26th February 2019 - Wroxall Abbey
Race Retro and the Association Dinner 2019
For our twelfth time, we attended the leading Historic Motorsport show Race Retro at Stoneleigh. The stand, in its usual place, celebrated the 50th Anniversary of March Engineering; the 693 was not available as this lives in the States, but Andy Jarvis kindly loaned his March 703 which was already prepared for its’ appearance at the Goodwood 77th Members Meeting.
We were also delighted to have the John Miles Lotus 41X, kindly loaned by current owner Enrico Spaggiari. This car was resplendent with its’ newly re-manufactured high wings, and was presented with period style wider wheels and Dunlop tyres, carrying competition number 40 as raced at Brands Hatch in 1968 by the late John Miles. This car was, to many experienced observers, the Star of the Show.
Over the three day period of the show, we were visited by a very large number of our members and supporters who came and said ‘hello’ and we also learned of a couple of cars that hopefully we will be hearing more about later. We welcomed the support of Rachel Lovett and Jon Waggitt who volunteered to help on the stand, and to Enrico Spaggiari who stayed on Friday and Saturday to talk with visitors about the Lotus 41X.
On the Friday evening we held the Association’s twelfth annual Dinner and Awards, held once again at Wroxall Abbey Mansion. We were very pleased to welcome Ben Cowdrey as our guest this year. As well as many of our members we were honoured to welcome period drivers; Alan Rollinson, Cyd Williams, Dave Berry, Natalie Goodwin, Roger Fowler and of course our President Mike Walker.
The list of Award winners this year was as follows:
Jon Milicevic was presented with the Peter Gaydon Salver for the winner of the HSCC Historic Formula 3 Championship.
Jon Milicevic was also presented with Mike Walker Salver for the best performance by a UK driver in all HF3 races.
Christoph Widmer was presented with the Jurg Dubler Salver for the best performance by a European driver in all HF3 races.
Andrew Hibberd was presented with the Keith Messer Salver for the season’s hardest trier.
Enrico Spaggiari, driving the stunning Lotus 41X, was presented with the Harry Stiller Salver for highest placed driver in their first season of HF3.
Anne Collins and Peter Hamilton received the Gasket Best Mechanic Award for the repair of the inner man (and woman), by hosting the HF3 drinks and nibbles at Cadwell and the BBQ at Brands Hatch.
Mark Linstone was presented with the Alan Rollinson Salver, by Alan himself, for the best drive of the year; awarded to Mark for his performance in the final race at Silverstone. He didn’t win the race, but produced a superb drive and anyone who saw him still sitting in his Brabham with an ecstatic look on his face, long after the race had finished, would appreciate what Mark had achieved on his minimalist budget.
The Charles Lucas Goblet for the driver with the most wins in all HF3 races, UK and European, including Goodwood. Winning 13 out of the 18 races for Historic F3 in Europe and the UK, this went to Jon Milicevic.
Mike Scott who won the Dave Berry Salver for best self-prepared car for the preparation Brabham BT28, was not at the dinner.
During the presentation of his award, Alan Rollinson told us the story of his win in the Formula 3 race supporting the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1969; which was achieved with help from, Holbay (engine), Natalie Goodwin (entry) and Chevron (car). He also described how part of his prize for finishing second in the 1969 Lombank Championship (behind a certain Emerson Fittipaldi) was an oil painting of him competing. Alan announced that he wished to present the painting as part of his award for best drive of the year, and that the painting was to be held by the winner for 11 months, before being passed on to the next year’s winner.
This painting has considerable sentimental value to Alan and we cannot emphasise how highly prized this award will become; giving as it does, a direct link to one of the stars of the golden period of Formula 3.
