70s Super Saloon Pics

[Tattoo]

Thanks for the welcome,

If i find any good pictures i will post them here.

David, we share the same surname, one t as well, do most people spell your name with two t's, that is always happening to me.

Cheers

[DAVID PATERSON]

I am always getting two t's. I guess it is because that is far more common.

I like to tell people that the English spell it with two and the Scottish spell it it with one, because they wouldn't shell out for the extra letter.

[Andrew Kitson]

Tony Hazelwood's Daf V8 in 1973 at Brands.

[paddy]

Thanks for all the pictures. These really were great days. I remember particularly the preperation on Nick Whiting's cars always being so fantastic. Mick Hill's Beetle was a real beast. He spun coming out of Shaws in practice and rejoined with a spin turn of huge proportions, clouds of blue smoke, tyre squeal, deafening roar and a wave to the crowd. As the days progressed these cars became very sophisticated, basically F1, F5000 cars with bodywork.

[Craner Curves]

Been doing a bit of searching round the web and come across this photo of a Boss 5.7 Escort in 1974 I think it said. It's the Border Reivers car of Douglas Niven. Apparantly it won the heat in which it is pictured here and then was destroyed in the final when it somersaulted off over a toilet block!

[Andrew Kitson]

Doug then put that engine in a Capri, which he raced in 75. Nicholas Wattiez then 'bought' it from him. I had a weekend / school holiday job helping Nicholas out in 74 with his F5000 Lola, as 'chief car polisher and general gofer'His mechanic was the legendary Malcolm Malone who worked on Hailwood's F5000 cars.
Nick competed in two meetings in early 76 with the Capri until Doug and his boys came down to Huntingdon from Scotland to retrieve it and all the spares, as Nick's cheque wouldn't fly! Nick eventually sadly ended up inside due to some of his dodgy business dealings.I read that he is now back inside for a second time so didn't learn obviously.

[Andrew Kitson]

Remember Tony Hazelwood's Jag, after the DAF?
Found this in an old MN.

[Andrew Kitson]

A Donington GT grid with super saloons to the fore in the late 70s.
Walter Robertson's DFV Skoda on pole, Mick Hill's 7 litre Skoda Phoenix alongside with his ex-5 litre Chev Beetle behind. Also in the background is Baby Bertha.

[Andrew Kitson]

Possibly the greatest of all Mk1 Escorts - along with Frank Gardners Alan Mann 'X00 349F'.
Nick Whiting's fantastic All Car Equipe version.

[mickj]

What capacity was Nick Whitings motor.Thanks
Mick

[Andrew Kitson]

Hi Mickj - This one was 2 litre and very quick! Brodie's 'Run Baby Run' should also be added to the list of great Mk 1s.

[mickj]

Thanks Andrew, I'd forgotten about the 'Run Baby Run'Escort of Brodies.

[GT350]

Another first timer so fingers crossed.Photo(hopefully!)from Donington Park circa 1979/80,I'm pretty sure thats Doug Niven in his Chevy-Beetle,not sure about the Skoda driver or chassis/engine.Good to see so many images of these fantastic cars posted its a pity you don't see them trackside.

[Peter Mallett]

Welcome to the forum GT350.

[Andrew Kitson]

Hi GT350. Welcome.
Your photo does not appear to have uploaded.
Is it too big? Keep it at a max of 400 pixels wide on the longest side.

[GT350]

This should hopefully be the mising photo from my previous post.Thanks Andrew for the advice.

[andy wilson]

andrew
how many special/super saloon photos do u have .that jags looks a bit special wheres the engine any more pics

[flatlander_48]

Far Out Stuff!! In the 'states, we would call that Run What Ya Brung!! Fun class, but I assume that it doesn't exist anymore?

[Dan Rear]

Brilliant pictures, so many memories. I always remember Mallory in the 70s, when they had an Under 1000cc race early in the programme (Minis/Imps/odd Anglia), then the big boys came out usually last. Sugden, Whiting, Bill Cox, Strawson, Mick Hill, Minshaw, Graham Goode, Woodman, plus occasionally some real weird stuff, like the Berpop, John Pope magnum/Aston, I could go on. It was usually the quick 2-litres that won, though, I always thought the bigger the engines, the less reliable they were.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
David Howes' Javelin.

Praise God, I saw a picture of a UK Javelin in the Autosport ann. edition and inquired in every UK site I could think of back then, and now here it is by chance.
Do you have anymore information on it? Especially, what happened to it.
Bob

[glyn parham]

Bob, I remember watching David race the car in 1972 and'73 in the BTCC. IIRC the car was painted white in '72 and in Trans Am colours (red, white and blue) in '73.
I am sure David raced this car for another couple of seasons before moving onto other things. Also I think david was an importer of AMC cars at this time.

[big andy]

which is/was the fastest super saloon of all.

[Andrew Kitson]

I guess that would have to be one of the later Skoda clones. Probably Walter Robertsons DFV powered car?

[Dan Rear]

When Supersaloons were really strong in the mid-70s, I'd say Baby Bertha was quickest, it very rarely got beaten anyway at any track as I recall.

Later on when things got more sophisticated, I guess it depends which track. At the more twisty ones, I'd go for a 2 litre Skoda, perhaps Derek Walkers or Robertson's. For the longer and quicker circuits, maybe the DFVW, Mick Hill's 'Phoenix' or Whiting's MK2 GA Escort.

One of the quickest of these GTs I ever saw though at Mallory was Nicky Ellis' BDG Elan. That walked a Modsports race once, OK, not against very much, but his fastest lap was better than all the Super/Special saloon records up until that time, early 1980. It also went well in Donington GTs against the Skodas. Whatever happened to that Car/Driver, they were sensational that day.

Dan

[Bob Riebe]

I hate to dig up an old item, but I am wondering. OF these Super Saloons, how long or how many were modified production cars (unibody, frame, or sub-frames onto which a roll-cage chassis was attached) and when did they become ground-up tube frame thingies.
Bob