Dedicated to the memory of the late Brian Archer who fulfilled his dream to re-create John Sprinzel's Sebring Sprite Coupé

 

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SEBRING NEWS

LATEST ITEMS ~ 2009

Lightweight racing dashboard from The Cape

I have recently heard from a guy, who we will call CWA, who has an original un-molested example of "The Cape dashboard" as used by Donald Healey Motor Co on their early race cars.  He has been thinking of having some copies made, depending on demand. Anyone interested? As you will see from the pictures the horn pick-up boss is incorporated in the fibreglass moulding which also has a leather-grain finish. The car Ron & Rob Gordon are restoring in the USA, believed to be Stirling Moss's 1960 Sebring car appears to have the same dashboard. CWA's father bought this dash from Fred Draper of DHMC about 10 years ago, after it had lain on a shelf for about 40 years.  Anyone know any more about these unusual items?

New " tall" sidescreens for "Works" hardtops -  new contact is: pete.farmer@virgin.net

Ian Grainger's 2341UE gets its supercharger back

Ian has just sent me these photos of the supercharger re-installed in his Sebring Sprite. The car was super- charged when new and uses the  original cylinder head. Clive Baker has asked to  to see the car at the  Silverstone Classic event.

JJO's season to date, ending with a bit of a mishap:

Curborough Test Day 2nd April

Gurston Down Hill Climb 19th April Cadwell Park Track Day 1st May MIRA Sprint 9th May Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb 15th May

Every Spring the Austin-Healey Club's Richard Mason organises a very useful practice day at the Curborough Sprint course at which, this year, I shared JJO with friend, Martin Brazil.

I hadn't been to Gurston for over 30 years but that was no real excuse for coming 6th out of 8 Sprites there. An enjoyable day's driving though.

Eamonn Matthews from Australia, and I enjoyed many laps around Cadwell's beautiful circuit in JJO with other MGs on Track. It's 15 corners are quite demanding.

[No photo - they don't allow cameras!]

I was disappointed with my result finding the car lacked grip all day.

The Austin-Healey Club held informal runs up the hill as part of the Healey 3000's 50th anniversary. This picture was taken on my first run up the hill which went OK though it felt a bit slippery. Unfortunately on my 2nd run, I lost the tail coming out of the Esses, mounted the bank and flipped the car on to its side. Needless to say there is considerable chassis and body damage so we are going to miss Prescott next weekend, and probably a few other events. However JJO will be back in action ere long, you may be sure.

California-based Dean Powers begins his long-awaited Sebring build

Jonathan solves EAO's engine troubles

On the run-up to the May celebrations of the Sprite's 50 years last year, EAO was ceremoniously fired up but appeared to have no oil pressure, as a result of which its engine seized solid.  

Well, the car's owner Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird recently lifted the motor from the car and took it to 'Big Colin' of Cambridge Rebores, a company recommended by his friend  Dr. John Davies. Here he takes up the story:

"One of the guys there - Dick, (seen in the photo, right above) stripped the thing in an attempt to discover what had caused the engine to seize. All came apart easily and the crank rotated after con-rod ends were removed! Main caps came off and all was inspected with no damage or wear to the bearings or crank - phew!.  However, when it came to removing the pistons and con-rods, it was discovered that ALL four gudgeon pins had seized!  Eventually, Dick got rods and pistons out of the block, but a special press (with a couple of tonnes pressure) applied to the pins struggled to remove them. Damage was irreparable and £300 worth of Powermax 948cc (+0.60") pistons were now a pile of scrap - aargh!!!  With no replacements available (ultra-rare now), the only other option was to use 998cc flat-tops, which of course meant a rebore.  So, the whole thing has been given the 'full treatment', including machining the caps and line boring to provide an oil tight rear seal. Fortunately, Dick had some 998cc flat-tops on the shelf (at +0.20"), so these were used along with new fully-floating type con-rods.  The engine is now running at about 1000cc. 

Hey ho!  It's all water under the bridge now!  And the oil pressure mystery....?  Well that was simple...! The reason no pressure registered on the gauge was down to the fact that I'd used a second-hand oil pipe / block union which was completely blocked with old hard 'gunk' and wasn't letting oil through.  I probably did have pressure within the engine, but no way was it ever going to register on the gauge".

I don't recall hearing before of gudgeon pins seizing in new pistons in that way, but perhaps you have?
 

 

News from John Sprinzel - 20th March, 2009 (up-dated with photo 6th May)

Caryl and I had a great trip to Australia last November, and though it was all a bit tiring, doing five events in one week, we really had a ball. The Sydney and Melbourne area Sprite Clubs are most enthusiastic, especially as our favourite car was assembled in Oz for some years. Also the Healey Owners club in Victoria has many Sprite members, plus the use of the finest club premises I have ever visited. They are actually owned by Motor Clubs - Jaguar and Triumph I believe, and feature large and comfortable rooms with bar and a stage complete with a big screen for films where I showed the 1958 Shell Alpine Rally DVD which has many terrific clips of the three Sprites in the car's successful International Rally debut. The walls of the clubhouse are lined with super pictures from the golden days of motorsport, and have two panels with famous signatures. Distances in Australia are, of course, huge, and our trip with the Bug Eye Barn's owner Tony Bennetto to Ray English's home near the coast involved a hard day of driving through the area which has since been devastated by those forest fires. We stayed a couple of days with Ray and enjoyed his famous "Sprite Room" where one of the make's best known historians keeps an incredible collection of records and memorabilia. His own Sebring Sprite (J.S is pictured right with Ray's beautiful car) which he has owned for many years, from back when he was racing very competitively, is in wonderful condition and in regular use, so we collected our take-out dinner and the morning papers each day. The final event in Victoria was a wonderful dinner and Sprite enthusiasts from as far afield as Brisbane and Adelaide joined in an evening celebrating the Frogeye.

Next up will be the July "Conclave" of North American Healey Clubs, which will be held in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. These annual meets are superbly organized and have literally hundreds of Healey cars and Healey boats on display. The condition of these cars is awe-inspiring, and is a tribute to the enthusiasm of American and Canadian owners of British Sports Cars. The week long event will give me a chance to spend time with two of the Special Guests - Peter Riley and Anne Wisdom, who were both very successful work's drivers not only in the "Big" Healeys, but also in Spridgets - Anne, who was also our first secretary at Speedwell, did two events, the RAC and Corsica, in Sebring Sprites with Pat Moss. They were also good friends and near neighbours when Caryl and I had our small farm close to theirs a few miles from Silverstone Circuit. Some of you may have met son Tim, who was very active driving the service vehicle backing up and fettling on many of the Classic Rallies in recent years.

My current Frog Eye PMO 200, is still going strong after sixteen years on Molokai, where it is my only car, but with just sixty miles of paved road, our island is a perfect Sprite place. In that time I have never ever had the hood up, which does show something of our climate.

Happy Sprite-ing and Aloha, 

John  

 

John Sprinzel has now exhausted his supply of the 2nd edition of "Spritely Years" so all future enquiries should be directed to Tom Coulthard

8426 UE (the Roadster) which was driven by Ed Leavens and John Colgate at Sebring in 1961  (finishing 3rd in class and 25th overall) - is up for sale, again this time at auction on March 14 , at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida, USA ~ for further information take a look at RM Auctions website at: www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=AM09&CarID=r187 

SOLD for US $69,300 (abt £48,500) (or AUS $ 102,000)

WJB 707

Thanks to a lot of work put in by Michael Meerlo and others, Stephen Bowen's ex Ian Walker Sebring, WJB 707, was up and running for the British Lifestyle show at Rosmalen in Belgium on Feb28/1Mar (above) and was at the Antwerp Classic Salon a week later on the 7/8 March (below)

Stephen runs Eurospeed services who supply BMC parts in Belgium and Holland ~ www.eurospeedservices.eu

The Alexander Sprite previously owned by Maarten Krikken from Belgium (and now by Paul Freeman) is being restored by Paul Woolmer. Apparently the body/chassis unit is half completed and the roof will be repaired in Holland later this year.

  Frank Soree raced his ex-Jim Lensvelt Sebring replica at Zandvoort and other European circuits during 2008

ACTIVITY AT ARCHERS!!

Fastbacks take shape

New alloy castings - those on the left above are for the new Girling Type 10 brake calipers available later this month (February). They will be £500 per pair, plus VAT, complete with alloy pistons and racing seals.  6 of the first batch of 10 pairs are spoken for so reserve yours now.

Archers Garage

 (44) 121 520 4766, or archersclassiccars@supanet.com

Ron Gordon updates us on the restoration of his Moss 1960 Sebring car

New Lenham Page

Le Mans Sprite Replica Body-shell For Sale

Wayne Gibson of GB Racing (whose premises adjoin those of Archers Garage) wishes to sell his newly-built replica body of one of the late 60's works Healey Sprites similar to those which were campaigned at Le Mans and in other endurance races. Unfortunately having reached this fairly advanced stage of the build they find it necessary to concentrate their time and outlay on their racing of vintage Singers, one of which was extensively damaged last year. They are looking to recoup their costs of £16,000. Those interested may like to contact me via Feedback or Andrew at Archers Garage on archersclassiccars@supanet.com

Anyone for Angouleme 2009? Just sent my entry off for JJO!

 

List of Girling Brake & Clutch Parts for Sebrings ~ NEW TYPE 10 calipers available in February.

2214 UE - Email from Liz Patten (daughter of John) who is now living in Australia

 

Martin Freund's ex-Coulthard Replica

 

 The Mark II Sprites at

 Sebring in 1962 and 1963

New:  Aluminium doors and hinges from ARCHERS GARAGE

New pictures of Rob Visser's Speedwell at Zandfoort in 1960

 

 News 2008

Obituaries:

Brian Archer Pat Moss Len Pritchard Ian Walker

Works Sprite XOH 276

Did Le Mans Sprite go for scrap?

New list of Sebring Replicas

Some unusual Sprite bodywork

Stirling's Sebring car of 1960

 

Second Edition of "Spritely Years"

Copies of John Sprinzel and Tom Coulthards' re-issued  book are now available and can be obtained:-

In the USA:  John Sprinzel was distributing copies in that area but has now exhausted his supply.

In the UK and Europe: by emailing Tom on spritelyyears@btinternet.com  who will be able to quote price and postage. (No trade enquiries please). He also has some copies signed by both authors available at an additional cost.

This will probably be the last opportunity to buy this very special book, so I suggest you place your order now if you don't already have one.

Sebring Sprite Sweatshirts & T shirts

Before the Sprite 50th  Celebrations at Goodwood and Gaydon in May,  Brian Archer produced a few Navy Blue Sweatshirts and 'T' shirts emblazoned "Sebring Sprite" and "Archers Garage" on the front, and with "www.sebringsprite.com" on the back.

A number of enthusiasts have asked for these so I am now proceeding with an order. They can be printed with any, or all, of the above 3 logos and come at £14.50 plus VAT for the sweatshirt and £7.50 plus VAT for the T shirt.

For more details and to order click SHIRTS

 

Len Pritchard

We are very sad to announce the death of Len Pritchard on 17th September. Len was both an artist and a craftsman who created beautiful bodywork for many of the early Lotuses, and of course for Sprinzel's Sebring Sprite Coupés. We send our sincere condolences to his wife and family. I recently had an email from John who remembered him in the following way : -

"Len and Charlie were just superb at making stuff from sketches. I know they had a great relationship with Frank Costin, for whom they made fifteen or sixteen designs. The Speedwell GT, was, of course, to his drawings, as was the Speedwell record breaker streamliner. The Sebring front was to my sketch, which I made after Donald showed me the Mark two front, and I thought this would sell like crazy, which it did. Sometime later we did the top together, me sitting in the Sprite, and showing how I needed hand space for the wheel and headroom, which the Speedwell GT didn't ever get, otherwise the top was entirely theirs.  They were such fun guys to deal with, and as I said, we were all as poor as church mice (including Chapman) so they never became body builders for the rich!"

For up-to-date information please go to the Williams & Pritchard Register website

 

Sebring Circuit Decal

46 BXN  in stock ~ £5 + p&p

New Girling Type 10 Brake Calipers ? (This one belongs to Paul Watson - unfortunately he only has the one, but is interested in selling it. Feedback)

 

 

 

Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird displayed EAO on the Midget & Sprite Club stand at the Classic Motor Show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham last weekend (14 to 16 November). Jonathan was pleased to learn that a previously unknown former owner, Chris Milner, had turned up on the Saturday.

For Tim Saunders' PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW click here

Some unusual bonnet designs on Sprites of the past

I recently heard from Stefan Dierkes in Germany who kindly provided the accompanying photos - that on the left is of Clay Regazzoni and Silvio Moser with the car that Clay began his racing in. The one on the right Stefan does not describe in any detail. Anyone seen them before?

Sidescreens for Works Hardtops

Ian Grainger is making arrangements to have remanufactured some 'high' sidescreens to match the 'Healey Speed Equipment Hardtop' as used on  'Sebring Sprites'.

Peter Seaman is allowing him to use his template. He has details of a number of owners of these hardtops who want sidescreens, but wonders  if there are others  who might need a set. If interested contact  pete.farmer@virgin.net

 

Reports and photos from Goodwood & Gaydon 50th Celebrations

Link to Paul Orton's Goodwood article and photos  (written as an Australian visitor). 

 

News from John Sprinzel

Hi there!

Enjoying your reports on Goodwood and Gaydon, wonderful stuff and great pictures as always. Caryl and I were very sorry indeed that we had to miss out, but promises are promises, and I couldn't let Rick down after all the effort he puts into his Sprite five-yearly celebrations. At the Pennsylvania Jubilee, it rained pretty much most of the time - as is usual in Carlisle at that time of the year, but the sun did peek out now and then, and at least the Gymkhana was held in the dry and had a good turnout. Well over a hundred Sprites turned out and included Danny Margulies' Speedwell GT in superb condition, probably the second or third ever built back in late 1959. About two hundred and thirty enthusiasts braved the weather to enjoy a very full program of indoor and outdoor events. Daniel Stapleton flew over from the Uk to give his popular tech.sessions which are always well attended, and Sprite body designer Gerry Coker and his wife Marion were also in attendance, chatting with everyone of those exciting days at Warwick in the fifties. Perhaps the most emotional moment for me was meeting up with John Colgate, whom I had not seen since Sebring 1960 and with whom I was supposed to co-drive Donald's Le Mans Falcon Sprite later that year. We had some great "do you remembers" and it seemed that we had raced just a few seasons ago, and not 48 years back. Another superb presentation was by Ray Stone, who would not be known to UK  Sprite fans, but who had his Frog Eye from 1960 and continually raced it very successfully on the East Coast until early in the 2000's. He won several championships during the years, and was considered the "man" to beat during most of those years and all the while retaining an engine of under 1000cc, with fairly conventional bodywork and suspension. The engine modifications of which he spoke, were obviously way beyond anything from my day, and camshaft profiles to provide varied fuel spatter patterns were something that even those Speedwell genius engineers Hulbert and Jones had never even considered.

Rick Moses and Cindy worked tirelessly to keep us fully entertained for a five day meeting, with evening convoys to various all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants - Pennsylvanians certainly know how to put the grub away. I even got to show that fabulous Shell Alpine Rally film of 1958, where Sprites and Big Healeys are shown working very hard on those narrow and unsurfaced Alpine Passes.The final evening banquet had a full range of entertainment and speeches, and all in all this was a great way to celebrate half a century of Sprites in the USA. Now it is on to San Diego for the Austin Healey Clubs Annual Conclave where Gerry Coker and I will be giving Spritely views to the mostly "3000" enthusiasts, and then the Sydney and Melbourne clubs will get a chance to see the Shell Alpine film and to ask the usual questions about Bug Eyes that were also assembled "down under" .

Take care and ALOHA, John

 

News 2007

JJO to Angouleme - Circuit des Remparts 2007 report

John Britten's SS1800 at Goodwood Revival 2007

 

The complete story, then and now

Jack Wheeler's Targa Florio Car(s)

 

LeMans Legend and

Spa 6 Hour races, 2007

Standard-bodied Sebring with Speedwell aluminium bonnet in Holland

Star Sprite bonnets

and

(latest Feedback 24 Sept 2007)

        Ex-Race Sebring

 'time capsule'

 found in California

   The beautifully constructed

 S221 replica of Kai Eriksen

 in Norway

and Paul Woolmer achieve a class win at MG Car Club Silverstone on 23/24 June

    

 

New info

 on 2214 UE

 

 

comes out of the woodwork!

Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird's Historic Sebring Photo Archive

 

 

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