(Super) road saloons - where are they now?

[Al Weyman]

I think this post is getting confused with Mod-Prods, may of those names either entered both or were ModProds only.

What about all them fantastic Mitsubishi Lancers

Alan ZIni was one of the front runners, when that thing went man was it quick but invariable it failed.

Ray West's car is still around and sitting ready to go according to his prodigy and current very quick CTRCC Ascona runner Dave Hicton. I spoke with Ray at Thruxton, don't think much chance of him coming out as he would have to run in Classic Thunder as the CTRCC Group 1 rules do notallow in a Manta 400 in fact neither did Super Road Saloons (I believe) which is why Ray raced it with us in ModProds.

Derek Wileman did have a Capri and Cavalier (Turbo I believe) and used them both in ModProds before going over to the dark side (Castle Combe Saloons with their silly 3 litre limit)! His son Alan also raced with us (I think him or his name sake is currently running in the CTRCC BMW's not sure).

[MiniMadness]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Derek Wileman did have a Capri and Cavalier (Turbo I believe) and used them both in ModProds before going over to the dark side (Castle Combe Saloons with their silly 3 litre limit)! His son Alan also raced with us (I think him or his name sake is currently running in the CTRCC BMW's not sure).

That's interesting, I raced against Alan in his yellow BMW down at Lydden a couple of years ago. He had a good scrap with Liam Crilly, unfortunitely I broke my clutch that day. Another car that was racing, was one of them big Saab Turbo's that used to be a Road Saloon, but he planted it into the tyres at Paddock.

[R59]

Jonners, I'll make some enquiries through a convaluted route, may take a while as the jungle drums take time around Eastern Angela, errr I mean Anglia.

I remember wincing as I blasted up between the Cortina and the pit barrier when it bogged down during a start at Snetterton. It was a case of "don't hit that Cortina, it's mint!" I started the row behind, and it was the only gap available! You can squeeze a Nova Sport through a letterbox sized gap!!

Jon Woodward was last heard of working for TOMS, but since they've gone, I have no idea where he is now. Same jungle drums apply...

Don't watch this space, you'll gets spots before the eyes.

Rob.

[RoyG]

Originally Posted by racing59

Roy Gravestock - probably too old to race now (if that doesn't get the old git back out in a car, I dunno what will). Still spends his time navigating through the side windows of various Nova's with knobbly tyres, once ran as high as 3rd overall in the Circuit of Ireland rally when it snowed, and being Roy, he was on road tyres, when everyone else was caught out on slicks, came to an early demise taking avoidance of an earlier incident.

Compton - you cheeky scrote!! Despite getting a heating allowance this year I'm still playing this silly motorsport game! Not too old to race - it's that bloody stress-related ECG test that us old buggers need for racing that puts me off!!

Finally kicked the Nova habit after 21 years, at the moment building a Corsa 'C', mainly for Endurance Rallying, but also for a bit of Stage Rallying.

We've done the Lombard Revival Rally for the last 2 years (8th overall in 2005 with Tim "Mighty-mouth" Ball. Doing the 2006 Revival Rally in October.

Spoke to Richard "Mr Whippy" Gane tonight. He and Chris "No-idea" Adams (London cabbies extraordinaire!!) are now both Integra mounted. Richard is driving in the 24-Hours next week.

Anyway, best regards to any Toyo Tyres competitors of the early 90's.

Cheers,

Roy

P.S. Still using road tyres!!!

[MiniMadness]

Other names - Steve Pattison (Golf/Scirocco) I used to go to school with his son Jason (Golf mk2). I still see Steve down at Lydden.

Someone mentioned Lol Dyke in a Corolla GT wasn't it a FWD version ? Another driver to race the pocket rocket was Bob Hawkins. Great looking paint scheme red/white (same as my MR2 !!)

Derek Wileman also had a Vauxhall Cavaliar. Was his Capri blue/white with a X pack ?

What about all them fantastic Mitsubishi Lancers (Jeff Robinson/Simon Orr/Martin Tyman/Joe Macari)

And the most surprising of them all Roger Turner in a Lada Samara !!

[G.Walker]

I remember the red Vauxhall Firenza of Mostyn Rutter, last raced in the Group 1 touring cars.....

The Super Roads had huge grids, cars appearing and disappearing all the time. I remember James Baker is a potent Rover SD1, later sold to Andrew Turvey i believe, which appeared in Mod Prods.

Their was a load of Mistubishi Colt Lancer Turbos, Lotus Sunbeams (Kaye,Smirthwaite) and a Turbo Maestro pedalled by Colin Francis..

I think the regulations became dated, our firenza had to compete against light weight super quick 1900 Peaugot 205s in Class B (1900cc to 2300cc ..) an expensive task.

Is Ray Wests Manta still competing??

[R59]

Originally Posted by G.Walker

I remember the red Vauxhall Firenza of Mostyn Rutter, last raced in the Group 1 touring cars.....

The Super Roads had huge grids, cars appearing and disappearing all the time. I remember James Baker is a potent Rover SD1, later sold to Andrew Turvey i believe, which appeared in Mod Prods.

Their was a load of Mistubishi Colt Lancer Turbos, Lotus Sunbeams (Kaye,Smirthwaite) and a Turbo Maestro pedalled by Colin Francis..

I think the regulations became dated, our firenza had to compete against light weight super quick 1900 Peaugot 205s in Class B (1900cc to 2300cc ..) an expensive task.

Is Ray Wests Manta still competing??

The Jaimes Baker Rover was driven by Andrew Turvey who was his mechanic. I think the car was actually "owned" by David Baker, Jaimes' father, and Andrew drove it when Jaimes was too busy doing Autosport stuff.

As for the superquick 1900 Peugeots, it was a 25 year old Mk1 Escort that was the car to beat in the latter days of the "old rules".

Roger Turner - yes, very quick, but considering how much time he spent behind the wheel of that car, and the rally car he also had, he was "at one" with it.

Another name that appeared from time to time was Simon Gent, who's pedalling a Ka in the Ford Saloons. He first appeared hiring a drive in Graham Millwards Lotus, then later in a Fiesta.

Martin Tyman - yep he took to the Lancer route when the Rover that he and Roger Lott (of grass cutting Citroen AX fame in later years) shared passed on...

What was the chap's name who ran the Audi Coupe - I remember he came from Macclesfield...

Rob.

[sunbeam73]

Hi all,

Wow all those names brings it all back, I've still got all the results etc from when I was in Toyo SRS in the early to mid90s.
I used to race a Sunbeam Ti (No. 73) but had loads of problems blowing engines because of cooling problems and never really developed the car in the correct way. The racing was brilliant though, packed grids, close action and prize money too.
For some stupid reason I then converted the car to run in 750mc hothatch then realised that racing against fiestas with no metal left in the bodywork wasn't going to work really, the car was totally useless on the Yokos and the car had been smashed up a bit so I decided it needed a new shell.
Then I snapped up Vince Mitchell's Falken Mod Prod Sunbeam which had been festering in his garage for a few years and converted it to Hot Hatch spec - another mistake, hardly any faster. I then discovered on the internet CSCC Championships and bodged the car to Gp1 spec, buying panels and trim from Steve Quenby, turning up to its 1st outing at Snet in Sept99 just to test the water, the car and tyres were awesome and I smashed the lap record for class D, and decded this was the series to go for winning the class in 2000 and 2001 - 4th then 3rd overall. Friends I'd made in the series then went on to Kumho BMW's, I was persuaded to move on, part with my beloved Sunbeam for a Princely sum and build a 325i - ouch! Where did all my money go? Finally the car was finished (almost) in Sept 2002 albeit with a standard engine exhaust and gearbox - this would do for now. I raced it at Snetterton, something was wrong with the cooling system and I retired before things got too hot, then realised I was never going to have the money or the time to compete at this level so sold the whole lot and have never raced since.
I now have a family with two girls of 2yrs and 8 weeks, a hefty mortgage and no freetime or money to play with so that's that!

Good to read all the posts on this, for those that are still racing good luck!

Cheers.

Sean Cockrell

[sunbeam73]

and here's a few images,
will build the website one day![IMG]www.seancockrell.co.uk[/IMG]

[R59]

Hi Sean,

Nice pic with you in front of Graham Millward's Astra, and then Eric Crawley's Lotus at the Thundersaloon meeting at Snet (I could tell by the C-Fresh transporter behind...)

Didn't some ratbag nick your car (Sunbeam) from it's new owner?

Rob.

[ferdyjennyuk]

Originally Posted by R59

Hi Sean,

Nice pic with you in front of Graham Millward's Astra, and then Eric Crawley's Lotus at the Thundersaloon meeting at Snet (I could tell by the C-Fresh transporter behind...)

Didn't some ratbag nick your car (Sunbeam) from it's new owner?

Rob.

hi; you mention graham millward,,,,is he still racing?? and about,, trying to contasct him now for 6 months,,cannot find,,links,,,help,,,,ferdyjennyuk

[R59]

To be honest, I think the days of Road Saloons, and Super Road Saloons are now over.

Some of our compadre's went off to do Hot Hatches and Stock Hatches in the past. Some have just plain packed up.

Tim Dodwell tried to revive the Road Saloons some time back, but had no real support.

We also keep harping on about there being too many championships, so creating another one or two won't help the issue.

I suppose I could ask the 750MC to bring back F5000......

Rob.

[chunterer]

A shame, but time moves on for everyone and everything I guess.
However surely there's be an opportunity for a semi histric effort perhaps for a series of races rather than a full season?

Someone mentioned the Firenza's earlier - I remmber back in the Duckhams days that Trevor Griffiths and a guy near where I live; Rob Walker, (I think?) had a pair of indecently quick examples.

They were up against David Shead's Mk1 Capri, Derek Wileman's Mk3, a couple of Dolomite Sprints, the John Newbould's rorty Cortina, a couple of excelllent Sunbeam Lotus', and, a Mazda RX3 I seem to recall!!!?

The fields were always packed with races for the 2 big classes and races for the smaller 2 classes as well.

Was pretty good entertainment

[malgrips]

Hi Chunterer. RE Tevor Griffiths - Firenza. I recently made the aquaintance of Trevor who is very much back in the motor racing fold running his own TJ Motorsorts team in Norfolk. Following on from another thread "Where have all the racing Magnums gone" I know that Trevor would like to get hold of his old car if it is still around. Does anyone have any ideas what might have happened to the car?

Regards, Malgrips

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by malgrips

Hi Chunterer. RE Tevor Griffiths - Firenza. I recently made the aquaintance of Trevor who is very much back in the motor racing fold running his own TJ Motorsorts team in Norfolk. Regards, Malgrips

So his TJ outfit's still going is it? I lost track of things about 10 years ago when he was running the Vectra and stuff. Really nice bloke Trevor and a good driver as well as an engineer iirc?

I remember that Trevor had good competition in the silver Droopsnoot from Rob Walker's similar car. I think Rob converted his car in to a classic DTV spec version?

[GBRM]

Originally Posted by malgrips

Hi Chunterer. RE Tevor Griffiths - Firenza. I recently made the aquaintance of Trevor who is very much back in the motor racing fold running his own TJ Motorsorts team in Norfolk. Following on from another thread "Where have all the racing Magnums gone" I know that Trevor would like to get hold of his old car if it is still around. Does anyone have any ideas what might have happened to the car?

Regards, Malgrips

Try posting here

http://droopsnootgroup.yuku.com/

I'm not sure of the inter-forum etiquette but if a problem then pm or e-mail me and I'll post for you.

[G.Walker]

[QUOTE=malgrips]Hi Chunterer. RE Tevor Griffiths - Firenza. I recently made the aquaintance of Trevor who is very much back in the motor racing fold running his own TJ Motorsorts team in Norfolk. Following on from another thread "Where have all the racing Magnums gone" I know that Trevor would like to get hold of his old car if it is still around. Does anyone have any ideas what might have happened to the car?

The Trevor Griffiths Firenza has changed hands between Rob Walker and Mostyn Rutter a few times , the latter class winning in Group 1 touring cars in 2002.

[MiniMadness]

[quote=G.Walker]

Originally Posted by malgrips

Hi Chunterer. RE Tevor Griffiths - Firenza. I recently made the aquaintance of Trevor who is very much back in the motor racing fold running his own TJ Motorsorts team in Norfolk. Following on from another thread "Where have all the racing Magnums gone" I know that Trevor would like to get hold of his old car if it is still around. Does anyone have any ideas what might have happened to the car?

The Trevor Griffiths Firenza has changed hands between Rob Walker and Mostyn Rutter a few times , the latter class winning in Group 1 touring cars in 2002.

I know that an old Gerry Marshall Vauxhall Magnum has been restored and is being raced by a guy called Adrian (can't remember his surname). I went testing with Adrian at Mallory last year.

Is Micky Rason the guy that used to race a yellow Mini ??

[splash lazenby]

Super coupe and super road saloons have been done, road saloons was mega popular in its heyday and loads of drivers came and went, it would be great to know where the drivers and cars have ended up

[Al Weyman]

I gave them up when I totalled my Talbot at Oulton Park over 200 miles from home and had no way of getting it back, I thought what a damned silly rule (no trailers, sorry Tim in advance) and went and started ModProds.

[R59]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

I gave them up when I totalled my Talbot at Oulton Park over 200 miles from home and had no way of getting it back, I thought what a damned silly rule (no trailers, sorry Tim in advance) and went and started ModProds.

That's why RAC membership was a good idea.

They saved my bacon a few times when I won class D in 1991. Ahh nostalgia again! It ain't what it used to be.

[Tim Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by splash lazenby

Super coupe and super road saloons have been done, road saloons was mega popular in its heyday and loads of drivers came and went, it would be great to know where the drivers and cars have ended up

I think a lot of the cars ended up on trackdays, tho there's still a few racing. I have a lot of old results sheets, dating back to 1990-91, then from 95 or 96 onwards, and I don't recognise the vast majority of names, so most may have given up.

I've had two roadsaloon astra mk2s; one will probably be in hot hatch next year (the Jim Pocklington / Chris Broad one) with it's new owner, and I'll be using Mitch's old car, possibly in DTRC. Neither are kept road legal anymore.

[splash lazenby]

my dad raced from 95 to 04 in a capri in 95 then in a multi valve mk2 golf from 96 to 04 (which i shared with him 2000 to 04, not nearly as quick as the old man though!), the capri was last seen for sale in redline magazine in the late nineties and the golf is in pieces in my dads garage. He's now built a 205 for stock hatch and we've just bought a 2nd 205 for me to race next year. It wold be good to find a home for the golf where it would be competitive again, the golf was No16 from 97 to 04 so it should crop up on a few of your results sheets(1999 for sure!)

[Al Weyman]

Actually I did have it and I used it to get home but the jobsworth driver (a contractor) started giving it large about how people like me delay rescue of more desrving cases so I just stuffed a tenner in his greedy mit and told him to shut up as my hearts really bleeding for them now get me home, muppet!

[Al Weyman]

What is your dad's name, we may know him.