21 replies to this topic

[RA0259]

Hi All,

I am trying to track down info on Saltburn Sands races early post war ie 1946, 47. Any info would be appreciated ie where, when, results. Also looking for reference to a driver either of name Shipley or Shapley?

Thanks,

Chris

[CoulthardD]

After a big storm in 1938, which removed a lot of sand from the beach, I understand racing shifted from Saltburn, up the coast to Coatham, near Redcar. The first meeting was organised by Middlesbrough Motor Club on Saturday 6th July, 1946, over a two mile course.

Ian Cunningham in his ex-Works Le Mans Riley 9 won race 1, from Ronnie Robinson in his MG NE. Gilbert Tyrer won race 2, in a Frazer-Nash, Cunningham race 3, and Denis Flather in a BMW 328 won the final race of the day.

The final meeting took place in July 1955, by which time the nearby airfields of Thornaby and Catterick were staging motor racing.

HTH,

David Coulthard

[David McKinney]

It'll be RA0253 R Shapley you're looking for, 259?
Sorry, I can't help (but I know where the car is now )

[RA0259]

Thanks to the two David's re their comments.

David McK. I would be interested in your outlining the source of the info about Shapley and the fact that it was RA0253 that he owned long before it went to NZ.

I am currently researching RA0259 and believe that it was stored by Shapley during the war for JH Walton. But Shapley apparently drove it at Brighton Speed Trials I guess in either 1946 or 47.

Do you have reference?

Thanks,

Chris

[David McKinney]

Sorry Chris
I'm embarrassed to say I can't remember where my info came from
I recall an article in Safety Fast, I think from the time Peter Stevens was running it with its fibreglass body. I've also seen a copy or two of the MMM Register, and at one stage I talked to the Southward Museum people about it
My source might have been any or all of those, but at the moment I have no way of checking
I have no date for Shapley - his name is just in a list of 'former owners'

[RAP]

Brighton 1 Sept 47 #64 J H Walton MG R Type - did not set a time; also a R type #66 M R Heron

RAP

[David McKinney]

...not to mention J D Hamilton

Motor Sport lists every participant in 1947, but not in 1946. So Shapley could have been a competitor in the earlier year, or he could have been driver of the Walton entry in 1947

I also now think my source for linking 0253 with Shapley might have been Graham Vercoe's Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand, which is not always reliable - but he must have got his information from somewhere

[CoulthardD]

As an aside, the ex-Nuvolari 1933 TT winning K3 won a race at Saltburn in 1948!

DC

[CoulthardD]

...an some picture (including a J4) can be found towards the bottom of this page:

http://www.communiga...aps/page7.phtml

DC

[RAP]

Originally posted by David McKinney
...not to mention J D Hamilton

Motor Sport lists every participant in 1947, but not in 1946. So Shapley could have been a competitor in the earlier year, or he could have been driver of the Walton entry in 1947

I also now think my source for linking 0253 with Shapley might have been Graham Vercoe's Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand, which is not always reliable - but he must have got his information from somewhere

I meant to imply, but should have said, no Shapley in 46 or 47 programme that I could spot.

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by CoulthardD
After a big storm in 1938, which removed a lot of sand from the beach, I understand racing shifted from Saltburn, up the coast to Coatham, near Redcar. The first meeting was organised by Middlesbrough Motor Club on Saturday 6th July, 1946, over a two mile course.
HTH,
David Coulthard

Almost to the end of page!

Henry

http://www.communiga...aps/page7.phtml

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by CoulthardD
After a big storm in 1938, which removed a lot of sand from the beach, I understand racing shifted from Saltburn, up the coast to Coatham, near Redcar. The first meeting was organised by Middlesbrough Motor Club on Saturday 6th July, 1946, over a two mile course.

Ian Cunningham in his ex-Works Le Mans Riley 9 won race 1, from Ronnie Robinson in his MG NE. Gilbert Tyrer won race 2, in a Frazer-Nash, Cunningham race 3, and Denis Flather in a BMW 328 won the final race of the day.

The final meeting took place in July 1955, by which time the nearby airfields of Thornaby and Catterick were staging motor racing.

HTH,

David Coulthard

I believe this is the airfield in Catterick.

Could not locate the one mentioned in thornaby.

Henry

[Chocmonster]

I have seen a books about this subject in Darlington library, having searched their records I've found:-

A dash between the tides : a photographic record of sand racing at Saltburn and Redcar, 1905-1965
By Ernie Crust
Published by Iota in 2000

At the drop of the flag : Teesside's glorious years of motor sport 1900-1960
By Ernie Crust
Published by Iota in 2005

Must admit I haven't read either, better find my library card out!

[CoulthardD]

When you find your library card, see if you can spot "North East Motorsport" by Richard Nicholson, published by Tempus Publishing in 2005. I too haven't read the books mentioned, but I understand all are more motorcycle racing based, especially speedway in the Nicholson book. They do, however, included car motorsport as well.

I believe this is the airfield in Catterick.

Yep, that the main A1 heading top left to middle bottom.

Could not locate the one mentioned in thornaby.

Thornaby is now covered by a housing estate and most of the featutures have disappeared under the buildings and new roads. This seems to be the area. Note the names of the streets, espacially to the south of this map:
http://www.multimap.....53568,-1.29604|17|4&dp=904&bd=useful_information&loc=GB:54.53568:-1.29604:17|shackleton%20close%20thornaby|Shackleton%20Close,%20Thornaby,%20Stockton-on-Tees,%20Cleveland,%20England,%20TS17%200

http://www.stockton....erareodrome.pdf

DC

[fuzzi]

Originally posted by Chocmonster
I have seen a books about this subject in Darlington library, having searched their records I've found:-

A dash between the tides : a photographic record of sand racing at Saltburn and Redcar, 1905-1965
By Ernie Crust
Published by Iota in 2000

At the drop of the flag : Teesside's glorious years of motor sport 1900-1960
By Ernie Crust
Published by Iota in 2005

Must admit I haven't read either, better find my library card out!

Do you know of a source for either book? The publishers seem to have gone out of business.

[CoulthardD]

This is a 'local' bookshop in Cleveland, which seems to have "At The Drop Of The Flag" and "North East Motorsport". They may also have "A Dash Between The Tides", as they seem to have a good stock of local history books.

http://www.guisborou...st_books_4.html
http://www.guisborou...t_books_16.html

DC

[fuzzi]

That's terrific, thank you.
I will phone them in the morning.

Added 15 January: the bookshop were very helpful and a copy has been ordered.

[gacocks]

Does anyone have more information about the ex-Nuvolari 1933 TT winning K3 which was supposed to have raced at Saltburn in 1948? Could this have been Ronnie Robinson's MG NE? The NE which was supposed to be raced at the TT by Nuvolari in 1934 could have been mistaken for the K3 if a blower had been fitted.
Ronnie V Robinson from Sykes & Robinson in Leeds had a car described as K33 in 1939. Perhaps he raced this car at Saltburn in 1948.
Appreciate any thoughts.

Graeme

[David McKinney]

Can’t answer you main question. However, the Nuvolari car was K3003, while the 1939 Robinson ‘K33’ was believed to have been K2-based. After various vicissitudes it was restored to K3 spec in the 1970s and renumbered K3003. Markings I saw on it in the 1990s were K3**3

Make of that what you will...

[gacocks]

Can’t answer you main question. However, the Nuvolari car was K3003, while the 1939 Robinson ‘K33’ was believed to have been K2-based. After various vicissitudes it was restored to K3 spec in the 1970s and renumbered K3003. Markings I saw on it in the 1990s were K3**3

Make of that what you will...

What is your source for "believed to have been K2-based"? I have never heard of this before.

[David McKinney]

Sorry, I know I should have written it down, but didn't

The obvious sources are Mike Hawke's K3 Dossier and The Triple M Register, but I can't find it there. Maybe Peter Briggs mentioned it when he had the car here in the UK in 1987

[gacocks]

Sorry, I know I should have written it down, but didn't

The obvious sources are Mike Hawke's K3 Dossier and The Triple M Register, but I can't find it there. Maybe Peter Briggs mentioned it when he had the car here in the UK in 1987

The reason I ask is that I've never heard of that before. There is general agreement that the Peter Briggs car is a genuine K3. The only question is whether it is the Eyston/Nuvolari car or another one. The K3 dossier lists the Redcar event as a question mark, but as it won the race, someone must have a picture so we can verify it.