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Friday 16th May dawned overcast, dull and cold with the
ever-present threat of rain, but this did not daunt the spirits
of the great many Healey enthusiasts who made their way to the Goodwood race circuit in Sussex. When Susan and I arrived in
JJO at 8.15 the paddock was already busy with Healeys of all
shapes and sizes, from Nash-Healeys to Silverstones, Elliotts,
100s, 3000s but predominantly Sprites including Frogs,
and Marks 2,3, and 4. For me, of course, the historic Sprites
were what I had come to see, and the fact that this was to be
the first time 4 of the famous Sprinzel Coupés would be together
in one place since 1961 made it very special. Paul Woolmer was
on the organising team and had completed the restoration of his
PMO200 back in 2006; Chris Clegg had been racing S221
at Silverstone the previous weekend but brought it along;
410EAO was now in absolutely pristine condition after its 18
year rebuild in the hands of Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird; and
WJB 707 which Stephen Bowen has owned for 42 years, had
finally emerged from Brian Wheeler's paint-shop just two weeks
ago, enabling Stephen and his friend Michael to fit it up with
glass, lights, suspension, steering and wheels, leaving the rest
of the work to be completed before its intended trip to the Le
Mans Classic in July. Many other special Sprites were present in
the display tent including both versions of Jack Wheeler's
7080 AC. The streamlined one was another job recently
completed by the amazing Brian Wheeler and it looked great - not
to mention the very rare cross-flow head and twin Webers fitted
to its motor. 4 HAC, the prototype aluminium bodied
Sprite, very like the Targa Florio cars, but which never made
production, was there, as were Bill White's Peel-bodied
Sebring Coupé 52 LPH which he has owned for 40 years,
re-creations of the EcurieEcosse Sprite, and Paddy
Gaston's RAM 35, plus Paul Woolmer's
newly-repaired 46 BXN which he had the misfortune to roll
in the Goodwood Revival in 2006, now ready for its former owner
and racer Peter Jackson to drive on Sunday. Douglas
Wilson-Spratt (and son, Tony) was there with several of his
gorgeous WSMs, the Lumbertubs Sprite, and Ian
Grainger's ex-Clive Baker Sprite 2341UE etc,
etc.
In
addition to the cars there were many long-standing members of
the BMC and Sprite fraternity including Peter Browning, Bill
Price, Jack Sears and Valerie Morley (Domleo). Barrie (Whizzo)
Williams was spotted, but sadly on this occasion the "main
man" John Sprinzel was unable to join us having accepted
another invitation to a gathering of Sprites in the USA. Never
mind, we have seen him make the long flight over from Hawaii
twice in recent years, and we mustn't be greedy.
What a brilliant idea it was to combine the celebration with a
track day. Owners had the opportunity to spend 15 minutes
driving the circuit accompanied by a passenger, or an
instructor, and this gave a lot of people a great deal of
pleasure and a chance to see what they, and their cars, could
do. I was very fortunate in obtaining, in all five sessions over
the two days, and took a different passenger each time - good
practice for the sprint next month!
In
the evening there was a Hog Roast and, whilst I did not see any
sign of a hog on a spit over a wood fire, the food was very
tasty and was accompanied by a band to whom some were dancing.
Below are a few
photos I (and some others) took in and around the paddock on this first day:- |
