HSCC April 2021 issue 128 | Page 17

Acheson ’ s memory lane

Former multiple Formula Ford champion Kenny Acheson has had a Formula Ford 1600 Royale RP24 restored to the exact livery of his 1978 car . The Northern Irishman asked former Royale boss Alan Cornock to find an RP24 as a tribute to his 1978 campaign that netted all three major UK Formula Ford titles .
“ We bought a nice car and fitted new bodywork and restored it to the exact period livery of Kenneth ’ s sponsor ,
The RP24 in RMC colours
RMC ,” said Cornock . “ In 1978 it was a works car run by Paul Thompson for Royale Racing Cars out of Little Staughton airfield .”
The base car is the ex-Tony Barley , chassis 57 . Acheson ’ s original RP24 was sold at the end of the 1978 season and later written off so the chassis no longer exists . Acheson , now based in Wiltshire , says he has no plans to race the car , which would have made a fantastic addition to the Classic FF1600 grid .

Fitz-Simon to bid for HFF crown

California-based Englishman Horatio Fitz- Simon will bid for the Historic Formula Ford title this season in the three-car squad from Silverstone-based Classic Team Merlyn . The 20-year-old racer has very limited experience from a handful of Historic FF races but has shown tremendous pace and hopes to use success in the Merlyn Mk20 as a career springboard . Fitz-Simon has impressed both in and out of the car .
Fitz-Simon said : “ This is the drive I ’ ve wanted . We ’ ve already seen what Mike O ’ Brien ’ s team did for champion Pierre Livingston last year , so I ’ m aiming to hit the ground running and be competing for victory from the word go at Snetterton in April .”
Fitz-Simon will chase the HFF1600 crown The other two drivers alongside Horatio in the Classic Team Merlyn squad will be Over
50s class drivers Alan Schmidt and Mark Carter . Schmidt raced in the shortened championship last year , while Carter first ran with the team at the Walter Hayes Trophy after several years racing in Caterhams .

Briefs

n Alongside its support for Thundersports , Racing Spirit Gin will be presented as podium awards for the two UK rounds of the Historic Formula 2 Series at Donington Park ( 2 / 3 April ) and the Silverstone Classic .
n A diary date : the HSCC Annual Awards Dinner will be held at Hanger One , The Aviator , Sywell Aerodrome , NN6 0BN , on Saturday 20 November 2021 . The dress code will be clean suits , and posh frocks and the event will feature an imaginative menu , guests and entertainment as well as a display of championship winning race cars . The event will also mark 100 years of the Royal British Legion 1921 – 2021 , ‘ lest we forget ’.
n The Club is pleased to welcome the HGPCA and GTSCC as major guest races at HSCC events in 2021 . The GT & SCC will be at Silverstone in May , while the HGPCA will feature prominently at the Brands Hatch meeting in July .
n Former Clubmans champion Martin Wood plans to break a long lay-off from racing in 2021 to compete in Historic Formula 2 in a Ralt RT1 . Wood made a brief foray into British Formula 3 after his 1982 Clubmans title but has not raced since the early 1980s . He has acquired the ex-Nick Fleming Ralt for his return and had a one-off in Classic FF2000 at the end of last season as a warm-up .
n For any seeking to broaden their racing experience with a European foray in 2021 , please look no further than our friends at HVM who run an extensive programme of race meetings at the major French tracks . HSCC racers can expect a warm welcome and more details are at : www . hvmracing . fr /
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