116 replies to this topic

[Bauble]

Yes it did, but the one photo shown suggests it must have been heavily modified after January 1949 to look like the WOET picture

My first thought, actually, was the Spen King etc Rover Special in an early incarnation

Definitely not the Rover, David. DSJ's book proves that.

Instone was entered at the 1952 British Grand Prix meeting as number 32 and the background is definitely that circuit, I do not know if he started the 500cc event, but he was most certainly there at some stage.

Edited by Bauble, 31 May 2011 - 15:18.

[David McKinney]

Have now seen a photo of the Dutt Maserati rebodied to look like this...

[rbm]

Entering the Assembly Area, Goodwood, 19th April 1954.

Fourteen weeks. That's all I'm saying, Richard. Fourteen weeks...

ARRGHHH !!

I'm not so sure about that, Richard.
It's patently one of the two Mezzolitres, in early 1952 trim (Instone fitted the larger nose later in the season). By the time Jimmy Byrnes returned to his car in 1953, he had fitted a swing axle, that this car does not appear to have.
The "Daily Express" in the background suggests Silverstone (or possibly Boreham, but I don't think Mezzolitres ran there).

I have Rupert Instone listed as number 31 at the British Grand Prix, 17/07/1952, but
a) I'm not sure he even attended
b) If this is Silverstone, he looks to be well off-track
c) Colours look wrong.
d) I have no idea what Instone looks like

So could it be Jimmy Byrnes in a minor race (near the time of either the GP or International Trophy). Or could it be Olaf Poppe (another key part in the LR story) who occasionally drove?

Over to you

Instone was entered at the 1952 British Grand Prix meeting as number 32 and the background is definitely that circuit, I do not know if he started the 500cc event, but he was most certainly there at some stage.

I met Gordon on quite a number of occasions, and from knowing him thought this maybe how he looked as a younger man, unfortunately this was in my pre-500 days , however is there even any evidence that Gordon ever race the Mezzolitre?

[Dutchy]

Hi Rich - small point re the photo of the Mezzolitre; it is Silverstone and not Boreham for the simple reason that Silverstone was backed by the Daily Express and Boreham by the Daily Mail.

Sadly the Daily Mail's investment proved short lived but that's a story for another day.

[HiRich]

Instone was entered at the 1952 British Grand Prix meeting as number 32 and the background is definitely that circuit, I do not know if he started the 500cc event, but he was most certainly there at some stage.

Do you mean "31"?
In which case, I'm pretty sure it must be Instone at the GP meeting, and the record is off.
As Dutchy says, it has to be Silverstone (though I'm struggling to know where), it's not the International Trophy, and Instone should be the only Mezzolitre present. The road marking suggests to me that he is either off-track or going the wrong way. So perhaps (in untimed practice, judging from the empty grandstand) this is the moment his weekend ended?
Or perhaps Rich is right and it's a pre-event test?

Rich
I have no records of Bashford driving the car anywhere, although there's a lot of smaller events to fill in. I find it strange that he didn't even have one go, even in just a sprint or climb. I only have Instone, Byrnes and Poppe so far, and the latter really intrigues me. A Land Rover man, but in Manufacturing Engineering , and as anyone in the trade knew, Mfg Eng only met with Des Eng so they could call each other idiots. There's much more to the Mezzolitre story than we know.

[Bauble]

Do you mean "31"?


Sorry! Typical lack of proof reading number 31 at British Grand Prix 1952, Mezzolitre C R Instone.

Somehow I see the picture as being taken behind the grandstands on the outside of the start line, which might suggest it was an unofficial test!

[Odseybod]

Somehow I see the picture as being taken behind the grandstands on the outside of the start line, which might suggest it was an unofficial test!

I'll probably be shot down in flames but looks to me as though he's either cutting across the inside of Woodcote to the pits entrance, or maybe on the inside of Becketts to take a short cut down the Club Straight back to mechanical assistance. Think I can just make out a couple of oil drums marking the 'proper' inside of the corner.

[Doug Nye]

I'll probably be shot down in flames but looks to me as though he's either cutting across the inside of Woodcote to the pits entrance, or maybe on the inside of Becketts to take a short cut down the Club Straight back to mechanical assistance. Think I can just make out a couple of oil drums marking the 'proper' inside of the corner.

I believe this shot was taken on the inside of Silverstone's Woodcote Corner as the driver was turning off the Grand Prix circuit to enter the paddock via the bottom end of the Club Straight - the rubber/oil marked racing line being that of Club Woodcote sweeping round to the right. Err - maybe... We know that the photographer attended the 1952 British GP meeting, but all the negatives are cut into individual frames, preserved in individual tissue envelopes lacking any captioning of any kind. There is no other context offered by the negs themselves. Can't have it all.

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 01 June 2011 - 19:21.

[Bauble]

Yes! After further study I agree that it is not I as said in my early post, you can see from the hoardings and grandstand entrances (always in the front in those days) that it is the circuit behind the car, but there appears to be no demarcation of the inside of the track, straw bales, oil drums etc. I wondered about the darker line on the tarmac but concluded it was shadow, but you are probably right Doug it is rubber.
Exactly where is probably not important, but Becketts or Stowe could fit.

[rbm]

Now for something a little different, an early Silverstone meeting.

the Mezzolitre from another angle

[Odseybod]

Yes! After further study I agree that it is not I as said in my early post, you can see from the hoardings and grandstand entrances (always in the front in those days) that it is the circuit behind the car, but there appears to be no demarcation of the inside of the track, straw bales, oil drums etc. I wondered about the darker line on the tarmac but concluded it was shadow, but you are probably right Doug it is rubber.
Exactly where is probably not important, but Becketts or Stowe could fit.

It may have appeared later but wouldn't Stowe have had the low white wall on the inside of the corner (like the one at Copse), whereas Becketts was wall-free to allow access to the Club straight? Time to drive the Grand Prix Legends sim again to refresh the memory.

[Bauble]

It may have appeared later but wouldn't Stowe have had the low white wall on the inside of the corner (like the one at Copse), whereas Becketts was wall-free to allow access to the Club straight? Time to drive the Grand Prix Legends sim again to refresh the memory.

No the wall was not built in 1952, from memory it would have been 1956.

[Odseybod]

No the wall was not built in 1952, from memory it would have been 1956.

Ah, so. Hence Fangio and the crumpled bodywork on the W196 streamliner.

[Doug Nye]

Ah, so. Hence Fangio and the crumpled bodywork on the W196 streamliner.

Due to clobbering marker drums, not bouncing off any inside walls...

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 01 June 2011 - 21:37.

[Odseybod]

Due to clobbering marker drums, not bouncing off any inside walls...

DCN

Yes, indeed. So the walls didn't arrive until after 1954, as Bauble suggested.

[Dutchy]

I'm pretty sure the Mezzolitre is cutting across the bottom of the Club Straight at Woodcote to return to the paddock. My memory of Silverstone meetings when I was small is that was the normal route back to the paddock.

[RTH]

Seeing some of these very small lightweight racing cars from past eras, it would be nice to see a new formula junior multi chassis for 1 litre cars with no aerofoil wings, no driver aids just completely minimalist cars. Rather like the 50cc and 125cc motorcycles the lack of horsepower makes it a desperate flat out scramble and slipstream from start to finish.