45 replies to this topic

[john medley]

I reckon this one will test TNF's talent for speed, accuracy, and detail.......

On behalf of a friend, I seek anything at all(info/pics/results/programmes/contacts) on an old racing car called the Cannan Morris. Built in Sydney, Australia in the late 1950s, it raced at Oran Park and perhaps Catalina Park and Towac. According to one source it debuted at Silverdale Hillclimb in late 1960. Initially powered by SV Morris Minor later Skoda 1100, it was uncompetitive, scoring a few places among Oran Park's Division 4 sportscars 1961-1964. It had a simple space frame, swing axle split Ford 10 front end, independent rear with transverse leaf and lower wishbones, inboard rear drums, and an alloy body of Elfin aero shape (or early Lotus 11 if you will).

I have hunted through Australian magazines/programmes/newspapers etc of the period, but need more, particularly pictures.

Any starters?

Thanks in advance
Regards
John Medley

[Richard Worboys]

Hello John, Here are some current photos of the car in as found form, I have been advised that in its day the car was painted white with a 300mm wide black stripe over the top.







Hope these help, Cheers RW.

Edited by Richard Worboys, 08 June 2009 - 07:58.

[Ray Bell]

Welcome to TNF, Richard...

It occurs to me that you must be related to Rob Worboys, who raced out of Orange or Mudgee or somewhere similar. My friend, Malcolm Smith, bought one of his cars, a brutal front engined car with a Falcon 6 in it.

[Dick Willis]

Omigod, its been panel beaten with an axe !

[Richard Worboys]

Hi Just edited the pics Cheers RW

[thunder427]

Dick Willis;your a bit 'Flash' with the AXE,I would have thought a 'Malley root and a Brick' come to mind,as well they still make 'Bog'...lot to be said in the term,'beauty is in the eye of the Beer holder'.........regard427

[bradbury west]

My friend, Malcolm Smith, bought one of his cars, a brutal front engined car with a Falcon 6 in it.

Ray, I hope Malcolm is keeping well and in good spirits. With yourself he was an excellent host to us at the Farm that day. Please pass on our kind regards. We still have the horseshoe
Roger

[Ray Bell]

Malcolm seems fine, Roger, but Gladys has just had hardening of the arteries in the brain diagnosed, which is apparently akin to Altzheimers...

I'll pass on your regards.

[Richard Worboys]

I reckon this one will test TNF's talent for speed, accuracy, and detail.......

On behalf of a friend, I seek anything at all(info/pics/results/programmes/contacts) on an old racing car called the Cannan Morris. Built in Sydney, Australia in the late 1950s, it raced at Oran Park and perhaps Catalina Park and Towac. According to one source it debuted at Silverdale Hillclimb in late 1960. Initially powered by SV Morris Minor later Skoda 1100, it was uncompetitive, scoring a few places among Oran Park's Division 4 sportscars 1961-1964. It had a simple space frame, swing axle split Ford 10 front end, independent rear with transverse leaf and lower wishbones, inboard rear drums, and an alloy body of Elfin aero shape (or early Lotus 11 if you will).

I have hunted through Australian magazines/programmes/newspapers etc of the period, but need more, particularly pictures.

Any starters?

Thanks in advance
Regards
John Medley

Well John, after months of searching I have only been able to find a fleeting glimpse of the Cannan Morris (car #55) on the left hand side of this newsreel film at the very start & I would guess that the man standing over the engine is Colin Cannan & the man seated in the car is John Channon. This is http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=70645 the opening of Oran Park motor racing circuit.
Regards Richard.

[Paul Hamilton]

Well John, after months of searching I have only been able to find a fleeting glimpse of the Cannan Morris (car #55) on the left hand side of this newsreel film at the very start & I would guess that the man standing over the engine is Colin Cannan & the man seated in the car is John Channon. This is http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=70645 the opening of Oran Park motor racing circuit.
Regards Richard.

Richard, thats a great film of Oran Park which is particularly nostalgic when one looks at what is happening to the place right now as it is turned into a housing estate. The film is, however, not of the opening meeting but is probably the first meeting on the newly extended circuit in around 1963.

[john medley]

Richard, thats a great film of Oran Park which is particularly nostalgic when one looks at what is happening to the place right now as it is turned into a housing estate. The film is, however, not of the opening meeting but is probably the first meeting on the newly extended circuit in around 1963.

I reckon, Paul, that it's particularly nostalgic for you because I noted that the opposite lock TC chasing Lotus 23s etc may well have been a young PH before you sold that car to John Lackey and before you and I went to Bathurst Hillclimb together when you were oh-so-serious about hillclimbing(and George Reed monstered a much younger me when I was trying to photograph you and the Elfin 600 halfway up the hill).

Richard rang and emailed me tonight with pics from the original owner, showing some of those wonderful Division 4/5 Oran Park cars from 50 years ago, scuttling around Oran Park without a care in the world, a race apart and wonderful to behold 50 years on: little Austin 7s, motorbike engined things, s/v Ford and Morris engines, with Todd Hamilton's Ralt and the big engined Healey and Holden specials waiting to pounce. And of course George Murray with his Fan Club(capital letters!) and the A7 chassised BMC A engined quick thing that could effectively molest poor unfortunate wealthy young men in Brabhams and Lynxes and Lotuses and...

Memories of great days

Post the photos, Richard. Perhaps they will stir up more!

[Paul Hamilton]

I reckon, Paul, that it's particularly nostalgic for you because I noted that the opposite lock TC chasing Lotus 23s etc may well have been a young PH before you sold that car to John Lackey and before you and I went to Bathurst Hillclimb together when you were oh-so-serious about hillclimbing(and George Reed monstered a much younger me when I was trying to photograph you and the Elfin 600 halfway up the hill).

Richard rang and emailed me tonight with pics from the original owner, showing some of those wonderful Division 4/5 Oran Park cars from 50 years ago, scuttling around Oran Park without a care in the world, a race apart and wonderful to behold 50 years on: little Austin 7s, motorbike engined things, s/v Ford and Morris engines, with Todd Hamilton's Ralt and the big engined Healey and Holden specials waiting to pounce. And of course George Murray with his Fan Club(capital letters!) and the A7 chassised BMC A engined quick thing that could effectively molest poor unfortunate wealthy young men in Brabhams and Lynxes and Lotuses and...

Memories of great days

Post the photos, Richard. Perhaps they will stir up more!

I think the TC is driven by Jack Evans, John. Its not me as I was still on the other side of the fence in 1963 prior to my grand debut at Silverdale sometime in 1964. I do recall that initial meeting on the newly extended circuit as I was then pitting for the late Barry Sharp and I think it may have been that meeting when he started with his crash hat on the wrong way round. The film shows that the circuit is still pretty raw as the concrete wall at Energol (or BP as it later became!) is unpainted.

The divisional racing in those days involved a lot more than driving skill and mechanical expertise as it was quite an art to avoid promotion into a division in which your car became uncompetitive. Jack Evans was a master of that art and was something of a father figure to the younger TC drivers guiding us to maintain very strong division 2 performances while avoiding too much involvement with the Lotii and Elfins in division 1. He obviously did not get it right at that opening meeting, however, as there was some pretty serious company out there with the TC!! Richard's photos certainly sound worth the effort of posting.

I do recall that we had some fun at Bathurst that day, John, as I usually did on what was one of my favorite hillclimbs (Newcastle being a definite number one!!!) I don't recall your confrontation with George Reed, however, so please tell all!!

[Ray Bell]

First meeting on the new circuit?

I must check out that clip some time when I have a good connection... I was there for that one, the first I ever went to there, remember a Sprite rolling in the Dogleg right in front of me when it got caught out on an enormous mound of dirt that had grown in the middle of the road there as the bitumen broke up and the earth under it moved.

What would Sharpy have been driving?

[Paul Hamilton]

First meeting on the new circuit?

I must check out that clip some time when I have a good connection... I was there for that one, the first I ever went to there, remember a Sprite rolling in the Dogleg right in front of me when it got caught out on an enormous mound of dirt that had grown in the middle of the road there as the bitumen broke up and the earth under it moved.

What would Sharpy have been driving?

Barry's first race was in a grey Wolseley 6/80, Ray. It may not have been at the very first meeting on the extended circuit but, if not, it was soon after that and I do recall that I was at that first meeting. I also went to the real Oran Park opening meeting on the original circuit a few years earlier and recall watching Alec Mildren, as the then current Gold Star Champion, perform the formal opening. He was then driven around the circuit in a somewhat beat up Singer SM which I thought was not quite up to the occasion although I guess it was appropriate as the Singer Car Club was the organiser.

[bradbury west]

Ray, check out the Holdens doorhandling round the corners at around the 50second mark, just wonderful.
Roger

[Daren W]

Hi all added these Photo's for Dad (Richard Worboys) Regards Daren

[Daren W]

Bump

[275 GTB-4]

Bump

Interesting thread Daren, any particular reason for the "bump"?

[275 GTB-4]

Hello John, Here are some current photos of the car in as found form, I have been advised that in its day the car was painted white with a 300mm wide black stripe over the top.

Hope these help, Cheers RW.

The stripe might have been 300mm at the air intake, but quickly narrows to 80-100mm over the car.

Edited by 275 GTB-4, 21 May 2015 - 09:21.

[Daren W]

Just to wake it up as the car gets closer to running Daren

[275 GTB-4]

Keep us in the loop Daren

[tracken]

A small point,  Ben Sellers purchased this car in the late 70, but only because he was rebuilding the Stirling (23B copy) and he wanted the wheels centres which were 14" I have a picture somewhere of the 2 cars together at Bass Hill.

[Ray Bell]

The wheels must have been changed somewhere along the way...

The appearance of the fins on this car reminded me of this one from Claire Russell's pics:



And with the nose off:



These pics appear to be from Tamworth hillclimb some time around 1960. It would appear that it's a Ford-based car, front and rear end are obviously Ford, it's likely the engine and box are too.

The thing that strikes me about the Cannan Morris is those rear wheels. As shown in the colour pics, and I don't actually know if they are the original wheels, they appear to have a hub based on Morris 8/40 with Renault 750 wheels adapted.

What both cars show is the energy that went into building these unique Specials. I love them.

[DanTra2858]

I remember Graham Howard having a car similar to the one above, I believe it was a very early NOTA. There is a photo of it somewhere on the Forum.

[john medley]

It IS one of Graham Howard's Notas. two of which he owned around 1960

[GMACKIE]

The wheels in the last 2 pics look like Ford Prefect to me. They were very close to VW [5 stud, 205 PCD]. Renault 750 were 3 stud.

[tracken]

As John said Wrong car, Graham is looking down with that smile HISTERICALLY SPEAKING that is.

[Ray Bell]

They are Prefect, Greg...

As I mentioned, it appears to be totally based on Prefect stuff, I said that based on the wheels. The Renault 750 reference was to the green wheel showing in the colour pic, it has a 6-stud centre and what appears to be some kind of adaptation to a Renault 750 wheel.

I had trouble finding a pic, but I got a good one and you can see...



...while the later 750s might have had 3-stud wheels, the early 750s could be considered 10-stud or 5-stud depending on where you undid them.

The photo confirms that the green wheel is a Renault 750 wheel, as I thought.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by tracken
As John said Wrong car, Graham is looking down with that smile HISTERICALLY SPEAKING that is.

I rather think that Graham would be smiling that someone found photos of his car...

But he would also have read and understood what I wrote...
 

The appearance of the fins on this car reminded me of this one from Claire Russell's pics

Even the most casual comparison of the pics would determine that they were different cars. The thing that irks me is that I thought it was a Special and it was a mere 'production' Nota, similar to the Nota Fiat that Malcolm Smith owned for a couple of years.



.

Edited by Ray Bell, 14 July 2015 - 22:55.

[Dick Willis]

It IS one of Graham Howard's Notas. two of which he owned around 1960

Nota no. 9 known as The Finned Roadster, where is it now ?

[DanTra2858]

I believe Graham sold the car to purchase his SV Ford powered early Nota Clubman, I can rember being informed by Graham that the Finned Roadster was not the best car for taking his then girlfriend out as it was too drafty for her, he also mentioned raising the Compression Ratio of the Ford motor then having trouble with wild wheel spin whe doing a quick take off, would I like to own the car, sure would.

[DanTra2858]

In the photo Tribute to Graham there are two photo,s of his Nota Finned Roaster.

[DanTra2858]

In the photo Tribute to Graham there are two photo,s of his Nota Finned Roaster.

[tracken]

If someone has a picture of the Stirling around early 80's then that will show at least what wheels were on the car, I know this to be true because I bought the car from Ben for a carton off beer which is what he paid for it) He talked me into it as he thought it would be a nice room mate for the Nota being they sort of looked the same and had 8/40 engines.

Ben also taught me how to drink 1/2 a carton, load a car and get home uhhhhh.

[Ray Bell]

When you mention 'Stirling' I think of the Lotus 23 replica...

Which had, of course, 13" wheels much wider than these things had.

Was there an earlier 'Stirling'?

[tracken]

Ray, you are correct, I assumed 14",
 I saw the centres they were from memory Renault 750, cut down,
 Ben was only after the centres not the rims,

Edited by tracken, 16 July 2015 - 05:56.

[john medley]

It seems only fair that Benny Sellers sold the Cannan Morris for a slab of beer, because I sold it to him and Ian Russell for a slab, because I bought it for a slab.

That is clear. What was not clear was that Ben bought the wheel centres not for the Sterling, but for the ex Tom Sulman Lynx which he also owned at the time. In 2008 these wheel centres were used on the Lynx at Phillip Island but failed because they had been incorrectly drilled. I arranged for then owner Howard Tucker to return them to the Cannan Morris. He then sold the Lynx to the UK, and pressed on with his new acquisition, a Morris Minor-engined PRAD built 1957 which never roadraced but ran only ever on Mt Ginn speedway (Canberra), remaining today as an astonishing time capsule from 1957, soon to reappear.

[Ray Bell]

Another Prad? That's something to look forward to!

Of course, John, you are well aware that some things are for trading, not for using...

[tracken]

John, you win,...... again, and we go and hide in shame,....... again,  I think that was the night I was introduced to the demon drink proper. so who or whom purchased it after me, I parked it at  John Merrick's at South Bowenfels,  after a few years he sold it as I had Just acquired the "Flea" and a  Milano GT

[Dick Willis]

Which Milano GT did you have ? or was it the Pronta/Italia ?

[tracken]

I owned the Pronta Mid 80's but in the early eighties I was on the way home when I noticed a new fence going up in Fairfield, at the rear was a Milano gt , I purchased the car and sold it to my neighbour and friend Ray Eedens, it had a grey Holden, spit front axle and had never been finished and put on the road, I showed Ian Johnson a pic and he said it was one of the early ones like his was, this was the body that a mould was taken off by Reg Gibbs for the rebuild of Morrin's ex Leer Milano in 1988

[Dick Willis]

Ken, this seemed to be a GT we have missed somehow from the JWF Milano GT thread which I have just bumped onto this page of the forum. Perhaps you might like to peruse the thread and see if your description marries up with any of the cars mentioned/pictired there or add your comments etc from the Cannan Morris thread to the Milano GT thread.

[DanTra2858]

http://i136.photobuc...ost/2cannan.jpg

Would car number 71 be Doug Brown in his Singer powered Nota, prior to him racing a Vee?

If so then this car was purchased from Doug by Curley Cowan & fitted with a pushrod Ford motor, do not know history after Curley,s ownership.

[tracken]

Found this, if you look 1/2 way down the page it looks similar to the cannan Morris  

 

http://aussieroadrac...onGrahamP3.html

[Gordon Graham]

Ken, if you mean the Lotus 11 style car no. 23 in my Caversham photos on Aussie Road Racing, that was the WA-built ALF, I think built by Stuart Campbell.

[tracken]

Yes Gordon I was referring to its body style being strikingly similar, Elva, Elfin, Lotus, all similar, that ALF looks like a twin