Another batch of photos from Bruno Verstraete for which many thanks

HAN9-R-238, the Jim Baker/Clive Baker/Paul Richards entry for Sebring 1969 at the start

HAN9-R-238 Sebring 1970 -the ladies’ team entry

238 again, (at a later event ?) hard covers on lights

Latest from Pierre Lequeux

“Hi Martin, The world has been made incredibly small by the internet. It happened that a friend of Colin Starley now living in Edmonton, Canada has seen my website and contacted me with a few pictures – a couple taken in France at the Mont-Ventoux and another in Sussex (could be an autotest at Goodwood). Anyhow I thought you may like them… It surely was a great birthday present for me as I received them on Xmas day…. Wish you great things for 2014, Pierre”

The car seen in earlier days with Colin Starley

and today – the de luxe interior and tidy engine bay

4 of a number of great photos from Bruno Verstraete’s comprehensive archive – more to come

Could this be the mysterious HAN8-R-202 (now owned by Jeff Brenner) sitting in Fred Royston’s showroom?

HAN9-R-238 at rest in a race paddock probably sometime after its two races at Sebring in 1969 & 1970

Here at Sebring during the 1970 12 hours when driven by the ladies’ team

The spec’ sheet of the ‘Works’ Sprite which raced at Le Mans in Sept 1968

Graham Bish kindly directed me to Enzo Manzo’s website www.targapedia.com from which the photos below come:

I have not previously seen this one (left) of the front end damage to LWD on the ’67 Targa. It was soon after the start that Clive Baker collided with a pedestrian who ran across the road, putting paid to his race and presumably doing the individual some injury.

and 33 years later the same car on the 2000 Targa Florio Storica (retrospective) organised by Enzo Manzo.

Klaus Tweddell sent in this photo (right) of the Speedwell GT, 585 MY, at the 1966 1000 km race at the Nurburgring, going thru the ‘Karussell’ & showing off its Kamm-tail. Drivers were Graeme White/..Grant.

The car is currently for sale with Brian Classic Cars.

Klaus says: “I am astonished it is running as a GT car, – normally cars thus modified, were condemned to run in the prototype class, but I think the scrutineering officers in Germany were not so particular with this sort of car. The documents, running as a GT from former years, of course had some pictures, but not from the back as I know from my own old paperwork, thus didn´t make visible the changes to the rear bodywork“.

Photo courtesy John Baggott

Anyone out there got a Williams & Pritchard hardtop for a Frogeye? If so Bill Prout in Connecticut would love to hear. Offer received

Kurt Larson of California has created a replica of the BMC works rally car YRX 747

Oh, Healey Night!
A poem for Christmas by a writer who prefers to remain anonomous, but if I say he lives in the USA and is building a Sebring replica some may recognise him. I suppose it should be sung to the tune of “Oh, Holy Night” – it’s brilliant!
* * * * * * * *
Tony Giordano on Plate-Swapping on Historic Competition Cars
See “Your Comments”

Dear All, At long last 2080 PO is back on the road some 47 years after it last competed at the Brighton speed trials, Mont Ventoux and other events. Hopefully it will be showing at a few sporting events In 2014. I wanted to extend yet again my thanks and gratitude to all of you that have contributed to its restoration and/or to findings about its past owners and competitive history. I take the opportunity to wish you all a great Christmas and many good things for 2014. Kind regards Pierre (Lequeux).
PS: If any of you had further recollections, pictures etc about the car this would obviously be welcomed. Also please sign the petition to save the Brighton Speed trials:http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/ mgEPetitionListDisplay.aspx, it would be a shame if 2080 PO could not revisit its turf…..

Thank you all for your Christmas Greeting cards

Wishing all my regular Sebring surfers a Very Happy Christmas

Thank you all for your contributions of photos, articles, and comments which go to making the website fresh and interesting day-by-day. Please keep ’em coming in 2014 and above all, enjoy your Spritely motoring.

REPLICA CARS Page up-dated

REPLICA GALLERY in up-dated

Sprinzel on the swapping of body-shells and registration numbers, etc
See “Your Comments”
and “One of the ‘genuine’ Healeys….” (right)
includes EAO & D 20

LUCKY JOHN
MORE COPIES COMING
or you can buy direct from John Sprinzel in Hawaii (See Books & Regalia)

2080 PO completed at Archers ~ Pierre Lequeux says :
“At long last 2080 PO is ready after more than 2 years of restoration. Still a few things to tidy up but we are nearly there… It has now been back on the road since last Thursday. I have already clocked 500 miles in it….what a great car, I can’t wait for my first sprint or hillclimb…..”

Some wonderful old photos from Sebring in 1969 & 70 kindly provided by Bruno Verstraete

Jim Baker who ran 2 cars in ’69 and one in 1970

The Jim Baker/PaulRichards/Clive Baker ex-works
HAN9-R-238 in the pits at Sebring in 1969

One of the ladies’ team in LWD starts at Sebring 1969

LWD 959E, the ex-Targa car, painted orange, was in the hands of the ladies at Sebring in 1969

Jim & girls celebrate

“Good job on the most “maniacally focused” personal web site on the planet !If this is a personal achievement I would love to see what you do when you get paid! Merry Christmas and thanks for all you do! Here is a scan of a personally signed photo by John Colgate (the tall man with cowlick and dark sweater) to me of his ’61 Le Mans car of which the engine rests in my car according to Jonathan W B”. Anthony Giordano. [ Tony, If it is an engine from 1411WD it would be its early one rather than the later larger capacity unit]

UUV 398
Terry Cowan’s second car, initially thought to be a Speedwell but actually a Peel Fastback bodied car.

The late Mike Sutton’s Sebring replica has found a new home with Bob Heppell in Worcestershire

WANTED – PAIR OF SPEEDWELL DOOR HANDLES
by Mike Cockayne for his new Sebring. Please contact him if you can assist.

Right: 2 articles from Tom Coulthard relating to his letter in “Your Comments”

courtesy of West Sussex Gazette

MIKE PRANGNELL’S SEBRING REPLICA IN THE NEWS
The West Sussex Gazette published this article (left) back in October detailing Mike’s development of his Coupe and the various events he had planned for the forthcoming weeks. I saw it at the Goodwood Breakfast Club where it was much admired. His son, Mark, took his Fastback version out with him to the Phillipines earlier this year.

Courtesy of Mike Prangnell

NICK SKIPWORTH BUYS HIS FATHER’S SPRITE.
It was John Egan told me – Dick’s re-creation was bought by son Nick but the Jags and transporter are off to the States. See Nick’s amazing letter on “Your Comments” Left: Nick’s son Robert and 1413WD

MANY THANKS to all those who kindly sent me in, or guided me to, diagrams for my new flywheel. I now only have to adapt one to suit the 1098cc motor I plan to use with my Speedwell head, Shorrock S/C and Toyota 5-Speed box!

4 fantastic photos from Le Mans a whole 48 years ago (1965) when Rauno Aaltonen and Clive Baker drove #48 (DNF) but Paul Hawkins and John Rhodes finished 12th overall, and 1st in class in car #49. Note the lime green paint showing through the hastily-applied dark green (photo 2) after the race organisers insisted on the repaint.
My thanks firstly to Pete Taylor for sending these in, to Albert Voogd at the Healey Museum for the enlargements, and most importantly to the French photographer, Dominique Gasnerie for taking them.

Frogeye body-shell production

The amazing Brian Wheeler, who virtually single-handedly built a jig to produce replacement body-shells, so enabling a great many enthusiasts to re-build their Frogeyes or build alternatives like the Archer Sebring Sprite, has decided it is time to hang up his welding goggles and retire. Fortunately for us he has struck a deal with Mike Marczynski of the Frogeye Spares Co to whom production will shortly be transferred in the Manchester area. A number of Mike’s employees are currently under-going training at Brian’s premises at Wolvey and I understand “the whole teaching and learning process is going very well indeed”. During the interim changeover period:
For bodyshell prices, please email enquiries@frogeyespares.co.uk or telephone Mark, the Workshop Manager,
on 01204 604017. See also www.frogeyespares.co.uk [My body-shell web page will be up-dated shortly]

The Late BARBARA ARCHER
I understand that Barbara’s funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Mon 16th December at the Robin Hood Crematorium, Solihull, West Midlands. Donations to Air Ambulance or British Lung Foundation.

Bruno Verstraete kindly sent in this article (left) relating the race experiences of Jim Baker Racing in the 1969 Daytona 24 hours race. The car was the ex-Targa Florio prototype LWD 959E

LIGHTENING AN ‘A’ SERIES FLYWHEEL
Somewhere I have seen a drawing showing how to lighten the Sprite flywheel but cannot find the book I saw it in. Anyone know where I might find it?
Feedback

If anyone in the UK would like a copy of John Sprinzel’s excellent book, I now have a few signed copies. Price including postage is £52. Contact me via Feedback

New owner of the Ecurie Ecosse Sprite is Dick Skipworth’s son, Nick

7080 AC –
The Moss Sebring car.
Time perhaps to bring the long debate to a close
See “Your Comments”

Hardtop for Sprite 3 or Midget 2 by Clifford Eng.
Light in weight and in lovely condition. £250.
SORRY, NOW SOLD

Another article from Autosport on the
Dick Jacobs’ Midgets

These lovely photos were sent to me by Steve Coleman of Texas who owns the last of the ‘works’ Coupes HAN9-R-238, about which I am currently constructing a new web page. Steve bought it in 1999 and carried out a meticulous restoration.

BARBARA ARCHER
Friends of the late Brian Archer will be sorry to learn that his charming widow Barbara passed away over
the weekend. Our condolences go to their son and daughter, Andrew and Debbie, and the family.

Tony Giordano has a single left side Armstrong adjustable shock absorber 8725 RF for sale at US$ 500. If you happen to have only a RH one this could be what you need! Contact him by email

Letter to Tom Coulthard regarding 7080 AC and his reply – see Your Comments

A COPY OF JOHN SPRINZEL’s SLEEPLESS KNIGHTS IS AVAILABLE ON Amazon
at £145.00
[Thanks to Alan Anstead]

Ecurie Ecosse Sprite
Re-Creation fetches
£54,000
(£61,980 incl prem)
at Bonhams (1st Dec)