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WSM NEWS

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Sixties and Seven's . . .

Good to hear from FISC and WSM pilote Ian Hulett who had an eventful 'Swinging Sixties' race at Brands last week-end in his Sprite. Front row qualification lead to a rush of blood and a VERY jumped start on the law abiding Spitfire alongside. Everything went swingingly until with 22 laps gone, retribution came calling in the shape of water pump gasket failure, valve seizure and subsequent engine destruction. 'Autosport' this week has a picture of the front row start, but I understand taken early on the first lap. Guess who does'nt feature as they're so far up the road ?

Manx Classic pix . . .

Go to 'Race News' for pix from Paul Hardiman and The Sloc and Lhergy Frissell hill climbs on April 18th and 19th

Goodwood Foursome . .

Now confirmed that four of the pictured drivers from the 1963 Wing shot (left) will be present on May 17th and playing an active role in parading the cars around the circuit at the Sprite 50th celebrations. Left to right DW-S, Peter Jackson, Jim McManus and far right Mike White are scheduled to drive WSM301, BXN, WSM210 and WSM207. Robin Pinkerton , Sales Manager with Delta Garage in the 1960's, has also promised an appearance. The missing driver will be George Snively, of SNELL helmet standard fame, who passed on some years ago in the USA.

WSM202 . ..

The unfortunate John Pearson had troubles at Donington on Easter Monday. Scheduled with the Equipe GTS grid, WSM202 spat the dummy for first practice and a clutch problem kept the WSM sidelined for the race - see 'Race News' for results . .

16th-18th May and 24th May Sprite 50th at Goodwood and Gaydon . .

As owner of and competitor in VBM 7, the third Sprite off the production line in 1958, DW-S is recognised as winner of the first competition award in a Sprite. In 1958, he persuaded the powers that be to let him have the car earlier than the launch date on May 16th, accrued some mileage under the cover of darkness and then won a Sporting Owners Drivers Club rally on May 24th with navigator John Bayliss.

Plans are afoot for DW-S to complete some parade laps in a WSM at the track where he raced in the 1950's. Although WSM's have raced at Goodwood in period, DW-S was equipped with a TR2 in 1955. As Jim McManus has made a remarkable recovery from major surgery, and Peter Jackson is hopeful of joining the celebrations too, it may be that the men most associated with the WSM brand will be out together and lapping in three WSM's.

If the restoration continues to plan, DW-S intends to fly in with his Jodel Mascaret on Friday 16th, and both Jim and Douglas are booked for the Grand Ball on the Saturday evening.

The Austin Healey Club are pulling out all the stops, and there will be a high quality display of special interest Sprites and Midgets. On Friday and Saturday the cars will be housed in a marquee at Goodwood circuit adjacent to the pits, and on Sunday on the lawns outside Goodwood House - click on to access more information on the anniversary event.

We understand that Bill Emerson, Healey historian, ex-NASA engineer and curator to the Healey museum in Virginia, USA will be joining the fun, as well as 1960's WSM owner and racer Mike White.

Healey Club archivist and historian Paul Woolmer is attempting to break records again and assemble the largest gathering of historic and rare Healey machinery ever seen. His last effort at Thruxton in 2002 for the Healey 50th produced an epic display, and we could see the four WSM Sprite's together that featured on the Fordwater Trophy grid at Goodwood in 2006.

On Saturday 24th May the Midget & Sprite Club, MG Owners Club, MG Car Club and Healey Drivers Club host a UK conclusion to the celebrations at the Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire - click on for more details.

Courtesy of Ray English in Australia, click on here for a 1958 video featuring Roy Salvadori testing a Frogeye at Silverstone and commentator John Bolster.

WSM3000 . ..

As pictured in the page header, although neglected, the car remains sheltered and complete amongst an eclectic mix of 1970's cars in surrounding grounds. VW Scirroco's, Mk1 Golf's, Triumph 2000 and MGC are in various stages of neglect, and with little chance of rescue. Viewing the car on January 19th for the first time since 2003, it was heartening to find doors opening and closing in line, and little sign of degradation over and above what may be expected.

'Equipe' GTS at Barley Mow . .

The annual splash and awards dinner on 19th January at the West Horsley venue illustrated where priorities lie for series participants - the loudest cheers for a trophy winner went to Ron Cody in accepting the Silver Lady for Spirit of 'Equipe' GTS - many drivers in the series have benefitted from Ron's selfless and generous supply of time and expertise in helping others, and cruelly sometimes Lady Luck deserted Ron. Although not a championship due to FIA and MSA regulations, the 'Equipe' series throws up serious competition amongst some high quality drivers, but in a spirit that engenders over-subscribed grids and bon homee amongst rivals. 'Equipe' organiser's Jim Lowry and Christophe Wilmart were pleased to present the following -

E W Rayment & Co Trophy class winner - Tom Smith

Jigsaw Racing Trophy class winner - Neil Howe

MGA Trophee D'Excellence - Ron Cody

Cottage Classics Trophy class winner - Nick Smith

'Equipe' GTS 100% Race Finisher - Paul Freeman

JMH Classic Ladies Shield - Helen Elstrop

DK Engineering Trophee D'Elegance - Malcolm Johnson

Virgin Radio Classic Rock "Golden Oldies" Grandparent class winner - John Andon

The George Edney Historic Trophy for best pre-62 period E FIA car - Brian Arculus

Elstrop Racing Le Casque D'Or Driver of Distinction - Graham Bates

Virgin Radio Classic Rock Trophy de Bronze for 3rd O/all - John Andon

Olivo Restaurants Ltd Tropheo Argento for 2nd O/all - Neil Howe

The 'Equipe' GTS Winners Cup - Tom Smith

Jim McManus . ..

Very pleased to report Jim is making a good recovery after sudden illness in November. We spoke with wife Peggy yesterday, and having flown back from Florida on Christmas Eve, Jim has been recuperating at their Cranleigh home.

Track Day Pain from Castle Combe . .

Ouch ! The unforgiving Quarry at Combe catches out many, but near the end of the sequence, one Lotus driver has a BMW nearly wipe him out trackside . .

Spa 6 Hour . .

Click on for four minutes of fabulous Healey 3000 in-car video with Jaap Sinke early in the 2007 classic race. The sideways Aston Martin DB4 featured is the eventual 5th overall car of Vergers, Bennett and Taylor with a fastest lap of 3m 02s, while the Sinke car had problems on its way to 52nd (3m 08s).

Nurbergring 1964 . .

Prompted by Jim Lowry who forwarding an interesting UTube item from the 'Ring in 1963, we did a search for 1964 and 1965 and found this clip which included 1960's WSM racer Peter Jackson tending to a gearbox. Further detail came from Peter recently -

'I drove Marcos number 100 in the 1963 race with Tim LaLonde for Marcos Cars. I handed over at half distance when leading the race overall to Tim who had the clutch go after one lap, which was rather a shame. Marcos knew that the clutches were a little suspect, did not fit a new one for the race and the centre plate broke. The 1964 film in fact shows me helping to change the gearbox on the Diva which I co-drove with someone called Brandon. It had a very hot Ron Harris Formula Junior Ford engine which was very cammy. The close ratio box broke in practice and we borrowed a standard box out of Don Sim's Anglia !! The ratios were of course all wrong and it was very difficult to keep it on the cam in the slow corners. Someone spun a Marcos on the second corner and I was very lucky to avoid the ensuing carnage. I ended up driving the car for most of the race and I think finished third in the class.'

Woburn Special . .

'A very Merry Christmas and a great 2008 to you and yours. I came across the attached photos of what I believe is the (or maybe just "an") Alderton Special.  An arse-scraper of the first water !  I don't remember any details of this beast, but I seem to recall it looked like a real handful. I believe it is Bill Alderton at the wheel and the photos were taken at one of the SODC hillclimbs at Woburn in the early 1960's.  I have a few more Woburn photos, but I thought these would give you a grin over the Christmas turkey ?'

Barry Pinkerton