STOP PRESS ARCHIVES

This page is for no-longer current, but nevertheless interesting updates that originally appeared on the Stop Press page.

Index

Club BBQ, Sittingbourne, Kent	August 29, 2004
Le Mans Bugatti Circuit Track Weekend	November 29 & 30, 2003
289 Register stand at NEC Classic Car Show & Techno Classica ?	September 16, 2003
Club BBQ, Sittingbourne, Kent	August 24, 2003
Ride in a Historic Rally Car	August 21 - 24, 2003
The Stratos Experience	August 6, 2003
New "289 Register" Committee Member(s) required	July 29, 2003
Day Trip to France, with lunch in Ardres	July 23, 2003
Czech Out this Holiday !	June 19 - 21, 2003
Invitation to Carroll Shelby's 80th Birthday Party	June 7, 2003
Oracle Spring Open Day, Lokeren, Belgium	May 24, 2003
Historic Car Meeting, Monza, Italy	May 24 & 25, 2003
Invitation to Drinks after David & Amanda Pilbeams' Wedding	May 3, 2003
Exeter Kit Car Show Needs You (and your 289)	March 22 - 23, 2003
BBC TV films Hawk Cars, transmitted on January 13, 2003
Special Tribute to AC Cobra, Essen Motor Show, Germany,	November 28 - December 8, 2002
Invitation to take part in Rally from Los Angeles to Miami,	November 15 - 23, 2002
Granada TV to film visit to Hawk Cars	on August 23, 2002
Aussie cash rescues a classic	August 5, 2002
Carroll Shelby Wins US Injunction To Protect Brand	June 22, 2002
Cobra and Ferrari To Battle It Out Again	June 22, 2002
British Car Weekend, August 2002	April 21, 2002
"Cobra - The Real Thing" Book bargain	February 7, 2002
Shelby vs. Factory Five	December 24, 2001
Jumping Cobra	November 7, 2001
Lelystad Meeting - Photo CD and Video	October 15, 2001
Cobra Couch	June 5, 2001
Liege to Corsica Endurance Rally, April 2001	May 20, 2001
Giacomo is (www.kitcar.)IT	April 5, 2001
Cobra Mustang on a Virtual Drag Strip!	January 18, 2001
Relaunch of BRA 289?	January 2, 2001
1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe Sold by auction	August 28, 2000
Front badge	August 11, 2000
Stainless Steel braided brake hoses	August 3, 2000
The French Connection	July 27, 2000
Stretched Cobra!	March 14, 2000
COBRA CUP 2000 Race Series for CN-Cobra 427s	February 13, 2000
From 'SNAKE TORQUE', Edition 62	February 9, 2000
Relaunch of BRA 289?	February 2, 2000
STOLEN	January 13, 2000

3^rd Annual Club BBQ, Sittingbourne, Kent
Sunday 29^th August 2004

For the third year running, we are having a club BBQ. Stuart Gilbert has once again offered the use of his palatial pad in the country, where we had a great time last year.
It's happening on August Bank Holiday Sunday, so put away the paint brushes and the garden tools and come and join us in Stuart's garden. Slob out with a beer/wine/soft drink or two and enjoy the camerarderie of a summer afternoon amongst other 289'ers and their much better halfs!
Food supplied by Stuart and Ann, brink your own drinks. For non-carnivorous requirements, speak to Stuart and Ann, or bring your own.

The details are:
Time: Noon 'til whenever
Date: Sunday 29^th August - Bank Holiday Sunday, so no work on Monday
Cost: £5 a head (to cover food), but bring drinks

Cheques to Stuart at:

Orchards
Oad Street
Sittingbourne
Kent
ME9 8JX

You can contact Stuart on his work and home number, tel: 0044-1795-843116 or via email on: stuartgilbert@orchards45.fsnet.co.uk, although he doesn’t monitor his email every day.

6-December-03
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Le Mans Bugatti Circuit Track Weekend

We have been invited to take part in the Le Mans Bugatti Circuit Track Weekend, on Saturday 29^th & Sunday 30^th November 2003 at the Le Mans Bugatti (short) Circuit.

The cost is £650 for 2 days, which includes ....
* 8 am drivers briefing with 1 slow lap for familiarisation
* two full days on track, 8.30 am - 5.30 pm
* no rush - enjoy 7 hrs per day
* Noise limit around 100 dBa
* Open pitlane
* 2.6 miles of smooth track
* 6 british instructors (need to book) if needed
* Full safety and medical support
* Free lunch included each day
* Free visit to circuit race car museum
* Free refreshments, serving drinks all day
* Tyre support, with advice on tyre pressures (with pre arranged tyres if wanted)
* Hotel packages available on request
* Guest drivers £50 per day
* Passenger £25 per day
* All professionally run by experienced track day people

If interested, please contatct Gerald on tel./fax 0044-1908-227 586, mobile 0044-7946-617232 (24hrs) or via post at
GWR,
Unit 1, Manor Farm,
Bullington Rd.,
Hanslope. MK 19 7 ER.
e-mail gwsvcs@hotmail.com

from Gerry Hawkridge

01-October-03
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289 Register stand at NEC Classic Car Show & Techno Classica ?

Is any member interested in exhibiting their 289 at either the NEC Classic Car Show (Birmingham, 8^th & 9^th November 2003) or Techno Classica (Essen, Germany, April 2004). Volunteers are also sought to help construct and man the 289 Register stand at these events.
If interested, please contact David Butcher or Gerry Hawkridge as soon as possible.

16-September-03
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2^nd Annual Club BBQ, Sittingbourne, Kent - Sunday 24^th August

For the second year running, we are having a club BBQ. Stuart Gilbert has once again offered the use of his palatial pad in the country, where we had a great time last year.
It's happening on August Bank Holiday Sunday, so put away the paint brushes and the garden tools and come and join us in Stuart's garden. Slob out with a beer/wine/soft drink or two and enjoy the camerarderie of a summer afternoon amongst other 289'ers and their much better halfs!
Food supplied by Stuart and Ann, brink your own drinks. For non-carnivorous requirements, speak to Stuart and Ann, or bring your own.

The details are:
Time: Noon 'til whenever
Date: Sunday 24^th August - Bank Holiday Sunday, so no work on Monday
Cost: £5 a head (to cover food), but bring drinks

Cheques to Stuart at:

Orchards
Oad Street
Sittingbourne
Kent
ME9 8JX

You can contact Stuart on his work and home number, tel: 0044-1795-843116 or via email on: stuartgilbert@orchards45.fsnet.co.uk, although he doesn’t monitor his email every day.

17-April-03
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Ride in a Historic Rally Car

As soon as the modern rally cars competing in the Eifel Rally in Germany have completed each stage, a number of Historic rally cars will set off at 30 second intervals to drive the same stages. It will even be possible (for a charge of Euro 150) to sit in some of the Historic rally cars on some of these stages as a passenger !!

This outstanding event is centred around the quaint village of Daun in the heart of the Eifel mountain area of West Germany - just across the border from Belgium, and only 4 hours drive from Calais. The event will be held on August 21 - 24, 2003, and only rally cars with a significant history are eligible to take part in this annual spectacle - many of them are the original cars that were driven by Björn Waldegard, Stig Blomqvist, Jean Ragnotti, Per Eklund, Tony Pond, Marcu Alen, Vic Preston, Darniche, Chatriot, etc., and special guest drivers over this weekend include Björn Waldegard and Armin Schwarz.

Click here to view some of my photos from last years' event, and here is a list of just some of the cars participating this year ....

Saab 96, BMW 1800 ti, Volvo Amazon, Ford Lotus Cortina, Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV, Alpine A 110 Group 1 (x2), Alpine A 110 1600 Group 3, Opel Kadett GT/E Group 1 (x3), NSU TT, Porsche 911ST (x2), Porsche 914/6 GT, BMW 2800, BMW 2002, Alpine A 110 1800 (x3), Opel Ascona A (x2), Lancia Stratos (x3), Ford Escort Mk.I & Mk.II (x2), Alfa Romeo GTV 2000, Alpine A 310 (x2), Triumph TR 7, Fiat 131 Mirafiori, Saab 99 turbo, Mercedes 450 SLC, Toyota Starlet 1200, Peugeot 504 V6 Coupe, Talbot Sunbeam Lotus (x3) .... plus the Group B monsters, including Renault 5 Turbo (x2), Opel Ascona 400, Opel Manta 400, Porsche 911 SCRS (x2), Lancia 037, Peugeot 205T16, MG Metro 6R4 (x4), Ford RS200 .... and a few more modern cars, including Toyota Celica Turbo, Lancia Delta Integrale and Lancia Delta S4.

Believe me, you do NOT want to miss this event - where else can you see so many cars that would normally reside in museums being thrown around at full chat on narrow asphalt tracks that wind their way up and down spectacular hillsides? There are NO admission charges, but it is adviseable to purchase a programme from the Market Square in Daun in advance - this not only gives details of both the current and Historic rally cars and their drivers taking part, but also includes clear maps showing where and when each stage will be held, with recommended viewing points (and areas of restricted access).

So now you know where we will be over the fourth weekend in August, do you want to join us in the fun?

Best Regards,
DaveB.

4-August-03
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The Stratos Experience

This e-mail was received by Gerry Hawkridge on 23^rd July 2003, and forwarded on to me ....

Hello Gerry

Thanks once again for all your help with the repairs to my car prior to the Stratos Motorsport Weekend at the Abingdon CARnival.

The repairs seem to have been sucessful because I managed to win the sprint for the second year running. You may be interested to know that of the 8 Stratos replicas competing, Hawk cars were 1st, 3rd, 4th and 6th, with the Corse/Alloras 2nd, 5th, 7th and 8th.

My combined total time was 103.29 seconds for the two courses, second place was 106.71 and John Rutter was third with 108.59 which put me 1st Stratos and 16th overall in the sprint out of 180 starters.

Of more interest to you, and quite a shock to others will be how competetive the Stratos cars were compared to the other cars entered. My time of 103.29 compares well with a Westfield SEi at 104.25 and 105.37, TVR Tuscan V8 107.78, TVR Griffith 500 112.27, Chimaera 112.95 and a few well sorted road cars such as Mitsubishi Evo7 105.08, Subaru WRS 106.32 etc. These were all proper cars being pushed hard and I think you should be very proud that one of your cars can be a couple of seconds per mile faster than an Evo7.

The number of Stratos`s present provoked enormous interest and the number of people who wanted to ride in the cars has given me an idea.

I plan to start "The Stratos Experience" which will enable people to
1.Ride in a Stratos
2.Drive a Straos on the road
3.Have tuition to drive a Stratos on a rally stage
4.Hire a car for Rallies/ track days/ sprints etc.
5.Have tuition in their own Stratos cars

I`m sure it would be very popular and I shall be pursueing the idea when time allows. I hope that we could also incorporate a facility to let any of your potential customers try a car properly.

I will speak to you soon about building another car for me, which would need to be LHD for foreign customers, and would also give me two cars to use for the Stratos Motorsport Challenge 2004 which will be a combination of Rallies, Races and Sprints, and is going to be a very exciting prospect for next year.

Very many thanks for all your help and support recently

Jerry Bailey

6-August-03
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New "289 Register" Committee Member(s) required

Following a string of abusive criticism about my abilities as the "289 Register" Web Site Custodian and Newsletter Editor/Producer, I resigned from both of these positions on the committee three weeks ago, and invited anyone else to volunteer to take on these roles.

Since I have subsequently proven that it was only two non-members that were complaining (but tried to make it look as if they numbered at least nine, by using different names - although I could see the same IP addresses repeatedly clocking up from the two PCs that sent out the postings from "different" visitors onto the Forum !!), I have now write-protected the Forum. Anyone can read the existing entries, but if you would like to add an entry to an existing thread, or start up a new thread, please send me an e-mail, and I will issue you with a password that will allow you to write to the Forum in future. If you then post any irrelevant or abusive topics, your write access will be withdrawn.

Furthermore, I have decided to put my name forward to the committee of the "289 Register" to continue in both of my previous roles, to ensure that the "289 Register" Web Site and the Newsletter will continue. If my application is accepted, I will convert this web site back to the "289 Register" Web Site.

For those that are interested, the past correspondance on the Discussion Forum and Comments Page that lead to my resignation from the above positions (plus the evidence gathered on the IP addresses of the posters) can be viewed by clicking here.

There is a second issue - after over 4 years of hard work on the committee as the "289 Register" Secretary (and until recently, Newsletter Editor/Producer as well), David Pilbeam has unfortunately decided to step down from this role, to allow him more time to enjoy his Hawk 289 and married life. Anyone interested in taking on this challenging role should contact David Pilbeam via e-mail as soon as possible.

Best Regards,
DaveB.

29-July-03
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Day Trip to France, with lunch in Ardres

The French Day Trip is now confirmed - Wednesday 23^rd July.
Meet Dover Eastern Docks 09:15/09:30 for 10:00hrs Seafrance sailing to Calais.
Lunch 13:00hrs Francois 1st at Ardres.
Return on 19:15hrs Calais/Dover.
Cost: Return ferry crossing (car + 2) = £30.00.
Cheques payable to Graham Fry
Meal: 40/45 Euro's each including wine.
I have booked 10 cars for starters but can increase, but think we should limit it to 15/16 cars due to space in Restaurant.

Please contact Graham Fry to book up, or for further details.

17-April-03
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Czech Out this Holiday !

We have just been invited by the Oldtimer Replica Club to take part in their superb annual meeting from Thursday 19^th to Sunday 22^nd June inclusive (the "Oldtimer" hopefully refers to the cars, not the club members!).
The event is centred in the 4* Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Waldmünchen - just inside Bavaria (Germany), only 2,5 miles from the border with Bohemia (Czech Republic) - where you can tank up with incredibly cheap petrol, even when compared to German prices.
It is a modern and relatively new hotel, with double-bed appartments and larger maisonette appartments (split over two levels with two bedrooms, if two couples want to share a larger appartment), an indoor heated swimming pool and sauna, and free covered parking for over 80 cars. The rooms cost Euro 35 (£ 22) per person (including breakfast) per night, and the event costs only Euro 90 (£ 57) per person. This includes all food, buffets, coffee, cakes, entrance fees and gifts from the time of arrival (Thursday afternoon) until departure (Sunday morning). Alcoholic drinks are not included.

The official programme is as follows:-

Thursday 19^th (public holiday in Germany) - arrival up to 18:00, welcoming drinks and dinner at 19:00

Friday 20^th - panoramic tour through the Bohemian and Bavarian Forests (outward journey through the Czech Republic, return through Germany - with 125 miles of hairpin bends and hill-climbing). Guides on motorbikes will ensure that no one strays off the route, and some sort of treasure hunt should keep us amused. En route we will be stopping to sample cakes, allegedly big enough to use as chocks to stop lorries from rolling away! On the return route we will be visiting a typical Czech market (with best quality "Oldtimer Replica Club" goods from Versace, Diesel, Calvin Klein, Boss, Nike, Adidas, etc.) and a nearby Duty Free Shop - i.e. perfume for Euro 5 (£ 3) instead of Euro 25 (£ 16), and 200 cigarettes for Euro 13 (£ 8) instead of Euro 30 (£ 19). We should be back in the hotel at 18:00, to freshen up for a buffet at 20:00 (with a welcome greeting and gifts from the Mayor of Waldmünchen - the only town in Germany that lies within the Bohemian Forest).

Saturday 21^st - 08:00 departure for a shorter tour, to include a visit to a candle factory (who will be manufacturing a limited production run of only 70 candles with the ORC logo), a brewery (who will be filling a limited production run of bottles with the ORC logo on the label) and a tradesman museum (with a wood-burning oven to bake a 1 lb loaf of fresh bread for every participant to take home). At 14:00 we will return to Waldmünchen, where we will be greeted by a 45-strong historic fanfare procession and will continue in convoy to the Market Square in the pedestrian precinct, where the cars will be parked for display. During this time, we will be served cakes and coffee, before returning to the hotel at 16:45, just in time to freshen up for a warm buffet in a historic restaurant at 19:30, followed by a regional cold buffet at 22:00.

Sunday 22^nd - after a lie-in and relaxed breakfast, most participants will start heading off for home.

However, we will stay on in the hotel (at the ORC negotiated discounted rate given above) for a few more days (until Friday 27^th June), to explore West Bohemia and the Diocese of Budweis (er, guess what the local brew is?) more thoroughly. The ORC Event Organiser lives in Waldmünchen, and will happily pass on additional tips for the best roads, superb scenery and noteable sights (such as glassblowing, silver mines, museums, castles, nature walks, etc.) in this area to anyone else who wants to extend their stay.

This event offers a lot, and for only Euro 390 / £ 250 all-in for two people sharing (event fee plus three nights in the ORC hotel), plus a ferry ticket (ca. £ 165 Dover-Calais-Dover) and ca. 1500 miles (= 60 gallons or Euro 275 / £ 175 of petrol) from Dover - and is even better value if the hotel stay is lengthened by a few extra days!!

The Oldtimer Replica Club members have a very mixed assortment of replicas and kit cars, ranging from Teal and home-made Bugatti Type 35 replicas, Chesil & Apal 356 Speedsters, Lomax, Beaufort, assorted 7s to a Bentley Speed Six - and our 289s (and Strato's) are very welcome. Just imagine the looks that 70 such cars will attract as we cruise aroud in the Czech Republic!!

BUT - the closing date for return of the completed Registration Form (and payment of the Euro 90 per person) is February 28^th - so we have already booked up, and are collecting names of other interested parties to pass on to the organisers before the middle of February.

If you want to join in, but the required payment of Euro 180 (for two participants) to the ORC before the above closing date will present a problem, we could transfer this sum to the ORC organisers on your behalf - if you reimburse our UK bank account with £ 114.

Are any 289 Register members interested in joining Eric & Liz Rayner to form a convoy for the drive across? If so, please contact me for a copy of the Registration Form as soon as possible!!. Remember, the closing date for registration is in only 5 weeks, or when 70 cars have booked up - whichever comes first!! And if you miss this deadline, you will have to wait until July to see our photos of this event on this web site - and then you will wish that you had booked up earlier!!

Click here for further details of this event.

17-January-03
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Invitation to Carroll Shelby's 80^th Birthday Party - 7^th June

Lynn Park is putting together an 80^th birthday party for Carroll Shelby at the Peterson Automotive Museum on June 7^th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If interested in attending, please respond to Lynn (see flyer attached). Lynn is trying for 100 original Cobras for the event. If you are able to bring your original Cobra, it covers the admission to the Peterson and two lunches for the event. Otherwise see the registration form for the particulars.


Many thanks for the above info. from Darrell Mountjoy

20-May-03
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Oracle Spring Open Day, Lokeren, Belgium - 24^th May

Dear Kit-Car-enthusiast,
Again we would like to invite you to our spring-open-day this year.
On May 24^th from 11AM till 5PM you can visit our showroom/garage in Lokeren.
You will be able to meet builders and builders-to-be, see our range and take part in test-drives.
Snacks and drinks are provided for.
It would please us to see the several clubs attending, and some have already confirmed, like "Team-GTM" who will come over from the UK.
We would like to see you with your kit-car, whichever it may be.
Pictures from previous events can be downloaded from our website at www.Oracle-cars.be.
For practical reasons, we would like to ask you to register in advance via e-mail or fax on 0032-9-349-1655.

Hoping to see you in May,

The Oracle-team.

20-May-03
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Historic Car Meeting, Monza, Italy - 24^th & 25^th May

There is a large Historic Car meeting at Monza, with over 300 cars (from postwar up to the turbo-era F1) racing over the weekend.
Entrance is only Euro 10,00, including special car parking areas for Clubs attending.
There is also the chance to drive on the circuit (in a processional convoy).

If anyone can make it to this superb event, please contact Giacomo Ceccato via email for further information, or assistance with accommodation arrangements (Giacomo lives only 30 miles from the circuit!)

20-May-03
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Following their wedding on Saturday 3^rd May 2003,

Amanda and David Pilbeam

would love you to join them for (i.e. buy them!) a drink
at

The Limeburners
Newbridge, Billingshurst,
West Sussex. RH14 9JA

anytime from 5’ish till closing!

R.S.V.P

Amanda and David
7 Coney Croft, Horsham,
West Sussex, RH12 4EW
Tel. 01403 269083

29-April-03
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Exeter Kit Car Show Needs You (and your 289)

If anyone is prepared to attend the Exeter Kit Car Show and display their 289 on the stand, please contact Gerry Hawkridge or David Pilbeam as soon as possible - the show is on over the weekend of March 22^nd - 23^rd 2003.

11-March-03
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"Inside Out", a regional current affairs/magazine programme which goes out weekly (when on air) on Monday evenings on BBC 1, is presented by Paul Ross and covers the South East region, Kent and Sussex. They wanted to make a film about the South East's hidden motor manufacturing industry - companies such as Caterham, Hawk Cars, NF Auto Development and Fisher Sportscars. They will be discussing the fact that the mainstream British Car industry has more or less disappeared, but Kent and Sussex appears to have a high concentration of independent up-market high performance sports car manufacturers.
The programme will end with these cars in motion, and of course Brands Hatch was the ideal venue for filming on December 10^th / 11^th / 12^th, being part of the region's heritage.

The programme features everyone at Hawk Cars and Graham "lead-foot" Fry's Flying FIA Banana, and will be shown at 7:00pm on Monday, 13^th January.

30-December-02
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Special Tribute to AC Cobra, Essen Motor Show, Germany, November 28 - December 8, 2002
The two main themes of this years Essen Motor Show will be a tribute to the AC Cobra and a display illustrating the history of the World Rally Championship from 1972 to 2002.

Click here for a report with photos.

16-November-02
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Invitation to take part in Rally from Los Angeles to Miami, November 15 - 23, 2002
In case last years' Liege-Corse Rally seemd a little tame, all members of the "289 Register" have been invited to take part in the Players Run:-

1 week, 10 states, 100 supercars, 200 madmen, 3000 miles : Ladies and Gentleman, start your engines !
On November 15^th 2002 the ultimate driving adventure will come back to the United States ! 200 carefully selected international competitors ( 100 cars ) will have the opportunity to compete for one week in this sensational event inspired by the legendary movies ‘ The Cannonball Run’ and ‘ The Gumball Rally’.
Rock stars, Supermodels and Sports Celebrities will compete against entrepreneurs, car fanatics and other adventurers alike in this elite ‘pedal-to-metal’ Cannonball Run.
The driving will be the most exhilarating and intense experience you have ever encountered. The parties the wildest, most candid you have ever attended. The hotels America’s finest chateaus. Your competitors, the most glittering, eccentric and stylish crowd you have ever competed against.

Further details and application forms are available on www.playersrun.com

13-September-02
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Granada TV to film visit to Hawk Cars
Dear all,
I have Granada Television coming a week Friday 23 rd. August with a film crew.
They would like some customer cars to film and chat to owners about cars etc.
Also want a car for Vicki Butler Henderson to drive into Goodwood in!!!!!
Any offers of help, who wants to be a superstar ?????
Best regards
Gerry

14-August-02
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Aussie cash rescues a classic
By Julian Rendell

The Age - Monday July 29 2002
A refinancing package for a classic British sports car manufacturer has come from an unlikely place - Australia.
AC Motor Holdings Ltd, a new holding company in Malta, has announced that it has bought the whole of Britain's oldest car maker, AC Cars.
Famous for the classic Cobra muscle car of the 1960s, AC Cars has suffered under a nine million pound debt and last year made only 35 cars.
AC Motor Holdings secured longterm finance for the deal from Volkswagen Financial Services Australia Ltd.
The driving forces behind the new company are the chairman and chief executive officer of AC Cars, Alan Lubinsky, and Australian Lamborghini importer James Smith, who will head AC Motor Holdings' Australian operations.
Smith is also a partner with Lubinsky in the Verte Automotive Group, the company set up to distribute rebadged, LPG-powered Ford Falcon utes in Britain.
The funding link is believed to be part of last year's deal in which AC became the sales agent for Verte in Britain.
AC is also receiving help from another unlikely source - the Mediterranean island nation of Malta.
Production of AC's carbon-fibre Cobra look-alike, the CRS, will switch to the tiny island as part of the refinancing package, together with the Mamba coupe and the lightweight Ace.
The Malta Development Corporation will provide funding assistance for the purpose-designed factory.
The new company has also secured a contract with a US importer for sale of the alloy-bodied Mark III, an updated version of the Cobra original, which will be produced at AC's existing plant in Frimley, England.
Frimley will continue to be the centre for the design, engineering and prototyping of future AC models.
Australia, too, will be vital to the company's success. Apart from offering a sales channel for Australian buyers, the local offshoot is set to be positioned as a spearhead to potentially lucrative Asian markets.
AC has had a chequered recent history. In December, 1996, it was bought out of administration by a consortium of businessmen led by Lubinsky, which attempted to put a new sports car, called the Ace, into production from a lowcost South African factory. However, the plan foundered.
Ford recently bought back the rights to the Cobra name.
This settled an ongoing dispute with Carroll Shelby, with whom AC created the Cobra in the 1960s, over the rights to the famous nameplate.
The dispute simmered and occasionally boiled over under AC's previous owner, Brian Angliss.
And a recent move to a new factory in England hasn't gone smoothly, disrupting production for the best part of nine months.

05-Aug-02
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Carroll Shelby Wins US Injunction To Protect Brand
Thoroughbred & Classic Cars, 05/2002


The genuine article; Shelby is determined to protect brand
A COURT in the United States has granted an injunction that prevents a kit car manufacturer from using any of the trademarks associated with the legendary Shelby Cobra.
A judge at the Federal District Court of Massachusetts entered a final judgement in favour of Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc and Ford Motor Company against Factory Five Racing which is one of the largest manufacturers of Cobra-style kits.
The decision permanently prevents Factory Five Racing from making use of any trademarks owned by Shelby or Ford including the famous 427, GT350 and Daytona Coupe monikers.
Carroll Shelby was delighted at the outcome of the case: "I surrounded myself with the best people at Shelby American and got first-rate help from Ford Motor Company.
We're very proud of what we accomplished and I am dedicated to protecting the history and integrity of the Shelby Cobra name," he said.

22-June-02
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Cobra and Ferrari To Battle It Out Again
Thoroughbred & Classic Cars, 05/2002


Richard Symons (facing camera) during filming
THE epic battle between Carroll Shelby and Enzo Ferrari will be brought to television screens this summer with a new programme by British director Richard Symons.
The Cobra Ferrari Wars documentary tells the incredible story of how a chicken farmer from Texas took on the aristocracy of European motor sport and won.
With the incredible Daytona Coupe piloted by Bob Bondurant and Dan Gurney, ex-racing driver Shelby, who created the Shelby Cobra, turned the tables on the dominant force of the Ferrari GTO with a victory in the 1964 Le Mans 24 Hours.
The Le Mans win was the high point of a three year struggle with the dominant ltalian team which saw Shelby's company grew from just one employee to over 800 across five racing teams.
Director Richard Symons said: "The competition between Carroll Shelby and Enzo Ferrari was a real David and Goliath struggle for supremacy, for petrolheads this makes compelling viewing."
The Cobra Ferrari Wars will be shown on the BBC this summer.

It was actually shown on BBC Four at 21:00 BST on 17^th June 2002.

22-June-02
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British Car Weekend, Rhön Valley, 2^nd - 4^th August
Peter Alt (Secretary of the Morgan Club Deutschland) has just contacted us, and cordially invites all "289 Register" members to take part in the British Car Weekend that he is organising for the 2^nd to 4^th August 2002 in the Bavarian Rhön valley region (750 km / 465 miles east of Calais).

The idea is to have a relaxing weekend in the company of other British Car enthusiasts (mostly Morgan, Panther, Jaguar, MG and TR), to enjoy the superb food of the region and to take part in a scenic drive around the area on Saturday.

   
There is also an optional Treasure Hunt on Friday afternoon for the drive to the superb Landhotel Thüringer Hof in Ostheim, which will be the base for the weekend.

The cost is Euro 150 (ca. £ 95,--) per person, which includes a welcome drink and regional buffet dinner on Friday evening, lunch and 4-course evening dinner on Saturday, a picnic lunch on Sunday, route book, souvenir T-shirts and rally plaque, prizes, etc.
Drinks and hotel accomodation (3*, double rooms from DM 57 / £ 18 per night) is not included, so you can easily add a few extra days to your stay in this comfortable hotel to fully explore the Thüringer Wald (Forest) region.


The nearby Aschach castle, just one of the many sights.

Because places are very limited, if anyone is interested, please contact me or Peter Alt direct via E-mail immediately for an application form.

21-April-02
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"Cobra - The Real Thing" Book bargain
After I had bid on several books in his eBay auctions, Terry Wills informed me that he has a number of copies of Trevor Legate's excellent book "COBRA, The Real Thing" for sale. These are 'seconds' that he bought direct from the publisher, and he has sold a few through eBay at prices around £14 - £16 (which is well below the £25 new price). Postage within the UK or to Germany will add about £4 to this price .

If you are interested, please contact Terry directly - either via e-mail or at
HERTSGROVE,
WANSWELL,
BERKELEY,
GLOS. GL13 9RR
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel./Fax +44-1453-811 819

but please don't forget to quote the "289 Register" to be certain of getting the book at this price (I paid £45 for this book a few years ago, and still think it's worth every penny too!)

7-February-02
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Shelby vs. Factory Five
There is a new website for kit cars, called (not unreasonably) www.totalkitcar.com , where this news snippet recently appeared .....

Worrying news from America recently is that Cobra legend Carroll Shelby has won his first battle with US replica outfit Factory Five over copyright infringements. Apparently Factory Five who sell over 500 units per year have agreed to not use the Cobra name, logo or make any other reference to it in their brochures and on their website. They have also been landed with some harsh costs meted out during the hearing in Boston. What is even more worrying is what’s looming on the horizon in February when Shelby returns to court to fight over the cobra shape.

24-December-01
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Jumping Cobra
I found the following two photographs on the www.brgmotors.com web site.




Yeeehaaaa, ride that baby!

07-November-01
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Lelystad Meeting - Photo CD and Video
Michael Goossens, of the Cobra Club Nederland, can offer a Photo CD containing approx. 300 digital photos (all with a resolution of 2048 x 1536) of the superb International Cobra Meeting held this summer in Lelystad. He also has a 1 hour video of the weekend Sprints, oval racing, burnouts and so on.

Further details (prices, address, etc.) will appear here, as soon as I have received these from Michael.

15-October-01
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Cobra Couch
For the keenest of Cobra enthusiasts, there is even a two-seater couch in the shape of the tail end of an AC Cobra! Further details can be found at www.corbin-wohndesign.de/Modelle/cobra/cobra00.html

05-June-01
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Liege to Corsica Endurance Rally, April 2001
Details of the 4000 kms 6 day endurance rally for kit cars, run from Liege to Corsica between April 21^st and 26^th can be viewed here.

The '289 Register' was represented by the two trusty steeds of David Pilbeam (Hawk 289) and David Butcher (BRA 289), ably accompanied by Graham Fry and Andrea Butcher. Permission was also granted by the ferry company to use the reduced-price block-booked ticket for a later return to Marseilles, allowing a longer stay on the rock of Corsica to explore those stunning roads and passes without the pressure of timed stages.

The web site was updated (almost) daily with photos "live" from the Rally HQ every evening, details can be found here.

There is even an official web site for this event, with the catchy URL of http://communities.msn.co.uk/GuildofMotorEnduranceforspecialistcars

20-May-01
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From Giacomo Ceccato, near Milan in Italy ....

"Would you be so pleased to inform the 289 register that I am the proud owner of the most important specialised and kitcars' website of ITALY!!!

www.kitcars.it

And I HAVE BOUGHT THE ALAN CARR' S HAWK 289"

The opening party on April 3^rd 2001 for Giacomo's Exhibition of British Specialist and Kit Cars was attended by the General Consul of Milan (Sir Charles De Chassiron), with the Senior Commercial Officer and over 60 other people, including journalists and engineers. The SSC Stylus rolling chassis is on display at the Auto in libreria exhibition, which runs until April 26^th 2001 at La Libreria Internazionale Ulrico Hoepli di Milano, via U. Hoepli n°5.

5-April-01
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Cobra Mustang on a Virtual Drag Strip!
Visit http://members.home.net/sdweb/index2.htm and launch a Cobra Mustang when the light tree goes green (from Fritz Philipps).

Unfortunately, this link now appears to be dead - if anyone finds where it has been relocated to ....

18-January-01
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Relaunch of BRA 289?
I have just received the following e-mail ....

"The BRA 289 is making a comeback (with a new name) sometime in 2001 and will be available in kit form. The new owner is Paul Stannard, trading as Tasmin Automotive. The main donor vehicle will continue to be the MGB, but now preferring the rubber bumper model. The reasons for this are; They are less desirable therefore cheaper to buy, and they have a dual braking system plus collapsible steering column. Essential to satisfy SVA requirements. The preferred engine will continue to be Rover V8 with the Ford V8 as an option. At present two cars are being built (1 with Rover engine and 1 with Ford 302 engine), hopefully one will be presented for SVA in June-July 2001. The bodyshells now have return edges on the wheel arches and the bonnet and bootlid are now double skinned. Other mods have been kept to a minimum to allow the car will meet the requirements of SVA. Although it is early days yet, comments, enquiries, etc, from present and future 289 owners would be appreciated. My details are as follows;

Paul Stannard
159 Clifton Road
Darlington
Co. Durham DL1 5EB
+44-1325-260668 (home phone)
+44-1325-331137 (workshop phone/fax)
tasmin.289@ntlworld.com"
02-January-01
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1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe Sold by auction
On 18^th & 19^th August 2000, RM Auctions offered a 1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe (CSX 2300) for sale, at the Monterey Sports Car Auction, Doubletree Hotel, Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey, California, U.S.A.
Personally owned for almost 20 years by Carroll Shelby, CSX 2300 is one of only six Daytona Coupes built. It is one of the original factory cars and competed in the 1964 Tour de France and enjoyed podium finishes in FIA World Championship races at Daytona, Sebring and Nürburgring in 1965. This is the first Shelby Daytona Coupe ever offered at public auction.

The car sold for $4,000,000

28-August-00
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----- Original Message -----
From: Joseph Schreier
Sent: Donnerstag, 3. August 2000 02:05
Subject: Front badge,
I have a new, never installed 1st design, Shelby/AC/Corbra, cobra head on shapped front/deck badge that I am interested in selling. We are open to offers.
This was equired when I worked for the Shelby Works or when I was Service Manager for Shelbys High Performance Motors.
In view of the number of emblems that were originally made the value is considerable, our Ins. App. value is $3,000.00 with the aside that it probably is irreplaceable. We would be pleased to allow a sponsored 3rd party appraisal with verification of authenticity. The "How much??" is not my decision, it is for sale to the highest bidder with a threshold of $2500.00.

Joe S. Schreier SAE/STS
ledfoot777@peoplepc.com

PS We also have a couple HP lapel pins that are available

Now, would I rather pay for one year's insurance, one year's road tax AND 14,000 kms of fuel to drive around in my BRA 289, or buy this badge? Hmmm, difficult choice ..... Perhaps if I just took out a second mortgage I could afford one of the HP lapel pins?

11-August-00
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----- Original Message -----
From: Scholarracing@aol.com
Sent: Mittwoch, 2. August 2000 22:57
Subject: special offer
I have been supplying all maner of brake parts to the motorsport industry for about 15 years now, I was also involved with the D.R.K. Kitcar project since it's conception being on of the designers of the D.R.K. 3 Wheeler which is now out of production due to retirement.
I would like to take this opportunity to offer you and your members the benefits of using Stainless Steel braided brake hoses and fittings, as used in most of the International, National, and Club racing formula, at a very competative price direct from me via our website at http://www.scholar-racing96.com
If your members quote a bonifide membership number I can offer a motorclub discount and preferential service.
Your sincerely
Keith Hamer
MD Scholar Racing '96

03-August-00
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The French Connection
At Retromobile 2000 in Paris, I was surprised to find that there is a new Pay-TV station called 'Canal Jimmy' (part of the Canal Plus network), that uses a red Cobra as its logo (even on their baseball hats and keyrings), and has a very successful show called 'Cobra Girls', where Isis discovers French villages in an AC Cobra.
They have even produced a 52 minute long video on the history of the Cobra (including interviews with Carroll Shelby, Peter Brock, Bob Bondurant, Phil Hill and Stirling Moss) - unfortunately, it is narrated in French, and they have very limited numbers of PAL VHS versions, so if anyone is interested in brushing up on their schoolboy French, copies can be ordered directly from Canal Jimmy, for FFr.129 plus postage.

03-Mar-00
P.S. Canal Jimmy furthered their Cobra 289 links by sponsoring the magnificent ATS team AC Cobra 289 Daytona Coupe that was driven by Henri Pescarolo into second place (just beaten by the lightweight E-type of Barrie Williams) at the Coys Historic Festival in Silverstone on 23^rd July 2000.

27-July-00
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Stretched Cobra!
From Fritz Philipps, details of a stretched Cobra limousine!


Further pictures under http://home.wwdb.org/pace/photo.htm

14-Mar-00
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COBRA CUP 2000 Race Series for CN-Cobra 427s
Following the 1999 success of the CN-Cobra 427 in the 24 hours of Nuerburgring on the 5^th and 6^th of June - 17^th place overall in the Group 1 (which was won by the Zakspeed Chrysler Viper driven by Klaus Ludwig) - two Cobra specialist dealers (CN-Fahrzeugbau in Dormagen and Race Classics in Anroechte) are getting together to enter two CN-Cobra 427s in this years' 24 hours of Nuerburgring race on the 24^th and 25^th June 2000.
They are also planning to enter these cars in the 24 hours of Malaysia in 2001.

Furthermore, they are also preparing CN-Cobra 427s for sale or to rent, to compete in the Cobra Cup 2000 - a one-make division within the German ADAC Youngtimer Trophy 2000 - a minimum of eight events, ranging from slaloms and hill climbs to track racing at Nuerburgring, Zolder, Hockenheim, Zandvoort and Spa. The cars can be purchased in race-trim only for DM94,500, or in road/race trim for DM109,500 (they could then be driven to the events), with Chevrolet 5.7 litre V8 engines (330 bhp), six-speed gearboxes and Goodyear tyres.

Race dates with further details were released on 12^th February - some photos from his event can be seen on the CN-Cobra 427 page.

13-Feb-00
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From 'SNAKE TORQUE', Edition 62
NORTH HANTS TYRES have sent us information some of you would be pleased with. They have tyre stocks of BF Goodrich Comp T/A for 15" wheels. These are:
215/60VR15 BFG Comp T/A VR4 @ £110.00 plus VAT
235/60VR15 BFG Comp T/A VR4 @ £120.00 plus VAT
They also offer a full fitting service or alternatively you can obtain them by mail order. They are located at
10-12 & 30 Fleet Rd, FLEET, Hants. Tel: +44-1252-613261 or Fax 812225.

---

Philip Grayston is an enterprising nineteen year old student who's just begun a BA (Hons) degree course in Technical Illustration at Blackpool college. During his spare time he has developed various caricatures of his favourite cars, obviously cobras are amongst his most favoured as you can see on the opposite page. To help him through college he is hoping to sell prints of them. All are printed to a high standard and are all A3 sized (310-450mm). They cost a mere £5 each (yes that is correctly printed) and £2,50 post & packing. I have been sent two copies to examine and they are, I think, delightful. They are ridiculously cheap for the money in my opinion and properly framed would look great on your wall, so grab them while you can. More prints including a VW Beetle, VW Campervan, 1941 Pro Street Willys Coupe, Ford GT40, 69 Mustang, Rally Mini 16V and several more Minis are available.




If anyone is interested in having one of their very own cars doing, this too can be undertaken. The blue Cobra and GT40 have recently been completed for CRC member Ken Armitage, who some of you may know. Prices for a commission start at £50 and go up accordingly for required quality and size. Ken's was A2 sized and airbrushed in inks (which took ages) one like this should be worth about £80. All that's needed is a couple of photographs (returnable). For more information contact him on the following: Tel: +44-1924-824202 or +44-788-195-1438 or or write to:
Philip Grayston,
44 Gainsborough Way,
Stanley,
Wakefield,
W Yorks,
WF3 4PU

09-Feb-00
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Relaunch of BRA 289?
I recently received the following e-mail, and met up with the perpetrators at the '289 Register' meeting at Flanders, Gent in Belgium ....

'As many people know we manufacture 1930's style 3 wheelers here in the UK. Not Morgan replicas but Morgan'ish'.
B.R.A. originally stood for "Beribo Replica Automobiles", a name derived from the surnames of the original two owners of the firm, John Berry and Peter Ibbotson.
Beribo were originally based in Doncaster U.K. and ceased trading a few years ago when they both retired and their various kit projects were sold on. We acquired the Honda engined CX3 demo car and jigs, tools and moulds. Their P type and J type replica's (MG's?) had already been sold as had the B.R.A. 289 Cobra replica. The latter was, we believe unusual, in that it was moulded off an original 289 so is dimensionally correct in every detail. The B.R.A. 289 is welcomed it seems at 289 club meetings.
Some one hundred and fifty B.R.A. 289's were sold over a 15 year period. Apart from the CX3 (which we still manufacture), all the various projects have since had several owners and have never gone into anything like even half hearted production.
The opportunity has arisen for us to acquire the original mint condition B.R.A. 289 demo car (chassis number 1!!) and also chassis number 2 along with everything that we need to put the car back into production.
The reason for posting this news item is really to gauge reaction.
Is there a market for the 289 Cobra replica or does everyone want 427's? AC made 1100 original 427's we understand, and there have since been 31,000 replicas!!
Whilst we would not expect anyone reading this news item to take out their cheque book and send us a deposit, is anyone out their seriously interested in a B.R.A. 289 if it were to become available again? Subject to reaction the world may see a re-launch.
Also check out our 3 wheel website http://www.bra-cars.com
Reply to
Thanks for reading.
David Wiles and James Mather'

02-Feb-00
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STOLEN
Katies' pedal car - an A7 Pathfinder in golden yellow gelcoat, as featured on pages 46 and 48 of the October '97 Kit Car magazine - great sentimental value.
Katie was often seen peddling it around some of the Kit Car Shows. It was stolen in a 'RAM RAID' whilst it was on display in a showroom near Ashford.

Any help with its' recovery would be gratefully appreciated, and will help stop a small girls' tears!

Please contact Gerry Hawkridge
Telephone +44-1892-750282
Fax +44-1892-750071

13-Jan-00
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