[Healeys] John Gott

[Joe and Lenore Armour]

In the period of time between Ralph Nader helping to remove Healeys from 
the market place aided by Triumph and Jag. biased and unwise BMC 
management ( an oxymoron )  the only two people keeping the name Healey 
in the public domain werer Constable John Gott and Sir John Chatham.

As well as being the captain of the BMC rally team John Gott was a very 
successfull circuit racer.  He was well known for racing SMO an ex-works 
rally car and several purpose built lightweight race cars  fitted with 
works parts.  ABL.6 was the more radical car and this was owned for some 
years by Bill Bolton when he purchased it from Syd Segal.  This car is 
now in Australia being restored by that old 100.S expert and Bonnerville 
racer Steve Pike.

The early Healey Highlight magazines featured several great covers with 
photos of these English Mod Sports racing Healeys with 10 inch wide mag 
or steel wheels.  Have a close look at the varied life of John Chatham's 
DD.300.  It almost seems that the car had 5 or 6 different lives 
depending on the class that John was competing in.  AT the same time 
John Gott was holding the fort in a similar manner.   See John Baggot's 
book,  Big Healeys in Competition.

There was another bloke who raced a big wheel Healey, parked it and 
maintained it in the street outside his flat and towed it to meeting 
with another Healey. ( is that a real Trailer Queen? )  To make it a bit 
harder Bill xxxxxxx  had an ex-works straight cut gearbox that had to be 
held in gear with one hand and steered with the free hand.  Try that on 
a winding road some day.

Joe