Save Brighton Speed Trials

[Pete]

From Brighton and Hove Motor Club :

We urgently need your support to save the Brighton Speed Trials, the longest running motorsport event in the UK.

Brighton and Hove Council are trying to block the event taking place on Brighton seafront this year – and no doubt for subsequent years - we cannot let this happen to this historic event. We have mounted a campaign including a petition, FaceBook group and Twitter feed to spread the word and gather the support to fight their decision.

Please help us by circulating the press release attached (it is also pasted below) and encouraging members, friends and family to sign the petition at: http://tinyurl.com/qjtbmub, follow us on Twitter: @SaveBST and join our FaceBook group: http://www.facebook.com/savebrightonspeedtrials and spread the word to everyone they know.

Don’t delay, the Council will make their decision on 23 January! We really appreciate your help.

The Brighton and Hove Motor Club


JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE BRIGHTON SPEED TRIALS

UK’s longest running motor sport event under threat

http://www.savebrightonspeedtrials.com

[rich@minispares.com]

that's what happens when you vote the green party into power in brighton!!!

[Pete]

It's true racing cars do produce Co2 but then so do all those 'herbal' cigarettes !

[BRI MK1]

If it was organised by the gay pride lot there would be no problem

[surfblue63]

If the Speed Trials go I wonder how long it will be before all the London to Brighton runs are stopped.

[Lord Croker]

If the Speed Trials go I wonder how long it will be before all the London to Brighton runs are stopped.

A very good point & where does it end? Petition signed!

[Oldskoolbaby]

Petitions aren't a great way of doing things. When put forward to local councils, they are only ever seen as one objection to x,y or z matter and not a collective number of people against it. It's far more beneficial to spend five minutes writing a personally written letter voicing you thoughts.

Crying shame if this is shut down.

[Pete]

It's true petitions are easily ignored, I've written to the club about this and my experiences in battling with my local council (boy did they regret that ! ) and the effective use of research/statements from local traders etc re this event being a benefit to Brighton in terms of visitors, publicity etc.

[mab01uk]

The fatal accident publicity in 2012 can't have helped the events future in these days of 'health and safety' ?

Alec Issigonis driving his famous self built 'Lightweight Special' (No 52) at the 1946 Brighton Speed Trials.

John Cooper and Alec Issigonis also became friends after competing against each other in the Brighton Speed Trials ...





http://www.austinharris.co.uk/photo/194 ... trials/225

"The first complete car that Issigonis designed, rather than components for someone else's project was the Lightweight Special. He and a friend constructed it in his home garage using only hand tools. As John Bolster wrote in his book, "Specials", "The Lightweight Special is one of the most amazing specials ever constructed". The chassis was a monocoque made using aluminium/plywood sandwich panels. It was strong but lightweight. Th wishbone front suspension and swing axle rear suspension were unique to the car and had rubber springs. Ultra lightweight Electron wheels and hubs were another unique feature. A supercharged 750cc Austin Seven Ulster engine, was fitted at first and used in competitions with great success. This was replaced after the war with an experimental O.H.C engine made by one of the Nuffield companies (the owners of Morris). This engine is in the car today and the car is still used for hill-climb competitions."
http://www.lightauto.com/issigonis.html

[minifunclub]

Must agree with the above comments....sadly Brighton and Hove city council would love to see the end of the Speed trials - such a unique and historically important event which I have attended for years.

The health/safety issues in the light of the fatal accident a few years back seem to be the turning point.
Given that Madeira Drive is in essence a massive pay and display car park the council already have a substantial income without hosting such events which, as a local, seem very unpopular with (some) greenies, cyclists and general holidaymakers etc!

And, as already mentioned, the traditional London to Brighton runs will be next in line.

Had a nice Christmas morning drive along there today
Hope it all gets sorted for the best.
Merry Christmas everybody.
Darrin.

[mab01uk]

http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/events/ ... -needed-2/

[Pete]

Is that Barrie Hawkins driving the Downton Mini above ?

Here's a few nice shots I came across from the late 60's :











Lots of great cars there, and spot the Don Parker Nimbus.

[mk1]

Is that Barrie Hawkins driving the Downton Mini above ?

It is very difficult to tell, Barrie certainly owned 860 MW for many years & did compete at Brighton in it. I would however chance my arm & say that the driver looks more like Daniel Richmond to me.

Another unpublished pic of 860 MW, a car that a few people will know better as "The Mini Ton Bomb".



This time I can say with some certainty that it is Barrie at the wheel.

M

[rich@minispares.com]

that's paddock hill bend, brands hatch

(circuit id mojo back on form (I hope))

[Pete]

Looks like it had a bonnet swap maybe between those two events and interesting to see the lip on the front panel hammered flat on the Brands shot !

[fricsman]

Ah the Orange Calypso Racing Lotus Cortina, I remember seeing Roger Clark race that or a similar car at Mallory Park in 1967. He attained some amazing angles with the car. Doesn't look like him at Brighton, any ideas on who it is?

[Pete]

Don't know the driver Dave but the car was well known for Clark's driving style as you say !

Here's Gerry Hulford's Unipower GT at Brighton :

[BRI MK1]

just announced on local news the speed trials is on this year.

[Pete]

Great , I'll put an entry in if I can.

[mk1]

Good luck Pete,

I applied about 5 years on the trot & never even made the reserves.

M