Jump to content


Photo

C.T. 'Tommy' Atkins (High Efficiency Motors)


  • Please log in to reply
77 replies to this topic

#51 Gary C

Gary C
  • Member

  • 5,571 posts
  • Joined: January 01

Posted 30 July 2002 - 21:54

what a sad way to end up.

Advertisement

#52 UAtkins

UAtkins
  • Member

  • 228 posts
  • Joined: January 01

Posted 30 July 2002 - 23:15

Doug,

Thanks so much for that story, I wondered what had happened to him, that is very sad to know. I was so thrilled when I found that letter. I am still going through Mum's things and am sure I will find other items of a similar nature. Life was so different then wasn't it.

Dad was also close friends with another writer, Dennis May, I quoted some of his article about Dad earlier (written in 1952) and Milan Fistonic has sent me articles written about Dad's cars by Dennis, I wish I could find more, I like his writing style....it's a lot like another popular writer we all know!

Ursula

#53 Doug Nye

Doug Nye
  • Member

  • 11,524 posts
  • Joined: February 02

Posted 06 August 2002 - 09:03

Jack Brabham bought Tommy's Chessington garage from him and made it home to Jack Brabham Conversions, doing indecent things to Sunbeam Rapiers, Triumph Heralds, Hillman Imps etc. He vividly recalls driving one of his Brabham-modified Heralds with 1300cc Climax engine installed, en route to Silverstone one day. Just the other side of Amersham there's a long very fast stretch of country road, and just after leaving Amersham he'd spotted a distant MGB in his rearview mirror. The MGB slowly reeled him in and they started running faster and faster. On one really long straight the MGB just about clawed its way up alongside the Herald, both doing about 100-105mph. As the MGB drew abreast, Jack glanced across at it, and its driver glanced across at him...

The MGB driver was clearly shattered by this humble Herald that was almost as quick as his plainly tweaky MGB. Then Tommy Atkins, driving the MGB, and Jack Brabham, driving the Herald, recognised each other. "Tommy nearly went off the road in shock!", Jack recalls.

DCN

#54 rmhorton

rmhorton
  • Member

  • 343 posts
  • Joined: November 98

Posted 06 August 2002 - 10:28

Hmmm,, how times change! If they tried this today they would have been 'busted' by about five different speed cameras and would have needed 'Chauffeurs' for the next six months.

Roger

#55 UAtkins

UAtkins
  • Member

  • 228 posts
  • Joined: January 01

Posted 06 August 2002 - 15:40

Doug,

Once again thanks for the memories...I remember "exercizing" the same MGB on the frozen water meadows down by the River Wey in Guildford one winter evening with Dad...what a blast. Also a memorable drive down to Goodwood with him in the E-Type (fastest I've ever been)....I know it's where I get my love of driving from. :up:

Speaking of different times, I also remember riding with Roy Salvadori testing one of Dad's cars through the streets of Chessington on a Sunday afternoon, a common occurrence then, but sadly (or perhaps wisely) one that wouldn't happen now!

Thanks again.

Ursula

#56 Doug Nye

Doug Nye
  • Member

  • 11,524 posts
  • Joined: February 02

Posted 06 August 2002 - 17:51

Ursula - the frozen water meadows of not forgotten youth! They haven't frozen for years now. Climate change is really marked. I remember skating on them - were you and your dad the buggers who nearly ran me over?! :o

#57 UAtkins

UAtkins
  • Member

  • 228 posts
  • Joined: January 01

Posted 06 August 2002 - 18:42

Doug,

Highly likely...we weren't the only ones out there if I recall we left in the confusion when a police car arrived ;) We used to skate out there all the time too I didn't realise it no longer froze over.

Ursula

#58 Bjorn Kjer

Bjorn Kjer
  • Member

  • 3,682 posts
  • Joined: February 06

Posted 24 June 2006 - 11:12

:cat: What colour was the Atkins/HEM transporter ( Austin Loadmaster ?) and what were their vans and transporters (if not the Austin) ????????????????????????? regards Bjørn

#59 cooper997

cooper997
  • Member

  • 3,855 posts
  • Joined: December 08

Posted 05 February 2011 - 10:45

How TNF sends us off on a tangent, to see a couple of hours disappear.

I went off trying to establish whether the Atkins/McLaren T62 Cooper-Climax was built in one of Cooper's factories or one of Atkins. I suspect that Cooper's Hollyfield Road address is probably the answer, but not sure.

When the car went to press in Autosport Oct 5th, 1962 it definitely shows it sitting at the front of Hollyfield Road. But could it have been built at Langley Rd? Or even at an Atkins address? The only address I'm aware of for Tommy Atkins, was his Hook Rd, Chessington, High Efficiency Motors address. This went on (as revealed by DCN in this old thread) to become the business address for Jack Brabham (Motors) Ltd. Being officially opened by one of his then bosses, John Cooper on October 1st, 1959. When Jack took on, or over, as main dealers for Standard - Triumph and Humber, Hillman & Sunbeam. And the odd Climax-engined Q car. So Tommy was out of that address some 3 years before the T62 comes into the equation. Or did he have another address that had facilities to knock out an Intercontinental Cooper?

Thanks for any revelations.
Stephen






Advertisement

#60 David McKinney

David McKinney
  • Member

  • 14,156 posts
  • Joined: November 00

Posted 05 February 2011 - 11:02

The car was built by Atkins mechanics Harry Pearce and Wally Willmott at an Atkins site (address unknown, but someone will know)

McLaren himself, being a contracted Cooper driver, was obliged to run it in works colours, though it was entered in the NZ and Australian internationals in his own name

#61 cooper997

cooper997
  • Member

  • 3,855 posts
  • Joined: December 08

Posted 06 February 2011 - 11:47

Thanks David. Interestingly in the Cyril Posthumus letter Ursula typed up at the top of this page, Cyril mentions Hook Rd. As far as I'm aware the Jack Brabham (Motors) Ltd was based at 248 Hook Rd, Chessington. So maybe Tommy Atkins retained a bit of space or access to facilities after Brabham tookover.

If anyone can add anything further on where the T62 was built please let us know.

Stephen

#62 Barry Boor

Barry Boor
  • Member

  • 11,546 posts
  • Joined: October 00

Posted 26 November 2012 - 10:52

I have a question about the Atkins Coopers in 1959.

At Monaco the Maserati engined car of Roy Salvadori was dark green with what I assume to be a white panel on the front of the car - imagine the works Cooper colours with the bit between the white stripes filled in. This can clearly be seen in photographs taken at that race.

Meanwhile, Atkins' F.2 car had an odd design of white on the nose section.

Posted Image

However, I've just noticed that when Salvadori drove the F.1 car at Sebring at the end of the season it carried the colour scheme that the F.2 car had early on.

I'm wondering at what point in 1959 did the F.1 car get the F.2 car's livery - or am I actually talking about the same set of bodywork?

#63 David McKinney

David McKinney
  • Member

  • 14,156 posts
  • Joined: November 00

Posted 26 November 2012 - 10:57

Quite possible the F2 car was re-engined for Sebring (I haven't checked)

#64 rudi

rudi
  • Member

  • 345 posts
  • Joined: September 04

Posted 26 November 2012 - 11:51

I have a question about the Atkins Coopers in 1959.

At Monaco the Maserati engined car of Roy Salvadori was dark green with what I assume to be a white panel on the front of the car - imagine the works Cooper colours with the bit between the white stripes filled in. This can clearly be seen in photographs taken at that race.

Meanwhile, Atkins' F.2 car had an odd design of white on the nose section.

Posted Image

However, I've just noticed that when Salvadori drove the F.1 car at Sebring at the end of the season it carried the colour scheme that the F.2 car had early on.

I'm wondering at what point in 1959 did the F.1 car get the F.2 car's livery - or am I actually talking about the same set of bodywork?


At the british GP, driven by Fairman, the car had what you call the F2 livery.

#65 hipperson

hipperson
  • Member

  • 623 posts
  • Joined: January 06

Posted 26 November 2012 - 15:21

The afore-mentioned Wally Willmot ..Revival this year
Had a good chat with him............

Posted Image

#66 bradbury west

bradbury west
  • Member

  • 6,096 posts
  • Joined: June 02

Posted 18 March 2013 - 21:54

Perhaps someone can forward this link to Ursula; a shot of C T Atkins on a Douglas in 1930. Scroll down the page for good images.

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item41717eb54e

Roger Lund

#67 David McKinney

David McKinney
  • Member

  • 14,156 posts
  • Joined: November 00

Posted 18 March 2013 - 22:51

My Father has F2-26-57 a formula 2 Cooper that was entered by High Efficiency Motors for 4 sesons of Formula 2 racing and a few Grand Prix.We were trying to research the history of the car on Atlas F1 a few weeks ago and were looking for people that may have information on the car. The car is still 100% original bearing everything that it did in the day. My Father ocasionally races the car at events like Coys at Silverstone. Perhaps if you contact my father you could give him Harry Pearce's address so that we can ask him relative questions about the car.

I know this pot is now 12 years old, and interest may have waned

Until his death last year CTA driver Ian Burgess an I spent quite a lot of time together. He told me there were several F2-26-57s
•The first was the T43 run in late 1957 and early 1958
•A brand new T45 was introduced at Crystal Palace in May 1958, and given the same number. This was written off in Burgess's Avus accident at the end of that season
•Any subsequent F2-26-57s are therefore different cars again

#68 UAtkins

UAtkins
  • Member

  • 228 posts
  • Joined: January 01

Posted 07 May 2013 - 23:13

I know this pot is now 12 years old, and interest may have waned

Until his death last year CTA driver Ian Burgess an I spent quite a lot of time together. He told me there were several F2-26-57s
•The first was the T43 run in late 1957 and early 1958
•A brand new T45 was introduced at Crystal Palace in May 1958, and given the same number. This was written off in Burgess's Avus accident at the end of that season
•Any subsequent F2-26-57s are therefore different cars again

Thanks for bringing this back up David. It has been ages since I've been on the site and ages since I've posted. I am still doing full-time caregiving for my step-father who has Alzheimers - my interest hasn't waned but my time has.
I'd enjoy hearing about Ian if you want to contact me off the site?
Ursula

#69 David McKinney

David McKinney
  • Member

  • 14,156 posts
  • Joined: November 00

Posted 08 May 2013 - 10:38

Email sent :wave:

#70 pacerman

pacerman
  • New Member

  • 16 posts
  • Joined: June 12

Posted 21 March 2014 - 02:20

I have a question about the Atkins Coopers in 1959.

At Monaco the Maserati engined car of Roy Salvadori was dark green with what I assume to be a white panel on the front of the car - imagine the works Cooper colours with the bit between the white stripes filled in. This can clearly be seen in photographs taken at that race.

Meanwhile, Atkins' F.2 car had an odd design of white on the nose section.

atkins.jpg

However, I've just noticed that when Salvadori drove the F.1 car at Sebring at the end of the season it carried the colour scheme that the F.2 car had early on.

I'm wondering at what point in 1959 did the F.1 car get the F.2 car's livery - or am I actually talking about the same set of bodywork?

Im not sure about the patch on the top of the bonnet but the two little white wedges on each side of the nose were there to cover up a modification where the original join in the nose cone was cut and a wedge of aluminium welded in so as to open up the front and allow more air for the maserati engine. This modification stayed with the car untill it was crashed by John Hough at Lowood in 1962. John was killed in the accident. The bodywork was beyond repair but the rest of the car is still with the Hough Family in Australia.



#71 UAtkins

UAtkins
  • Member

  • 228 posts
  • Joined: January 01

Posted 19 May 2014 - 05:14

I want to thank everyone who has helped keep this one semi-alive while my life was turned on it's ear for over seven years.  I am sad to say that my step-dad passed way in March and I'm now getting back to my research and hope to post here more often.  Also, to get back to Goodwood in 2015.

 

Ursul



#72 mgtwincam

mgtwincam
  • New Member

  • 1 posts
  • Joined: November 15

Posted 23 November 2015 - 19:39

Ursula or others,

Not a racing comment but a query regarding "High Efficiency Motors"

I bought an MGA Twin Cam coupe in 2001 on the road 2003 after rebuild.

The car came with original log book which showed it was road registered 27/7/59 about 3 months after build  by Guy Salmons not far from High Efficiency Motors.

It was then registered with High Efficiency Motors 14/1/60 who it would seem ran it for about a year , new owner 24/2/61 It was taken off the road around 1965.with 53000  it would seem enthusiastic miles on the clock.

Unlikely but anyone remember it? 

Also the address for H.E.M. is 262 Hook Rd.a 1930s ? house a little way down from the main premises 

I remember taking MG Twin Cam crank, rods, etc. to Jack Brabhams for balancing in the 60s not realising it would seem it was this premises

Regards,

Richard Gough

 



#73 pacerman

pacerman
  • New Member

  • 16 posts
  • Joined: June 12

Posted 19 March 2016 - 09:14

Hi Ursula, An old thread I know but if you are still out there my Father has the Cooper Maserati that Tommy had for the 1959 F1 season. It was driven mainly by Roy Salvadori but also had other drivers. The car ended up in Australia by late 1960 and my Uncle, John Hough bought it in early 62. John had a fatal accident in the car at the Australian Lowood circuit in late 1962 and the car has largely been in storage since. A restoration has begun but is on the back burner at the moment. Most original parts are still with the car. It's chassis number is F11-15-58. We have information on the car including an article about the car being built at High Efficiency Motors if you are interested, Also we are always seeking information on the car. I hope this finds you well, Many thanks, Richard Hough. 



#74 Ray Bell

Ray Bell
  • Member

  • 80,052 posts
  • Joined: December 99

Posted 19 March 2016 - 10:26

Though Ursula did post a couple of times in 2014, she's far from a regular here Richard...

Perhaps you can go to a PM to contact her? And please, remind her we love hearing from her!

#75 pacerman

pacerman
  • New Member

  • 16 posts
  • Joined: June 12

Posted 19 March 2016 - 10:54

Thanks Ray, Will do!. Dad says your name is familiar, He remembers a Derek Bell back in his racing days. Is that any relation????



#76 Ray Bell

Ray Bell
  • Member

  • 80,052 posts
  • Joined: December 99

Posted 19 March 2016 - 13:38

Derek is a Pom and I'm an Aussie...

And we each have a son named Justin. But we're not directly related.

#77 tsrwright

tsrwright
  • Member

  • 562 posts
  • Joined: March 09

Posted 23 August 2020 - 08:01

I want to thank everyone who has helped keep this one semi-alive while my life was turned on it's ear for over seven years.  I am sad to say that my step-dad passed way in March and I'm now getting back to my research and hope to post here more often.  Also, to get back to Goodwood in 2015.

 

Ursul

Hi Ursula, I have come across these posts from you and others about your Dad, Tommy Atkins, and would like to make contact regarding the absolute motorcycle speed record and the unsuccessful 1934 effort of Tommy and Claude Temple. If an email address I have found and used doesn't hasn't worked please could you respond here or by PM?



#78 tsrwright

tsrwright
  • Member

  • 562 posts
  • Joined: March 09

Posted 23 August 2020 - 08:02

Or can anyone else put me in touch please?