Peter Clark at the Lancaster Mews gathering with John Sprinzel and PMO 200 (2005)
I have received the sad news that Peter died peacefully on Monday evening (26 Aug) at Trinity Hospice. He had celebrated his 75th birthday the day before. His friend Nick McRae, a fellow camera collector gave me the news. Funeral arrangements will follow.
Peter owned and raced S221 in the early 1960’s.
Paul Bos gave me a link to a 20 minute film at Laguna Seca in California in which Terry Cowan recently raced 96 RPE, a Sebring Sprite which once bore the licence plate PMO 200. The car appears about 4 mins in.
It seems guy Harman’s Speedwell GT 585 MY has still not found a home being now advertised in Octane magazine. (M. Wylie)
The first of 5 new aluminium Sebring bonnets being produced by Ton Blankespoor (R.Bloemen)
It appears my Feedback form has not been working for the last 2 weeks. Please contact me via email instead.
ANGOULEME CIRCUIT DES REMPARTS 2013
I understand that Ian Hulett and Clive Cocks are taking their WSM Sprites to race at Angouleme this September and will be joined by Paul Freeman with his Alexander GT. Anyone going please send me some photos.
Date for your diaries: Meet John Sprinzel at Ace Cafe in North London on Tues, Oct 8th, around 5 p.m.
London Area of the Midget & Sprite Club have invited John to the Ace Cafe on Classic Car Magazine’s Classic Car night. Gary Lazarus is hoping to get as many Sprites and Midgets there as possible, especially Sebrings. To get a good space in the car park you will need to arrive early, ideally by about 5 p.m. So let’s be having you!
The Kent group of the Midget & Sprite Club met on Sunday (Aug 25) at the Angel, Addington where there was a good turnout of both Sprites and Midgets including 3 Sebring replicas. One of them was Andy Chaffey’s newly completed Coupe looking very smart in its gun-metal grey with wire wheels and beautifully fitted out engine bay and interior. See also andychaffeyrep.
It was this road test published in The Autocar in August 1961 that initially sparked my interest in Sebring Sprites. The car is S221 as raced by Stirling Moss at Sebring a few months earlier. Blimey that’s a long time ago!
On Friday (23 Aug) I had the pleasure of meeting up with Steve Coleman and his wife, Melanie, who were staying briefly in London while on a trip to the UK from their home in Texas, USA. Steve owns the last 2 works Healey Sprites which were intended for Sebring and the Targa Florio back in 1969 but due to the British Leyland takeover those plans were scrapped and the cars sold off. Steve plans to bring the cars over in 2014 hopefully for a bit of racing but also so we can all see them 45 years after they left the UK.
Trevor McIlroy was competing at the Craigantlet hill climb on 8th August (photo: Mark Turner)
I will shortly be reviewing 2 VERY SPECIAL NEW BOOKS due for release during September and October:
John Baggott’s “Frogeye Sprite the complete story”, and John Sprinzel’s autobiography “Lucky John” so, ‘watch this space!’
David Scothorn tells me Butch Gilbert’s ’59 works Sebring car is now for sale at $135.000 (£87k) on ‘fantasyjunction.com’
David Markham reports that there is an article in the August issue of “Retro Cars” magazine on Alex Postan’s car collection which includes various picture of his Bonneville Sprite, FEY 678.
Bryn Rossiter is looking for set of 5 (painted) wire wheels which don’t need refurbishing. Can you help? Feedback
BMC hardtop sold for (how much !!!!) £1,700 (P.Lequex)
“Pat Harris’s new baby was prepared for paint last weekend at the Sprite racer and talented master painter and mechanic Brian Bedford’s workshops”
~ Pete Taylor
Pete Taylor sent me this great story (right) from the June issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car The article by Jim Donnelly details the success of the ladies’ team at Sebring in 1970
Mark Turner’s Sebring Sprite built on a Heritage shell making effectively a Sebring Mk 2 hybrid. His story of the build when he was only 18.
6699 WD
Mark’s Dad, Ian is rebuilding this lovely Sebring Mark 2 (previously owned by racer Tony Griffiths) More below
As purchased from Tony Griffiths (above).
Original Healey seat, master cylinder box & hardtop, etc
Last Sunday I drove down to the Goodwood Breakfast Club in my Gilbern GT for Thoroughbred Day and there were a couple of Sebring replicas there.
and don’t miss Charlie’s epic dice on YouTube . Add your comments to others.
The CCK Lenham GTO spotted at the Silverstone Classic
