Team Vialle Alpine 110B Rallycross car was the most successful A110 in the FIA European Rally Cross championship.
Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp unless otherwise noted.
The annual Race Retro show, now in its 10th year at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, has always been considered to be a harbinger of the arrival of spring and the start of the new season of historic car racing in the U.K. This year spring had certainly been put on hold for the weekend. It was cold; the wind chill had been described by somebody more eloquent than me as being stiletto sharp, but the fun went on regardless.
The two main features of the static show were a celebration of Clive Chapman’s (Colin Chapman’s son) classic Team Lotus and the Alpine 110. This being a British event, the amount of Lotuses on display was greater than the amount of Alpines. Nevertheless, the quality of 110s on display by the Club Alpine Renault was second to none, with some very interesting examples on display.
One Alpine that attracted both Alpinistas and Brit rally fans was the 1800cc Group 4 car as driven by Pat Moss on the Monte Carlo Rally, where she finished 10th in 1972. Stirling’s sister liked to give her cars nick names and this car was no different. For the RAC rally championship of 1973 she named the car “Ratty”.
At the end of the season the car became part of the Renault display team based on Western Avenue in London. The car languished there until the early 1980s at which time it entered into a 20-year hibernation. The ex-Moss car was acquired by Chris Rabbets, the owner of Roadspeed, and still bears the scars of front line competition to this day.
Ratty, Pat Moss's 1972 A110 Alpine.
The Classic Team Lotus lineup included Jim Clark’s championship-winning Type 25 chassis R4, together with his 1966 Type 32B Tasman car in which Jimmy won 9 out of 13 races. In addition to the single-seaters they also displayed Lotus Cortina KPU396C, which was originally Colin Chapman’s road car. Colin crashed on the way to work and with the insurance company’s money, the car was converted to a group 5 race car which was raced by Clark, Peter Arundell, Jackie Oliver, John Miles and Jackie Ickx.
Alfa eater: Lotus Cortina KPU396C, as driven by Jim Clark, Peter Arundell, Jackie Oliver and Jacky Ickx. Crashed by Colin Chapman on the way to work and then rebuilt as a group 5 racer.
In front of the Cortina was Clark’s personal Elan 1500, complete with a large blow-up of a period Elan advert in which he and the car were featured. Just to the left of the Type 25 was Chapman’s original drawing board complete with technical drawings of the 25, and next to that was a cabinet displaying the 1963 World Driver’s Championship and Constructors Championship trophies and a pair of Jimmy’s race overalls.
Alfa Sprint Zagato Coda Tronca splendidly restored.
One the Alfaholics stand was a most amazing 1963 Alfa Romeo SZ Coda Tronca. Raced by Scuderia Sant’ Ambroeus, it had a career that included the 1963 Le Mans and in 1964 the Targa Floria and Coppa Intereurpoa. This car is now looking absolutely stunning following a 3000 hour restoration by the renowned classic Alfa specialist Alfaholics.
Abarth UK had a varied display of classic Abarths to complement their current offerings. The Historic Grand Prix Cars Association displayed Tony Smith’s ex-Nuvolari Alfa Romeo P3 chassis 50007.
Fiat Abarth 1000TC Berlina Corsa.
There is always something new to be seen at Race Retro and this year was no exception. Displayed on the Sywell Classic Piston and Props show stand was “Whistling Billy.” It was built in 1905 by the White steam car company for the new and then very popular sport of racing on dirt horse trotting tracks of North America.
Whistling Billy, an early steam driven race car.
She was originally just called Billy but the name was shortly changed to Whistling Billy on account of the noise the burners made when the car was going down the straights. This car has just been restored to full running order, even down to its two steering wheels; a small one inside a larger one, ideal for dirt track racing.
VIP Guests at the show included Sir Stirling Moss, Murray Walker and ex British Rally champion Russell Brookes, who in addition to demonstrating his old Lotus Sunbeam also demonstrated the ex-works Sunbeam Tiger. The Tiger has been restored by JME Healey to how it looked in 1966 when driven by Peter Harper to victory on the Acropolis rally.
Renualt Turbo 2 of Andy Cooper/John Price. Roy Smith photo.
For me one of the highlights of the event is the rally stage which is run through the Stoneleigh show ground. This year the entry list whilst large, was lacking in French and Italian content. No Stratos, no 205T16s, 131 Abarths or Intergrales, but a few Renault Turbos.
I still enjoy the sights and sounds of various 6R4 Metros, Audi Quattros and Escorts being driven with great gusto around the trees and through the mud. To my mind, the winner of the most sideways demonstration of a rally car must go to Mick Strafford and his 1973 Vauxhall Firenza, not a normal Firenza but a replica of a South African market Firenza with a 302 c.i. V8.
Below are additional photos of both the static car show and the outdoor demonstration.
Quickly sideways: Mick Strafford’s Replica South African spec Vauxhall Firenza with a 302 c.i. V8.
Lancia had a nice stand which included this Lancia Fulvia Rallye. Roy Smith photo.
Patrick Walker’s ex-Aaltonen works 1962 Austin Mini Cooper S.
Phil Jones's Abarth TC Corsa.
Peugeot 205 T16 of Andy Madicott, works supported, and Opel Ascona B of Gary Gee.
1971 A110, group 4 1600cc ex-works car Jean Pierre Nicolas/Jean De Alexandris. The first gravel development car.
Austin Rover Metro 6R4 Ex Colin McRae. 1987 entered by Alex Williams.
The Stratos stayed warm and dry but looked great. Roy Smith photo.
Maserati Tec Mec also made an appearance. Roy Smith photo.
Clark's Lotus 25 is a good way to wrap up the article.