Alex Clacher and his Hillman Imp

[davemorganfan]

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?

[Jeremy Jackson]

I remember him! Some good races at Croft with a Mini driver called Sedric Bell in 1970-72

[Dan Rear]

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.

[JP]

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.

[glyn parham]

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

[driftwood]

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

[petestenning]

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.

Pete

[driftwood]

Homewood rarely ventured out of kent !

[Gerry Taylor]

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.

[col rooney]

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

[Gerry Taylor]

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.

[STUBBY44]

http://www.racing70s.pwp.blueyonder....tes/imp_02.htm

Hello again everyone!