News in brief, July 2005

Roger Nathan drove a racing car for the first time since 1989 when he tested the Brabham BT8 of Brendan Roberts at Silverstone recently. Nathan raced a BT8 in 1964 and was able to give Roberts useful feedback. Nathan, now 64, may race the car later this season.

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Ben Gibson made his racing debut at the VSCC Oulton Park meeting, driving the Connaught ALSR which Stirling Moss raced at the Cheshire track in 1955. Gibson, son of Lister Knobbly racer Stephen, is hoping to race the 1.5-litre Connaught in the 2006 Le Mans Classic if he can upgrade his licence in time.

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Unusual restoration of the month: this MINI kart is one of a series built by the Fittipaldi brothers in Brazil in the mid-60s. Emerson Fittipaldi raced this example during 1966 before he moved to Europe. The 15hp kart has been fully rebuilt by Demetrius Bergamo of So Paulo,who has preserved the original sign-painter’s mistake of writing ‘Emersom’.

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UK-based American enthusiast Dean Butler has added the Sadler MkIII, recently raced by Bill Sadler, to his stable. Martin Walford, who drove the 1958 car in qualifying at Oulton Park recently, was impressed with its potential.

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Former World Rally Champion Björn Waldegård will be one of the stars at Rallyday 2005 at Castle Combe on Saturday August 13. The Swedish legend, winner of 16 World Championship rallies, will be reunited with two of his original factory rally cars, a Porsche 911 and a Fiat 131 Abarth.

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Martin Walford will shortly start a major rebuild on his ex-Peter Arundell Lotus 22 after it was damaged in a fire in March. The fire also badly damaged Walford’s house and garage, but he was able to pull the Lotus clear.

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David Coplowe raced his ex-Piers Courage McLaren M7 for the first time in three years in the Derek Bell Trophy race at Croft. Courage raced chassis 2 to third place in the 1968 Tasman series.