Harry Ratcliffe 1935-2016

Harry Ratcliffe, who died last week aged 80, was one of the leading drivers and engineers from the early days of Special Saloon racing.

From his garage in Littleborough in Lancashire, Ratcliffe built racing Minis for many people and later, as the British Vita Racing team, entered cars for drivers like Tony Fall, Barrie Williams and John Rhodes. In 1968, the team won the European Touring Car title with John Handley.

Ratcliffe was also an accomplished driver in his own right and won the Northern Saloon Car Championship in 1968. He hillclimbed a fearsome Buick V8-engined Mini but retired from the sport in 1969 and later prepared a racing powerboat for Roger Clark.