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Chris Mann, the publisher of Bodyshop Magazine, has kindly donated a limited number of Jim Dugdale prints showing the late Gerry Marshall driving his DTV Vauxhall Magnum at the 1977 Spa 24 hour saloon car race where he and co-driver Pete Brock won their class & finished an amazing second overall.
Each print has been signed by Gerry and Jim Dugdale, as well as the late DTV tuning wizard Bill Blydenstein.
Available exclusively to Motor Sport readers, the prints cost £30 plus £6.50 p&p, with all proceeds going to BEN – The Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund. To purchase a signed print call Fred Milln on 020 7349 8490 or email him on [email protected].
“BEN is the automotive industry charity, providing care and support to employees and their dependants in times of need.
“It offers practical, emotional and financial support to anyone who works or has worked in the automotive industry, as well as their dependents. At the moment, it provides assistance to more than 15,000 people for a wide range of issues.”
Gerry Marshall – Driver
“I’d been driving for Dealer Team Vauxhall (DTV) since 1971 and had achieved fantastic success on the UK racing scene. Our greatest success was, though, when Australian saloon car legend Pete Brock and I won our class, led the Vauxhall team to victory in the prestigious Coupe du Roi team prize and finished second overall in the 1977 Spa 24 hour Saloon car race.
“The race was for Group One saloon cars, only minor modifications allowed – but the Vauxhall Magnum had been very carefully prepared by Bill Blydenstein. Needless to say, it rained during the race and our Dunlop tyres, which had been brilliant in the dry, began to lose us lots of time.
“I persuaded the guy from Michelin to ‘lend’ us a set of their wet weather tyres and at one point, as the track was drying, we had Dunlop slicks on the front and Michelins on the back. Dunlop, to whom we were contracted, weren’t very happy but the switch did the trick and it was Dunlop’s logo on the side of the car!”
Jim Dugdale – Artist
“Gerry Marshall and Pete Brock – both fully deserving of their legendary status as saloon car drivers – really did a remarkable job at Spa in 1977, against some far more powerful machinery.
“My painting shows Gerry drifting through the hairpin at La Source, the wet circuit reflecting the colour scheme of the DTV Magnum. Bill Blydenstein was a key part of DTV’s success and he can be seen in the crowd, to the right of Vauxhall’s Gerry Johnstone, both wearing their distinctive red DTV blazers. This is a little bit of artistic licence as Bill was not actually at Spa that year. The Hotel La Source, by the way, was reputed to produce the best bacon and egg breakfast in Europe!”
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