Both Ken Grasing and Sven Eckhardt took their Sprites to this international event back in the summer
Sven with John Chatham
John Chatham and son
Above: photos of 7140 RO Speedwell GT newly restored by Sven Eckhardt.
KEN GRASING reports: ” Yes, we’ll send pictures. We don’t have so many photos of the Healey’s, but quite a few of the truly amazing roads. In and out of Geiranger by either road required traverse of quite steep terrain, including a nice series of linked switchbacks. Sven had a good time running up and down the grades in the Speedwell GT! The actual altitude gain/loss from sea level to highest point was only 1500meter +/-, but the gradient was quite severe, running marked 8,9 and 10% grades. Many on the scenic sections on the higher sectors were 1 or 1-1/2 width tracks in alpine or semi arctic environments or climes, again spectacular.
John Chatham attended, with son, as did Bill Rawles. Clive Baker, Peter Healey et al made up conference forum one day. One of the big Healey’s in our USA group had a coil failure descending the steeper sections of the Trollstigen and was quite happy to have Bill Rawles assist in getting the car back on the road. The driver is now adamant the car has never run better!”
AND FROM SVEN ECKHARDT whose photos are above: “Some footage of the Norwegian Meeting.
Some minor teething problems – other than that RO got me around as well as home. Yes it is John Chatham. Sprite folklore has it that Bill Graham beat him to pole position at Silverstone I think in 1965 driving RO. John beat him in the race because the engine went off song after 3 or 4 rounds. So it say in John Baggots’ book and so Bill Graham told me”.
