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**JT Previa** · 11-04-2012, 03:51 PM

Was reading on Autosport.com about Bathurst, the Australian race (I think I can say that

), which led me to Autopics.com.au, an amazing site of photos from what seems to be all Australian racing. While our proxy is organized by SCCA rules (sort of

), Sprites are raced and loved around the world, as evidenced by our Canadian/Australian/New Zealand/British entrants.

The site includes quite a few Sprite photos, which I hand selected after browsing through the "Sports Car" section.Then I noticed the "Search" window. Yup,

you guessed it, enter "Sprite" and the site links to all the photos with thumbnails.

Oh well, here are some of the linked photos. Several feature a hybrid Sprite I had not seen before: wide set headlights, but the oval grille. Homebrew or ???

JT

**JT Previa** · 11-07-2012, 06:37 PM

Some Sprite racing videos for an inside view of the Sprite world:

http://youtu.be/i5eHtUANL44

http://youtu.be/qacpLyLMIiA

http://youtu.be/UFSJpfrz6zo

A few restoration videos for the classic enthusiasts:

http://youtu.be/GWBuekqp34k

http://youtu.be/dtcDbT--R9Y

JT

**DrDiff** · 12-11-2012, 09:57 AM

The seat backs how far did they come up? At the shoulders or just below them.

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**JT Previa** · 01-02-2013, 10:35 AM

Diff - Check out some photos - I'd say about equal to the body - unless you have some Recaros in there!

My new firend Pagelsham introduced me to British ModSports class that was a stomping ground for highly modified Sprites and their ilk. Here's an image an link to some examples.

http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88808

http://www.racing70s.pwp.blueyonder..../sprite_01.htm

Need to find out more about "Lenham" bodies for the Sprite!

JT

**Paglesham** · 01-02-2013, 11:00 AM

Hi all,
what a great thread. To a raggy-arsed enthusiast of cheap British sports cars the Sprite or Spridget as we call 'em is a must. The Mk2 Sprite was the Mk 1 MG Midget and so on right up t the hideous rubber bumper things. When i was a partner in FPF Models a couple of years ago, it occurred to me that it was very strange that the old Airfix Frogeye was very popular, yet nobody had done a model of the later marks, so I corrected that omission with a model in resin with w/m bumpers and screen in both Sprite and Midget versions.
The model master was sold to Steve Ward of Penelope Pitlane and he has now done the model with a hard top too.
SO....if you fancy a model of the "square body" Sprite, have a look at Steve's version on

Pendle Slot Racing Page Not Found

http://www.penelopepitlane.co.uk/bodyshells/spridget-complete-kit.html

Page description

That picture shows all versions of his kit with and without hardtop. His chassis are excellent too.
He also does 13" wheels with good inserts, wires (p/e) Minilites and Revolutions. I can tell you they're good wheels. I designed them

And don't forget, the Airfix Sprite is fully 3mm too narrow, so you can get some extra scale inches in if you just cut and widen it. Or use the Mk2 from PP which is already the right width.

Cheers,
Martin

**JT Previa** · 01-02-2013, 01:36 PM

Martin,

Thanks for stopping by, it's an honor to have a pro model maker in our midst, let alone the father of the. mk 2 Sprite master! One of our entrants was going to build the PP version, hopefully that materializes.

Gotta agree that those hideous rubber bumpers on the Midget are, well, hideous! I love both style Sprites, but those rubber road Midgets leave me cold. There's a restoration shop near me that specializes in MG/Triumph and always has a few Midgets on the lot, and I've never been tempted - probably saved me a lot of money (and garage space)...if they were Sprites, I'd be in trouble

JT

**Paglesham** · 01-02-2013, 02:30 PM

JT, I think th rubber bumpers came out on the Spridget when they were only made in MG form, Austin-Healey having been ditched as a marque by then. Before the rubber bumpers we had what many consider the prettiest, with chrome bumpers and a round rear arch, around 1973 IIRC. A good one of those will cost you a good £5000 these days. I had a 1098 Mk2 Sprite in faded out red. I paid £185 for it, ran it without a moment's trouble for two years and sold it for £185! Two months later it burned out. I knew I should have fixed that push on fuel pipe! ****! 70mph was like a ton up. Go kart handling. So much fun. I also drove a friend's Frogeye. Sneeze and you'd change lanes. Even more fun.

BTW, not only did I do the Mk2 onwards, but I also did a Speedwell Sprite, which is now available from SMK (Dave Capelen, Isle of Man). It was the super coupe, smoothed out fronted Frogeye, sans frog's eyes. Driven by many including Graham Hill who used to do Speedwell's advertising.
Here's a picture of the model.

Martin

**Paglesham** · 01-02-2013, 02:33 PM

Forgot to mention, there's a whole website for "different" Sprites, called Sebring Sprites. Plough through this lot when you have a spare morning!

John Sprinzel's Sebring Sprites

http://www.sebringsprite.com/

Now, that could keep you Sprite Proxy guys going for a LONG time!!
Enjoy,
Martin

**Paglesham** · 01-02-2013, 02:35 PM

JT,
more Lenhams than you could shake a stick at here:-

Lenham GT Gallery

http://www.sebringsprite.com/lenhamgtgallery.html

Martin

**Paglesham** · 01-02-2013, 02:37 PM

And this is the actual car I modelled above, with the help of its owner all these years.

Speedwell Sprite 505 BZ

http://www.sebringsprite.com/505bz.html

This is the correct width for a Sprite, i.e. 3mm wider than the Airfix one and the same as the Mk2 square body. The centre section of Sprites is the same on all models, btw. Check out that cill (rocker?) line behind the front wheel arch.

Martin

**pukplyr** · 01-02-2013, 04:57 PM

Originally posted by DrDiff View Post

I remember the Huffaker Mini from the SCCA runoffs on SpeedVision. (Gee that was a LONG time ago!)
It ROCKED! If I recall it was set up similarly to the way Renault set up the R5 Turbo.

DrDiff,

I could be wrong but, if memory serves me correctly, the Huffaker SCCA GT5 Mini's were basically a tube frame car w/ Mini bodywork hung! They were definately "screamers" and dominated GT5 for a few years!

As for the "bugeye" sprites and "spridgets" (sprites/midgets), I raced against many in my few years in SCCA competition! Being in G-Production in my spitfire...

I was always on a track filled w/ them....F-Prod, G-Prod and H-Production! Quite a formidable little car!

David

**JT Previa** · 01-20-2013, 05:54 PM

A detailed look at an SCCA Sprite that looks like a twin to our own Greg Nagy's number 10:

http://http://www.britishracecar.com...ley-Sprite.htm

Another Spridget from the British Racecar.com site which features incredible close up photos and detailed explanations of race car fabrication of all sorts of British Cars, from F1 to club racers:

http://http://www.britishracecar.com...t-Spridget.htm

JT

**greg nagy** · 01-22-2013, 04:01 AM

I know that car as he is in the sme area and I see it at various vintage events. According to that spec sheet, he probably has 20 more HP and 200 fewer pounds than I do. Suspension and tires count for alot though as I think he turns 1:40s at Summit Point and I can get down to 1:30

Close cousins of my car would also be http://www.britishracecar.com/ChuckPitt-Spridget.htm
and http://www.britishracecar.com/DerekChima-MG-Midget.htm

**JT Previa** · 02-06-2013, 07:28 PM

Fiery little beastie...

JT

**haystack** · 03-16-2013, 08:34 PM

Interesting to note that F1 SEASON opener in Melbourne, features a Drivers Parade....mounted on SPRITES..

Chris

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