UK Special Saloon + Modsports Historical Database
Brits abroad
It has been asked if any of the British club drivers from either the Saloon fraternity or Modsport raced in the circuits on Europe.
This section investigates those occassions when as it seems a cluster of our recognised racers went on what the British call a `Busman`s Holiday` ( working holiday ) in this case a trip across the channel for a holiday break and take the race car with you...
Nurburgring 1974
VENUE : NURBURGRING
DATE : Monday JUNE 17th 1974
EVENT : INTERSERIE
RACE WINER : HELMUT KELLENERS
( McLAREN M20 )
BRIT SALOON DRIVERS PRESENT :
MICK HILL ( Ford Capri 5.0 )
DENNIS NOTT ( Ford Capri 5.7 )
BILL COX ( Ford Capri 8.1 )
BILL DRYDEN ( Vauxhall Firenza 2.3 )
JOHN CALVERT ( Ford Escort 2.0 BDA )
Interserie was a great championship for it provided a place for mighty Can-Am cars to race in Europe along with slightly obsolete Group 4 sports cars such as Porsche 917s and Ferrari 512s.
For the 2 round of the 1974 season the organisers opened up the entry to accept for the first time the cream of Europe`s 2-litre Sports Protoypes and their was even room for 8 modified saloons in this misleadingly named `stock`class.
Run on a national holiday monday in June 5 of the UK`s supersaloon fraternity decided to make the trip as they all had a free weekend in the domestic season. These were Capri trio Mick Hill ,Bill Cox and Dennis Nott plus Bill Dryden ( Vauxhall ) and John Calvert ( Escort ). They were taking on ETC man Walter Brun ( BMW CSL ), Peter Hoffman in the Steinmetz `Jumbo`Opel Commodore and Robert Eberhardt ( Camaro ). These were the slowest cars in the enrty given the high standard of sports machinery but what an opportunity for the Brits to try the world famous circuit .
PETER HOFFMANN - ( STEINMETZ ) OPEL COMMODORE 'JUMBO'
finished 27th overall ( 4th in class )
BILL DRYDEN - (SMT ) VAUXHALL FIRENZA 2.3
finished 22nd overall ( 2nd in class )
DENNIS NOTT ( left ) - FORD CAPRI 5.7
finished 30th overall ( 5th in class )
BILL COX ( right ) - FORD CAPRI 8.1
DNS ( blew engine in practice )
WALTER BRUN - ( ALPINA ) BMW CSL
finished 20th overall ( 1st in class )
ROBERT EBERHARDT - CHEVROLET CAMARO
finished 26th overall ( 3rd in class )
MICK HILL - FORD CAPRI 5.0
qualified 2nd in class - started sprint race ?
DNS main race
Knutstorp 1974
VENUE : Knutstorp ,Southern Sweden
DATE : Saturday + Sunday August 31st /September 1st 1974
EVENT : SUPERLOON INVITATION RACE
RACE WINNER : JOHN TURNER
( SKODA-Chevy 5.0 )
BRIT SALOON DRIVERS PRESENT :
MICK HILL ( Ford Capri 5.0 )
DAVE BRODIE ( Ford Capri mk.2 V6 )
JOHN TURNER ( Skoda V8 )
TONY STRAWSON ( Ford Capri ) )
IAN RICHARDSON ( Chevy Corvair )
EVENT 2 : Group 2 race 2 ( Sunday )
Turner ,Richardson and Strawson were added to this race.
JOHN TURNER - SKODA 5.0
1st in the Superloon race ,
2nd overall in G2 heat 2 ( 1st superloon car )
IAN RICHARDSON - CHEVY CORVAIR 7.6
2nd or 3rd in the Superloon race ,
? overall in G2 heat 2 ( 2nd superloon car )
RONNIE PETERSON - BMW CSL 3.0 - 3.5
1st in G2 heat 1
Retired in G2 heat 2
(photo by Vinny Nilsson )
DAVE BRODIE - FORD CAPRI Mk.2
retired in the Superloon race ,
First outing for the car and Brode was instrumental in getting the Brits involved with the event.
TONY STRAWSON - FORD CAPRI 4.7
2nd or 3rd in the Superloon race.
? overall in G2 heat 2 ( 3rd superloon car )
( photo by Julian Massey )
RUNE TOBIASSON - BMW CSL 3.0 - 3.5
2nd in G2 heat 1
1st in G2 heat 2
