[Tear101]

Here's one for you all. I have seen some pictures from the early 80's of an Hillman imp funnycar. This what i know so far. It was owned by Dave Hurts and was called the animal. It started off with a crysler motor in it and then ran with a blown rover V8. In 83 it was white and blue with the body hinged like a funny car.In 84 it was white and red but alot lower and i think it may have become a door car. Any body know what happend to it after that? is it still around?

[timetravel]

Here's one for you all. I have seen some pictures from the early 80's of an Hillman imp funnycar. This what i know so far. It was owned by Dave Hurts and was called the animal. It started off with a crysler motor in it and then ran with a blown rover V8. In 83 it was white and blue with the body hinged like a funny car.In 84 it was white and red but alot lower and i think it may have become a door car. Any body know what happend to it after that? is it still around?

I don't know what happened to it but here's some of my pics from '83 and '84.........
It was a classic looking British altered in it's '83 guise

[muddytalker]

I'm sure the late Mark Stratton had a hand in this project when it was a door car. I remember having to clean up all the glass at the top end of Long Marston shut down area when the Imp's original windscreen blew out at 100 mph!

[muddytalker]

This is all I've got I'm afraid.



The one I mentioned earlier as a door car with Mark Stratton's involvement was the 'Hustler' and ran in the NDRC Modified division.

[VTR]

You mentioned Hustler, wasn't that the one that had a small block Chevy in the rear just behind the driver with a chain drive to the rear axle? The engine was so high in the car the Holy was virtually touching the roof
If memory serves me right it rolled at Long Marston which ended in the driver loosing his life.

[Glenn R]

I know it's away from the strand and a bit grim but I wasn't aware that anyone had lost their lives at Long Marston/Shakey? I know that sadly a biker got killed a number of years ago but this wasn't directly related to a race meeting.

[muddytalker]

Absolutely correct Glenn. The car in question was involved in a top end roll but there ceratinly was no fatal accident reported.

[VTR]

Absolutely correct Glenn. The car in question was involved in a top end roll but there ceratinly was no fatal accident reported.

Admitedly it was quite a while ago so the old memory may well be playing tricks , & yes it was a top end roll. I remember that the engine had broken free of it's mounts & was lying at an angle in the back of the car. I think (but can't be sure) that the rear axle may also have come adrift, & that parts of the roll cage had failed.
As far as the driver loosing his life, at the time I believe it was in hospital, not actually at the track. However, I recall hearing this from several people at the time so to be fair this could be a case of the facts being distorted in some way as can sometimes happen when info is passed from person to person.
Like I said, it was a while ago & the old memory may well be playing tricks