RE: PH Heroes: Baby Bertha

[Gregor Marshall]

soxboy said:

I'm currently reading Gerry Marshall's biography (written after his death by Jeremy Walton with help from Gerry's son Gregor), there are some fantastic pictures and great anecdotes in it, a fantastic and thoroughly recommended read.

Thank you!!

Edited by Gregor Marshall on Friday 8th July 13:58

[soad]

How cool is that? A real driver's machine!

[Gregor Marshall]

bob1179 said:

Is Gerry Marshalls biography still available? It's something I'd like to read.

Yes it is:- http://www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

If you're after a copy of Only Here for the Beer then I have a few originals (1978).

[andy97]

You can see these cars in acton (Baby Bertha, the DAF V8, the ex Mick Hill Chevy V8 VW Beetle, the "Stars & Stripes" Manta, Vince Woodman in his Capri, Peter Stevens ex John Clelkand Thundersaloon Carlton, Peter baldwin in a re-creation of his Shell Oils mini and various Special Saloons imps, minis, escorts & Skodas etc etc) on Auguust Bank Holiday Monday at Mallory Park, where the CSCC are putting on 3 Revival races for these iconic cars, amongst a full programmes of the clubs normal racing ("Swinging Sixties" etc etc). There are already 40 cars interested.

It is hoped that there will be a series of 4 or 5 races for these ex Special Saloons, Modsports, Thundesaloons, & Donington GTs etc next year.

[guestGTR]

I would sell my grandmother for a Pax lap or two in the Baby Bertha ..its one of my favourite cars of all time!!
I think i must watch that clip of Gerry at least once a week !! ..By the way ive had the pleasure of a lap of two with his brother Martyn and he drives via the side window as well, think it runs in the family!

[Jerry Can]

soxboy said:

Great review of the car.

I'm currently reading Gerry Marshall's biography (written after his death by Jeremy Walton with help from Gerry's son Gregor), there are some fantastic pictures and great anecdotes in it, a fantastic and thoroughly recommended read.

erm *cough* send it this way when you're done.

ta1

[Gregor Marshall]

John_S4x4 said:

I have always had a soft spot for Baby Betha. Does anybody have any photo's of the other colours Baby Bertha ran and any photo's of Big Bertha ?

All after original DTV ownership and before Dad re-bought Bertha.

















And to round it all off.....

Edited by Gregor Marshall on Friday 8th July 13:56

[bob1179]

Gregor Marshall said:

bob1179 said:

Is Gerry Marshalls biography still available? It's something I'd like to read.

Yes it is:- http://www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

If you're after a copy of Only Here for the Beer then I have a few originals (1978).

Thanks for the link, I will get a copy ordered, I would definitely be interested in a copy of Only Here for the Beer! I'll drop you a PM.

[John_S4x4]

Thanks for the extra pics, Greggor.
Baby Bertha does seem odd, without the DTV/Castrol colours.

[jellison]

Are you getting a run in it at Mallory though

[rallycross]

they could raise a lot of money for charity at Mallory doing some passenger laps in these iconic cars, I should think a lot of people (certainly those of us old enough to remember them when they were in action) would pay for a lap in a lot of these cars. Maybe do it during lunch?

[joz8968]

Gregor Marshall said:

All after original DTV ownership and before Dad re-bought Bertha.

















And to round it all off.....

Pure unadulterated, hairy arsed 'motorbreath'.

Woolly woofters need not apply.

[JB052]

I can remember Gerry racing it in a single seater race at Brands, it looked fntastic and quite competetive as well.

[lodgy]

andy97 said:

You can see these cars in acton (Baby Bertha, the DAF V8, the ex Mick Hill Chevy V8 VW Beetle, the "Stars & Stripes" Manta, Vince Woodman in his Capri, Peter Stevens ex John Clelkand Thundersaloon Carlton, Peter baldwin in a re-creation of his Shell Oils mini and various Special Saloons imps, minis, escorts & Skodas etc etc) on Auguust Bank Holiday Monday at Mallory Park, where the CSCC are putting on 3 Revival races for these iconic cars, amongst a full programmes of the clubs normal racing ("Swinging Sixties" etc etc). There are already 40 cars interested.

It is hoped that there will be a series of 4 or 5 races for these ex Special Saloons, Modsports, Thundesaloons, & Donington GTs etc next year.

so its definately the monday that bertha is racing? my girlfriend text me this morning to ask if we could go

[Gregor Marshall]

Dad did two Formula Libre races at Brands in December 1975 (against single seaters and Can-Ams) and he won one of them and was 4th in the other but in that one he qualifeid 8th and had a £100 bet with his late business partner (John Wingfield) that he'd be first into Paddock and he was - there was a lot of grass on the inside uesd though but John payed up!!



Dad bought Bertha back in 1983 and raced once in the Wendy Wools at Thruxton and had brake problems (amongst others - the previous owners had ruined her):-



And for a bit of fun, an artist friend of mine (David Beattie) made these earlier on this year - awesome!!

Edited by Gregor Marshall on Friday 8th July 17:37

Edited by Gregor Marshall on Friday 8th July 17:38

[ess]

britsportscars said:

Cool motor. The black Jag in the last pic looks even better tho!

+1

Great write up. One of the best I've read on PH recently.

[heightswitch]

Great write up, Legendary car and what else can we say about the driver....

We all miss him greatly Gregor.
N.

PS Old nail's going to be a miss?

[E39Ed]

I used to take my cars to the Crew Chief who was responsible for building Baby Bertha, Big Bertha and Old Nail, Gerry Johnstone. His garage in Cottenham was a bit of an shrine to the old cars, Gerry and Bill Blydenstein. It was always worth booking in a service just for the tales...

[GC8]

I had a book writen by Gerry, called something along the lines of 'How to go Racing'. I had it for years without realising that he was a friend of my uncles, also a racer with a similar style.

[Erich Stahler]

Gregor Marshall said:

Gregor, praticularly like the last one, your dad as a happy cheeky chappy enjoying himself in much simpler times.