Formula libre (1962-1974): Chevron

[allenbrown]

Continuing my exploration of UK and Ireland libre racing, can I recruit some help with some Chevrons?

This list splits neatly in two - those prior to the reputation-damaging F2 B17C and those after the come-back of the B25.

1. Graham Eden libre Chevron B10 - FVA and 1930cc Ford - 12 wins (26 May 1969 - 12 Sep 1970)
2. Paul Craven F2 Chevron B17B - Ford-Cosworth 1600 - 3 win (26 Apr 1970 - 6 Jun 1970)
3. Steve Thompson libre Chevron B17C - 1790cc FVC - 14 wins (13 Jun 1970 - 27 Sep 1970)
4. Graham McRae ex-Eden Chevron B10/B17 - 0 wins (25 Oct 1970)
5. Bill Creasey ex-Eden Chevron B10/B17 - 0 wins (1 Nov 1970)
6. Bobby Howlings ex-Craven Chevron B17"C" - FVA - 3 wins (12 Apr 1971 - 25 Apr 1971)
7. Graham Eden Chevron B18C - Ford-Hart - 1 win (24 Apr 1971)
8. Nick May F2 Chevron - Ford-Cosworth 1600 - 1 win (16 May 1971)
9. Bob Elice ex-Eden Chevron B10/B17 - 1 win (18 Jul 1971)
10. Bobby Howlings ex-Wisell Chevron B17C - FVA - 0 wins (2 Oct 1971)

I'm not sure why the ex-Craven B17B became a B17C when Howlings had it.

There is then a gap of 18 months before the next Chevron libre win.

11. Martin Webb Chevron B25 - BDA Hart - 2 wins (8 Apr 1973 - 28 Jul 1973)
12. Tony Dean F5000 Chevron B24 - Chevrolet-Morand 5000 - 5 wins (21 Apr 1973 - 23 Jun 1974)
13. George Silverwood Chevron B25 - BDA Smith - 1 win (3 Jun 1973)
14. Campbell Graham libre Chevron B25 - 1.9 FVC - 0 wins (1 Jul 1973 - 13 Apr 1974)
15. Patsy McGarrity Chevron B25 - F2 and BDA - 2 wins (27 Aug 1973 - 13 Oct 1974)
16. Jim Crawford Chevron B25 - BDA RES - 2 wins (15 Sep 1973 - 28 Oct 1973)
17. Derek Cook one of Dean's Chevron B24 - 0 wins (7 Jul 1974)
18. Iain McLaren Graham's Chevron B25 - 1.9 FVC - 1 win (21 Jul 1974)
19. Peter Williams Chevron B27 - BDA Nicholson - 3 wins (4 Aug 1974 - 1 Sep 1974)
20. Nick May Chevron B25/B27 - BDA Nicholson - 0 wins (8 Sep 1974)
21. Derek Cook Chevron B27 - BDA - 0 wins (7 Oct 1974 - 1 Dec 1974)
22. Nelson Todd Chevron B20 - BDA - 0 wins (13 Oct 1974)

I have about half of these identified already:

1, 4, 5 and 9. Chevron B10 [F2.2] from Race Report 1969
3. Chevron B17C [F2-70-02] from race-cars.com advert
7. Chevron B18C [18A.71.01] from Chris
10. Chevron B17C [B17C-F2-1] from Chris I think
12. A mixture of Chevron B24s [B24-73-01] and [B24-73-08].
15. Chevron B25 [25.73.08] - from Chris and the B25 thread.
17. Chevron B24 [B24-73-08]
19. Chevron B27 [27.74.16] from Chris's Atlantic results
20. Chevron B25 [25.73.12] from Chris's Atlantic results
21. Chevron B27 [27.74.14] from Chris's Atlantic results

Which leaves just the nine hard ones left

Allen

[Dan Rear]

Wasn't the Silverwood B25 one of the Lepp cars, Allen?

[Chris Townsend]

In reverse order

Todd B20-72-08 'the ex Watson car' [may have the alternative F2-03 plate, but convinved these are the same vehicle]

McLaren and Graham, probably B25-73-10

Crawford B25 the works development car

Craven FB-70-01 this becomes May's car and Howlings has this and the ex Wisell B17 at different times

Chris

[David McKinney]

Apologies for my tardiness - I no longer check in every day, now that I need to look at six pages instead of one!

From my notes of 30+ years ago - and not disputing any of Allen's or Chris’s input:-

1. Graham Eden B10 - AM68-1-F2
2. Paul Craven B17B - FB-1
3. Steve Thompson B17C - ??
4. Graham McRae B10 - don’t remember that happening!
5. Bill Creasey B10 - AM68-1-F2
6. Bobby Howlings - FB-1
7. Graham Eden B18C - ??
NOTE: B18-71-1 was the 1971 works car, campaigned by Mike Mather in 1972 Atlantic. The Eden car raced at the same time (and Chris’s number for it is slightly different)
8. Nick May B17B - FB1
9. Bob Elice (or Ellice) B10 - AM68-1-F2
10. Bobby Howlings B17C - F2-70-1
11. Martin Webb B25 - ??
12. Tony Dean B24 - ??
13. George Silverwood B25 - ?? (entered by Central Garage, as - in different races - was Lepp’s
14. Campbell Graham B25 - ??
15. Patsy McGarrity B25 - ?? ex-Lepp & Silverwood
16. Jim Crawford B25 - ??
17. Derek Cook B24 - ??
18. Iain McLaren B25 - ??
19. Peter Williams B27 - ??
20. Nick May B25/B27 - ??
21. Derek Cook B27 - ?? (ex-Opert/Rebaque and Crawford)
22. Nelson Todd B20 - ??

[Simon Hadfield]

Put the Paul Craven B17 down to me. Purchased near Blackpool a couple of years ago (the seller had brought it in France with an odd looking Martini F Renault). It also had been converted to a -very sad-formula Renault with fits where it touched B27 bodywork! What I would like to find are any photos of Paul Craven in the car ,even Ted hasnt got any. I have spoken to Nick May about the car and amongst other things he mentioned that having purchased the car he took it to Cadwell Park, did a few laps and set off for the F2 race at Crystal Palace! Innocent days.

[allenbrown]

Hi Simon

Does the car still have its chassis plate? I'd be curious to know exactly what it says as Chevron numbering seems a bit haphazard before 1971/72.

Thanks

Allen

[allenbrown]

Hi David

Thanks for your input. The Eden/Creasy/Ellice B10 is identified as "2" in Race Report 1969 and is also identified in the Chevron book (pp128,134) as the second B10 chassis that Bennett himself drove at a libre at Mallory in July 1968 to convince himself that the B10 wasn't as bad as it appeared. However, I have no idea what it said on the plate.

I'll also take another look at those B18s and make sure I haven't picked up the wrong identity.

Originally Posted by David McKinney

4. Graham McRae B10 - don’t remember that happening!

Excusable. It was a single DNS in Creasy's car at a Brands libre on 25 Oct 1970.

Allen

[Chris Townsend]

Dave thank you for the observation of the Mather chassis number in Atlantic in 72.
The number 18.A.71.01 for the Eden/Williams car comes from two separate observations by Adam Ferrington at Oulton in 1971 and 72.

The number of the Mather car is interesting because this is from the F2
production batch and was presumably the works test car badly damaged by
Redman in S.Africa in early 71.
However, press reports have this car rebuilt and sold at the end of
1971 to John Powell [debuted it at Brands Boxing Day meeting] and taken to Canada, where last known in the hands of Paul Wheatley in 1973.

I'm now thoroughly confused as to B18 Chevrons!

F2 run
18.71.01 works test car to both John Powell and Mike Mather [suggesting that someone not only rebuilt it, they built a new car up from the original damaged parts]
18.71.02 Xavier Perrot [MN gives chassis no.]
18.71.03 Jo siffert [F1R] to Georges Schafer [1972-73]
18.71.04 unknown
18.71.05 unknown
Chevron book says four B18s built with FVA, one with FVC

Atlantic run
18.A.71.01 is only car

FB run
5 or 6 built two or three to Opert, one to Warren Flickinger

Chris

[Simon Hadfield]

Allen-the ali plate has long since gone but on the front of the chassis (under where the oil tank would sit) is a welded on tag with FB/70/1. I also co-own a converted F3/FB car in the States and that has the same welded on tag in the same place which reads F3/70/8

[Ted Walker]

Chris. Do you have any race dates for the Paul Craven car. I cant understand why I cant find any photos for Simon.

[Chris Townsend]

Simon
If it's any help B17 70.8 was the Ken Sedgley car in 1970 which went to John Finch in 1971/72.
I'll try and find some dates for Craven's appearances but will be a week or so before I get to NNPL and full run of AS/MN

Chris

[allenbrown]

Originally Posted by Ted Walker

Chris. Do you have any race dates for the Paul Craven car. I cant understand why I cant find any photos for Simon.

I have libre outings:

Paul Craven Snetterton 26 April 1970
Paul Craven Oulton Park 02 May 1970
Paul Craven Oulton Park 06 June 1970
Bobby Howlings Croft 12 April 1971
Bobby Howlings Croft 25 April 1971
Nick May Cadwell Park 16 May 1971

The last entry comes from Jimmy Piget's list but I couldn't find the meeting in Autosport.

Allen

[Ted Walker]

Thanks Allen.No wonder I cant find any photos !!!!!!!!

[Mark Craven]

Originally Posted by Ted Walker

Chris. Do you have any race dates for the Paul Craven car. I cant understand why I cant find any photos for Simon.

Hi Ted, I am the son of Paul Craven. My name is Mark Windsor Craven, and I am one of the people that can help you fill in the photographs of the Chevron B17B my dads car from almost when it was new. Would you like me to send a few photographs through email? Please dont hesistate to contact me for any questions you may have that I might be able to help you with, it would be nice to hear from someone like yourself who has so much interest in historic racing. You can contact me on my daughters email (please send me a private message) I look forward to hearing from you. Kind reguards Mark.

[chunterer]

Warm welcome Mark, hope you don't mind I took out the email address because you never know it might get abused!

Look forward to your further contributions to the forum.