(Super) road saloons - where are they now?

[R59]

Well, if we can have a Super Coupe's where are they now, why not a Super Road Saloons.

Let's set the timeframe - 1989 to 1999 - a period of evolution, then demise of a once popular race what you drive, but modified, series.

We all know where I am, right here... and Denis, and Tim Dodwell.
Al, you were busy with ModProds in those days, but let's put on our rose tinted glasses, and drift back into memory lane....

Those who we know (still active)....

I'll start the ball rolling with:

Andy Pyke - Ran the no.70/72 Escort Mk1 Mexico, and later Mk1 Fiesta - Has been seen occaisionally in the Pick-up Truck series, and Legends, but is more known for being the crew chief on the #16 Pickup.

Duncan Aukland - Rover SD1 Class A - still running the now more developed Green Rover in the K&N Northwest Sports & Saloons - has been Champ in that series, and leads Class D.... and...

James Aukland - Ford Capri Class A- now running with a V8, in the K&N's, not very often, I guess when the ship's in port (if he's still at sea that is...)

Mark Wyatt - Talbot Sunbeam Class B - that's gone - Mark's now a leading player in the Castle Combe Saloons with his Astra. All I can say is insurance sales must be doing well!

Richard Gane - No.99 Nova Class D - Mr Whippy. DTRC and EERC Prod S1 with his Integra.

Chris Adams - No 95 Nova Class D - as above (without the ice cream references)

Joe Macari -The Honeymonster! - No.5 Lancer Turbo Class A - One of the Riverside Racing gang, a plethora of rapid Lancers with induction pipework held on with more hose clips than you'd find in a plumber merchant! - well known for his Gumball3000 antic, Joemacari.com, and now races in EERC from time to time. Not bad for a car-boot sale proprieter from Sussex!

Tim Watson - No.62 Fiesta Class C - now a stalwart (he ought to be, his firm sponsors it!) of the Ford Saloons, with either a trusty Fiesta, or his Mondeo Supertourer.

Brian Long - Sierra XR4i Class A - still racing it, chasing Tim Watson around!

Those are peeps that I know are active, others that have been active, but haven't heard much of them lately...

John Batchelor - Class C Nova - say no more......

Neil Huggins - Class C Escort - was running a Radical in National Supersports, but not seen for a year or more.

Ralph Underwood - Class A Rover - had the Rover destroyed - then built a TR7-V8 which he ran in K&N's. Not seen for a while.....

David Pearson - Class C Fiesta - my ol' mate carried on with his Fiesta for a while in the Northern Sports & Saloons, but changed to a Escort Cosworth and has been seen in the Ford Saloons, but not for a while.....

Now a couple of "retirees"

Roy Gravestock - probably too old to race now (if that doesn't get the old git back out in a car, I dunno what will). Still spends his time navigating through the side windows of various Nova's with knobbly tyres, once ran as high as 3rd overall in the Circuit of Ireland rally when it snowed, and being Roy, he was on road tyres, when everyone else was caught out on slicks, came to an early demise taking avoidance of an earlier incident.

Lord Fulke-Greville of Scrubs Lane (or is it Parkhurst?). I think I'll leave that there...

Carl Sawford - No.28 Mk1 RS2000 - so clean you could eat your dinner off it, and it showed various Lotus Sunbeams a clean pair of heels. When SRS died, Carl converted it to Gp.1 spec, and sold it without racing it once. The car wins regularly in the hands of Mr Primett in Post Historic Touring Cars, and Carl spends his time either on (or off!) of 2 wheels, and restoring a Dodge Charger for his 'bro'-in-law. I keep trying to get him back in the hot seat, as he has the talent to both prepare and drive a fast car.

Now, who's gone off the radar....... Prepare for long list (I'll start with the Leicestershire/Derbyshire contingent which made up a fair percentage at one time!)

Lol Dyke, Karen Dyke, Perry Brewer, Shane Golding, Fatteh Pocock, Richard Timpson, Vince Mitchell, Michael Ward, Ricky Metterick, Jim Dixon, Phil Castle, Graham Millward, Andy Robey, Tony Caig, Brian Coyle, Jeff Robinson, Linda Stimpson, Dave Stimpson, Terry Kaby, Lionel Wiffen, Michael Willis, Stephen Moore, Weston Moore, Ivan Stuparic, Peter Featherstone, Roger Turner, Neil Hasler, Eric Crawley,...

Come on then - where are they? And name some more 'names'.

[andypipe]

Neil Hassler is still alive and kicking. Has been racing in Mighty Minis until recently. He has been concentrating getting his step daughter in formula woman. He still has his trusty Sunbeam Lotus and I am trying to persuade him into joining the DTRC. Last heard of Vince Mitchell when i was racing against him in the Falken Tyres Mod Prods in the mid 90's but he sold his car and i think that was that

[R59]

Originally Posted by andypipe

Neil Hassler is still alive and kicking. Has been racing in Mighty Minis until recently. He has been concentrating getting his step daughter in formula woman. He still has his trusty Sunbeam Lotus and I am trying to persuade him into joining the DTRC. Last heard of Vince Mitchell when i was racing against him in the Falken Tyres Mod Prods in the mid 90's but he sold his car and i think that was that

I seem to recall that Vince was working for Audi, which is probably when I last bumped into him, or his brother.

Petrol in terms of value compared to income is about the same as it was in around 1980. I remember it jumping to over a quid a gallon, and the woe in the press about it. Average bloke was probably on around £120 a week, now Mr Average is supposed to be on £500 a week, and petrol is £4.50 a gallon.

We just had a lot of years between then and now where fuel was cheap, regardless of the tax.

Rob.

[Al Weyman]

ITs all got too ruddy expensive for most Rob thats the fact of the matter. It was 40 quid to enter back in those days, I have just looked to enter a double header at Snett in my ex ModProd car (the IROC) and they want in excess of 300 quid, its simply too much especially with squirt a ridiculous £1 a litre. Gerry cain only told me this morning his racing days are over because of amoungst other reasons, the expense.

[Al Weyman]

Its all the other claims on yer wages apart from petrol before you can even contemplate racing, mortgages for example!

[R59]

Yes, you were paying more % income tax in those days, but only 15% VAT.

The mortgage rate was higher, but inflation was high too, so your wages outstripped your mortgage, and the house prices were on the rise so your mortgage was "smaller" by the day.

I remember talking to an old work colleague who bought his house in 1974 for £34000, which by 1984 was worth £125K, and he had 14K left on his morgage to pay. That same house now would be worth around £270K.

Rob.

[Denis Bassom]

Me (Denis Bassom) - Still racing the Toyota Corolla, now in Modified Production Saloons after the BRSCC killed Super Road Saloons.

Tony Caig - Fiesta - Often seen in Northern Sports & Saloons.

John Parton - Small Citroen thing - On a break after playing with an Integra, most recently seen in the Northern series now.

Karen Dyke - Toyota Corolla FWD - Err, no longer Karen Dyke. Went to the Ford's in a Fiesta then dissappeared.

[Denis Bassom]

David O'Keefe - The other small Citroen thing (AX GT) - Last seen playing with 2CV's, mostly running cars rather than driving.

Paul Berman - Numerous Pug 205's - Occassionally pops up at race meetings talking about a return but not made it yet.

Oliver Allens Dad (Sorry, rubbish with names) - Fiesta - Mostly helping his son out in Ford Mod Prods.

Steve and Mike Quenby - Nova - Now in the Tiger R6 championship, his Nova fell apart.

[mrQ]

Originally Posted by Denis Bassom

Steve and Mike Quenby - Nova - Now in the Tiger R6 championship, his Nova fell apart.

Didn't fall apart......I broke it!

Been getting all nostalgic reading through these pages and good to see Compton's as vocal as he ever was

Remember starting out in '94 in a pretty much standard Sunbeam Ti and spending a couple of seasons learning to race (and buying most of Vince Mitchell's old bits ). Then moved onto a very light and rapid Nova, which almost won me a class c'ship when I moved over to Mod Prods.

Got a bit bored with saloon racing in 2002-ish and decided to build myself a kit car & race that. Glad I did, as I won a Tiger class c'ship in 2008.

Some pics....





Cheers
Steve Quenby

[R59]

Originally Posted by mrQ

Been getting all nostalgic reading through these pages and good to see Compton's as vocal as he ever was

Who me?

How much metal did you shave off that ol' Nova. The rumour mill had it down to 700Kg....

I still have mine and want to get it down to nearer on 550/600!!!!!

Should be back out with the Belmont later this year. Very busy with work so racing cars has to take a back seat (behind nags!)

[Al Weyman]

Trouble is again getting down to costs, this is the budget end of the racing spectrum so the money will run out from this end first.

Paul Berman. Shame he is not out as he used to spend a ruddy fortune with me on stickers as he had about four cars but only told his wife he had one so had to do them all up the same, bring it on!

What happened to all the northern Rover SDI contingent, Ray Webb etc. Nice guy he was even invited me to his wedding, he married Tom Wheatcroft's daughter.

[Denis Bassom]

Funny, people complain about costs and then jump at the chance at running on slicks, track day tyres, having dry sumps, plastic windows, fibreglass panels etc etc etc.

No consistency.

[andypipe]

Originally Posted by Denis Bassom

Funny, people complain about costs and then jump at the chance at running on slicks, track day tyres, having dry sumps, plastic windows, fibreglass panels etc etc etc.

No consistency.

Ive never complained about cost. I go where i think i am getting more value for my hard earned

[Denis Bassom]

Originally Posted by andypipe

Ive never complained about cost. I go where i think i am getting more value for my hard earned

Andy, can you define 'value for my hard earned'?

[Al Weyman]

Because you only pay out for those items once Dennis, thats the unfounded argument the clubs always use, the 'Only a price of a tyre' syndrome. Dry sumps or Accusumps can be an insurance against further far more expensive costs, Plastic windows are not particularly expensive, not sure about fibre glass panels but I would bet they are generally cheaper to replace than a metal ex-factory one.