“The car has been a labour of love for the last 4 years, nearing completion with car back from the restorers a couple of weekends ago. I’m really pleased with the final finish from Faircharm Restorations, Shane really knows his stuff and had great advice as we worked on the car. A few images before it came home. Still trying to source some Sebring Sprite side windows, if anyone knows of anybody”.

“My job was as a painter for Ortomarine, preping and painting new electric narrow boats, now semi retired but keeping my hand in where I can. I have now painted 2 fibreglass bodied cars with amazing results. 2 ltrs of epiphanes (trade name) enamel paint and 1ltr of thinners, some mixing cups and one top of the range paint brush (2″ purdy brush) all bought from ebay. Without going into to much detail: Start by removing the original paint with 150mm orbital sander 240 grit and 400 grit until smooth. Apply 2 coats of primer, apply 2 coats of undercoat (mixed gloss & primer) apply 1 coat of gloss and the flatten paint, apply finish coat of gloss. For this car, I sanded off the original silver / grey paint, not back to the fibreglass though, as the layers of paint will base as undercoats. Having removed the top coat and flattened the original paint, I then painted 2 coats of primer, aloud to dry until the next day where upon I painted two coats of primer mixed with the gloss paint I intended to use as the final colour, the mix was aproxx 50/50 then aloud to dry until the next day where I painted the gloss colour mixed with thinners, this was to be my sacrificial coat, aloud to dry and then using the orbital sander with a 400 grit paper the paint was flatted back to a nice even state, this would then be the base for my finish gloss coat.Enamel paint is thick and is hard wearing once dry is super shiney, dries very quickly. 2lts of Epifanes yacht enamel paint (light blue) (around £62) 1ltr of epifanes brush thinners. 1ltr standard tin of grey primer. 2″ brush made by purdey. Tack cloths & masking tape. 1ltr yellow for the bib. Total cost of around £200.
Graham Maggs”.

“I have been relatively quiet with the Sprite; just two events this year. The MGCC round at Shelsley in early June. Mixed weather and I was 5th out of 11 in the class. Not so good as last year’s 2nd out of 17 (behind Ben Roll‘s rapid Sebring on slicks) . I am on 10 year old road legal Yokos…. Photos attached are (in order) of Shelsley this year (did not realise I came in so close at the apex at Crossing bend).

Three other photos are of the non-competitive Bromyard hill climb in July. A lovely fast course, 1.2 miles with sweeping bends and helpful return road too. You may notice, if you look very carefully, that I had a passenger. I have fitted a second seat (Tillett) and my wife, Matty, had her first run in the car. The rear shot shows that the car is bottoming out (on the N/S anti tramp bar bracket). Note camber angle of front OS wheel on this first ‘ gentle ‘ run. I can see that even with Matty’s 50kg I will have to consider raising the ride height a touch and re doing the corner weights! Now in my 59th year of motor sport; the odd non-competitive event at Bromyard or members days at Shelsley are becoming more attractive. The aim is to take is my 12 year old grandson (who is very keen on motorsport due to his Dad, John’s, involvement with F1 etc) up Shelsley; he would never forget it.

Incidentally, someone came up to me and said he remembered TZA from an event at the Chateau Impney. I initially thought he meant the recent events from 2015 to 2018 that I took part in, but no, he said it was from the Chateau in the early 1960’s…..

It is very gratifying when people remember the car from 60 years and come up to speak to me. All worthwhile carrying out the rebuild over three years from 2012.

Other news, you probably heard that Paul Ivey (Dec 2024) and Peter Felix (March) have both sadly died. You may not have known about ex Midget racers Paul Bernal-Ryan and Bunny Lees-Smith, both A class drivers, have passed away quite recently too. The undertaker for the latter’s funeral was appropriately, the caring Rob Orford. Long time friend of Bunny, and speed event competitor in an MGB. A little while ago another ex-class A Midget racer died in France, David Brooker-Carey.

All photos of my car at Shelsley are by Joy Richings, wife of ex Modsports racer in the ‘Heatherborne Midget ‘ shared with Mike Donovan, with rear radiator and 1500 front. Peter went on to race clubman’s cars for about 50 years (with 2years with Mike in F3) Peter Richings is doing hillclimb driving very successfully in a VW Golf R .

I will send separately the a few photos from 2024 by Joy which are about the best I that I have seen of my Sprite or Midget at this venue. Most photos look as if the car is parked but Joy gets the angle right, with slight blurring of the background and wheels.

Lastly a photo (bottom left) of Alec Poole and me at our house in Warwickshire, in May 2025, when Alec and his son, William, came to see TZA 238. William had kept it a complete secret from his Dad but had covertly arranged it with me some time before. Afterwards they went to lunch near Banbury and then for a tour of Hook Norton brewery.
Best regards, James”.

[Photos courtesy of Joy Richings]