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23 Oct 2008, 16:43 (Ref:2319216) | #51 | ||
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Nostagia ain't what it used to be! |
23 Oct 2008, 19:51 (Ref:2319339) | #52 | ||
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My sincere thanks to Alan for providing the means for these photos to finally see the light of day. Apart from hosting them, he's done a lot of work as the original scans are scratched and pitted to way beyond my photoshop recovery skills.
Julian |
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24 Oct 2008, 13:19 (Ref:2319933) | #53 | ||
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Quote:
Art Markus used to do a monthly column/feature on the BTCC in the early years of 'Performance Car' under the running title 'Art on A' as I remember |
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24 Oct 2008, 13:22 (Ref:2319936) | #54 | |
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24 Oct 2008, 14:13 (Ref:2319980) | #55 | ||
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Nostagia ain't what it used to be! |
24 Oct 2008, 14:22 (Ref:2319993) | #56 | |
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More great pictures!!
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Gregor Marshall |
24 Oct 2008, 15:33 (Ref:2320044) | #57 | ||
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Nostagia ain't what it used to be! |
24 Oct 2008, 16:26 (Ref:2320078) | #58 | ||
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little know fact Andrew won the first and the last of the willhires (the last in an Escort Cosworth)
The race was won by the ICS and Sports Car Breakers Opel Commodores in the hands of Pete Hall, Phil Dowsett, Martin Carroll, Syd Fox, Hamish Irvine and Andrew Jeffrey. |
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Get it on the track |
26 Oct 2008, 09:09 (Ref:2320960) | #59 | ||
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Good stuff!!
That winning driver line up is full of prodsaloon experts! Funny I never really got to see the Opel's, as their competitive and likely homologated life ran out in the early 80's just as I got into watching motor racing. It was a very successful model at this level though wasn't it? I loved the later Monza, but by the time people like Gerry and Tony started running them, the Starion was almost upon us!! |
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"Double Kidney Guv'nah?" "No thanks George they're still wavin a white flag!" |
26 Oct 2008, 11:39 (Ref:2321029) | #60 | |
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Did that green/black ICS and Sports Car Breakers Opel Commodore end up in the hands of the late Frank O'Rourke in Ireland ? I've seen vids of a car very similar to that winning races in Mondello.
Fantastic pictures though... really amazing. Thanks Julian/Alan. |
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27 Oct 2008, 08:11 (Ref:2321555) | #61 | ||
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Nostagia ain't what it used to be! |
27 Oct 2008, 11:24 (Ref:2321719) | #62 | |
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These really are brilliant- I'd much rather see a strong Prodsaloon category than all the one-make stuff that supports the BTCC...
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27 Oct 2008, 13:55 (Ref:2321812) | #63 | |||
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A few more.. Jeremy Shaw's Colt Lancer was shared with Barrie Williams, John Cleland and Eddie Jordan! The 2 Car Alfa GTV team featured John Dooley, John Mysercough, Rob Kirby, Derrick Brunt, Peter Baldwin and Leo Bertorelli. The Carrolls Transport Capri, seen here checking out the scenery, had Mike Knight, David Piper and Tony Trimmer on duty. An unusual entry was the Panther cars, Lima for Chris Meek, Peter Clark and Martin Birrane. The SOS Talisman 2 Car Opel Commordore Team had Paul Everett, Sid Harrison, Jock Robertson, David Da Costa and Steve McHale on duty. |
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Nostagia ain't what it used to be! |
27 Oct 2008, 15:52 (Ref:2321877) | #64 | ||
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Interesting to see the MGB,that car is still being raced today by Jim Bayman.
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Living the dream,Chief instruktor and racing on the worlds best circuits-The Nordschleife and Spa.Getting to drive the worlds best cars-someone has to do it, so glad its me. |
29 Oct 2008, 23:01 (Ref:2323910) | #65 | |
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I had the great pleasure of competing in the 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1986 Willhires. Looking back I would say these were the most enjoyable motorsport experiences I ever had.
Indeed, I first met my wife during the 1980 race (she was keeping the team's drivers well nourished). We married in '81 and are still together so you could say that race was a life changing experience for me. Cars used were: 1980 - My Ginetta G15 with the G15s of Mark Smith and Bill Hunt (8th overall and 3rd in class) 1981 - as above but 12th overall and 4th in class 1982 - Triumph Dolomite Sprint (single cars only from this year - finished 17th) 1983 - Skoda Rapid - 13th and 1st in class 1984 - Skoda Rapid - finished but can't find results! 1986 - Skoda Estelle 130L - 17th and 2nd in class Will post some photos soon - happy days! |
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30 Oct 2008, 08:08 (Ref:2324013) | #66 | ||
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Andy,is it true that in 83 the Skoda only needed a brake pad change?
A very good friend,Chris Conoley used to compete in a Capri in those years. |
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Living the dream,Chief instruktor and racing on the worlds best circuits-The Nordschleife and Spa.Getting to drive the worlds best cars-someone has to do it, so glad its me. |
30 Oct 2008, 11:07 (Ref:2324091) | #67 | ||
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Quote:
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30 Oct 2008, 11:33 (Ref:2324103) | #68 | |
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Actually, I don't believe we ever changed the brake pads on any of the Skodas that I drove in the Willhires - but then with such a low powered but good handling car we were only using the brakes twice a lap (at Sear and The Esses) as the old Russell chicane layout was 'flat' in those days.
Those Skodas were ever so reliable though. The only problem I can remember was when we graduated to the 130L in '86, which had a 5 speed box, with reverse opposite 5th. In practice I managed to engage reverse while trying to find 4th, which required a gearbox change. I have a strong memory that, I think was from 1986, of Tiff Needell spinning off in the Porsche 911 as he followed me through Sear. At the time I was sure that I had outcornered a 911 in a Skoda, but on reflection he probably spun because he had to brake mid-corner to avoid hitting me! The Skodas were all owned and entered by the UK distributor so I was very fortunate to be selected to drive for the team. All I had to do was just turn up and drive at no cost to me. However, my selection might just have had something to do with the fact that I had married Bill Hunt's sister. Bill was at the time Skoda GB's Motorsport Manager. I had a long lay off from racing from 1990 to 2004 due to family commitments. Now my kids have grown up in recent years I've been racing a Reynard 903 F3 car in the Monoposto Championship. I share the car with Mark Smith who drove in the Ginetta team in the 1980 Willhire and achieved the tremendous feat of finishing the event in his Ginetta in one of the later Willhires when one car had to do the whole distance (either 83 or 84 - I can't remember which year it was). Snetterton is still one of my favourite circuits though I had a major shunt there on 18 October this year when the throttle stuck open as I braked for Riches. It ended up with me going backwards into the tyre barrier at very high speed - ouch! Andy Woolley |
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30 Oct 2008, 13:22 (Ref:2324181) | #69 | ||
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Top, top post Andy, many thanks!
Amusing anecdotes like yours help to maintain the forum as one for the true enthusiast's !! Look forward to hearing more from you! |
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"Double Kidney Guv'nah?" "No thanks George they're still wavin a white flag!" |
30 Oct 2008, 17:55 (Ref:2324326) | #70 | ||
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hi there
anyone got a photo of the Alex Rogan Slick 50 Capri that raced one year? db |
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SD1's & CAPRI's ARE FOR LIFE NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS |
30 Oct 2008, 20:59 (Ref:2324427) | #71 | |
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A little story that I've just remembered from that first Willhire in 1980. We had three Ginetta G15s in the team, belonging to me, Mark Smith and Bill Hunt (that's the white one in one of the pics on this thread).
We lost Bill's car on Sunday morning due to a stub axle failure, which stranded it out on the circuit, so only had 2 cars left. I was driving mine when the ignition light suddenly went on so I headed straight for the pits and handed over ot Mark's G15. Examination revealed that the crankshaft pulley had disintegrated, so the fan belt had come off. We had spare fan belts but no spare pulley so had the commentator make an announcement on the PA that asked if anyone with a Hillman Imp in the car park would mind lending the Ginetta team their crankshaft pulley for the duration of the race. Amazingly some poor fellow came forward and as fast as you could say Ginetta we had removed the pulley from his engine and fitted it to my G15, just in time to take over form Mark when his stint was finished. Hard to believe that folk would be that trusting/generous today isn't it! Anyway come the end of the race we put the pulley back onto his Imp and said our thanks. The only problem was how to drive my G15 back to London. This problem was solved by removing the pulley from Bill's recovered car and fitting it to mine as his car was returning to London on a trailer. Driving back to London straight after a 24 hour race wasn't the brightest thing to do but I was supposed to be at work on the Monday morning. It was bloody hard to stay awake but I found that driving very fast produced enough adrenalin to keep me awake. One does these things when one is 25! Right, now for the pics from the 1980 Willhire: My G15 My G15 waiting to go out during the night. Mark Smith's G15 Bill Hunt's G15 And finally the 'Surprising Skoda' 130L in the '86 Willhire - me driving through the old Russell chicane. |
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31 Oct 2008, 10:06 (Ref:2324695) | #72 | ||
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Nostagia ain't what it used to be! |
3 Nov 2008, 09:34 (Ref:2326741) | #73 | ||
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Early Morning Sunshine
All very worrying really as the the Observer in charge (in the blue anorak) is my old mate Martin Shalders (lately known as Black Adder) and next to him 'smoking a fag!' is myself on flags, all 28 years ago! Are there any onther photos with marshals in ? Bladders........................ |
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Life is for living, it is later than you think….. |
6 Nov 2008, 09:58 (Ref:2329286) | #74 | ||
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1980 Willhire 24 hours
Alan,
many thanks for sharing such wonderful pictures.They truly prove what a great series the Willhire was,and it all brings back such great memories,seems as if the weather was always good!The friendships gained and freedom to go wherever we pleased are just a few of the things that will always stick with me,thanks also to Andy Woolley for his interesting reminisces. A great thread,trouble is I spend so much time here... Regards to all. |
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6 Nov 2008, 13:34 (Ref:2329417) | #75 | |||
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Nostagia ain't what it used to be! |
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