Tag Archives: Jackie

Ferrari by David Bailey – Ferrari 550 Maranello GTS

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Some of you who read my Rowdy blogs may remember a blog about the 2002 celebrity Prodrive Ferrari 550 Marranello GTS (03).

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That chassis took part in at least 42 Races in the GT/GTS class for at least four different teams from 2002 to 2006 and had a host of celebrity drivers including,

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Colin McRae World Rally Champion, British Touring Car Champions Rickard Rydell & Alain Menu, British, Luc Alphand former World Cup Skiing Champion and Dakar winner, David Brabham Japanese GT Champion and Le Mans winner 2009, Jan Magnussen Danish Touring Car Champion, Danica Patrick queen of IRL, Darren Manning IRL driver, Christophe Bouchut 1993 Le Mans Winner, and one of my former racing instructors Tim Sugden former British and Asia Pacific GT Champion.

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Prodrive prepared a batch of 20 550 Maranello GTS’s for racing in Europe and the States where they were regular winners in the GT/GTS class in 2001.

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In 2003 today’s #88 550 Maranello GTS Chassis ZFFZR49B000108462, the 6th of the 20 Prodrive built, was driven by Thomas Enge, Jamie Davies and Peter Kox,

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with around 750hp coming from it’s V12 engine,

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beat the Corvettes by 10 laps at the Le Mans 24 hour race winning the GTS class coming home 10th overall.

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This vehicle entered exclusively by the Prodrive team is known to have run in at least 9 races in 2003 in all bar one carrying the #88, this chassis carried the #08 in it’s last known final at Petite Le Mans.

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When the effervescent Jackie Irwin, who has petrol running through her veins, told us on my recent visit to the Prodrive factory we were allowed to sit in some of the vehicles parked in the display area like a 12 year old I headed straight for the 550 Maranello,

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the experience of sitting in this fabulous car was an odd mixture of agony and ecstasy, the seat was made for someone with hips the size of a 12 year old, yet at the same time the purposefulness of every last detail inside the vehicle sent my mind straight to Le Mans, by some strange fate I also found my self posing for this photograph taken by David Bailey , I am sure Twiggy would have felt far more comfortable in the seat, but then I doubt she would ever find herself posing for David Bailey of the Bristol Pegasus Motor Club.

My thanks to David Bailey, everyone at the Bristol Pegasus MC and Prodrive who made my visit such an interesting day out.

Hope you have enjoyed today’s David Bailey edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’ and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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The Olde Favourite – Jaguar E-Type #850216

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Like the humble Renault 4, the E-Type Jaguar celebrates it’s Golden Anniversary this year.

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When the E-type Jaguar was launched in 1961 Enzo Ferrari could afford to pay the car a compliment by describing it as ‘being the most beautiful car in the world’, because he knew his own cars were generally lighter and had more powerful aluminium motors.

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The E-type was a direct descendent of the three times Le Mans winning D- Type with an 3.8 litre / 231 cui evolution of the same iron block straight 6 double overhead cam XK6 motor.

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This 1961 Series 1 model was delivered to Jaguar agent, Dumbuck Garage, run by Mr & Mrs Stewart parents of the marginally more famous Jimmy Stewart and younger brother the now infinitely more famous Jackie Stewart.

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While the car was on the Dumbuck Garage demonstration fleet carrying the registration plate FSN 1 Jackie Stewart got married to Helen and was photographed sitting in this car with his bride on their wedding day.

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Subsequently Jackie drove the car to several victories in 1962 which led to his first professional contracts with Ecurie Ecosse and John Coombs for 1963.

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Allegedly this vehicle is known as “The Olde Favourite” in Jackie Stewarts family and is currently owned by Michael Wilkinson.

I hope you have enjoyed `The Olde Favourite’ edition of “Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres” and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Why does the sight of a little Mini Moke make every body rock ?

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Today’s blog is dedicated to Rowdy Mini Moke fan club member ‘Archidude‘ of Brevard NC, who sent me a link to this interesting Mini Moke video.

Designed as a vehicle with military applications in mind the Mini Moke made use of BMC Mini mini parts bin, including the engine, drive train and 10″ wheels which rendered the vehicle useless for military off road purposes because the Moke did not have much ground clearance.

However the vehicle produced between 1964 – 1993 did find a niche as a recreational vehicle in the sunny climate of many former British Colonies and was the first vehicle ever used on Pitcairn Islands, of HMS Bounty Fame, becoming the remotest vehicle on earth.

Correction Edited 29 09 19 The above vehicle is an AMC Andersen Cub not a Moke. Thanks to Dean and every one at www.moke.org who helped me correct this error.

Of the 50,000, Mokes made in Britain, Australia, and Portugal some have a competition history which includes Hans Tholstrup and John Crawford who nursed their Moke from London to Sydney in the 1977 Marathon and most unlikely of all Charlie Smith and Barry Seaton who gallantly jumped in their Moke to take on a field of Ford GT40’s and Ferrari 250 LM’s including winner Andy Buchanan,seen here , co driven by none other than Jacky Stewart at Surfers Paradise in 1966.

Finally Mini Mokes were used as Taxi’s in the surreal television series the Prisoner, a catch phrase of which was; Be Seeing You !

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