March Update - Rover 3500s

Whilst there is always an element of speculation as to the whereabouts of old racing cars, one thing is for sure, what we have here is an original Series 1, Group 1, Rover SD1.  Furthermore the more we dig the more it looks like the Lovett car.  So, if we are correct then what about the others?

A bit more info and speculation for you.

DPR produced the original works group 1 cars for Jeff Allam and Rex Greenslade (Triplex).  By the Silverstone round on 08 June that year, Brian Muir had joined the fun in a Patrick Motor Sport car (http://touringcarracing.net/Races/1980Silverstone.html).  DPR also produced the only Group 2 Rover SD1 and that is still around playing in the CTCRC(?)

For the start of 1981 there were four Rovers.  Two DPR/TWR works cars (Daily Express) and two PMS cars.  Although at the final Silverstone round Rad Dougall was drafted into a third PMS Rover in an attempt to wrest the class from Jeff Allam.  This was not to be.  Rad qualified his car on pole but finished third, Rex G had a big accident, (I think it was at Woodcote) and Brian Muir retired with transmission problems.  So Allam first and Lovett second in the Works Rovers (now run by TWR) that triumphed.

Moving to 1982 there were two TWR run cars for Allam and Sytner, Two PMS cars for Muir and Dougall and, interestingly a Rover 3500s run by Dennis Leech.  On a side note there were more than thirty entries for that race.  So at the start of 1982 there are five Group 1 Rovers. Come to the 5th round at Thruxton and we have four Rovers.  PMS with Dougall, Leech and the two TWR Sanyo works cars for Allam and Lovett (who had taken over from Sytner).

Silverstone 1982 round six sees the return of Muir and there are five Rovers on the grid. But back to four (Allam, Lovett, Leech and Dougall) by the next round where it generally stayed with Muir, Allam, Lovett and Leech).

So, a couple of questions arise.  Did Dennis purchase the ex Greenslade PMS chassis or did he get his car from another source?  Was the Greenslade car so badly damaged it couldn't be straightened?  The PMS car recently sold by Bonhams claims to be the 1981 car which (the brochure claimed) only entered one race and then went to the museum.

Race info courtesy http://touringcarracing.net/index.html

Food for thought.  In the meantime here are some pictures of the new roll cage in our car.  As I said earlier, we had to change the existing cage to meet the current MSA regs but we have wherever possible stayed with the original mounting points..

Is this au revior or goodbye?

In 1995 I had a massive accident in my Mk2 Capri.  It was at Cadwell Park and I ran out of brakes at the end of Park Straight.  Needless to say the damage was substantial and I needed a replacement car!  That was April 9th.  A week later I was visiting my late father in Frimley and there, in front of his neighbour's house was a Mk 3 Capri!

I discovered that it was an MOT failure so offered £50.00 for it and returned the next day with a trailer and took it home.  During the next five weeks a friend and myself, built it into what we thought would be a competitive Gp1 car.  Along the way my trailer had been stolen so I bought a new one.  Then my trailer was found so having bought a new one I sold the old one.

The car was entered at Thruxton on 31st May so it was with some relief that we turned up at all let alone ran the car.  Its brakes were not good and it had a collapsed damper, but we raced it and didn't finish last.

All that seems a long time ago but I guess 17 years is a long time really.  However since those days, the car has won its class on many occasions, it's been developed to a high standard and has bespoke suspension, very good brakes and is generally pretty quick, although I confess with my lack of seat time and trying to get used to new tyres,which changed the gearing, it hasn't looked exactly quick this year.  Nonetheless it still managed 3.06 at Spa and indeed after reflecting on my driving it could have been at least three secs quicker!

But now sadly it is time for us to part.  I hope whoever buys it will keep it running and indeed I hope it brings as many smiles to the new owner's face as it has to mine.  Obviously it needs bodywork repair after the Spa accident but these are being carried out after Christmas so it will be in pristine condition for the new owner.

Anyone interested can contact me via my website www.mallettracing.co.uk

I'll put it on e bay in December. :(