1980 Willhire 24 hours - Snetterton - Page 2

GBRM · 25 Jan 2008, 12:47 (Ref:2113327)

Quote:

Originally Posted by snett fan55

Gregor,had a feeling you were going to ask me that!I believe it was '84, but my sons have "borrowed"my programmes,will check with them.Attended nearly all of the willhire 24hrs ,mental times for lots of reasons,much missed by us all,we even arranged holidays around the race!Most of the family attended and we needed a week off afterwards to recover.!!!!

No problem, think it must be the 1984 event when David Sears crashed the car, a yellow-fronted Opel Monza.

I agree was a great event, I always got a lift up with my Dad's youngest brother (Dad was always there for a few days before setting up) and would then stay, great atmosphere and the videos afterwards were always good value.

vjay48 · 25 Jan 2008, 14:24 (Ref:2113377)

i do remember one early race when a capri driven by jeremy shaw i think hit abandoned mazda at russell,quite a big accident,about 9.00 oclock on the sunday morning,the rx7 was left from an early incident.

snett fan55 · 25 Jan 2008, 15:38 (Ref:2113417)

Gregor,
can confirm it WAS '84,definitely an Opel Monza.Apologies for any confusion caused.

GBRM · 25 Jan 2008, 15:50 (Ref:2113421)

No problem, was just making me doubt my last 6 months work of compiling a list of all Dad's races and results but glad they both tie up eventually.

VIVA GT · 25 Jan 2008, 16:11 (Ref:2113433)

Quote:

Originally Posted by vjay48

i do remember one early race when a capri driven by jeremy shaw i think hit abandoned mazda at russell,quite a big accident,about 9.00 oclock on the sunday morning,the rx7 was left from an early incident.

I think this would have been the 1980 event as I'm sure I have pictures of the damaged car somewhere. I also think the Mazda caught fire, (again, I'm sure the pictures were of a scorched Mazda) but I'm not sure if that was the reason for it's retirement, or due to the attention of the Capri.
I also seem to remember that, after the accident with the Capri, the pace car was sent out and a number of dead cars were recovered from around the circuit.

vjay48 · 25 Jan 2008, 18:01 (Ref:2113519)

i think the mazda caught fire after contact with the bank,the capri hit it before it could be moved. I thought at the time the mazda was not left in a good place,i think the capri rolled on impact with the mazda?

croydebay · 25 Jan 2008, 22:01 (Ref:2113655)

Does anyone have any info on the TR7/Dick Adams entry? No. 20... (in '82).

croydebay · 28 Jan 2008, 19:12 (Ref:2115701)

Here's all the info I have at present.... does anyone have full results for '80, '81,'82, '83 and '84?

Willhire 7/8/82 20 car entry.

Opal Commadore (No.1) Andy Rouse, "Hissing" Sid Fox, Phil Doussett, Pete Hall.

Opal Monza (No 4) Tony Lafranchi, Tiff Needell, Steve Sofa, John Kelland.

Morgan Plus 8,(No. 9) Rob Wells, Chris Alford, Malcombe Ball (Paul?).

Morgan Plus 8 (No.8) Mike Duncan, Mary Lindsay

Morgan Plus 8 (No.14)

TVR Tasmin, (No.5) Colin Blowers

Triumph Dolimite Sprint (No.25) Ian Hunter,

Triumph Dolimite Sprint (No.24) Julius Thurgood,

Triumph TR7 (No.20) Dick Adams

MBG GT (No.22)

Ford Capri (No.6) Roger Williams, Ted Savoury, Paul Lowe,

Ford Capri (No.3) Gerald Saw, Peter Rabano, Andrew kirk, Art Marcus, Dennis Boy, Mike Andrews.

BMW 323i (No.21) Les Blackburn,

BMW 323i (No.26) Gerry Marshall, Andy Jefferies, Hamish Irving, John Clark, Alan McMillan, Colin Davies.

VW Golf Gti (No.34)

VW Scirrocco (No.30)

VW Scirrocco (No.31) John McHale,

Talbot Sunbeam (No.33)

Toyota Celica GT (No.23) Martin Williams,

Fiat Strada (No.32)

18 finished. 2 retired.

GORDON STREETER · 29 Jan 2008, 00:24 (Ref:2115936)

Quote:

Originally Posted by terence bower

One story springs to mind[I also happen to know that it is completely true!]
There was one team who hired a Sierra Cosworth for the weekend,got it back to the worshop,fitted a cage and used it for this event.Upon its return,the receptionist did remark on the state of the tyres.

I also know of a certain team that did the Willhire that hired the same type of Japenese car that they were using from a well known rental firm, they used it for spares all night and returned it saying it wasn't very well

One of them posts on here.

VIVA GT · 29 Jan 2008, 08:52 (Ref:2116112)

Quote:

Originally Posted by croydebay

Here's all the info I have at present.... does anyone have full results for '80, '81,'82, '83 and '84?

...

Ford Capri (No.3) Gerald Saw, Peter Rabano, Andrew kirk, Art Marcus, Dennis Boy, Mike Andrews.

...18 finished. 2 retired.

Surely these names aren't quite right? Seeing that they appear to be journalists shouldn't it be Gerard Sauer, Peter Rabano, Andrew Kirk, Art Marcus, Dennis Foy, Mike Andrews?

croydebay · 29 Jan 2008, 09:34 (Ref:2116147)

All the info I posted above came from a video of the '82 Willhire which came with the car. Difficult/Impossible to catch the names, which car/team/final results etc. hence my appeal for help!

**chunterer** · 29 Jan 2008, 17:24 (Ref:2116444)

Hmmm I hadn't mentioned it but I agree with VIVA, a lot of the names are recogniseable but spelled incorrectly.

I'm certainly willing to take a punt on whom Steve 'Sofa' might be!! This latterly highly succesful touring car driver could never have been guilty of just sitting around...... ooh dear me I couldn't resist!!

Would anyone be kind enough to help croydebay with putting those names right?

**John Turner** · 31 Jan 2008, 09:20 (Ref:2117601)

Phil Doussett = Phil Dowsett
Tony Lafranchi = Tony Lanfranchi
John Kelland = John Cleland

And as Chunty has hinted at, Steve Sofa = Steve Soper

Jeremy Hall · 6 Feb 2008, 14:17 (Ref:2122474)

Quote:

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Surely these names aren't quite right? Seeing that they appear to be journalists shouldn't it be Gerard Sauer, Peter Rabano, Andrew Kirk, Art Marcus, Dennis Foy, Mike Andrews?

Nearly right-they were all journos on Hot Car magazine except for Mike Andrew who ran/owned Performance Car Spares in Hammersmith and the car was a long term press loan Capri from Ford.We had a very faint nod of approval before we started and a distinct nod of disapproval afterwards. Still the car was untouched unlike the Williams BT Capri which rolled comprehensivly in practice and after the result was overturned on appeal we even ended up in the money-yes there was actually a cheque for winning in those golden days.

GBRM · 6 Feb 2008, 18:27 (Ref:2122649)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy Hall

Nearly right-they were all journos on Hot Car magazine except for Mike Andrew who ran/owned Performance Car Spares in Hammersmith and the car was a long term press loan Capri from Ford.We had a very faint nod of approval before we started and a distinct nod of disapproval afterwards. Still the car was untouched unlike the Williams BT Capri which rolled comprehensivly in practice and after the result was overturned on appeal we even ended up in the money-yes there was actually a cheque for winning in those golden days.

Wasn't it Squeaker that rolled the BT Capri and was Martin Carroll involved in it? I remember being there (as a very, very young boy and Dad laughing!!) when the car was brought back, I think the technical term was it was ******!

lc1981 · 2 Mar 2008, 22:53 (Ref:2142759)

If anyone has some photos of the Willhire 24 Hour, the Wikipedia article could do with some: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willhire_24_Hour.

snett fan55 · 28 Mar 2008, 13:39 (Ref:2163843)

Groupc,
I keep checking this thread to see if you have scanned the negatives yet,but still no sign.PLEASE, post them when you can,if its a technical problem there are lots of seriously able guys who will be able to advise.(not me I assure you!!!!!!)
Regards snett fan55

Groupc · 21 Oct 2008, 15:12 (Ref:2317624)

Hi, I'm back ! Sorry, many events conspired to take me away and to be honest I forgot all about this. However, I was browsing today and found that my original post had expanded a little. I have 132 scruffy scratched and generally poor quality scans from the 1980 race and can put them on a CD for those more able than me to publish for the greater good - and even the Wikepedia article. Someone please PM me and we can sort something out. I doubt whether Russell Brookes still looks in, but I have a few images of him in the pit lane shortly after he'd rolled the Talbot looking on as his mechanics try to get a new screen in.

Once again my apologies for the enormous delay !

Alan Raine · 21 Oct 2008, 15:23 (Ref:2317631)

Sounds like an ideal candidate for the new image file.

Alan Raine · 23 Oct 2008, 10:24 (Ref:2318913)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groupc

Hi, I'm back ! Sorry, many events conspired to take me away and to be honest I forgot all about this. However, I was browsing today and found that my original post had expanded a little. I have 132 scruffy scratched and generally poor quality scans from the 1980 race and can put them on a CD for those more able than me to publish for the greater good - and even the Wikepedia article. Someone please PM me and we can sort something out. I doubt whether Russell Brookes still looks in, but I have a few images of him in the pit lane shortly after he'd rolled the Talbot looking on as his mechanics try to get a new screen in.

Once again my apologies for the enormous delay !

I have GroupC's disc. Here are a few samples.

The Brundle family Celica with what looks like Gerry Marshall in pursuit.

The Brookes Talbot in for repair.

The Stapelton Motors Morgan

Opel v Colt

rallycrosscraig · 23 Oct 2008, 10:27 (Ref:2318917)

brilliant lets see some more

GBRM · 23 Oct 2008, 10:48 (Ref:2318931)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Raine

I have GroupC's disc. Here are a few samples.

The Brundle family Celica with what looks like Gerry Marshall in pursuit.

Can't quite tell if it's Dad driving but it could be that well-known driver Mark Thatcher on their way to second place.

Alan Raine · 23 Oct 2008, 12:06 (Ref:2319011)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GBRM

Can't quite tell if it's Dad driving but it could be that well-known driver Mark Thatcher on their way to second place.

Mrs T's offspring was a team mate. I take it Gerry had the map

The JJS Veneers Team consisted of 3 Capris with Marshall, Thatcher, Eric Cook, Graham and Trevor Scarborough driving. As Gregor states the team finished 2nd.

GBRM · 23 Oct 2008, 12:22 (Ref:2319028)

Mark didn't take too kindly to being told he was too slow to drive the final stint!!
I'd say the white car is Dad (it has a BRDC badge) and if not then Eric Cook (Dad's soon to be father in law but that's another story!!) and it was their first 2nd and was followed up by 2nd in '81 and '82 to complete the hat-trick.
I think it was 1982 when they stopped having a team of cars and one car only.

Alan Raine · 23 Oct 2008, 12:55 (Ref:2319069)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Raine

The Brookes Talbot in for repair.

More of the Brookes Talbot.

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