Thursday 20th January 2011

Video: Baby Bertha, Gerry Marshall and Oulton Park

Legendary track, driver and car combine to make a wonderful nostalgia feast

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From a time when men were men and the best racing cars had more power than grip comes this fabulous mini-documentary about Dealer Team Vauxhall and the iconic Baby Bertha.

What's unfortunate, given the fact that this appears to be a promo video, is that this is one of the very few races that Bill Blydenstein's creation didn't win.

At the hands of the legendary Gerry Marshall, Baby Bertha took two consecutive Super Saloon championships in the mid-70s, but this documentary features the only race this car ever came second in - its third outing, at Oulton Park.

More embarrassing still, the car that beats it is a Skoda (albeit a mighty quick one). Gerry has a fine list of authentic racing driver excuses at the end, though, ranging from overheating brakes to using the wrong tyre compound.

Mind you, given the car's subsequent massive success, perhaps those excuses are actually justified... and whatever the result, we reckon it's a cracking watch, particularly with the oh-so-seventies backing track...

 

[M666 EVO]

When the footage goes to the in car view, I actually thought it had been speeded up its so damn fast! Brilliant...

[anonymous-user]

I reckon a droop snout firenza with a red top engine, would make an interesting street sleeper

[Bacchus]

Gerry is my hero, he has won more than 600 races!

[2mad]

Driving god and he drove a few tvr,s.

[AdeV]

Absolutely brilliant. The 2nd in-car lap, when Gerry gets a proper tank-slapper in the middle of Druids, shows just how fast - and how twitchy - that car is; not to mention what a supreme driver Gerry was.

Respect to man and machine.

[Riggers]

AdeV said:

Absolutely brilliant. The 2nd in-car lap, when Gerry gets a proper tank-slapper in the middle of Druids, shows just how fast - and how twitchy - that car is; not to mention what a supreme driver Gerry was.

Respect to man and machine.

All the more impressive when you see how much run-off there isn't .

[Lord Flathead]

Good video showing how it used to be done. Particularly liked the shot in the workshop where the mechanic looked like he was porting the one of the V8 heads with an air grinder

Does anyone know if Baby Bertha still exists? That would make an excellent replica car as the Firenza's, although scarce, are still available and plenty of suitable GM V8's about too

[Gregor Marshall]

It's part of a really good promotional video I have on DVD - Dad always said to me they used a new tyre compound for this race and this was the first time they had used them and they were too soft...who says racing drivers have excuses!!

[Tiger Two]

Lord Flathead said:

Good video showing how it used to be done. Particularly liked the shot in the workshop where the mechanic looked like he was porting the one of the V8 heads with an air grinder

Does anyone know if Baby Bertha still exists? That would make an excellent replica car as the Firenza's, although scarce, are still available and plenty of suitable GM V8's about too

Oh yes, she's still about. Seen her at Goodwood FoS a couple of times. I'm sure Gerry drove her up the hill the first time...

Legendary man and machine!

[mybrainhurts]

Gregor Marshall said:

It's part of a really good promotional video I have on DVD

Can you get it up on Youtube? I'd love to see it.

Edited by mybrainhurts on Wednesday 19th January 18:06

[Allen Brown]

I thought the only car that beat Baby Bertha was Chevron B21, a 2-litre sports car fresh from the European 2-litre sports car championship but with the addition of a steel Hillman Imp body. It was known as the Chimp and was quickly banned by DTV's lawyers.

[Sploder1969]

Fantastic video...thank you.
Still have the poster of Baby Bertha on my son's wall (previously the study), I won't let him replace it with a Halo one.
I was at Goodwood the first time Gerry and the car were there and it's even more incredible in the flesh.

[2mad]

More baby bertha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkxxpMI__5o

[infradig]

One of my heroes since I was 10,great film thanks. Good to see Baby Bertha and OldNail are both still around,but what a out Big Bertha? To this day Gerry in the VX 4/90 rank with Jim Clark in a Lotus Cortina and Hawthorn in a 3.4 Jag as the ultimate saloon racing images and the reason I love sideways barges!

[lord summerisle]

Lord Flathead said:

Good video showing how it used to be done. Particularly liked the shot in the workshop where the mechanic looked like he was porting the one of the V8 heads with an air grinder

Does anyone know if Baby Bertha still exists? That would make an excellent replica car as the Firenza's, although scarce, are still available and plenty of suitable GM V8's about too

Heres Baby Bertha at the Pageant of Power in 2009 (it was also at the 2010 pageant too, but i didn't take any pictures)

Edited by lord summerisle on Wednesday 19th January 20:02

[chevronb37]

What a great guy. So sad I never saw him racing Baby Bertha in period but you can't help when you're born...At least we got to see man and machine back together at Goodwood. And to see Gerry in the Marsh Plant Aston was wonderful. Couple of quick pics from the 2009 and 2010 Pageants of Power and something I found knocking around the Silverstone paddock a few years back which struck a chord...

[Transmitter Man]

A far better video featuring the great Gerry Marshall:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY5zdnGvT0c

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDAK4jBKmow

Riveting.

Phil
TVR 420 SEAC

[Shurv]

Gerry Marshall was/is my all time hero.His car control was simply stunning and was a great racer.He was also a great bloke and a total gent. I was blown away when as a socially geeky 13 year old discovered that I was a distant relative ( my aunt was a cousin of his) and was invited to Silverstone to see him race and meet him. He was amazing on the day,won the two races he entered ( 2 x different DTV cars) and got me pissed in the circuit bar!Boy could he drink,a proper beer monster.I was blown away that someone who was so competitive on track, could be such a great guy off it.I've got a photo somewhere but would destroy my cred by posting it as i you're not at your best at 13 and I was a bit star struck!! Gregor, you must be very proud of your Dad,he was loved and admired by many.

[leginlb]

Ah, the good old days. That Firenza was really something to see and looked a real handful. I saw Gerry Marshall race this car quite a few times back in the day and saw him get beaten (very rare) at Silverstone in 1976, by the infamous Chevron Imp (Chimp) driven by Jonathan Buncombe. The Tricentrol Supersaloons series was great, OK DTV ruled, but some of the other cars were great too - a 5 litre Beetle (seen behind the Fizenza in some of the photos) a Ford Cosworth DFV powered Volkswagen Fastback (the DFVW, numerous Skoda 110's, (turbos I recall), a very clever Daf 33 with a Chevrolet engine (I think) and many big engined Fords (Escorts and Capris) One of my favourites was the John Pope Special, a Vauxhall Magnum powered by an Aston Martin V8!

[williamp]

mybrainhurts said:

Gregor Marshall said:

It's part of a really good promotional video I have on DVD

Can you get it up on Youtube? I'd love to see it.

Edited by mybrainhurts on Wednesday 19th January 18:06

Me too. I'd love to see it.