Smith holds off TVRS for MGB glory
Fabled writer George Orwell never saw an MGB or a TVR Grantura Mk3, but his assertion that “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” could have described the British sportscars.
Both are powered by 1800cc BMC engines, but the low volume tubularchassised TVR was homologated for competition at 600kg to the sturdy MG’S 830kg, thus the ‘Grannies’ are rarely beaten in straight historic fights.
But Tom Smith doesn’t dwell on statistics and, driving dad Doug’s MGB
Roadster, he exploited the sure-footedness of the B’s five-inch longer wheelbase, audaciously overtaking Lee Atkins’ Grantura round the outside at Surtees to win the Equipe GTS ‘A’ race at Brands Hatch. Opening the B’s 60th anniversary year, keeping Rob Cull’s Grantura and Atkins behind to the flag tasted even sweeter.
The GTS ‘B’ race had fallen to TVR pilot Simon Ashworth, breaking a three-year layoff. A swarm of Bs, headed by Peter
Smith and Simon Milner, who spun away his initial lead at Surtees, led the chase.
Having driven neither the car nor the circuit previously, Alex Causer found himself soloing in Sandy Watson’s 1500cc Lotus Eleven in the Equipe Libre and Pre-’63 & ’50s races, but he won both stylishly.
Unfazed by a six-lap safety car interlude – which annulled his lead over Rick Willmott (Jaguar E-type) and Nick Matthews (whose Lotus Elan had capsized gently in the Paddock Hill gravel during qualifying) – Causer calmly beat Nick Maton/jack Tetley (E-type) and Willmott to the Libre chequer. Rob Cull’s TVR finished fourth from the back, having shed a wheel in the morning.
Early leader Nigel Winchester (AC Cobra) kept the pressure on Causer second time out, with Joe Willmott (Austin-healey 3000) a strong third. Sam Wilson wriggled Sir John Chisholm’s ex-lord Angus Clydesdale Lola Mk1 through to fifth,
behind Roberto Giordanelli’s hooded E-type. The scrap of the race was for sixth, however, as Robin Ellis (Lotus Elite) pipped David Gardner (Turner Mk2).
Debuted in 1977, the MG Car Club’s BCV8 Championship showcases Britain’s most successful and sustainable sportscars, of which over half a million were made until 1980. Equipe is hosting half of 2022’s eight double-headers and the opening races were spectacular as competitors sought to succeed absent champion Ollie Neaves.
James Wheeler and Simon Cripps outdragged poleman Neil Fowler at the first start, but Fowler was second within a lap and harassing Wheeler inside five. Fowler dived for the kill switch when his oil light flickered at Druids on lap 16 of 23, while Wheeler repelled the resurgent Cripps to win, as dad Jonnie aced Class C after a mighty brawl with Ben Tovey.
Minus Fowler, Cripps and Jonnie Wheeler, whose bonnet detached on the green-flag lap, the sequel was rescued by Ian Prior in his sage green coupe. Steve Wells led at the initial scramble, but Tovey reached Paddock first before Prior got ahead into Surtees. For 11 breathless laps, Prior staved off James Wheeler, who eventually skittered past into Paddock. Prior’s V8 failed almost immediately, promoting Tovey to second with rival
Jim Bryan homing-in.