Team Healey at Lime Rock -1990

[HealeyRick]

Just found this video of the 1990 Healey Challenge at Lime Rock:

The Healey Challenge brought some of the UK's best Healey racers over to North America to do battle with some of ours. Great racing and great camaraderie.

 

[wangdango]

I was there for that, (not racing as car was not finished). Remember talking to Charlie Gibson who was running the Festival, seems the boys from across the pond liked to go into Big Bend 3 abreast and the corner workers were scared for their lives.... So, he went over after a practice session and talked to John Chattham, (who was drinking a beer!), John's reply to Charlie, "when they see me coming, tell em to close their eyes!" Fun times!

 

[AN6-TX]

SVRA made all the "first timers" (everyone from overseas) where Rookie Stripes on their cars. There were quite a few racers that were "surprised" as they got out-driven, out-braked, and out-run by the rookies from the other side!!

The AHCA used to see a VHS tape containing footage from all the races in the series (> 2 Hrs worth I think). I don't know if anyone ever transferred it to DVD or not. Needless to say, its a pretty awesome movie...

 

[BoyRacer]

It was quite a production. Eight Brits and one German. I was there for it all and competed in all of the races for the American side - "Team Healey USA". It was one of the most memorable times of my life.

 

[dougie]

It was quite a production. Eight Brits and one German. I was there for it all and competed in all of the races for the American side - "Team Healey USA". It was one of the most memorable times of my life.

Come on Richard, I've never known you to be shy. Let's hear some race stories............... better yet, after race stories:eagerness:

Richard's #466 battle wagon.

 

[aeronca65t]

I was spectating at that. A great show!

 

[HealeyRick]

I crewed for Bob Wilson's 100 at Lime Rock. Sneaked my bugeye out for a couple of laps around the track during workers' rides, went to a great party at John Colgate's house where I got to hang out with Burt Levy and the late Ron Yates of "The Dipstick Digest' and generally enjoyed one of the best weekends ever. Racing was really great and I can understand why Richard has great memories of the whole series.

 

[AN6-TX]

Although I was not old enough to legally drive, I witnessed the Challenge at Blackhawk Farms (IL) and Watkins Glen. Tom Colby's Sprite gave the big boys a good run for their money at BHF (which is a nice little track). If I am not mistaken, the Wild West Racing boys (Phil Coombs and Dan Pendergraft) gave the Brits a good run at Watkins Glen (until it rained on Sunday).

For a kid that was (and still is) awestruck by all things Healey, these races were nothing short of amazingly awesome!!

 

[pan]

I'm jealous! But I did get to see Denis Welch in an 'all Healey' race at Mount Panorama(Bathurst) in '98. Local Peter Hopwood gave him serious competition.

 

[DerekJ]

Healey Drivers International just had an all Healey race last weekend at Silverstone on the full Grand Prix track. Grid was 25 cars, we had hoped for a few more, but that did include two original 100S's. Brave owners. There was some fantastic racing at the sharp end. It went down to the last corner when Anders Schildt passed Jeremy Welch right at the end of the Wellington straight (right in front of the BRDC!), and somehow held it round the last two corners to win the race. Far more exciting than the F1 British Grand Prix will be next week!

John Chatham's sons, Oliver and Jack shared their dad's old car and drove to an excellent 3rd place and posted the second fastest lap.

 

[dougie]

Derek -

That's great to hear, should be good for Anders' business as well. Sorry to hear about your "off".