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Speedwell Entry . .

Good news for the Michael and David Wylie equipe, as the grid organisers have found a spot for the Belfast-based Speedwell Sprite that did so well in the 2006 Fordwater race.

WSM 208 . .

Joining a select group on 4th September will be Peter Hesz of Kingston, Surrey, when he gets to pilot the WSM in a half hour race at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire. The 'Equipe' GTS grid is a suitable starting point to christen the ARDS licence, and on a circuit conducive to Sprite-based machinery . .

August 7th XXXX at Silverstone . .

After maxing out the MGLive double header in June on the GP circuit, a mammoth thirty eight cars joined the 'Equipe GTS' grid on the Silverstone National circuit. The 61st Bentley Drivers Club meeting, the longest continuous annual event at one venue, cemented the 'Equipe' series burgeoning reputation as the best grid for 50's and 60's sportscars to strut their competitive stuff -

Q - A rapid assembly area departure caught some drivers napping, and left half the grid threading back through the paddock to a pitlane departure. John Andon and Pete Foster set the pace in Class 5 TR4's, with the top ten completed by two TVR Grantura's and six MGB's within two seconds of pole. Mark Hoble in 15th led the Morgan +4 gang, with the MGB of Suzanne Sears fronting up the Ladies challenge and Elite-mounted Brian Arculus dominating Class 2. Keith Hampson headed Class 3 with the ex-Le Mans Sunbeam Alpine. The WSM MGB suffered a fuel feed problem and completed six of the possible 12 laps for a 30th grid position, while the unfortunate Nick Wilkins MGA stubbornly refused tlc and was placed on the back of the grid.

R - Oil spill from the previous race was earmarked at Copse, and showers prior to the green flag lap identified to several that the racing line was still compromised. A clean start from front row protagonists Andon and Foster was expected, as the two spar regularly wherever they race. The MGB's of (unwell) Mike Harris, fast moustache David Beresford, Adrian Johnson and Graham Shrigley-Jones were in the hunt, and the TVR's of Malcolm Paul and 'Equipe' debutant David Thompson threatened early on. Hoble parked the Morgan after 7 laps, leaving Mark Shears to head up the brand, while the WSM of Clive Cocks lasted until it confirmed the lack of performance in practice was engine orientated. Alistair Pugh confidently hurled the Spitfire Le Mans around the early laps traffic in a vain attempt to stay with the Arculus Lotus, and Pia Bianci impressed with an assured drive in her first 'Equipe' start to 19th from 25th. Thompson set fastest lap in clear air on his penultimate tour but had to settle for 8th after a mistake and recovery to within less than a second of Paul's TVR. Jonathon Stock kept spectating brother Jerry happy and the TR4 of the improving Dominic Spicer at bay for 11th, while Mark Way and Mark Shears in MGB and Morgan +4 tussled entertainingly with a fuel surging WSM MGB for 22nd. At the front, Foster could'nt give a XXXX and kept Andon at arms length to the flag through a masterful demo of dissecting traffic with minimum disruption, with Harris heading the fading MGB horde in third.

Pit & Paddock

Terence Whitelegg had use of the Bill Kirkpatrick MGB (19) and posted a competitive 20th place in his first 'Equipe' race . .

. . Nick Crewdson cut his 'Equipe' teeth with pal (left) John Pearson's help two seasons ago . .

and can now four wheel drift in reverse . .

John 'Farmer' Hatton - a fine 4th in a wet Allcomers Handicap, and followed up with 17th in the 'Equipe' race

. . Le Patron, Christophe Willmart

Wife Suzie, normally vociferous, was noticeably absent and yet still Pete performed . .

. . John Andon just heard that Graham Bates said he was getting the drinks in later . .

Tim Patchett (left) and Pia Bianci hear the same story from the horses mouth . .

. . Pia Bianci was conveniently available for a pic beside her husbands ex, the WSM MGB

Le Patron checks in with Le Boss . .

. . l to r Mike Harris, Pete Foster, John Andon avec brolly dollies

Wags get up to all kinds of mischief while the racing happens - check some cool photography from Sarah J Harris -

Action pix courtesy of Paul Webb

Click on for results from HS Sports Timing & Results Systems

Next 'Equipe' GTS rounds 10/11 at Cadwell on September 4th/5th . .

Premature . .

MGA Sebring racer Simon Gurney is on the entry list for Silverstone - after mechanical grief at the MGLive event, resting the pedals was the stated aim, so we're glad to see the change of heart . .

Ashworth's Win And Lambert's Spoils . .

The 'Equipe' GTS foray west to Pembrey and the VSCC meeting produced close racing and a peek at some fascinating pre-war engineering courtesy of the Richard Seaman Memorial event -

Race One - Brian Lambert and Mike Harris got the MGB jump on everyone, but a slice of luck for the Mark Ashworth TVR 1800S appeared when Keith Page seemingly missed a gear out of Hatchets. This momentarily held the pack and gave Ashworth the opportunity to bolt and chase down the Lambert/Harris battle. He cleared them both in good order and took a lead he would not relinquish, looking comfortable on a margin to Harris of less than a second at the flag. Pete Foster led the chasing throng, and WSM interest centred on Clive Cocks bringing home the bacon in 10th.

Race Two - Ashworth's day was done as the car suffered brake failure in the paddock shortly before the start, and with the demise of leader Harris with half shaft failure, Lambert strolled off with the result. Foster added another podium to a long list, and series regular John Yea was rewarded with third place. The MGB's of father and son Peter and Stephen Bolderson finished both races, with the younger generation taking the family spoils on each occasion, while Lambert took aggregate honours for the week-end.

Pictures courtesy of Graham Bates

Swift recovery wishes to Lotus racer Pat Arculus, hospitalised on Wednesday 4th August for a scheduled pit stop

Next 'Equipe' GTS round at BDC Silverstone August 7th . .

MGLive - Silverstone GP 4th/5th/6th June . .

'Equipe' GTS shone at the highlight of the MG season, not only producing forty eight cars for practice on the GP circuit but providing some of the best racing of the week-end from a grid comprising of MG, TR, Healey, Lotus, Elva, Morgan, TVR, Porsche, Lancia and Sunbeam.

Salvete and an 'Equipe' welcome to Peter Carrington TVR Grantura 1800S, Ed Foster & Will Foster MGB, Anthony Childs & Christopher Overton Porsche 356a, Roy Chamberlain TR3 and Simon Skentelbery MGB. Brian Ireland also returned to the series with his pristine MGA roadster.

Q - Eyebrows were raised when qualifying times revealed Mike Harris to have taken pole by half a second. James Cottingham alongside may have not been surprised at being usurped, but definitely so at the margin and the culprit. Third to fifth Brian Lambert, Jerry Stock and David Beresford were more likely candidates as established MGB front runners, but certainly Mike pulled a rabbit out of the hat and in hindsight his improvement over the last year was a foretaste. The unfortunate Harvey Woods suffered mechanical gremlins that prevented him taking the grid for race one.

Race One - By the end of the first lap Cottingham and Lambert had pulled a stroke on Harris, and Beresford's fast moustache nosed past on lap two. Lambert was in determined mood and passed Cottingham, only for the DK Engineering car to retake the lead on lap four, but after demoting a frustrated Harris to 5th, Stock's challenge ended on lap 4. Ron Watt had failed to qualify his MGB and he wasted no time in getting from the back of the grid to 17th of the 41 starters and enjoying hassling Graham Bates to the line, while Pete Foster was still having minor niggles with his car and could'nt match Class 5 winner John Andon's pace by an unusually large margin of 16s for this pair of well matched TR4's. Lambert meanwhile took the bit between his teeth and scrabbled past to the front again on lap 5, this time his cause sealed by a huge moment for Cottingham and resulting in a 3.5s margin at the flag. The FM could do nothing to reel in Cottingham, and Harris was sure to be disappointed with his first pole position result. Stephen Bolderson at last had a race devoid of MGB mechanical woes and fully deserved 22nd place, and Diane Osbourne continues to impress in her MGB, despite a misfire on this occasion. Class 2 was dominated by the Lotus Elite of Brian Arculus, with Anthony Childs topping Class 3 in his superb Porsche 356a. The WSM MGB was black flagged on lap 6 for a fluid leak but after examination in the pits allowed out again.

Race Two - Harris was helping celebrate his mothers 90th while Cottingham and the FM got the best of the starts for first and second, but Lambert was loitering with intent and on lap 3 demoted the FM. Lambert filled the Cottingham mirrors and the pressure told on lap10 as the ex-single seater driver found a way through and held on to the flag. Andon and Foster again had a wonderful scrap for Class 5 honours, while Stock stormed up the grid from the back to a quite remarkable 6th place and had the Andon/Foster battle for 4th in his sights. There were two midfield barnies going on - firstly Bolderson, the James Willis Midget and MGB's of Mark Way and Ian Conway ducking and diving, and the second group of MGB mounted Steve Hall, Roy Chamberlain's TR3 and Simon Skentelbery in the MGB once owned by Jim Lowry all being caught by the WSM MGB. Tim Patchett's MGB tore up to 18th off the back of the grid having lost an exhaust on Saturday, while the WSM Sprite of Clive Cocks and MGB of Barbara Lambert were still locked together at the chequered. Lancia Fulvia driver Stuart Downward richly deserved the best of a good tussle with the Porsche 912 of John Hatton, while Willis took a comfortable Class 3 win and Arculus an even easier Class 2.

Click on for results from TSL Timing

Pictures courtesy of Peter French of Flying Tigers photography and Bill Emerson and Paul Webb

Pit & Paddock

Vale and a sorrowful adieu to Simon Gurney who maintains he's retiring from racing. Hopefully the mechanical gremlin that curtailed his Sunday race was not the deciding factor as this likeable character has been campaigning his superb MGA Sebring for many moons and will be missed.

Two wins, two fastest laps - do meetings get much better for the Lambert clan . . ?

A thank you to Dave Saunders, Steve Carr and the Gammons family at the MGCC for a well drilled race meeting . .

Puzzled looks around the WSM MGB after black flag . .

It was a close run thing for Driver of The Weekend - Brian Arculus steered the dimunitive 1172cc Lotus Elite into 13th in race one, and 9th in race two - but Jerry Stock's drive from last to 6th in race two was the clincher . .

Spotted - Midget racer and Manx Classic visitor Rob Griffiths (left) still sporting the bottled-blonde . .

You had to feel for Murray Henderson - after kicking around most of the week-end, the MG Midget Challenge racer saw driving partner Ian Hulett complete a sunny first race in 7th spot at lunchtime on Sunday - by 4.45pm the heavens truly opened and Murray's third lap spin and heavy contact on slicks ended with a visit to the Medical Centre where at least they did'nt comment on his beige race suit . .

Next 'Equipe' GTS rounds at Pembrey July 24th/25th . .

Zandvoort May 15th/16th . .

Practice - After the absence of MGB's from the top three qualifying at Brands in April, Jerry Stock produced a lap over a second quicker than the TVR-mounted Ashworth's Mark and Simon and the TR4's of John Andon and Pete Foster - and the next MGB was nearly five seconds adrift.

Race One - Off the line and Stock got marooned behind Mark Ashworth while Simon vamoosed up front, and an 11 second margin at the flag left a frustrated Stock on the bottom of the podium. The WSM Midget of Brian Arculus kept the Richard McKoen Midget at bay in Class 2, and John Andon headed up the TR4 battle with Pete Foster.

Race Two - It was deja vue until the race stewards imposed a 10 second penalty on Simon Ashworth for a jumped start. Stock hassled Mark's TVR all race long but Simon pulled out a 5 second lead and set fastest lap again - the penalty dropped him to third. Mike Harris was the best of the MGB rest, posting 4th after a solid 8th in race one. Graham Bates beat the race one mechanical maladies for 9th, while Jean Sayes had a 12 second margin on McKoen in Class 2. Foster took Class 5 as Andon's race ground to a halt and Simon Gurney's MGA maintained a flawless Class 3 record for the week-end.

Pit & Paddock

Startline troubles brought grief to WSM - at Brands the fibreglass 208 took a knock, while WSM 202 received a tap here.

WSM 210's new engine seems to be a hit with pilote Clive Cocks - reports of 'smoother power delivery' came with lap times on a par with WSM 208.

We wish Terry Bryant well after a heavy collision with the scenery - Terry was unhurt but the MGA will need much tlc

Click on for results

Pix courtesy of roving reporter Sue Cocks

Next 'Equipe' GTS rounds at Silverstone June 5th/6th . .

MGLive - Silverstone 4th/5th/6th June . .

The WSM MGB gets first WSM look at the new GP circuit at the annual MG jamboree - a strong 30+ entry for the 'Equipe' GTS grid will ensure the two scheduled races are as competitive as usual. Pictured left in 2007 at the MGCC event, only WSM 301 (no 16) will not be making a return visit in 2010 . .

Marvellous Manx . .

A hugely enjoyable and slickly run three days of sprint and hillclimb events was just reward for a mountain of work carried out by Manx Motor Racing Club organisers - good weather, knowledgeable marshalling and enthusiastic spectators were the icing on MMRC's cake -

Governors Sprint - The change from the awkward Bray Hill arrangement, to a blast up the TT course past the Grandstand and through Governors Bridge was a brilliant concept and met with almost universal approval. The only change suggested by drivers in large and small machinery was to smooth out the chicanes which were set too deep into the side roads off Glencrutchery Rd - it was more autotest than sprint and detracted slightly from the spectacle. John Holt's MG Midget (right) took out the Governors cones, but overall an incident-free evening kept the schedule on track. Local Jaguar and MG dealer David Mylchreest was fastest classic in his MGB, with overall fastest to Andy Hardy's Caterham Seven

The Sloc Hillclimb - An extended course caught many off guard first time out, but again it was an improvement on an already challenging climb. The bumpy nature of the A36 provided nerve jangling moments, and high in the list of entertainers were local Dave Musgrove's rapid Mini (right), and the outrageous Hyabusa-engined Mini of visitor Allan McDonald (left). Fastest classic went to Steve King's Ford Escort Mk 1 and Steve O'Donohue was fastest overall in a Caterham Seven.

Lhergy Frissell Hillclimb - The jewel in the MMRC crown drew crowds to Ramsey Hairpin and The Gooseneck for the largest field of the three days. From Andrew Harrington's delightful MG J2 Midget with 847cc, to 5.7 litres of awesome GT40 behind Jonathon Gough, the sensation factor was omnipresent. The Caterham jockeys were predictably in the hunt, with Paul Dangerfield putting up FTD, and the thundering Chevrolet Camaro of Tim Boles topped the classics despite pal Bob Ridgard's tinkering (right).

The MMRC award for the Overall Post-1981 champion deservedly went to Andy Hardy, the effervescent host from The Courthouse in Douglas, while Overall Classic Pre-1981 was headed by Tim Boles (left).

The Northesk Trophy for the Best Team Effort went to Team Nil Desporandum, consisting of Nick Cussons, Adrian Kermode and David Mylchreest.

Pit & Paddock

Good to see Spridgeteer Eric Grundy returned from French exile - although I seemed to be the last to know . .

Resident Michael Savino (left) had wife's Peugeot 205 GTI in action and not his 600bhp battleship . .

John Bate and Jonathon Gough resisted GT40 mischief on the Mountain as in 2008 . .

The Dutton Phaeton of Tom Babbs (right) emitted a mighty V8 rumble . .

Adam Smith's Fraser Nash Supersports soundtrack was spectacular . .

Action photographs © Paul Hardiman 07770 502221 or click on here

'Equipe' GTS at Brands Hatch MGCC - April 10th/11th . .

Welcome back the old, in with the new - first qualifying of the season featured four newcomers amongst a strong 27 car grid - the immaculate Class 2 Lotus Elite of Belgian Jean Saeys and the Class 3 Ding Boston Elva Courier (pictured) run by the Oxford University Motorsport Foundation, were welcome additions. The ex-Brian Arculus TR3 of Olivier Penat and Jean-Marc Avezou made a return, as did the ex-Neil Howe TR4 in the hands of series returnee Dominic Spicer.

Q - A top three without an MGB is an unusual footnote for a series that originated under the MGTeam banner, but 'Doc' Ashworth's TVR1800S and the TR4's of John Andon and Pete Foster took full advantage of sunny and dry conditions to post times under one minute. First MGB was the fast improving Nick Crewdson, leading five B series cars from 1.00.207 to 1.00.984, with Class 3 headed by the Boston Courier, Class 2 by Tony Wilson-Spratt's blue WSM, and Class 1 by Chris Clegg in the superbly presented Sebring Sprite.

Race One - The Foster TR4 was running on three cylinders off the line and caused mischief in the following ranks as avoidance became a priority, but Ashworth made the best of his pole position and put in a blistering fourth lap while fending off a fired up Andon. The battling B's took advantage of Foster's retirement, headed by Bicester resident Mike Harris from sixth spot as he squeezed past the Crewdson B into third. Meanwhile, Andon's persistancy paid off and he dived underneath Ashworth at Paddock and drew away for a well deserved second win in the series. Ron Watt, Graham Shrigley Jones and Jonathon Stock in brother Jerry's MGB settled 5th to 7th amicably eventually, and newcomer Penat resisted the Bob Allen MGB by a whisker for 11th. Ashworth, Boston, Saeys and Clegg wrapped up Class honours.

Fastest Laps : Class 1- Clegg 1.06.304 Class 2 - Wilson-Spratt 1.01.176 Class 3 - Boston 1.03.333 Class 4 - Ashworth 58.587 Class 5 - Andon 58.579

Race Two - The scheduled half hour race number 23 left 'Equipe' at the mercy of the days events, and with incidents involving the previous Mazda MX5 and BCV8 grids, the timetable contracted until the 'Equipe' distance was halved. Nevertheless, another gripping race unfolded as Andon led away from Ashworth and Foster, but the latter retiring on lap 6 with a repeat of the misfire that blighted his first race. Stock used all his racecraft to repel fellow B pedellers Tim Patchett and Graham Bates as less than a second separated the trio, and a similar story unfolded as the blue WSM held off the charging Allen and Iain Patterson MGB's. At the front, Andon yielded to Ashworth's pressure mid race and although Andon kept the heat on, Ashworth remained unflustered to the flag where one hundreth separated them. Harris and Crewdson repeated third and fourth, and Colin Elstrop's Spitfire and Peter Bolderson's MGB rewarded paddock toils with 12th and 18th respectively. Class winners were Andon, Boston, Wilson-Spratt and Clegg.

FLs : Class 1 - Clegg 1.06.528 Class 2 - Wilson-Spratt 1.01.597 Class 3 - Boston - 1.01.784 Class 4 - Ashworth - 58.731 Class 5 - Andon 58.979

Pit & Paddock

Furtive goings on - Boston and Edney concoct fuel additive in trailer shelter with OUMF adviser

Rob Cull has his race winning TVR in bits at present, but is aiming to get finished for the next round in May

The winners rostrum for Saturday's race was the Andon TR - left to right Andon, Ashworth and Harris with the gorgeous brolly dollies Blandine and Sarah

The WSM team create an effective blanket over 208's first race war wounds

Bob Allen greets Jim Lowry (out of shot)

No comment - all the obvious ones have already come my way thanks . .

Click on RESULTS courtesy of TSL Timing

MGCC race organiser Dave Saunders had the look of a troubled man as circumstances conspired to back up the race timetable on Sunday. However, not all the delays were simply red flag moments - you cannot legislate for a driver needing hospitalisation after a crash, nor for a driver falling ill in the paddock and both requiring airlifting out of the circuit (rules prevent circuit use while helicopters are in action). We wish both drivers a full recovery

Pictures courtesy of Paul Webb - all the above, and many more, are available in full fat format.

Next 'Equipe' GTS rounds at Zandvoort on May 15th/16th . .

Manx Classic - April 22nd/24th . .

After losing the 2009 edition, the Three Hills event resumes with the Thursday evening sprint on the TT course from the Grandstand. The Sloc in the South hosts Friday's competition, and the jewel in the crown Llerghy Frissell climb out of Ramsey on Saturday . .