What better way to brighten your day than to delve into this clip, being well narrated and giving an excellent portrayal of the SP https://youtu.be/ouHieoSA6aQ?si=jGZmeQ3BBPe29BwH this depicts a number of shots taken at the 2023 NEC Classic car show, whereat we displayed a mint chassis and our usual high standard of cars.
Those ever resourceful and ever active New Zealanders have been thinking outside the box, with various solutions, this rear view mirror by Jonathan Crawford, a nonagenarian, it clips over the standard mirror and does save straining one’s neck. I have been sent the finer details. Email me and I will forward.
Another excellent initiative and solution has been sourced by their club treasurer, John Davies, which is an internal distributor adaptor base plate that will accept the modern push fit ignition lead Rover cap. The cost is about £25 (no more than) plus post here from the UK. (cap extra)
Early last month I took my own SP up to GB Classic Trim https://www.gbclassictrim.com/ the country’s foremost Jaguar Trimmers which is owned and run by SP250 owner Graham Watkins. This, so I could replace my soft top which I last did some 45 odd years ago by Tim Simmons when he ran a trim shop/barn in Maidstone, Kent. Graham took me around his establishment where I saw not only a myriad of Jaguars but an Aston being re-trimmed. He also showed me all the patterns for all post WWII Jaguar models. We then climbed the stairs into the ‘loft’ (1st floor) where seamstresses (artists in motion) were busy with their sewing machines. I just loved the word seamstresses seems so such an old fashioned word. It conjured up pictures in my mind of ladies with pins in their mouths and treadle machines beavering away ‘up at t’mill’. ( well they were sewing carpets)
One discussion with Graham being a proposed production of SP250 tool roll bags to the same design as original, together with the jack pouch. If there is demand Graham will make a number. He will do so in as close a detail as possible. Likewise, if that demand is sufficient I will look into the remanufacture of the tools themselves. (open ended spanners/wrenches)
This 1962 DAIMLER SP 250 ROADSTER – Vehicle | Barrett-Jackson Auction Company – World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions made $26,400 recently
The Hagerty in-house auction company Broad Arrow recently were selling vehicles from the San Francisco Museum of Art collection. Within this magnificent catalogue was the ex-Barry Flynn SP where the guide price for this no-reserve sale was $30/- to $40/-. (see last month)
When lot 152 ‘hit’ the block its opening bid was $20/- then after some 2 minutes of commotion with the gavel, it was all over, the final hammer price $45/- a good $5/- over its pre-sale guide. Whosoever, has bought this SP has ‘bagged’ a bargain. We think it was worth at least $50/-. Do hope we can gain the new owner’s entry into pasSPort.
It seems Fords of any sort presently make big money whether a humble Capri of the mighty Ferrari busting GT40s. Here is one connected to the SP250, none other than the late Mark Donohue who raced an SP250 in his early years of 1962/63. He later won the 1972 Indianapolis 500 driving a McLaren and finished 4th in the 1967 Le Mans 24 hour race with this GT40 partnering Bruce McLaren. It made $13,205,000!
https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mi25/lots/r0002-1966-ford-gt40-mk-ii/ over to you Ken Anderson for your reminisces of meeting Mark.
Broad Arrow have trumped their Art Museum sale with the Amelia Island auction on 8th March with what is perhaps the most iconic of all Jaguar Racing cars, the Le Mans winning D-type OKV 2:-https://www.broadarrowauctions.com/vehicles/am25_r086/1954-jaguar-d-type-okv-2-works-competition sheer poetry in motion, though in this case, just standing still evokes all
Headed up by Alan Mason, there is a strongest group yet heading out to the Spa Classic on the 23rd to 25 May. If you care to join us with or without a car please get in touch with Alan on soaring.ace@btinternet.com we have a couple of spare seats. Furthermore, this clip is of the historical 1955 race and note little or no ‘elf and safety around. Witness the Policeman just standing next to the straw bales with the racing cars hurtling passed and later the dog running amok on the start finish straight! 1955 Belgian Grand Prix
Our entrance into the circuit takes us along part of the old section as we pass by the house depicted at 3.15 in the clip. Also I noted Denis Jenkinson in the pits, the diminutive bearded fellow, who partnered Stirling Moss on his epic 1955 Mille Miglia win as his navigator.
The EV market is rapidly diminishing by the day, there continues much debate as it appears only vast subsidies keep the ailing sales going :- EV Mandates vs. Freedom | Mark P. Mills and the oil company BP has ‘reset’ its business model back to focus on fossil fuels whilst it seems Rowan Atkinson is all in favour of naturally aspirated engines with his goliath of a one off Rolls-Royce https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JFqGBe5kIuQ
Apparently there has been a most comprehensive study by Volkswagen and a further detailed study by the Ifo Institute for Economic Research – Wikipedia awhile back which indicated that breakeven being at 200,000 kilometers, an e-Golf vs a diesel variant. It is just environmental politics and the HUGE subsidies which keep the EV market running and Politicians pretending to do something for the environment.
And whilst on the subject of Rolls –Royce, Matthew Waterhouse, the president of the DLOC,has been activing assisting in a joint editorship of a mammoth tome of Rolls-Royce engines, from the V12 Merlin to the W12 Bentley engine. This volume was the initial work of George Ray who spent his career of 57 odd years (1955 –2013) with RR. Mathew, a mere youngster, joining in 1969 as an undergraduate engineer. The book is into print and the cost is £60 plus £5p&p (UK) colinweston007@gmail.com
And finally……..
Here is living legend David Oxton in his SP (in 1964) which kick started his racing career in New Zealand.
Most recently there was a NZIGP Legends of Speed meeting to celebrate his extensive racing career. He met up with members of the NZ SP250 Club.
One of the supporting races saw ever active SP racer Bryan Ashworth laying down some rubber where he was victorious in the Roycroft Trophy race
Thought for the day:
In the fight for survival, a tie or split decision simply will not do…….
