Baubles Picture Parade.

[rbs]

Originally Posted by E.B

Great set of pics 'Cheddars'. Use to love the F2's back then myself, sadly those (Euro Championship) guys would only have visited once to UK per season .

No, they also came to Crystal Palace on whit Monday.

[GCCheddaris]

Thanks E.B. they were actually taken by my brother Colin. Thruxton in 1976 was indeed the only European Championship qualifier in Britain and apart from the 1974 race which was cancelled, from 1968 to 1984 Thruxton was ever present on the European Championship calendar. Other British circuits did hold rounds during that time such as Silverstone, Mallory (!), Brands Hatch and notably Donington which held a round annually from its re-opening in 1977 to Formula Two's end in 1984.

[rbs]

The Crystal Palace European F2 races fo 1600cc cars were held 68,70,71 & 72.
The winners were, Jochen Rindt, JYS , Emerson Fittipaldi & Jody Scheckter.

[GCCheddaris]

That's right rb and I have a feeling the BARC organised the Crystal Palace races as well as the Thruxton events.

Don't forget by 1972 that the two litre Formula Two was in force. Did you get to any of the Crystal Palace Formula Two races ? The noise and sheer spectacle around that tight little circuit must have been amazing.

What a roll call the winners of those Crystal Palace races make, World Champions all. Jochen Rindt won the first three Formula Two races held at Thruxton before losing his life at Monza. The following year Graham Hill won meaning that four past or future World Champions won the first four races at Thruxton.

[Peter Mallett]

I remember the 1976 event. Wasnt that the race where the outright lap record fell?

[rbs]

Originally Posted by GCCheddaris

That's right rb and I have a feeling the BARC organised the Crystal Palace races as well as the Thruxton events.

Don't forget by 1972 that the two litre Formula Two was in force. Did you get to any of the Crystal Palace Formula Two races ? The noise and sheer spectacle around that tight little circuit must have been amazing.

What a roll call the winners of those Crystal Palace races make, World Champions all. Jochen Rindt won the first three Formula Two races held at Thruxton before losing his life at Monza. The following year Graham Hill won meaning that four past or future World Champions won the first four races at Thruxton.

Yes I went to all 4 of the palace races and he noise was unreal. It was not just the F2 cars but the saloons were also very noisy.

[GCCheddaris]

I seem to remember up to 1975 that Formula Two and Formula 5000 alternated in holding the outright lap record and yes you're right Peter, Maurizio Flammini did reset the outright record in the 1976 race. Curiously when the Aurora Formula One series began in 1978 not one of the six races held saw the outright lap record taken away from the Formula Two holder.

Do you have any photographs from those Crystal Palace races rb ? From memory spectators were close to the track although presumably it wouldn't have been easy taking pictures in the middle of such a large crowd.

[Peter Mallett]

Back to Thruxton 76, I also recall the Gulf Porsche in the spectator area behind the main straight.

[GCCheddaris]

I don't recall the Gulf Porsche but do remember an all Ferrari race at the end of the meeting which featured Willie Green (I think) in a Ferrari 512S and a chap by the name of Lou Lorenzini who drove not only a 312P in the Ferrari race but also demonstrated an ex Niki Lauda 312B3, both cars owned by a Ferrari collector by the name of Michael Vernon. Lorenzini badly damaged the 312B3 when testing it the following year at Silverstone.

[bauble]

A rummage through the archives, and lo and behold;

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by GCCheddaris

I don't recall the Gulf Porsche but do remember an all Ferrari race at the end of the meeting which featured Willie Green (I think) in a Ferrari 512S and a chap by the name of Lou Lorenzini who drove not only a 312P in the Ferrari race but also demonstrated an ex Niki Lauda 312B3, both cars owned by a Ferrari collector by the name of Michael Vernon. Lorenzini badly damaged the 312B3 when testing it the following year at Silverstone.

Yes, it was the first time it had happened. They said it was the.most expensive grid to be assembled. First time I saw the breadvan.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by GCCheddaris

Thanks E.B. they were actually taken by my brother Colin. Thruxton in 1976 was indeed the only European Championship qualifier in Britain and apart from the 1974 race which was cancelled, from 1968 to 1984 Thruxton was ever present on the European Championship calendar. Other British circuits did hold rounds during that time such as Silverstone, Mallory (!), Brands Hatch and notably Donington which held a round annually from its re-opening in 1977 to Formula Two's end in 1984.

Hehehe funnily enough I was just reading about the Mallory F2 race in 1971 (In the Niki Lauda biog).... it seems championship rounds were at Thruxton and the Palace, but there was also a non champ race with all the Euro boys running at Mallory in March 1971. The I Speed International Trophy race. It featured the likes of Lauda (his first ever F2 race, with March). Some big names on the entry list although some were no shows on race day (the Rondels for Regga and Schenken DNA'd) Pescarolo, Birrell, Brian Hart, Beuttler, Reutemann, Bell, Watson, Lauda, Siffert, Peterson, Walkinshaw, etc.etc all raced.
One of the DNA's was Graham Hill in an Ecclestone entered Lotus 69 FVA

[midgetman]

Sorry Baub, for those of us not in the know, who is the subject of your rummage?.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[rbs]

Originally Posted by GCCheddaris

Do you have any photographs from those Crystal Palace races rb ? From memory spectators were close to the track although presumably it wouldn't have been easy taking pictures in the middle of such a large crowd.

I do have some pictures but they are35mm slides, one of my next jobs is to get a scanner & convert them to digital, but that will be when I finish decorating!

[rbs]

Back to the pictures and Bauble's friend Simon is also versatile!

[bauble]

You swine RB, beat me too it!

The subject of my rummage was Pat Blakeney-Edwards, following on from RB's excellent display of the man. It illustrates just how versatile he is, and I'm sure there are more to be unearthed.

[bauble]

There is nothing more relaxing than to spend a day at a race track;

[bauble]

Some different Diffey pics;

[rbs]

More Diffey.

[bauble]

A few rom Classic Media days;

[bauble]

More of the same;

[Gerard C]

Pic 6 could be a Neckar Weinsberg but in RHD I doubt… Or another version of the Yogurt Pot???

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Pic 6 could be a Neckar Weinsberg but in RHD I doubt… Or another version of the Yogurt Pot???

It's listed with the DVLA as 'NECKAR WEINSBERG 500'

[E.B]

To be more specific it is the Neckar Weinsberg 500 Coupe .... it has the wraparound rear window... the Limousin had a flat rear glass with side windows. Only 3 in the UK apparently, with only one RHD.
It is also the 'luxury version'... it has a two tone bodywork and a sliding sunroof rather than a folding roof.

[Gerard C]

When it comes to Fiat 500 what a batch of pedantic specialists we are !!! Must cost an arm and a kidney for a 26 HP asmatic twin powered limo…*I owned a Nuova, a Giardiniera and a Lutece. Great moments on the highway!