FRESSINGFIELD OILY RAG CLUB

NEWSLETTER

January 2021

FORC - For Motor Sport Enthusiasts Cover Picture Caption Lewis Hamilton was a record breaker in 2020 and here in this montage painting, "North American Dream", he is depicted scoring his first two Grand Prix wins, in 2007, as a rookie with the McLaren-Mercedes team. Back-to-back wins in the Canadian GP in Montreal and the US GP at Indianapolis followed. He narrowly missed out on winning the Championship in this debut year but made amends in 2008 to win his first of seven World Championship titles.

A painting by Andrew Kitson commissioned by Lewis Hamilton.

The View from the Editorial Desk

Strange times continued Part 4: There is that hackneyed line from Jaws: ‘Just when you thought it was safe to …..’ I can’t easily think of another line which describes the frustration of being launched into Tier 4 so soon after our upbeat December edition of your FORC Newsletter!

As you know we are now unable, in Tier 4, to meet with other people whether indoors or outdoors. As you know I hate having to continually postpone our events. We need to be ready to rock as soon as restrictions allow, and we will be.

We are all having to cope with the frustrations, and in some cases, the health issues, associated with the pandemic. It is easy to be dragged down by the negative media take – everyone knows the situation is serious but it will improve. When it does FORC will be ready!

Believe me I am not out to trivialise; but a piece I read over the ‘holiday’ reported an unattributed warning by Psychologists that face masks could be harming emotional intelligence as reading the facial expression of strangers is crucial to our development. Having seen balaclava wearing racing drivers step out of their car following an ‘incident’ perhaps the reverse may be true? Know what I mean….?

I wish you all a better Oily Ragging New Year. Steve Wyatt

Valerie Morley (née Domleo)

11 April 1932 – 24 December 2020 Obituary by Steve Wyatt

Our November 2004 Stradbroke meeting was a milestone for FORC when we welcomed our first ‘Double Act,’ former BMC Rally Driver Don Morley, (one half of the legendary Morley Twins), and his equally legendary co-driver wife Valerie -Val – Domleo who died on Christmas Eve.

Typically of the day Val discovered rallying by navigating for a boyfriend. Always interested in maps she came to the notice of BMC and was selected to navigate an Austin Healey on the 1955 RAC Rally and 1956 ‘Monte’ in a Standard Vanguard Phase 3!

The first of forty-two European Rally Championship events followed starting with Anne Hall, in a Ford Anglia in 1960, then Pauline Mayman (Minis) and Pat Moss-Carlsson (Saab).

For the Coupe des Alpes Val shared a Ford Zephyr with Anne Hall and on the 1962 Liege- Sofia-Liege a Zodiac!

Following her time with Pauline Mayman Val followed BMC Rally supremo Marcus Chambers to Rootes and the Hillman Imp. Rosemary Smith and Val made history with their 1965 Tulip Rally victory.

Don and Val married in 1966. Don retired from top level rallying in 1965 while Val continued until 1967 following which they farmed near Stowmarket. Don died in 2006. I well remember visiting them with Norman in 2003 – it didn’t take much persuasion to get them along to talk to FORC! Fond memories. Light Reading / Viewing For January

The end of the racing season presents the opportunity to look at events from the past particularly when there is a FORC connection. Our very good friend Andrew Kitson discovered a film which you can view via the link at the end of this piece. This is the story:

BRSCC International Formula 3 Meeting – 28th September 1969 Following on from 500cc Formula 3 and Formula Junior, by the late 1960’s the 1000c.c. Formula 3 was a burgeoning training ground for future champions with many opportunities to race all over Europe.

Cadwell Park, if you are not familiar with the place, is located between Louth and Horncastle in the Lincolnshire Wolds. An established motor-cycle racing circuit since before World War 2, it had come in to regular use for club car racing early in the 1960’s. The BRSCC Northern Centre decided to use the tight 2¼-mile circuit for two ten-lap heats and a twenty-five lap final Formula Three race. The first International car-racing event to be promoted there.

An entry of thirty-two cars arrived including future Grand Prix stars such as James Hunt in a , Reine Wisell (works Chevron), Tim Schenken (Brabham), FORC’s May 2017 guest speaker and Grand Prix driver, , in his own Chevron, and Ronnie Peterson giving the first ever March – the 693, it’s first race!

Peterson, leading James Hunt, nearly got into the lead in Heat 1 before collecting a puncture and dropping to fifth. Tim Schenken, won the Heat.

James Hunt briefly led Heat 2 before being passed by Reine Wisell (another future Grand Prix driver) and New Zealander Howden Ganley in their Chevrons.

Twenty-two cars lined up for the final, described by Mike Doodson in Motor Sport as ‘gripping’.

Schenken led initially before being passed by Wisell, and Charles Lucas (Titan). Only fractions of a second separated the leaders. Lucas’ engine blew up, allowing Ganley to close on the two leaders. Hunt and Peterson were racing for fourth place, changing places all round the track.

Wisell finally spun off on lap 21 allowing Schenken a fine win, with Ganley close behind. and Peterson finished third in the March just ahead of Hunt.

Wisell was sixth after recovering from his spin. Hunt and Wisell shared a new track record with the winner. Peterson and Ganley flank winner Schenken

A special thanks to Mike Dixon for allowing the use of his photographs. Now click the link: the first part of the film shows the BRSCC annual visit to RAF Rufforth followed from 8 minutes 30 seconds by the Cadwell F3 Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmYFps8zXbU

News From The Black Stuff

The racing season duly wound down – in December! This month, the first of 2021 we catch up on some results and a contribution (correction?) going back to:

HSCC Finals Weekend. Silverstone 17/18 October

Editors note: I finished by writing ..We also mustn't forget Colin Wright who had a good season with no apparent dramas in the Historic 2000 Reynard SF79 – I’m sure there was more to that behind the scenes! … Colin elaborated: Well it wasn’t anything serious but it was certainly an eventful weekend at Silverstone!

In Historic FF2000 there were 42 entries and I qualified 12th with my best ever time on the National circuit. However, on the way back to the paddock the clutch packed in and a new clutch plate was required.

It was a race against time and the last bolt was being tightened as we were called to the assembly area for the first race. To save time and marshals, HSCC events this year have involved rolling rather than standing starts. It ended up being a bit of a lottery when the guy in front of me missed a gear so I’m braking to avoid him when everyone else is accelerating! However, I was up to 12th after 9 laps when the throttle cable snapped.

I pulled off at Brooklands and the marshals were very keen to push the Reynard behind the barrier just as I was getting out of the car. This resulted in them running over my foot and causing a broken bone!

So, once again, another race against time scenario as the cable was replaced but as I hadn’t finished the first race, I had to do an extra qualifying race with Classic F3s to get into the second race. This went OK so I was able to start the second race 32 nd on the grid. This race went pretty well and I finished 16th so was happy with that. So no apparent dramas?!! Note to editor: Never assume that no news equals no apparent dramas!

Classic Sports Car Club – Mallory Park Sunset Meeting 1st November.

Almost certainly the last (but one) FORC member racing in 2020 was Tim Cairns. Tim ran his 1330 cc Turner Mk 2 in the Adams & Page ‘Swinging Sixties’ 41 lap race. Tim finished 8th out of 24 Starters. Forty-one laps round Mallory sounds just the job on a cold winters day! MSVR Club Car Championships 5thDecember: Heritage Pre-’93 Formula Fords Motor racing doesn’t get much better than racing a Formula Ford at Donington Park, especially a stunning 1971 Hawke DL2B prepared and run by the renowned team at Simon Hadfield Motorsport, even if it was met with December’s usual rain and biting cold! Having not competed in over a year nor having driven the car before, qualifying would inevitably be an exploratory session but 9th against machinery some 20 years newer was a good start (apart from a high speed spin at Starkey’s Bridge in the wet and lethally slippery conditions)! Off the line in Race 1, I was slightly enthusiastic with the revs and clutch balance resulting in a whole lot of noise and not much movement, places lost! However, keeping out of trouble coupled with growing confidence in the car meant I gained those places back and ultimately improved to 7th.

Chased by newer machinery through the Roberts chicane during Race 1

Race 2 saw a much better start and in the patchily drying conditions I had good pace and managed to work my way up to 5th pulling away from the cars behind, with the top four in much newer machinery just edging away lap by lap. Overall coming home with a top 5 in a 20 car field was a fantastic return to competition, especially in a car 20 years senior to the majority of the grid. Searching for the grip at Redgate in race 2

Having bought a 1990 Van Diemen RF90 to compete in next year we are looking forward to giving it another go once the winter rebuild is complete – does anyone know of a decent FF1600 engine that might be for sale?

We hope to be following James’ exploits in News from the black stuff during the year. Unless someone can tell me otherwise our FORC Simsprint Champion, James Clarke, was the last FORC racer racing in 2020!

The FORC Events Calendar- Update

Visits to Classic : Obviously with the current and mooted possibly tougher restrictions our visit scheduled for Saturday16th January is cancelled: we have a bid in for February. No change currently to our provisional 2021 calendar. Depending on whatever happens on the Covid front we have optioned the following dates at Stradbroke. It might be possible to run another SimSprint, the Tulip Run, and we have bids in for track events at Snetterton.

It still, all depends on ‘you know what!’

February Wednesday 24th or Thursday 25th – Stradbroke – Guest Speaker March Wednesday 31st, or April Thursday 1st – Stradbroke – Guest Speaker, plus Wednesday 28th – Stradbroke – Guest Speaker May Wednesday 26th – Stradbroke – Guest Speaker June Date to follow – Snetterton Track Evening July Event to follow August Date to follow – Snetterton Sprint September Wednesday 29th - Stradbroke – Guest Speaker October Wednesday 27th – Stradbroke – Guest Speaker November Wednesday 24th – Stradbroke – Guest Speaker December Wednesday 15th -Stradbroke – Guest Speaker

Look out for FORC Newsflashes, the FORC Newsletter and Newsflashes and visit www.forc.org.uk regularly! Quick Quiz

1. Which Veteran triple Formula 1 World Champion was a Champion Clay Pigeon Shooter?

2. Which years was he champion & in what cars?

3. Which British Grand Prix Driver was Sir Stirling Moss’ team mate in 1981?

4. Which British F1 World Champion formed a new team in 2020?

5. What car does this nose section belong to?

6. Which French Formula 1 driver and Le Mans winner was known as Le Petoulet and why?

7. Which UK race circuit is sometimes used (not during the same race) in reverse direction?

8. What does the title 'Coupe des Alpes' refer to?

9. By what name is The 7th Marquess of Bute better known to motor racing fans?

10. What iconic competition car was featured on the soundtrack of your FORC Christmas and New Year message? CLASSIFIED ADVERTS

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Quick Quiz Quick Answers

1. Sir

2. 1969:Matra MS10 & MS80 1971: Tyrell 001 & 003 1973: Tyrell 005 & 006

3. Martin Brundle

4. Jenson Button

5. Lola T70 GT Mk3B– belonging to a FORC member!

6. Maurice Tringinant – ‘the rat droppings man’ – because he failed to notice when preparing his Bugatti for their first race after World War 2 that the fuel filter was blocked with accumulated rat droppings.

7 Knockhill

8. Alpine Rally

9. Johnny Dumfries

10. Ford GT 40 Footnote

A supplementary ‘New Year’ Quiz Question:

Who was/is ‘Speed Solo’ ??

Answer next month!