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Britain's racing heritage... somewhere near you

Started by Cirrus , Dec 28 2003 16:11

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58 replies to this topic

#1 Cirrus

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Posted 28 December 2003 - 16:11

Many TNFers (especially those from outside the UK) may not realise how closely packed the 50's and 60's motor racing industry was in the UK. Where I live (Surrey) there is motor racing history at almost every turn. I decided to blow away a few Christmas cobwebs by taking a short walk from my house. I left at 13:50 and was home an hour and a half later. Here are some of the places I passed.

1. The old Brabham/Ralt factory - I think the large dark green door was the entrance to the stores.

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2. The drawing office

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3. "The Mill" - from which Nelson Piquet's F3 car was run.

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4. Canada Road, Byfleet - where the final chapter of the Cooper F1 story was played out. (although I'm not sure where the factory actually was)

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5. And finally - a view of the Brooklands banking not normally photographed - the bit near Tesco's and Marks and Spencer.

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Some of them are a bit sad really, aren't they?

If I'm at another loose end tomorrow, I might get in the car and take some more pictures. I reckon that all of the following sites are within ten minutes drive.

The "Old" McLaren factory (in Sheerwater)
The "Old, Old" McLaren Factory (in Boundary Road, Woking)
The new Mclaren Factory (Paragon)
Gomm Metal Developments
Alan Mann Racing
Jack Knight Developments
The Connaught site
The original Ralt factory
The home of Token Racing
Several incarnations of Thompson and Taylor
Three West Surrey Racing sites (one demolished)
HWM (already featured by Gary C at www.yesterdaysracers.com )

and probably a load more I've forgotten, or don't know about.

#2 David McKinney

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Posted 28 December 2003 - 16:25

Originally posted by Cirrus If I'm at another loose end tomorrow, I might get in the car and take some more pictures. I reckon that all of the following sites are within ten minutes drive. [/B]

Yes please :up:

The Cooper factory?
High Efficiency Motors site?

#3 Cirrus

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Posted 28 December 2003 - 16:34

The Cooper factory?

Whilst that's theoretically possible in ten minutes, I value my licence too much. The "Old, Old Old" McLaren Factory in Colnbrook is also beyond legal ten minute access, thanks to speed cameras

However..... my camera batteries are on charge as we speak.

#4 David Beard

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Posted 28 December 2003 - 16:48

Excellent thread idea :up:

I suppose Hornsey is a bit far?

#5 Cirrus

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Posted 28 December 2003 - 17:09

I suppose Hornsey is a bit far?

A bit - but I will take my camera next time I'm in North London.

Surbiton shouldn't be a problem. though.

#6 Gary C

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Posted 28 December 2003 - 17:35

this is good stuff!! What about the AC factory, or has that already been mentioned??

#7 Gary C

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Posted 28 December 2003 - 17:35

the Tyrrell Factory at Ockham??

#8 UAtkins

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Posted 28 December 2003 - 20:41

Originally posted by David McKinney

Yes please
The Cooper factory?
High Efficiency Motors site?

Both of these would be a real treat for me. Thanks in advance.

Ursula

#9 Mallory Dan

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Posted 30 December 2003 - 11:15

Completely O/T, but mention of Sheerwater/Woking, how about some old Jam venues,sites, places...

Sorry, it is Xmas/New Year !!!

#10 Cirrus

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Posted 30 December 2003 - 12:51

how about some old Jam venues,sites, places...

Maybe Stanley Road, if I'm passing.

BTW. Does anybody have an address for High Efficiency Motors?

#11 David Beard

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Posted 30 December 2003 - 13:21

I thought of a northern constitutional, but only Chevron springs to mind. Does anyone know the address of their works in Bolton?

#12 RTH

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Posted 30 December 2003 - 13:26

Isn't that Brooklands photo just spectacular, the sheer scale of it - build largely by hand very nearly now - a hundred years ago what a dreadful shame the site has been allowed to be so ruined with development.

Great photogragh - the grey wet dismal lighting conditions at this time of year make it all the more dramatic - more of all this please - good work !

- How about factories, Ex-factories and venues photographed today from all over the world !

#13 Mallory Dan

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Posted 30 December 2003 - 13:31

David, it was somewhere on Chorley Old Rd in Bolton. This is the road out towards Horwich (rhymes with somewhere else I know!), north of Bolton. Pretty run-down area I think, I've driven down the road but without knowing the no of the factory, I couldn't spot anything.

By the way did I leave my Oct 78 Donington prog last night ?

#14 David McKinney

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Posted 30 December 2003 - 13:59

A quick call to Vin Malkie on 01565 777395 should get an answer

#15 baggish

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Posted 30 December 2003 - 16:37

Originally posted by Cirrus
4. Canada Road, Byfleet - where the final chapter of the Cooper F1 story was played out. (although I'm not sure where the factory actually was)

This address rings a bell for non-racing reasons - I believe Bob Jankel's Panther was based there in the 1970s. Don't know if it was in the same building...

Jon

#16 UAtkins

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Posted 30 December 2003 - 16:52

Originally posted by Cirrus

BTW. Does anybody have an address for High Efficiency Motors?

If I was home I could provide that information, will do that later and if anyone else has it handy perhaps they could oblige?

Thanks again

Ursula

#17 Cirrus

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Posted 30 December 2003 - 17:35

On another murky afternoon, Gary C and myself sallied forth and took a few more pictures.

6. I hope I'm not making a fool of myself here, but I think this is the Cooper building. It's now occupied by the Specialist Scientific Unit of the local police.

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7. Another shot

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8. Next, the famous woodshed at the Tyrrell yard

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9. The elegant building now occupying the Connaught factory site (apologies for the lousy framing - I had to snap this at short notice between passing cars)

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10. The rather nice plaque to the right of the door

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11. And finally, Gomm Metal, where many a tub has been built or repaired. (The 60's style racer image is just visible at the top of the building)

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We also stopped outside the McLaren factory, but there wasn't really anywhere decent to photograph.

#18 Gary C

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Posted 30 December 2003 - 19:36

Is this a record?? Four motorsport locations (and, if my arithimetic is correct, FIVE F1 World Championships??) in the space of 75 minutes??

#19 rdrcr

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Posted 31 December 2003 - 01:35

Originally posted by David Beard
I thought of a northern constitutional, but only Chevron springs to mind. Does anyone know the address of their works in Bolton?

Original stationary from DBE

#20 David Beard

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Posted 31 December 2003 - 08:42

Originally posted by rdrcr

Original stationary from DBE

Happy New Year! ~ from ASE

Thanks!

I feel a trip to Notlob coming on....

#21 Catalina Park

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Posted 31 December 2003 - 08:45

Stay away from the pet shop! :lol:

#22 Gary C

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Posted 31 December 2003 - 08:52

and Mr.Hilter !! (otherwise it's lampshade time)

#23 rhpearson

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Posted 31 December 2003 - 16:04

Ah the old Tyrrell wooden shed... just saw that a couple of weeks back when Speed aired The Flying Scot.

Wonderful shots! Thanks for sharing.

#24 2F-001

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Posted 01 January 2004 - 10:20

What a smashing thread...

(Dan - I'll check to see if your programme got gathered up with mine.)

#25 UAtkins

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Posted 01 January 2004 - 20:41

Feeling rather stupid at the moment :blush:

I can't for the life of me find the Hook Road address for High Efficiency Motors but, did find this early (1930s) address for C.T. Atkins Motor Cycle and Motor Engineer, Specialist in High Efficiency Motors at:

9, Mortlake Road
Kew
Surrey

Does this still exist and what is it (home/garage)? I also know there was an earlier one in Bristol (also bikes) and will try to dig that out later on this weekend.

Will keep digging for the Hook Road office address (a good excuse to call Harry Pearce), I do know that Jack Brabham bought the lockup garage from Dad in Chessington so if anyone can come up with an address for that?

The photos are great, keep them coming.

Ursula

#26 David Beard

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Posted 02 January 2004 - 16:42

Found it...105 Chorley Old, Road, Bolton. It's called Nortex Mill and is currently occupied by umpteen small businesses. If this was indeed the home of Chevron, I wonder how much of the mill they occupied?
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There is a firm called Motorsport Developments occupying the bottom rear of the building...any historical connection, anyone know?

#27 Cirrus

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Posted 02 January 2004 - 17:44

In t seventies, I worked for Fireater Systems, and Chevron were one of our customers. It's a long time ago, but I thought the way in to the Chevron factory was through the vehicle entrance in your picture, and then through to a door to the rear, and the actual Chevron works were to the right of the building in the photo. The whole place had very much of a decayed industrial feel to it (a big contrast to the Lola factory shown in another thread). Maybe Motorsport Developments do have a Chevron connection.

BTW, were Maurer based in the same building? I've seen Paul Owens at the Goodwood Revival more than once.

I am well aware that the mind plays funny tricks, and, not for the first time, I may be completely wrong.

#28 David Beard

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Posted 02 January 2004 - 17:50

Originally posted by Cirrus
Maybe Motorsport Developments do have a Chevron connection.

Oops, sorry , mislead you all. It's Motorsport Components. (just looked closer at another photo..)

#29 Cirrus

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Posted 02 January 2004 - 17:53

In t seventies

That was a typo, by the way, not a piece of feeble southern humour!

#30 David Beard

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Posted 02 January 2004 - 18:51

Originally posted by Cirrus

That was a typo, by the way, not a piece of feeble southern humour!

Eeee lad, and I were quite impressed :

#31 RTH

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Posted 02 January 2004 - 18:58

You may have heard the news item on Radio 4 earlier this week that the local Authority are set to change the name of the town back to its original title several hundred years ago of :-

Bolton-Le-Moors........... so that it sounds less industrial and more tourist friendly ! Well you couldn't make it up could you !

#32 David McKinney

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Posted 02 January 2004 - 19:53

Not much help, but at least there's a phone number
http://www.touchbolt...cditem.cfm/7730

#33 rdrcr

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Posted 23 March 2004 - 18:01

I thought some of you would appreciate this one...

The orginal Chevron Factory building - 105 Chorley Old Road, Bolton, England

#34 MCS

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Posted 23 March 2004 - 18:32

Originally posted by Cirrus
In t seventies, I worked for Fireater Systems, and Chevron were one of our customers. It's a long time ago, but I thought the way in to the Chevron factory was through the vehicle entrance in your picture, and then through to a door to the rear, and the actual Chevron works were to the right of the building in the photo. The whole place had very much of a decayed industrial feel to it (a big contrast to the Lola factory shown in another thread). Maybe Motorsport Developments do have a Chevron connection.

BTW, were Maurer based in the same building? I've seen Paul Owens at the Goodwood Revival more than once.

I am well aware that the mind plays funny tricks, and, not for the first time, I may be completely wrong.

Cirrus

You are absolutely right. See rdrcr's fantastic picture.

Yes, Maurer were there and Jim Crawford ran from there as well.

One of the last times I visited I can remember about half a dozen F2 B42s in a shed at the back of the main building - the Opert and Gethin team cars and a couple of others - all for sale...

MCS

#35 David Beard

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Posted 23 March 2004 - 19:15

Originally posted by rdrcr
I thought some of you would appreciate this one...

The orginal Chevron Factory building - 105 Chorley Old Road, Bolton, England

Obviously part of the mill building I photographed, but I can't match it to any of my shots, posted and not posted. Must have been somewhere round the back that I missed.. :

#36 rdrcr

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Posted 23 March 2004 - 19:57

David,

You might just not be able to recognize it today, as the building might have undergone several structural changes since that photo was taken. (circa 1966)

It looks like this is the section that was the original part of the building - though I am just speculating.

Posted Image

#37 Cirrus

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Posted 24 March 2004 - 08:05

I thought the Chevron entrance faced the road, and the building was set to the rear of the yard (ie to the right of where David Beard's picture finishes.

#38 MCS

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Posted 24 March 2004 - 09:53

Yes, Cirrus, you're correct...

MCS

#39 RTH

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Posted 19 April 2004 - 12:37

In the same vein.

I was looking through some 1967 "Hertfordshire Countryside " magazines, an exchange of correspondence listed former car manufacturers in the county :-

At Cheshunt : Lotus
At Elstree : Stirling, Unicar,
At Letchworth : Arab, Ascot, Lacre, Ogle, Phoenix, Warne.
At Rickmansworth : Tornado
At Royston : Rational
At Stevenage : H.R.D.
At Watford : Watford, Trojan,
At Welwyn Garden City : Birkin-Paget Bentley, PRS,
At Ware : Hawke

Does anyone know of any more, or indeed car manufacturers in adjoining Essex ?

If anyone can come up with exact addresses for the above makers - I will endevour to find & post a photo of the works now

#40 ian senior

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Posted 19 April 2004 - 13:44

Originally posted by RTH
In the same vein.

I was looking through some 1967 "Hertfordshire Countryside " magazines, an exchange of correspondence listed former car manufacturers in the county :-

At Cheshunt : Lotus
At Elstree : Stirling, Unicar,
At Letchworth : Arab, Ascot, Lacre, Ogle, Phoenix, Warne.
At Rickmansworth : Tornado
At Royston : Rational
At Stevenage : H.R.D.
At Watford : Watford, Trojan,
At Welwyn Garden City : Birkin-Paget Bentley, PRS,
At Ware : Hawke

Does anyone know of any more, or indeed car manufacturers in adjoining Essex ?

If anyone can come up with exact addresses for the above makers - I will endevour to find & post a photo of the works now

I think I'm right in saying that Unicar and Stirling were the products of the same manufacturer, Oppermans of Borehamwood (not Elstree). The address was "Stirling's Corner", hence the name of one of the cars in question.

ps - don't forget Scammell at Watford. Hardly a car, I know, but its where Gerald Palmer cut his designing teeth!

#41 Vitesse2

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Posted 19 April 2004 - 14:18

In 1971 Hawke were at:
Rear of 146 High Street, Waltham Cross, Herts

Can't help with any of the rest, but I can add Tojeiro, who were at Barkway, Royston, Herts and Merlyn: Colchester Racing Developments, Little Bentley, Colchester.

#42 RTH

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Posted 19 April 2004 - 16:08

Very interesting, - I know Stirling's corner really well - its a huge roundabout on the A1 - I used to go past every day on my way to work in N20 in 70's -there is a big old pub on one side and a Caravan sales site on the western side ( I haven't been there for years now ) . A little way up that side road were Film studios - some of which sadly got knocked down and there is now an industrial estate there.

Hawke moved to the maltings building by the river in Ware next to DJ Sportscars who were big GRP panel makers for all sorts of racing people , I well remember going there often in the mid 70's - eventually they found van rental was a lot more profitable and packed up.

They were both close to David Render's Warecrete concrete works he was a good friend of Colin Chapman's and used to borrow F1 cars for hillclimbing noteably the Lotus 76.

I had completely fogotten about Tojeiro, that is no distance from me. Thank you.

#43 jph

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Posted 19 April 2004 - 16:24

Originally posted by Vitesse2:
Can't help with any of the rest, but I can add Tojeiro, who were at Barkway, Royston, Herts

Before Tojeiro moved to Barkway, I think he worked out of a shed at the back of the pub in Arrington, about seven miles north of Royston. Just a (relatively long) stone's throw form Listers in Cambridge, of course. A bit current, maybe, (though he has been going a few years), Hugh Chamberlain works out of Buntingford, just south of Royston.

#44 RTH

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Posted 19 April 2004 - 16:54

Hugh has moved , his band of merry men are now in a huge new factory unit on the A120 just where the aircraft become airbourne at the end of Stansted runway - literally just a few yards from where the Korean 747 freighter crashed about 3 years ago.

#45 David Beard

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Posted 19 April 2004 - 17:11

Ogle is still at Bird's Hill, Letchworth, but I'm sure it's a long time since they made a car. Last time I was there (70s) they had made an electric car for Lucas IIRC, and robots for Starwars

#46 jph

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Posted 19 April 2004 - 18:55

Originally posted by RTH:
Hugh has moved , his band of merry men are now in a huge new factory unit on the A120 just where the aircraft become airbourne at the end of Stansted runway - literally just a few yards from where the Korean 747 freighter crashed about 3 years ago.

Thanks RTH, hadn't realised that. I'll look out for his new establishment when I'm flying from Stansted later this week!

#47 David Beard

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Posted 11 July 2004 - 10:37

I looked up the March factory yesterday.....

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The sign on the wall on the right says "March House", but it seems to have picked up too much glare to be legible.

#48 Twin Window

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Posted 11 July 2004 - 11:12

Ha! My brother works in the building shown in the upper photo! He runs the engine and gearbox division of privateer Subaru rally specialists Autosportif.

They occupy the furthermost section which starts where the extention protrudes on the left, and it's a lot bigger than it appears on that shot. They've also got all the lock-ups round the back. Every time I visit there I end up imagining all the chassis and people who've been through the doors... Folk may recognise this as also being the former Galmer premises.

As I understand it, the building in the lower photo was March's first base, but within no time they ran out of room and acquired the building opposite (ie all of what's seen in the top pic).

#49 MCS

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Posted 11 July 2004 - 18:58

Off at a bit of a tangent here - please forgive me - but I dropped one of my daughters off at a children's party last weekend in Riseley (Bedfordshire).

Royale moved there - from their Little Staughton airfield base - I think in the early nineties.

I can remember going along to their High Street address with a view to buying Marc Smith's transporter, but judging by what I saw last weekend the building has gone - or at least I think it has.

Would anybody TNFers have the actual (numbered) address I wonder ?

MCS

#50 David Beard

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Posted 25 September 2006 - 21:13

This thread deserves a bump

(and perhaps a rename, if Cirrus doesn't mind....to help any newbies who bother with "Search BB" to happen upon it ;) )

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Britain's racing heritage... somewhere near you

#1 Cirrus

#2 David McKinney

#3 Cirrus

#4 David Beard

#5 Cirrus

#6 Gary C

#7 Gary C

#8 UAtkins

#9 Mallory Dan

#10 Cirrus

#11 David Beard

#12 RTH

#13 Mallory Dan

#14 David McKinney

#15 baggish

#16 UAtkins

#17 Cirrus

#18 Gary C

#19 rdrcr

#20 David Beard

#21 Catalina Park

#22 Gary C

#23 rhpearson

#24 2F-001

#25 UAtkins

#26 David Beard

#27 Cirrus

#28 David Beard

#29 Cirrus

#30 David Beard

#31 RTH

#32 David McKinney

#33 rdrcr

#34 MCS

#35 David Beard

#36 rdrcr

#37 Cirrus

#38 MCS

#39 RTH

#40 ian senior

#41 Vitesse2

#42 RTH

#43 jph

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