Jim Russell - JRRDS - Merlyn´s

[roger saretzki]

JRRDS had permanent bases at Mallory Park , Silverstone and Snetterton . Before JRRDS get the VD78 in the end of 1977 JRRDS run mainly Merlyn´s .
MK17 and MK20 later in 1973 the MK24.............

For everybody who could afford such a single seater racing course , this was a very spezial day or weekend .

Where are all the photos taken by friends , girlfriends , fathers and mothers ?

Who has got photos and informations about the Merlyns at the JRRDS ?

All the Best from , Germany Roger

[JimW]

And Donington.

Jim

[snailpace85]

Now that brings back the memories for us old timers!

I did the JRRDS course at Silverstone in 1983 in Van Diemen RF78s. The course included a session at the Snetterton skid pan and that used one of their old Merlyns. I got very wet whenever the car was sideways enough to aim the water coming off the front wheel straight at me. Shortly afterwards the Silverstone Racing School was set up using Van Diemen RF83s. I did have a photo taken by a friend but no idea where that's gone - no electronic storage of photos in those days and I suspect many of the photos taken in those days will have gone the same way.

Jim might be interested in this one if he was officiating at the race meeting. I took the JRRDS inaugural conversion course at Donington when they transferred there in 1985 or 1986 I think and participated in the end of course race which was on a 750MC race meeting - finished 7th if I remember! That was using the RF78s.

Good luck hunting down photos,

Scott

[snailpace85]

Here we go Roger if you can't find any photos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsQlvcGjenE

The school no longer exists but the name is being used in the USA and Canada:

https://www.jimrussell.com/en/home.cfm

Don't know who was instructing when you were there but do you remember Derek Smith?

Scott

[snailpace85]

Oops - sorry Roger - I see you're in the comments list for that Youtube video - got there before me!

Scott

[TonyS]

The first few photos in the YouTube clip are interesting for me as it shows my photo of the 1969 Blue Rochdale Olympic Phase 2 was taken
some time from 1969 at Snetterton, also at a JRRDS course. As the Rochdale Olympic is parked on the circuit, did a Jim Russell instructor, mechanic or a marshal, own it?
Does anyone who was at a JRRDS course in 1969 or the 1970s remember seeing the Rochdale?
Tony Stanton, Rochdale Olympic History Archives.