9 replies to this topic

[f1steveuk]

Sorry, this is a bit vague, but if I knew the answers, I wouldn't be asking!

While at Filching Manor, my ex boss imported a front engined Lola FJ car from the States. I say Lola, it looked like one, but the offset was the mirror image of every other car I had, or have seen. I was told that the car was origianlly driven by Peter Ashdown (he makes Lancia Stratos Rep's now I think), and I remember meeting him at Filching, but cannot remember what he said about it. It was nearly twenty years ago! I think the car went to Soames Langton ( a convaluted deal involving a Metro 6R4) and from there..........? Does anyone know where this car is, and what it is. Just curious as I left before the answers were found.

[Peter Morley]

I think it might be the car that David Pratley now has.
My recollection is that it was built as an F2 car with a 1500 Climax engine that was fitted with a twin-cam cylinder head (e.g. twin cam FWB rather than FPF).
Possibly raced in the Far East - Macau?
I saw it at Filching Manor, when I visited with Fred Stuttard, at the same time I think there was a very early Fiat 500 based Cooper 500 there - presumably you were still there at that time?

[f1steveuk]

Indeed I was there! Dear old Fred, was only talking about him the other day. Impossible to work while he was about, as he was always right in there where you were trying to work!

So we probably met.

The "Lola" was a metalic blue/green. The Cooper, I had my doubts it was a Cooper, nice though, but the repairs to suspension arms were dire. 1000cc JAP I recall, and jetted to run on methanol, probably a hill climb car.

Is the Lola (was it one?) up and running now. I know Fred did some research on it, but don't recall the far east, nor how it ended up in the States, but I was itching to restore it!

[David McKinney]

The Pratley car didn't come from the States though, AFAIK

[Peter Morley]

Originally posted by David McKinney
The Pratley car didn't come from the States though, AFAIK

I'm sure Fred would have interrupted you (!!) and we must have met at the time - I remember a lot of the cars had 'interesting' stories and there was some question about the Cooper.
Would there have been something like Tank Bugatti remains at that time? That was a great project is it the one that someone like Bob Sutherland now has?

What happened to Mr Foulkes Halbard & Filching Manor?

I'm sure I talked to David about this Lola but can't remember whether he was researching it or had bought it, he (I'm pretty sure it was him!) certainly seemed to know its history - I think the opposite offset was because the exhaust on the special cylinder head came out the opposite side to a junior.

A photo of David's car would show whether it is that one or not - the offset should be easy to spot!

Peter

[f1steveuk]

Well hello again then Peter!

Paul died about two years ago, and now his sone Karl runs the place, but it is rarely open, and I think the kart track keeps it going. I haven't had much to do with the place since I left as I got embroiled in the Blue Bird ownership saga. Enough said!

Yes there was a Tank Bugatti, I think the chassis, steering box and transaxle were genuine, I had doubts about the rest. Tom Weathcroft came and looked at it, and Tanaka San from Toyota, but where it went, I don't know.

The offset on the Lola foxed a few people, including Peter Ashdown, and certain parts just didn't seem right, I also seem to remember there were some dodgy chassis repairs/mods on it as well, both the Lola and the Cooper needed quite a bit of time spending on them, but I just didn't fancy having a go in that Cooper, not that I could even get in it!

I believe there is a strange ex Fangio car at Filching now,



one of the last cars brought in

[bill patterson]

Mr Foulkes Halbard & Filching Manor

Steve

Not wishing to hijack the thread but.....

I remember visiting in the 80's and was shown round the chicken sheds ie. the non-museum part. There was some very interesting stuff including the nose-cone from the "Don Lee Special" aka Mercedes-Benz W163

[f1steveuk]

I should have been there then as well. I remember the nose section, the car went to Neil Corner, Paul kept the Indy' bodywork. There were soem real treasures in those sheds! If we met, hello again!

[Gerald Swan]

Posted on behalf of David Pratley:


Firstly, its not a Mark 1 or even Mark 2 FJ. It's a sort of Mark 2 however that was built as a mirror image of the Junior Mark 2s. The transmission runs down the left hand side of the driver rather than the right, for example. It was built at Peter Ashdown's instigation with the intention of running an F2 car (up to 1500) and using a special twincam head built up by a mate of his at Harlow called Gerald Smith. Bottom end was normal Climax FW. (God knows why they didn't use a proven FPF, but I guess they couldn't afford one). I have a photo of the car in the paddock at Crystal Palace but I'm not sure it ever started a race.

As Steve Holter says, the car resurfaced from the US at Filching Manor some years ago. I have photos of the as imported car with Peter Ashdown himself sitting in it. I didn't know it went to Soames Langton but I did come across it at Sid Hoole's in about 1996. It had been bought by Allisandro Rippamonti and Sid's boys were restoring it with a single cam 1460 FWC engine. I played a small part in the resto as Hoole's took measurements of my FJ petrol tank so they could reverse it and make one of their own. At that time I heard that the original Smith head was still in existence with Horst Auer in Germany.

I don't know the present whereabouts of the car or whether Rippamonti ever raced it or still has it. Sid may know or, next time I see Allisandro, I'll ask him.


David




Gerald.

www.lolaheritage.co.uk

[f1steveuk]

Ah, TNF what a place! Thanks