For the third consecutive year, the Vintage Racecar|Vintage Roadcar magazine European team will be exhibiting at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, the UK’s biggest and best Classic Motor Show, this November 13-15, at the National Events Centre in Birmingham. This year our stand will once again be situated in the Premier Hall 1.
Our display will include two IMSA GTP cars not previously seen in the UK. The first is the 1986 BMW GTP car that appears with grateful thanks to owner, Dr. Peter Garrod. Driven in period by John Watson, David Hobbs, John Andretti and Davy Jones, the car was initially difficult in terms of reliability and performance, but designer Nigel Stroud tweaked both engine and body to race-winning specification. Indeed, a sister car won at Watkins Glen. Unfortunately, BMW pulled the plug on the program after only one year, just as the car came good.
Our display car, Chassis 3, first turned a wheel on UK soil at Donington Park just a few weeks ago, and is profiled in the November issue of Vintage Racecar. We are hoping the car’s former driver, John Watson, will be joining us sometime over the three days of exhibition.
The second car has also just arrived in the UK. It’s the Eagle HF89-Toyota GTP car that was regularly driven by Juan Fangio II, Willy T. Ribbs and, on one of its last appearances, Andy Wallace. It is kindly being loaned to us by Kent Abrahamsson. During the late 1980s early ’90s the car won five IMSA GTP races, the last one at Watkins Glen in 1991, with Fangio II at the wheel. After the race the entire crew signed the inside of the cockpit roof, and the signatures are still visible today.
The VR stand will also be welcoming, from Germany, internationally renowned motor racing artist, Uli Ehret. He will be displaying some of the larger examples of his work and producing artwork of our two display cars live on the stand. We welcome visitors to see Uli at work and to talk to him about his paintings, his career and perhaps commission him to paint their car in his unique style. http://www.ulis-racing-legends.de
Anyone wishing to take out a subscription to Vintage Racecar / Vintage Roadcar magazine will be offered a choice of a small print from Uli’s Racing Legends range free of charge. We’ll also be happy to discuss your thoughts and ideas for future issues. In closing we’d sincerely like to thank Phil Stott Motorsport for their help and assistance. http://www.philstott.co.uk
