suit: Bill McGovern; fair hair: George Bevan

The Imp Site

Bill McGovern

2 Jan. 1937 - ....
place, region

Statistics - (Main Racing Category)

Debut:
Last Race:
Wins:
Podiums:
Pole positions:
Retirements:
Points:

1964
1989
Many, but certainly less than 600
Numerous
Numerous
some
Many

Career Description

Represented London region in television 1963 - Autotests at Beavlie in 1071cc Cooper 'S'

1963 -

Set overall FTD in brands Sprint in Stage 1 Dolonton Cooper 'S' 1071cc.

1964 -

First race Brands on pole 0.2 sec off lap record. Finished 2nd Cooper 'S'

1964 -

Second race Snetterton, motoring news reported "antics of Bill McGovern and Gerry Marshall at the esses blanched the faces of even the most hardened spectators" Cooper 'S'

1966 -

Signed to drive Paul Emery's Hillman Imp
The Emery colours were black with a yellow side flash

Crystal Palace, 1966, May 30 - Ruleset: Group 5
Anita Taylor had been holding her own in the second 1000 cc Broadspeed Anglia although hard pressed by Bill McGovern in the leading Imp. Towards the end McGovern slipped by on the inside of Ramp Bend to snatch second place in the class, behind John Fitzpatrick.

Icy Boxing day 1966 at Brands Hatch, British Special Saloon Car Championship
1) Ray Calcutt - Fraser Imp; 2) Ian McDougal - Broadspeed Cooper S; 3) Alan Harvey - Autocadia Cooper S; 4. Roger Nathan - Nathan IMPudence II; 5) Capt Ken's car; 6) Mac Ross - MAC10 Cooper; 7) Tony Taylor - Hartwell Imp; 8) Bill McGovern - Paul Emery Imp; 9) Peter Brown - Frazer Imp; 10) Martin Maudling - Ford Anglia.
photo taken from: Capt. Ken's Mini Cooper racing days

1968 -

Signed to drive the Bevan Imp
British Saloon Car Champion in 1970-71-72
Raced against:
Roger Williamson - Anglia
James Hunt - Hillman Imp
Bernard .... Imp
Nick Brittan - Imp and Green Bean Anglia
Vince Woodman - Escort
Laurie Hickman - Escort.

1970 -

Touring Cars championship in a Sunbeam Imp

1971 -

Raced as Alan Jones team mate in Brabham BT36 Brands Hatch.
1971 Avon Round Britain Tour Moskvitch.
Touring Cars championship (RAC) in a Hillman Imp 998cc

1972 -

Touring Cars championshi (Wiggins Teape)

1980 -

BRSCC modified Saloon Champion. Bevan Imp.

1986 - 1989

Renault 5 GT Turbo.
Finished 10th-3rd-4th overall in Championship in less modified car.

BSCC 1966, round 4
Crystal Palace, London, Great-Britain (Ruleset: Group 5)
30 May 1966, dry weather
Ray Calcutt, driving a 998 Hillman Imp, entered into class A by Alan Fraser Racing Team, competition no. 53

Race A: Class A-B

Pos

Pos in class

Team / Entrant
Car- Engine

Drivers, Nationality

Engine
vol. (cc)

Group

Distance,
time

Qualifying position

Qualifying time

Fastest lap

Reason out

Team Broadspeed
Ford Anglia

John Fitzpatrick, GB

997

0,2 sec.
behind Handley

Paul Emery
Hillman Imp

Bill McGovern, GB

998

Team Broadspeed
Ford Anglia

Anita Taylor, GB

997

Alan Fraser Racing Team
Hillman Imp

Nick Brittan, GB

998

Alan Fraser Racing Team
Hillman Imp

Ray Calcutt, GB

998

Radbourne Racing
Abarth 1000 TC

Andrew Mylius, GB

982

DNF

Alexander Engineering Co.
Morris Mini Cooper S

Tony Lanfranchi, GB

1293

Accident

DNS?

Roger Nathan Racing
Hillman Imp

Roger Nathan, GB

998

Bill McGovern driving a Sunbeam Imp at Zandvoort in 1971
photo taken from the BRDC archive

In 1971, at age 34, Bill McGovern did not have high flying carreer plans anymore. His wife, his four daughters and his shop with vintage furniture limited his region of activity. However ...
Furthermore he was an extraordinary test driver, who could report on the slightest change in tune or handling, which made the job for the tuner much easier.

Racing in Imps
The Imp Site

BRDC archive; Bill McGovern

Not Imp related:

Photo by Gerald Swan on the web:
Brands Hatch 1974, 17 March - Race of the Champions support, Bill McGovern driving a George Bevan 1.5-litre Volkswagen Passat (JPEG Image, 1000x626 pixels)