THE VERY FIRST LENHAM
Dr. John Curry tells how he engaged Julian Booty to build him a GT version of his racing Sprite
RAC TOURIST TROPHY, SILVERSTONE 20 – 22 July 2012
Charlie Clegg tells me that he and his father Chris will both be competing at the Silverstone Classic in their Sebring Sprites
S221 and 184 FGJ in the Pre-63 GT class. He says “Judging by previous years there should be some serious machinery in the race, such as Aston Martin DB4 GTs & Zagatos, Ferrari 250 SWBs and potentially a GTO or two. If you, or indeed any of the Sebring Sprite team, are going to the event please do come and say hi! All the best, Charlie”.
DAC at Het Loo Concours.
Albert Voogd has sent this recent picture of Bruno Verstraete’s 1965 works Sebring car in Holland. The Visser’s Speedwell Sprite is behind.
Jonathan’s new acquisition
~ the car driven by Pedro Rodriguez at Sebring in 1962 remains very much in its original form only needing a little TLC from him.
See web page
Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird tells me of a Formula Junior 950cc engine for sale on ebay at £1,500
and Neil Anderson drew my attention to this Lenham Le Mans being offered by Motobuild Racing,
also on ebay at £3,495
IAN ASHFIELD’S TROPHY IN MEMORY OF BRIAN ARCHER
The owner of that beautifully finished metallic blue Fastback Sebring which appeared at the NEC in 2010, as well as at Burghley House for Midget 50, Ian Ashfield, has generously offered to supply a trophy in the form of a shield, to be engraved with the names of those who display their Sebring Sprites at the NEC autumn show. Initially it will record my own car JJO (2006), Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird’s EAO (2008) and his own (for 2010). He has asked me if I will present it at the next show (if there is a Sebring on display) and would welcome “ideas to include other venues so as to promote the marque and also so others can share in Brian’s dream and his legacy to us“.
I hope Ian will not mind my reporting that as he is suffering from a terminal illness and is currently in the Willen Hospice at Milton Keynes. I feel sure he would appreciate it if those of us who know him sent him a brief goodwill message via email.
Neil Anderson kindly provided the 1996 article (left) about Stirling Moss’s drive in JAX 12 at Laguna Seca, California.
* * * * * *
Anyone read Spanish?
Super photos from
Sebring, in 1961 (right)
Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird has acquired probably the only surviving Mark 2 Sprite of the 4 DHMC ‘works’ team cars which raced at Sebring in 1962/3. He has known of its whereabouts for 15 years and only now been able to make the purchase. I will be creating a web page shortly but take a look via Jonathan’s link.
On the trailer for the journey home, naturally in the pouring rain
and, drying out in the sunshine.
What a lucky man!
From Neil Anderson – the 1976 article (left) to go with the photo (above) of the 1964 Targa Florio Sprite
Another fastback hardtop, this by WBG (Shells) sent in by David Scothorn – I don’t recall seeing one of these.
Another Alexander manifiold
for sale on ebay with 6 days
to go (Expires 20 June)
Alistair Ross found these photos (labelled RHBF) among his collection but cannot recall what they are. Anyone any ideas?
Cultra Hill Climb. First run on 6th May, 1905 when gentlemen of the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club gathered at the Kennedy family estate, this year’s event celebrated 50 years of the MGB and 4 wheel drive transmission. Trevor McIlroy was there in his Sebring Replica, as was Stuart Rolt (son of Tony) with the P99 Ferguson FWD F1 car in which Stirling Moss won the Oulton Park Gold Cup in 1961.
Trevor sends GOOD LUCK to his fellow countrymen Mike and David Wylie on their up-and-coming event.
A Road-Going Streamliner
courtesy of Ian Grainger
XXC 818 in action at the Cultra Hill Climb in Trevor McIlroy’s capable hands earlier this month
‘Safety Fast’ Nov, 1968
Both Neil Anderson and Pete Taylor sent in this of 693 LAC
It didn’t take Ian Grainger long to find the answer to my question about Jens Scheibel’s hardtop. Thanks Ian
Paul Freeman’s article: “REBIRTH OF THE ALEXANDER DEMONSTRATOR & INTERNATIONAL RACER”
Pete Taylor sent in this great period shot of the Sprinzel/ Lumkin Falcon Sprite at Sebring in 1960. JS is just visible on the far right.
Alan Anstead will soon be off on the MASC Le Mans Classic/Loire Valley Tour. Last time it was mega hot and as it is always very warm in the Sebring Rep he has copied the ‘works’ Healey 3000 Rally Cars’ use of a Mini-van roof vent.
Anyone know the maker of Jens Scheibel’s fastback hardtop?
Feedback
CHOLMONDELEY PAGEANT OF POWER
David Wylie is very pleased to have been invited to participate with his father, Mike’s Speedwell Sprite (505 BZ) at this event, in Cheshire, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 15th – 17th June, especially so because of the legendary drivers and cars in his class, ‘Sports Cars & Sports Racing Cars pre 1965’. Entries include Alec Poole, very much part of the Sprite legend, driving his own MGB, Barrie (Whizzo) Williams in a competition Elan, and that most famous of all Lotus Elites, the former Les Leston car, DAD10, to be driven by its owner and driver, Robin Longdon. Add several important Jaguars, from SS 100 to Short-nosed D-type, from the Jaguar Heritage Collection, and David Ham in his Lister Jaguar and David Wylie will have a worthwhile uphill struggle to uphold Sprite honours.
Provisional listings for the timed runs on the sprint course seem to be 2.15pm & 4.30pm on Friday, and 9.50am, 12.20pm & 5.55pm on Saturday and Sunday. The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, located in Cheshire, has a huge variety of other attractions, as a real day out for the family, and further details can be found on their website.
New web page for 5435 WD identified below
Stephen Bowen on Nick Ramus
Colin Pearcy is up-grading his very original Frogeye to make it more suitable for motorway use. He has fitted a mildly tuned Peter May 1275 motor and is looking for a discreet electric cooling fan. Any suggestions? Feedback
An almost immediate reply to the question (left) about the car at Prescott comes from Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird who tells me it is the
ex-works car which belongs
to Frank Tiedeman. Many thanks.
..and Ian Grainger tells me the car is Sebring Sprite 5435 WD which was loaned by DHMC to Clive Baker for the 1962 racing season. It was later owned by Nick Ramus. Frank no longer competes with the car due to his advanced years. Many thanks.
David Morys spotted this maroon Sprite with W & P bonnet and ‘works’ hardtop at Prescott. Recognise it?
