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BP (British) Formula Atlantic Series Race

Croft, 1 Jul 1973

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Stephen Choularton March 73B [1] - Ford BDA Autovita
#9 Autovita Developments Ltd (see note 1)
15 16m 32.6s
95.2 mph
2 Ken Bailey March 722 Falconer [39] - Ford BDA Eden
#8 H & J Quick Group [Graham Eden Racing?]
(see note 2)
15 16m 36.2s
3 Colin Vandervell March 73B [8] - Ford BDA Smith
#7 Team Triplex (see note 3)
15 16m 36.8s
4 David Purley March 73B [722-10] - Ford BDA Eden
#11 David Purley (see note 4)
15 17m 12.8s
5 Jas Patterson March 722 [24] - Ford BDA Hart
#17 Texaco Team Racing/RIR (see note 5)
15 17m 12.8s
6 Tom Pryce Motul M1 [202] - Ford BDA RES
#23 Titan Properties Ltd [Tate of Leeds?]
(see note 6)
15 17m 24.6s
7 Geoff Friswell March 73B [18] - Ford BDA
#14 Geoff Friswell (see note 7)

8 Brian Robinson Ensign LNF2/72 [F2-1] - Ford BDA Titan
#4 Titan Engine Services (see note 8)

R Stan Mathews March 73B [21] - Ford BDA Richardson
#12 Promoto (Racing Services) (see note 9)
6 Accident
R Ray Mallock March 73B [712M-5] - Ford BDA Swindon
#2 The Chequered Flag (see note 10)
6 Accident
R Jim Murdoch Tui BH2 [2] - Ford BDA Smith
#19 J R Murdoch
5 Accident
R Sonny Rajah March 732B - Ford BDA RES
#10 Sonny Rajah (see note 11)
5 Accident
UNKP Colin Andrews March 712M [11 as '9'] - Ford BDA Hardwick
#16 Promoto (Racing Services) (see note 12)
Unknown (practiced)
UNKP Ted Dzierzek Hawke DL6A [1] - Ford BDA
#22 Ted Dzierzek (see note 13)
Unknown (practiced)
DNS Tom Walkinshaw GRD 273 - Ford BDA RES
#21 Myson Racing with GRD (see note 14)
Did not start
(Flywheel)
DNS John Lepp Chevron B25 [25-73-08] - Ford BDA Smith
#15 Central Garage (Mirfield) (see note 15)
Did not start
(Engine)
DNA Harry Gilbert Brabham BT35 [43] - Ford BDA Richardson
#1 Harry Gilbert (see note 16)
Did not arrive
DNA Brian Martin Martin BM12 ['1'] - Ford BDA Scholar
#3 Pinch Plant Ltd. (see note 17)
Did not arrive
DNA Cyd Williams Brabham BT40 [21] - Ford BDA Eden
#5 Graham Eden Racing (see note 18)
Did not arrive
DNA Bev Bond GRD 273 - Ford BDA RES
#18 Custom Made/Harry Stiller Racing
(see note 19)
Did not arrive
DNA Bob Salisbury Surtees TS15 [07] - Ford BDA Hart
#20 F R Gerard (see note 20)
Did not arrive

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

Qualifying
1 Stephen Choularton (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 73B [1] - Ford BDA Autovita 1m 04.6s
2 Ken Bailey (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 722 Falconer [39] - Ford BDA Eden 1m 05.0s
3 Stan Mathews (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 73B [21] - Ford BDA Richardson 1m 05.0s
- Colin Vandervell (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 73B [8] - Ford BDA Smith 1m 05.4s
- Ray Mallock (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 73B [712M-5] - Ford BDA Swindon 1m 05.4s
- David Purley (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 73B [722-10] - Ford BDA Eden 1m 05.6s
- Jas Patterson (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 722 [24] - Ford BDA Hart 1m 06.0s
- Geoff Friswell (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 73B [18] - Ford BDA 1m 06.4s
- Tom Pryce (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Motul M1 [202] - Ford BDA RES 1m 06.8s
- Jim Murdoch (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Tui BH2 [2] - Ford BDA Smith 1m 07.2s
- Sonny Rajah (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 732B - Ford BDA RES 1m 07.4s
- Brian Robinson (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Ensign LNF2/72 [F2-1] - Ford BDA Titan 1m 07.6s
- John Lepp * (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B25 [25-73-08] - Ford BDA Smith 1m 07.6s
- Tom Walkinshaw * (F/Atl) 1.6-litre GRD 273 - Ford BDA RES 1m 08.0s
- Colin Andrews * (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 712M [11 as '9'] - Ford BDA Hardwick 1m 14.2s
- Ted Dzierzek * (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Hawke DL6A [1] - Ford BDA 1m 21.6s
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. March 722 [24] (Jas Patterson): New to Bill Gubelmann (Oyster Bay, NY) to use in the 1972 Yellow Pages Formula Atlantic championship. The car was blue and yellow, and wore #16 all season. Gubelmann won six races and narrowly pipped Cyd Williams to the championship title. The car was sold to fellow American Jas Patterson (Rosslyn Heights, NY) for 1973, repainted red and white, and entered for him by Texaco Team Racing/RIR in the 1973 British season. Patterson crashed heavily at Oulton Park in May 1973, and although the car was rebuilt, he appeared a few races later in what appears to be a new 73B. Patterson raced the 73B for the remainder of 1973 and through 1974, but the 722 reappeared in early November 1974 when an ex-Patterson "722/73B" was acquired by Roy Baker (Ferndown, Dorset) and raced regularly by him through the 1975 season. Subsequent history unknown.
  6. Motul M1 [202] (Tom Pryce): Sold new to Chris Meek (Leeds, West Yorkshire) to run in British Formula Atlantic and libre racing, sponsored by his property company Titan Properties and with support from his local Ford dealer Tate of Leeds, but the team withdrew after just a few races and the Rondel was advertised in June. This is presumably the car used by Tom Pryce for three Atlantic races in July, and by Viv Candy in an end-of-season libre race at Croft. Sold via Fred Opert to Mike Rand (Greenwich, CT) for Formula B in 1974. When he received it, it was white with Titan Properties on the rear wing, just as Meek and Pryce had raced it. It was damaged in a road accident but repaired, but then crashed into the Armco during qualifying for an SCCA National at Road Atlanta. The monocoque was scrapped, but the rest of the car was rebuilt using the monocoque from 201, and taking that identity.
  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. Ensign LNF2/72 [F2-1] (Brian Robinson): 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 believed 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.
  9. March 73B [21] (Stan Mathews): New to Stan Mathews (Wicken, Wolverton, Bucks) in June 1973, and raced in British Formula Atlantic. To Chris Oates (Kimberley, Notts) for 1974, but sold mid-season to Val Musetti (London). Retained by Musetti for 1975, when it was updated to 74B specification. It was also rebuilt on another tub about this time, but the details are obscure. Damaged by Derek Cook's March 73B in practice at Silverstone in July, and rebuilt in time for the race on the car's original tub - only to be crashed and damaged again in the race. At the end of 1975, Musetti built up a March "742", which could be said to have inherited the identity of 73B-21, but as the tub had been changed, the chassis plate had long gone, and its appearance and description were radically different, it could be argued that 73B-21 had dissipated by the end of 1975. The successor "742" later went to Bill Wood, then Ray Rowan, before spending much of the 1980s in Monoposto and then being rebuilt as a "712M" for historic racing in the late 1980s.
  10. 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.
  11. March 732B (Sonny Rajah): New to Sonny Rajah (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) and used in British Formula Atlantic in 1973. In August 1973, it was flown to South East Asia, where it spent the rest of its racing career. However, it is difficult to understand exactly how this car was used, as Rajah also owned a March 712M which was updated to 73B specification, and was also involved with a March 723 which had been converted to the local 1600cc 2-valve formula. At the Selangor Grand Prix at Batu Tiga in early September 1973, it appears that Rajah won using his updated 712M/73B, with the 73B being driven to third place by Percy Chan. Historian Eli Solomon reports that Rajah's 73B was bought by Jan Bussell a couple of weeks before the 1973 Macau GP, so would be the car Bussell drove for Team Rothmans at that race, through 1974, and in early 1975. In May 1975, Bussell left Malaysia for Zaire, and Percy Chan was moved from the team's second car to drive the 73B at the Penang and Selangor Grands Prix later in the year. The 73B's subsequent history remains unresolved, but it is thought to have been the car raced by Brian Tyler from 1976 to 1978.
  12. March 712M [11 as '9'] (Colin Andrews): New to the Shell Arnold team for Jean-Pierre Jaussaud to race in F2 in 1971. Raced by Ferrari F1 driver Clay Regazzoni in the final race of the season. To Colin Andrews for 1972, now wearing the 712M-9 chassis plate, and raced in Formula Atlantic in 1972 and 1973. Acquired by Mike Sullivan Racing/Multiglide International Racing, for Formula Atlantic again, first driven by Richard Robinson, then by Alan Jones, who astonishingly won the high-profile Martini International support race at Silverstone in May, and finally by Richard Knight. Subsequent history unclear, as three separate former Sullivan/Multiglide cars went to Norman Dickson in Scotland, to Kim Mather in Lancashire, and to the partnership of John Colley and Rhoddy Harvey Bailey in Derbyshire. Which was which may never be known.
  13. Hawke DL6A [1] (Ted Dzierzek): The entry list for the first Atlantic race at Brands includes John Day in a Hawke DL6A-BDA, but the car does not seem to appear before Oulton Park, 3 Jul 1971. Three DL6As are known to exist, chassis 2 and 3 in North America with some traceable histories in 1971. Because of the entry in March, and the absence of chassis 1, this is assumed to have been the first of David Lazenby's few Atlantic cars. The car seems to have been sold to Ted Dzierzek early in 1973 and used in Scottish hillclimbs and libre races.
  14. GRD 273 (Tom Walkinshaw): Having wrecked DART's GRD 273 in testing at Snetterton just before the start of the season, Tom Walkinshaw then appeared at Thruxton, the opening race of the F2 season, in his own GRD 273, completed on the morning that practice began. He did not appear again in F2 after this race, and was next seen in May when the car had been converted to Formula Atlantic specification and was entered by Myson Racing Team. He only appeared at four Atlantic races, starting only one. The car was not seen again.
  15. Chevron B25 [25-73-08] (John Lepp): New to George Silverwood and entered by his Central Garage (Mirfield) Ltd for John Lepp in British Formula Atlantic in 1973. Also used by Lepp in the first European F2 round at Mallory Park, with the 1.6 BDA still in it. Lepp's sports car racing took priority from July and the B25 was sold to Patsy McGarrity (Belfast, Northern Ireland) for Formula Ireland racing. Loaned by him to Chevron cars for John Watson to use in the F2 race at Albi. Converted back to Formula Atlantic for McGarrity to race in the 1974 Irish season, winning eight races and the All-Ireland championship. Sold on to Pat Woods (Newcastle, County Wicklow, Ireland) for 1975, and retained for two further seasons. Last seen when Woods crashed heavily in practice at Phoenix Park in September 1977, when the car was described as wrecked. Woods' daughter later told James Murray that he sold the wreckage of the B25 to Bobby Howlings. Subsequent history unknown.
  16. Brabham BT35 [43] (Harry Gilbert): New to Bob Gerard in late 1971 and fitted with a Cosworth BDA engine for Bob Salisbury to race in British Formula Atlantic from October 1971 to April 1973. Then sold to Harry Gilbert (Aberdeen, Scotland), and raced by Gilbert and Ronnie Mackay in libre racing. It was advertised by Johnny Blades in October 1973, and by Bob Howlings' R.D.H. Racing (Bollington, Cheshire) in August 1974 when it was identified as the ex-Bob Salisbury car and was available complete except for engine. It was next seen three months later when John Wingfield raced it in the Boxing Day libre race at Brands Hatch, fitted with a 1.8-litre Cosworth FVC. He retained the FVC engine and ran the car with huge success in libre racing through 1975. In September 1975, it was sold to dealer Bobby Howlings, who raced it a couple of times and then sold it to John Thistlewaite, who entered it for Tim Wood in libre in 1976. By 1978, it was owned by Joe Applegarth, still with the FVC engine in it, and it next appeared in 1986 when Nick Overall used it in the HSCC Pre '71 series. Overall was given an HVIF for this car as BT35-43 in 1988, and many years later, in May 2006, it was advertised on race-cars.com from the UK still with this HVIF. In 2009, it was reported to be with Tim Kuchel in Australia.
  17. 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.
  18. Brabham BT40 [21] (Cyd Williams): New to Graham Eden Racing, and driven by Cyd Williams in the 1973 British Formula Atlantic championship. Retained by Eden and Williams for 1974. After Williams crashed the car at Brands Hatch in September 1974, it was raced by Richard Morgan and Tony Trimmer later that season. Retained by Eden again for 1975, with Cyd Williams again driving. To 23-year-old Formula Ford drivers David Winstanley (Winsford, Cheshire) of Withers of Winsford for 1976, and raced in the Indylantic championship with sponsorship from Roosters night club.
  19. GRD 273 (Bev Bond): Harry Stiller ran a GRD 273 (or B73) for Bev Bond in British Formula Atlantic in 1973. Bond had a dreadful season in the car, and Stiller later told Bryan Miller that "it handled like a haunted shithouse". He said he "ended up hanging it on the wall of a large pub he owned at the time". It was eventually found in a pub by Steve Holland (Sittingbourne, Kent) and recommissioned for libre racing at Lydden, using a 1600cc Connaught BDA engine, where it was very successful in 1987 and 1988. The car was crashed heavily at some point, when the throtttle stuck open approaching Paddock Bend. Holland later used a GRD 272 in historic racing in the early 1990s, but it is not known whether this was the same car. Subsequent history unknown.
  20. Surtees TS15 [07] (Bob Salisbury): New to Bob Gerard Racing and raced by Bob Salisbury in F2 and in Formula Atlantic. Subsequent history unknown, but according to researcher David McKinney, chassis 06 and chassis 07 were with Tony Collinson in 1990, chassis 07 having a twin cam motor at that point. Chassis 07 passed to Gerry Wainwright (Burton, Staffordshire) who raced it from 1995 to 1997, then to John Elliott in 1999. Raced by Elliott in the HSCC Derek Bell Trophy in 2001, and in historic F2 in 2003. Mark Griffiths raced this car in 2006. It was bought from Legends Automotive in 2010 by Crispian Besley, who raced it in 2011 and 2012. Sold to Jeremy Deeley (Frinton on Sea, Essex) in 2020.

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.