28/12 Frog In Top Gear . .
Nice
to see a Frogeye beat the pants off the Chav machine at Prescott Hill
Climb in BBC's Top Gear programme - Allan Cameron must have given 'The
Stig' a few pointers.
|
23/12
Yuletide Greetings from North Hollywood . .
Barry
Pinkerton, ex-Delta Garage customer and brother to Delta sales
Manager Robin Pinkerton, sends Xmas cheer
from sunny 80 degree California. Pictured right with friend Greg after a spin in a 1940's Waco biplane courtesy
of the wives, and now gagging for more airtime in a 1940's Tiger Moth
in the New Year.
|
OAC
969 . .
Can anyone help David
Moore trace OAC 969, a 1953 100/4 Healey
sold in 1962 to an engineering student in Loughborough University ? We
should like to return a favour, as David helped trace the WSM 3000 in
2003 . . |
18/11 'Shakey'
Surfs In . .
Thanks
to Octane magazine,
who feature the occasion in a forthcoming headline article, John
Sprinzel flew in from Hawaii for a re-union drive in PMO 200, the
Sebring Sprite and registration synonymous with the motorsport legend.
Now owned and restored by Paul Woolmer, a photoshoot
at the Lancaster Mews premises in London where Sprinzel operated the Speedwell
business in the late 1950's and early 60's was followed by John driving
PMO in Hyde Park, a re-run of road tests carried out in period. Pictured
with co-driver Willie
Cave and fellow Sprite pilot Peter
Jackson alongside 46 BXN, Sprinzel spent a busy
few days catching up with old
friends before jetting home. There was an opportunity for DW-S to try out the Sebring
for size again, after running one in the 1962 Monte Carlo, and leaf the history books with Spritely Years author Tom
Coulthard .
photography courtesy of Paul
Webb |
14/11 Missing Link . .
Mike
White ,WSM 205 owner and
racer in 1963, contacted us
today. Failure to track Mike over the last few years had been frustrating
us and others. The November edition of Classic & Sportscar cracked
the case by publishing another request for help and two pictures of Mike
at Castle
Combe and Goodwood in 1963 with the WSM. More details later, but suffice to say, as with
several previous interviews of period racers, he remembers my blonde sister
and not me . . |
29/10 Barrett Homes In . .
Another chunk of WSM ownership history fell into
place following an interesting telephone call from Tim Barrett. He bought
WSM 201 from Delta Garage in 1964, and the
picture shows the car prior to collection from our home at Vicarage
Lodge in Wing, and removal of the cherished DWS 97 number which remained
on all DW-S cars. Seeing the piece on Mike White in Classic & Sportscar
this month prompted the contact, and Tim recalled part exchanging a Triumph
TR for the WSM, before paternal influence dictated changing three months
later for an MGB, again with Delta Garage. More info to come . .
. |
15/10 WSM Sprite 201 .
. Pictures received from Dutch Healey Club member
Ivo Visser, of the first WSM Sprite, WSM201 . Taken during a Healey Club meeting at the Rotterdam Ahoy football stadium
in 1964, the
car was painted green when in Peter Jackson's ownership
after the original 'Chiron'
blue pictured at Woburn in 1963. Also pictured is a Speedwell owned by Ivo's brother which is being restored and has one of four original
alloy Monza bonnets. |
26/10 Corking
picture by Klaus Twedell (via James Willis
and Jim Lowry) of the 1964 1000km race at Nurbergring.
Pick out GT40, 250LM, Cobra, Porsche 904, 250GTO,
E Type, Alfa Romeo TZ, Lotus Elan, MG Midgets (the Jacobs cars 770 &
771 BJB) but can you identify more eg numbers 36, 113, and 122 ? Ian
Hulett suggests number 122 may be a Targa Floria Sprite, 693 LAC perhaps
?
Was the driver in the car behind
number 118 doing a protest 'thing' a la Jackie
Ickx at Le Mans with the slow walk into action, or had he been
a gentleman and let the driver of number 118 climb aboard first ? |
10/11 Westland travels . .
![](WSM%20-%20people/BillE2TN.jpg) USA
Healey guru and author Bill
Emerson has been hoovering up the trophies
around the States with his 1948 Healey
Westland . Best of Show
at North Carolina, Vermont and Florida were just rewards for a meticulous
restoration of the car that Donald and Geoff Healey drove from New York
to Hollywood in 1948. |
22/10
Two pictures from Silverstone in 1963 courtesy of Jim
Lowry. Packed grid and house for the
BRDC Sportscar Championship with pole David Cunningham
in the ex-Le Mans E-Type, alongside Jack Lambert
in another E-Type. Lotus Elite and a Sunbeam Alpine possibly
driven by Christabel Carlisle complete the
front row. A TVR Grantura (now residing in Chelmsford), Healey 3000, Daimler
Dart, Diva, Sebring Sprite and more E-Types complete the rest of the grid.
Jack Lambert appears to have the better start, and did go on to win the
race. Click here to
visit Historique Race & Rally |
Ashes
to . . England
Commiserations
mate, but remember our bet before the First Test on whether the England
cricketers could get the Ashes
back ? Good luck with your search for ". . a top quality
bottle of Aussie wine." The lobster can sleep easy now. |
MGCC Silverstone 22-24th
July . .
Amongst a spectacular display of historic
cars, the ex-John
Sprinzel Sebring PMO
200 held particular interest for DW-S, seen
here with Paul Woolmer. With work ongoing even during the show, volunteers
were always, well, volunteering. Pictured
here is another 'helper' who got his thumb stuck in the hole intended
for the windscreen wiper base - Paul Woolmer can be seen helping push
Rob Cull's errant digit back out.
Investigation into illegal fuel use in the
Enduro race has begun after this
picture taken by a member of the public caught the Playford/Stock
MGB at the pump.Good to see author, historian and actor Tom
Coulthard again, who instigated the WSM revival 10 years
ago with a call to the Isle of Man - he has a few more publication ideas
up his sleeve. David Hands recalled owning
a red WSM bought from Robin Pinkerton at
Delta Garage in the 1960's. Author John Baggott dropped in and his latest book on 'big' Healeys
will be out soon - worth keeping an eye out for later this
year. Manx Classic visitors Alistair Naylor and David
Bishop were in good form, as
was Ted de la Riviere -
engine builder Ted looked anxious when the WSM
MGB dropped out of the 28 lap Enduro race on lap 7, less so when
a faulty diff was diagnosed. DW-S bumped into plenty of old rivals and
associates, including Jack Sears, Peter
Browning, Stuart Turner and Willie
Cave.
Good to see author, historian and actor Tom
Coulthard again, who instigated the WSM revival 10 years
ago with a call to the Isle of Man - he has a few more publication ideas
up his sleeve. David Hands recalled owning
a red WSM bought from Robin Pinkerton at
Delta Garage in the 1960's. Author John Baggott dropped in and his latest book on 'big' Healeys
will be out soon - worth keeping an eye out for later this
year. Manx Classic visitors Alistair Naylor and David
Bishop were in good form, as
was Ted de la Riviere -
engine builder Ted looked anxious when the WSM
MGB dropped out of the 28 lap Enduro race on lap 7, less so when
a faulty diff was diagnosed. DW-S bumped into plenty of old rivals and
associates, including Jack Sears, Peter
Browning, Stuart Turner and Willie
Cave. |
Charity Jump . .
Claire Furnell completed a parachute
jump on Saturday which raised nearly £500 for the Iain Rennie
Hospice at Home -
" My instructor Mike Browne and I jumped
at 12,000 feet and free fell for about 45 seconds (enough to take your
breath away) before opening
our parachute at 5,000 and returning to a delicate
landing on the airfield." |
Colmworth Home Guard
. .
Click
on to see the beefing up of security arrangements in the sleepy
hollow of Bedfordshire that is Roothams Green - Paul Woolmer is appointed
Community Liason Officer Training (C.L.O.T) and is equipped with a 1/2cc
engine and licence to roam. Whitehall are keeping a close eye on results
. . |
1963 WSM 207 - and
that's an order . .
25-07-05 Joel
Nelson contacted wsmcars
today. A recently retired Lieutenant Colonel
in the US Army, Joel was based in Orleans, France in 1962 and ordered
a WSM Sprite that he could race on the continent in 1963. The preparation
of the blue left hand drive road car to white, right hand drive WSM
competition car (WSM 207) took longer than expected and delivery was
made in August 1963 to New York. Joel entered events throughout the
South East from 1963 to 1965 and recalls selling the car to Fred
Glaesner of Charleston, who also raced
the car, in late 1965. |
Claire's Sponsored
Jump . .
19-07-05 Claire
Furnell - "I have madly agreed to
throw myself out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft
that is 10,000ft in the air - very mad seeing as many of you might know
I am scared stiff of heights ! After completing a 192m base jump by
wire in New Zealand I am fairly sure I can do this, but to be sure of
course I am doing this for a VERY good cause.
I am jumping for the Iain Rennie Hospice
at Home which provides free nursing care
to people with terminal illness in the Chilterns area. The nurses provide
invaluable support
not just to the patient but also the family of the patient. The charity
celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, but needs to raise one million
pounds every year to carry on its vital work.
The jump will take place near Silverstone on either the 3rd or 4th of
September (Yes, VSCC members will know that's Red Weekend ) and I need
to raise a minimum of £375. From this the charity will receive
£140 but every pound raised over that will go direct to the charity.
Please drop me an email if you feel able to support me in this attempt
to raise £500 for the charity. I just need your pledge, full name
and address, including post code and if are a UK tax payer whether you
wish to let the charity recover the tax on your donation (this costs
you nothing extra).
Thank you in advance, and any advice is more than welcome (but I have
heard the one about taking a parachute)"
claire@clairefurnell.com |
![](WSM%20-%20people/TomC2TN.jpg) 18-07-05
A decade since Tom Coulthard (pictured left
in a recent TV ad) called to organise
three WSM's at the Coys Historic Festival
at Silverstone in July 1995. Since that landmark, WSM 301 was returned
to racing, WSM 202 was restored, the WSM MGB returned to family ownership,
four cars joined the Rockingham Re-union
in 2001, two WSM's joined the Healey 50th celebrations at Thruxton in
2002, WSM's 207 and 210 returned to live and
race in the UK, , the WSM 3000 was found in 2003, the XK150S was restored,
the WSM MG1300 traced, WSM 203 moved from the USA and is racing in Japan
and four WSM's were invited to race at the Goodwood
Revival in 2003. Quite a comeback after almost disappearing from
view in the late 60's, early 70's and hope to see Tom again at the Silverstone
MGCC meeting on July 23rd . . |
NEW TRIBUTE TO DONALD M. HEALEY
ANNOUNCED
Alton, Virginia (July 7th 2005) ![](images/HealeyMusTN.jpg)
The Healey Museum, commemorating the
life of Donald M. Healey and the production of his automobiles was announced
today at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia. The Healey
Museum will showcase significant and unique automobiles, trophies
and memorabilia, offering the general public previously unseen views
of private automobile collections. In addition to specific milestone
cars, the Bill Wood Collection of Healey production documentation obtained
from Geoff Healey will be a major part of the museum's Resource Center.
A collection of photographs and literature relating to the Nash-Healey
has been obtained from an anonymous donor. Additional acquisitions for
the museum are being researched and evaluated.
Bill Emerson, Curator of The Healey Museum,
introduced special guests Harvey Siegel and Connie Nyholm, co-owners
of Virginia International Raceway, Allan Casavant, Founder of The Healey
Museum, Bill Denton, Architect, David Lenk, Displays Consultant,
and Melody Cooke, Research and Acquisitions. In keeping with the worldwide
appeal of Healey automobiles, visitors from Canada, Australia and the
U.S. participated in the symbolic groundbreaking. Many in attendance
were racers in the 2005 Australian/U.S. Healey Challenge. The groundbreaking
took place surrounded by historic Healeys representing milestones in
the marque.
The Healey Museum philosophy was summarised
by Emerson -
"Upon this site will be erected a building
to historically preserve the cars and memories of Donald M. Healey,
his family, and all those who helped design, develop, produce, market
and race the cars that bear the Healey name."
The location of the 20,000 sq. ft. building
at Virginia International Raceway was made known as part of VIR's annual
Gold Cup Historic Races weekend. Allan Casavant
and Connie Nyholm shared the honor of unveiling the sign announcing
the future home of The Healey Museum. The museum opening is scheduled
for 2007.
VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose
road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and
South Boston, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition
to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit (designed to be
operated as two autonomous, full-service courses), VIR is the cornerstone
of VIR Club, America's first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex
Industrial Park; the VIR Gallery, which is a sales showroom for high-end
collector and racing cars; the VIR Safety and Security Institute, which
provides specialized training for U.S. Government and military groups;
The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room hotel overlooking the track; and the Oak
Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840
Plantation Clubhouse.
VIR made history from 1957 to 1974 and is
doing so again. The renovated original circuit has 17 challenging turns
and 130 feet of elevation change. In addition to spectator events, the
track is also available to rent for testing, driving schools and club
days.
Media Office, The Healey Museum
352-223-8840 healeyinfo@aol.com
The Healey Museum - www.healeymuseum.org
Virginia International Raceway - www.virclub.com
Australian/U.S. Healey Challenge - www.auhc.net
PS
The Westland I have been working on in Australia arrived back in the US.
I took it to the big Austin-Healey meeting on the East coast. The car
won "Best of Show." Needless to say I was excited.
Oh yes, as an aside I have a new job . . .
Bill Emerson
Curator |
Goodwood
Festival of Speed 25th-26th June
![](WSM%20-%20people/SurteesGW05TN.jpg) WSM
owner Paul Woolmer and Swallow
Doretti collector Paul Webb got to sample the new forest stage in style
in Mick Darcey's historic Healey 3000, and met a few petrol heads along
the way -
![](WSM%20-%20others/HealeyGWc05TN.jpg) ![](WSM%20-%20others/HealeyGWd05TN.jpg) ![](WSM%20-%20others/HealeyGWb05TN.jpg) ![](WSM%20-%20others/HealeyGW05TN.jpg)
pictures courtesy of Yvette
Webb |
F1 Shooting
. .
![](WSM%20-%20graphics/graphics/michelinTN.jpg) 120,000
eyewitnesses watched in horror at Indianapolis as Michelin, the FIA
and F1 team operators fiddled while a gun was loaded (Michelin tyre
blow out in practice), aimed (no safety measures introduced by FIA)
and fired (F1 teams pulling cars off the starting grid) at the foot
of one of motor racings highest profile events.
******************
Speedway,
June 20 - Eyewitness News has been tracking two class action lawsuits
Monday filed after the Grand Prix fiasco. A Colorado man is suing F1, Michelin and the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway in federal
court wanting a refund, expenses reimbursed and unspecified punitive
damages. Boone
County resident Jim Miller filed a similar suit in Marion County court,
saying what took place on Sunday was not really a race. "It appeared
to me just to be a farce, from the minute the folks turned in, pulled
into the pits, utter confusion and no one knew what was taking place." Miller is also seeking a refund and punitive
damages. |
04-06-05
New s
in from the Gathercoles in Whittlesea - David, who drove WSM
301 at Goodwood in 2003, is going great guns - 1st at Oulton
Park 9th April, 3rd Silverstone 16th April, 1st Brands 15th May and 2nd
Snetterton 28th May - needless to say, leading the URS Classic Formula
Ford championship - might just let him race WSM 301 again if he keeps
his nose clean. Both David and Lorraine are out in a Shrike in Sports
2000 grids, a Jamun in HSCC/URS FF1600 and a Reynard in URS 2000. |
![](WSM%20-%203000/WSM3000SideTN.jpg) 02-06-05
Quality pics have surfaced, courtesy of Healey historian
Bill Emerson in the USA, of
the
WSM 3000, commissioned by Malcolm Bridgeland in 1965 and featured
in Safety Fast magazine in 1966. Also, pictured below is DW- S
in a Sprite circa 1959. There
are more developments in the pipeline re WSM/USA/Healey
- watch this space over the forthcoming weeks. |
27-04-05 What
Lies Beneath . . . .
![](WSM%20-%20people/YvetteWebbTN.jpg)
click on to find out, courtesy of photographer
Paul Webb |
14-04-2005 Woolie At Work .
.
The
WSM MGB receives a new powerplant in the holiday surroundings of Roothams
Green in Bedfordshire. Paul Woolmer may co-drive NMN 97 this season but
has several projects in the mix which could dictate otherwise . . |
31-03-05 WANTED
- Flag marshalls for 2005
Successful candidates will be
well equipped and receive comprehensive training. Although a
voluntary position, these are sought after opportunities. Please apply
by email to head marshall Victoria at tony@wsmcars.com and attach picture
and measurements for trackside uniform. Remaining vacancies must be
filled before April 2nd.
|
25-03-05
Reminiscent of Damon
Hill's P1 Club in the UK, a new enterprise recently launched in the Isle
of Man - click on logo for more details.
16-02-05
CO-DRIVER . . I
am in competition for a co-driver spot in a recently imported Alfa Romeo,
but fail to see why the driver in the single seater merits selection
instead . . .
27-01-05 NEW ARRIVAL
. . Guy and Victoria Loveridge
have been expecting for months - and here is the 1959 Alfa Giulietta
Sprint just off the boat from Italy. Christened 'Sophia' after another
curvaceous Italian, and receiving a little tlc ahead of entry into the
Equipe GTS racing series.
19-01-05 BMC 27, similar to the
picture left and based on a 1963 Morris commercial chassis, has been acquired
by a consortium based in Bedfordshire. Styled by Pininfarina and built
by Marshalls of Cambridge, the original function of the sixteen or so
vehicles produced was providing mobile instruction / demonstration units
for dealerships around the globe. As BMC's competitions commitments
grew, some vehicles were requisitioned for the Special Tuning Department
for use as competition support vehicles. Equipped with left hand drive,
Perkins diesel, power steering, six speed gearbox and two-speed rear axle,
the comps department vehicles witnessed many of the company's finest motorsport
triumphs throughout
Europe. Following its return from long term Canadian ownership, plans
are afoot for this vehicle to attend historic race meetings in 2005. |
24-03-05 It
would be churlish to deny that auctioneer Loveridge has anything
but a blessed itinerary in the course of what passes for 'work' - pictured
at the Goodwood Festival of Speed press day last week, tabloid model
Gemma enhanced his credentials further . .
08-02-05 Click
on a favourite snap to find out
where she parked the car . .
10-01-05
Contrary to rumours, this is not a re-work of the Healey Centre premises
of 1963 in Swiss Cottage, London. Pic courtesy of journo and broadcaster
Claire Furnell.
Ok, open the presents, turn up
the volume and download a brief recording of a BRM V-16 at full blast.
Initial download may be slow
but worth the wait and replays instantly thereon. Is there a better engine
noise than this ? Better still, go to 'WSM - Cousins & Contributions' to hear 3 laps of this mighty 1950's soundtrack from pitlane AND in-car. |