1970's 2-Litre Sports cars

[pirenzo]

All I ever see of any of these are Chevron B19's at historic meetings at Brands, and even then not for a few years.

I guess being young has it's drawbacks

[pirenzo]

All I ever see of any of these are Chevron B19's at historic meetings at Brands, and even then not for a few years.

I guess being young has it's drawbacks

Beautiful, such magnificent cars.

[Andrew Kitson]

Time to show off and put in one of my paintings!
I did this one in 1989 for Dermot Walsh at 'Grand Prix Engineering' who gave it to Greg & Doug Hart who raced the little Lola T212, seen here at Brands infront of Colin Pool's B19. GPE prepared the car for them.
It was a small 16 x 12in painting.

[Chofar]

Beautiful painting as usual.
And now something i picked in an historic meeting at my hometrack:
One of the first saubers ever made. If somebody knows more about it, he'll be welcome.

[Nordic]

Here are some from my collection, this one shows a couple of unsual cars, behind the TOJ, can be seen a K4 935 and the GRID,

[Nordic]

One of my favorites, I think its the Dorset Racing Lola again Brands 82.
Of all the racing cars I have seen, the 2 litre open sports is my favorite, I would love to have had the chance to drive one in era.

[gfm]

That's our TOJ Nordic, in dark blue on page 1. Was it in 82? I was watching on Druids in wellies that meeting too, further round. It’s at that meeting that we spotted the TOJ would make a very good Thundersports C2 car.
It was a young Austrian who owned the TOJ who I think was killed at Le Mans, and they did go well that meeting. It maybe a coincidence, but I noted Jackie Ickx’s line round Druids in the wet as the driver of the 956/962 is doing in the picture. I think they resurfaced soon after, but there was absolutely no grip around the inside of the corner in the wet.
Great shot interesting cars. Many thanks.

[Andrew Kitson]

I think it was Jo Gartner in the TOJ - killed on the Mulsanne in 1986? I have that wet '82 Brands race on video, terrific stuff. The race when the C100's took each other out and a great battle at the end when the Martini Lancia had to catch the works 956 and finish within 6 secs on aggregate to try and win the WSC for Ricardo Patrese. Good stuff but anymore 1970s 2-litres out there? I'll have to dig out my Chevron B16 pics.

[DaveM]

Now I'll need some help with this selection, because I didn't even print these at the time and the programme is long gone. I presume it's in the 70s and the B16 looks like an endurance one, with the identification light on the roof, so it's likely to be the works car with Brian Redman driving? And is that Brian Martin behind?

[DaveM]

The name Terry Coker (or similar) springs to mind for this T212 driver with a Union Flag helmet. I think the car was yellow. I remember that Brian Robinson was driving a red B16 that day, and that's probably him behind.

Will post some more tomorrow. G'night.

[Andrew Kitson]

DaveM, the B16 certainly looks like the works Red Rose car - the one that Redman was so quick with at the 'Ring. Not sure if that is Martin behind or not.
Terry Croker was very quick in Anglia's too in the 60s. He drove an ex-Broadspeed maroon one. His Lola T210 was entered by Brian Hart in 1971, could this be the same? Yes, he raced with union flag helmet.

[Nordic]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Andrew Kitson
[B]I think it was Jo Gartner in the TOJ - killed on the Mulsanne in 1986?

Thats right, the cars then owner I belive has also recently died, Pirre Chauvet (Not his real name)

[Andrew Kitson]

Yes Nordic, I forgot that Pierre Chauvet owned that car. He died in the BOSS event last year under the name of Frederik Cereca?

[gfm]

Interesting updates Andrew and Nordic. Many thanks.
Re Dave's further Cadwell shots. It must have been narrow in these cars. The open 2 litre following Redman reminds me of early Lola or the Felday with a later body, but it isn't is it? Following Redman must have been a messy wet business as the driver appears to have his visor open. Will somebody confirm it's the Martin?
Is Terry Coker or Coaker the guy who dropped the T70 on the Top straight right under the grandstand at the wet Brands 1000 Ks. Was it him? Then there was a pace car and an infringement during this period bought Rodriguis 917 in before the clerke of the course, which made him so cross and gave us such a spectacular race? Think I have my threads crossed.

[Andrew Kitson]

Yeah, I think it was him at Brands in the T70. That was 1970 I think? Got it on a video too! Certainly made a mess.

[gfm]

Yes 1970. The top straight was absolutely lethal. One of my heros from that race was Vic Elford who appeared to power slide his 917 from the exit of Clearways and along the top straight almost to the start and finish line. He was as impressive an anyone that day. Big respect.
Coaker was an Essex boy wasn't he? Hense the tie up with Nosher Hart - there's one for the nicknames thread. Brain Hart became Nosher because of his hairless bone dome. Bet Dave's got a picture.

[gfm]

I think Tim maybe interested in these as his Dad, Tim Lee-Davey was also in these races.
This is Chester Wedgewood’s Giroflex 85 Tiga BMW. Another super 2 litre, out of Howden Ganley’s factory. Howden built tough cars. The more you worked them, the quicker you went, the better they worked and so on. Chester was finding his feet, but we managed a win at Thruxton. Biggest disappointment was the cancellation of the Birmingham Superprix where the weather was so foul, the F2 race was delayed and they ran out of time to run our event. I was in with similarly lanky Tony Dron and I think we quite fancied our chances in the damp. Normally our 2 litres were blown of by Foulston and one or two other Can-Am cars. We were getting good grids by this stage.
This John Gaisford picture from 1986, is at Paddock, Brands of course with some nifty up the inside manoeuvre going on behind. Anyone?

[gfm]

Another nice Gaisford shot at Thruxton chicane. Nearly ******ed our left rear tyre, as you do at Thruxton, just hung on to win.
It would be good to go back to more of those 70s 2 litres though. Needs some posters!
That B16 is so pretty. I hope this is what Martin Birraine wants to produce again now he has Lolas, sweet sportscars like that or a T70.

[Andrew Kitson]

Originally posted by gfm

This John Gaisford picture from 1986, is at Paddock, Brands of course with some nifty up the inside manoeuvre going on behind. Anyone?

Going up the inside is Ian Flux of course. Always a good charger and a spectacular driver! He is in the Roni Motorsport Lola he shared with Don Prater. Think it had a loud Mazda motor?
Talking of Fluxie, I remember standing in the Donington pitlane in '78. The red lights came on for the start of an F3 race and the revs rose. One car though, went! It was Fluxie from about the 5th row in Dr. Joe Ehrlich's car. He got to Redgate before the green but stupidly, he lifted off! If he had kept on it, he would have finished higher as they only gave him a 10 sec added on penalty. Must have been a big suprise for front row men Piquet and Warwick, concentrating on the lights!

[gfm]

... the Lola Mazda being the ex Lovett Taylor car then. Who are they passing?
Actually, you know you're right about Flux and starts. We had one in 1997 in the GT1s. We were on the front row together and it was a rolling start. He was on pole and as we made towards the start line , he just went slower and slower. I was turbocharged, he was 7 litres straight. Once he got me well down off cam and boost, bang off he went. ... I was 4th into Copse!

[DaveM]

From gfm: "Following Redman must have been a messy wet business as the driver appears to have his visor open. Will somebody confirm it's the Martin?"

Yes John, I think so. I've found another shot of him on his own, and on the rear flank is the name Brian Martin, so I suppose it is the Martin. Can you add some history of the car?

[DaveM]

And this I believe is the Taydec. Again, some history from you learned folk out there would be appreciated.

[Andrew Kitson]

DaveM - I have just put my anorack on and found the programme for the Cadwell meeting above. It was September 13th, 1970.
The B16 is the car of Brian Robinson who won the race, the Lola T210 is indeed Terry Croker in the A&J Motors of Chadwell Heath entered car and yes, the blue Martin BM7 Ford of Brian Martin. The Taydec no. 87 above was driven by Malcolm Payne. Martin finished 2nd, the B16 of Ian Skailes 3rd.
In the same meeting, Hunt and Trimmer won F3 heats, Ulf Svensson the final. Fitz won the Saloons in a Broadspeed Escort. Interestingly, the F3 preview in the programme was edited by Peter Gaydon!
Can I take my coat off now?

[Aysedasi]

Like the Tiga shots, gfm, particularly as I can be almost certain I was there on both occasions.....

[gfm]

The Tiga was a good car. Can Am cars were awesome weren't they? Some tidy cars came out to play. The Grid for example, and the Sports 2000s if the weather went poor, could embarrass you.
However, some of the best racing came from the 2 litre class much earlier. Someone will remember Silverstone battles with Redman, Burton, Bonnier, Craft, Thwaites, Gethin and so on. Bloody marvellous stuff.