Please note: The planned run up Shelsley Walsh in the Felday2 by Dave Melton over the weekend of 22/23 of this month has been pulled by the Midlands Club itself. Therefore, the Felday will not run, we had planned a supporting club display of SPs, so we have pulled that. Such a shame as it is designated a ‘Club’ weekend.
In a recent survey of ‘Greatest Sports Cars of all time’ in Classic Car Weekly the SP 250 gain a respective mid-range ranking at number 53, ahead of the rare Aston Martin DB4 (62) whilst its cousin the DB 6 (93) the WO Bentleys (56), AC Cobras (89)! MGB V8 (81) Pagini Zonda (72) the wide parameters being the TVR Cerbera in at (100) whilst the E-type scored the top slot at (1). So strange a survey when the iconic type 35 Bugatti was scored at 98! and the 250 GTO Ferrari ranked at 16, trailing the Mazda MX5 at number 5. I do understand the E-Type hitting the top spot as even Ferrari himself said it was the most beautiful car ever designed, Oh well no accounting for taste………
A few You Tube clips to while away the odd few minutes:- https://youtu.be/oFfhwg8BgBc this features an SP up for sale,
Whilst Steve Seddon, in Perth Australia, sheltering from the rain ! (in WA) sent in :-
“Watching this corny feel good movie Mayberry Man (2022) on YouTube on a wet Sunday afternoon here in Perth and surprise surprise they showed an SP in the background at the 16-17 minute in to the film.”
A take-off of the old 1960s The Andy Griffiths Show, that was aired mainly in the US but did get to NZ. Not sure about Australia or the UK.” – just the car itself :- https://www.imcdb.org/v001652855.html
And for those that have not seen Jay Leno in his SP, here it is:- https://youtu.be/lpzudBhWap0 sit back and relax for 25 minutes if you so wish, and to round up a not too complimentary article :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uNWZY3pjV8 however, we know different.
Patrick Peter, the organiser of many historical Classic Car events all over the continent, wrote this piece in the welcoming address in the programme to the recent SPA Historical weekend:-
“It’s a place where everybody gets together, to which crowds flock obeying the call of the same passion. That’s the definition of a hallowed place, temple or cathedral, but the same words could just as easily used to designate the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. For a century now, the Belgians have closed off this piece of the Ardennes landscape to give themselves over to speed, to give themselves this place where people will always try to go faster, and to fully savour of the magnetic pleasure of racing and watching others race.
More than ever our dearly-loved historic cars are precious instruments of a way of life said to be out-dated. Yet never before have they seemed so precious. So? This weekend will Spa be the bastion of fanatics attached to the past? Or quite the opposite in fact, as we may be the spokespeople of the future! Here in this temple an automotive hedonism is practised rich in both its past and what is yet to be born, which we refine a little more each year. The most enjoyable kilometres have always been those devoted to the sole pleasure of driving. And of course, the pleasure of racing. As for everyday utilitarian journeys, electric vehicles will look after them if the governing bodies, in all their wisdom, persist in finding that they have ecological virtues. We will always discover other ways to enable the most beautiful engines in the world to emit their glorious roars!
This weekend Spa commemorates its halcyon days while being a laboratory of our festivals yet to come. Such is the future – let’s give free rein to our pleasures! “
…………how true, how very true – LCJ
As we run into eventful September, we kick off with the Beaulieu Autojumble weekend on the 2nd & 3rd and so as not to clash, a week later and further along the coast we hit the south downs at Chichester for the Goodwood revival ‘weekend’ 8th to 10th :- here I would imagine many will be ‘working from home’! on the Friday
And a week after Goodwood we head inland to Princes Risborough for Kop Hill on the 16th & 17thhttps://kophillclimb.org.uk/dates-for-2023-announced/ no doubt John & Pat Marr will host a Club stand. So if booking apply to go with the club. Please be charitable with their new web site – it’s a little temperamental.
Looking still further afield it’s off to France for the ‘Les Belles Anglaises on the 23rd/24th http://sablanim.com/ this is the classic car event when the French take over the resort in their English Sports Cars for a weekend, the easy way to do it is the leisurely ferry crossing from Newhaven to Dieppe then on via Le Mans to the resort making a 5 day tour. We hope to take a few SPs over to join Jean-Yves Stockman……Anne Appleyard is up for it and will help with bookings etc.
We will be at the NEC Classic Car show 10/12 Nov in Hall 2 stand 750 and showcasing one of Robin Read’s dragsters, a couple of SPs and a rolling chassis. No doubt we will have SP calendars on sale. You will need to ask me for the discounted ticket code.
And finally………..
I think blasphemy/violation/desecration under describes this affront to the great name of Donald Healey
Thought for the day
Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.
