In brief, August 2009
The biggest field of 1-litre F3 cars seen since the category changed to 1600cc engines in 1971 will gather at Brands Hatch on July 4 at the HSCC Historic Superprix. Up to 30 cars are due to race, with others joining a parade in front of ex-racers such as Bev Bond, Tony Trimmer and Charles Lucas.
Tin-top racer and Knockhill business development manager Gordon Shedden has received the Jim Clark Memorial Award. The award, given by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, recognises the contributions and achievements of Scots in motoring and motor sport.
The March 752 F2 car raced by Patrick Tambay is being rebuilt by historic single-seater racer Mark Dwyer. Dwyer acquired the tub and three corners of the 1975 car and hopes to run it in Historic F2 races later this season.
The unique Spider 1-litre F3 car, built in Sweden in 1965, will make its UK race debut later this year with Mark Woodhouse. The car was designed and built by Sven Harry Akesson, who also designed the Koenigsegg super car.
A memorial to Tom Pryce in his hometown of Ruthin, North Wales, has been completed. Tom’s mother Gwyneth, David Richards and Nella Pryce unveiled the tribute to the F1 racer, who died at Kyalami in 1977. The idea for the memorial stemmed from the 30th anniversary of his death.
The 1988 Le Mans-winning Jaguar XJR9 will be one of the star attractions at the Bradford Classic Car Show on July 18/19. Some 150 performance and classic cars will be on display in the town’s Centenary Square including the 2009 Aston Martin LMP1, along with team driver Darren Turner.
After 46 years in the making, WSM Sprite 208 number 10 made its race debut at Croft in May. Designer and racer Douglas Wilson-Spratt had stored the body in 1963 while the other nine WSM Spridgets were completed. In 2001, he was prompted by a resurgence of interest in the WSM cars to resurrect the build.
The fourth Scottish Speedfair will be held at Knockhill on July 19 and will celebrate 50 years of the Mini and Austin-Healey, and 100 years of Morgan.