WJJ 998
Bill Postins has now sold this Sebring Replica and it has been purchased by Stephen Birch.
TZA 238
A new web page about the Alec/Arnie Poole & James/Edward Thacker one-eyed Sprite
DAVID MORYS’S PICS FROM PRESCOTT 23/24TH MAY
Sebring, I believe, of Les Proctor of Cleckheaton.
The immaculately restored ex=Alec Poole Sprite in the hands of its owner James Thacker
Pat Cooper’s Ashley-bonneted Frogeye
MILL GARAGE & DICK JACOBS
Hi Martin, I’ve just seen the mention of the Mill Garage in Woodford which brought back a lot of memories, as I only lived about 2 miles away. This was my local BMC dealer and although I didn’t own a sports car myself at the time my Morris Minor 1000 had all the ‘Sprite bits’, so regular visits ensued. Anyway I thought this page from a book titled ‘Woodford then and now’ might be of interest. The photo at the bottom is as it is now, taken from roughly the same spot. Regards Pat Harris.
Doug Wilson Spratt, David Seigle Morris, John Sprinzel, Ian Walker, Paul Hawkins,Chris Williams and Peter Jackson.
[6 Hour Relay]
FROM JOHN SPRINZEL IN HAWAII
“Loved the video of Bolster and Salvadori at Silverstone. Back then it really was a scary circuit in that it was very fast, especially Woodcote, Club and Stowe. Those little cement block “walls” were very dangerous indeed and quite a few of my racing pals touched them with their saloon cars and somersaulted as a result. Spectators and photographers stood inches away from the track and especially at Woodcote, where just a shallow beam separated parked racegoers cars from the track. All wonderful fun though.
The Sebring Sprite team did quite well there in the six hour relay”
John a year or two earlier corners his red A35 while leading one of the Jags – probably Tommy Sopwith. Note the cement block ‘walls’
FROM JOE ARMOUR IN AUSTRALIA
come these photos of Sebring in 1959 including an aerial photo of the circuit. Joe has also sebt this link to a video of racing at Sebring in the 1950’s – well worth a watch.
WANTED
Frogeye Hardtop
Contact: Tony by email
NEW SHORROCK PARTS from Keith Luck (see his ad on right) include this Carb pipe on ebay at £80
An atmospheric shot of one of the 2 Dick Jacobs Midgets taken at Mill Garage in 1962
[from the Revs Library]
Hi Martin, What a lovely picture, I’ve never seen it before, looks like Dick at the wheel. Having bought my first MG in 1971, a Mineral Blue Midget registration XYK 824G and being an Essex resident, the Mill Garage became my first stop for spares etc. Seeing this picture was a real memory jerker, for the forecourt and buildings remained unaltered until being demolished in 1975 to make way for the M11. By that time I’d met Dick a couple of times, and had been shown all around the place, and all the racing stuff he’d collected over years and kept in the office. Great times, thanks Martin. Cheers Den(nis Wharf)
David Scothorn has acquired this 5″ ‘works’ Smiths rev counter which he would like to renovate. It is missing its’ ‘tell tale’ and drive cable. Where would he find these parts? Is it fitted on another car as a production part? Before touching it he wonders if anyone might know the source of more info, model number, technical drawing, etc.
Feedback please
There is a drilling (to the left of the right hand buttress) for a cable insert, which would set, or possibly return a red hand to zero.. and a shank over the pivot of the white hand.
Pete Taylor sent in this photo of his 3 ‘AEA649’ FJ cams each with drive gear for the scavenge pump of an XSP engine.
INFORMATION PLEASE!
Sven Eckhardt wonders if anyone knows anything of his car’s history perhaps in rallying. See TRV 202
Feedback
THE EX-WORKS HUGH SUTHERLAND 1959 SEBRING SPRITE
was spotted last weekend, by Mike Pope and friends at the Chiltern Hills Rally in Aylesbury. It now sports the registration number UWD 97. The owner was listed as H.Morgan of Hertford who has apparently acquired the car (formerly owned by Butch Gilbert in the USA) as an investment.
SHORROCK SUPERCHARGERS
A newly acquired document originally circulated by the Allard Motor Co describing the various installations then available together with technical information.
[Click on image]
More on XSP engines and their camshafts, from Mike Wylie in Northern Ireland.
See: “Your Comments”
1959 AUSTIN-HEALEY FROGEYE SPRITE FOR SALE – £11,500 ono
Rebuilt from a bare shell, including its mechanicals, with new interior, a 999cc half race engine with 45 Weber (possibly Formula Junior spec), front disc brakes, uprated rebuilt shockers, new tyres, etc… Less than 50 miles since rebuild. All steel body, areas of the paint preparation could be improved and the previous owner grazed the offside rear wing – with a flat, buff and small areas of respray, it could be transformed to best show condition.
Interested parties please contact David Nutland on 01202 474890 or email
Above are some photos which were missing from the Sven Eckhardt/Stan Annis correspondence in “Your Comments”
Pete & Paul Taylor have had these brake levers Laser-cut for the 8″ Girling rear brakes £25 pair. Contact Pete
This original Healey wheel came up recently on ebay and Pete Taylor narrowly missed it at US$ 122.50
A copy of John Sprinzel’s “Modified Motoring” on ebay – expires 1st June, currently at £12.99
A slightly tatty Sprinzel badge on ebay – expires 19 May – currently at £10.50
(not actually rare, as new ones are still available)
CYRIL SIMSON
Chris Clegg, current owner of S221 says: “Thanks for the sad news. I’m so glad that he was able to join us at Goodwood a few years ago where he seemed to be so pleased to meet up again with some of his old racing friends. He said to me at the time that the two years when he raced S221 were the two most enjoyable years of his life”.
[Pictured right, Cyril talking to Chris at Goodwood, 2006]
Sven talks to Stan Annis, original owner/rally driver of 4444 DA which he recently acquired from Paul Webb and plans to restore. “Your Comments” 20 Mar to 8 Apr
CYRIL SIMSON
“Very sad to report that Cyril Simson has died. One of the original Sebring Sprite racers, and long time friend, the photo is from Sebring, with Paul Hawkins, John Hill and I after the twelve hour race. RIP“
John Sprinzel
Hawkins, Sprinzel, Simson & Hill
Following on from my Brands Hatch report Pete Taylor says: “Brian Bedford was the driver who spun his Sprite at Paddock; Andrew Actman arrived at the scene after the spin that was due to oil on the track; others also had problems with this. Complaints were made to the clerk of the course. Brian’s car was badly damaged on the driver’s side rear, the accident sufficient to damage the rear axle. The complete rear end body may need replacement, possibly space framing may be the best answer. An unfortunate racing incident due to someone’s oil leak”.
MGCC Brands Hatch race meeting 2/3 MAY 2015
Both the Equipe GTS & the Sprite-Midget Challenge had rounds on both Saturday and Sunday in rather mixed weather conditions. Paddock Hill Bend was especially slippery and in Saturday’s race another car spun in front of Andy Actman’s Sebring causing extensive damage. Fortunately Andy was unhurt, the other driver having a minor leg injury. A variety of bonnets are now in use. which makes the racing more interesting. [Sat photos: John Egan]
Ian Hulett – WSM Sprite was plagued by a slipping clutch
Tony Wilson-Spratt’s WSM MGB looked great
Sunday’s Spridget race was for the STEVE EVERITT MEMORIAL TROPHY won this year by Martin Morris
![[Sun photos: Dennis Wharf]](/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/MGCC_BH15_ApprDruids-L.jpg)
JONATHAN’s XSP ENGINE
Read the correspondence with Colin Barnett on “Your Comments”
Kirk Green has 3 s/h Bentley rear lights if anyone should want to fit them to a modified Sebring coupe (as on Jack Wheeler’s car). Feedback
FROM JONATHAN WHITEHOUSE-BIRD (with photos above) re: PMO 200
“Great to see the press cutting of Paul, Tom and myself inspecting the very sad looking remains of PMO 200 all those years ago. There really was very little that had survived and Paul didn’t get a lot for his £15K. In contrast, I paid £100 for the wreck of EAO in 1990. The only way we were able to positively identify PMO on that day was because the original Enots quick release fuel filler cap, with it’s added bracket for sealing the tank during the race at Sebring, had survived with the car; the surviving front section (mainly the windscreen area) of the W&P coupe top also retained the two small holes, above the windscreen wiper bezels, where the windscreen washer jets (a feature unique to Sprinzel’s own W&P coupe) had once been fitted. Beyond that the bodyshell was so badly cut-up, altered or damaged to make any other detective work futile. As can be seen by the attached photos, of which I have plenty more, someone had re-attached the steel rear end from a scrap Frogeye and tried to blend the later 60s fastback alloy top to them.By the time the car reached the auction room the ‘remains’ of the alloy roof seen here, had somehow been completely flattened level with the scuttle – don’t ask! “
Robert Clubbe is offering this Lenham bonnet on ebay. SOLD at £100 – Tues 5 May
This aluminium mounting plate for a Shorrock supercharger is on ebay at £25.50 (Buy it Now) but is an alli version strong enough?
