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BP (British) Formula Atlantic Series Race

Snetterton, 28 Oct 1973

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 John Nicholson Lyncar 005 [005] - Ford BDA Nicholson
#8 Pinch Plant Co
15 21m 26.6s
113.74 mph
2 Colin Vandervell March 73B [8] - Ford BDA Smith
#11 Team Triplex (see note 1)
15 21m 27.0s
3 Peter Wardle Surtees TS15 [06] - Ford BDA Lievesley
#3 (see note 2)
15 21m 53.2s
4 Hiroshi Kazato GRD A73 - Ford BDA Swindon
#18 Dart Racing with GRD
15 21m 53.4s
5 Stephen Choularton March 73B [1] - Ford BDA RES
#4 (see note 3)
15 22m 06.6s
6 Brian Martin Martin BM12 ['1'] - Ford BDA
#15 Pinch Plant Co (see note 4)
14 21m 57.4s
R Ray Mallock March 73B [712M-5] - Ford BDA Swindon
#12 The Chequered Flag (see note 5)
12 Engine
R Jas Patterson March 73B - Ford BDA
#1 Texaco Racing Team (see note 6)
10 Clutch
R Geoff Friswell March 73B [18] - Ford BDA
#9 (see note 7)
9 Accident
R David Purley March 73B [722-10] - Ford BDA LEC
#7 LEC Refrigeration Racing (see note 8)
7 Cam drive belt
R Roy Baker Lotus 69 [71/69.3.F2] - Ford BDA
#6 (see note 9)
6
R Jim Crawford Chevron B25 [25-73-18] - Ford BDA RES
#10 (see note 10)
5 Gearbox
DNA Pablo Bush March 722 - Ford BDA
#16
Did not arrive
DNA Charles Lucas March 73B [20] - Ford BDA
#17 (see note 11)
Did not arrive
  Ken Bailey March 722 Falconer [39] - Ford BDA
#2 H.J. Quick Group Ltd (see note 12)
On entry list
  José Araujo Brabham BT36 [9]
#5 Huron Cars (see note 13)
On entry list
  Martyn Denley Ensign LNF2/72 [F2-1] - Ford BDA Titan
#14 (see note 14)
On entry list

All cars are 1.6-litre F/Atl unless noted.

Qualifying
1 David Purley (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 73B [722-10] - Ford BDA LEC 1.24.2
2 John Nicholson (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Lyncar 005 [005] - Ford BDA Nicholson 1.24.4
3 Colin Vandervell (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 73B [8] - Ford BDA Smith 1.24.6
4 Geoff Friswell (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 73B [18] - Ford BDA 1.25.2
5 Jim Crawford (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B25 [25-73-18] - Ford BDA RES 1.25.6
6 Hiroshi Kazato (F/Atl) 1.6-litre GRD A73 - Ford BDA Swindon
7 Ray Mallock (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 73B [712M-5] - Ford BDA Swindon
8 Stephen Choularton (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 73B [1] - Ford BDA RES
9 Jas Patterson (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 73B - Ford BDA
10 Brian Martin (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Martin BM12 ['1'] - Ford BDA
11 Peter Wardle (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Surtees TS15 [06] - Ford BDA Lievesley
12 Roy Baker (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Lotus 69 [71/69.3.F2] - Ford BDA

Notes on the cars:

  1. March 73B [8] (Colin Vandervell): New to Colin Vandervell (Purley, Surrey) and raced with great success in the Formula Atlantic in the UK in 1973, winning four races, and securing the Yellow Pages Championship. Sold to Des Donnelly (Naas, County Kildare, Ireland) for the Irish Formula Atlantic series, and raced by him in 1974 and 1975. This must be the March "74B" advertised by Gerry Kinnane in Belfast in June 1976. There is then no mention of the car in 1976 or 1977, but in 1978, the car was raced by Ken Fildes (Clonskeagh, Dublin), and it had been owned by Kinnane for part or all of this period. Sold to Graham Brown, who took it to Australia when he emigrated in 1979, and raced by him in Western Australia in 1980 and 1981. Also raced by Joe Ricciardo in 1981. To Rod Housego, and raced by him in Western Australia in 1982 and 1984. Acquired by Richard Carter in 1988, and restored. Raced by Carter in HSRCA events from 1999 to 2002. Later to George Makin (Melbourne), and raced by Andrew Makin in historic events from 2003 onwards.
  2. Surtees TS15 [06] (Peter Wardle): New to Peter Wardle (Wimbledon, London) and raced in British Formula Atlantic in 1973, winning from pole position at one race Brands Hatch in August. Retained for 1974, again in British Formula Atlantic, and then retained for a third season in 1975. However, towards the end of 1975, Wardle was entering Steve Carvill (Wimbledon, London) in some races, and it is unclear whether the team had a second TS15 by this point, as the pair never appeared together in the same race. Wardle acquired sponsorship from Radio Luxembourg and Applied Racing Techniques for 1976, and both Wardle and Carvill appeared in Indylantic and in Shellsport G8 during that season, presumably both still in chassis 06. Wardle advertised a TS15 in 1983, with FG400 but no engine and a mountain of spares. According to researcher David McKinney, chassis 06 and chassis 07 were with Tony Collinson in 1990, and chassis 06 appears to stayed with its sister through the ownership of Gerry Wainwright, John Elliott, Mark Griffiths and Crispian Besley, who had both cars in 2010. Beesley sold chassis 06 to Dean Forward in 2019, still in unrestored component form.
  3. March 73B [1] (Stephen Choularton): Stephen Choularton (Hale Barns, Cheshire) acquired the first production March 73B and raced it in libre events and in the British F/Atlantic series with support from Autovita Developments Ltd. His mechanic Jim Crawford also raced this car in a libre race that year. Choularton continued with the car in 1974 when it was driven by Crawford in one round, at Brands Hatch in September, after Crawford had damaged his usual car. The car was next seen in May 1975 when Choularton dusted it off for Cyd Williams to drive after Williams had wrecked Graham Eden's Brabham BT40. Choularton retained the car, unused, until 1977 when it was sold to Paul Gardner (Preston, Lancashire) and used in libre racing in 1977. It then travelled out to the West Indies, quite possibly via Manchester-based racing car dealer Bobby Howlings, who would have known Gardner well, and was a regular visitor to the West Indies series. Raced by Mark Moodie in 1978 and 1979, winning the 1979 Jamaican National Championship. Subsequent history unknown, but it may have gone to Gordon Gonsalves in Trinidad.
  4. Martin BM12 ['1'] (Brian Martin): New for Brian Martin to race in the 1973 British Formula Atlantic season, sponsored by Pinch (Plant) Ltd. Results were uninspiring, but Martin did finish second in two libre races that year, at Aintree and at Snetterton. Raced by Peter Williams (Brentwood, Essex) in libre and in at least one Formula Atlantic race in 1974, still sponsored by Pinch Plant. It was not seen again, but was advertised by Mike Burr (Forncett St Peter, Norwich) in May 1978 and then anonymously from a Wickford, Essex, phone number in June 1979. In both adverts it was offered as a rolling chassis, with the second advert saying it was unused since 1976. In May 1981, it was being used in hillclimbs, when Steve Wilkinson saw John Bailey (Northampton) driving it at Shelsley Walsh. It was then advertised from a Northampton phone number in January 1982 and from a nearby Wellingborough number in July that year. It was then said to have been a "class winner in 1981", presumably in hillclimbs. It was then used by Kevin Nolan in 1983 with a 1600cc twin cam engine. The car's FIA papers says that it was owned by Kevin Noyland (Roborough, Plymouth, Devon) but was not used from 1985 to 1994, when it was acquired by Martin Cowell (Hereford). Cowell used it for hillclimbing and then sold it to Bob Yarwood, who took it to the US and raced it there a few times. He brought it back to the UK in 2010, and in 2018 sold it to Antony Denham.
  5. March 73B [712M-5] (Ray Mallock): New to Mike Beuttler, and raced in F2 in 1971 entered by Clarke Mordaunt Racing with Alistair Guthrie. This must be the ex-Beuttler 712M acquired by Hesketh Racing, and raced by James Hunt at the Rothmans 50,000, and then in the remainder of the F2 season. Sold by Hesketh to Ray Mallock, and updated by March to 73B specification for Mallock to race in British Formula Atlantic in 1973. The car was later rebuilt on the 73B tub that had been used as a bodywork buck. Via A.W. Brown Racing to Arthur Collier 1974 for Irish Formula Atlantic, then to Patrick Woods mid-season. Borrowed by Patsy McGarrity for the Boxing Day race at Mondello Park at the end of 1974. The car was later said to have returned to the UK via AW "Monkey" Brown, then moved through the trade to Roger Andreason, who sold it to his friend Charles Richards to be used in Monoposto in 1978. From there, it moved towards historic racing, but leading to some confusion as the car by now had a 73B tub and 73B bodywork. Its life in historic racing requires further confirmation.
  6. March 73B (Jas Patterson): Jas Patterson (Roslyn Heights, NY) raced a March 722 in British Formula Atlantic in early 1973 and after a couple of accidents in the car reappeared for the British GP support race in July in a March 73B. He raced this car for the remainder of the 1973 season, and retained it for 1974, again running in the British Formula Atlantic series. He then raced the 73B at the US Grand Prix Formula B support race in October 1974. Photographic evidence shows that this was the March 73B raced by Diana Black (New York, NY) in minor Formula B races at Lime Rock and Bridgehampton in 1975 and 1976. Later in 1976, she moved to the former Bobby Brown Chevron B34, and the March was sold to David Laemmle (Wiscasset, ME) who continued to race it in SCCA Regionals that year. Laemmle recalls that he sold it to someone from New York state. Subsequent history unknown.
  7. March 73B [18] (Geoff Friswell): According to surviving March records, this was a F/Atlantic car built for Geoff Friswell (Coventry) and raced by him in the UK series through 1973 and 1974. It was then sold to Andy Barton (Newcastle upon Tyne) as a libre car and upgraded to 74B and then 75B spec over the next two seasons, also acquiring a F2 BDG engine at times in 1976. Barton sold it to Bob Rollo (Prestonpans, Scotland) for 1977, as an Atlantic again, and it then went to Stewart Robb (Alloa, Scotland) during 1978 in F2 spec. The car was rebuilt on a "new" 752 tub after a crash in 1978 and then rebuilt to 782 spec by Robin Smith after the 1979 season. It was raced again by Robb as a "March 75/782" with steel 2-litre Cosworth BDG engine from 1980 to 1982 and was sold to Roger Andreason at the new Chevron Cars Ltd around 1984. A "March 75/782" which had been "completely rebuilt over winter" was advertised from an Epsom number in August 1985.
  8. March 73B [722-10] (David Purley): New to David Purley and entered by Lec Refrigeration Racing for him in F2 in 1972. Retained for 1973, but converted to Formula Atlantic, fitted with Falconer bodywork and run in the two British championships, winning the opening race of each championship. At Silverstone in May, Autosport reported that the car was appearing for the first time in 73B bodywork and using narrow track. Photographs of the car at the following race, which Purley won, show that it also had front-facing rollhoop supports, which are usually indicative of the 1973 March monocoque, and a more detailed picture of the car at Silverstone in July shows that the front suspension also indicated it now had a 1973 monocoque. He used the car to the end of the season, winning five races in total. It was then raced by Dieter Quester at Macau at the end of 1973, who was said to have bought the "73B". However, Quester's recollection was that it was rented by Team Harper for him to drive. Subsequent history unknown, but possibly sold in the Far East. The car would probably have been indistinguishable from a 73B by this time.
  9. Lotus 69 [71/69.3.F2] (Roy Baker): New to J&J Stanton for Gerry Birrell to race in F2 in 1971. Hired to José Ferreira for the Torneio Brasiliero at the end of the year. To Brian Small in 1972, and fitted with a Cosworth BDA for Formula Atlantic races late 1972, and a handful of appearances in 1973. To Roy Baker (Ferndown, Dorset) July 1973, but again only seen in a handful of races. This is likely to be the "F2 chassis" with Hart BDA advertised by MRE (Bourne End, Buckinghamshire) in November 1973. To Ken Fildes (Clonskeagh, Dublin) for the new Irish Formula Atlantic series 1974 and 1975. Entered by Fildes for a young local lad Eddie Jordan in 1976. To Mark Birrell (Liverpool) in 1977. Acquired from Nick Overall by Richard Hinton (Albury, Hertfordshire) in early 1978, who started the restoration. Sold in 1985 via Chuck McCarty to Richard Spelberg (Dusseldorf, Germany) and retained in his collection until his death in the late 1990s. Subsequent history unclear, but this car was owned by Hermann Unold by 2005, when he raced it in HSCC DBT events. It was bought from him by Eric Peterson (Germany) in 2014, and advertised by him in April 2018. Bought in 2018 by Paul Matty and owned by him until 2021, when it was sold to Malcolm Thorne (Stanford Bridge, Worcestershire).
  10. Chevron B25 [25-73-18] (Jim Crawford): Chevron records show for Jim Crawford late in 1973 as a 'works development' B25 in Formula Atlantic, based on 'a spare F2 chassis' and running gear from Birrell's car (Autosport and Motoring News). This might be treated as a rebuild of the ill-fated chassis 9 on a new tub. Sold to Richard Shardlow for hill-climbs, running with B27 bodywork, and retained early 1975. For sale in Autosport 22 May and 3 July 1975 by Cheshire Sports Cars as 'ex Crawford, hillclimbs only this year'. Sold to Jean René Triquet (Argenteuil, Paris, France) in July 1975 and used in French hillclimbs in 1975 and 1976, although no results have yet been found for Triquet in the car. To Jean-Jacques Le Corre and fitted with a ROC engine for hillclimbs in 1977. Advertised by Le Corre in September 1977 with a 2-litre Ford engine. According to a later owner, the car went from Triquet to André Vigneron in 1979, and then to Antonio Vasquez in Andorra in 1983 for Spanish hillclimbs before being bought by Jean-Pierre Noreils' Black Widow Racing (Anglet, south west France) in 1989. The car was advertised by Black Widow Racing in July 1997, and sold to Willie Beck (Riol, Germany), who started restoring it, but the restoration was still incomplete when he sold it to Klaus Fiedler (Bubikon, Switzerland) some time around 2000. Fiedler raced it in Historic F2 in 2004, and later sold it to Oskar Christen (Bättwil, Switzerland) who raced it in Euro F2 in 2006. At some point around 2008 it was acquired from Christen by Hans Peter (Nebikon, Switzerland).
  11. March 73B [20] (Charles Lucas): New to Charles Lucas (Ellington, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire) in July 1973, and raced in British Formula Atlantic. In September, he took the car to Ireland for the Phoenix Park for the Player's No 6 GP and was running in an aggregate second place near the end of the second heat when he left the road at Phoenix Corner and wrapped the March round a tree. He was still classified third. The March was rebuilt and sold to Ken Bailey (Stretford, Greater Manchester) for 1974, but sold on again in May to touring car driver Andy Rouse (Leamington Spa, Warwickshire). Rouse crashed it at Snetterton at the end of October, and it was not seen again. Ralph Broad, Rouse's touring car boss at Broadspeed, then insisted Rouse choose between single-seaters and touring cars, and Rouse wisely chose the latter. He would be British Saloon Car Champion four times. The fate of the March 73B is not known.
  12. March 722 Falconer [39] (Ken Bailey): New to Graham Eden Racing in April 1972 for Cyd Williams (Sandbach, Cheshire) to drive in British Formula Atlantic. It replaced the Chevron B18 which had taken Williams to two wins earlier in the season. Once he had the car to his liking, Williams won six out of the next nine races, but narrowly lost the championship to Bill Gubelmann. Run by Graham Eden Racing for Ken Bailey (Stretford, Greater Manchester) in 1973, and fitted with Falconer bodywork in May. The car was sold to Philip Dowell (Ombersley, Worcestershire) for 1974, but during pre-season testing at Silverstone, he hit the bank heavily at Woodcote corner and died later in hospital. It is assumed that the March was destroyed in the accident.
  13. Brabham BT36 [9] (José Araujo): New to Rondel Racing for Bob Wollek to race in F2 in 1971. To John Kendall for Formula Atlantic in 1972, but leased to Richard Scott for the opening race of the F2 season, as his BT38 had not been delivered. Raced by Kendall until July 1972. Sold to José Araujo for British Formula Atlantic in 1973, but said to have been crashed at Snetterton. Ken Thorogood of Universal Racing Services (Wymondham, Norfolk) reportedly acquired the car in 1973, and although a lot of iits was sold off, the chassis remained stored with him until it was sold to Peter Denty (Thetford, Norfolk) in 2008. Restored by Denty between 2008 and 2010. To Klaus Bergs in 2010.
  14. Ensign LNF2/72 [F2-1] (Martyn Denley): Originally built for John Burton (Kidderminster, Worcestershire) to race as a works Team Ensign F2 entry in 1972, the LNF2 failed to qualify for its first two races, and the project was abandoned. It is then belived to be the car used as a works Formula Atlantic car for Mike Walker, who won a championship round at Snetterton in July. The car was then fielded as a works Formula 3 car for Tony Trimmer to drive in October 1972. Sold to Brian Robinson (Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham) and raced in Formula Atlantic in 1973, plus a one-off F2 race. Robinson then bought a F5000 McLaren, and the Ensign was raced briefly by Roger Keele, and is then believed to have been sold to Martyn Denley in September. The car's movements from 1974 to 1978 are not yet decyphered, but from 1979 to 1984 it was hillclimbed by Peter Varley (Barnsley, South Yorkshire). Then via three other owners to Barry Pickard and raced in Historic F3 in 1993. Later raced in Classic F3 by Paul Newton 1993-95, and by Martin Woodman in 1994. Subsequent history unknown.

Sources

Note that the identification of individual cars in these results is based on the material presented elsewhere in this site and may in some cases contradict the organisers' published results.

The British race results have been compiled by Chris Townsend based on material in Autosport and Motoring News reports in the UK plus the information supplied by a wide range of contributors.

All comments, clarifications, corrections and additions are most welcome. Please email Allen (allen@oldracingcars.com) if you can help in any way with our research.

Individual sources for this event

Autosport 1 Nov 1973 pp40-41. Motoring News 1 Nov 1973 p12. Programme kindly provided by Adam Ferrington. TEAC results sheet kindly provided by Richard Page of the Formula One Register . The official results say that Friswell completed 9 laps, but Autosport's report suggests that his accident was much earlier, perhaps on lap 2.