OldRacingCars.com

John Player (British) Formula Atlantic Series Race

Mallory Park, 15 Jun 1975

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Jim Crawford Chevron B29 [29-75-15] - Ford BDA Hart
#2 SDC Racing (see note 1)
40 29m 30.4s
109.81 mph
2 Ray Mallock March 75B [U1] - Ford BDA Swindon
#5 Ardmore Racing (see note 2)
40 29m 34.4s
3 Nick May Lola T360 [HU5] - Ford BDA
#15 Strakers of Wimbledon Ltd (see note 3)
40 30m 03.4s
4 Val Musetti March 74B [73B-21] - Ford BDA Nicholson
#14 Bernigra Ice Cream (London)
(see note 4)
40 30m 04.6s
5 Brett Riley Chevron B29 [29-75-04] - Ford BDA Hart
#40 (see note 5)
40 30m 05.2s
6 Cyd Williams Brabham BT40 [21] - Ford BDA Swindon
#6 Graham Eden (see note 6)
40 30m 07.0s
7 Philip Sharp Lyncar 005 [005] - Ford BDA Nicholson
#20 (see note 7)
39
8 Graham Perry March 74B [742-23] - Ford BDA Whitehurst
#31 Harrisons of Birmingham (see note 8)
37
9 Tony Trimmer McLaren M21 - Ford BDA LEC
#42 Astor Club Racing International
(see note 9)
35
R Derek Cook March 75B [1] - Ford BDA Nicholson
#17 George Cooper [Lubricants] Ltd
(see note 10)
30 Driveshaft
R Bob Muir Birrana 273 [273-009] - Ford BDA Hart
#25 Bob & Marj Brown
28 Subframe
R Peter Wardle Surtees TS15 [06] - Ford BDA Swindon
#9 (see note 11)
Clutch
R Alo Lawler Chevron B29 [29-75-06] - Ford BDA Nicholson
#24 L&B Excavations Ltd (see note 12)
Bellhousing
R Stephen Choularton Chevron B29 [29-75-19] - Ford BDA Hart
#7 SDC Racing (see note 13)
Nose damaged
R Ted Wentz Lola T360 [HU7] - Ford BDA Swindon
#10 Wella International Hair Care
(see note 14)
6 Accident
R Matt Spitzley Chevron B29 [29-75-25] - Ford BDA Hart
#11 Rapid Movements Ltd-Ted Moore
(see note 15)
retired - unknown
R Tony Brise Modus M3 [009-FA] - Ford BDA Nicholson
#3 Team Modus (see note 16)
0 Transmission
DNSC James Crawley Chevron B29 - Ford BDA Hart
#46 (see note 17)
Did not start (crashed)

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

Qualifying
1 Ted Wentz (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Lola T360 [HU7] - Ford BDA Swindon 0.42.4
2 Ray Mallock (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 75B [U1] - Ford BDA Swindon 0.42.6
3 Tony Brise (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Modus M3 [009-FA] - Ford BDA Nicholson 0.42.6
4 Nick May (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Lola T360 [HU5] - Ford BDA 0.42.8
5 Bob Muir (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Birrana 273 [273-009] - Ford BDA Hart 0.43.0
6 Jim Crawford (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B29 [29-75-15] - Ford BDA Hart 0.43.2
7 Brett Riley (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B29 [29-75-04] - Ford BDA Hart 0.43.2
8 Peter Wardle (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Surtees TS15 [06] - Ford BDA Swindon 0.43.2
9 Val Musetti (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 74B [73B-21] - Ford BDA Nicholson 0.43.4
10 Cyd Williams (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Brabham BT40 [21] - Ford BDA Swindon 0.43.4
11 Matt Spitzley (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B29 [29-75-25] - Ford BDA Hart 0.43.6
12 Derek Cook (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 75B [1] - Ford BDA Nicholson 0.43.8
13 Stephen Choularton (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B29 [29-75-19] - Ford BDA Hart 0.44.0
14 Alo Lawler (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B29 [29-75-06] - Ford BDA Nicholson 0.44.2
15 Philip Sharp (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Lyncar 005 [005] - Ford BDA Nicholson 0.44.6
16 Tony Trimmer (F/Atl) 1.6-litre McLaren M21 - Ford BDA LEC 0.44.8
17 Graham Perry (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 74B [742-23] - Ford BDA Whitehurst 0.46.0
18 James Crawley * (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B29 - Ford BDA Hart 0.57.8
 
* Did not start

Notes on the cars:

  1. Chevron B29 [29-75-15] (Jim Crawford): New for Jim Crawford at Oulton Park in late May when his early-season development car was rebuilt on a new monocoque, effectively becoming a new car with chassis number 29-75-15. Crawford raced this car seven times in the British Formula Atlantic series, winning two races, and also raced it in F2 specification at Silverstone in August, using a Geoff Richardson BDA engine. Richard Morgan (Purley, Surrey) then hired the car for a few races at the end of the season. To Len Booysen (Randburg, South Africa) for the 1976 South African Formula Atlantic series, entered by Golden-Flo Racing with Kenitex. Then to Dorino Treccani, and raced by him in a few late 1977 and early 1978 races before it passed to Sarel Pienaar, who raced it for the rest of 1978 and in 1979. It was purchased from Pienaar by Peter Haller in 1980 to provide parts for his homebuilt Haller Special. The B29 tub was not used in the Haller Special, and was never converted to a Mazda engine. After Haller's death in March 1984, the original tub and salvageable parts from the B29 and were bought from Haller's widow by Alan McDonald and Mike Budd. Their plans to build a sports car did not materialize, and the B29 was eventually restored by Budd for Mike Ward. The restoration was completed around 2005. It was later sold to Doug Brown, who returned it to its 1976 Golden Flo livery. Later sold to Colin Frost about 2015.
  2. March 75B [U1] (Ray Mallock): An unnumbered March 75B built for Ray Mallock (Roade, Northamptonshire) and run for him in British Formula Atlantic and some F2 races by Ardmore Racing in 1975. It replaced the second-hand March 742 that Mallock wrecked in the Thruxton Formula 2 race in March, but it is possible that the 75B was still used the chassis plate of the old 742 during this time, as it was listed by Motoring News as "742/12" twice in 1975 and was also described as a 742 by MN at Hockenheim in September 1976. Mallock raced the car in F2 for the last four races of 1975. For 1976, Ardmore Racing bought a Lola T450 for Mallock, but when that proved a flop, fitted the March with a Swindon BDX engine and Mallock raced that car in Formula 2 specification in the European F2 series and in the Shellsport Group 8 series. During the season it was further modified with wider sidepods and its main radiator moved to the front, and from Pau onwards used the nose from one of Ray Mallock's father's Mallock U2s. Ardmore boss Creighton Brown also raced it in a libre race at Oulton Park in October. It was last raced by Mallock at Brands Hatch on 7 November 1976. This is likely to be the 75B advertised by MRE (Bourne End, Bucks) in Autosport four days later, described as "Updated to full F2 spec" with FG gearbox and "2 litre alloy engine". In the same edition of Autosport, Lucien Lampach (Wiltz, Luxembourg) was seeking a F2 car, and photographs indicate that he acquired the modified Mallock 75B and ran it as a March 742 in European hillclimbs in 1977. Subsequent history unknown.
  3. Lola T360 [HU5] (Nick May): New to Nigel Clarkson (Cirencester, Gloucestershire) and raced by him and by Richard Scott (London) in British Formula Atlantic, backed by Hurford Jones Ltd. To Nick May (Sutton, Surrey) for the 1975 British series, entered as a T360B with Strakers of Wimbledon Ltd sponsorship and run by Dave Price Racing. To Brian Robinson (Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham) and fitted with a 2-litre Cosworth BDG engine for Shellsport Group 8 races in 1976. To John Brown for John Morrison (Warwick) to drive in Shellsport G8 and libre racing in 1977, then to Kevin Bowditch (Maidenhead) for a few race appearances in 1978. It was sold to Martin Mansell (Middlesex), who raced it as a Lola "FA79" with Winchmore Hill Garage sponsorship in Formula Atlantic in 1979. Mansell crashed heavily at Brands Hatch in April 1979, and did not appear again. It was next seen in 1990 when it was bought by Robert McGimpsey (Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland) from a dealer somewhere in the English midlands. It was then fitted with a 3-litre Weslake engine, and McGimpsey used it for one season in hillclimbing before the engine and chassis were sold separately. It was bought by two friends in 1993 or 1994, and in 2012 they still had it.
  4. March 74B [73B-21] (Val Musetti): 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.
  5. Chevron B29 [29-75-04] (Brett Riley): New to Tom Wheatcroft in February 1975, and tested by Richard Morgan who would be driving it in British Formula Atlantic. Raced by Morgan in the early races of the season, winning one race, until crashed at Brands Hatch in April. Morgan then drove the new Wheatcroft R18, and the Chevron was sold to Brett Riley, who drove it for the rest of 1975. To Ken Bailey (Stretford, Greater Manchester) and raced in Indylantic in 1976. Stored unused during 1977 and advertised by Bailey in November. Sold to Eddie Jordan (Dundrum, County Dublin, Ireland) and used in Irish Formula Atlantic in 1978 in Marlboro livery, winning both the All-Ireland and Duckhams Formula Atlantic Championships. Raced by his teammate Vivian Candy in Ireland in 1979, then sold via Phil Bennett to David Ward (Hesketh Bank, Lancashire) for British libre racing in 1980 and 1981. With Terry Cole for Monoposto racing in 1983, then reportedly broken up for spares by Chevron Cars.
  6. 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.
  7. Lyncar 005 [005] (Philip Sharp): New for John Nicholson in mid 1973, and raced in the British Formula Atlantic series, using Nicholson BDA engines. He won six races in the car that season, five in the main BP series and one in the Yellow Pages series. He won the BP championship. Nicholson retained the car for 1974 and won four more rounds, on his way to winning the John Player championship. Lyncar 005 was then sold to Phil Sharp (Colnbrook, Berkshire) for 1975 and again raced in British Formula Atlantic. Then sold to Frank Potts, and raced by him in libre events in 1976, still with its Nicholson BDA engine. Then Chris Morris (Dursley, Gloucestershire) drove Lyncar 005 at Prescott in May 1978. After that, it was seen in the hands of Sandy Hutcheon (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire) sprinting at Colerne in 1979. Subsequent history unknown. It was acquired at some point by Lew Wright and restored for historic racing, until it was severely damaged in an accident at Pau in 2005. Acquired in 2006 by Bob Sellix (East Sussex) and rebuilt using a new monocoque supplied by Martin Slater. Sellix ran the car in historic racing from 2007 to 2013, when he retired from racing.
  8. March 74B [742-23] (Graham Perry): New to Bob Harper, an American Ford and BMW importer based in Hong Kong, and entered in 1974 F2 under the banner of Team Harper. The team was run for him by Mike Earle from the Lec workshops in Bognor Regis, with mechanics Greg Field and Tony Harvey. Chassis 742/23 is believed to be the car raced by David Purley at two races early in the season, before Harper replaced the Marches with Chevron B27s. It was acquired for Chris Meek to race at two events in Ceylon, but he did not have the right licence and the 742 was next seen raced by Graham Perry (Birmingham) in Formula Atlantic in 1975, sponsored by Harrisons of Birmingham. For 1976, it was sold to John Walker (Lancaster) but only seen rarely. Retained by Walker for libre racing in 1977, and by the end of that season it was being described as a 772. To Paul Gardner (Preston, Lancashire) for 1978, again for libre racing.
  9. McLaren M21 (Tony Trimmer): One of two cars entered by Astor Club Racing International in British Formula Atlantic in 1975, this car was raced by Roberto Alvarez at Silverstone on 13 April, and then by Tony Trimmer later in the season. This car was next seen when acquired by Tony Dunne, who raced it in the British Formula Atlantic series in 1982. Dunne then entered Alo Lawler in Dunne's McLaren M30 in BRSCC libre in 1984 and 1985, and traded the M21 back to McLaren International in 1986 for the spare M30 monocoque. McLaren International rebuilt the car to Scheckter's F2 configuration, and the car was on display in the Donington Museum for many years. When the other two cars were restored in the late 1990s and none were found to have a chassis plate, McLaren International issued this car with a '1' chassis plate.
  10. March 75B [1] (Derek Cook): The original March 75B prototype was sold to Derek Cook (Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham, South Yorkshire) and was first raced at the 1974 Boxing Day meeting at Brands Hatch. Raced in the British Formula Atlantic series in 1975. To Roy Baker (Ferndown, Dorset), converted to Formula 2, and raced in the European F2 series and the Shellsport Group 8 series in 1976. To Ted Williams (Bristol), fitted with a 2.2-litre Ford BDA or BDG, and raced (as a "752") in British hillclimbs in 1977. Then fitted with a full F2 Hart 420R for the first half of 1978, before Williams bought a 772. To Bob Bailey and raced in the 1600cc class later in 1978 and again in 1979. To Richard Ames (Alderton, Gloucestershire) later in 1979, and raced by him in 1981 and early 1982, by which time it was in 75/782 specification and fitted with a 2.2-litre Hart 420R engine. Ames advertised the car in May and June 1982 and recalls that he sold it to somebody in Scotland. This must be Harvey Gillanders (Ellon, Scotland) who raced a 2.2-litre "75/782" in Ingliston libre races later in 1982. Subsequent history unknown.
  11. 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.
  12. Chevron B29 [29-75-06] (Alo Lawler): New to Alo Lawler (St Helens, Merseyside) and raced in the 1975 British Formula Atlantic championship, sponsored by L&B Excavations Ltd. Also used in the Irish championship that year, and in libre racing. Retained by Lawler for 1976, when he raced it in the Shellsport G8 championship, the Irish Formula Atlantic championship, the British Indylantic championship, and in libre racing. Sold to John Eastwood and raced in the Irish Formula Atlantic series. To Joe Greenan (Belfast, Northern Ireland) for 1978, and entered by Irish Racing Cars in Irish Atlantic, then raced by Ken Fildes (Clonskeagh, Dublin) in 1979 and 1980. Sold to English wheeler dealer Bobby Howlings (Alderley Edge, Cheshire) for 1981, and raced by Howlings in rounds of the reintroduced British Formula Atlantic championship. Sold to Stuart Harte (Littleborough, Greater Manchester) and fitted with a 2.2-litre Hart 420R engine for sprints and hillclimbs. After Harte's death, the car was retained by his family until 2011, when it was sold to Jon Waggitt. Waggitt sold it to Chris Porritt in July 2011, and he spent some years returning it to running condition. He first raced it at Laguna Seca in March 2020, then brought it back to the UK later that year.
  13. Chevron B29 [29-75-19] (Stephen Choularton): New to Stephen Choularton (Hale Barns, Cheshire) and raced in British Formula Atlantic in 1975, entered by SDC Racing. To Phil Dowsett (Chelmsford, Essex) for the Indylantic Championship in 1976, entered by Sangria Designs and Capital Radio. Then sold to John Ledlie for the Irish series in 1977 but badly damaged at Phoenix Park in September 1977 when Ledlie hit a tree. As one of relatively few B29s left in Britain and Ireland by this time, it may be the car raced by Trevor Templeton in May 1979 and then by Nelson Todd later in 1979, sponsored by Belfast car dealer Isaac Agnew. Subsequent history unknown.
  14. Lola T360 [HU7] (Ted Wentz): Believed to be the new car loaned to Ken Bailey in August for British Formula Atlantic, after he had wrecked his original loan car at Silverstone two weeks earlier. Sold to Planer, owners of the Wella brand, for Ted Wentz, starting with the televised Thruxton race in November 1974. Raced by Wentz through 1974 until it was heavily damaged by Roy James in a testing accident in early October 1975. Wentz hired the works development car for the rest of the season, so it is assumed that HU7 was not repairable.
  15. Chevron B29 [29-75-25] (Matt Spitzley): The Rapid Movements Chevron B29 driven by Matt Spitzley is believed to have suffered a testing accident at some point early in 1975, and it was rebuilt with a new monocoque. At the Oulton Park race on 26 May, it was noted as having chassis plate 75-25, but exactly when the rebuild took place is still unclear. Gunnar Nilsson took over the car from Spitzley in August, and recorded five successive wins in it, four of them from pole. In January 1976 it was sold to John Gibb (Randburg, South Africa), to be raced in the new South African Formula Atlantic series, entered by Team Mum for Men with backing from Pioneer Hi Fi. It was sold to Geoff Frizell (Durban, South Africa) for 1977, and returned with Frizell in 1979, when it was described as a B34. It then went to Manny Pinto, and was raced by him from 1980 to 1984, and then reappeared two years later with Trevor Trautmann who raced it in 1986. Trautmann exhanged it for Alan Dunlop's Lant, and the Chevron then went to Alan McDonald and Mike Budd. Budd restored it for Mark du Toit, who owned it in 2000. It was purchased by Anthony Corin (Malmesbury, South Africa) in 2004 and was still owned by him in June 2008. By 2019 it was owned by Colin Frost.
  16. Modus M3 [009-FA] (Tony Brise): New for the 1975 season for Tony Brise to drive as a works Team Modus entry in Formula Atlantic in 1975, focusing on the John Player championship. Brise was dominant, winning eight of his first nine starts. Wrecked in an accident in practice for the Brands Hatch round in July.
  17. Chevron B29 (James Crawley): James Crawley (Phoenix, AZ/Frenchtown, NJ) raced a Chevron B29 in the British Formula Atlantic series, starting at Mallory Park in June, where he crashed during practice and did not start. At the British GP meeting, his car was described by Autosport as "built on one of the original prototype tubs, suggesting its monocoque was B29-75-01 or B29-75-02, quite possibly whichever of those had been used in Jim Crawford's early-season car. Crawley then took the B29 back to the US, where he had been driving a B27 in SCCA Regionals or Nationals earlier in the season. He crashed the B29 in practice at Bridgehampton in September, the last SCCA National of the season, so raced the B27. His win gave him nine points which pushed him into second place in the poorly-supported Southeast Division, so he qualified for the SCCA Runoffs. He was very impressive at Road Atlanta, taking pole and finishing second. The car was advertised by Crawley and sponsor George Walsh in January 1976 and sold to RJ Nelkin (Roslyn, NY/Woodbury, NY) who used it in Northeast Division SCCA Nationals in early 1976. In June, Nelkin upgraded to a brand new B34, and the B29 was sold to Rick Wellner (New York, NY), who ran it in SCCA Nationals at Summit Point in late June, where he failed to start, and Lime Rock in early July, where he failed to finish. Nelkin's recollection is that Wellner crashed the car heavily at Lime Rock. 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.