OldRacingCars.com

Donington Triple Crown Atlantic Race

Donington Park, 15 Jul 1979

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Jim Crawford Chevron B45 [45-78-04] - Ford BDA Swindon
#4 Econopallet Racing (see note 1)
15 17m 27.05s
100.94 mph
2 Paul Smith March 782 [2(B)] - Ford BDA Hart
#2 Birmingham Motor Tyres (BMTR) Ltd
(see note 2)
15 17m 35.33s
3 Bernard Hunter Ralt RT1/78 [145] - Ford BDA Swindon
#17 (see note 3)
15 17m 53.77s
4 Gary Gibson Chevron B42 [42-78-08] - Ford BDA Smith
#19 Protectacar
15 18m 11.01s
5 Dave Muter Barton JTB3 [Sana RD11] - Ford BDA Cosworth
#28
14
6 Laurence Jacobsen Chevron B29 [29-75-17] - Ford BDA
#27 Cuthbertson Foods-Rosetta Fruit Juices
(see note 4)
14
7 Mike Nugent Argo JM5 [032-FA] - Ford BDA
#1 (see note 5)
14
8 Rhoddy Harvey Bailey Wheatcroft R18 [006] - Ford BDA Smith
#20 (see note 6)
14
9 Geoff Byman March 75B [742] - Ford BDA Byman
#26 (see note 7)
14
10 Roy Baker March 762 ["742-3"] - Ford BDA
#24 (see note 8)
13
R Alo Lawler Lola T460 [HU20] - Ford BDA Smith
#6 L&B Excavations (see note 9)
0 Accident
R Ray Mallock Mallock U2 Mk 20B [20B-79-014] - Ford BDA Swindon
#11
0 Accident
R Vivien Candy Chevron B29 [29-75-04] - Ford BDA Smith
#7 Marlboro-Captain America Racing
(see note 10)
0 Accident
R Andrew Jeffrey Chevron B49 [49-79-01] - Ford BDA Nicholson
#8 Hope Scott Garage (see note 11)
0 Accident
DNS Patsy McGarrity Modus M3 [025-FA] - Ford BDA
#3 Savoy Motors (see note 12)
Did not start
DNS Dave Rackham Chevron B42 [42-78-15] - Ford BDA Smith
#10
Did not start
DNS Ken Fildes Chevron B29 [29-75-06] - Ford BDA Cosworth
#5 (see note 13)
Did not start
DNS Eike Wellhausen Brabham BT23C - Ford BDA Cosworth
#25 (see note 14)
Did not start
DNA Emilio de Villota Lyncar FA79 [010] - Ford BDA Swindon
#9 Lyncar Engineering Ltd
Did not arrive
DNA Rick Gorne Argo JM1X [018-F3] - Ford BDA Smith
#23 Barratt Developments Racing with Anglia Cars
Did not arrive
DNA Wayne Wainwright Chevron B42 [42-78-02] - Ford BDA
#33 BRMB Radio Racing with Spitfire
Did not arrive

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

Qualifying
1 Paul Smith (F/Atl) 1.6-litre March 782 [2(B)] - Ford BDA Hart
2 Jim Crawford (F/Atl) 1.6-litre Chevron B45 [45-78-04] - Ford BDA Swindon

Notes on the cars:

  1. Chevron B45 [45-78-04] (Jim Crawford): New to Fred Opert Racing for North American Formula Atlantic as a second car. Used as a spare by Keke Rosberg and as his race car at Lime Rock. Also raced by Eje Elgh and by Arturo Merzario at Trois-Rivières. Raced by Rosberg at Macau in November 1978. Advertised by Opert from ATS Engineering, where he had moved to become team manager, in March 1979 as a lightweight B45 with 1979 rear suspension and F2 fuel tanks. Then sold to Mike Peers and entered in the revived British series for Jim Crawford in 1979, winning five races and finishing second in the championship. Fitted with a BDX engine for 1980 and run by Plygrange Racing for Crawford in the F2 class of the Aurora series. Stayed with Plygrange for 1981 when raced by Vin Malkie (Northwich, Cheshire) in libre racing. Reappeared in 1983 when raced by Duncan Gray in the British Formula Atlantic series. It was entered by Peers himself in libre in 1984. Then to Steve Raine for Sprints, co-driven by Robin Boucher, and then hired to Bob Fearnley's RK Racing for Tiff Needell to drive in a pair of races in India in early 1985. Then reportedly to Stuart Ridge for 1986. To John Lloyd then to Simon Hadfield (Shepshed, Leicestershire) but damaged in an accident at Mallory Park. Restored with original Excita condoms bodywork and sold in 1998 to Jeff Wright, a Scotsman then living in Canada. Still with Wright (Wilmington, NC) in 2014 and raced regularly in vintage racing. By 2019, the car had moved to Scotland and was owned by George Coghill (Halkirk, Highland) and was prepared by Steve Worrad (Whitchurch, Shropshire) for sprints.
  2. March 782 [2(B)] (Paul Smith): After Paul Smith wrecked his ex-Toleman March 782-2 at Mallory Park in March 1979, he built up a new car using a tub fabricated by Mo Gomm. As the "782-2" plate remained on the original tub, and this was later repaired, this Gomm-built car is regarded here as a new car 'PS1'. The new 'PS1' was used by Smith in Formula Atlantic and F2 in 1979 and 1980. It was sold together with the remains of 782-2 to Bernard Tilanus "in the autumn of 1981" and shipped to South Africa. Tilanus converted 'PS1' to use Sigma Mazda engines and raced it in early 1982. It was sold in March or April 1982 to Hekro for Ian Scheckter to race, but he did not like the car, and it was taken over by his Hekro teammate Peter Haller. At some point in 1983, probably at Kyalami on 30 April 1983 where Haller retired, 'PS1' was damaged. It is believed that the unrepaired tub ended up with Keith Horwood. It passed via Ivan Glasby to a hotel owned by one of the Toleman brothers in the Eastern Transvaal, where it was hung on the wall of the bar. The tub was thrown away around 2005, when the hotel changed hands.
  3. Ralt RT1/78 [145] (Bernard Hunter): New to Bernard Hunter (Edinburgh, Scotland) in December 1978, and raced in the 1979 British Formula Atlantic series. Also used extensively in libre racing in the north of England in Scotland. Sold to David Duffield for 1980 British Atlantic races and for libre at Ingliston. Then sold to Australian Charlie O’Brien and raced by him in the New Zealand Formula Pacific series in December 1980 and January 1981. Then raced by O'Brien in the National Panasonic Formula Pacific series in Australia later that year. To Ron Barnacle for the Australian Grand Prix in November 1981 and the Australian National F1 Championship in 1982. Subsequent history unknown. In 2011, Grant Martin (Auckland, New Zealand) advertised the ex-O'Brien RT1 No 145.
  4. Chevron B29 [29-75-17] (Laurence Jacobsen): New to Peter Williams (Brentwood) and raced in the British Formula Atlantic series in 1975, but crashed at Brands Hatch in April and not seen again that season. Entered by Williams' Coin News for Jim Crawford in early 1976 and then sold to Martin Birrane (Ballina, County Mayo, Republic of Ireland) who raced it in G8 and in Atlantic in 1976 and 1977. To Laurence Jacobsen (Glasgow, Scotland) for 1978, fitted with a Swindon BDX and entered by him for Bryce Wilson in libre that year. Converted back to Atlantic spec and raced by Bryce, Jacobsen and Graham Hamilton in 1979. In 1980, Jacobsen had the monocoque shortened and fitted the car with a plastic Sunbeam Stiletto body and Cosworth BDG engine, and raced it in GT racing in Scotland as a Hillman Imp. The car was later sold to Eric Munnoch who raced it with a 3.5-litre Rover V8 in 1982. For 1983, it was fitted with a supercharger and entered as a Davrian Stiletto. He returned with the car for 1984, but was not seen again after the first race. The tub somehow returned to Jacobsen and was sent to ex-Chevron engineer Nigel Dickson to be repaired, but this job was still incomplete when the monocoque was sold by Jacobsen to Sandy Watson. John Bradshaw remembers buying the remains of this car from Watson some time around 2006, when "it consisted of aluminium folded panels, uprights and wishbones with some instruments and a chassis plate, apparently driven by Bryce Wilson in his teenage years". He sold it on to Colin Thorpe, and in March 2010, HSCC News reported that Thorpe had rebuilt the car, which was not thought to have raced since the 1980s, and it would be raced by his son Ollie Thorpe in 2010. It was later sold by Ollie Thorpe via Ken Thorogood to Clive Wood, and by 2020 it was being rebuilt for Wood by Dan Eagling for historic F2 racing with a Richardson BDG. However, Wood crashed the car at Donington in March 2021 and while it was being repaired bought a March 782.
  5. Argo JM5 [032-FA] (Mike Nugent): New to Mike Nugent (Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland) and raced in the 1979 Irish Formula Atlantic series, replacing the Modus M3 with which Nugent had won the 1978 title. At some point this car returned to the Argo factory and was extensively reworked, re-emerging with chassis number "JM8-044-FA". It is assumed that this happened over the 1979/80 close season, as the two chassis numbers either side of this were new JM6s for the start of the 1980 season. Chassis 032 is thought to have been consumed in this process.
  6. Wheatcroft R18 [006] (Rhoddy Harvey Bailey): Chassis 006 is believed to be the identity of the rebuilt car raced by John Bright (Leicester) in British Formula 3 following his massive accident at Cadwell Park in July 1977. Bright first drove the "rebuilt" car at Donington Park on the last day of July, and continued with it to the end of that season. He raced it again in 1978, but again crashed, at Brands Hatch in July, and this time the car did not reappear. Bright sold the R18 to Rhoddy Harvey-Bailey (Hilton, Derbyshire) and John Colley for 1979, and as part of the deal Bright rebuilt it to Formula Atlantic specification. It was raced by Harvey-Bailey, Colley and Ian Shaw, using Alan Smith BDA engines. It was also raced on one occasion by John Bright. It was advertised by Roger Cowman in September 1979 as "hardly used". Colley sold it to hillclimber Richard Barnes (Lichfield, Staffordshire), who fitted an 1100cc Cosworth BDJ and hillclimbed it for a while. He has retained the car in his collection since then.
  7. March 75B [742] (Geoff Byman): Paul Brooks (Selby, North Yorkshire) drove a March 742 in libre races at Croft in 1977 and 1978. Its engine was described as a 1600cc Swindon BDA in its first race, but later as a 2-litre Swindon BDX. It was sold to Geoff Byman (Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire), who raced it in the revised British Formula Atlantic series in 1979, describing it as a March 75B. There are no confirmed appearances of Byman with the car after Mallory Park in July 1979, but entries continued until April 1980. Byman reappeared later in 1980 with the Lola T760 previously raced by Alo Lawler. The subsequent history of the March 742/75B is unknown.
  8. March 762 ["742-3"] (Roy Baker): Roy Baker (Ferndown, Dorset) raced a March 742 in British Formula Atlantic in 1979. It was reported variously as a 762 or a 752/77P, but was observed by Adam Ferrington at Oulton Park in June 1979 to be wearing the 742/3 chassis plate. Subsequent history unknown.
  9. Lola T460 [HU20] (Alo Lawler): New for Tony Trimmer and raced in Shellsport G8, Indylantic, and Irish Formula Atlantic from August 1976 onwards. Unknown in 1977. To Gerry Kinnane, and raced by John Pollock in Irish Formula Atlantic in early 1978, then by Alo Lawler later in the season. Entered by Kinnane for Lawler and Patsy McGarrity in 1979 Irish Formula Atlantic. To David Lambe (Dublin) for the 1980 season.
  10. Chevron B29 [29-75-04] (Vivien Candy): 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.
  11. Chevron B49 [49-79-01] (Andrew Jeffrey): New to Andrew Jeffrey (Currie, Edinburgh, Scotland) and raced in the 1979 British Formula Atlantic series until crashed in July and rebuilt on a new chassis. Sold to Tom O'Leary (Dalkey, County Dublin) for 1980 and raced in Irish Formula Atlantic. Then to Ken Fildes (Clonskeagh, Dublin) and raced by him in Formula Atlantic and in hillclimbs in 1981. Traded for a boat at the end of 1981, and then unknown until next seen when raced by Peter Oxley at Mallory Park in July 1984. From Oxley to John Chatley in late 1985 or early 1986 and used in hillclimbs in 1986 and 1987. Sold in 1988 to someone with a business called "childminders of canada". Next seen in 1990, when it had been acquired by Paul Rendle, and was prepared for him by David Keer, the pair appearing together in it at a Curburough test day in March 1991. Rendle sold it to Roger Kilty, who co-drove the car with John Roberts in 1993. From Kilty, it was sold via Martin Middleton to Alistair Mackilop in Scotland, who raced it from c1995 to c2015. It had been sold to Steve Worrad (Whitchurch, Shropshire) by 2017, and was being prepared for historic racing. Raced by Worrad in HSCC events until it was badly damaged in an accident at Anglesey in July 2019.
  12. Modus M3 [025-FA] (Patsy McGarrity): New to Dicksons of Perth, and entered for Norman Dickson to drive with sponsorship from British Caledonian Airways in the Indylantic Championship, the ShellSPORT Group 8 series and in libre racing. The Nicholson BDA engine was swapped for 1970cc Swindon BDX engine for the Group 8 series, and Dickson also used this engine for the Ingliston Formule Libre series. Sold to Gerry Kinnane for 1977, and fitted with a Swindon BDA for Des Donnelly to drive in the Irish Formula Atlantic. Retained by Kinnane for Donnelly in 1978. Retained by Kinnane again for 1979 and driven by Patsy McGarrity, using Fred Smith BDA engines. Subsequent history unknown but David Plunkett recalls that McGarrity crashed the car. It is believed to have been rebuilt using the monocoque from M3/048, and thereafter took the identity of the donor tub. This means that M3/025 has effectively ceased to exist. Some remaining suspension parts may have been used on George Scott's Scottclimber Special hillclimb car.
  13. Chevron B29 [29-75-06] (Ken Fildes): 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.
  14. Brabham BT23C (Eike Wellhausen): In 1976, John Taylor (North Petherton, Somerset) ran a Brabham BT16/21B in sprints. The car had been fitted with a 3-litre Ford Essex V6 engine. He advertised it was a BT21B in November 1976 but appeared again with it at a sprint at Oulton Park in April 1977. It was then sold to Eike Wellhausen (Chesterfield, Derbyshire), then described as a former Jaguar E-Type driver but now better known as a Lister racer. Eike understood it to be a Brabham BT23C and Autosport described the car as a BT23C that had originally been built for an American who had intended installing a Chevy V8 but had never raced. Wellhausen replaced the standard Essex engine with a fully-tuned version and raced the car in libre events at Mallory Park, Donington Park and Silverstone from 1977 to 1979. By 1979 the V6 had been replaced with a Hart BDA. Eike recalls selling it to "a London jeans manufacturer who raced other single seaters". 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

Results sheet provided by John Colley.