Duckhams road saloons 1984

Alex E · 6 Mar 2011, 17:24 (Ref:2841083)

Maybe a few others on here started racing in this series. A great idea by Tim Dodwell that made starting in motor racing a lot easier that it would otherwise have been. Some results from the first race at Brands Hatch March 1984.
If there is interest I will post more.
Alex

**chunterer** · 6 Mar 2011, 19:29 (Ref:2841119)

Brilliant, thanks Alex!

Some familiar names to the fore in that first race. Messrs Shead and Wileman were the front runners in the first season IIRC and a certain gentleman ran a rather smart BMW CSL IIRC? I don't recognise the guy who took pole though?

Interesting that by the end of the season the numbers had swelled considerably!

When did the Newbould Cortina and the Griffiths and Walker Droopsnoot's first come in? Was it that first year or in 1985?

Be great to have some accompanying images at some point as well.

ROBFIREBIRD · 6 Mar 2011, 20:15 (Ref:2841139)

I think it was the first year that myself and Trever Griffiths came into the series with our Droopsnoot Firenzas. In those days we had to drive to and from track, trailers not allowed. At some point the championship split between road saloons, and super road saloons. Relief!! the supers could use trailers. Before the split, running a full race engine on the road was fun, Well,.... you couldnt let the plugs foul up could you!!

After a few seasons Trever Griffiths sold his Droopsnoot to my Brother in law, Mostyn Rutter. So for a while we were a two car team. After a nine year break Mostyh still has his car, and we now run in the classic saloon series.
Rob Walker

Alex E · 6 Mar 2011, 20:37 (Ref:2841146)

Some results from Round 2 at Lydden, there were 2 heats and a final but I don`t have the results of the final.

The Vauxhalls etc...you mention first appeared at the next round at Snatterton. Alex

**chunterer** · 6 Mar 2011, 20:47 (Ref:2841152)

Thanks Rob for those details, great cars those Firenza's. Trevor ended up running a race team in the 90's IIRC. Didn't have a kind of main career as a race engineer or something like that?

Alex apologies you were running a 2002 that year but i'm sure you told me about a CSI or CSL at some point a while back?

Alex E · 6 Mar 2011, 20:47 (Ref:2841153)

Qualifying results from Snetterton, wet as i recall. Also a picture (Mike Dixon..) of the start. I am sure both Dolomites were ex Prod Saloon. David Shead was fresh out of the Brands Hatch race school. Derek Wileman was always at the front. alex

Alex E · 6 Mar 2011, 20:58 (Ref:2841160)

Hi Rob,
You might remember this, I think the Rover driver was Jeff Orford who is now racing an escort in CTRTC I think. Alex.

tim dodwell · 6 Mar 2011, 23:48 (Ref:2841217)

Brings back some memories, this does, and I am always bumping into someone who raced in the Road Saloons - especially where I now race (the CTCRC - a great bunch). No matter what some say, it was the no trailer rule that filled our grids. When that went, the series started declining. Super Roads only slowly, but the Budget/Slick50/Lumenition series died very quickly afterwards. A shame as they were excellent starter formulae.

jonners · 21 Mar 2011, 20:59 (Ref:2850802)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

Brilliant, thanks Alex!

Some familiar names to the fore in that first race. Messrs Shead and Wileman were the front runners in the first season IIRC and a certain gentleman ran a rather smart BMW CSL IIRC? I don't recognise the guy who took pole though?

Interesting that by the end of the season the numbers had swelled considerably!

When did the Newbould Cortina and the Griffiths and Walker Droopsnoot's first come in? Was it that first year or in 1985?

Be great to have some accompanying images at some point as well.

I used to chat to John Newbold a bit being a Mk 2 Lotus Cortina owner - I even registered for the CSCC pre 74 series in the late 80's but never made it out there - just do hillclimbing now.

Newbold I think was out there in 85. Tragedy is that his "car" was acquired by a very enthusiastic owner who reshelled it and now goes drag racing. The Newbold car had had a lot of deent work done on the shell so bit of a shame really.

Anyone remember Angela Hart? Used to chat to her too and drool over her car but she pranged it in a big way at Snetterton.

Used to love road saloons as a spectator. Used to chat to Tim Dodwell all the time.

Tim - if you're reading this I'm the chap who used to hillclimb with you at longleat in the white Mk 2 Lotus Cortina. You might remember i bent it badly one year and was all for driving it home but you insisted I shoud try to get it staight again with a big bit of wood - which I did and carried on after lunch!! Happy days...

Alex E · 21 Mar 2011, 21:37 (Ref:2850824)

I am sure John Newbold raced a white Escort after his red Cortina ? Very fast as I recall.
I do remeber Angela, I think it was Brands where she went out for qualifying without a crash helmet on !
Alex

tim dodwell · 21 Mar 2011, 23:00 (Ref:2850865)

Yes Jonners (?), the spectators used to love the Road Saloons - the variety, the tyre squealing, and looking at the cars in the paddock. Unlike cars nowadays, they looked like their cars with all the trim, carpets, and seats inside.
Can't remember that particular happening at Longleat, but it sounds like what I would say!! Shame they resurfaced the track there - it made it too easy, and removed the skill element.
Where are you hillclimbing? I still do a few sprints and hillclimbs, so maybe we'll meet again.

v8rob · 6 Apr 2011, 20:35 (Ref:2859864)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim dodwell

Brings back some memories, this does, and I am always bumping into someone who raced in the Road Saloons - especially where I now race (the CTCRC - a great bunch). No matter what some say, it was the no trailer rule that filled our grids. When that went, the series started declining. Super Roads only slowly, but the Budget/Slick50/Lumenition series died very quickly afterwards. A shame as they were excellent starter formulae.

Hi Tim, I don't want to disagree with! you but from my point of view it was letting the 16v engines into the slick 50 series that killed it?, my dad ran in the slicks (pete robertson) and his car cost a total of £4000 to build and put on the grid, a 16v golf/astra etc.. would have set you back £5000 just for a road car let alone prepping it for racing, i guess it just let racers in with a high budget than the guys allready running, i would love to see a pre 1985 road saloons series based on the slick 50 rules, full of capri's and rovers again for a very small budget!

Alex E · 9 Apr 2011, 17:48 (Ref:2860948)

A few more.

Alex E · 9 Apr 2011, 17:50 (Ref:2860949)

And some more

Alex E · 9 Apr 2011, 17:52 (Ref:2860950)

and more

Alex E · 9 Apr 2011, 17:57 (Ref:2860951)

missed one

G.Walker · 9 Apr 2011, 18:29 (Ref:2860963)

A few photos of the various Vauxhalls competing in 1984 Road Saloon

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47177643@N02/4492896011/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47177643@N02/4492895907/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47177643@N02/4493532906/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47177643@N02/4492895645/

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