With the promise of some 1,200 Sprites and Midgets coming together for a grand party to celebrate their 50 years, it needed to be a fine day, and amazingly, fine it was. Although the former airfield site of the National Motor Museum tended to be quite breezy, at least the sun shone as the first of the little sports-cars arrived. We were there soon after 8.30 and at least a hundred were already in attendance. In ones, twos, fives etc, they continued to stream in for much of the day until the whole paved area was covered, after which they parked up each side of the entrance drive and on grassland overlooking the main arena. I noticed a neat little line of mainly Frogeyes with their steering wheels on the ‘wrong’ side, these being the French contingent of Amicale Spridget. The historic cars were lined up, much as at Goodwood with a few extras including Bill McDonough’s Speedwell GT, and Dave Groves’ “saloon” awaiting restoration. Sadly the Jacobs and Milne Midgets didn’t show but there were plenty of other interesting machines to ogle. There were a number of the Italian Innocenti Sprites, a couple of cars fitted with Williams & Pritchards hardtops and E-type style bonnets, looking very like Ashleys, Brian Wheeler’s ‘ute’, and a good collection of competition Spridgets, one of which had its motor removed and re-installed in record time as a fund-raising exercise. There were an assortments of trade tents, and the museum to see, talks were given by Sprite celebs, and the Concours and Pride of Ownership were being judged. I didn’t manage to take quite as many photos as I would have liked so if anyone has some different ones I may use, they would be gratefully received – contact me via the feedback and I will give you an email address. What a fantastic turnout of Sprites and what a great venue. Many thanks to all those who contributed to this very special day.
Richard Wiffin’s re-creation
1000 and more
Birthday cake
John Rhodes and
Christabel Carlisle
1200 Spridgets gather
Dave Groves’ Sprite “Saloon”
The very attractive Lenham GT of Ton Blankespoor which he races and rallies regularly in Holland
Spridget with Williams & Pritchard bonnet and hardtop
Alex ~& Jane Postan’s rally car
Brian Wheeler’s “ute”
Kai Eriksen’s S221Sebring rep
The Visser brothers with their Speedwell/Ashley Sprite
Bill McDonough’s ex-Peter Preston Speedwell GT
Historic Sprinzel Coupé line-up
Stephen Bowen with WJB
Lenham bonneted Sprite
Sebring Sprite replicas of Mike Sutton, Nick Waller, Alan Anstead and Roger Byford
My own replica, JJO
The Italian Innocenti Sprites – Coupe and Spider
Many thanks to Michael Meerlo, Mike Sutton, Barry Lowe and Gary Lazarus for contributing to this photo page.
Competition Sprite
Link to Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird’s pictures
completes the picture