Anyone need a pair of Armstrong adjustable rear shock absorbers ~ you’ll need a deep wallet!
£1200
[Sent in by PeteTaylor]
Big turnout of Sebring replicas at the Silverstone Classic Brian Archer would have been immensely proud to see 11 of his Sprinzel Sebring Replicas among a gathering of Sprites and Midgets in the M&SC area on Saturday. They were all beautifully turned out and appropriately were accompanied by WJB 707 from which the coupes were copied. They were joined by the Clegg family racing team of S221 and 184 FGJ just in time for the cutting of the cake to celebrate 20 years since the first Replica was built. As if aware of this important moment two Spitfires streaked across the SKY overhead. Full report and many photos to follow later this week.
Some of our cars on display
S221 and 184 FGJ arrived on cue from the race paddock
Andrew Forster and Martin Ingall cut the cake
[photo: Pierre Lequeux]
The cars prepare for a parade lap of the circuit in the early evening ~ which was unfortunately rained off
[photo: Mark Turner]
I will be preparing a full web page of photos with the story of our weekend at Silverstone ~ over the next few days
I was intrigued by Mike Youles’ use of the number JT 51 on his racing Fastback and he tells me: “My first ever drive in the supercharged Coupe I built for my daughter entailed a visit to ‘The Victory’ public house at Staplefield in Sussex to watch the veteran car run. Whilst parked there, a gentleman was taking particular interest in the car. When I approached him, he introduced himself as Peter Clarke and explained he had raced Sebrings in period including S221 for which, after he rolled it, he commissioned the first Peel fastback. When I explained we were awaiting Brian Archer supplying us with his first glassfibre fastback replica to build a race car, Peter suggested that, although he no longer owned the registration number, we should run the car with JT 51 on it. I regularly e-mailed Peter with photographs of the car when we initially competed in it. I understand Paul (Tarry) does have an interesting registration number for the car. What a chance meeting eh?”
Trevor McIlroy with his Sebring Rep and 52 LPH which has been owned by Ronnie White since the 60’s
50th Anniversary of the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs ~ 2 day Sprint at Kirkistown
Trevor McIlroy took part in these two rounds of the British Sprint championship to which “all the great and the good of Northern Ireland motorsport were invited to bring along cars from the past 50 years. These included Ronnie White’s red Sebring Sprite, which is still in great condition”. It is seen here with Trevor’s Sebring Rep with which he achieved a 1st place.
Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird comments further on the history of 5435 WD:
“I read with interest your speculative comments regarding the late Frank Tiedeman’s Sebring Sprite – 5435 WD, and I couldn’t help but smile. Sadly, we may never fully know the true provenance of this particular Sprite – not without gaining access to Geoff Healey’s log of the ‘works’ cars; if indeed Geoff’s book does contain any specific information peculiar to this car.
However, I can provide the following information, in the hope of providing some clarity?!
The Sebring Sprite Register (SSR) held by Tom Coulthard and myself, has recorded ‘AN5’ production chassis number details for each of the ’61 ‘works’ Sprites, but unfortunately, these details only add to the confusion and uncertainty surrounding 5435 WD’s identity, particularly as the car no longer retains a production chassis plate featuring an ‘AN5’ chassis number.
The only original production number detailing that does currently survive on the 5435 WD is the body tag fixed inside the door pillar (or A-post). Curiously, this body number corresponds to the chassis number that was allocated to the open prototype ‘Roadster’ – 8426 UE – driven in the ’61 Sebring event by Ed Leavens and John Colgate. Obviously, as this Sprite still survives in the United States, it’s quite evident that Frank’s car wasn’t ever 8426 UE and subsequently rebodied; added to which 5435 WD still retains what appears to be the original ’61 glass fibre MkI Sprite shape rear panelling. The ‘Roadster’ of course had special alloy bodywork.
To add even further intrigue, the ‘AN5’ production chassis number originally allocated to the open prototype ‘Roadster’ – 8426 UE – was later re-used by the Donald Healey Motor Co. Ltd., on the special bodied (alloy) 1961 Le Mans Sprite – 1411 WD – which was eventually purchased and campaigned with great success by Mike Garton in 1963.
Addition information contained in the SSR states that, of the five ‘UE’ registered Sebring Sprites that competed in 1961 Sebring 4 Hour event, three of the cars were sold Stateside (these being 8423 UE, 8424 UE and 8426 UE). Subsequently, 8427 UE (which featured the Les Ireland designed alloy roof) more than probably became the Healey built, Ecurie Ecosse Sebring Sprite entry for Le Mans in 1961 and was re-registered 1413 WD. The fact (as recorded in the SSR), that both these cars had the same ‘AN5’ production chassis number (and alloy roof) adds further weight to the argument.
Taking all of the above into account, it’s quite possible that 5435 WD was originally 
registered 8425 UE; understandably, the anomaly surrounding the body tag in the door pillar on Frank’s car doesn’t help matters and, as I mentioned at the beginning, without gaining access to Geoff’s log of the ‘works’ cars it may be very difficult to prove that 5435 WD was once 8425 UE. The “practice car” story surrounding 5435 WD, may indeed be something of a ‘smokescreen’.
Kind regards, Jonathan
P.S. the attached photo (right above) shows Bruce McLaren at speed in 8425 UE during the 4 Hr race, Sebring 1961.
More on 5435 WD from Tom Coulthard:
Tom Coulthard tells me that one of the DHMC’s junior employees was sent down to the Warwickshire County Council offices the day after the team’s return from Sebring in 1961 to surrender all the UE registrations and so recover the full year’s road tax on the cars, something which was possible in those days. This seems to have become common practice for them as we know it happened in 1965 and ’66, after cars were sold on, while still overseas. So was WD one of the Sebring race cars, or just another car built to the same spec? But why build it and then lend it to Clive Baker for the ’62 season? I suppose it’s possible they had built 4 cars and only taken 3 to Sebring, then registering the 4th afterwards. Tom also told me how the chassis plate on the “Roadster” had the same number as that on 1411 WD – all very strange!
5435 WD ~ History ~ my thoughts and observations:
The recently-auctioned Sebring Sprite of Frank Tiedeman has been said to have been a “Sebring practice car” in 1961. However in Geoff Healey’s book “More Healeys” he states that 10 cars were flown out for the Sebring races that year: “two twin-cam MGAs plus one practice car and two of our Sprites for the twelve hour race, and three of our Sprites for the four hour race. In addition John Sprinzel produced two of his Sebring Sprites to run in both events”. So, no practice Sprite apparently. As we know the works Sprites were registered: 8423 UE; 8424 UE; and 8425 UE, these 3 with fibreglass bodywork; 8426 UE (the Roadster); and 8427 UE (the Walt Hansgen car with Les Ireland top). My little book on car registrations informs me that the UE plates with 4 figures in front were issued by Warwickshire in June 1960, while the WD plates with 4 figures in front were issued in April 1961. The Sebring races were held on 24th and 25th March 1961 leaving us with a couple of possibilities: either 5435 WD is one of the 3 ‘works’ Sebring standard-shape race cars and the plate was changed after its return to the UK, or it was built to the Sebring spec after the event. Of course the Healeys invariably sold the cars to US dealers after Sebring so maybe they brought just one car home and re-numbered it before re-sale, keeping the full run of 5 number plates, possibly for re-use. This is all speculation I know.
The 2 photos on the left are of “The Roadster”, one of the first lightweight “works” Sprites. It took part in the Sebring 12 Hour race in 1961 in the hands of Ed Leavens and John Colgate when it was registered 8426 UE. [The photos were kindly supplied by Bill Emerson
A BIT MORE RESEARCH
These 2 photos (shown right) are from Steve Coleman’s website. Geoff Healey had thought they were taken in the USA but to me the garage doors looked very British. I wrote to Ian Polley whose wife Christine kindly phoned me to confirm they were taken at their former home in Croydon, Surrey.
Confirmed to be Ian Polley’s ’68 Le Mans car
(HAN9-R 237 NOT 238)
I gather that Paul Tarry has not only acquired Mike Youles’ racing Fastback JT 51, but the Craig Chapman alloy bodyshell and the original Sebring Sprite 4646 UE.
Paul plans to build up a new race car based on 4646 UE using the alloy shell, and to apply for HTP FIA papers.
S221 & 184 FGJ at Silverstone
Both cars are in Race 17, the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy Race for Pre ’63 GT Cars. Qualifying is at 12.25 on Friday and the race is at11.40 on Sunday. Charlie and India are driving 184 FGJ and Martin McGlone and Chris Clegg are driving S221. They are the only Sprites in the race and the main opposition will be the 11 Lotus Elites. Although not racing on Saturday, the team will be at Silverstone and will be joining us for the celebration.
[Many thanks to Chris Clegg for this info]
Silverstone Sebring get-together latest
The Race Programme on Saturday 27th July includes a Lunch Break from 12.20 until 1.20 so we plan to meet up in the Midget & Sprite Club display area at around 12.30 to eat our picnic lunches followed by the cutting of the Celebration Cake by Andrew Forster to Mark 20 years since the first of Brian Archer’s Sebring Replicas was completed since which time 100 kits have been produced. Chris & Charlie Clegg will be racing S221 and 184 FGJ (I believe on the Sunday)
An Open Invitation to all Sebring Sprite Enthusiasts
Join us at the Silverstone Classic on Saturday 27th July in the Midget & Sprite Club Area, to Celebrate 20 years of Brian Archer’s Sprinzel Sebring Sprite Replica. Andrew Forster will cut the cake during the lunch break. See you there!
Entry only with pre-booked tickets for which contact me
Nick Conklin’s supercharged race car nears completion. Note unusual rear bodywork and twin exhaust system. Full story.
It’s nearly a year ago that Steve Coleman sent me a link to a video of Clive Baker racing the last of the Healey prototypes, TFR 7.
I somehow forgot to publish it.
Frank Tiedeman dies as his cars go for auction
Bonhams announced at Friday’s auction at the Festival of Speed that Frank had sadly passed away at the age of 92, a few days before his cars came up forsale at Goodwood. His Sebring Sprite, 5435 WD which is in need of a full restoration
Realised a figure of: £32,000 excluding commission (I understand it is to remain in the UK)
For those attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed this coming weekend (JULY 12/14) don’t forget to look in on the Bonhams auction on FRIDAY to see how the Frank Tiedeman Sebring Sprite fairs – and if you are there please let me know the result.
Pictures (right) courtesy of Bonhams
IAN POLLEY
I was very sorry to learn that Ian Polley, who owned the 67/68 works Le Mans Sprite for many years, has died in hospital last weekend.
Ian at Silverstone, 1981
More tales of the various Sprites which came out of Wild Goose Garage continue to emerge including those of Paul Etheridge pictured at Prescott (right)
Rene Bloemen’s replica of RTL 304 in aluminium is making slow progress. The nose and roll cage are to be started soon.
Ton Blankespoor is considering building another batch of similar alloy bodies if there is enough interest.
Ton Blankespoor is rebuilding this Lenham Le Mans (which crashed during the Spa 5 Hours) as a rally car. He is making an aluminium copy of the Williams & Pritchard Mk2 bonnet and extending the original dash board. More on his website.
Roll-cages for the
LENHAM LE MANS now available from CCK
585 MY
Guy Harman, owner of the Speedwell GT which went to auction on June 29th, tells me that the car failed to reach the lower estimate but he has subsequently tied up a sale .
