Radio London cars

[edholly]

Back in the mid 60's to early 70's some of the Pirate/Offshore Radio Stations ran a Racing Team.

One of these Stations was Radio London who often had a couple of cars at the same meeting.

Some of Radio London's cars were Brabham's and Elva's driven I believe by the likes of Keith St.John, Tony Lanfranchi, Sid Fox, Liane Engeman and Ken Shephard.

Does anyone remember anything about this team and who owned the cars, what the cars were at what period, who the drivers were and any other History about them.

[Rob29]

The Brabham F3 was discussed here a couple of weeks ago,I think.The period involved was more like 1964-66.The then Labour government passed a law that closed down all the offshore radio stations apart from Caroline which managed to be supplied from Spain,but I think could not do any more advertising.Labour was thrown out at the next election and the Tories introduced legal comercial radio in 1972.
I remember going to a Radio London sponsored meeting at Brands Hatch in 1966.David Bowie was in the programme to play in the clubhouse!!
Colours of the RL sponsored cars were a dark purple.

[Stephen Green]

"Wonderful, Radio London" Oh I remember those days as if they were yesterday *sighs and goes back to dreaming of yesteryear*

[Nordic]

Radio Luxumberg had cars in the F5000 series and sponsored race days.
The cars where normally yellow and ran with the number 208 I think.

The race days featured pro-am escort races, i have a hazy memory of cozy powell crashing in front of us. I have the programs somewhere will have to get them out now.

[Dan Rear]

Capital Radio were invloved in Indylantic, with Steve Carvill and Tony Trimmer. The cars were numbered to match the Radio's frequency ala Radio Lux "208". In that period, mid 70s, there seemed to be a good deal of crossover between British National Racing and Radio 1, including various 'popstars', Record Companies, and DJs getting invloved. Anyone remember the "Radio 1 Roadshow" Racedays.

The one at Mallory had to be abandoned for a time after the Bay City Rollers 'copter landed near the lake. A load of screaming little girlies ran across the track to try to get at the Rollers. A very unwise move that, given the recently disclosed habits re young people of at least one of that particular band...

[Stephen Green]

I remember the Radio 1 Day out at Brands Hatch as well. Drivers like Noel Edmunds and Mike Smith both getting quite involved in motorsport.

[Ted Walker]

I spent the day with Tony Trimmer last Sat at Brands . He was testing a friend of mines Brabham.I gave him a set of photos of him in the Capital Radio Lola Atlantic car he raced for them.

[Graham Clayton]

Here is an excellent page about the Keith St John Brabham, which is now in Australia, plus memories from Keith St John himself:

http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/odds03.htm

[Al Weyman]

I met Kieth on several occassions. The first time when I prepared the Nathan Imp for Lianna and he was standing with me when she rolled it at the elbow at Lydden. Then by coincidence an old friend of mine used to drive one of his tankers so we met up again. Nice to see those pictures they bought back good memories. I also tried very hard to buy his Firebird convertable from him!

[PaulieG]

Not a radio London car, but I am restoring an ex Keith St John car that he raced in 1964 in a yellow/black livery for team speedwell. A lotus 20 bmc. I am trying to track any images or info on the man and his car.

[Al Weyman]

He was MD or owner of a small oil distribution company in Hertfordshire, may have been called Barton Oil.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

He was MD or owner of a small oil distribution company in Hertfordshire, may have been called Barton Oil.

There used to be a small oil distribution company in Leicestershire called Barton Oils. In it's latter years it was run by the original owners son called Richard. (Anyone else old enough to remember the radio series "Dick Barton Special Agent"?)

[nicanary]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

There used to be a small oil distribution company in Leicestershire called Barton Oils. In it's latter years it was run by the original owners son called Richard. (Anyone else old enough to remember the radio series "Dick Barton Special Agent"?)

I'm humming the theme tune as I type...

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by nicanary

I'm humming the theme tune as I type...

Well, you'd better be typing quickly then! (I keep meaning to download The Devils Galop to use as a ringtone on my mobile).

[GORDON STREETER]

Good reading, I wonder why lot's of old racing drivers end up in Spain with old stunning blondes
When I had a clear out a few years back I threw away an old transistor radio that actually had "Radio Caroline" on the dial, I wonder what the younger readers of 10ths think of us old farts talking about all this nostalgia ?

[Al Weyman]

Lianna Englemann his girlfriend at the time was a stunning Dutch brunette!

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Lianna Englemann his girlfriend at the time was a stunning Dutch brunette!

Mines definitely a blonde !

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Good reading, I wonder why lot's of old racing drivers end up in Spain with old stunning blondes
When I had a clear out a few years back I threw away an old transistor radio that actually had "Radio Caroline" on the dial, I wonder what the younger readers of 10ths think of us old farts talking about all this nostalgia ?

Well Gordon, as you know, they don't make nostalgia like they used to...

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Well Gordon, as you know, they don't make nostalgia like they used to...

Will we be sitting in wheelchairs in an old fogies home still talking about this in XXXXX years ? in my case x years !
I can remember Bill Ivy racing a motorbike for Radio London !

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Will we be sitting in wheelchairs in an old fogies home still talking about this in XXXXX years ? in my case x years !
I can remember Bill Ivy racing a motorbike for Radio London !

And your wheelchair will be lowered, painted purple, and running twin Webbers!

[morninggents]

And if he's still drinking Larkins it'll have a very loud exhaust!

[gt917]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Good reading, I wonder why lot's of old racing drivers end up in Spain with old stunning blondes
When I had a clear out a few years back I threw away an old transistor radio that actually had "Radio Caroline" on the dial, I wonder what the younger readers of 10ths think of us old farts talking about all this nostalgia ?

I love it !