Marshalled at the Birmingham Superprix?

[Terry Scannell]

Brilliant news David, it's really great to see all your efforts coming to fruition with the publication of this record of a unique period of British Motorsport.

Looking forward to collecting my copy!

Best wishes,

Terry

[mini-mental]

Cheers Bigears!!!

Just ordered my copy and can't wait. Shame I didn't get any of my Dads pic in there. He says it was a great event.

Thanks

Nikki

[Mark Baines]

fantastic cant wait to read it

[bigears]

Does anyone got any more stories or information about the Birmingham Superprix?

Thank you.

[saddelbags]

just read your request about the Birmingham event I was chief marshal for all of them and involved in the planning a fantastic event one of the best I ever was involved with some memories of the planning meetings the police said thay whould need to visit other street races the fire men looked around and said we have to go too the ambulance men we must go too so off thay went to the four corners of the earth we wear planning it but only got as far as the holiday inn in birmingham!!

[stroller]

Originally Posted by saddelbags

just read your request about the Birmingham event I was chief marshal for all of them and involved in the planning a fantastic event one of the best I ever was involved with some memories of the planning meetings the police said thay whould need to visit other street races the fire men looked around and said we have to go too the ambulance men we must go too so off thay went to the four corners of the earth we wear planning it but only got as far as the holiday inn in birmingham!!

You did get a free jacket out of the Holiday Inn though

[bigears]

Interesting insight about that scrap between Synter and Cleland.

Does anyone have any more stories from the Superprix?

[Shelagh]

Just ordered our copy. Bill did the first and I did the last!

Always remember my uncle Derek (Ongaro) being very vexed by the whole thing - what you get for being a "power that be".

[dave vass]

Well done Bigears, your book is excellent, so much information about the event and super pictures. I would recommend it to anyone who was there; it will certainly bring it all back!

[bigears]

Glad you all enjoyed it.

Dave, I hope you don't mind me mentioning your name (I think it is your name) in the book.

[Shelagh]

Just had our copy, but having spent the day reading manuals on line (for background) - my eyes have gone!

Quick flick looks good, tho'

[Bryan Degerlund]

I did all but one on startline/pits. Where can I obtain a copy of the book?

[dave vass]

Originally Posted by bigears

Glad you all enjoyed it.

Dave, I hope you don't mind me mentioning your name (I think it is your name) in the book.

I feel very honoured to get a mention, as does John G! although he hasn't seen it yet!

I ordered my book from Amazon online.

[vintage]

Hi it was great to see so many names associated with the 80s which has been said were some of the best years in motor sport. I did 3 meetings and at that time was flagging I did the first corner and had my elbow hit by the armco when the Italian lady driver planted it. Halfords corner watching Alesi doing doughnuts after winning. I also did the Ferodo tower marshals post which did keep moving about. Camping in the market was great free electric hook ups once you leaned how to open the doors a bit and push your plug under. The best one was watching marshals with tents using nails for tent pegs and hammering them into the asphalt. All the meetings had a great atmosphere with no trouble only for the landlord and landlady having a fight in the pub. Sorry I have no photos just lots of great memories. Thank you for reminding me.

[bigears]

Nice to know there is plenty of interest of my book out there. The marshals have definitely contributed a lot into the book for sure!

[dave vass]

Believe it or not, I still have a copy of the marshalling allocations sheet for the 1986 S.P.!

[bigears]

I am guessing that there are over 100 marshals for the pits at the 1986 BSP, correct?

[bigears]

I have decided to revive this thread as I need some first-hand information!

This might require some serious memory-jogging but this is like an enigma for me as I am trying to find the correct order of the race timetable of the 1986 Birmingham Superprix!

Sunday 24th August 1986:

1144-1307 - F3000 Group A Untimed/practice session - Delayed due to unbolted Armco.
1311-1428 - F3000 Group B Untimed/practice session - No problems
Time? - Thundersports Heat 1 Qualifying - Went ahead as full.
Time? - Thundersports Heat 2 Qualifying - Reduced from 45mins to 15mins because of earlier delays.
Time? - F3000 Group A First qualifying - Went ahead as usual.
Time? - F3000 Group B First qualifying - No delays.
1622- ? - F3000 Group A Second qualifying - Fully completed.
1857- ? - F3000 Group B Second qualifying - No time issues.
Race One - Thundersports Heat 1 race - Cancelled due to time constraits.
Race Two - Thundersports Heat 2 race - Cancelled due to time constraits.

Monday 25th August 1986:

0840-0910 - Thundersports Heat 2 Qualifying - Was supposed to complete the reminding 30 mins but it was red-flagged after 13mins due to Robin Smith's fiery accident.
0935-0950 - Renault Pro/Am Celebrity practice - Was delayed after the Thundersports accident clean-up.
Time? (took 20 mins) - F3000 Warm-up
Time? (took 20mins) - FF1600 Practice - Reduced from 45mins to 20mins due to earlier delays.

About 11.30pm, the remants of Hurricane Charley arrives in Birmingham.

Time? (took 15 mins) - Formula Libre Qualifying - Reduced from 35mins to 15mins - F3000 was taken as a priority.
Time? (only lasted for a few mins!) - Renault Pro/Am Pro(?) Practice - Was taken off the grid as the celebs needed to try out their cars!
Time? - Renault Pro/Am Celebiity acclimatisation session - Was arranged due to awful weather conditions.
1200 - Race1 Renault Pro/Am Am race 5 laps
Time? - F3000 Acclimatisation session - Not sure how long it did last but it was red-flagged after Marcel Tarres crashed his car and got stranded on the circuit.
1455? - Race 2 F3000 race 25 laps - (got delayed for 20mins earlier because startline lights failed and Andrew Gilbert-Scott stalled on the grid)
1730 - Race 3 Renault Pro/Am Pro race 5 laps - Went ahead in very poor weather.



So here you are then, so the question is that does anyone remember the actual order of the race timetables or actually got the times of the start/finish of each/any session?

Thank you

[rescue dude]

I've had a good search just in case I picked up any result/timing sheets for this weekend but it appears I didn't.

I only have the timetable that came with the programme as i'm sure you do also. If I find anything else i'll let you know.

[dave vass]

I have been up in the attic and have found the programme with insert and loads of newspaper cuttings, but sadly no time sheets (or marshal pit allocation numbers, as you requested earlier).

[rescue dude]

Originally Posted by bigears

I am guessing that there are over 100 marshals for the pits at the 1986 BSP, correct?

I worked the fire tender based in the pit lane and don't recall anywhere near 100 marshals there.

Could be wrong though.

[bigears]

Originally Posted by dave vass

I have been up in the attic and have found the programme with insert and loads of newspaper cuttings, but sadly no time sheets (or marshal pit allocation numbers, as you requested earlier).

I am curious about the newspaper cuttings, I know it can be time consuming but would the cuttings mention anything about what happened throughout the whole weekend with the enquiry I am looking for?

[vince.carrott]

I remember one year I think I was working on a post where we used the police station toilets. There was an old lady watching the days activities from a seat behind the catch fencing. She was absolutly having a great day I believe she may have been a resident in a care home. We had been chatting with spectators and learned it was her birthday. She had never seen a motor race before but the smile on her face and her enthusiasm where second to none. One of my fellow marshals was a blonde girl I believe her name was Amanda. Amanda somehow arranged for said lady to be picked up by the course car and did a lap with John Nichol I think it was. She was returned to us on the following lap and I believe that lady had the best birthday present of her life. I will never forget her face when she returned.
I did all the Birmingham races and agree they were outstanding meetings. Having read this thread I feel I need to dig out the programmes which I know I have somewhere and try to organise my many muddled memories. Will definitly be ordering your book right now.

[johngee]

Originally Posted by vince.carrott

She had never seen a motor race before but the smile on her face and her enthusiasm where second to none. One of my fellow marshals was a blonde girl I believe her name was Amanda. Amanda somehow arranged for said lady to be picked up by the course car and did a lap with John Nichol I think it was. She was returned to us on the following lap and I believe that lady had the best birthday present of her life. I will never forget her face when she returned.

A kind gesture by Amanda and typical of John to do that. Somebody who many of us remember with great fondness and wish we could live up to his memory.

[Paulaweybridge]

Amen John.

Having met John Nichol a number of times at Brands, he was an awesome guy.