1970's & 80's Super Saloons & Special Saloons (merged) - Page 9

**Peter Mallett** · 8 Mar 2007, 09:39 (Ref:1861246)

Hmm.

Tim Wilkinson · 8 Mar 2007, 09:45 (Ref:1861254)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoTWire

Thats a real shame ... at least the Daf is still around.

Anyone know what happened to the others? Suprised Big Bertha is gone...

Went after 6 races. Crashed and most of it reshelled into Baby B.

HoTWire · 8 Mar 2007, 11:22 (Ref:1861352)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Wilkinson

Went after 6 races. Crashed and most of it reshelled into Baby B.

*Makes mental note to remember Baby Bertha history before opening mouth*

HoTWire · 8 Mar 2007, 11:25 (Ref:1861357)

Having gone through the thread did anything happen with racing59's planning?

I'd love to gather some of the existing special saloons and thunder saloons together at Mallory for the RR07 event,.. they hold fond memories for me from seeing the Thunder Saloons run at Brands Hatch in the early-90s

R59 · 8 Mar 2007, 11:58 (Ref:1861379)

Lots of things conspired to put paid to it all.

If I could hand the idea to someone who has the time, and the right connections, I'm happy to do so.

I had around 17 positives regarding a race. It was based on getting some track time at Rockingham cheaply - to fill gaps where they appeared. Sadly it didn't happen.

Yes, it would be nice to do something. Like I said, I don't have the time or where-with-all to do it now.

Regarding Stewart Moreton's Mk5 Escort - Chevrolet powered - Lola (I think) transaxle at the rear, thus a live prop. Hmmmm.

And as Andy Pipe has mentioned - it's being rebuilt, which is great news.

I had a look at the ex-Tony Hart Triumph Slag pages, and I thought that restoration meant "restoring to original"... not painting bright orange. That's something that I'd do. Not a proper restorer!

Any road up. Back to the treadmill. Gotta get this car ready.

Rob.

GBRM · 8 Mar 2007, 21:51 (Ref:1861833)

Looking at that ebay link I'd love to think it was the same car, someone on here buy it and find out!!

As for the previous entries, obviously Big Bertha no longer exists, six races, won three of them and the last one ended in the barriers at Silverstone.

Yes, she could've been repaired, but the whole design was compromised and luckily the fuel crisis, three day week and Vauxhall deciding to drop the V8 Ventora did the job, write the car off, re-build it, don't tell the management, we'll cut our what we want and build what we want, hey presto, Baby Bertha out of Big Bertha.

From the cars in that picture, the only one I know that defintiely survives is John Pope's Viva HC Aston, which was one of the original DTV Vivas that got written off in '71 during the first race of the Firenza "Old Nail" and the car was built into a Firenza 4 door style but with a turbo-charged Aston V8 engine and raced in Super Saloons and I can also tell you Gerry Marshall raced it himself!!

rcarr · 8 Mar 2007, 22:25 (Ref:1861864)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

This one looks familair http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=015

If I had the money and the space and my Dad would let me, I would buy it as my next project! I've always fancied a car with sufficient power to handle my body weight. Very tempting indeed!

Over the past few months I have been pooling my resources and could now take on a project like that!

**Peter Mallett** · 9 Mar 2007, 05:22 (Ref:1862028)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcarr

If I had the money and the space and my Dad would let me, I would buy it as my next project!

Actually I think if it goes for less than 1500 pst it'll be good for a Group 2 project.

HoTWire · 9 Mar 2007, 22:23 (Ref:1862668)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GBRM

From the cars in that picture, the only one I know that defintiely survives is John Pope's Viva HC Aston, which was one of the original DTV Vivas that got written off in '71 during the first race of the Firenza "Old Nail" and the car was built into a Firenza 4 door style but with a turbo-charged Aston V8 engine and raced in Super Saloons and I can also tell you Gerry Marshall raced it himself!!

Do you know where this is now days then??

I've heard that the current owners of Baby Bertha are keen to get it out to a few more shows this year, and their contact details are winging their way to me... but I'd love some more cars there this year, there is the possibility of track time on the sprint if any of the owners are interested.

I have one eye on the future and the possibility of another stab at a race event, with the MSA and Mallory's management scheduled to be at Retro Rides Show already it would be a good chance to get some of the drivers and cars together to maybe discuss that all in one place. Whilst at the same time showing these cars to a whole audience that would love to see them in the flesh and more importantly in the long term, would love to see them race again.

GBRM · 9 Mar 2007, 22:56 (Ref:1862688)

Yeah, of course I know where the White ex-DTV Viva GT is and Old Nail, that's one of my family misfortunes!!

As for Baby B, that's something that I'd like to think I can arrange but Joe Ward has the final say over it and if you need contact details then just shout.

As mentioned above, Old Nail was a far more significant car than Baby B, but Baby B caught everyone's imagination brilliantly.

I could definitely guarantee a couple of the old Vauxhalld for some kind of racr.

terence · 10 Mar 2007, 08:29 (Ref:1862861)

Knowing Joe he would be more than happy to bring bertha out,theres nowhere for him to race it after all,apart from last years run in the Birket.It used to be fantastic having her on the rollers,happy days.

GBRM · 11 Mar 2007, 20:38 (Ref:1863852)

It would be great if Joe did bring Baby B out (and let me know for once!) and I'll do my best have "Old Nail" running, demo only though. I could get my Droop Snoot involved and speak to Popey about getting the white one out and I believe Ton Davies would get his Firenza going and the guys that bought the old SMT Firenza could get that out. Someone just needs to find all these old V8 Capris and BDA Escorts now!!

Farbrooke · 12 Mar 2007, 11:24 (Ref:1864529)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GBRM

It would be great if Joe did bring Baby B out (and let me know for once!) and I'll do my best have "Old Nail" running, demo only though. I could get my Droop Snoot involved and speak to Popey about getting the white one out and I believe Ton Davies would get his Firenza going and the guys that bought the old SMT Firenza could get that out. Someone just needs to find all these old V8 Capris and BDA Escorts now!!

Unfortunately the August date clashes with Phoenix Park weekend where Gabriel wants to run either her Viva GT or the Blydenstein Viva HC (sister car to Old Nail) which we now have back in the rudest of health.

HoTWire · 14 Mar 2007, 08:35 (Ref:1866224)

GBRM : can you PM me your and Joe's contact details please.. very very keen to have both Baby Bertha and Old Nail there.. in either a static or running capacity, both cars have such a great history and will certainly be a highlight for many people to see them in the flesh.

Does anyone know if Colin Hawker's DFVW is still alive? Or did it get stripped down to parts? Do any of Mick Hill's cars exist any more, specifically the Skoda and the Beetle?

terence · 15 Mar 2007, 08:05 (Ref:1867010)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoTWire

GBRM : can you PM me your and Joe's contact details please.. very very keen to have both Baby Bertha and Old Nail there.. in either a static or running capacity, both cars have such a great history and will certainly be a highlight for many people to see them in the flesh.

Does anyone know if Colin Hawker's DFVW is still alive? Or did it get stripped down to parts? Do any of Mick Hill's cars exist any more, specifically the Skoda and the Beetle?

A word of caution,Berthas engine is getting a little tired ,hence the reason for its fairly conservative progress in the 2005 Birket,so dont get your hopes up.

HoTWire · 15 Mar 2007, 15:52 (Ref:1867347)

Quote:

Originally Posted by terence bower

A word of caution,Berthas engine is getting a little tired ,hence the reason for its fairly conservative progress in the 2005 Birket,so dont get your hopes up.

To be honest I'm happy to have it static, it would a treat for many people to get to see it in the flesh. A run through the sprint would be the icing on the cake, conservative or otherwise.

terence · 15 Mar 2007, 19:24 (Ref:1867537)

She does still look the part though.Good luck.

HoTWire · 16 Mar 2007, 12:00 (Ref:1868209)

Does anyone know what happened to the Nick Whiting Mk2 Escort?

Dan Rear · 16 Mar 2007, 15:32 (Ref:1868338)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoTWire

Does anyone know what happened to the Nick Whiting Mk2 Escort?

Sold by Nick to John Kirk in Scotland for the 79 season when Nick did G1. John K used it for a year or 2, not sure after that.

cliverich · 2 Apr 2007, 22:02 (Ref:1882321)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Podd37

Hi guys, you have probably seen this post in other places but I'm trying to find a Fiat 128 that was raced by Jean Denton in Special Saloons in the early 70's, possibly just in 72. The only pic I have of the car shows it to be yellow and blue striped. It was left hand drive and sponsored by Huxfords. Any one know of its whereabouts?
On another note, and you may have covered it elsewhere (didn't have time to read it all) Ron Cumming now runs the AC here in Ireland in Libre races. Last time I spoke to him he also has the Sierra that was mentioned and various other bits.

Sadly, Jean's ex-Filipinetti 128 is no more. I wrote it off when testing it at Goodwood for Cars & Car Conversions mag in 1972. Something happened with the rear suspension and tripped it up, putting it on its roof at St Mary's, I think. No harm to me, but terminal to the striped shell. We still published my track test, with photos taken by Jasper Spencer-Smith.

Jean always blamed me, but I swear it was not my fault. Unfortunately for me, many years later she became my boss. She was PR director for Austin Rover, I headed up international and motorsport (6R4 and ETC/BSCC Vitesses) PR. She went onwards and upwards to the House of Lords. I was just thankful to escape Austin Rover and Jean's well-publicised declaration to make the AR PR department all female.

Regards,

Clive Richardson

**John Turner** · 3 Apr 2007, 14:14 (Ref:1882728)

Warm welcome, Clive!

Podd37 · 3 Apr 2007, 16:05 (Ref:1882779)

I have pm'd you Clive. As I mentioned you are not the only person that tripped up over the rear wheels in a 128. They could do a very good impression of a swing axle! Seems the top mounts for the dampers wern't the strongest.

GORDON STREETER · 3 Apr 2007, 21:24 (Ref:1882952)

I used to service a few 128s and used to keep and regually fit new rear shock top mounts, in fact I found a brand new one in my clutter the other week ! I can't believe that people used to race them without modding this very important part . It was a flexible mount that bolted to the body that was made out of a bit of inner tube !

Podd37 · 4 Apr 2007, 07:47 (Ref:1883154)

Hi Gordon. I dont think it was really a problem for the Grp 1 cars as the tended to just slide around on skinny rear tyres but when people moved Grp 2, with wider stickier tyres, it put unexpected loads on the mount. I suppose thats how we learn stuff.....by watching other people crash!

Dex · 20 Apr 2007, 01:15 (Ref:1895922)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GBRM

It would be great if Joe did bring Baby B out (and let me know for once!) and I'll do my best have "Old Nail" running, demo only though.

Just worked out who this is

You'd better let me know if you do get them both together - last time i saw Old Nail was Billing (and got a couple of good pics) but would be good to get some of Baby as well (although Old Nail has to be my favourite still)

Mind you - still wanting to get yours and mine (and mine and old nail!) together for a shoot - when we both pull our fingers out and get our cars back together again!

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