Tomorrow, on 9th November we again have 3 SIMCA 1000 Rallyes out at a trackday... my ex 'Youngtimer Trophy' racecar which had a long history with its original owner Frank Breidenstein racing around Europe on all the major circuits, Phil Hart's Rallye 2 and Jim Woodstock's 1000 powered by a similar spec 1294 engine. This is probably the last time out for us for this year. Next year we hope to do more of these events Run by Frank Hall with his profits going to various charities (see FCTDC on Facebook).... Have you got a SIMCA, MATRA or Talbot that you don't mind giving a bit of '''exercise' our on the track.... if so, why not join us at Blyton next year??

Originally the date for the 'Chesterfield Motorfest' for this year, where the whole town centre would be turned over to old/interesting cars for the day, the 2019 event being a huge success with the town the busiest ever seen on the day. The local council were worried about such crowds in the current situation so looked towards 'smaller events'. An 'All French Car Day was suggested' and that is what is taking place on Sunday 15th August with our SIMCA, MATRA, Talbot etc display being a focal point there. Our friends from the MATRA Club are holding their AGM in the town the previous day so should be there in force with their cars. Other French car club are being contacted and invited.... if you know any owners of other French cars please pass on the word. This can act as our 'National' meeting for 2021 so let's make it the biggest UK gathering of 'our cars' since Beaulieu in 2014...!!!! We're offered as much space as we can fill. Chesterfield is in Derbyshire, 6 or 7 miles from junction 29 M1, Postcode S40 area (exact code will be announced when council decide the location in the town centre). More info as it becomes available from me on email scukmick@aol.com tel 01246 200045

I'd raced SIMCA 1000s and Rallyes in sprints, Hillclimbs and on the big circuits since the mid '80s, retiring from competitive racing around the turn of the century. Still enjoy an occasional trackday though. In 2016 I acquired this, a car I wish I'd have had when I was racing in Classic Saloons etc. Bought from Essex member, Dan Burrowes in our club, it was originally built and raced around Europe for many years by Frank Breidenstein of the German 'SIMCA heckmotor Club'. Frank had quite some success with it and we used to see it race on our annual visits to the 'Classic Club Race meeting' at Belgium's Zolder circuit. Porsche engineer Frank's many years of SIMCA racing experience had obviously gone into this car and it does things really well that some of my home built cars suffered with in the handling and cooling departments particularly. It turns out close to 130bhp from its 1294engine (Frank ran it in earlier years with an 1150 engine as a 1000 Special) and with close ratio gearbox, LSD plus considerable lightening really GOES. Over the years in Frank's ownership it received a few 'shunts' but the extensive rollcage braced to the Weker areas on the 1000's bodyshell saved it and it has been rebuilt to a standrad the SIMCA factory could only dream of!!! Currently it's on my to do list for a thorough check over for when trackdays are allowed again. Photo.... climbing Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb at the August 2016 'Retro Rides Gathering' ... Titus Taylor took an in car video from the passenger seat.

The current issue of 'Practical Performance Car' magazine includes an article I wrote for them during the first 'lockdown'. It deals with how brother Kev and I got into racing and running SIMCAs in the early '80s with loads of photos up to the present day. I'll include the basic text I sent PPC with the article along with photos (both the ones they did and didn't use) in the next L'Aronde I'm working on now. Maybe this thread could include details of past magazine articles that have featured members' cars, to help with locating back copies of the appropriate mag.

This SIMCA 1000 had been under a pile of junk in a garage since 1984 after the untimely death of its owner. In its 12 years on the road it had gained its share of rust, particularly around the rear wings, rear door pillars (favourite 1000 rust areas and the front end of the sills. Original plan for the 1118cc car, that had done only 19000 miles from new, was to restore it as original but a 'stocktake' of parts I'd saved came up with an alternative. I had a set of big arched fibreglass wings from a past racing 1000 with a set of 7x13 Revolution alloy wheels to fit them along with a single DCOE Weber kit and 4 branch exhaust. So the plan changed to a more modified effort. I plan to touch up the original light metallic blue on the top half with a two tone effect from a darker blue bottom half as that area will need completely repaintint after lower door repairs.

The VF vans and pickup based on the SIMCA 1100 remained in production until the early months of 1985, some years after the hatchbacks and estates were axed. Models available were the VF1 van, the Vf2 hi top van, VF3 extra hi top and the pickup. The MATRA Rancho also used the structure of the pickup as its base. As with most light commercials many had a very short, hard life so are now really rare in the UK especially. I'd always wanted one and, around 2003 I bought my '84 pickup from club member David Hart and it's still going strong with a major rebuild around 2014 and a bit of 'rust surgery' at present. I've 'uprated' it with a 1442cc engine among other things. Being a late model mine is badged Talbot, early ones were SIMCA and, for a while late '70s UK market vans and pickups wore the Dodge badge. ... Chrysler advertising them along with the Dodge (previously Commer) heavier van & truck ranges...

SIMCA Bertone coupes in the UK The rear engined coupes built by Bertone on the floorpan of the SIMCA 1000 from '62 to '72 were always a rarity in the UK. the earlier 1000 coupe was never officially sold new here. The '67 onwards 1200S version with twice the power from a 1204cc twin carb engine was then only available to special order and still left hand drive. Six right hand drive conversions were done and 5 of them are known to survive, with just mine and brother Kev's the only two currently on the road. The 944cc 1000 coupe being even rarer. Club member Richard Bremner has a '66 one which he's now decided to sell. Club president Dick Husband has 2 or 3 partly dismantled ones and another is believed to still exist belonging to a former member. Photos show the two RHD examples in the Ward family, both restored over many years and Richard's earlier model.