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05/09/2010
Oulton Park BBQ draws the 1960s Names
Justin Haler was a journalist who covered One Litre Formula Three for Autosport in period, he now lives in South Africa and is currently writing a book covering Formula Three during the years 1964 to 1970. Living in South Africa provides Justin with superb weather but makes face to face research a little difficult, so a visit to the UK was arranged to coincide with the Oulton Park Gold Cup Meeting, the idea being to meet up with as many of the period F3 drivers as possible. Justin had been in correspondence with Mike Hedger of 1000ccF3HRA, so Mike volunteered to gather together as many drivers as he could at Oulton Park, and it was decided that 1000ccF3 Historic Racing Association would offer some sort of hospitality.
Mike proved to be very adept at contacting drivers, most of whom suggested names and numbers until we ended up with a gathering of some sixty or seventy people, Steve Wilkinson dusted of his barbecue and offered his trailer awning and a ‘put u up’ as a site, Andrew Thorpe provided the pump and equipment for the barrel of beer, Costco was raided for burgers, sausages, bread rolls and salads. On Saturday night Keith Messer, Steve Wilkinson and Mike Faloon nervously waited to see if anyone would turn up, we needn’t have worried, we had tremendous support, the cream of UK F3 were there together with the current historic F3 drivers. The weather did its best by providing a downpour of biblical proportions but everyone huddled together under the shelters and chatted and renewed old friendships.
We would like to thank the following period drivers and mechanics who made Saturday night so memorable; Ian Ashley, Dave Berry, Bev Bond, John Cardwell, John Fowler, Natalie Goodwin, John Greenwood, Charles Lucas, Ronnie Mackay (who took the furthest travelled prize, Wick is a long way) Tony Mantle, Ben Moore, Don Rawson, Alan Rollinson, Len Selby, Paul Thornton, Mike Walker, Barrie Williams and Cyd Williams. Harry Stiller and Barrie Maskell had hoped to join us but were unable to do so at the last minute, Ian Titchmarsh, the voice of Oulton Park in period as well as now joined us as did Graeme White and Chris Sharples of HSCC.
Over the weekend Greg Lilley, Brian Classic and Warwick Banks visited; if we have missed anyone off the ‘thank you’ list apologies, it was a little frantic.
Thanks must also go to Justin Haler for providing the excuse, Mike Hedger for all his hard work, Steve Wilkinson for manning the hot seat at the barbecue, Jenni Wilkinson for her hospitality and glamour, Keith Messer for hosting and his speech.
