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Vauxhall Firenza - Baby Bertha

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Vauxhall Firenza 'Baby Bertha'
Engine: Holden 5000cc
Configuration: front engine, rear-wheel drive
Driver: Gerry Marshall
Class: Special Saloons over 2500cc and Super Saloons
Date: June 1976 in the paddock, Silverstone (top)
Date: October 1976 at Mallory Park (middle)
Date: December 1976 Brands Hatch (lower)
Image Copyright: Robert Brown (all)
Mention racing Vauxhalls of the 70s and two names, Bill Blydenstein and Gerry Marshall are bound to crop-up; Bill for his pioneering work on Vauxhall engines and racing cars, and Gerry for his legendary car control and ability to win races (he was still winning races until his death in 2005). Three of Bill and Gerry’s racing cars are still known simply by their nicknames: Old Nail, Baby Bertha and Big Bertha. When Big Bertha was totalled after only six races in a 140mph crash at Silverstone in 1974, Bill set about using its salvageable parts to build a much lighter (200kg lighter) Super Saloon – affectionately christened Baby Bertha. The 500bhp, Repco tuned, Holden V8 engine which fed its power into a Borg Warner gearbox was retained, as was the front suspension with double wishbone, ventilated disks and 15 inch diameter, 12 inches wide wheels. At the rear was a de Dion tube with three radius arms and a Panhard rod. Rear brakes were Jaguar XJ6 inboard disks and the wheels were 15inchs diameter x 15 inches wide. Baby Bertha showed its potential straight away by breaking three lap record in its first three outing. The picture shows Gerry suffering oil surge problems at Silverstone. Until it was sold to Paul Haywood-Halfpenny in 1978, Baby Berth a Gerry Marshall dominated Special and Super Saloon races, rarely being beaten in a straight fight. Old Nail and Baby Bertha still have the occasional outing at shows and classic events.
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Vauxhall Firenza 'Baby Bertha'
Engine: Holden 5000cc
Configuration: front engine, rear-wheel drive
Driver: Paul Haywood-Halfpenny
Class: Special Saloons over 2500cc and Super Saloons
Date: 1978 at Cadwell Park
Image Copyright: Colin Stubbs
Paul started racing karts in 1970, moving to cars for 1973 when he drove an Alvis at Silverstone. Over the next 4 years he drove in Production and Special Saloons, having some success in his yellow, 998cc Chrysler Imp Special Saloon. For 1978, he acquired Baby Bertha to race alongside his Imp in Special Saloons, and a LolaT492 for Sports 2000. His year with Baby Bertha proved stressful with reliability problems haunting him throughout. When asked to comment on his year for the Motor Sport Directory, he answered in one word! adding Baby Berth had cost him £1000 a lap – the average yearly pay for the time being about £5000, or 5 laps. The picture shows Gerry Marshall having oil serge problems at Silverstone (circa 1977) Baby Bertha is no longer raced but still has the occasional outing at shows and classic events
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