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Post by tobyhalter on May 27, 2010 8:48:13 GMT 1
I don't want to belittle the efforts of the Brits who went to the West Indies in the 1970s but I wonder why the stadium owners there took British cars and drivers rather than Americans who, presumably, were nearer to them and obviously had better cars and more experience of midget car racing?
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Post by ovaltrack on May 29, 2010 20:49:06 GMT 1
Martin Robertson, Don Bray & John Graham I have heard about in the last few years. Will have to see if I can make contact with them.
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Post by rodpashley on May 30, 2010 10:49:47 GMT 1
We need to remember that Jamaica is part of the British Empire, OOPS did I say that, I mean the Commonwealth of Nations, and the airline stumping up a lot of cash (or services/facilities) was British Overseas Airways Corporation. Do we need any more reason than that.
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Post by haflinger121 on May 30, 2010 21:51:47 GMT 1
However, the fact that Jamaica might well have been part of the Empire back then, and that BOAC sponsored the event, still doesn't explain how it came about. Let's face it, it's a pretty unlikely scenario, was then, would be now. Who even figured there would be anywhere suitable to race in Jamaica? Why go there at all? I mean, I'm not suggesting we run a National Hot Rod meeting in the Falkland Islands just now and, on the face of it, that seems about as daft as organising a midget meeting out of the blue for UK cars in Jamaica! And before anyone points out that we did once take the Nationals to the Isle of Man, I know exactly how that came about if anyone cares.
There had to be some sort of tie up between somebody in Jamaica and someone within the MARC and I'm sure it would be interesting to know all about it. And why on earth was Trevor Redmond (not exactly a renowned commentator) involved? Come on Richard, you KNOW you want to research this!
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Post by danhornby on Jul 28, 2010 12:07:33 GMT 1
However, the fact that Jamaica might well have been part of the Empire back then, and that BOAC sponsored the event, still doesn't explain how it came about. Let's face it, it's a pretty unlikely scenario, was then, would be now. Who even figured there would be anywhere suitable to race in Jamaica? Why go there at all? I mean, I'm not suggesting we run a National Hot Rod meeting in the Falkland Islands just now and, on the face of it, that seems about as daft as organising a midget meeting out of the blue for UK cars in Jamaica! And before anyone points out that we did once take the Nationals to the Isle of Man, I know exactly how that came about if anyone cares. There had to be some sort of tie up between somebody in Jamaica and someone within the MARC and I'm sure it would be interesting to know all about it. And why on earth was Trevor Redmond (not exactly a renowned commentator) involved? Come on Richard, you KNOW you want to research this! I would guess Cliff Davis would have done most of the work on arranging the tour. Attached is a picture of the MARC drivers from october 1972 taken at Coventry stadium, this was the last meeting before the cars were shipped to Jamaica. My understanding is that besides B.O.A.C. Rothmans were also a major sponser. Attachments:
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Post by rodpashley on Jul 28, 2010 14:21:04 GMT 1
Brilliant picture Dan, I dont suppose you know whose the Dastle was? I am sure someone else will as you to name the drivers.......
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Post by danhornby on Jul 29, 2010 11:23:10 GMT 1
Brilliant picture Dan, I dont suppose you know whose the Dastle was? I am sure someone else will as you to name the drivers....... the Dastle in the the picture was driven by Martin Robertson sponser was Castrol, he is next to the car in a castrol jacket. I can name most of the drivers but it was a long time ago and a couple I forget. My company was the sponser of the meeting, and after the racing was finished I bought my first midget from John Graham but had to wait to take delivery until the cars returned from Jamacia.
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Post by ovaltrack on Aug 1, 2010 14:37:28 GMT 1
Re BOAC as sponsors - I think there might have been an airline pilot in the Midgets at the time - need to dig out some old notes to check that out though.
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Post by haflinger121 on Aug 2, 2010 0:52:42 GMT 1
Well, like I said mate: you KNOW you want to research this!
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norbie77
New Member
i am still a new member even though i joined 11 years ago
Posts: 24
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Post by norbie77 on Feb 2, 2011 0:38:11 GMT 1
the reason we were involved was that manley banned the import of cars over the price of £2000 and jamacia was part of the national rally circut and a lot of teams would sell the cars after the rally to the locals but as the cars were worth over £2000 nobody wanted to go as the shipping cost was expensive and rothmans had money to spend so we were asked if we were interested we all sad yes i think 18 cars went and i went as a mechanic with mick avery who was the chief mechanic for james hunt in the hesketh f1 team
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Post by corsa61 on Feb 7, 2011 22:52:38 GMT 1
The meeting in the west indies took place in Jamaica and took place at Vemam field and the Commonwealth national stadium 18 cars went and it was a joint sponsership between boac and rothmans of pall mall (jamaica) the rear engined car is that of don bray and was the mamba
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Post by corsa61 on Feb 7, 2011 22:58:31 GMT 1
that picture is not martins car at a guess i 'd say it was pete smith's before the accident on the tour
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Post by corsa61 on Feb 7, 2011 22:59:25 GMT 1
some one out there does a lot of guessing ?!?!!?
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Post by corsa61 on Feb 17, 2011 23:27:19 GMT 1
the car in the photo taken pre tour i dont think was martins as his car was base white with the castrol stripes
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Post by corsa61 on Feb 19, 2011 16:15:45 GMT 1
It's been many years since I've seen some of these faces but I can put some names to some in the pre Jamacia tour photo taken at Coventry in October 7 Back row L to R Pete & John Smith , John Lowe , Don Bray , Arthur Knowlton Centre standing Paul Emery ? , Cliff Davies , Matt Samuels , Eric Fretton , Peter Stapleton , Norbert Dietsch , David Underhill Front seated Mike Seccombe , Tony Stubbs? , Chris Davies , Martin Robertson Sorry if I missed anyone out I was only 11 at the time and I havn't seen this photo for many years
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