Sprite 50th

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#CC9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="045005a0dwnjzk.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MG MIDGET ABP 102"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>     | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>MG MIDGET ABP 102</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="1968_mg_midget_mkiii_restoration.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Making the Midget Mobile"><U><B>Making the Midget Mobile</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="mg_midget_images.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABP 102s Beach Photos"><U><B>ABP 102's Beach Photos</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="racetrack.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="At the racetrack"><U><B>At the racetrack</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="spridgets_and_stars.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spridget Odyssey 2002"><U><B>Spridget Odyssey 2002</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="midget_and_healey_wedding.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Healey in the Midget"><U><B>Healey in the Midget</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="sprite_run_to_kiama.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Beckoning Beacon"><U><B>Beckoning Beacon</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="how_fast.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How fast?"><U><B>How fast?</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="mudgee_spridget_drive.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Slurp and Burp Run"><U><B>Slurp and Burp Run</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="spridgets_on_the_move_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Midgets and Sprites on the move"><U><B>Midgets and Sprites on the move</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="austin_a35_at_goodwood.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Austin Powered"><U><B>Austin Powered</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="sprite_run_to_tasmania.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="No Hoods Allowed"><U><B>No Hoods Allowed</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="restoring_an_mg_midget_mk1_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Prudence, the Mk1 MG Midget"><U><B>Prudence, the Mk1 MG Midget</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="running_a_sprite_in_club_competition_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Competition Austin Healey Sprite"><U><B>Competition Austin Healey Sprite</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>Sprite 50th</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="midget_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Midget and Sprite links"><U><B>Midget and Sprite links</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact me"><U><B>Contact me</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Sprite 50th</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="256bd2b0.jpg" border=0 width="189" height="299" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B> Cars from Amicale Spridget </B><B>at Gaydon</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Joining the Sprite 50th birthday celebrations in the UK</B> </div> <bR> <div> There were a lot of good reasons to be in the UK in May 2008. Spring is springing, the weather is warmer, the flowers are in bloom, new leaves on the trees, meeting up with new and old friends......and the Sprite 50th celebrations!</div> <bR> <div> With a bit of planning we could do both the  Austin Healey Club celebrations at Goodwood and the combined clubs mega-event at the Gaydon Heritage Motor Museum as well as see a lot of England, a little of Wales and Scotland and bit more of County Antrim in Northern Ireland. </div> <bR> <div> This is what we did and saw.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Healey Weekend Goodwood 16-18 May 2008</B></I></div> <bR> <div> Organised by the UK Austin Healey Club this event (<A HREF="http://www.healey-weekend.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.healey-weekend.com/"><U>click here</U></A> for photos and more details) was staged at the Goodwood racetrack and Goodwood House over three days in May. </div> <bR> <div> We arrived on Friday afternoon having made our way from South Woodchester in the Costwolds via the landscape garden at <A HREF="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-stourhead/w-stourhead-garden.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-v"><U>Stourhead</U></A> and met up with visiting Australian friends Keith Smith and Juliet Richardson from the Sprite Car Club of Australia and Martin Ingall (<A HREF="http://www.sebringsprite.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sebringsprite.com"><U>Sebring Sprite</U></A> expert) and his delightful wife Susan. </div> <bR> <div> Martin had been doing laps of the circuit in his replica Sebring and we found him in the paddock.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22d60080.jpg" border=0 width="352" height="264" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="2375e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Martin's replica Sebring Sprite in the paddock</B></div> <bR> <div> There was so much to see with the historic tent containing both the Sprite used in initial advertisements, PBL 75, and many Sebring and other modified competition cars on display as well as the trade displays.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2395e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="23b5e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>On the left is PMO 200 the car that Stirling Moss raced at Sebring and on the right, 52 LPH, which was rebodied in 1961 by Peel coachworks and raced in England and Ireland. For full details of Sebring and other period modified cars go to Martin Ingall's </B><A HREF="http://www.sebringsprite.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sebringsprite.com"><U><B>site</B></U></A><B>, </B><A HREF="http://www.wsmcars.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.wsmcars.com/"><U><B>WSM </B></U></A><B>cars or the </B><A HREF="http://www.pmo200.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.pmo200.com/"><U><B>PMO 200</B></U></A><B> page.</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="23d5e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="23f5e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Left is a protoype road-going version of the Le Mans Sprites built by Donald Healey Motor Company and displayed at the 1967 Racing Car Show - related to the '</B><A HREF="midget_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Midget and Sprite links"><U><B>67/'68 Le Mans car </B></U></A><B>that SCCA member, Joe Armour, has in Australia. On the right is a Warwick modified competition car - full details </B><A HREF="http://www.sebringsprite.com/2341UE.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sebringsprite.com/2341UE.htm"><U><B>here </B></U></A><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> Having recently obtained a reprinted copy of 'Spritely Years' autographed by co-author and Sprite race and rally  initiator, John Sprinzel, I was a little more 'clued up' on Sebring Sprites. But nowhere near enough to be on the same level as the luminaries we were to meet...</div> <bR> <div> To conclude the Friday events a 'Hog roast' was held in the evening adjacent to the racetrack. Rather than a pig on a spit it was pork on a bun with salad and other good things eaten while making conversation with some big Healey boys from Manchester. They had driven down that afternoon and had to make some running repairs on the way.  As we had been in Manchester just two weeks before to see where my great grandfather had emigrated to Australia from, we shared Mancunian as well as Austin Healey backgrounds. </div> <bR> <div> While at the Hog roast we met up with 3 Spriteloads of people from the Victorian Austin Healey Sprite Drivers Club including Tony Bennetto. Our effort to attend the UK events paled into insignificance given these guys had brought their Sprites out from Australia. The freight probably cost more than the cars were worth!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="245075e0.jpg" border=0 width="263" height="350" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="247c2520.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="338" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Tony Bennetto's 'Bluebottle' with two fellow Victorian white bugeyes bringing up the rear</B></div> <bR> <div> Martin also introduced us to <A HREF="http://www.sebringsprite.com/replica.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sebringsprite.com/replica.htm"><U>Brian Archer</U></A> who apart from fettling road and racing Sprites also produces replica Sebring Sprite bonnets and tops including building up complete cars - and what a knowledgeable sprite expert he is! See <A HREF="#update_sept_2008" TITLE="Sprite 50th"><U>Update</U></A> below.</div> <bR> <div> Apart from the Hog Roast food with Country/Skiffle music supplied by 'The Monuments', no celebration in the UK is complete without a carousel - we saw quite a few elsewhere in the UK too - and naturally we had to have a go. Originally steam driven, this 100 year old model got up to a fair speed so was more fun than it promised to be.  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2415e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="2435e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">     </div> <div> <B>On the left are Susan and Martin Ingall with Brian Archer of </B><A HREF="http://www.sebringsprite.com/replica.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sebringsprite.com/replica.htm"><U><B>Archers Garage </B></U></A><B> (Reviver of the Sebring Sprite) </B><B>while 'On a Carousel' are Juliet Richardson and the author. See </B><A HREF="#update_sept_2008" TITLE="Sprite 50th"><U><B>update below</B></U></A><B> for news of Brian's untimely passing.</B></div> <bR> <div> Saturday was track day with in the afternoon a display of famous Sprites on the starting grid. I was fortunate in that Martin had allocated one of his 15 minute track sessions to taking me around as a passenger. </div> <bR> <div> It's completely different being a passenger at speed on a track compared to doing the driving but it was clear that Martin knew what he was doing. What a fast circuit this is! Third was only needed on a couple of corners with perhaps second for the chicane onto the straight but all else is flat out in top and not a straight piece of track - except Lavant, a turn in the back part of the circuit, which Martin straightened out at about 6500 in top! Many of the corners are like turn 1 at Eastern Creek (except in the other direction) some off camber on a rise with no visibility beyond so plenty of nerve is needed to record a good time. </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="249a6c30.jpg" border=0 width="678" height="451" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   </div> <div> <B>Exiting the Chicane onto the straight. Grin on passenger's face, concentration on driver's says it all! Photo courtesy of focus-events</B></div> <bR> <div> The car has very good grip (51/2" rims) and is well balanced - only once did Martin need to correct a very gradual tail out - perhaps due to the passenger's weight.  The sound track was straight cut gear whine at lower road speed gradually overtaken by wind roar around the roof and through the sliding perspex side windows with muted exhaust in the background. Unlike an open Sprite, not much exhaust noise is heard in the cockpit.  The brakes were very effective and the power seemed more than ample.</div> <bR> <div> On Saturday night while the 'official' black tie Healey event was underway at Goodwood House with Keith and Juliet we had decided it was too expensive/too difficult to manage formal clothes while travelling. Luckily Martin and Susan thought similarly so Martin had arranged a dinner in Chichester which is very close to Goodwood. This was a very special dinner. Our fellow diners were Brian Archer, Tom Coulthard (co-author of 'The Spritely Years'), Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird (restorer without compare of Sebring Sprite 410 EAO - see the detail and period accuracy <A HREF="http://www.spritespot.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=sprinzelsebringsprite&page=36" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.spritespot.com/gallery/view_a"><U>here</U></A><A HREF="http://www.spritespot.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=sprinzelsebringsprite&page=36" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.spritespot.com/gallery/view_a"><U>)</U></A>, Stephen Bowen who has owned Sebring Sprite <A HREF="http://www.sebringsprite.com/WJB707.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sebringsprite.com/WJB707.htm"><U>WJB 707</U></A> since 1966 (part restored as a rolling shell, it was on display at Goodwood) and his fellow Belgian Sprite enthusiast, Michael Meerlo.</div> <div>  </div> <div> The collective Sebring Sprite (and standard Sprite) knowledge of this group would stretch to the moon and back! As a consequence a lively and entertaining discussion took place over many aspects of past and current events. I hope Jonathan has cured EAO's oil pressure problem!      </div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="update_sept_2008"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Update Sept 2008</B></FONT><B> </B>- sadly this story needs updating to record Brian Archer's passing in August 2008. While only meeting him over the Sprite 50th weekends and at dinner it was clear that he was generous with his time and extensive knowledge while making those less knowledgeable feel at ease. It's not often you come across such a combination of knowledge, friendliness and ability to talk about things other than the special area of knowledge!  Tom Coulthard's words sum up the man in <A HREF="http://www.octane-magazine.com/news/octanenews/227106/brian_archer.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.octane-magazine.com/news/octa"><U>Octane magazine</U></A> while Martin Ingall expands on this with <A HREF="http://www.sebringsprite.com/news.htm#Brian" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sebringsprite.com/news.htm#Br"><U>more</U></A> on Brian's Sprite connections and tributes from people around the globe.  </div> <bR> <div> The final day at Goodwood was the concours and blast up the hill climb used during Speed Week in front of Goodwood House.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2505e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="24e5e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">    </div> <div> <B>Bugeye with Austin Healey six engine and Australian-owned but UK registered 1958 bugeye at Goodwood House </B></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Gaydon Heritage Motor Centre 24 May</B></I></div> <bR> <div> With a week between the two Sprite 50th birthday gatherings we said goodbye to our Aussie friends to take in the sights in the <A HREF="http://www.chilternsaonb.org/introduction.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.chilternsaonb.org/introductio"><U>Chilterns</U></A> staying at Henley on Thames on our way up to Gaydon. </div> <bR> <div> But first stop was at Martin and Susan Ingall's home for morning tea. Appropriately named 'The Old Motor House', Martin and Susan's home housed some interesting vehicles including a Gilbern 1800GT. Martin founded the <A HREF="http://www.gilbernoc.co.uk/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gilbernoc.co.uk/"><U>Gilbern Owners Club</U></A> so it would have been surprising not to have seen one in his garage! Its use of Sprite and MGB running gear completes the Sprite/BMC circle. Martin's Sebring Sprite, Stephen Bowen's part-completed Sebring, WJB, and Michael's left hand drive Sprite rounded out the 'old motors' currently on site. </div> <bR> <div> Moving on from the Chilterns on Friday night 23 May we met up again with Keith and Juliet and another set of Sprite Car Club of Australia visitors, Eamonn and Rhonda Matthews, for dinner at the Hounds Hill pub between Stratford and Ettington. Much comparing of travel notes including Eamonn and Rhonda's Friday evening M25 experience which gave them a 4 hour trip up from Martin Ingall's home - hence they were late getting to the pub but we waited! Plans were laid for meeting at Gaydon and as a consequesnce we met at 9am at the Heritage Museum to see a continuous stream of Sprites that lasted for at least 2 hours as they entered the site. </div> <bR> <div> In the Centre's museum we ran into David Healy former President of the SCCA - completely unexpected!  All good things come to an end so in mid afternoon we bade farewell to Martin and Susan Ingall and our Australian friends as the following day we were flying to Northern Ireland to continue the rest of our UK trip. We'll meet them all again - some sooner rather than later - to continue our collective Sprite Experiences!     </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="25d19770.jpg" border=0 width="281" height="375" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="26019770.jpg" border=0 width="281" height="375" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> <B>Two views of the never-ending queue</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="264c2450.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="325" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="266f4450.jpg" border=0 width="244" height="325" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Amicale Spridget bugeye lineup faces </B><B>early bugeye used in press advertisements recently returned to UK from Australia. </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2765e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="27c5e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Amicale Spridget was one of the organising clubs and their precisely parked group was well placed on a terrace looking down to the Centre.  On the right a group of round wheel arch Sprites.</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2685e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="26a5e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Mk1 Midget</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="26c5e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="26e5e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Healey attempt at creating a coupe - a real 'barn find'</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2705e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="2725e070.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>The famous Sprite Ute (the </B><A HREF="http://www.fastlane.com.au/Features/First_ute.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.fastlane.com.au/Features/Firs"><U><B>Utility</B></U></A><A HREF="http://www.fastlane.com.au/Features/First_ute.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.fastlane.com.au/Features/Firs"><U><B> </B></U></A><B>or pick up was invented in Australia)</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="274bc8a0.jpg" border=0 width="700" height="394" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> <B>Wide view looking across to the racecar section</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="278bc8a0.jpg" border=0 width="700" height="394" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Racecar with spaceframe rear-end</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="27abc8a0.jpg" border=0 width="700" height="394" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  </div> <div> <B>Racecar with K series motor and forward exiting exhaust manifold</B></div> <bR> <div>      <B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>  <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> var sc_project=198455; </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript" src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter.js"></script><noscript><a href="http://www.statcounter.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://c1.statcounter.com/counter.php?sc_project=198455&java=0" alt="Website Statistics" border="0"></a> </noscript>   </B></I></div> <div>     </div> </td> </tr></table></body>