arguably had nothing really going for it.

Funnily enough, because it wasn't dominant, I always had a bit of a soft spot for the Lotus 30. Considering it wasn't successful in period, good to see a few racing now.

Tiff Needell gave this one a good run in 2016. (Picture taken in practice) ...but the race was on a wet track. 2018 was dry - thank goodness.

2002 - Lola-MG 2009

2016 - Merlyn Lister Bristol Elva

2016 - Love this car! And some people think that we'll be attracted to seeing Sing Song, Ford and Holden utes? Crossle 2018

"And some people think that we'll be attracted to seeing Sing Song, Ford and Holden utes?"

Wouldn't it be great if we could have meetings that comprised HMC, HSC, Historic Sports Sedans, Pre 65's, Central Muscle Cars, F5000 etc.
Unfortunately I find myself going to fewer events these days because I don't want to spent a whole day at the track when there's really only one class I want to watch.
It probably doesn't matter so much if you are a competitor, but if you're a spectator like me, you want to watch what interests you, and not some boring classes that hold absolutely no interest for you at all.

Generally agree Nigel. However, look at the average grid sizes for some of those classes (I did say average) and unfortunately, since the original Festivals, there haven't been too many meetings a year with a decent turnout. In fact, most of the grids at some of the Festivals were also rather small.

Some drivers are now only doing 4 or 5 meetings a year and some of them are being spread around the country. The days of racing most weekends are long gone, and that also means for spectators.

I have no idea of what it now costs to put on a meeting at HD for example, but way back when I was organising, we needed a $12,000 income to break even, from six classes. Costs have rocketed since then - plus driver costs (CoD has jumped to $350!) so grids are not going to improve anytime soon.

That is why I now try and get to the Goodwood Revival every two years. To see a range of cars I like - and most, we never see down here anyway - and that also goes for many in the pre 1966 car park. Many real rarities to be found there.

Pics disappeared...

1971 - Brands Hatch - the one time I visited other than the driving experience in a single seater. 1973 - Racing Car Show. For several years, this was a fixture on my calendar. A train from Nottingham to London then the excellent underground to BP House (That is Baden-Powell). The RCS was staged at Olympia and I usually returned even more skint than usual having visited the Chater's Bookshop stand. Maybe a Racing Car Show in NZ during our Winter would be a goer? 1988 - Chapparal, Donington paddock.

shame you could not spend more time at brands hatch. i reckon it was one of the best tracks in the uk. the long track that is, the short track is very visible and technical for drivers, but the long track has it all.

Like any long track that disappears into the woods, better for drivers than spectators - unless televised that is. But agree, the Brands long track looks interesting.

I'd like to revisit Cadwell Park now I have a camera with a longer lens. In some respects, an even better track than Brands.

1996 - Goodwood FoS 2000

Ray,
Do you remember seeing a dapper looking chap with long hair, wearing "bell-bottom" trousers at Earls Court ?
One day we will meet somewhere. ( Ken H )


1973 - Racing Car Show. For several years, this was a fixture on my calendar. A train from Nottingham to London then the excellent underground to BP House (That is Baden-Powell). The RCS was staged at Olympia and I usually returned even more skint than usual having visited the Chater's Bookshop stand. Maybe a Racing Car Show in NZ during our Winter would be a goer?
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From a December 1973 Autosport ad.
(If only ...!)
Ray,
I think this is the same Porsche 917-10 (AAW) that you photographed at the show.
(Ken H)

khyndart in CA wrote:Ray, Do you remember seeing a dapper looking chap with long hair, wearing "bell-bottom" trousers at Earls Court ?

Sorry Ken - but it was Olympia! Was it you who bumped into me and spilt my coffee???? Sorry, I didn't keep a diary from 1970 to 1990, so just kidding.
Yes, I'm sure we'll catch up one day. I still have my fingers crossed about Goodwood Revival this year, but they keep evading my query "If we are unable to fly because of restrictions, either here or USA/GB, but the meeting still goes ahead, or is shifted to a new date, do we get 100% refund on the ticket?"

Goodwood Festival of Speed, it was always so difficult to get track photos of the cars so the majority are static shots.
2002 I used to love to draw this car as that shark nose was so distinctive. 2004

2004 2009 2012 - Museo Ferrari. Road registered in the UK (not David Piper's usual bright green) so can you imagine rocking up to a Tesco Supermarket in that?

Nice black Super Snipe of 2009 ...that my favourite