Home  
Site Partners: SpotterGuides Veloce Books  
Related Sites: Classic Cars Monthly Your Link Here  

Go Back   TenTenths Motorsport Forum > Historic Racing & Motorsport History > Motorsport History

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 14 Mar 2006, 13:15 (Ref:1547964)   #1
bigears
Racer
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
United Kingdom
Wolverhampton
Posts: 287
bigears should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Memories of the Birmingham Superprix

Hello, I have just registered in this forum because I am an avid fan of the Birmingham Superprix so I am hoping to find more information from you. In the past few years, I have been collecting and researching information relating anything about the Birmingham Superprix.

I have used the search function and PMed some members here but one person suggested to me that I should set up a thread to get more response from you guys about what you know about or your experiences of attending the Birmingham Superprix.

A little snippet of information here:

Quote:
In 1985, the Birmingham City Council passed the Birmingham Road Race Bill, which allowed the Birmingham Superprix for Formula 3000 cars to be held on a circuit of closed streets near the city centre for two days during the August Bank Holiday. Previously, all motor racing on the public streets of mainland Britain had been outlawed (unless specifically allowed for in private legislation).

The first Superprix was held in 1986 and was subjected to torrential rain. After extensive delays, this first race was run to a reduced distance. Over the next few years, races featured numerous accidents and the excessive noise over the course of the weekend proved to be unpopular with some members of the local community. The races were also commercially unsuccessful, so for 1991 plans were proposed for the race to be organised privately on an extended 3-mile circuit. However, these plans were never implemented and the race was dropped from the calendar. At present, the Birmingham circuit remains the only street course to have been established on the British mainland.
I took some photos of the old street track and put them up in this website.

I got a lot of photos and even video footage from 1985-1990. So if anyone need their memory jogged up, let me know so I can post a relevant photo! So hopefully you can share your experiences in this thread.

Thanks
bigears is offline  
Quote
Old 14 Mar 2006, 15:23 (Ref:1548062)   #2
allenbrown
OldRacingCars.com
Veteran
 
allenbrown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location:
Farnborough, Hampshire, England
Posts: 3,942
allenbrown should be qualifying in the top 10 on the gridallenbrown should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
I was there in 1986 as I was so proud that Brum had managed to pull it off. So I got a place in the main grandstand, settled back and ... got drenched.

Every now and then something grey flew past in the spray. I guess it was a racing car but I couldn't be sure.

What a miserable experience after all that effort.

I kept going year after year and it was, of course, excellent after that. My old college, Matthew Boulton, had a great view.

Allen
allenbrown is offline  
Quote
Old 14 Mar 2006, 17:55 (Ref:1548193)   #3
chunterer
Race Official
Veteran
 
chunterer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location:
Down the end of my road
Posts: 15,697
chunterer is going for a new world record!chunterer is going for a new world record!chunterer is going for a new world record!chunterer is going for a new world record!chunterer is going for a new world record!chunterer is going for a new world record!chunterer is going for a new world record!
Bigears, the whole weekend was absolute heaven for me!

I went with the old man and or mates every year because we lived half an hour away. Plus, F3000 was my main interest in the sport. The noise reverberated back off the tall buildings, it was amazing. I used to wander around the closed streets insude the circuit looking for a new vantage point. You could nip down side roads and find a forecourt of a business premises behind the catchfencing but with plenty of room to view the cars.

It was also weird seeing future stars standing around the service area od Bristol Street Motors, quite surreal!!

1986, the inaugual year was indeed terribly wet and we all felt sorry for the orgainsers because of having finally got it all arranged and up and running, the weather threatened to kill it off!

1987 was a good event, a 'demonstration drive' by Stefano Modena who looked every bit a future WDC at that point, shame he didn't cut the mustard in F1. Race also memorable for Roberto Moreno's drive to 2nd from the back and also a good battle between Andy Wallace and one or two others.

In 1988 loads of silly stoppages caused by idiot drivers theatened things a bit leading to cancellation of BTCC race which was a shame as it was a big crowd puller at the event.
Moreno did the business though romping away with Martini and Donnelly also impressing.

1989 main race was a great scrap (as mentioned in Marco Apicella thread) between him and Jean Alesi.

I had a photo blown up to poster size on my wall for years of Eric Bernard's Lola coming out of the Bristol Street pit lane - even with a relatively modest 135ml lens you could zoom in on the drivers crash hat. Trouble was that you'd go deaf momentarily as the guys would invariably blip the throttle to put some rubber down as they exited the pit lane!! The late Stephane Proulx was one particular ear offender!!!

1990m the final year was for me the best race for action. Eric Van De Poele won but Apicella was long gone until he broke down. Drive of the race was from Fabrizio Barbazza in the Crypton Leyton House. He qualified about 3 rows from the back in a really awkward car but flew through the field on a mission until he came upon one Eddie Irvine who decided to edge over on him under braking a the end of the return leg of Belgrave Middleway causing Barbazza to vault him and very nearly ended up down in the underpass! Ruined the race really as god knows where he'd have finished, easily second i'd imagine as Frentzen binned it bit later pushing too hard.

I was devastated when the event stopped, as it was touch and go for a while if it would continue into 1991.

Councillors said it was a huge money loss but I remember a massive crowd for that final year so it must have been a pretty good tourist attraction.

Hope that gives you a taster of what it was like for a local F3000 mad teenager!

Last edited by chunterer; 2 Nov 2007 at 09:30.
chunterer is offline  
__________________
"Double Kidney Guv'nah?"
"No thanks George they're still wavin a white flag!"
Quote
Old 15 Mar 2006, 00:21 (Ref:1549065)   #4
Woolley
Race Official
Veteran
 
Woolley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
England
Wolverhampton, England
Posts: 12,446
Woolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of Fame
Quote:
Originally Posted by chunterer
Councillors said it was a huge money loss but i remember a massive crowd for that final year so it must have been a pretty good tourist attraction.
This may be apocryphal, but I believe it lost money because an offer to underwrite the race by Marlboro was turned down, and minor sponsorship from an anti-smoking group taken instead. Fair enough as a political decision, but you can't blame the race for losing money as a result.

I went to every one, and what a fantastic event it was. It was before I started marshalling circuits, so I was a spectator and managed to see the whole circuit over the years. I used to watch parctice and qualifying from the grandstand on the right hander after the Middleway as it was free, and that gave you a good view all the way up the straight and back, most of the way to the left hand kink before Ferodo, and across into the chicane round the roundabout. Race day was varied. I watched two from the hairpin, one from the first corner and two from Ferodo, including the shunt and boxing match between Sytner and Cleland after Frank 'assisted' John's entry speed into the hairpin. I also remember Derek Higgins guest drive in the CRX ending in a shower of tyres all over the circuit after the car got away from him in the fast left.

Donnely went well in a car that was half white and half yellow after it was apparently totalled when he abandoned it on the exit of the first corner. That race was won by Alesi, I think.

vna der Poele was masterful the year he won, simply keeping Apicella in sight. The car was clearly smoking from early on, and obviously getting worse, and I'm sure he just sat back and waited for it to go pop before striding away into the distance.

Some of the support races were pretty good too. CRXs were good value. Mike Jordan's Porsche Turbo was terrifying and fantastic in equal measure, and all those Sierra Cosworths...
Woolley is offline  
__________________
Bill Bryson: It is no longer permitted to be stupid and slow. You must choose one or the other.
Quote
Old 14 Mar 2006, 20:20 (Ref:1548878)   #5
Al Weyman
Veteran
 
Al Weyman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
England
South of Watford (just)
Posts: 14,699
Al Weyman has a real shot at the podium!Al Weyman has a real shot at the podium!Al Weyman has a real shot at the podium!Al Weyman has a real shot at the podium!
Bigears your website pictures don't load, have you set it up correctly.
Al Weyman is offline  
__________________
You can't polish a turd but you sure can sprinkle it with glitter!
Quote
Old 14 Mar 2006, 20:41 (Ref:1548917)   #6
Andrew Kitson
Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
England
5 minutes from Snetterton
Posts: 3,840
Andrew Kitson should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridAndrew Kitson should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridAndrew Kitson should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridAndrew Kitson should be qualifying in the top 3 on the grid
I painted a picture of it for Mark Blundell after the '89 race. Shows him in his Middlebridge 'Cadbury' Reynard leading Irvine and Apicella.
http://www.andrewkitson.com/pages/f3000birm.htm
Andrew Kitson is offline  
Quote
Old 14 Mar 2006, 21:40 (Ref:1548958)   #7
Tim 27
Racer
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
England
March,Cambs
Posts: 118
Tim 27 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Like Chunterer, F3000 (along with FF1600) was always my favourite Formula.
Unfortunately I only made it to Birmingham for the 1990 race.
In no particular order, here are some of my memories from that weekend:
Walking the course on Saturday and being blown away by the noise and how close you could get to the cars at full speed.(Especially next to the mosque)!
Sleeping in my car in a concrete car park!
Russ Swift practising his act in the same car park!
The brilliant atmosphere in Pizza Hut on the Saturday night!

Your pictures certainly brought back some memories Big Ears.
In one of them I can see the grass bank I sat on all of Sunday at the hairpin.
Stephane Proulx ( who sadly many years later died of an AIDS related illness), went straight on during the race, and with an enormous thump managed to shift about six layers of tyres back by about six feet!
From my vantage point I could see a huge TV screen, so keeping track of the races was easy. Mind you, my vantage point was nowhere near as good as many of the locals hanging off their balconies in their high rise flats! From there I also witnessed Van Der Poele's victory donuts.( He would have been banned and fined today)!

Although not a Touring Car fan, I remember the BTCC and TVR Tuscan races were quite entralling.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember watching the Belgian GP highlights in a hotel foyer after the meeting? Phillipe Streiff and Jonathan Palmer having a big shunt in their Tyrrells on the first lap?

All in all, a fantastic weekend, only spoilt by the fact I had missed the previous four!
Tim 27 is offline  
Quote
Old 14 Mar 2006, 21:45 (Ref:1548963)   #8
Tim 27
Racer
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
England
March,Cambs
Posts: 118
Tim 27 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Two other Brum incidents have just sprung to mind: David Hunt's engine going clean through an office brick wall, and Russell Spence refusing to exit his car as it was being craned to safety!
Tim 27 is offline  
Quote
Old 15 Mar 2006, 00:49 (Ref:1549077)   #9
Woolley
Race Official
Veteran
 
Woolley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
England
Wolverhampton, England
Posts: 12,446
Woolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameWoolley will be entering the Motorsport Hall of Fame
Waaay! I got the colours right! Not bad for 15 years ago.

Actually, I'm going to merge this thread and the marshals one, but I'll leave a redirect over there. Better to have all the tales in one place.
Woolley is offline  
__________________
Bill Bryson: It is no longer permitted to be stupid and slow. You must choose one or the other.
Quote
Old 15 Mar 2006, 01:12 (Ref:1549099)   #10
bigears
Racer
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
United Kingdom
Wolverhampton
Posts: 287
bigears should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
No problem, thank you for sorting this out.
bigears is offline  
Quote
Old 15 Mar 2006, 07:53 (Ref:1549241)   #11
simon drabble
Veteran
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location:
Hampshire
Posts: 5,676
simon drabble should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridsimon drabble should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridsimon drabble should be qualifying in the top 3 on the grid
I have two friends who race dat the first one I think. One of them (who shares my car in the long distance races) was in the tin top race although it didnt happen due to the rain. By coincidence on his way to racing Gp C he spent a season in F3000. Another co incidence is that we were chatting about that race at lunch on Sunday!
The other mate ran in the Thundersports race and I think took a class win. Both said it was a great event.
simon drabble is offline  
Quote
Old 15 Mar 2006, 07:53 (Ref:1549243)   #12
rescue dude
Veteran
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
England
Posts: 860
rescue dude is a back marker
Like Jim i also marshalled all five but the best one for me has to be the first one.

I was in a fire tender ( Transit pick-up with big fire bottles strapped to the back)
in the pit-lane and spent all sunday and monday laughing and joking with James Hunt.

I could tell you some stories about him but the mods wouldn't print them.
rescue dude is offline  
Quote
Old 15 Mar 2006, 08:31 (Ref:1549263)   #13
Rob29
Veteran
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
United Kingdom
Lincolnshire,UK
Posts: 3,345
Rob29 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the gridRob29 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Went to every one,missed just one saturday.Have hardly been to any other british racing since as circuits are so boring compared to Birmingham!
Actually,I thought we had already discussed this,and I recall sending some of my photos to 'bigears'- or was it that other forum we are not allowed to mention?
Rob29 is offline  
__________________
Do it in the streets!
Quote
Old 15 Mar 2006, 08:47 (Ref:1549277)   #14
simon drabble
Veteran
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location:
Hampshire
Posts: 5,676
simon drabble should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridsimon drabble should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridsimon drabble should be qualifying in the top 3 on the grid
I also have a sense of deja vous but its a great subject!
simon drabble is offline  
Quote
Old 15 Mar 2006, 12:20 (Ref:1549399)   #15
bigears
Racer
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
United Kingdom
Wolverhampton
Posts: 287
bigears should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Rob, yes you have already sent your collection of BSP photos last year.

Nice to see you in this forum by the way

rescue dude, if you got anything what James Hunt said about the Birmingham Superprix, you can PM me?
bigears is offline  
Quote
Old 15 Mar 2006, 13:14 (Ref:1549436)   #16
Dan Rear
Veteran
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location:
West Lancs
Posts: 2,026
Dan Rear should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
I went in 86 and 88, the latter was complete chaos due to the crashes, and not much of a race as I recall. 86 was the worst weather I ever experienced at a track. The Pavesi Ralts made the rest look silly, Perez Sala I think could be another of our "he looked really good, why didn't he do better in F1...".
Dan Rear is offline  
Quote
Old 15 Mar 2006, 13:19 (Ref:1549445)   #17
bigears
Racer
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
United Kingdom
Wolverhampton
Posts: 287
bigears should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
But Sala made a mess of his lead when he spun into the barriers and losing his nose cover. He lost a lot of ground when Pierluigi Martini and Michel Ferte caught him up. But Sala was saved by the bell when Andrew Gilbert Scott spun into Alain Ferte's abandoned car before the chicane resulting the red flag to be brought out.

Sala won the race when the chasing duo finished about three seconds behind.
bigears is offline  
Quote
Old 16 Mar 2006, 15:49 (Ref:1550303)   #18
rescue dude
Veteran
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
England
Posts: 860
rescue dude is a back marker
What about the drivers football match on the start/finish line?

That was a hoot can't remember who won but Satoru Nakajima had a great time.

After the match swapped jokes with him which was interesting because he couldn't speak English and we went through an interpreter. Weird but very funny!!
rescue dude is offline  
Quote
Old 15 Mar 2006, 20:10 (Ref:1549764)   #19
Shelagh
Pit Lane Hooter
Veteran
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
England
Gnosall, Stafford
Posts: 2,443
Shelagh should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridShelagh should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridShelagh should be qualifying in the top 3 on the grid
I was there in 1990 as a newbie marshal working on Sherlock Street (I think!). We had a huge TVR Tuscan incident - he bounced off the armco on both sides (including knocking back the flag point which was up in the air on scaffolding) before landing right by us. As we helped him over the barrier the poor guy was nearly in tears - it was a new car. I don't think I impressed him by pointing out that the mirror in the middle of the track looked pretty undamaged!

There is also a tale surrounding all the NW marshals going for a Chinese - but I won't repeat it here apart from mentioning that our ex-president Pete Roberts had to carry me inside because he'd tied my shoelaces together on the minibus (unbeknown to me).

And if I recall correctly, some of the delays in 1985 were as a result of local "fans" having gone round unscrewing the bolts in the armco - so they all had to be checked before anything could get going. My uncle, Derek Ongaro rip, was in charge of safety and he was not a happy chappy. Actually.....that gives me a thought for a new thread!
Shelagh is offline  
Quote
Old 16 Mar 2006, 15:34 (Ref:1550291)   #20
VIVA GT
Veteran
 
VIVA GT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
England
Leicestershire
Posts: 5,647
VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!VIVA GT is going for a new world record!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shelagh
And if I recall correctly, some of the delays in 1985 were as a result of local "fans" having gone round unscrewing the bolts in the armco - so they all had to be checked before anything could get going. My uncle, Derek Ongaro rip, was in charge of safety and he was not a happy chappy. Actually.....that gives me a thought for a new thread!
My memory of the armco problem was that is was 'lapped'* the wrong way and the joints had to be changed over.
*This means that the Armco joints should be so that (in the direction of travel) the ending section was on top of the new section. Then there would be no problem with a car 'brushin' the barrier, and digging in.
Just one more thought...
Could this problem have arisen because the circuit was run anti - clockwise, which is the opposite direction to most 'normal' circuits?
VIVA GT is online now  
Quote
Old 16 Mar 2006, 17:45 (Ref:1550387)   #21
Stone Man
Rookie
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 80
Stone Man should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Quote:
Originally Posted by VIVA GT
My memory of the armco problem was that is was 'lapped'* the wrong way and the joints had to be changed over.
*This means that the Armco joints should be so that (in the direction of travel) the ending section was on top of the new section. Then there would be no problem with a car 'brushin' the barrier, and digging in.
Just one more thought...
Could this problem have arisen because the circuit was run anti - clockwise, which is the opposite direction to most 'normal' circuits?
Did you actually see the armco lapped wrongly? After the Thundersports crash (in which I was envolved) I believe there was a legal action in which this was said, but I thought this to do with a gate in the armco and not wrongly lapped armco.
Stone Man is offline  
Quote
Old 16 Mar 2006, 20:35 (Ref:1550522)   #22
Marshal
Veteran
 
Marshal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location:
Bristol
Posts: 1,275
Marshal should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridMarshal should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shelagh
I was there in 1990 as a newbie marshal working on Sherlock Street (I think!). We had a huge TVR Tuscan incident - he bounced off the armco on both sides (including knocking back the flag point which was up in the air on scaffolding) before landing right by us. As we helped him over the barrier the poor guy was nearly in tears - it was a new car. I don't think I impressed him by pointing out that the mirror in the middle of the track looked pretty undamaged!

I was stood on top of the Flag Point when that happened - quite exciting I only went to the last one but I do remember having a brilliant time. The other abiding memory is of waiting for the Barbazza / Irvine battle to arrive into sight and seeing something flash across the end of the street, it was Barbazza proceding (quickly!) to the scene of the accident. Pity as it was his best F3000 drive. Also remember how easy it was to get away from the circuit at the end of the meeting. Fantstic.
Marshal is offline  
Quote
Old 16 Mar 2006, 22:46 (Ref:1550631)   #23
bigears
Racer
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
United Kingdom
Wolverhampton
Posts: 287
bigears should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshal
I was stood on top of the Flag Point when that happened - quite exciting I only went to the last one but I do remember having a brilliant time. The other abiding memory is of waiting for the Barbazza / Irvine battle to arrive into sight and seeing something flash across the end of the street, it was Barbazza proceding (quickly!) to the scene of the accident. Pity as it was his best F3000 drive. Also remember how easy it was to get away from the circuit at the end of the meeting. Fantstic.
Was it a green TVR and you had to bring out the split oil warning flags? I got highlights of the race and I believe it is that car.

Continue contributing this thread, I am really enjoying this thread! If any of you got any photos then I would be very interested!
bigears is offline  
Quote
Old 18 Mar 2006, 15:26 (Ref:1551861)   #24
Shelagh
Pit Lane Hooter
Veteran
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
England
Gnosall, Stafford
Posts: 2,443
Shelagh should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridShelagh should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridShelagh should be qualifying in the top 3 on the grid
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigears
Was it a green TVR and you had to bring out the split oil warning flags? I got highlights of the race and I believe it is that car.
In my memory it was a dark green but I can't comment on the flags. As I've said previously, there was at least a mirror in the track so I'm pretty sure there was other debris as well. And back in 1990 the oil flag was still used for debris, rather than the yellow (but that's a whole different debate).

I also remember that we used the toilets in a nearby pub - I'm sure the locals were very friendly but it wasn't the sort of place I would normally frequent. Or maybe the staring was just due to "this girl in orange overalls" having walked in - that's usually enough to get funny looks!
Shelagh is offline  
Quote
Old 18 Mar 2006, 17:47 (Ref:1551993)   #25
bigears
Racer
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
United Kingdom
Wolverhampton
Posts: 287
bigears should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Yes, it was a dark green TVR still pointing against the armco, not sideways by the armco.

Also the pub you must be referring to is the White Swan pub, it is still there today and I am tempted to pop in one day and ask someone there if they know anything about the BSP!
bigears is offline  
Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Memories of the Birmingham Superprix bigears Marshals Forum 1 15 Mar 2006 00:54
birmingham superprix Mike_Wooshy Trackside 37 2 Nov 2004 13:41


All times are GMT. The time now is 18:28.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Original Website Copyright © 1998-2003 Craig Antil. All Rights Reserved.
Ten-Tenths Motorsport Forums Copyright © 2004-2021 Royalridge Computing. All Rights Reserved.
Ten-Tenths Motorsport Forums Copyright © 2021-2022 Grant MacDonald. All Rights Reserved.