Friday 21 January 2011

Fairthope International Race/Rally History

Following a request from a contact in Europe i have done some research into the International competition history of Fairthorpes as there seems to be a lack of published information for people wishing to use their cars in Historic racing.
It is widely known that Air Vice Marshall Don Bennett competed on the Monte Carlo Rally in 1959 in an Electron Minor and 1962 in an Electron Climax, (4th in 1001-1300cc Class ) but it was a surprise to me to find out that he also did the 1959 RAC Rally and the 58 Tour de France in Electrons with Peter Riley navigating in car no 133. The 1963 Spa Sofia Liège Rally was done in car no79 by Alex Mylonadis & wife in a Fairthorpe Triumph............I am also looking into other possible rallies the cars competed in and will publish here anything i find.
Here are a few pictures and entry list/results.

1959 Monte Carlo Rally



The car used on this rally was an Electron Minor




Here is the result sheet for the 1959 RAC Rally, the car used was an Electron with the Coventry Climax engine.




Here are the results from the 1962 Monte Carlo Rally



This is the entry list for the 1963 Spa-Sofia-Liege Rally



Fairthorpes have been used extensively in circuit racing from 1957 to the present day, as and when time permits i will try to catalogue those that there is information on or i know of. Most types have been used, Electron Minors, Electron`s, Zeta`s, Rockettes and John Green even raced an Atomota! The Formula Junior was not raced in period as far as i am aware but Ron Welsh is making up for lost time and competing (and winning) with it over the last couple of years. Several people have kindly sent me the link to the `Racing Sports Cars` website which has quite a list of events that Fairthorpes raced at in period, this is obviously the tip of the iceberg but is a good starting point. the page address is:- http://www.racingsportscars.com/cars/search.html?make=fairthorpe

The 1961 4hr race at Pescara was a round of the F.I.A World Sportscar Championship and had 2 Fairthorpe Electrons competing though sadly neither finished. Car no 116 was driven by Mylonadis / Stefani and car no 120 was driven by Gabrio Del Torre which retired with electrical problems. Fairthorpes are listed as entries for several other F.I.A races but are down as did not arrive. Unless someone turns up the results from these we won`t definitely know if the cars ran or not. I hope in the fullness of time to create a separate page with all known race events for Fairthorpes, please feel free to contact me with any information regarding events and i will include these on the list.

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