Tour Britannia - Ferrari Owners' Club

Motul Tour Britannia
report and pics by Ed Brown

24.9.07

The third running of the Tour included visits to Brands Hatch, Brooklands, Donington, Mallory, Oulton and Loton Park, along with timed sections at Belvoir and Cholmondley Castles and Weston Park. Ably organised by Fred Gallagher (best known as Ari Vatanen’s rally co-driver) and Alec Poole (1969 British Saloon Car Champion and Nissan’s ‘90’s European Motorsports Manager), the timetable had scrutineering for the 76 strong entry on Mon 3rd September, with the competitive activity starting Tues 4th and an evening finish on Thurs 6th. With competitors split into two classes, Regularity and Competition, there was a wide variety of cars entered from Patrick Blakeney Edwards' Frazer Nash Supersports to John Grant's road registered Chevron B16!

Ferrari interest centred on sisters Sarah/Justine Moody in the family Daytona, Julian/Adam Taylor in a Dino, US residents Dennis/ Charlot Singleton's 275GTB, the much campaigned Lusso of Tim Lewis (which sadly retired) and Kim Taylor Smith's gorgeous 250 Tour de France.

Battle of the event was undoubtedly the 8 lap Oulton Park race, between Gareth Burnett (Talbot 105) and Robi Bernberg (Porsche 911) - who, despite no front windscreen and driving a car 40+ years younger, just couldn't make it past the pre-war Talbot!

[roll mouse over pic for caption, click to enlarge]

After last year's disappointment with his Chevron, ex MSA Chairman John Grant was overall victor in Competition by 13.9 secs from Nick Whale's Carrera RS, with Howard Redhouse (Porsche 911) a further 30 secs behind. Elsewhere '80's Group C racer Richard Lloyd rumbled to 8th in category with his Chevrolet Camaro, whilst Paul McMorran's Oldsmobile powered Crossle C7S attracted much attention and Americans Brad Mottier/Bill Hoff gave their Ford Bronco (!) its UK competition debut.

Michael Birch and Jeremy Haylock were declared the Regularity winners with their Porsche 911RS and overall victory went to Paul Howells/Neil Primrose Porsche 911, with a pre-65 award going to the multiple Tour winning Elan of John Sheldon and Leslie Stevens. Maybe there should be a Porsche only class next year, also it's interesting that there are so few Ferraris - maybe it's just not glamorous enough!

Roger Clark would have been proud - this Ford Escort BDA sounded great

Life at the sharp end - Nick Whale and Howard Redhouse drove Francis Tuthill prepared P*rsches

Steve Tandy left his 275GTB at home this year and brought along his Lightweight E Type Jaguar instead

Sarah & Justine Moody drove well in the family Daytona

Click here for a Peter Collins' Galleria of the Ferraris in action.

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Patrick Blakeney Edwards and Andrew Hall's Frazer Nash Supersport suffered a subsequent inversion at Loton Park!

Former MSA Chairman John Grant drove his Vin Malkie prepared Chevron B16 to overall victory in 'Competition'

'80's Group C Porsche team manager Richard Lloyd rumbled his Chevrolet Camaro to 8th overall

Mistaken by many as a chase crew! Brad Mottier/Bill Hoff competed in the Regularity section in their Bronco