At the Imp Club National Weekend in August, Tim Duffee announced plans to build an updated version of the Davrian Mk6 and John Pugsley, who attended the 40th anniversary celebration, has placed an order for the first of these cars with a view to making a return to motorsport.
Further information will be provided when it becomes available.
For the third successive year, the weather was kind to us but unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, including the fact that both Ken Banks' and Pat Holmes' cars were without engines, the NDR turn-out was down on previous years and only three Davrians and a Darrian competed on the day.
The competitors for the NDR Handicap Challenge were Steve Alecock (Mk6), John Rawlins (Mk8), Graham Cashmore (Mk5) and Phil Gale (Darrian T9) who took the award for the second year running. Steve Alecock fought hard for a class win in the 'Up to 1400cc modified production' class but was pipped at the post by Colin Matthews in his very rapid mini. On his final run, Graham Cashmore managed his personal best time on the hill of 47.72 seconds, a good two seconds or so faster than he had achieved previously.
The Adrian Evans' Memorial Trophy was won by Stuart Lever with his immaculately finished pale-blue MK5.
Longleat 2001 was again blessed with good weather, so much so that many records were broken during the course of the day.
Neither Neville Cheeseman nor Tony Freeman were able to join us this year but nevertheless it still proved to be an extremely enjoyable day.
Steve Alecock failed to match his previous year's success leaving Ken Banks to salvage the Davrian honours with 2nd place in the "up to 1400cc modified Production Class", beaten overall by the indecently quick Mini of Andrew Semmens.
The NDR Handicap Challenge was won by Phil Gale in his Darrian T9.
John Rawlins received the 'Adrian Evans Memorial Cup' for 'Best Davrian' and Martyn Whiteland took the 'Best NDR Car' award for his motorcycle-powered Mk8 project car.
In contrast to the previous two extraordinarily wet years, it was a great relief that Longleat 2000 was blessed with clear skies and sunshine.
The NDR turnout was slightly reduced from that of recent years, although, in all, eight Davrians and Darrians took part in the action, including the welcome return to the fray of Neville Cheeseman. We were also pleased to be joined once again by the Evans' family.
Davrians gained two wins in the modified production classes, Steve Alecock (up to 1400cc) and Andrew Blizzard (up to 2000cc), with Andrew just clinching the "NDR Handicap Challenge".
For the second year in a row, Graham Cashmore took the Adrian Evans' Memorial Cup for "Best Davrian" (just as well, as he hadn't been able to collect it from the engraver prior to the event) and "Best NDR Car" was awarded to the SITD Darrian GT Rallycar of John Dalton.
To see photos from Longleat 2000, please go to the second NDR website.
Despite the fact that the Longleat Hillclimb was again marred by very damp weather, it was still a very enjoyable day for all concerned. Altogether thirteen cars, including two Darrians and the Monte Carlo of John Wheeler were present of which eight competed for the NDR Handicap Challenge which was won this year by John Rawlins. Best placed Davrian in the official results went to Ken Banks who took 3rd place in the up to 1400cc Modified Production Class.
We were joined this year by the late Adrian Evans' sister Vicki, his widow Jo and son and daughter Glyn and Thammy, who presented Graham Cashmore with the magnificent Adrian Evans' Cup for "Best Davrian".
The award for "Best NDR Car" went to Douglas Manderson for his Darrian T90 GT contender.
Despite the weather which consisted of rain for most of the day, the annual New Davrian Register get-together at the Longleat Hillclimb on 26th September proved to be a very enjoyable event.
This year, it had been decided to abandon the all-Davrian Class so that the drivers could compete within the normal speed-event class structure. The main reason for this decision was to allow the cars running in the up to 1400cc modified production class a chance to attack the overall class record. However this was put paid to for '98, by the severe weather. Also up for grabs was the "New Davrian Register Handicap Challenge" awarded for the car which performed best against the appropriate class record. N.B. this provides a fairer opportunity of a win for road-going Davrians, which are forced to compete in the modified production classes against out-an-out competition cars, as their handicap is based upon road-going times.
New Davrian Register Handicap Challenge winner Ken Banks (photo: Steve Mason)
Mk5 (Imp) of Mark Ibbotson (photo: Steve Mason)
Mk8 (Mini-powered) of Rob Gale (photo: Steve Mason)
Six Davrian drivers competed: Ken Banks, Mk7a (1120cc Imp), who was the eventual class and NDR Handicap Challenge winner, Steve Alecock, Mk6 (1120cc Imp), John Rawlins, Mk8 (1040cc Imp) and new-comers Rob Gale, Mk8 (1380cc Mini), Mark Ibbotson, Mk5 (998cc Imp) and Andrew Blizzard, Mk8 (1998cc Vauxhall).
Mk8 (Vauxhall) of Andrew Blizzard (photo: Steve Mason)
(The car is unusual in that it uses Mallock front suspension)
This year saw the largest line-up of Davrians ever seen at this event, with a total of fourteen cars (including the SITD GT2 Darrian and John Wheeler's Monte Carlo 220). The award for "Best Davrian" was presented to Kenny Rice for his beautifully restored Mk5 "Gulf" Davrian.
Once again we were joined again by Tim Duffee of Darrian Cars and for the first time the event was attended by Vicki Evans, sister of Davrian founder Adrian Evans, and Geoff Noblett who had helped Adrian build the first prototype at his house in Grove Park, South London.
Photo: Steve Mason
The 3rd running of the Davrian Class at the Longleat Hillclimb took place at the Woolbridge Motor Club organised event on Saturday 27th September.
This year only four cars competed for the honours: these being the 1760cc Ford- powered Mk8 Dragon of Tony Freeman, the 1120cc Mk7 of Ken Banks, the 1120cc Mk6 of Steve Alecock and the 1040cc Mk8 of John Rawlins. Tony Freeman once again took victory with Steve Alecock losing out in the closely fought battle for second place against Ken Banks by only a few 10ths of a second.
Because of the re-scheduling of the Croft round of the BRDC Privilege Insurance GT Championship, Tim Duffee was unable to join us as hoped with the Darrian GT1 challenger, but we were pleased to be joined by John Wheeler with the Monte Carlo 220, a Renault Alpine replica which features the Darrian floorpan and suspension configuration.
Also joining us for the lunchtime photocall, were the Mk7 of Neville Cheeseman, the Mk8 mini-engined car of brother Robin Cheeseman and the much modified Alfa Sud-powered Mk7a of Andrew Thomas.
Other Davrian enthusiasts present included Ian Sykes, Philip Michie, Steve Mason, Mark Harris, Peter and Malcolm Angus, Andrew Blizzard, Graham Cashmore (competing in his Stiletto) and Trevor Giddings, with apologies if anyone has been missed.
The Wednesday 15th October edition of "Classic Car Weekly" included an article on the "Davrians at Longleat", and a further brief article has appeared in the December edition of "Classic Cars" magazine.
An entry of seven Davrians competed at the second running of the Davrian class at this event. The winning car was again the red 1760cc Davrian Dragon, which also won last year's event, although this time in the hands of new owner Tony Freeman. Ken Banks, fresh from his success in retaining the up to 1400cc Modified Production class title at the Brighton Speed Trials, came home a close second in his 1120cc Imp-powered Mk7.
As hoped, Tim Duffee and family attended the event bringing the Roger Dowden Darrian T90 to join the photocall which matched last year's total of nine cars, and included the Ford-powered road-going Mk8 of Steve Proudfoot. Dominic Hann also joined us with his bright yellow Mk5, but unfortunately too late for the photocall.
It was extremely heartening to have so many Davrian enthusiasts take the trouble to attend this event.
Davrian Mk8 of John Rawlins voted 2nd in "Best Imp-based Car Category". Four Davrians were displayed during the weekend: the Mk5 of Mark Ibbotson, the Mk7 modsports of Ken Banks (see photos), the Mk8 of John Rawlins and briefly the Mk5 of Cam Johnson. In addition several Davrian owners attended the weekend including Ian Sykes, Steve Alecock, Steve Mundy, John Gribble and Kenny Rice.