Tony Strawson's Capri

I've been scanning slides from my Dad's loft and came across this one of Tony Strawson's Capri - this picture was taken in May 1974 at Silverstone the year that he won the Esso Uniflow Special Saloon Car Championship - he was in the 'over 1300 Class' and the car is listed at this point as having a 4700cc engine - we attended the October Finals to see him take the Championship - I think also looking at the programmes I have here that he was pipped to the post by John Harper (Jag XK120?) that year for the 'Silverstone Driver of the Year Award' - it certainly brings back lots of memories for me looking at the images contained in these pages - I was only 9 in 1974 but I still have a love for 'Capris' and I now own a Mk1 that I have spent 2 years restoring...

Was this the Colin Hawker Capri, sponsored by Tolemans??

Did Tony Strawson race a Chev Corvair V8 'Superloon'.

The Chevy corvair was driven by Ian Richardson,
but not sure where it went from there, if indeed anyone else ever raced it.:)

Tony Strawson drove the Corvair after Richardson sold it (While owned by Gerry Marshall, I think?).

By 1980, DB Motors had the car, and Terry Stone drove it, by which time the Can-Am engine had been replaced by a 5-litre Chevy.

These are a couple of extracts from an early '70s article about the man himself before his Capri days...

"Tony started racing his road cars, spending the early sixties behind the wheels of various Sprite, Morris Minors and Anglias before moving on to an Allard and then a 4.2 litre Sunbeam Tiger. 1969 was remarkable in as much as it showed that a bad handling Healey does not make the most competitive racer so. At the beginning of 1970, Mr. Strawson had a quick squint at what was available and came up with BUY 12, as in ‘one too’, the ex-Combes/Hill/Salavdori/Everbody Mk2 Jag. This moved turned out to be a very good idea, but not initially, ‘cause the poor thing had been chopped around so much that it didn’t handle’. In fact, it positively hated corners and as Tony approached them with considerable enthusiasm, much spinning and spectator amusement was the end result. However, one does not build up a reputation as a Jag specialist without knowing a bit about what makes them tick and by the end of the year the car had been fully sorted, 1971 was the year that results started to flow Tony’s way, culminating in his receiving the Jaguar Driver of the Year award at the end of the season. The first few events of 1972 showed that, once again, the time had come to find something else as the big engined Minis and Escorts were beginning to run away into the distance. Being of scientific mind, our man decided that he needed something with a sight more urge to correct this unpleasant state of affairs. By mid-season a trip to Tates of Leeds had produced the answer, a 4.7 litre Falcon with a history even more chequered than BUY 12"

this is a bit about the 'test drive' from the same article...

"I came round Woodcote and inadvertently selected neutral whilst trying to find some brakes. Having gone in fast (I don’t think I could have found all of them) the car understeered out to the edge of the tarmac and my late, as in ‘far too late’ application of power flicked the tail onto the grass. By going into a dead funk and screaming for my mother I skillfully corrected the mistake about two thirds of the way along pit straight, but Tony had already witnessed my undoing and put his hands over his eyes so that he didn’t have to watch any more. A couple of laps later and I had got used to the car’s little peculiarities, finding that it would understeer in and oversteer out of almost any severity of corner, providing that the power came in at the right time. Surprisingly. the motor was very cammy and had to be kept above five thousand or it came to a dead stop, but it was all there until the limit of seven showed on the counter. In all I did about twenty laps, and when I finally got out the sweat poured off me like I had just been in a sauna bath or something. Casually I mentioned to Mr. S that I found it would pull 7000 down the straight with ease. He replied that that was equal to about 164 mph. With that I decided to go home"

I'd be interested in finding out more about Tony Strawson and his cars - I know that at one time in the mid '70s he raced an ex Mick Hill Capri but I don't know if the picture I first posted is that one or an earlier model - and there seems to be lots of different engine sizes quoted 4700cc/7100cc/8100cc etc.

I do remember one more thing - strawberries started appearing on the roof of the Capris after each win...

(apologies about the quality of the image - it's all I've got)

Mid Life Crisis.

You might want to have a look at this:

http://www.mallettracing.co.uk/IMAGES/mallory070402.jpg :)

And welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the welcome Peter - what series do you race in???

I'm coming to SIlverstone on the 13th March and if the weather stays fine I'll be driving my Capri - I'll keep an eye open for your car if you're going to be there...

:D

Sadly I'm in Turkey but I should be at Mallory 27 April.

Classic Group 1 with the CTCRC.

Fantastic stuff! I believe I am correct in saying that Anthony Davidson's father, a regular here on ten-tenths, was involved with Tony and that Capri in the mid 70s.
Perhaps he may contribute?

Anything to keep this thread alive I just love supersaloons!
The above picture is, I believe the ex Mick Hill capri and not Colin Hawkers which was sold as rolling chassis to Doug Niven when he wrote off the Boss escort at Ingliston.
I last saw the Corvair at Mallory in 1979 in Tony Strawsons hands but owned by Gerry Marshall as someone above pointed out. Anyone know if it still exists?

The Hill/Niven Boss Capri was sold by Doug to Nicholas Wattiez in early '76. (Nick had raced in F5000 in '74 with the ex-Guy Edwards Barclays Lola T330).
He only did two meetings with it - three laps in practice at Mallory before stub axle failure, despite ignoring Doug's advice that they should be 'beefed up' before the car was raced again, and Snetterton, blowing the engine.The car was white and blue when Nick got it, the blue replaced with red in time for Snetterton. Doug came to retrieve the car and spares shortly after Snett as Nick's cheque wouldn't clear the bank. Nick ended up in jail in '77 for several charges of fraud connected with his antiques business. My father spannered for Nick on the Capri on a voluntary basis and looked after the car for him, also having to face the embarrassment of Niven arriving to take his property, unaware of any dealings that had gone on.The whereabouts of the Capri after Doug came to get it,unknown.

Great picture Mid Life; that Capri just looks so right for a Super saloon.

The Corvair was also owned & raced by the Corbeau seat owner Colin ?? ( help pout here guys i was just a wee lad out of nappies and into short pants then:nyah: )
i am sure he had the car after Stawberry Strawson
Tony & Gerry where close buddies:hug:
i recall them sharing a thundersaloon car a few times circa 89 and Tony standing in his Jesus sneekers at Snett !

dear Mid Life
good to hear from another capri fan
would drive mine if someone didn't keep nicking my fuel

got into rovers & capris watching Slick 50 Class A racing

go to c.s.c.c. web site for lots of capri pics

Originally posted by driftwood
The Corvair was also owned & raced by the Corbeau seat owner Colin ?? ( help pout here guys i was just a wee lad out of nappies and into short pants then:nyah: )
i am sure he had the car after Stawberry Strawson
Tony & Gerry where close buddies:hug:
i recall them sharing a thundersaloon car a few times circa 89 and Tony standing in his Jesus sneekers at Snett !
driftwood - you are thinking of Colin Folwell who also raced the V8 Daf, which went to ( or came from?) Tony Hazelwood then Alan Minshaw.

oops ! well i was a small lad and im older now and some
things become blurry !!