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Post by mybigtoe18 on Oct 20, 2009 21:37:54 GMT 1
It bugs me but I'm sure there was some sort of British midget car tour to the West Indies early in the early 1970s. Obviously to race midgets and not play cricket? Who drove in these meetings. It needs some mention on here otherwise it will be a topic that will just fade away and be forgotten. It's not mentined in the articles about the sport's history on this site but I'm positive there was such a venture. Tell me more please somebody.
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Post by haflinger121 on Oct 20, 2009 22:37:58 GMT 1
That little episode has always rather intrigued me too, but I know little or nothing about it, other than that I'm fairly sure it was an MARC venture. Who was really behind the trip and where they raced, I can't say. However, this pic has been hanging around on my computer for a long while now. Not sure where it came from originally, so can't credit it unfortunately. The description appended is simply "Dastle's in Jamaica". Let's hope somebody else knows more! Attachments:
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Post by haflinger121 on Oct 20, 2009 22:40:11 GMT 1
Just noticed, looking at the pic again, that Cliff Davis' #12 car is clearly visible, and I daresay I could find out who #16 was too if I dig out some old progs.
(Later) Hah! Should have gone to SpecSavers! It clearly says Martin Robertson on the bonnet. So that's two of the drivers ID'd.
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Post by youtubefiend on Oct 22, 2009 8:37:37 GMT 1
The cars in the West Indies look good. And unless I also need to visit Specsavers I can't see a dreaded rear-engine car in the parade. But where's the spectators?
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Post by haflinger121 on Oct 22, 2009 8:51:33 GMT 1
No indeed, there weren't that many rear engined cars around in those days, and what there were tended to be seen more with Spedeworth (I think they were mostly Fireball Mk3's, driven by people like Frank Boyles and Keith Fransella) than the MARC. There is now no doubt in my mind that this is a purely MARC line up.
I have always assumed that this pic - which looks like they are in a stadium which was really a velodrome - was taken before a practice session rather than at an actual meeting.
Also, a further close study of the shot has convinced me that the car to the right of Cliff Davis is #9 John Holtham.
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Post by ovaltrack on Nov 21, 2009 20:58:43 GMT 1
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Post by ovaltrack on Nov 22, 2009 15:13:04 GMT 1
Having had a very quick look around the internet I can reference two venues used - the National Stadium (and if you google it you may well find current pics which show a banked circuit (looks like concrete) outside the running track still. There was racing there and at Vernam Field (or Vernamfield depending on where you look). Vernam was used for other car racing as well (and I think still has motorsport). Further to my previous post I can tell you that I first saw that picture on the Dastle site which I think would suggest that Geoff Rumble was part of the team as well.
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Post by ovaltrack on Dec 9, 2009 19:04:40 GMT 1
Just managed to recover some long deleted files and have this from the Jamaica meeting. Attachments:
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Post by ovaltrack on Dec 9, 2009 19:06:07 GMT 1
Seems I was wrong about John Lowe racing although he might have gone on the trip without actually racing. Attachments:
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Post by haflinger121 on Dec 10, 2009 0:14:31 GMT 1
Nice one Richard - haven't seen that before. Now there's a prog I wouldn't mind having in the collection. Presumably the deal was something to do with BOAC flying the cars and/or drivers out for free, judging from the sponsorship. Pleased to see that Davis, Robertson and Holtham are all entered, so I can put that visit to SpecSavers off for a little longer!
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Post by kiwikid34 on Dec 10, 2009 10:04:22 GMT 1
The list of drivers is interesting. I see Joe Therstappen is among them - I think he was a German driver although based in the UK.
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Post by ovaltrack on May 23, 2010 19:23:19 GMT 1
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Post by rodpashley on May 26, 2010 20:25:17 GMT 1
The West Indies tour has always had "legendary" status, now we know why.......wish we'd been there  |
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Post by haflinger121 on May 26, 2010 22:40:52 GMT 1
You and me both Rod, sounds like it was a real trip to remember. One thing I never knew until I read that report was that my old pal TR went on that jaunt as commentator. Too late to ask him about it now I fear, Cliff Davis too come to that.
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Post by rodpashley on May 27, 2010 2:20:52 GMT 1
Too late to ask quite a few of them, I should think
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