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Edited by tsrwright, 08 May 2012 - 00:00.
Posted 07 May 2012 - 23:59
Edited by tsrwright, 08 May 2012 - 00:00.
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Posted 08 May 2012 - 06:04
That certainly does not look like Silverstone.Can anyone identify this mystery Cooper #18 and driver (on left) which appeared on Facebook recently. It's not in any of the record books nor a list I have of twins in libre races. It's 1951 or later (the car is a Mk5,6 or 7)and maybe Silverstone.
Posted 08 May 2012 - 07:11
Posted 08 May 2012 - 09:55
Posted 08 May 2012 - 10:03
Posted 08 May 2012 - 10:11
Posted 08 May 2012 - 10:47
Edited by CoulthardD, 08 May 2012 - 10:49.
Posted 08 May 2012 - 14:41
Posted 08 May 2012 - 15:45
Posted 08 May 2012 - 16:02
The first link I posted above mentions 'this August Bank Holiday' which would seem to tie in.
Posted 08 May 2012 - 17:31
Searle is down as a DNQ for the finalBut Ron Searle was actually in Heat 2. Could this have been the final perhaps?
Posted 08 May 2012 - 20:19
Posted 09 May 2012 - 01:40
Posted 09 May 2012 - 06:29
Posted 09 May 2012 - 08:33
He was then or a little later on the staff of the Cooper Car Co, and was also involved in speed-record attempt with Arthur Owen, Bill Knight etc. He also rebuilt the Tony Crook sports Cooper-Bristol into a Rover-engined single-seater with Alta bodywork. When the Cooper school was set up in 1957 Searle was appointed chief instructor, but was killed in a record attempt at Monza soon afterwards
Posted 09 May 2012 - 15:55
Posted 10 May 2012 - 13:46
Edited by tsrwright, 10 May 2012 - 13:49.
Posted 11 May 2012 - 13:58
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Posted 11 May 2012 - 15:45
Posted 11 May 2012 - 18:04
Posted 11 May 2012 - 18:22
Ron Searles appears to have been associated with Oliver Simpson – for the 3rd April 1954 Castle Combe race OE Simpson is listed as the entrant of Searles’ 1100 Cooper, while Autosport reported that Searles drove Simpson’s Rover/BMW at Combe 3rd Oct 1953.Ron Searles does appear as a very small blip starting Castle Combe 3.4.54, Oulton Park 10.7.54, Castle Combe ?.8.54 and Snetterton 9.12.54 (?) and that seems to have been enough for him. Information on any other sightings or the man himself would be appreciated.
Posted 11 May 2012 - 19:24
Posted 12 May 2012 - 14:49
Posted 13 May 2012 - 09:00
Re: Peter Gaskell, I think something's wrong.
It's clearly Shelsley, and a Cooper Twin, but the numbers don't seem to match up. 14th June, Peter ran Car 29 (Cooper JAP 1100cc in the programme). The number on the bonnet panel seems wrong. I can't make it out fully, but it seems to be a 'curly' number like a 3 or 8, and a 'straight' number, like a 1 or 7. On the 14th, Twins made up 18-36 and I'd guess that would mean 31, PHG Cottrell (Cooper-JAP 998cc), given that it's not Wally Cuff's 34 Cooper. I have what I believe is an erroneous report for 20th June (I presume it's the 14th) referring to it being very hot and the tarmac melting. The image sort of matches. The little I have on Peter Gaskell is that by 1962 he is in a Mk VIII-Twin, so I am leaning towards that being Cottrell. I have nothing on him, except he comes from Pontypridd.
The alternative event is 30th August. I have only 500 entries, but numbering would place the Twins in the same area - perhaps 17-40. So it would still probably be 31 or 34. Can you get a better guess of the car number?
Edited by tsrwright, 13 May 2012 - 09:07.
Posted 13 May 2012 - 09:12
Sorry I missed this thred re Crystal Palace but you guys seem to have figured it out any way !
Heat 2 grid was
Row 1 (pole on left)
ROLT (Connaught)
CROOK (Cooper Bristol)
WHITEAWAY (HWM)
FAIRMAN (Turner)
Row 2
SEARLES (Cooper 1100)
RICHARDSON (RRA)
SIMPSON (ROVER/BMW)
...
Richard Page
Posted 13 May 2012 - 15:03
Yes, the chap on trackside in white helmet and with moustache is Ron Searles.Am a bit confused now as to whether Searles or Simpson was the driver on the day. Does anyone recognise the tall person with the mustache who looks like the driver in the photo?
Posted 13 May 2012 - 15:27
Posted 14 May 2012 - 01:46
I can't place the car before 1959, but what about this chap, which has been bugging us for some time?
http://www.500race.o...C...r Mk IV.htm
Surely the same car. I've put out feelers to John Dent to see if he can contribute any details on ownership, dates, etc.
It also highlights the non-Cooper body - the bonnet runs right back to the cockpit, and the engine cover is a single, unhinged panel.
Do you have any details for the Paddock image? I agree it has to be 1959 - between the purchase of the Christie Cooper and the Marsh car. It would appear fair that the Shelsley image is therefore 28th June or 30th August, also 1959.
Posted 15 May 2012 - 11:32
Edited by tsrwright, 15 May 2012 - 11:47.
Posted 15 May 2012 - 12:42
Posted 17 May 2012 - 01:19
Indeed a mystery
There were plenty of Cooper 500s (and bigger) in Malaya and Singapore, but I hadn't heard of one in Hong Kong
Edited by tsrwright, 17 May 2012 - 01:20.
Posted 17 May 2012 - 06:01
Posted 17 May 2012 - 07:21
Posted 17 May 2012 - 11:52
I know it is Singapore, not HK, but there may be some leads from names.
http://picas.nhb.gov...p;Submit=Submit
Roger Lund
Edited by tsrwright, 17 May 2012 - 12:09.
Posted 17 May 2012 - 12:03
Posted 18 May 2012 - 01:20
I've found no evidence of any of the Peninsula Coopers travelling to Hong Kong or Macau (although their owners, like Chan Lye Choon and Jan Bussell went to Macau with other cars), and I think the three key cars - the Moncreiff/Milne Mk V and the two Chan brothers Mk VIIs - are still present and correct in Singapore around 1961. I also find it slightly strange because they picked up very quickly on good, mid-engined Juniors (Lotus, Cooper, Lola) which outpaced these cars, at least for circuit racing.
So I'm tending towards these being cars that made their own way out and so far have been missed. I also wouldn't be surprised if Redfern's car (a Mk VI or VII) wasn't reserved for hillclimbs.
Alternatively, is there any chance David Redfern is mistaken, and in fact the first photo is of his father in Singapore? The car does look a lot like the second Chan brothers Mk VII in the earlier years (albeit there are no stand-out features that would help us to identify it). I've found no record for a Redfern in a Cooper on the Peninsula, but I wasn't looking at other classes. I believe this BRG car was the one being used by Chan Lye Choon and Jimmy Milne into the 1960s, but with different wheel colours and generally with the tail section removed.
Posted 18 May 2012 - 05:39
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Posted 18 May 2012 - 13:14
Posted 19 May 2012 - 10:58
Edited by tsrwright, 19 May 2012 - 11:15.
Posted 19 May 2012 - 11:13
Let's see how the thread develops, Terry - the cars might turn out to be the same
Posted 19 May 2012 - 18:33
Posted 05 July 2013 - 01:02
Posted 05 July 2013 - 01:20