Willhire 24 hours 1981/82/83

russell1 · 22 Jan 2008, 21:46 (Ref:2111542)

Can anyone help me with copies of the results from the Willhire 24hours in 1981, 1982 and 1983. A great event but as a rallydriver they always gave me the midnight to 3.00am stint. Still the cars went quicker in the dark 'cause the air was colder!

Russell Brookes

**Peter Mallett** · 23 Jan 2008, 12:44 (Ref:2111918)

Welcome to the forum Russell.

We have Gregor Marshall posting here, I'm sure he'll have some info.

**John Turner** · 23 Jan 2008, 13:48 (Ref:2111983)

Yes, welcome indeed, but since this is a History subject, I'm moving it to a 'better place'!

GBRM · 23 Jan 2008, 21:07 (Ref:2112238)

Whoa, don't include me in this gang!!

p.s. What do you want to know Russell? We had a brief chat at WBB's leaving but if ever I can help just shout.

tallguy_2 · 23 Jan 2008, 22:28 (Ref:2112295)

Hi Russell,

i dont remember those years but the first year i competed was in '85, seem to remember you competing that year aswell?
haven't got any results but have some good photos around, heres a capri you may remember!

David

capri willhire.jpg

gfm · 24 Jan 2008, 07:04 (Ref:2112440)

Yeah! Brilliant. Many thanks.

snett fan55 · 25 Jan 2008, 11:50 (Ref:2113301)

Can anybody remind what year it was that there was a team of ladies taking part ,in a Honda IIRC? Made a change and gave the wife and sisters in law someone to cheer for!

rallycrosscraig · 28 Jan 2008, 19:56 (Ref:2115726)

Quote:

Originally Posted by russell1

Can anyone help me with copies of the results from the Willhire 24hours in 1981, 1982 and 1983. A great event but as a rallydriver they always gave me the midnight to 3.00am stint. Still the cars went quicker in the dark 'cause the air was colder!

Russell Brookes

I've got the videos of the events RB will look out the results some time for you.

oldfan · 28 Jul 2011, 15:00 (Ref:2932130)

I was a car ownerdriver and would love to get hold of a copy of the video for 1983 Willhire, I was in the white Opal Commador, one of the last times the car was entered any pics or information please.

BILTEL · 31 Jul 2011, 14:17 (Ref:2933969)

Opel Commadore, nice. Any word on video/dvds?

GBRM · 31 Jul 2011, 18:04 (Ref:2934110)

If I get the videos transferred onto DVD has anyone got any thoughts on costs? Am happy to do it at cost but I don't want to be seen to take the p!!
PM me if if you'd prefer.

Tim Wilkinson · 25 Feb 2011, 15:51 (Ref:2836788)

From '83 to '93 results the only all-female team I can find is Clare Redgrave / Kirsten Kolby / Barbara Babbage in the Civic in '93. They were pretty competitive, finishing 4th overall. Sorry, Richard, not much help to you!

I'll find time to scan in the results one day....

Syd - am I right to recall reading that the Commodore was 3rd, but that the 2nd-placed BMW was disqualified as well. Something about running a head that was legal when it was in County, but not in line with "production"?

Syd Fox · 26 Feb 2011, 13:12 (Ref:2837161)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Wilkinson

From '83 to '93 results the only all-female team I can find is Clare Redgrave / Kirsten Kolby / Barbara Babbage in the Civic in '93. They were pretty competitive, finishing 4th overall. Sorry, Richard, not much help to you!

I'll find time to scan in the results one day....

Syd - am I right to recall reading that the Commodore was 3rd, but that the 2nd-placed BMW was disqualified as well. Something about running a head that was legal when it was in County, but not in line with "production"?

Hi Tim,News of a BMW being in front of the Commodore is news to me as we were always winning races at that time.We finished 1st overall after the Morgan was disqualified.Perhaps someone has a finishing list available for the 1982 24hrs ? I wont be able to verify this until I,m back in the U/K.
Whatever,we won and the recordings shown should be altered.Syd.

Syd Fox · 26 Feb 2011, 13:25 (Ref:2837163)

Hi Tim,.I,m not aware of a BMW being in front of our Commodore in the 1982 Snetterton 24hrs.at that time the Commodore
was a winner.Perhaps someone can produce a result sheet,I cant verify this until I get back to the U/K.Anyway we finished 1st and all reports should be amended.

GBRM · 28 Feb 2011, 09:50 (Ref:2837859)

Syd - nice to hear from you, happy memories of watching you and my late father do battle in prod saloons in the early '80s.
The John Clark, Andrew Jeffrey, Hamish Irvine and Gerry Marshall-driven BMW definitely finished second on the road (funnily enough Barrie Williams reminded me of it last Wednesday, as he actually drove the car in practice but didn't race as him and Dad had a disagreement) - I'll try and remember to can the results sheets in for you.
Cheers.

BILTEL · 28 Feb 2011, 16:03 (Ref:2837999)

Has anybody got any videos to sell? Ive got 86,87,88 and 89.

GBRM · 28 Feb 2011, 17:28 (Ref:2838033)

I have '81, '82, '84 and '86 on video and DVD - if I knew how to copy them I would!!

BILTEL · 1 Mar 2011, 19:18 (Ref:2838628)

Mmmm I'd like the early ones Gregor. Our paths crossed twice last week at Brands and Race retro. I can copy vhs to dvd. Or you can link vcr to vcr with the right cables. Let me know if you do copy them, I'm very happy to pay for them.

I have a video of Gerry and Tony around 85/86 with the Monza, RS Turbo and Nova.

Syd Fox · 9 Mar 2011, 13:38 (Ref:2842713)

Hi Gregor,
Gerry was more than life size in many ways ! Are you sure that your talking about the 1982 24hrs? My memory says that there wasnt a BMW that year,could you be talking about 1983? Anyway I will check up when I get back to the U/K.I only
competed during 80,81 and 82
Regards,
Syd.

GBRM · 11 Mar 2011, 10:19 (Ref:2843861)

Hi Syd, good to hear from you and hope all is well.
Yes, definitely 1982, as in '80 and '81 Dad did it in Capris (2nd both times and the '81 Capri is the one Skid now races - it was rolled by David da Costa during the night) and Dad was supposed to do it in '82 with Skid but the sponsorship fell through at the last minute so Dad did it with John Clark in an ex-County car and then in '83 he did it again in his Capri and '84 in the Opel Monza.
I remember a video from the start with everyone in parc farme (I think 1983) with Dad in a Cowboy hat and I think you're asleep in a Commodore - unfortunately since Dad passed away I can't find the video but it was a prop one, I think the late Brian Kriesky made it.

Syd Fox · 14 Mar 2011, 14:02 (Ref:2845512)

Hi Gregor,I,ve seen the start sheet for the 1982 Willhire 24hrs and you are correct although I would like to see the result sheet,I think I may have the Autosport reportback in the U/K.The thing that puzzles me is why we never met up with this BMW323 before ? Was this specially built for that race or was it from another Saloon Car Formula and got disqualified on some technicallity?I,m sure you will bring me up to date.One last question (on this subject),The Morgan and the BMW were disqualified,how do we get the advertised results changed?
Syd.

GBRM · 14 Mar 2011, 14:13 (Ref:2845521)

Hi Syd
I have the race reports, results etc at home - I will try and remember to bring them into the office to scan.
The BM was an ex-County car that John Clark had for sale a tthe time and I'm fairly sure the organisers asked them to enter to make up the numbers but then decided to disqualify them on a technicality, even though they knew what was being entered.
As for the historic results, not sure if anything can be changed - I'll see if I've got the next couple of weeks Autosports as something was probably published.

Tim Wilkinson · 14 Mar 2011, 18:17 (Ref:2845689)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GBRM

As for the historic results, not sure if anything can be changed - I'll see if I've got the next couple of weeks Autosports as something was probably published.

There was, which I reckon is as good as it's going to get for a race run nearly 30 years ago. The article mentioned the two cars (and another - 5th place finisher, maybe?) being excluded. There was a letter in the next issue from the team running the Morgan, as they claimed to have run the car as standard from Morgan (and it was a Morgan-supported team) and the technicality was a mis-interpretation of the spec sheet, or something along those lines.

The whole issue was going to appeal, but I can't find a final decision on the matter.

smchale · 14 Mar 2011, 14:21 (Ref:2845528)

Syd, your correct both Morgan and BMW were subsequently excluded from the results that year, the Morgan had illegal cams and the BMW was a county challenge car with modified cam suspension etc, Jock Robertson and I therefore should be shown as coming second overall in my VW Sirocco a couple of laps behind you.
Gregor I lost my VHS tape of the 1982 race so if you ever find your dads one It would nice to have a copy on DVD

GBRM · 14 Mar 2011, 14:36 (Ref:2845537)

Hi Steve, hope you're well.
I have a video/DVD that is over two hours that Bob "the fish" presented and made - it's not the official one but it's very good and Bob's pretty funny.
There's not much action, probably only 20 mins, the rest is interviews of Dad, Tony L, Skid, Jess Yates, some marshals, St.John's Ambulance people and the prize-giving.
I'll see if I can get it copied or next time you're over my way you can have a look.

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