TIMES GONE BY - MEMBERS MEMORIES OF DONINGTON PARK

NOVOLARI REMEMBERED

CLUB MEMBER AND HISTORIC RACER ROBERT HEELIS HAS SENT IN A COPY OF AN ARTICLE HE WROTE FOR AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE IN JANUARY 2004 WHEN HE JOINED TOM WHEATCROFT AND OTHER PRESS AND MEDIA TO THE 65th ANNIVERSARY OF NUVOLARIS DONINGTON PARK WIN. SEE BELOW A COPY OF HOS PUBLISHED ARTICLE.

MEMORIES OF MIKE HAILWOOD

FORMER CLUB COMMITTEE MEMBER AND OFFICER, TONY GAMBLE, WHO SERVED AS PRESS OFFICER, MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY AND SCERETARY AMONG OTHER THINGS DURING HIS MANY YEARS SERVICE HAS SENT THE INTERESTING STORY BELOW ABOUT MIKE HAILWOOD.

Mike Hailwood at the age of thirty-seven and eleven years after retiring from motorcycle racing made a remarkable comeback in 1978. Riding a Ducati V-Twin he won the TT formula one race at the Isle of Man TT.

His appearance the following year, in an international event at Donington drew one of the biggest crowds ever seen there with more then 120,000 fans attending. Unfortunately Mike crashed and broke his collar bone practicing on the Saturday so he couldn't take part in the race on the Sunday. Tom Wheatcroft reports in his book that, ‘Characteristically, he then felt awkward about accepting his appearance money' however Mike agreed to do a lap of the circuit on the Sunday with Tom in a 8-litre Bentley from the Museum. Mike was given a tremendous ovation all around the circuit.

As most of you will know any competitor hospitalized due to an accident at Donington Park receives a visit from a member of the committee and is given a sum of money to help with their immediate needs. Mike was no exception to this. However he returned the cheque with a covering letter:-

‘Many thanks for your very nice letter received today, and the enclosed cheque for £15-00. It is with great pleasure that I learn that there is such a fund for as you put it “hospital comforts” for injured riders from Donington, as I know from experience how miserable it can be in dock, even for one night….. With all humility I would like to return the cheque and have it put back in the fund and saved for a much more deserving case than myself. I would like to take this opportunity of whishing yourself and the D.P.R.A.C. continued success, and enjoyment. Incidentally, I shall be there on the 29 th of this month fro some kind of Honda promotion, so perhaps I shall see you there and thank you personally. Meantime, good racing and good luck to you all.'

RACING AT DONINGTON PARK IN THE LATE 1930'S

Club member and Historic Racer Robert Heelis has contacted the club with further information regards the photos below that we published in the June newsletter and on the website (below). Robert emailed us to say that he may be able to help with info, as he was at the  1937/8 GP's. After sending Robert some enlarged copies of the photos he has replied with the information added below the relevant photos. Robert has also had articles about "historic racing" published in motor sport magazines including one in the January 2004 issue of Automobile which we will scan and show on this page soon.

For anyone who may be interested Robert is hoping to be out on track racing at the major historic race meeting " GP 100 at SEE RED" at Donington Park on Sept 23rd/24th and he would love to meet and tlk to any members.

The Donington Park Racing Association Club committee have recently been sent some interesting photos of racing at Donington Park which are thought to be in 1938/39. These are of both GP cars and motor bikes, there is also a photo of a gentleman on the start finish line who we believe is Fred Craner.

The photos are of Grand Prix cars of the era including a number of ERA cars which could be Raymond Mays or B. Bira who both raced at Donington at that time when races included the Nuffield Trophy race which May's competed in in 1939 along with Bira, Pat Whitehead, Bob Ansell and Allen Pollard, Bira also competed and won the 1938 race. Era drivers in the 1938 Donington GP included Arthur Dodson, Ian Connell and Billy Cotton, more famous as band leader than as a racing driver. Another ERA driver to race at Donington in those years were Tony Rolt, in the British Empire Trophy of 1939.

We think most of the car photos were taken at the Old Hairpin with the gate to the Hall in the background .

The motor cycle photos show a group of bikes coming down Craner Curves and another of them turning the Old Hairpin, which in those days was on an incline. The last bike photo shows two sidecars racing side by side.

The photos are shown below, click on each photo for an enlarged image. If anyone has any further information or comments on the photos, their contant or information on who the drivers riders are or any other information then please email me at mick@dprac.co.uk and we will post your information on this page.

Bira (ERA) and Freddy Dixon (Riley) Old Hairpin
Mr J Shields towards Melbourne Loop	Bira (ERA "Romulas" )
	Morgan 3 Wheeler and Norton Sidecar
In the pits - ERA opposite grandstand (Note Redgate was on the left)	ERA Old Hairpin possibly Pat Fairfield
Motorbikes Old Hairpin, Craner Curves in background (Note woods)	Bert Hadley - Austin 750cc Twin Cam Works car