Remembering Special Saloons

MiniMadness · 13 May 2005, 19:17 (Ref:1300220)

I came across a thread remembering Thunder Saloons. Does anyone remember the 'Big Bangers' proper name Super Saloons ? I found an article in CCC. Remember these ?

Mk2 Capri - 3 litre - Dave Brodie
Mk1 Capri - 3 litre - Colin Hawker
Mk1 Capri - 4.7 litre - Tony Strawson
Mk1 Capri - 5 litre - Mick Hill
Daf Coupe - 5 litre - Tony Hazlewood (owned by Colin Folwell boss of Corbeau seats)
Vauxhall Ventora - 5 litre - Gerry Marshall
Chevrolet Corvair - 7.6 litre - Ian Richardson
Mk1 Cortina - 5.3 litre - Peter Shelton
Vauxhall Magnum - 5.3 litre - John Pope
Skoda S110 R Coupe - 5 litre - John Turner
AM Javelin - 6.4 litre - David Howes
Sunbeam Rapier - 5.7 litre - Martin Kent
Mk1 Escort - 5.7 litre - Doug Niven
Mk1 Escort - 2 litre - Nick Whiting

Personally I was a bit young for most of these cars.

Probably a question for Rod Birley or the other Lydden racers. Did Gary Charlwood race a Aston Martin engined Ford Capri at Lydden. I think this was followed with a Chevrolet engined VW Beetle. Any news ?

Minicross424 · 13 May 2005, 19:39 (Ref:1300303)

Wow Minimadness did you swallow a encyclopaedia?
A bit young ? Remember im the "wipper snapper" not you!

Alan Cherry · 13 May 2005, 20:32 (Ref:1300341)

Didn't Mick Hill go on to build a Chevrolet mid engined beetle ( I had some pictures once ) and Colin Hawker go on to install the DFV engine in the back of a fastback VW. Then there was Jonathan Buncombes Chimp - a Chevron sports car with a plastic Imp body.....................................................
the good old days....ahhh.........................................Bike over to Brands to see if there was anything interesting practising.. no guards on the gate.. Minters botulism catering...cafe in the paddock....

andypipe · 13 May 2005, 20:39 (Ref:1300344)

Have a look here
http://www.racing70s.pwp.blueyonder....arlistmenu.htm

peter thurston · 13 May 2005, 21:39 (Ref:1300370)

The capri was a mk1 with a jaguar v12 ,garry then raced the beetle which was the ex mick hill car.I remember these as when garry was in the capri I was bangering a 3000gt as it was all I could afford and when he had the beetle my mate was racing what became my escort.

MiniMadness · 14 May 2005, 10:43 (Ref:1300622)

Thanks Peter

I didn't realise it was a Jaguar engine in the Capri. Mick Hill is this the same Mick Hill that was sponsored by Mr Exhaust ?

As far as your Escort is concerned. Is this the same Escort V8 that used to race at Lydden that was Red and then changed to Gold ?

peter thurston · 14 May 2005, 12:08 (Ref:1300655)

Don't know about Mr exhaust. Yes it is the same escort painted in alan mann colours when purchased by mick tester, then he had some money out of carplan and painted it gold for them and when I got hold of it in 92 I put it 'Back in Black' as it was built. pete.

djinvicta · 14 May 2005, 18:46 (Ref:1300923)

Then we got together, how many years ago Pete?

djinvicta · 14 May 2005, 18:52 (Ref:1300926)

Quote:

Originally Posted by andypipe

Have a look here
http://www.racing70s.pwp.blueyonder....arlistmenu.htm

In fact the Mk1 Escort of Lynne weve now got and are putting back together as she was, all with Petes expertise and help. Many thanks go to Pete and Scott; without these devoted fellas, we wouldnt see these cars again. Lynnes Escort was found behind a coal bunker in Chippenham and is on the way to being back on the track.

peter thurston · 16 May 2005, 19:08 (Ref:1302488)

Nine years of racing together and no fall outs .Thats longer than most marriages last.Mind you could have something to do with racing cars being more fun and less tempermental!!!!

djinvicta · 17 May 2005, 18:12 (Ref:1303130)

Ever counted the money gone through our hands???????????? Scary, I darent!!!!!!!!

peter thurston · 17 May 2005, 20:34 (Ref:1303224)

Are we talking cars or divorce!!!

djinvicta · 17 May 2005, 21:13 (Ref:1303250)

Divorce; more than you; sex less; cars, well you reckon its better!!

djinvicta · 17 May 2005, 21:20 (Ref:1303262)

No wonder you prefer hard tyres..

**Snapper Baz** · 17 May 2005, 21:46 (Ref:1303295)

I loved those days of "Superloons", in fact Colin Hawker lived near me at the time (I was at school then) and I knocked at his door and asked if he could give me a lift to Brands one day (I used to cycle to every meeting from Romford in Essex!) and he yes of course and I often spent the day with him and the team when he had the VW fastback (Toleman sponsored). You also had the Skoda of Alex Poole...and then the smaller classes of Special Saloons with the Imp's of John Homewood and Ray Calcutt and the Mini of John Shneider...and Peter Baldwin was also around with his Mini...I could go on for ages...Super times which have sadly never been brought back. At least I still have the programmes from those meetings in the loft...unless the mice know better!

**John Turner** · 18 May 2005, 19:38 (Ref:1304005)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiniMadness

I came across a thread remembering Thunder Saloons. Does anyone remember the 'Big Bangers' proper name Super Saloons ? I found an article in CCC. Remember these ?

Mk2 Capri - 3 litre - Dave Brodie
Mk1 Capri - 3 litre - Colin Hawker
Mk1 Capri - 4.7 litre - Tony Strawson
Mk1 Capri - 5 litre - Mick Hill
Daf Coupe - 5 litre - Tony Hazlewood (owned by Colin Folwell boss of Corbeau seats)
Vauxhall Ventora - 5 litre - Gerry Marshall
Chevrolet Corvair - 7.6 litre - Ian Richardson
Mk1 Cortina - 5.3 litre - Peter Shelton
Vauxhall Magnum - 5.3 litre - John Pope
Skoda S110 R Coupe - 5 litre - John Turner
AM Javelin - 6.4 litre - David Howes
Sunbeam Rapier - 5.7 litre - Martin Kent
Mk1 Escort - 5.7 litre - Doug Niven
Mk1 Escort - 2 litre - Nick Whiting

Fabulous list of cars and drivers. I saw most of them race at one time or another. I guess it was all started by Doc Merfield and his Cobra engined 'Fraud' Cortina Mk1.

And, no, I am not the above John Turner

peter thurston · 18 May 2005, 21:32 (Ref:1304093)

All this talk of old cars makes me wonder who knows my cars past.Originally an AVO shell owned by nick whiting as a spare then sold to walter robertson and kim maver and then sold to a maurice ryan who actually built the car and raced it up north in the early 70s.Then reappears in the late 80s still up north and raced I believe by a john roberts who had a connection with chris maries .From whom my friend purchased it in 90.I would really appreciate any info or pictures as I am looking to put it back into its old 70s livery and stripes etc.Thanks pete

**Snapper Baz** · 19 May 2005, 17:45 (Ref:1304725)

One of the nicest (and quickest?) Mk1 Escort's ever must have been that of Nick Whiting in the Kent Messenger/All Car Equipe colours. It was the best turned out Escort in its time though a huge shunt on bottom straight destroyed the car one year. I think he then used the bits to build a Mk2 Escort that was just as quick.

Rod Birley · 19 May 2005, 20:11 (Ref:1304853)

Mick Hill (V8 Capri etc.) is not the same as Mr.Exhaust Mick Hill. Mr Exhaust Mick Hill started in Minis (rallycross or grasstracking I think) then went on to hot rod Escorts and finally Thundersaloons. The super saloon Mick Hill is now a prominent BRDC member.
The GA V6 Mk.2 Escort which Nick Whiting had, a glorious sounding and looking machine, was sold to an oval racer in Holland who promptly destroyed the car at Barlo I think.

MiniMadness · 26 May 2005, 15:49 (Ref:1310781)

Thanks Rod for the update on Mick Hill. I assume the Mick Hill I mentioned was the one you raced against in your Hot Rod days. I've even found a model of his green/white Minicross car. Dates back to '82.

Hope to catch up with some of you guys at one of the BARC TRC Saloons meetings.

scooby12 · 1 Jun 2005, 18:38 (Ref:1317203)

talking of chris (grasstrack) maries

does anyone know the history of the escort xr3 v8 he use to race all i know is it was bob trotters old car when we got it it was blue and yellow and sponsored by abp motorsport before it was red and i belive it had a mk2 body on it at one stage so any info or pictures who be greatly welcome

cheers

monkeynuts · 1 Jun 2005, 18:54 (Ref:1317222)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snapper Baz

One of the nicest (and quickest?) Mk1 Escort's ever must have been that of Nick Whiting in the Kent Messenger/All Car Equipe colours. It was the best turned out Escort in its time though a huge shunt on bottom straight destroyed the car one year. I think he then used the bits to build a Mk2 Escort that was just as quick.

I remember Nick with a very rapid yellow mk3 ( i think) escort in the mid 70's .Shame he ended up with "concete socks" great driver though.

R59 · 2 Jun 2005, 05:28 (Ref:1317659)

Just thinking about some of the smaller cars, and Peter Baldwin's Baby BDA(H) Mini always comes to mind.

Shame that he sold it.

I always think of the cars like the plethora of Imp's and similar, were more like a garden "cold frame" with a screaming demon in the back.

When I started racing, in 1990, there were loads of them, or there appeared to be.

Where have they all gone? The Maguire Stilletto race in the sky?

Rob.

peter thurston · 2 Jun 2005, 21:24 (Ref:1318513)

Scooby12 thanks for the info on the escort,only just realized it was there!! Is the escort you refer to now not the xr3 lookalike that my friend bought just a few years ago promptly buried in the tyres at lydden, fixed and then sold on.pete

mig · 2 Jun 2005, 21:32 (Ref:1318517)

Talking of the smaller cars Bill Richards is still racing his maguire BDH Metro special saloon.Peter Baldwins Mini was shipped to Japan where I think it now resides in a shopping centre on display. what a waste.

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