Willenhall Heritage Trust

 The second Willenhall Heritage Day and Collectors Fair will be held on Saturday 21^st April at the CHART Centre, Gomer Street, Willenhall and will feature local businesses, old and new, a selection from the Hodson Vintage Clothing Collection, social and sporting clubs history, a model railway layout, a Genealogist, drawings, photographs, locks and local memorabilia collections, the Locksmiths House Display and entertainment from local performers amongst other attractions.  There will also be an opportunity to record your own memories of Willenhall, and browse and buy local and general collectable items from our stallholders.  In addition to this, there will be a display featuring a racing car built in Willenhall.

Ark Racing designed and built racing cars and was created by Derek Matthews who began in business at the Ark service station in Clarkes Lane, Willenhall; the service station taking it’s name from the Noah’s Ark pub across the road, which still stands.  Derek had previously worked with the Midland Racing Partnership, preparing Formula 2 Cars for John Surtees, Frank Gardner and Wolverhampton’s Richard Attwood.  AtClarkes Lane, Derek continued to prepare cars for motorsport and in 1968, moved to premises at the Croft, off Stafford Street, Willenhall.  This was previously the site of the Charles Perks Foundry  and upon the firm’s closure, was converted into small business units.  Preparation of cars continued and led to the design and construction of racing cars under the Ark Racing name.  The Ark Sprite Twin Cam, the Vogue and a series of successful Elans were followed by the CEEKAR, which, driven by Max Payne, Chris Ashmore and David Andrews gained the team 3^rd place in Group C2 of the 1985 World Sports Car Championship.  Much support was given to Ark Racing by local historian the late John Evans of Arthur Hough and Company, Essington, whose company sponsored Ark Racing for many years. 

 The first car completely designed and made by Ark Racing was the Ark Sprite Twin Cam.  This is a 1970 Sports Prototype having a tubular space frame chassis, aluminium monocoque centre section, and a Lotus 1600cc Twin Cam engine; the only thing ‘Sprite’ about it being the low profile glass fibre body.  The car has raced at most British circuits, winning the Birkett 6 Hours at Thruxton, also at the Nurburgring, Germany (2^ndin class)  and at Jarama, Spain driven by owner John Banks, then of Orwell Engineering, Willenhall and co-driver Chris Smith, later of Westfield Cars fame.  The car was later fitted with a Reliant Kitten body and raced as a Special Saloon, but in 1994, Mike Scott rebuilt the car back to it’s original Ark Sprite specification for Historic Sports Car racing, coming 1^st in class at Silverstone, 2^nd at Donnington Park and Brands Hatch and 3^rd at Thruxton and Oulton Park.  In 1999, the car was purchased by Brian Austin who knew the car from 1970 as his friend Ken Hobley was part of the Ark Racing Team.  Brian has used the car for sprints and speed hill climbs, but it has now been prepared for return to the race circuit this year, driven by Wayne Langridge. 

 The car will be on display at the Willenhall Heritage Day, at the CHART Centre, which is built on the site previously occupied by Charles Perks, and subsequently Ark Racing, so bringing the car back to the place of origin.

Willenhall Heritage Day, Saturday April 21^st 2012 at the CHART Centre, Gomer Street, Willenhall, WV13 2NS.  Doors open 10am – 4pm. Admission £1. Refreshments available.  All proceeds to Willenhall Heritage Trust.   

Photos of the Ark Racing Car in action below!