We were most pleased with the recent response to the dedicated SP250 survey, in that 232 owners participated and 225 completed it in full. With this number, it gave a most worthwhile profile of custody and our thoughts about classic car ownership. The entire report ran to 76 pages, however, I have attached alongside this newsletter just a 5-page summary, which still gives a great insight. The full report under demographics listed the youngest owner at 31 years of age which is excellent that the younger generation find the car appealing whilst the downside is that 48% are in the 71-80 age group, moreover there are a couple of young at heart active owners in their 90s!
Do remember if you are going to the Revival the WhatsApp group chat hosted by Alan Mason who spends four days down at Goodwood. Alan is arranging this, as there are a number of overseas SP enthusiasts attending the Revival. Contact Alan through soaring.ace@btinternet.com and give him your mobile number. Alan tends to ‘live’ parked on the Lavant Bank overlooking the Lavant Straight for the duration of the meeting, moreover, it would be a jolly idea to meet up.
Phil Lackland, who earlier this year bought an SP250’ has thrown his ‘cap’ in the ring and is now organising a West Yorkshire gathering this month at the The Old Mill, Wakefield Road Brighhouse HD6 4HA on Friday 12th at 7pm. Please go over and support Phil with this initiative – Phil’s no is 07954 435575. It will be excellent to rekindle this meeting.
I did buy Bob Logan’s book Goat in the Garage came via Amazon next day, written in Pennsylvania USA and what is strange it was printed here in the UK at Luton. A most light-hearted read concerning the little issues we have as we pursue our hobby.
Such an iconic ‘flight of Darts’ taken at Pukekole on the North Island of NZ in March 1964 From the top we have the Oxton SP, initially raced at new by Bruce Merideth then developed further by Stephen Oxton before being passed to his son David. It ran a 10 to 1 compression ratio, rated at 170 BHP. # Chassis no: 102561. It continued its successful racing career with Hamish Linton. Hamish acquired it in the early 1970s and was still holding on to it well into the late 1980s. Work being either home grown or with Nortox Engineering of Auckland. Greg Seales in NSW, Australia, is now its custodian.
Next, in line is the Bob Wilkin SP, still looking into its history? If any reader in NZ can help identify this SP that will be much appreciated.
Leading the field is Trevor Sheffield in his very successful SP # 103730. Originally ordered new by Dent Gardiner Ltd of Auckland in 1962. Trevor had this SP worked on by Bill Kelly of Mount Albert Garage in Auckland. Bill, on occasions also took the wheel. For quite some time this SP outshone allcomers in the production sports car category on the North Island. This SP is now also in Australia in the care and custody of Mark & Tracey Brooks in Blaxland in NSW.
The October edition of The Automobile will have a detailed write up on the ‘lost SP, the Hooper bodied four seater that was built in very quick time and shown at the 1959 Earls Court Motor Show. Giles Chapman, motoring author and the writer of the article has spent months on compiling its history.
Next years’ DLOC International Rally will take place from the 24th -28th June, based at the Coombe Abbey Hotel just outside Coventry. The rally itself being in the close vicinity. Mark Kershaw and his West Midlands team are actively working on the programme for the rally.
Now if The Daimler had a ‘family seat’ or ancestral home, Coombe Abbey would be its natural choice as this estate was in the Craven family for many years and they were Daimler devotees. Both the Earl and his Countess wife owned at least four that they used for extensive travelling between Coombe Abbey, their Scottish estates and Monte Carlo – not too shabby What!
I found the reference to the Craven family and its association with the Combe Abbey estate in the latest tome that Brian Smith, the Daimler historian, has written entitled The Day Of The Daimler. Brian has been writing since 1971 on the Daimler marque and this latest coffee table volume is a must have for your library. There is yet again much new material and Brian has been helped in this quest from Christian Demler, The advances in technology have been used to their utmost in this new book for re-tinting old photographs, which has brought them to life. Such a contrast to his first volume Daimler Tradition where most were just black and white illustrations. If you wish a copy email me and I will forward to Brian.
An SP in the gleaming sunshine :- https://youtu.be/AwkoolW-k5g?si=ShFeUVuNM68PGtRL not so gleaming is this one, however, it was once in the ownership of Neil Bruce the famous Classic Car photographer https://youtu.be/37rf_hAJIjE?si=3eXNqUFIOTRu27Nv and SP racer Ian Slade
And Finally……….
Most strange want turns up in my inbox, this one arrived from overseas and depicts a very youthful David Beales at the Bourton-on-the-Water SP250 day in 1981. Note the extra wide steel wheel rims with the standard hubcaps and the anti-roll bar.
Now what is a further coincidence is that this SP is currently for sale in last month’s (August) Driving Member
Thought for the day:
The fastest car is never at the front of the queue!
