 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Someone was
watching us! |
Just as gorgeous 50
years on. |
1000 and more |
Birthday Cake |
John Rhodes &
Christabel Carlisle |
| With the
promise of some 1,200 Sprites and Midgets coming together for a
grand party to celebrate their 50 years, it needed to be a fine day,
and amazingly, fine it was. Although the former airfield site of the
National Motor Museum tended to be quite breezy, at least the sun
shone as the first of the little sports-cars arrived. We were there
soon after 8.30 and at least a hundred were already in attendance.
In ones, twos, fives etc, they continued to stream in for much of
the day until the whole paved area was covered, after which they
parked up each side of the entrance drive and on grassland
overlooking the main arena. I noticed a neat little line of mainly
Frogeyes with their steering wheels on the 'wrong' side, these being
the French contingent of Amicale Spridget. The historic cars were
lined up, much as at Goodwood with a few extras including Bill
McDonough's Speedwell GT, and Dave Groves' "saloon" awaiting
restoration. Sadly the Jacobs and Milne Midgets didn't show but
there were plenty of other interesting machines to ogle. There were
a number of the Italian Innocenti Sprites, a couple of cars fitted
with Williams & Pritchards hardtops and E-type style bonnets,
looking very like Ashleys, Brian Wheeler's 'ute', and a good
collection of competition Spridgets, one of which had its motor
removed and re-installed in record time as a fund-raising exercise.
There were an assortments of trade tents, and the museum to see,
talks were given by Sprite celebs, and the Concours and Pride of
Ownership were being judged. I didn't manage to take quite as many
photos as I would have liked so if anyone has some different ones I
may use, they would be gratefully received - contact me via the
feedback and I will give you an email address. What a fantastic
turnout of Sprites and what a great venue. Many thanks to all those
who contributed to this very special day. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 1200 Spridgets
gather |
Dave
Groves' Sprite "saloon" |
A very
attractive Lenham GT |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Spridget with Williams & Pritchard bonnet and hardtop |
Brian Wheeler's "ute" |
Alex
Postan's rally car |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Kai
Eriksen's S221Sebring
rep |
The Visser
brothers |
Visser's
Speedwell/Ashley Sprite |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Bill
McDonough's ex-Peter Preston Speedwell GT |
Historic Sprinzel Coupé line-up |
Stephen Bowen (ctre) with WJB |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Lenham bonneted
Sprite |
Bowen, Coulthard,
Whitehouse-Bird, Woolmer and Webb |
Copy of original
decal on EAO |
Ashley fastback on
Frog - a rare one |
Mk 1 Midget
surveys the scene |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Sebring
Replicas of Mike Sutton, Rick Waller, Alan Anstead, Roger Byford
and myself |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The
Italian Innocenti Sprites - Coupe and Spider |
Some
of the Competition Cars |
|
Many thanks to Michael
Meerlo, Mike Sutton, Barry Lowe and Gary Lazyrus for their contributions. |
|
MORE PHOTOS PLEASE. |
|
Link to Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird's pictures |
