Tag Archives: Reid

Drive By Wire Safari – Subaru Impreza WRC99

In 1997 World Rally Car regulations were introduced for the World Rally Championship that were more liberal than the Group A regulations that had been mandated since 1986.

Subaru Impreza WRC99, Prodrive, Banbury,

Subaru with their partner Prodrive in the UK built for WRC evolutions of the 2 door Impreza before the model was replaced by the all new 4 door Impreza GD in 2001.

Subaru Impreza WRC99, Prodrive, Banbury,

The 1999 WRC evolution of the Impreza known as the WRC99 was the first rally car to compete on a World Rally with drive by wire throttle and steering wheel mounted paddle shift for the hydraulically actuated semi automatic transmission, technology that was imported from contemporary Formula One practice.

Subaru Impreza WRC99, Prodrive, Banbury,

Richard Burns was the only Subaru works driver to compete in all rounds of the 1999 World Rally Championship with a Impreza WRC99 and he recorded wins in Greece, Australian and Britain on his way to a second place finish in the 1999 WRC championship.

Subaru Impreza WRC99, Prodrive, Banbury,

Juha Kankkunen recorded two more wins in Argentina and Finland with the Impreza WRC99 to help Subaru finish second, just four points adrift of Toyota, in the 1999 World Rally Manufacturers championship.

Subaru Impreza WRC99, Prodrive, Banbury,

Richard Burns and Juha Kankkunen both used the Impreza WRC99 in the first three rounds of the 2000 World Rally Championship and signed the model off with a 1-2 finish on the Safari Rally Kenya with Richard and co driver Robert Reid ahead of Juha and his co driver Juha Repo.

Subaru Impreza WRC99, Prodrive, Banbury,

Richard scored 3 more victories with the newer Impreza WRC2000 and finished 2nd again in the World Rally Championship while Subaru with no additional victories dropped to third in the manufacturers championship.

Richards #3 Safari winning WRC99 is seen in these photographs at Prodrives Head Office in Banbury.

Thanks for joining me on this “Drive By Wire Safari” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a BRM Formula One car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Autumn Classic – Castle Combe

Castle Combe Circuits second Autumn Classic closed the racing season at the Wiltshire circuit for the second year running a couple of weeks ago and it proved again proved a big hit with the spectators more of whom used the event to dress up 30’s to 50’s costume than I remember last year.

Ecurie Ecosse, Commer, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

After arriving I made my way to the paddock for a Big Boys Breakfast while the practice sessions were getting underway. Above the 1959 Ecurie Ecosse 2 stroke diesel powered Commer Transporter and many ex Ecurie Ecosse team cars, including the 1960 Cooper T49 Monaco, 1961 Sebring Austin Healey Sprite and the rear engined 1962 Tojeiro-Buick Coupé will all be coming up for auction at Bonhams in December.

Triumph Special, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

There were many interesting vehicles in the car park including this sports car about which I know nothing apart from the fact it said “Triumph” on the tax disc, if you know more please do not hesitate to chime on below.

Mods, Rockers & Cops, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

After practice and before racing commenced there were several demonstrations including the one seen above featuring a selection of “mods” on their scooters and “rockers” on their motorcycles with “rozers” in hot pursuit aboard a Wolseley and Triumph Herald squad cars.

Maserati 250F, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

Nick Mason’s Maserati 250F arrived a later than intended and sadly sans Nick, but it made a welcome appearance on the track, unfortunately the PA was a little weak at Old Paddock when I took this photo so I’m not sure who was at the wheel, if you know chime in below.

Aston Martin DB3, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

The Historic Aston Martins got the afternoons racing underway, Martin Hunt driving a Fraser Nash Le Mans Replica did well to lead from second on the grid for the opening lap but it was Chris Woodgate, seen above qualifying his Aston Martin DB3 #DB3/6 on pole in the early morning mist, who led from lap 2 until the finish, while Hunt fell back to finish an eventual fifth.

Norman Dewis Trophy, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

Grahame Bull and Anthony Reid locked out the front row for the Norman Dewis Trophy for Jaguars with the #12 E Type and #33 XK120 respectively. Reid made a great race of it taking the lead on lap 2 and then again from lap six to 18 until he was slowed by a puncture which left Bull with an unassailable lead.

Big Healey Challenge, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

The Big Healey’s provided the second biggest grid of the day and by far the fiercest competition which saw five competitors trying to go unsuccessfully line abreast into the Bobbies chicane at one point ! Above the #73 Chris Clarkson / Ted Williams, #16 Eric Wolley / Dan Cox and #98 Nils-Fredrick Nyblaeus / Jeremy Welch cars fight over blagging rights for the best entry line into Tower Corner. David Grace and Anders Schildt were declared the winners after Dan Cox driving the fastest car in the race went backwards into the barriers, without injury, at Tower.

VSCC Pre War Sports Cars, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

The rather more leisurely VSCC Pre War Sports Cars race was won by Frederic Wakeman from pole abourd his Fraser Nash Super Sports but only after past a fast starting HRG driven by Andrew Mitchel who led the opening three laps. The brothers Blakeney-Edwards provided the scrap of the race Simon in the #4 Fraser Nash Shelsey got the better of Patrick in the #3 Fraser Nash Owlet Saloon to home 3rd. The brothers are seen congratulating each other on their return to the pits.

FISCAR, 50's Inter Marque, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

Andrew Sharp, seen leading in his #45 Aston Martin DB2 a above, from third on the grid managed to lead every lap of The FISCAR 50’s Inter Marque, but only after he had managed to build up a big enough to make his compulsory pit stop 5 mins before the end of the race. Nike Thorn and Johnny Todd driving the #44 Austin Healey 100S did well to finish just 0.07 seconds behind Sharp, from second on the grid, on a thrilling closing lap.

Miller Oils Formula Junior, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

The biggest grid of the day was provided by the Miller Oils Formula Junior Championship competitors. Jack Woodhouse qualified on pole in his #84 Lotus 20/22 and won the close fought race by half a second from Peter Morton who started alongside him in the rare #75 Lightning Envoyette seen above on the opening lap.

50's Lightweight Sports Racing Cars, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

The final race of the day was for 50’s Lightweight Sports Racing Cars had eight entries of which just seven took the start. But it only takes two cars to make a race and Alex Quattlebaum proved it by taking the win from 4th on the grid in his #10 Leco MG after a race long battle with 2nd place starter Brian Arculus in his #17 Lotus IX. Brian might have won the race had he not switched his lights on which appeared to have an adverse effect on the smooth running of his motor. Alex is seen making his final pass on Brian 2 laps from home above.

And so the 2013 season of Motorsport that began with the sad loss of circuit saviour Howard Strawford, drew to a close at Castle Combe in Wiltshire, roll on 2014 !

Thanks for joining me on this Autumn Classic edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at a 1990 Thunderbird. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Air-time – Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power

Cholmondeley Pageant Of Power takes place on the estate of the Marquess Of Cholmondeley, a descendent of Sir Robert Walpole the first British Prime Minister, against the back drop of his fine 19th century mock Gothic castle in Cheshire.

G Smith, Bentley Speed 8, Cholomondeley Pageant Of Power

The opportunity to get close to the Le Mans winning Bentley Speed 8, the subject of next Monday’s blog, seen above demonstrated by Guy Smith who drove this car to victory in 2003 is what initially attracted me to make the journey.

Kingston/Cropley, Infiniti FX Vettel, Cholomondeley Pageant Of Power

There were many attractions at the event on four wheels, two wheels, hovering and flying, but I spent the whole of Saturday morning transfixed by the sight of the participants in the sprint event getting air-time over the bridge close to the finish and it is that feature which I would like to share today. Above the Infiniti FX Vettel named after reigning three time world champion Sebastian Vettel was driven by Autocar journalists Lewis Kingston and Steve Cropley.

Cray/Cropley, Vauxhall VXR8 Tourer, Cholomondeley Pageant Of Power

Vauxhall Motors Director Martyn Cray shared this Corvette C6 powered Vauxhall VXR8 Tourer with Steve Cropley, the Tourer is based on the Holden Special Vehicles GTS.

Strafford, COT, Chevrolet Impala SS, Cholomondeley Pageant Of Power

Last time I saw a Sprint Cup COT Chevrolet Impala SS was at Talladega four years ago this one appears to have once been part of the Stewart Haas Racing fleet run for Ryan Newman but has been repainted in the Hendrick Motorsports Dupont colours used by Jeff Gordon for owner driver Mick Strafford.

Van Nierop, Audi 80, Cholomondeley Pageant Of Power

In the early 1990’s Xavier Lapeyre ’90, Marc Sourd ’91 and Frank Biela ’92 won the French Supertourisme championships with all wheel drive Audi 80’s like the one driven above driven by Johannes Van Nierop.

Reid, Ford Mustang Mach 1, Cholomondeley Pageant Of Power

Glaswegian Anthony Reid, 1992 Japanese Formula Three open wheel champions and Saloon car ace and a regular Jaguar C-type competitor, is seen getting three wheels off the ground in a Ford Mustang Mach 1.

Boutwood, Nobel M600, Cholomondeley Pageant Of Power

Among the Supercars Peter Boutwood’s Noble M600 won the high jump award …

Marshall-Rowe, Lamborghini, LP570, Superleggera, Cholomondeley Pageant Of Power

from the Lamborghini LP570 Superleggera driven by Tim Marshall-Rowe.

Mansell, Caterham SP/300.R, Cholomondeley Pageant Of Power

Scott Mansell was in the running for the high and long jump events in the Track Day class with the Caterham SP/300.R but …

Robbie Kerr, Radical SR3 RS,  Cholomondeley Pageant Of Power

he could not quite match the best efforts of Robbie Kerr driving a Radical SR3 RS.

Jenkins, MAN TGX, Cholomondeley Pageant Of Power

Easily winner of the Golden Cojones award was 2011 Truck Champion “MAN in black” driver David Jenkins who manhandled his MAN TGX at terrifying speeds through the narrow lanes of Cholomondeley.

All in all the Pageant of Power was neither as corporate or as busy as Goodwood Festival of Speed which made for a great day out in the opulent surroundings of a country home in Cheshire.

My thanks to Alan Cox for identify Anthony Reid.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Air-time’ edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Record In Perpetuity – Napier Railton

Last week I looked at the Birkin Bentley with which Tim Birkin set the outright Brooklands circuit record from John Cobb driving a V12 Delage at 137.58 mph in 1932.

Napier Railton, Brooklands Double Twelve

In order to regain the Brooklands outer circuit record John Cobb commissioned Thomson & Taylor to build a racing car to replace his 1923 Delage. Ried A Railton was given the task of developing what has become known as the Napier Railton around a 24 litre / 14,627 cui 12 cylinder Napier Lion motor that started life as a design for aviation applications in 1917.

Napier Railton, Brooklands Double Twelve

The extremely rough nature of the 2.75 mile Brooklands outer circuit meant that no single detail of the new challenger could be anything less than rock solid to withstand the pounding punishment of the concrete track which would regularly pitch cars into the air at speeds in excess of 120 mph.

Napier Railton, Brooklands Double Twelve

Weighing in at two tons the Napier Railton had a theoretical top speed of over 160 mph, despite this it was only fitted with 16 inch rear drum brakes to save weight.

Napier Railton, Brooklands Double Twelve

Equipped with beam axles, front and rear, the front one was suspended by a pair of semi-elliptic leaf springs and four friction dampers.

Napier Railton, Brooklands Double Twelve

Where ever the eye falls on the Napier Railton there is an overwhelming sense of strength, above the front leaf spring, on the right is the beam axle ahead of the steering arm on the left.

Napier Railton, Brooklands Double Twelve

During it’s first tests the Dunlop tyres proved wholly inadequate, but this problem was overcome by the time Cobb made his first appearance in the car at Brooklands in 1933.

Napier Railton, Brooklands Double Twelve

Despite it’s large capacity the Napier Lion motor with it’s three banks of four cylinders each with twim overhead cam shafts was relatively compact, compared to a similar capacity V12 with two row’s of six cylinders for example.

Napier Railton, Brooklands Double Twelve

However in order to keep the machine stable over the bumps at speed the Napier Railton has a 130 inch wheel base with a 60 inch track front and rear.

Napier Railton, Brooklands Double Twelve

The mounting points for the twin rear leaf spring sets is alongside the cockpit.

Napier Railton, Brooklands Double Twelve

The huge revolution counter did not have to work particularly hard the Napier Lion produced over 500 hp at just 2,200 revolutions per minuet. The gear box had three forward gears and no reverse.

Napier Railton, Brooklands Double Twelve

The bare aluminium bodywork is credited as being by Gurney Nutting.

Napier Railton, Brooklands Double Twelve

After it’s success on the track pre 1939 and after an appearance in the film Pandora and the Flying Dutchman alongside James Mason and Ava Gardner released in 1951, the rear drum brakes were replaced with these aircraft style disc brakes so that the car could be used to test aircraft braking parachutes by the GQ Parachute Company at Dunsfold Aerodrome in the early 1950’s.

Napier Railton, Brooklands Double Twelve

After John Cobb set the outright Brooklands circuit record at 143.44 mph, thanks to the subsequent break up of the circuit a record that will stand in perpetuity, Cobb took the Napier Railton to Bonneville Salt Flats where he set a world 24 hour record at 150.6 mph.

Napier Railton, Brooklands WB Memorial

John Cobb and Reid A Railton would work together again on the Railton Special featuring two Napier Lion engines, one driving each axle. The Railton Special became the first car to exceed 350 mph in 1939 and renamed the Railton Mobil Special it became the first car timed over 400 mph in 1947 when Cobb left the Land Speed Record at a two way average of 394.19 mph. Cobb was killed making an attempt on the water speed record in his jet powered boat Crusader in 1953.

Napier Railton, Wings and Wheels, Dunsfold Aerodrome

In 1997 the Brooklands Museum acquired the car after it had been repatriated from a collection in Leipzig.

When not in view at the Brooklands Museum or on what remains of the Brooklands track the Napier Railton can be seen doing what it does best at events like Wings and Wheels at Dunsfold Aerodrome.

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