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Old 5 Nov 2003, 12:25 (Ref:773736)   #1
davemorganfan
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Alex Clacher and his Hillman Imp

Very fast car, very good driver. Used to appear on Northern circuits in the 70s, always at or near the front,regularly terrorising drivers of big engined Escorts and the like. Is he and the car still around? Would have woken up a few southerners if he had ever ventured down south, the fact that he was based in Scotland can't have helped. Anyone else remember him?
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Old 5 Nov 2003, 15:39 (Ref:773916)   #2
Jeremy Jackson
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Jeremy Jackson should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
I remember him! Some good races at Croft with a Mini driver called Sedric Bell in 1970-72
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Old 6 Nov 2003, 12:43 (Ref:774762)   #3
Dan Rear
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I remember the name, and the fact that he won most things 'up north' in that class. If he had have come down, I suspect he'd have had to be pretty quick to beat either John Holmwood in the south, or Jeff Ward in the midlands. 1-Litre saloons were very good around that time, lots of quick Imps and Minis, plus the odd Anglia. Also anyone remember Derek Walker's Fiat, that was a superb little thing, very quick driver I thought. Also there was a very fast A40 (can't remember the driver)and later on a Moggie Minor Ford. Later still the various Stillettos came, most based on sports car tubs, and of course perhaps quickest of all the Enderby Karmann Ghia.
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Old 6 Nov 2003, 13:28 (Ref:774810)   #4
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All very familiar names - I seem to remember there were two quick 1-litre A40s in the '70s - Peter Cartledge (?) in the Midlands/North West and Bill Shepherd's "A-Fordie" in the South.

I have fond memories of the Kent Messenger 1-litre championship that ran at Brands from 1972-76 (and an earlier version sponsored by Practial Motorist). The Imps of John Homewood and Ray Calcutt were fairly dominant in those years, but it was fun watching Mini drivers like Steve Hall, Terry Attoe and John Schneider (plus the infamous Mo Mendham) chasing the Imps, and running rings round them in the wet.

John Homewood's success was such that in '76 the series introduced a regulation banning all past champions (i.e. Homewood). However, his place was taken by Rob Mason in a "works" Bevan Imp and within a year the class was all but dead, with many of the best Mini drivers switching to 7s or Miglias.

There was also a good 1-litre series at Castle Combe for a few years - Cornishman Andy Holloway was the Imp drver to beat there.
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Old 6 Nov 2003, 21:39 (Ref:775259)   #5
glyn parham
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JP.
Rob Mason did not drive a "works" Bevan Imp, as George and Peter had long since lost their works support from Rootes.
I think you will find that it was the rising popularity of Chinese restaurants and takeaways that gave the Bevans the advantage, as well as meticulous preparation and a very good driver.
Glyn

Last edited by glyn parham; 6 Nov 2003 at 21:40.
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Old 22 Oct 2004, 20:24 (Ref:1132348)   #6
driftwood
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driftwood has a lot of promise if they can keep it on the circuit!
Regarding Alex Clachers car
i once spoke to a guy in scotland 14 yrs ago( now not with us) who told me he had the clacher shell in his yard !!

John Homewood was the man to beat at Brands in the mid 70`s in the 1 litre class
Ray Calcutt was ex Frazer Imp team member and i think he had 1 of those cars to race in kent messenger series

Rob Mason was a Team Bevan driver but Bill McGovern was the driver that won the British Touring car championship 3 times in Georges car & with no factory support

Derek walker went onto race a 2 litre Skoda special saloon in later years
Dont forget Ray Payne was a south west Imp racer and Hartwell engine builder man !!
and Brian Prebble was another coombe regular that also ventured east to Brands

Brands had many racers that just did the KM series but there where a few guys who chased the national Rivet and esso special saloon series and later Fowrard trust and wendy wools became the sponsors of the national championships
As time went by GT races started at Donington combining modsports and special saloons greated the popular the Motoring News GT championship mainly at Donington but later became anational series
and yes they where all great days
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Old 25 Oct 2004, 11:07 (Ref:1134826)   #7
petestenning
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Alex did indeed come south if i remember for some BARC saloon car championship races. The one at Snetterton i remember where he did indeed put one over us southerners, proving he was as quick down here as up north, proving his reputation that had gone before.
Cant think if he ever raced against John Homewood though.

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Old 25 Oct 2004, 11:28 (Ref:1134857)   #8
driftwood
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driftwood has a lot of promise if they can keep it on the circuit!
Homewood rarely ventured out of kent !
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Old 18 Aug 2012, 06:43 (Ref:3121283)   #9
Gerry Taylor
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Gerry Taylor should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridGerry Taylor should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
Is Alex Clacher still with us?

I have been asked by a fellow racer, if Alex is still around, as he seems to have disappeared from the scene.
As most of you know, Alex and I raced against each other all those years ago, and he was a great driver. But is he still alive? I am 72 now, and still alive and kicking, so hopefully someone will tell me that he is?
See you at Mallory on the 26th of August.
Gerry.
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Old 23 Aug 2012, 15:44 (Ref:3123615)   #10
col rooney
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I have a friend in the imp club who is good friends with alex and glad to report he is still alive and has restored a rover P6 and uses it as a rally car not bad at the good age of 76 ,if you would like me to try and get a contact number for you send me a pm and i will contact les

cheers col
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Old 23 Aug 2012, 20:31 (Ref:3123737)   #11
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Gerry Taylor should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridGerry Taylor should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
Col, thanks, I would really love to have his contact, perhaps an e-mail address ( if he uses the pc?). I can then get in touch with him. Many thanks, Gerry.
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Old 3 Sep 2012, 11:46 (Ref:3129805)   #12
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http://www.racing70s.pwp.blueyonder....tes/imp_02.htm

Hello again everyone!
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Old 4 Sep 2012, 19:03 (Ref:3130736)   #13
col rooney
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gerry pm sent to you

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Old 17 Jan 2013, 11:18 (Ref:3190465)   #14
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Gerry Taylor should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridGerry Taylor should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
Alex Clatcher

Hi Col, thanks, I had an e-mail from Alex last night, and will be talking with him as soon as I get spare moment. Great to know that he is still with us, and thank you for putting us in contact with each other. Gerry.
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Old 18 Jan 2013, 15:19 (Ref:3191121)   #15
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He is a member of Wigton Motor Club these days and turns out for most of our touring events in a lovely Rover 2000.
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Old 3 Feb 2013, 19:17 (Ref:3198705)   #16
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Alex in the 70s used to live in Croft village. last house on the left coming out the village going to the track. We always wondered if he bothered with a trailer or just drove.

as for not being able to deal with going south? I am not intending starting a war, but.

There was little to chose between Andy Barton, Cedric Bell or Alex round Croft. Known as the BBC show and the most watched race of the day.
For speed? There was once a BOAC set of tickets for winning a 1000cc saloon race at Brands and Cedric being pretty sharp notices this. Goes to Brands, wins the race, collects the tickets and breaks the lap record while there.

On the other hand, Paddy McNally brings his Anglia up to Croft to teach the peasants. At the end of the back straight, Alex is leading through the left hander, Cedric is trying to pass him on the inside and Andy is trying to fit himself in Cedric's ns door. Paddy drops back about 100 yds and stays there for the rest of the race. Alex retires, a very unusual happening and Cedric gets dq'd for going throgh the pits and changing up into top on the way though after being boxed out by Andy leaving the chicane. The mini racer book is wrong in this respect as it was Andy that wouldn't let Cedric back on the track not Alex, who had already retired.
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Old 3 Feb 2013, 22:33 (Ref:3198804)   #17
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I was there on that day and it was certainly Andy Barton that caused Cedric to go through the pits at racing speed. Even for those days folks thought it a tad dangerous. Alex was a class act with the Imp and he and Cedric/Andy were a match for anyone in the country. Also quick in 1 litres 'oop north' were Bill Borrowman and Ken Walker.
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Old 3 Feb 2013, 23:05 (Ref:3198815)   #18
Angus Theape
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I was there on that day
That'll make 2 of us then
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Old 4 Feb 2013, 01:34 (Ref:3198860)   #19
morninggents
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Can't remember the exact date though. Can you, Angus?
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Old 4 Feb 2013, 02:19 (Ref:3198878)   #20
Angus Theape
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Can't remember the exact date though. Can you, Angus?
From memory mid 72. Possibly 71 and definately not 73. Barton won and McNally in Croft 1lt terms a distant 2nd. Remember it was overcast and not sunny, even if they did drive round it.
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Old 4 Feb 2013, 17:21 (Ref:3199147)   #21
STUBBY44
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Just slightly off the main topic, do you all recall Sedrics Mini had a Holbay one litre Ford screamer that used to sound fantasic along the straight from the Mountain to Hall Bends at Cadwell!

http://www.racing70s.pwp.blueyonder....ns/mini_07.htm
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Old 5 Feb 2013, 18:39 (Ref:3199696)   #22
Angus Theape
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Originally Posted by STUBBY44 View Post
Just slightly off the main topic, do you all recall Sedrics Mini had a Holbay one litre Ford screamer that used to sound fantasic along the straight from the Mountain to Hall Bends at Cadwell!

http://www.racing70s.pwp.blueyonder....ns/mini_07.htm

Yes, Andy Barton had an SCA. Iirc, there was an article in Motorsport on Cedric's Ford engined mini.
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