Race Retro, Stoneleigh Park, 24-26 February 2012

No Grumping

As one of Mono's grumpier people (no, really, they do exist) I rarely enjoy myself. So Race Retro is a real disappointment. There's so many lovely cars, and interesting, friendly people, I just can't be miserable. It makes me realise why I like motor racing. People there are happy. I don't like happy.

The Monoposto stand looked great, as usual, thanks to Simon's arrangement of it, Andrew Cliffe's photographs, Michael Dale's beautiful RF82 and Arty Cameron's svelte Jedi. Obviously, Friday was a dangerous day to be there as the girls queued for Jim Blockley's autograph, but we survived. On Friday, the full team was organiser Jonathan Baggott, Simon Davey, Club President David Cox, and Jim Blockley. On Saturday, the Chairman Nick Harrison was joined by Sarah Harvey-Fern and Russ Giles, and on Sunday David Parkinson and Michael Dale were joined again by Simon Davey.Simon gave a talk on starting in racing which was attended by 6 people. 6 people had booked - none of them arrived, but we had 2 Mono joiners and some other historic racers (cars not drivers) who had a very educational and enjoyable hour or so learning how to get it right.

On the stand on Friday, we had a mix of former Mono drivers, current Mono drivers, potential joiners and others. Fortuately I missed the loonies. Potential joiners were generally surprised at how affordable it can be to run a good looking, modern and - let's not beat about the bush - safe single seater. For me, the highlight of the day was a Swiss driver who owned, possibly, the ultimate Mono garage: Lola T644, Ralt RT3, Formula Ford, Formula Renault and a historic 1960's single seater (Panhard, since you ask, a lovely little old thing rather like the old Triumph powered JW F4s). It would be a good story if it stopped there, but it didn't. Simon had a slide in his presentation about buying a racing car. It was about looking at what the cars did in their day, and learning. He illustrated it with a picture of a car he would not recommend because it was dreadful. I'm advised not to mention the make as the designer had good lawyers, but not only did our Swiss friend own and find this exact model scary and undrivable, he owned the exact car Simon had selected a week before from the internet.

They have a sort of theme to the show each year. This year it was 50 years of the MGB. Many people like MGBs.

A good day was had by all, this is the friendliest show of all, and we'll hopefully see everybody next year.

As usual the captions are intended in a spirit of light heartedness, so if I've insulted your favourite classic I'm very sorry.

Michael Dale's beautiful RF82 and Arty Cameron's svelte Jedi

Jim Blockley and David Cox on the stand

Askham Bryan College showed this ex-Mono (Russ? but definitely Dermot) Formula Forward hillclimb car.

Mono racer Norman Hillwood built the Hillwood Special in the early1960's. Norman was a long time stalwart supporter of Mono, sponsoring a few drivers, particularly George Whitehead and occasionally providing a car. He also provided a ladies award, last presented to Amanda Whittaker

Surprises
According to the hugely entertaining howmanyleft.co.uk there are 10 Moskvitches left in the UK, including 4 estates. Somebody rallys one. The replacement used a Talbot Alpine for inspiration. Which explains a lot.	The MG Maestro was widely admired for its style, build quality and innovative screamy dashboard. Here is a rally version.	Auntie Rover P6. Before the 3500 V8 was marketed, Alec Poole raced a Traco Buick engined Rover 2000, still one of my favourite cars.	The Stoneleigh cattle sheds hold the autojumble. If you were desperate for Standard Penant engine or bodywork, this was the place.

Hillclimb Time
(Left) Alan Warburton is known to some Mono racers for his DTA Engine electronics systems. John Moody (right, father of Toby, MotoGP commentator) is respected as the voice of Shelsley Walsh.	The Techcraft BRM uses the Ferguson system of four wheel drive and was originally built for sprints and hillclimbs. It won the RAC Hillclimb Championship in 1967 – 1968, driven by Peter Lawson.	It was later owned by hillclimb legend Roy Lane of Warwick. The car was purchased by Coventry Museum of Transport in 1974 for £1,800. This shot shows a drive shaft.	MAC showed "Cream Cracker" MGs. Surprisingly, Jonathan Baggott with trials hat on says these immaculate historic racers get punished in the mud on the Edinburgh and Exeter trials and still look like this.

Some Modern Single Seaters
March 703 - basically identical to 708 raced in Mono by Peter Venn and, before him, David Dudley.	Rupert Keegan raced a March 763 in F3. He was the son of Mike Keegan, of British Air Ferries (Carvairs) and Transmeridian Air Cargo (CL44s/Guppys) fame.	March 782	Toleman TG 183. Handsome and purposeful, its lineal successor, the Lotus E20, is much faster but maybe not as pretty.

"BMC"s Alive and Well

A feature of the show was "50 years of MGBs" (or Morris Oxford Coupes, as some know them). Exceedingly pretty but a conservative design even by 1960's standards. Nonetheless, successful in competition.	MAC showed a Costello V8. Ken Costello inserted an Olds 3.5 into an MGB long before BLMC thought of / copied the idea. He also drove an F3 Brabham, which probably later ran in Mono	Lovely 10inch wheel Mini Cooper captivated many a nostalgic child of the 60's	Turn a ratty rubber bumper Midget into a Sebring Sprite - kit designer shown here, who was delighted to have sold a couple on Friday.
"Mini Minor to Asia Minor"	A Riley. Yes, I know BMC was formed in the 1950's.	An MG which, in it's day, was a real hi-tech pocket rocket.	It's difficult not to like Austin 7 Specials.
Amongst the Mags
LOY501, Tojeiro MG XPAG powered Leonard Special on Octane stand. Tojeiro also penned Cobra chassis.	Damien Smith is the editor of MotorSport, accidentally caught here in an appropriate Bill Boddy-like pose.	MS had a Mike Hawthron Riley on their stand complete with manikin driver, here being assembled.	Not a magazine, but Brooklands had a painter there, the Alfa which is the subject is to the right. Very nice, but not a patch on Barry Smith if you ask me. Now there's a painter.

Brabham BT23 F2 - £99,950 asking price with Damon Milnes, 1600BDA, rather more with an FVA. Damon says there's a lot of interest in more expensive cars like this, less in more realistically priced ones. As evidence, look at the Dallara he had for ages.

Lotus 41on the 1-litre F3 stand. Lovely sleek and probably ex-Mono. They're our sort of enthusiast too.

Another '60's cigar tube car, this hillclimb Brabham has a Buick/Rover V8.

Trojan F5000 and, um,sorry I forgot.

Porsches Abound
Very early 911 for endurance rallying arrive and drive.	A 962C...	...and another	Exploded air cooled 6
		People
And another 962.	Porsche 914/6 on auction stand. Early Boxster-like concept, 1969 to 76. This one has been widened. Original cars had 80-110PS, so probably not that quick.	Always good to have a chat with Hugo Holder of CSCC. They, like us, are having a lot of interest from those (including those who can afford to pay more) who like value for money in race entry fees.	Never been to a Race Retro and not seen Barrie Williams. Rarely seen Barrie Williams without him holding a steering wheel or a pretty lady.Never seen him not smiling.
Jolly Jaguars
E-Types generally look good but Crossthwaite and Gardiner (and not Creosote and Gardener as Microsoft Word tried to tell me) showed the Eagle Speedster.	Wider wheels, wider track, lower windscreen, 4.7litre aluminium XK engine (which I think is the C&G connection) make for a stunning looking car.	Unfortunately it has a downside besides the price. Eagle put the praise lavished by The Oaf Clarkson on their website thus.....	...sadly losing all credibility.

			Uncle Henry was there
XK120	The low-drag Lindner-Nocker E-Type. Beautifully and lovingly rebuilt from a dreadful crash. See here.	Lister Jaguar	Ford Zodiac was always the dream car of the teddy boy. Bit rock and roll, unlike the Westminster. The latter has, however, won a British Saloon Car chamionship.
This Zodiac would easily have outrun the Zephyrs run by Newtown Police in Z Cars as it has a Raymond Mays head with triple SU carburettors, giving a major power improvement.	Race Retro without a Mk1 Escort? Never.	Auction had a Ford Consul Capri, which was the origin of the 1340cc and then 1598cc pre-crossflow Kent. A bit mini-TBird in looks, too juke box for my taste.	As authentic as those vintage Eddie Stobart models they sell in motorway service areas (ie not at all), the Pinto engined Thames 300E van was still nicely finished and very cute.
Bob Evans McKechnie Racing Trojan F5000. Trojans were production McLarens, same business that made bubble cars and two stroke 4 piston 2 cylinder engined cars. A Mono driver owns one....	Lola T70. Iconic is such an overused word, at least by me.	Cooper Maserati T51 in Suderia Centro Sud colours.	McLaren M8. Very successful in CanAm, and looking great in orange, the real McLaren company colour.
Elva MkVIII, Frank Nichols designed sports car.	Chevron B36	Triumph TR4 based SLR (Sprinzel Lawrence Racing). Pretty Willliams and Pritchard aluminium body, the TR4 version preceded the better known Morgan version.	Talking of Morgans, the interesting new Harley/ish powered 3 wheeler was on display.
Ally bodied Cobra replica, but a very nice one.	TVR. Don't know the model, but then I'm not sure they ever made 2 the same after about 1998. Avit will know.	ADU311B was the first production Sunbeam Tiger. Based on the Alpine (Rootes MGB equivalent) it was killed when Chrysler took over as it had the Ford 4.2l engine.	Aaah, Elan.
Datsun 240Z was very much in the spirit of hairy chest British sports cars with a big 6 cylinder engine.	Lancia 037 Grouop B car was a bit more successful than its roadcar equivalent the MonteCarlo	Looks even better in Martini colours.	One occassional Startline contributor gets very excited by Martini stripes, so here's a closeup for him.
Whilst in Fiat country, here's an Abarth modified 500....	...and a 600 of "Scuderia Testicolli de Cavallino"	Though it wasn't this one, Simon Davey rallied an Ascona back in the day.	De Tomaso Pantera. Just think, if Ford had bought Ferrari instead of Fiat, this would probably have been the 328.
A rather nice aluminium body.	This chap was behind the Mono stand demonstrating sheet metal work.	Vintage stock cars is an odd concept. Ford Pop bodied model...	...and Fiat Topolino looking very odd.
View from the Mono stand was a 4 post ramp.	Bikes looked a bit thin at 9.00am on Friday.....	....though Tritons were good lookers. (Triumph twin engine in a Norton frame, presumably to use up the frames the double knocker 500's were taken out from for use in Coopers)	I always think recumbent pushbikes are wierd, but this is a prone drag trike with a 2 stroke Yamaha called The Bishop. As Dave Allen used to say, may your God go with you.

Words and pictures by Tony Cotton. Corrections by David Cox Please email further factual (wrong car identification) errors to editor.

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