Miscellany, November 1997

Motor Sport are proudly awarding the trophy to the Best Owner/Driver of the 1997 Historic season at the prestigious Historic Motorsport Awards at London’s Park Lane Hotel on October 31st. This is second running of the star-studded event and some tickets are still available from Coys of Kensington on 0171 584 7444.

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One of James Hunt’s Simpson Racesuits, a Momo steering wheel autographed by Ayrton Senna and an Arai helmet signed by reigning World Champion Damon Hill are among the star lots in an auction of Formula One memorabilia on Motorsport Day, October 23, at the London Motor Show.

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The ICS-backed Classic Touring Car racing series, which has been part of the British Touring Car Championship events since the start of its current format, has been dropped from the programme for 1998.

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Richard Eyre has won the International Supersports Cup title with his International Metal Services McLaren M8F Can-Am car. Eyre, who also races an ex-Michele Alboreto Tyrrell 011, sprang to prominence in sportscar racing when he won the British Sports 2000 title in the early 1980s.

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Software products boss Paul Ingram, who won the 1995 International Supersports Cup with his Chevron B19, has acquired a Shadow DN9 in which to contest the FIA Cup Thoroughbred Grand Prix events in 1998. Phil Collins manager Tony Smith, who has raced his McLaren M14 this year, will graduate to the Williams FW06 run this year by John Fenning.

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1628 VC, the 1960s Jaguar MKII being restored for the 1998 season (Motor Sport last month) is not a pukka ex-works racer as owner Jonathan Suckling claims, but the ex-factory development car raced by John Sparrow. Gerry Marshall, who remembers the car well, says at least two works racers found their way to Australia in period.