Specialist Vehicle Insurance from People Who Share Your Passion
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750 MOTOR CLUB Specialist vehicle insurance from people who share your passion. rhspecialistinsurance.co.uk 2018 YEARBOOK 0333 043 3911 YEARBOOK 2018 From iconic models to future classics – we’ve been providing specialist vehicle insurance for over 40 years. 19659 12/18 GroveAndDeanMotorsport_ClubBirkettAd_175x250.pdf 1 30/06/2016 15:59 WE’LL KEEP YOU ON C TRACK M Y CM MOTORSPORT MY INSURANCE CY CMY * K Grove & Dean Motorsport Insurance is one Policy Options Include: of Europe’s premier on-track insurers for Race / On-Track Cover professional GT, Sports Car, Historic and Single Seater racing cars. Track / Test Day Cover THANKS TO OUR 2018 SPONSORSWith a choice of bespoke European and Storage & Transit Cover international policies, a dedicated team and an in-house Claims Manager to take the Personal Accident Cover hassle out of any incidents, you can rely on Discounts for multi-event and Grove & Dean Motorsport Insurance. annual policies* Our cover keeps you on track. Knowledgeable UK staff Open 7 days a week *Subject to underwriting criteria +44 (0)1708 606768 www.grove-dean-motorsport.com Grove & Dean Motorsport Insurance is a trading name of Grove & Dean Motorsport Ltd. Grove & Dean Motorsport Ltd SERVICES AVAILABLE are an appointed representative of Grove & Dean Ltd. Grove & Dean Ltd are an independent intermediary who are - Breakell Racing have two Radical SR3 RSX Race Cars authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). For your security calls may be recorded. • RACE CAR HIRE available to hire for various Race Events, Track days, and Test Days. Both cars are maintained to the highest standards and eligible to compete in the 750 Motor Club Bikesports Championship and any other Allcomer or open type event that allows Sports Racing Cars to Compete (Birkett Relay Race, Time Attack Events, Sprints, etc.) www.breakellracing.co.uk/race-car-hire • RACE CAR PREPARATION @BreakellRacing • RACE CAR SETUP BreakellRacing 07843 388161 • TRACKSIDE SUPPORT SERVICE E: [email protected] • RACE CAR TRANSPORTATION • RADICAL SPORTSCAR SPECIALIST K-TEC RACING PERFORMANCE RENAULT TUNING Breakall Advert.indd 1 14/03/2019 18:50 CONTENTS & WELCOME After a six-year hiatus, we are delighted to reintroduce a printed yearbook to the list of 750 Motor Club competitor benefits, and hope that each season’s edition in its comprehensive new-for-2018 format can act as a Formula 750 x 50 4 Hot Hatch 64 lasting memento of racing activities and exploits for all those on the grid. As a season in numbers, 2018 proved to The season finished as per tradition 750 Formula 6 Locost 70 be one of the busiest of all time for the with the Birkett Six-Hour Relay, held on 750 Motor Club. Running a total of 19 Silverstone’s GP Circuit. The grid was formulae; 14 of those saw champions almost full to its 70-team capacity, with AFRC 10 M3 Cup 76 crowned at the end of a year comprising each outfit fielding between three and 32 race days at 17 different circuits, with six cars and drivers. Whilst the handicap nearly 100 new lap records set along the race was as closely fought as ever, this Bernie’s V8s/SR> 16 BMW 330 Challenge 80 way. year produced one of the most thrilling conclusions to the ‘scratch’ race in recent Whilst not often a competitor favourite, history – read more about it on page 112. Bikesports 20 MX-5 Cup 84 the Club’s final meeting at Rockingham was a low point of the season, and a sad Finally, the following season memories blow to UK motorsport. Its unique layout would not have been possible without BMW Car Club Racing 26 Toyota MR2 88 and spacious facilities will be sorely 750MC photographer Jon Elsey, whose missed for club-level meetings, as well as tireless work from Snetterton to Spa can Classic Stock Hatch RGB Sports 1000 leaving a void in future calendars. be found on the following pages, with 32 94 support from Josh Barrett, Neil Lambert This year the Club made a return to and Sammy Nudd. If you like what you Clio 182 38 Roadsports 100 Pembrey in South Wales after a four- see then don’t forget that Jon’s photos year absence; where nine formulae are available in a variety of formats contested double or triple-headers on directly from jonelseyphotography. Club Enduro 44 Sport Specials 106 the new ‘Clubmans’ circuit layout at the photoshelter.com end of June. The following weekend saw the ever-expanding Cartek Club Enjoy the review Formula Vee 52 Birkett Relay 112 Enduro Championship head to Spa Francorchamps in Belgium; sharing a James Winstanley grid with similar cars from the Belgian Historic 750 Formula 58 Thank You 116 Gentleman Drivers Club. 750 MOTOR CLUB - YEAR BOOK 2018 1 BEAST FROM THE EAST vs. 750 MOTOR CLUB DONINGTON PARK, MARCH 2018 2 750 MOTOR CLUB - YEAR BOOK 2018 A Bikesports blizzard; qualifying for formula veterans Doug Carter and Richard Stables Ian Wilson’s camouflage colours worked a treat 750 MOTOR CLUB - YEAR BOOK 2018 3 Bob on Channel 4’s ‘Mobil 1 The Grid’ BOB SIMPSON - HALF A CENTURY IN 750 FORMULA …and still breaking his own longstanding record In 2018 the 750 Motor Club managed 19 formulae in all shapes and sizes; from tin-tops to single-seaters. In the early years however, it was the 750 Formula Championship which led the way, in an effort to give the ‘impecunious Austin Seven owner’ somewhere to compete. The Raceparts 750 Formula continues to RACE HISTORY SS/F, which was the last car to win the this day - now with its third generation Bob first discovered the formula and championship with a Reliant engine of engine - and it holds the title of the 750 Motor Club at Brands Hatch, before the switch to Fiat power. oldest race formula in the world; older spectating with his father Bill. The first than F1. Since 1968, one driver has car that graced the Simpson duo was Bob refers back to the 1980s as perhaps competed in every single season, year- of course an Austin Seven, which they being his favourite era for the Formula, in, year-out: Bob Simpson. 2018 marked shared until 1971, at which point the with 1989 being extra special as the Bob’s incredible 50th year of successive decision was made to build their own last year with his Dad alongside, who competition in 750 Formula without a Special for competition. Fast forward sadly passed away just before the start single season out, in fact having only to 1977 and it was time for build of the following season. His dedication missed a handful of races over the number two – the SS1 - remembered to the 750 Formula Championship and course of half a century. Along the way most notably for going on to win the Club have been second to none, with he’s taken four championship titles, 11 championship in 1978 – its first season memories including a brief hiatus on second place championship awards of competition. the family holiday to nip from South Championship titles and 14 third place, spanning four Wales to Brands Hatch to race, whilst different cars, racing against three Bob took the title once again in highlights have also included beating 1978, 1980, 1989, 2003 generations of the same family and still 1980, then again in 1989 in the SS Damon Hill to the Driver of the Day at 4 picking up podiums to this day. It’s not Reliant, before the fourth car made one meeting, and being presented a Second place in 2018 MARKED BOB’S INCREDIBLE only a motorsport record, but a record its appearance – the blue and white trophy by Jack Brabham. that’s almost impossible to ever be SS/F that can be seen here. Bob took 11 championship 50TH YEAR OF SUCCESSIVE COMPETITION beaten. the 2003 championship title in the Third place in IN THE 750 FORMULA CHAMPIONSHIP 4 750 MOTOR CLUB - YEAR BOOK 2018 14 championship 750 MOTOR CLUB - YEAR BOOK 2018 5 Contested annually since 1950, Britain’s longest-running club racing championship’s latest chapter was a convoluted affair drawing grids of up to 20 cars from which 49-year-old Rolls-Royce aerospace engineer RACEPARTS 750 FORMULA CHAMPIONSHIP Mark Glover emerged with the crown – at the last gasp at Snetterton. Glover’s 2003-’11 Locost exploits netted wins at Two wins, three seconds, four thirds and two fourths gave Cadwell Park in ’08 and Silverstone in ’10, from which Mark a six-point advantage over triple race winner Cowley the equally momentum-dependent 750 Formula was with 11 scores from 13 counting. Mallory Park’s second leg fell a logical step. Having bought Racekits Falcon 004 victim to delays following earlier incidents, incidentally. from Martin Kemp, Mark’s training was immediately evident in a fastidious build, debuted in 2013. In a category noted for multiple champions in its Reliant- engined days, Glover became the ninth Fiat-era driver to “Making the car [with transverse Fiat engine and lift the title in as many years, the first piloting a Racekits Punto gearbox] reliable was the first battle. Dad Falcon. More are due out in 2019, including the Kemps’ Mk2 [Bob] and I subsequently reduced its weight using evolution. Centaurs still making their mark on the formula carbonfibre. Better results and greater consistency SEASON REVIEW year-to-year saw us improve to second overall in Jaguar Land Rover engineer Pither, 39, and the PRS (‘Pither 2017.” Rothery Special’) 1b in which David Bartholomew scampered to the 2015 title, were the season’s quickest combination as This season Mark finally won a race – his 75th 750F eight victories attested.