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Who was G. Bagratouni the MG NE driver 1935-38?


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#1 MatthewMagilton

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Posted 26 October 2012 - 03:59

I have been doing a little research on some of Australia's pre-war MG's. MG NE (chassis NA0520) came to Australia in 1938 imported by John Sherwood who was unsuccessful at Bathurst in 1938 and later raced by John Barraclough. But in the years 1935 to 1938 this car was driven in England by one G.Bagratouni about whom I know nothing. Can anyone provide his full name and any biographical details please? He was also active in a 2600 Alfa Romeo in those years. Thank you in advance.

Matthew.

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#2 Vitesse2

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Posted 26 October 2012 - 10:31

George Bagratouni was a fairly regular competitor in British club racing and hillclimb events in the late 1930s. He's in the London phone book from 1936-51 (and for some reason on the electoral roll in 1945 only - possibly an error) but then disappears.

However, if my research is correct 'George Bagratouni' is actually a nom de course for Prince George Imeretinsky, an expatriate Georgian nobleman.

He is also presumably distantly related to the Spanish driver Jorge de Bagration - there's a very complicated, confused and seemingly incomplete genealogy of the Georgian royal family here: note particularly the entry for Prince Constantine Imeretinsky, who is said to have succeeded his brother Prince George - but with no other details.

http://chivalricorde...ha/bagrtgen.htm

The birth and death details for that genealogy entry actually refer to Prince George, who died in Cheltenham on March 24th 1972 - this brief obituary is from The Times and was published on March 28th:

Posted Image

The (then) Princess Imeretensky was the "winner" of the infamous Barbara Cartland "ladies' race" at Brooklands in 1931:

http://www.triple-mr..... Bulletin.pdf

The second Princess Imeretinsky appears to have been left in somewhat straitened circumstances:

http://forum.alexand...pic=7140.0;wap2

Edited by Vitesse2, 26 October 2012 - 10:32.


#3 MatthewMagilton

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Posted 27 October 2012 - 03:39

Wow! Thank you Vitesse2. Can't ask for much more than that. Much appreciated.

Cheers,
Matthew.

#4 Vitesse2

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Posted 10 July 2013 - 08:30

From photographic evidence Bagratouni's MG NE appears to have been the car used by Reggie Tongue in the 1937 Inter-Varsity Trial: in his autobiography he mentions that it was borrowed from an un-named dealer who was looking after it for what appears to have been a subsequent owner to Bagratouni who was in France and not expected to return for some time. The car's owner was apparently unaware of this arrangement and returned to find the NE's engine in bits after Reggie had holed the sump on a rock.

The dealer - possibly, but not definitely, Bellevue Motors - gave this owner a free engine rebuild and as far as Reggie was aware he never suspected that it had had this little adventure.

Any sign of this in its Australian history? Who did Sherwood buy it from? Bagratouni? Bellevue? AN Other?

#5 David McKinney

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Posted 11 July 2013 - 07:42

Any sign of this in its Australian history? Who did Sherwood buy it from? Bagratouni? Bellevue? AN Other?

I'm away from my books at the moment, but STR John Snow bought two ex-TT NE Magnettes. If I'm right, the answer will be in John Medley's John Snow book

#6 Ted Walker

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Posted 17 July 2013 - 06:57

And where would one obtain one of these excellent publications from David ??????????????

#7 The Chasm

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Posted 17 July 2013 - 11:32

From the author - John Medley - where are you John ?.

I did find the reference and wrote the page number, but cannot find it now ?.

A terrific read on pre-war Australian Motorsport and motoring culture - a rare mix, and 1st class writing/research.

#8 Tim Murray

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Posted 17 July 2013 - 11:41

Details on how to get hold of the book can be found in David McK's first post in this thread:

John Snow Delahaye etc book

#9 gacocks

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Posted 09 September 2013 - 09:54

Is it possible that George Bagratouni was actually George (Giorgi) Bagration of Mukharani who was he grandfather of the Spanish F1 driver Jorge de Bagration?  This family spent time in exile across Europe including Italy so there is an Alfa Romeo connection.