We watched that race from Woodcote Corner. Clearly the British have figured
out how to build the maximum amount of performance into the old Healeys.
Though the car was entered as a 100/SIx, about the only thing that it had in
common with it's original configuration was that it still had six cylinders.
My guess is that it was putting out comfortably over 200 horsepower, and of
course was running disc brakes front and rear, and enhanced suspension
components. The clues were that it could out-accelerate the 300SL Gullwing on
the straights and outbrake it going into the corners -- two feats that a
100-Six NEVER would have been able to do in the day. Smithies was also driving
it in a very spirited manner, passing at any opportunity and sometimes when
there wasn't an obvious opportunity. Beating a noted international champion
driver like Jochen Maas is quite an achievement.
Great race to watch in person.
Interestingly, looking at the car afterward, the owner had clearly intended to
preserve the well-weathered look of the rally car that this Healey once was,
rather than going for the highly-polished immaculate appearance of some of the
other cars.
For me, the most impressive aspect of the race, however, was that it included
OAC 1, one of the two original Donald-Healey-built Healey Hundred Coupes,
looking absolutely terrific and driven very respectably to a credible finish.
Gary
Gary Anderson
Editor-at-Large, Austin-Healey Magazine
Message: 7
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 09:29:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ron Mitchell <healeyron@yahoo.com>
To: Derek <derek.c.job@gmail.com>, "healeys@autox.team.net"
<healeys@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] TON 792 wins Goodwood Fordwater Trophy
Message-ID:
<1379348970.59000.YahooMailNeo@web121802.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
Not only did Smithies spin off the track on the first lap and drop back to
eighth he was punted off the course on the third lap by the second 300 SLR
Gullwing, regained control of it and dropped further back. He was still able
to pass everyone in front of him and lead the last three laps for the win.
Quite a feat of driving skill and obviously a very well prepare car.
What
a great idea to stream the event live and let us common folk enjoy the full
week end of racing. I don't recall who provided the URL for the live feed
but
have to thank you for letting us know that it was available.
Ron Mitchell
1959 BN6
1962 BN7
________________________________
From: Derek
<derek.c.job@gmail.com>
To: healeys@autox.team.net
Sent: Sunday, September
15, 2013 1:12 PM
Subject: [Healeys] TON 792 wins Goodwood Fordwater Trophy
The ex Nancy Mitchell works 100 Six was driven by David Smithies from pole
although a first lap spin dropped him to8th from where he stormed back to
win.
Jochen Mass was second in a 300SL Gullwing, a Ferrari 250 Tour de France was
3rd.
Derek
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