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Frank Cuttell, polesitter


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#1 john medley

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Posted 22 January 2011 - 19:33

My friend Frank Cuttell got pole position in his yellow Formula Vee at Amaroo Park in 1971, but when his clutch destroyed itself off the line he went from cock of the walk to feather duster, probably to last place by the first corner. He wants to know the date of that performance .... perhaps January 1971? Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance

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#2 Milan Fistonic

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Posted 22 January 2011 - 20:28

There was a meeting at Amaroo Park on March 7 1971.

"The last Vee race, run over 5 laps, was run just before the rain arrived, and brought together the fastest of both groups. Because their practice session was in the rain on Saturday, Haehnle (row 2) and Buesselmann (row 3) were behind Cuttell and Merz on the grid, but both wasted no time in forging to the front."

Could that have been the race?

#3 john medley

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Posted 22 January 2011 - 21:32

Thanks, Milan. It could well have been -- Frank was very proud of that pole position, so it may have been his only Vee pole.

Any other ideas?

#4 Dick Willis

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Posted 22 January 2011 - 22:32

John, tell Frank to get another Vee, he might be able to do it again now that he is 40 years wiser.

#5 john medley

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Posted 24 January 2011 - 06:46

Dick
You, Frank, and I (and lots of other people we know) provide a very clear demonstration that because we are 40 years older we are not necessarily 40 years wiser. However I will pass your message on. Have you yet seen his imitation ERA, off to the painters and platers as we speak?

I have drawn Frank's attention to the contents of this thread. It is up to him and Barbara to divulge what was the 40th anniversary they wish to celebrate

#6 Dick Willis

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Posted 24 January 2011 - 07:53

John, Looking forward to seeing Frank's "ERA" is there a launching date yet ?

#7 ellrosso

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Posted 24 January 2011 - 10:03

John, is there a name for this one picked out yet? I was always keen on his "Nuthin Special".

#8 Ray Bell

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Posted 24 January 2011 - 10:23

Cuttell... on the net?

That would be a treat, but I've never seen any indication of it.

And I wouldn't encourage him back into Vees... not for a moment.

#9 john medley

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Posted 24 January 2011 - 20:35

The "Nuthin Special" was/is a good thing, with recent specials having prosaic names like Gipsy FIAT and Cirrus -- although the last was almost called "A Gentle Whiff of Insanity". The trouble sort of started with the MG TC Special Frank built in the late 1970s which had painted on the bonnet words to the effect of " If the good lord wanted racing cars rear engined MG would have built them that way"

I have commended to Frank that sign I saw on a Bentley Special : " If this car is seen driven responsibly, please report as stolen"

#10 john medley

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Posted 25 January 2011 - 00:01

Now Frank wants to know if there was an Amaroo meeting earlier in the year, perhaps in January 1971. Anyone?

Dick, Frank's latest is another remarkable thing. It is modelled on ERA perhaps R4D but with beam axle front. Supercharged 2 litre Armstrong Siddeley 6 cylinder with preselector gearbox, lovely bodywork by Frank and the more complex curves by Rodney Hoffman, all the rest similar to ERA. Just dismantled after 3 years' work, it is now off to the prettying-up people: platers, painters etc

May I add one more question? Frank tried to get on to this forum, signed up, got his email OK etc, but when he tries to actually participate
It says " you are not cleared to...."
and only the "Add Reply" box appears, not " Fast Reply"
Help him?

#11 Ray Bell

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Posted 25 January 2011 - 01:41

It's easy, John...

Posted Image

In that report it explains that there were three different grid arrangements for Vees on that day. The first race (5 laps) had Colin Merz and Paul McCurdy on the front row, the race was won by Gerry Murphy. The second, over five laps again, had no mention of the grid positions, but it was a different field and therefore different grid.

The final race, which had yet another mix of contestants in it, is described this way:

"The last Vee race, run over 5 laps, was run just before the rain arrived and brought together the fastest of both groups. Because their practice session was in rain on Saturday, Haehnle (row 2) and Buesselmann (row 3) were behind Cuttell and Merz on the grid, but both wasted no time in forging to the front. This time, however, the pair changed places a few times, although Haehnle was in front again where it counted, while Enno sliced a whacking 6/10-second off his new record."

Presumably, then, Frank was on pole twice, in the second and third races? Two different practice sessions, the fastest blokes in the wet one.

Hope that helps them in their insatiable quest.

#12 Wirra

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Posted 25 January 2011 - 09:49

At that time Vee fields were oversubscribed - something like 30 entries with only 20 allowed per race.

It usually went something like this;
Race 1 - 5 lap for 1st - 20th qualifiers
Race 2 - 5 lap for 10th -30th qualifiers
Race 3 - 10 lap feature (championship pointscore race) for 1st - 20th qualifiers.

Frank may in fact have qualified around 10th-ish in the dry and Bernie and Enno just behind him from their wet/damp session.

#13 Ray Bell

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Posted 25 January 2011 - 11:01

There was no ten-lap feature, however... all five-lap races...

And it was apparently the last race where he had pole.

#14 frankcuttell

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Posted 28 January 2011 - 12:39

There was no ten-lap feature, however... all five-lap races...

And it was apparently the last race where he had pole.

Thank you all very much for your excellent input, but I clearly remember that weekend. Practice on Saturday was wet and I actually got pole (I don't mind the wet). Towards the end of practice (now called qualifying) I thought the clutch was slipping, but as there was no way I could rectify the problem at that stage I decided to trust my luck (bad). In any case just prior to the 1st race, the F Vee mafia shuffled over to me on the dummy grid and told me who was going to going pass me off the start on the left and who was to pass me on the right and that YOU will just drive straight. I had no choice. The clutch fell to pieces off the start and it was all over in the first 100 yards.
For the record my car was called the Bono Vee, as, of course Jack had built it.
The reason for this post was to establish just what day I met my beautiful wife Barbara. We both thought for years it was around Australia Day 1971 but probably confused it with the historic Amaroo January meetings. My flatmate had told me that while he was away for a few days a mysterious girl would be moving in temporarily that weekend, and sure enough when I got home that Sunday night from Amaroo and opened the door, there was this gorgeous person reclining on my couch! We have rarely been apart since.
It was Definitely early '71 and it was Definitely Amaroo. Shortly after I sold the Vee and Barb still wears the proceeds of that sale on her hand.
Thanks again for your collective help. FC.

#15 Ray Bell

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Posted 28 January 2011 - 21:03

So let's get this straight...

You got pole and remember the occasion. You remember clearly that it was the same day that you met the beautiful Barbara. She made such an impression that you bowed out of FVee and used the money to buy her some gloves (or something...), yet you don't remember the date?

It's a mere five weeks from Australia Day to March 7, you know.

And if I know the Cuttlefish, he's big enough, ugly enough etc to carry the celebration of the 40th anniversary right through the whole period. Just to be sure to get the right date, of course.

#16 frankcuttell

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Posted 28 January 2011 - 22:59

So let's get this straight...

You got pole and remember the occasion. You remember clearly that it was the same day that you met the beautiful Barbara. She made such an impression that you bowed out of FVee and used the money to buy her some gloves (or something...), yet you don't remember the date?

It's a mere five weeks from Australia Day to March 7, you know.

And if I know the Cuttlefish, he's big enough, ugly enough etc to carry the celebration of the 40th anniversary right through the whole period. Just to be sure to get the right date, of course.

Yes Ray I guess it must have been the 7th of March, so it looks as if we will have to have a second celebration. Might see if I can get pole again....at Phillip Island. FC

#17 Ray Bell

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Posted 29 January 2011 - 00:06

Let's hope you're big enough, ugly enough...

And old enough!

To do that.

#18 chequer57

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 09:34

Strangely enough the Bono (later known as the G.P. Formcar) is up for sale at the moment from Greg McCombie assuming there was only one Bono

http://www.fvee.org....le/1966formcar/

Edited by chequer57, 01 February 2011 - 12:32.


#19 chequer57

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Posted 11 February 2011 - 11:22

Strangely enough the Bono (later known as the G.P. Formcar) is up for sale at the moment from Greg McCombie assuming there was only one Bono

http://www.fvee.org....le/1966formcar/

and now Les Puklowski owns it ....

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#20 D-Type

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Posted 11 February 2011 - 12:38

Every time this thread appears in the listing I have this mental image of someone named Frank Cuttell sitting on top of a telegraph pole having forsaken the racing world to become a hermit, fakir or guru. :)

:eek: I now find that it's related to another form of lunacy :lol:

Sorry dear - only kidding! :kiss:



#21 john medley

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Posted 11 February 2011 - 20:49

Duncan, let me tell you the worst part; let your imagination run free,,,,

Not only does that mental picture sit well with anyone who knows Frank, but you need to slip into the picture the fact that Frank when younger was a thin Basil Fawlty lookalike -- with some of Basil's eccentric (shall we say) mannerisms and angular actions

#22 Ray Bell

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Posted 11 February 2011 - 21:31

Remember, though, he wasn't the only one who sat on a pole that day...

Inspirational.

#23 GMACKIE

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Posted 11 February 2011 - 21:38

Duncan, let me tell you the worst part; let your imagination run free,,,,

Not only does that mental picture sit well with anyone who knows Frank, but you need to slip into the picture the fact that Frank when younger was a thin Basil Fawlty lookalike -- with some of Basil's eccentric (shall we say) mannerisms and angular actions

When Frank was younger??????


#24 Ray Bell

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Posted 11 February 2011 - 22:16

Yes, Greg...

John goes back a long way too. I think even Frank is older than me.

#25 john medley

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Posted 12 February 2011 - 08:14

Greg, I thought you people from the Southern Highlands looked after one another!

No, you are right. He still does look like (young) Basil

Frighteningly, he is like a chameleon : there are many he can resemble. Too tall for a good Adolf Hitler, the Walter Mitty in him made him do it. He worked furiously to produce The Look -- the stance, the shaking, the shouting, the moustache, the uniform, the salutes.... and went with the lovely Barbara to a fancy dress party. It was unfortunate that after he had had a few drinks and was determined to impress all around with his role, the Walter Mitty in him took over : he BECAME A Schickelgruber. He BELIEVED he was A SCHICKELGRUBER.

It was particularly unfortunate that at that point three young men who Frank did not know arrived at the fancy dress party dressed as Brownshirts. Momentarily taken aback on seeing Frank (by this time BEING ADOLF HITLER) , they needed a number of restorative neckoils to steady their nerves, but after that....!! They had found a Leader, and Frank was Going To Be That Leader Whether They Liked It Or Not --- and They Liked It. The shouting, the saluting, the funny walks, the marching, the schoolboy German.... it was like Kristallnacht all over again. It was hideous. The party was destroyed. Everyone fled.

You think I make this up? Sadly, no. Perhaps Frank can post the photos here

#26 GMACKIE

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Posted 12 February 2011 - 21:21

Thank you all very much for your excellent input, but I clearly remember that weekend. Practice on Saturday was wet and I actually got pole (I don't mind the wet). Towards the end of practice (now called qualifying) I thought the clutch was slipping, but as there was no way I could rectify the problem at that stage I decided to trust my luck (bad). In any case just prior to the 1st race, the F Vee mafia shuffled over to me on the dummy grid and told me who was going to going pass me off the start on the left and who was to pass me on the right and that YOU will just drive straight. I had no choice. The clutch fell to pieces off the start and it was all over in the first 100 yards.
For the record my car was called the Bono Vee, as, of course Jack had built it.
The reason for this post was to establish just what day I met my beautiful wife Barbara. We both thought for years it was around Australia Day 1971 but probably confused it with the historic Amaroo January meetings. My flatmate had told me that while he was away for a few days a mysterious girl would be moving in temporarily that weekend, and sure enough when I got home that Sunday night from Amaroo and opened the door, there was this gorgeous person reclining on my couch! We have rarely been apart since.
It was Definitely early '71 and it was Definitely Amaroo. Shortly after I sold the Vee and Barb still wears the proceeds of that sale on her hand.
Thanks again for your collective help. FC.

Frank, I bet you copped things like "The timing gear must be wrong", etc. Some [such as you and I], like driving in the wet, some don't.

At Amaroo one day - in the VW Beetle Sports Sedan - I managed to end up on the front row of the grid, beside Bob Stevens - in the Monaro. It rained during practice, and Bob's 600 odd horses weren't much more use than my 168! The 'wet' is a great leveler. The funny thing was, when I out-dragged the Monaro [good traction with the engine hanging out the back] off the line for a few yards, all the VW fans in the crowd [both of them] :lol: leaped to their feet.