SUCCESSFUL SILVERSTONE CLASSIC FOR WOODHAM MORTIMER AS COSTIN LISTER TAKES HARD FOUGHT SECOND PLACE IN THE STIRLING MOSS TROPHY

SUCCESSFUL SILVERSTONE CLASSIC FOR WOODHAM MORTIMER AS COSTIN LISTER TAKES HARD FOUGHT SECOND PLACE IN THE STIRLING MOSS TROPHY

• Woodham Mortimer race team-prepared Costin Lister pushes hard for victory and secures 2^nd spot on the podium in epic rain-drenched Stirling Moss Trophy
• Successful finishes for both Frazer Nash Le Mans Rep and Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar XK120 in the RAC Woodcote Trophy

Woodham Mortimer returned to podium winning ways at last weekend’s glorious Silverstone Classic – the world’s biggest historic racing festival. The world-renowned race preparation team that has enjoyed so much success in recent years, prepared and ran three cars at the Classic, including a potent Lister Costin which contested the Stirling Moss Trophy, an historic ex-Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar XK120 and an equally historic ex-Roy Salvadori Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica, both contesting the RAC Woodcote Trophy. For 2019, both races were combined on a single, maximum capacity grid.

At the end of a week that had seen Britain sweltering in record-breaking heat, race day witnessed a change in fortunes, as the rain came in overnight on Friday and was well established by Saturday morning. Having qualified early on Friday in warm and dry conditions, the Lister Costin of David Hart secured 6^th overall in the huge 58 car grid, while the Frazer Nash of Steve Ward and the Jaguar of Josh Ward and Chris Ward both qualified well within their classes. The thoroughly drenched conditions on race day were always going to create difficult racing conditions for cars and drivers, and that was to prove to be the case. In conditions that reward driver skill as much as a car’s performance, it is a testament to David Hart that he pushed the eventual race winner hard all the way to the chequered flag, securing second place overall and only missing the top step of the podium by three seconds! David Hart also set the second-fastest time of the race, with a 2 min 42.71-sec lap.

Both the XK120 and the Frazer Nash performed faultlessly in the race, finishing 32^nd and 51^st respectively.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO and Chairman of Woodham Mortimer, says: “The whole team performed fantastically well at the Silverstone Classic. We are a team that enjoys success, and to have a car finish second in such a large and competitive grid, is a fantastic result. All the cars performed faultlessly and we are looking forward to more competition in the coming months.”

Woodham Mortimer is a full-service restoration, race preparation and sales business, based in extensive facilities in Maldon, Essex.  With over 40 skilled craftsmen working in-house, the company delivers some of the highest quality restoration work seen anywhere in the world, with dedicated workshops for bodywork, paintwork, trimming, machining, engine building, final assembly and race preparation. Cars restored by Woodham Mortimer’s workforce have won honours at many of the world’s most prestigious concours events, while the race team has prepared and run some of the most successful historic racing cars to compete for international events of every type. 

For further information, please visit www.woodham-mortimer.com.

Source: Woodham Mortimer

COSTIN-NATHAN ROARS INTO LIFE AT BEAULIEU’S 25TH SPRING AUTOJUMBLE

COSTIN-NATHAN ROARS INTO LIFE AT BEAULIEU’S 25TH SPRING AUTOJUMBLE

Beaulieu’s 25th Spring Autojumble echoed to the roar of the newly restored Costin-Nathan racing car as it was driven by its original creator Roger Nathan as part of the packed silver-themed anniversary event.

For its Californian owner Michael Plitkins, it was the first time he had ever seen the unique car after buying it by phone at auction and commissioning its restoration. Michael, who flew in for the show, said: “I’m really pleased with how it has turned out. When it came up for auction, I decided this was a rare opportunity to buy a racing car quite rare in design and completely original in concept. I got in touch with Roger and commissioned him to oversee the restoration. It’s tremendous, utterly fantastic. I love the car.”

Roger Nathan, who created the 1965 Costin-Nathan with Frank Costin, then drove it to success in the 1966 Coupes de Paris race at the Montlhéry circuit – becoming a David slaying the big Goliath race teams. Roger said: “It’s been wonderful and a great privilege to have a second chance to drive it, like having a second life!”

At the unveiling of its restoration, Lord Montagu said: “The Costin-Nathan is a wonderful example of a racing car and you can see the innovation in its design with wood, metal and aviation technology. I am delighted that it will be going on display in the National Motor Museum.”

As many as 8,512 visitors and 2,951 exhibitors attended Beaulieu’s Spring Autojumble (May 18th & 19th) in search of motoring bargains on more than 1,000 stands packed with spare parts, accessories and automobilia – an increase over last year’s numbers of 8,348 visitors and 2,905 exhibitors.  

The event also featured book signings by TV presenter and inventor Edd China on the stand of show media sponsor Practical Classics. The former Wheeler Dealers mechanic drove into the show on his motorised sofa, Casual Loafer, to chat to fans about his new book Grease Junkie - A book of moving parts, which tells his life story.

In a celebratory Mini 60 display, the Mini Cooper Register gathered 60 classic Minis in a line-up marking six decades of the British motoring icon. Covering milestones from the earliest Morris-Mini Minors, through the 1970s Clubman to the last Rover Mini Coopers, the rare and remarkable cars included a Mini Cooper police car, ex-BMC Works rally car, luxury Mini Countryman estate converted by coachbuilder Harold Radford and 1980s Mini Sky special edition. Lord Montagu presented club members with celebratory glasses to mark the anniversary.

The Dorset branch of the Morris Minor Owners’ Club celebrated the silver event with its popular MoggyFest and recreated the front cover of the first Spring Autojumble show guide in 1994, which pictured a Morris Traveller laden with spare parts en route to Beaulieu. With a Traveller in the same rare colour tracked down especially for the show, every detail was replicated to mirror the original image.

The Morgan Sports Car Club and Wessex Car Club didn’t disappoint with their impressive displays, both showcasing their members’ cars.

The Best Stand trophy, donated by Lolly Lee in memory of her father, autojumble Terry Lee, was awarded to Matt Beale and his family, from Weston-super-Mare, for their colourful sale of oil cans, historic signs, petrol pumps and automobilia. At the heart of their stand was a vintage petrol pump which had been painted silver for the occasion. The stand was selected by Practical Classics Editor Danny Hopkins for embodying the spirit of the event and the trophy was presented by Lord Montagu and Lolly Lee, who said: “The stand is like a flashback for me, it’s just how my father’s stand used to be.”

Winner Matt said: “We have been coming to Spring Autojumble for 10 years and selling for four years and I’ve been fortunate enough to turn my passion of collecting into a business.” Matt’s son Cameron said: “Over the past few years, our stand has grown and grown and we have bought a bigger caravan to fit the stand!”

Event sponsors Practical Classics brought along its project car, a 1968 Austin Mini estate that has been off the road for more than 40 years. When its owner, the magazine’s Projects Editor Matt Tomkins wanted to try starting the car’s long-dormant engine, he searched the show’s stands and discovered the perfect replacement ignition key! A big hit on the stand was Bluebell, the 1959 Standard Ten Gold Star that captured the hearts of thousands of classic car enthusiasts when it was saved from destruction in Ford’s scrappage scheme. Bluebell will stay on display in the National Motor Museum until September.

Enthusiasts looking to take home a full-size classic had plenty to choose from at Automart, which offered historic machines as varied as a pair of Jaguar E-type coupe body shells at £20,000 and £25,000, well-preserved 1953 Ford Prefect E493A at £6,200 and a well-patinated but roadworthy 1962 American Ford Econoline truck at £12,500. Plenty of dream cars were on sale in the range of classics at Dealermart.

Fans of the nation’s favourite 4x4 were spoiled by Sunday’s Land Rover Rummage as traders offered parts including wheels, seats, gearboxes and engines, as well as body tubs and a complete rolling chassis. The Solent and District Land Rover Club also displayed several of its members’ Land Rovers.

Sunday’s popular Trunk Traders was a treasure trove of surplus spares, tools, books and more, as eager buyers snapped up plenty of bargains from the trestle tables and car boots.

There will be more chances to find elusive spare parts at Beaulieu’s International Autojumble on September 7th & 8th. For more details of Beaulieu’s full 2019 events calendar, see https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/.

HISTORIC COSTIN-NATHAN RACE CAR UNVEILING AT BEAULIEU’S SILVER SPRING AUTOJUMBLE

HISTORIC COSTIN-NATHAN RACE CAR UNVEILING AT BEAULIEU’S SILVER SPRING AUTOJUMBLE

Costin-Nathan at 1965 preview, Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane

The unique Costin-Nathan racing car prototype will roar into life at Beaulieu’s silver Spring Autojumble on May 18th and 19th to celebrate the arrival of the new National Motor Museum exhibit.

The hand-built racer, which became a David which slayed Goliath on the competition track half a century ago, will make its public debut after a complete restoration.

At 3pm on Saturday May 18th, Spring Autojumble show-goers can see this incredible machine up-close with a start-up by its original creator and racing driver Roger Nathan, who also masterminded its painstaking restoration back to original condition.

With its unusual wooden construction and highly tuned Hillman Imp engine, the 1965 Costin-Nathan was the brainchild of Nathan and automotive engineer Frank Costin. With Nathan at the wheel, the prototype made its mark by winning the Coupes de Paris race at the Montlhéry circuit in 1966 – beating the big race teams.

After being sold, the car was later rediscovered in 2016 and sold at auction to its new American owner who commissioned Nathan to restore it. The show unveiling marks the end of this mammoth project in part of the celebrations for Spring Autojumble’s 25th anniversary, where exhibitors are invited to decorate their stands in silver and send their memories and pictures to SAJ25@beaulieu.co.uk.

Marking another anniversary at this year’s show is the Mini 60 display, which will put one of Britain’s greatest classics in the spotlight with a timeline of every major milestone in the classic Mini’s lifespan from 1959 to 2000. The Mini Cooper Register display will bring together a wide range of Minis, with more than 40 rare and remarkable examples already confirmed to join the display including an ex-BMC Works rally Mini, Mini Cooper police car, Mini vans and pick-ups, an Italian-built Innocenti Mini Cooper and the luxurious Radford Mini used in the 1966 BBC TV series Adam Adamant Lives!

Event sponsor Practical Classics will join the Mini celebration by bringing its own project car, a 1968 Austin Mini estate that has been off the road for more than 40 years. See this tiny time-warp and chat with the team about their latest project.

Another automotive star of the Practical Classics stand will be the 1959 Standard Ten Gold Star that was saved from certain destruction in Ford’s scrappage scheme. This low-mileage family saloon, known as Bluebell, captured the hearts of thousands of classic enthusiasts who joined a campaign to overturn its destruction order. Newly returned to the road and making its Beaulieu debut at the show, the Standard will stay on display in the National Motor Museum throughout the summer.

Bargain hunters can scour Spring Autojumble’s 1,000+ stands packed with classic car parts, motoring literature and automobilia bargains – and even perhaps find a dream Mini amongst the range of classics for sale in Automart and Dealermart.

Other features include a return of the Dorset branch of the Morris Minor Owners’ Club popular display MoggyFest, while the Morgan Sports Car Club will showcase an impressive selection of its members’ classic British sports cars. Show regulars the Wessex Car Club will also show a variety of vehicles.

Enthusiasts for another British legend can enjoy Beaulieu’s Land Rover Rummage on Sunday 19th, as everything Land Rover-related is bought, bartered, swapped and sold in a section of the show dedicated to Britain’s favourite 4x4. Also on Sunday is popular Trunk Traders, a treasure trove for surplus spares, tools, books and automobilia.

One-day and two-day Spring Autojumble tickets can be bought online with an advance discount until 5pm on Thursday 9th May. For tickets and details see www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/spring-autojumble or call 01590 612888. Event tickets include entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction, including the National Motor Museum with its new Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 Years display, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, the ancestral Montagu family home of Palace House, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey and the grounds and gardens.

Exhibitors and Trunk Traders can book their stand online at www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/spring-autojumble/exhibitors or contact the Beaulieu Events team at events@beaulieu.co.uk or on 01590 614614.

25th Beaulieu Spring Autojumble Fact File

The first Spring Autojumble in May 1994 featured 600 stands, which has almost doubled today.

Extreme weather conditions meant the show was once cancelled in 2001, making 2019 not only the 25th anniversary but also the 25th

Since the first year, club car displays and the Automart – offering classic cars for sale – have been a key part of Spring Autojumble.

In 1994, special features included a display by motoring artists and a classic concours competition.

The show has changed names several times over the years from the initial Beaulieu Spring Classic Autojumble, to Beaulieu Spring Autojumble, Beaulieu Spring Motormart & Autojumble, Beaulieu Motormart Autojumble, then back to Beaulieu Spring Autojumble!

Trunk Traders and Dealermart were popular new features added to the event in 2006.

In 1997 the National Motor Museum had its own garage sale at the show, selling off surplus automobilia, vintage tools and period garage items left over from the creation of Jack Tucker’s Garage display in the museum.

Costin-Nathan racing at Montlhery