Tag Archives: West

MGJ Engineering Winter Stages Rally – Brands Hatch

After dropping off a nurse around 5am at a hospital in Plymouth a couple of weeks ago I got it into my head that I could just about make it home to Bristol swap my ambulance for my car and make it to Brands Hatch which was hosting the MGJ Engineering Winter Stage Rally in time for the 10:30 am start.

Ford Focus 05 WRC, Nigel Mummery, Fiona Scarrett, MGJ Engineering Winter Stages Rally, Brands Hatch

Despite the fact that it rained almost the entire 276 miles I made it just in time to see the #9 Ford Focus 05 WRC crewed by Nigel Mummery and Fiona Scarrett make a bit of a hash of the Druids Hairpin, which was being used in the opposite direction normally used circuit racing, on their way to a 35th place finish.

Darrian T9, Jeremy Straker, Simon May, MGJ Engineering Winter Stages Rally, Brands Hatch

As on the Brean Stages Rally a week earlier a Darrian T9 was present, in this case driven by Jeremy Straker with co driver Simon May seen above from the inside of Druids hairpin on their way to 64th place, last but one.

Peugeot 206, Mike Askew, James Baggott, MGJ Engineering Winter Stages Rally, Brands Hatch

The #49 Peugeot 206 crewed by Mike Askew and James Baggott is seen above under steering off track limits coming up Graham Hill Bend on it’s way to a 53rd place finish.

Nissan Micra, Matt / Suze Endean, MGJ Engineering Winter Stages Rally, Brands Hatch

I first came across Muriel the 1994 Nissan Micra at last years Autosport International and then again at the Hullavington Sprint, here she is again with Matt and Suze Endean aboard on her way to a 40th place finish, 2nd in Class A.

Subaru Impreza Wagon, Gary / Tom Bollands, MGJ Engineering Winter Stages Rally, Brands Hatch

Regular readers will know that I am a huge wagon fan (is anything that cannot accommodate a lawn mower in the back really a car ?) so I always back anybody driving a Subaru Impreza Wagon like the example driven, off track limits between the end of a stage and time control above, by Gary and Tom Bollands on their way to 44th place overall.

Ferrari 308 Michelotto Gr.4, Neil McMahon, Dave Mellett, MGJ Engineering Winter Stages Rally, Brands Hatch

There were two Ferrari’s on the rally, organised by Chelmsford Motor Club, above the example driven by Neil McMahon and Dave Mellett is seen opposite locking it’s way to a 55th place finish.

MGJ Engineering Winter Stages Rally, Brands Hatch

Despite the cars being started at 30 second intervals things got a bit hectic among the lower order runners, above the #69 Peugeot of 50th place finishers Trevor and Louise Gilks made a mess of the first corner of the Rally School section of a stage in front of the #73 Subaru Impreza crewed by Chris Surman and Adam Quinn which finished 48th and the second Ferrari 308 GTB crewed by Kevin and Lee Jones which was disqualified for transgressing Regulation 24.4.5 which is not known to me at this time.

Ford Escort Mk2, James Sharrock, Stuart Faulds, MGJ Engineering Winter Stages Rally, Brands Hatch

James Sharrock and Stuart Faulds piloted their #6 Ford Escort Mk2 to a fine 3rd overall behind the 2nd placed Darrian T90 GTR driven by Ashley Field and Ryan Vickers.

Peugeot 306 Maxi, Chris West, Steve McNulty, MGJ Engineering Winter Stages Rally, Brands Hatch

The winning #3 Peugeot 306 Maxi is seen above heading through the paddock crewed by Chris West and Steve McNulty.

The final rounds of the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship will be at Anglesey Circuit on March 20th, Cadwell Park on April 10th and Snetterton on a date in May to be confirmed.

Thanks for joining me on this “MGJ Engineering Winter Stages Rally” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at another competition Camaro, don’t forget to come back now !

Hollywood Legends – 2013 Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance

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A couple of weeks ago Geoffrey Horton took his Jaguar XK140 to the 2013 Marin Sonoma Councours d’Elegance where his Jaguar came second in class. Here are some of the other cars that were on display.

Dusenberg J, Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance

Two years after making her Hollywood film debut at, the age of 38, Mae West bought this 1934 Dusenberg J. The most expensive vehicle for ‘Goin’ to town’ would have been a mere trifle for the raunchy sex symbol as she became the second highest paid person in the USA the following year.

Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport, Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance

Going up against Geoffrey’s Jaguar was this 1951 Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport. All T26 Grand Sports were sold as rolling chassis and this one chassis 110160 is unusual because it was sent to Italy, most stayed in France, for it’s bespoke bodywork which was designed by Pinin Farina.

Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II Convertible, Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance

Another among the cars previously owned by Movie legends was this 1961 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II which belonged to Elizabeth Taylor shortly after she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in Butterfield 8.

Cooper T56 Mk2, Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance

This 1961 Cooper T56 Mk 2 Formula Jr car chassis FJ-2-62 was originally run for the Cooper works team by Ken Tyrrell in Formula Junior with Tony Maggs at the wheel. In 1962 Steve McQueen was in the UK filming “The War Lover” when he tried the Cooper at Brands Hatch and ended up buying it and shipping it to California. He won races in this car at Del Mar and Santa Barbra after which Steve’s racing career which included successfully racing motor cycles was temporarily put on hold by the needs of the needs of the film studios for whom he was working.

Ford Torino GT Convertible, Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance

Henry Fords last surviving grand son William Clay Ford, Sr driving Ford Torino GT convertible pace car like the one above led Joe Leonard driving the Pratt and Whitney turbine powered Lotus 56 and the other 32 starters on the warm lap of the 1968 Indy 500, which was won by Bobby Unser driving an All American Racers Eagle Offy.

Moal Aerosport, Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance

Moal Coachbuilders specialise in building one off and low volume cars for their customers in Oakland California. The Aerosport appears to be loosely based on the one off 1938 Huispano Suiza H6C Xenia.

Moal Torpedo, Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance

Mimicking an early fifties Alfa Romeo Grand Prix car, the Moal Torpedo above is Ferrari powered. Moal Coachworks is a fourth generation family run business which was set up at the turn of the 20th century by William Moal to build bodies and wheels for horse drawn vehicles.

Moal Gatto, Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance

Taking three years to build from the ground up the Moal Gatto, above, is powered by a 300hp Ferrari V12 of the type used to power the Ferrari GTO and Testa Rossa.

My thanks to and congratulations to Geoffrey for the photographs and to the contributors to the Steve McQueen Cooper thread at The Nostalgia Forum for the Cooper T56 Mk2 details.

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

Classic and Sports Car Action Day – Castle Combe

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On my way back from a couple of interviews at Sheffield Documentary Festival at the weekend I found time to accept a kind invitation from David Roots to pay a flying visit to Castle Combe for the Classic and Sports Car Action Day.

As I arrived out on the track caught a glimpse of a huge variety of vehicles ranging from a Wolsely Hornet to a gargantuan, by comparison, Ford Zodiac.

Since I was on a tight schedule I directed my attention to the even larger variety of vehicles in the car parks and paddock.

Many owners clubs were in attendance including the Ford Capri owners club who’s members brought a fine variety of examples of ‘The car you have always promised yourself‘, along to the show.

I do not remember the last time I saw a Hillman Avenger Tiger, let alone half a dozen of them !

In the running for most exotic cat at the track was this Jaguar XJ 220, first time I have seen one in the flesh.

Another model I do not recall seeing before is the Lanchester Ten.

Richard Edmonds were auctioning a selection of classic cars and commercial vehicles, including the Morris Van above, during the event, their tent was packed out with bargain hunters as I went past.

Unfortunately I did not get to hear or see this 350 CUI GTO in action complete with this cool bonnet mounted rev counter. 18 03 12, this car actually turned out to be a Pontiac LeMans Sport.

Among the interesting vehicles in the car park was this Rover V8 powered Reliant Scimitar, manufactured originally with a Ford V6.

This Alpine A110 1600 S built for competition was one of several vehicles present with an interesting history in rallying.

There was also an impressive collection of Triumphs on display almost every type of TR and a couple of Stags.

Looking forward to blogging about some of the 40 vehicles I saw in the coming weeks, my thanks to David Roots, who’s Alfa powered Lenham I blogged several months ago, of the Bath & West Car Club for the invitation to attend.

Thanks for dropping in on today’s Classic and Sports Car edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Gettin' A Li'l Psycho On Tyres

Art Tidesco blogs on all things motoring

Tag Archives: West

MGJ Engineering Winter Stages Rally – Brands Hatch

Hollywood Legends – 2013 Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance

Classic and Sports Car Action Day – Castle Combe