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Racing Unipower GT


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#1 Morris S

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Posted 08 January 2014 - 15:44

I own the Unipower GT that was built in late 1966 , bought by Janspeed and prepared by them for Geoff Mabbs to race at several events in the UK in 1967. It was also raced by Mabbs at Jarama in the same year. Cars and Car Conversions' Brian Harvey then purchased the car in which he competed at several speed events in 1968 with CCC sponsorship. Brian recalls selling the car to Piers Weld - Forrester at the end of 1968 , Piers had taken over production of Unipower GTs under the new company name of UWF at around this time. Despite racing other Unipowers both at home and abroad as far as I know Piers didn't race this car and it was then sold to Graham Goodman who did enter the car for several races in 1969, still in it's Janspeed/CCC red livery but now with an 1150cc engine unit, Jack Knight 5 speed gearbox and huge (for such a miniscule car) Brabham wheel on the rear.

 

From 1970 onward the story gets a little fuzzy with the car going through a dealer or two (including Chris Alford) ,up to Scotland and then over to the continent where it was raced at Spa several times amongst other races.

 

Thanks to Ted Walker I have managed to collect some nice shots of my car with Mabbs at the wheel but any information about the car or photographs especially during it's ownership by Graham Goodman (whom I know next to nothing about) would be much appreciated, or for that matter any info about racing Unipowers would be of interest.

 

Many thanks

 

Pete


Edited by Morris S, 08 January 2014 - 15:46.


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#2 bradbury west

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Posted 08 January 2014 - 17:37

Have you spoken to Ernie Unger?
Roger Lund

#3 Morris S

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Posted 08 January 2014 - 18:32

No Roger I haven't but would be interested if it were possible. I have spoken to Brian Harvey and hoping to speak to Jan Odor soon after swapping emails. Anyone have any information on Goodman ? I have a shot of the car at Snetterton in 69 entered by Goodman driven I suspect by Gideon Lloyd. I think he also raced it at Brands the same year.


Edited by Morris S, 08 January 2014 - 18:38.


#4 Mistron

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Posted 08 January 2014 - 19:00

And will we be seeing it on May 4th?

 

Al



#5 Morris S

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Posted 08 January 2014 - 22:28

Indeed we will Al together with the '69 Le Mans entered car, May 4th at Blyton Park , together with probably one of the best collections of early Minis and Mini based cars ever put together.  ;)



#6 Mistron

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Posted 08 January 2014 - 23:03

This'll be the time to get dibbs on a passenger ride then?

Cracking car, look forward to seeing it.

 

Al



#7 Morris S

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Posted 09 January 2014 - 16:33

Of course Al , may be wise to book a session with your chiropractor first though . :blush:

 

Just attempted to post a couple of photos of the car but failed on this dismal new format, I'll have another wrestle with it later.



#8 Morris S

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Posted 09 January 2014 - 20:29

auni_zpsc6f13186.jpg

 

C&CC's Brian Harvey with my car in 1968.

I'm also looking for any shots of the engine bay of this car and any cockpit images. A longshot I know but it was photographed quite a few times during Harvey's tenure.

 

Also would anyone know if the car featured in the support race for the first ever F1 race at Jarama in 1967 with Mabbs at the wheel or was it a different event.


Edited by Morris S, 09 January 2014 - 20:38.


#9 Morris S

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Posted 09 January 2014 - 20:47

Managed to answer my own question :

 

http://www.racingspo...07-23-6153.html



#10 Morris S

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Posted 03 April 2014 - 00:13

Anyone know anything about racer Gideon Lloyd who bought this car from Cars & Car Conversions' Brian Harvey in the late Summer of 1968 ?



#11 275 GTB-4

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Posted 03 April 2014 - 06:05

Plenty of stuff on the net if you google etc...for example

UnipowerGT1140ccauni02_zps8278c420.jpg

Edited by 275 GTB-4, 03 April 2014 - 06:06.


#12 Morris S

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Posted 03 April 2014 - 17:55

Yes thanks, all posted by me :lol:

 

I have found a lot of info in a short space of time but nothing about Lloyd who I understand had a brother who also raced.



#13 Bloggsworth

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Posted 06 April 2014 - 11:51

Unipower were just round the corner from the wonderful Art Deco Hoover building, seen here:

 

 https://www.google.c...iw=1366&bih=580



#14 gpslok

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Posted 31 July 2014 - 12:22

I am the said Gideon Lloyd (with no motor racing brother, maybe you were thinking of Richard Lloyd). We (Graham Goodman & I) acquired the triple CCC car from Piers Weld Forrester who sensibly used the fact that it held the up to 1150cc standing 1/4 mile record for Santa Pod to demonstrate and for us to try the car at that very straight venue.

 

When we discovered that it was considerably happier in a straight line, we took what we thought was the simple solution and stuck a pair of F3 Brabham wheels on the back. Not only did it not improve cornering, it did nothing for the car's poise. Anyway the two of us did a season of club racing (I think) sharing the driving. The intention was to do some long distance racing in Europe in the following season (71). Sadly that never transpired.

 

Easter '71 Oulton Park was our last outing. The brilliantly crisp, cold, sunny Easter Sunday was topped and tailed by incredibly dense fog. On our journey back down South, visibility was zero - at one point I was leaning out of the passenger side door feeling for the kerbside. Eventually fog clearing, we made the motorway and Graham opened up the Jag. I seem to recall 100mph being indicated on the MI.

 

Needless to say, trailer tyres blew (melted) and I was 'volunteered' to be 'driven' in the Unipower behind the Jag. The primitive handbrake had iced up and with no way of communicating with the Jag I became aware of flickering flames behind my shoulders. Sure enough the discs were alight. 

 

I promise you the next bit is true! A car overtook and flagged down the Jag. Then a guy came round to the Unipower, lifted the engine cover and fire extinguished both discs which were merrily aflame being fed by brake fluid. Somehow the magnesium wheels didn't ignite. He then disappeared into the night (were you that man?)

 

That was the rather sad end to our relationship with the red devil. It was sold. Graham raced Formula 3 in Europe for 2 seasons and I got a job!!



#15 cooper997

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Posted 31 July 2014 - 13:32

Great anecdote Gideon.

I'm sure Morris S (Pete) will look forward to reading this information.

There's a whole other thread about the car on another specialist forum. Try this to read more of the research that's been happening.

http://mk1-forum.net...16d59272a8a0f2a

Stephen

#16 Morris S

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 14:37

Hello Gideon, thank you for your input! I am currently restoring the car back to it's 1967 Janspeed livery and though I have discovered much of the car's history (http://mk1-forum.net....php?f=6&t=8760) there's much yet to uncover , especially post 1968 . Here are a few questions if you wouldn't mind scouring your memory!?

 

1. Was the car sold to Chris Alford?

2. Did you ever experiment with a cross flow head at that time?

3.Which circuits did you race that car at, I have a record of a number of races at Snetterton, one at Brands, in the Tootal Special GT Championship, all in 1968. Perhaps your date of 1971 is wrong if you only kept the car for one season?

4. C&CC's Brian Harvey did tell me he had sold the car to Forrester after he'd banged on his door one night, telling him of his intention to take it to Le Mans (which didn't happen as far as I know!) Do you know if Forrester raced the car at all?

5. Do you have any old photos of the car?

 

Many thanks Gideon, and I'll make sure my extinguisher system is in full working order!

 

Pete

 

CopyofStirlingMossUnipower_zpsc59d95e3.j

 

IMG_8831_zpsad9a5042.jpg

 

Copy3ofUnipower2-Scan_zpsbe933a80.jpg

 

 

CopyofCopyofSnetterton68_zpsd249d89d.jpg

 

CopyofGoodman2_zps7a92f6fa.jpg

 

Copyofuni1_zpsaef3b1a0.jpg


Edited by Morris S, 01 August 2014 - 14:59.


#17 Morris S

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Posted 15 September 2014 - 23:17

I did get some good info about the car thanks to both Gideon Lloyd and Graham Goodman, thanks chaps, also spoke to Unipower factory boss Tim Powell about it but yet to speak to Ernie Unger. It'd be interesting to uncover the mystery of the design of these cars, Val Dare Bryan and Ernie's original idea that was first put together in a corner of Roy Pierpoint's garage in 1965 but penned by? ( one of the GT40 design team by all accounts?) 

 

 

Pete


Edited by Morris S, 18 September 2014 - 12:47.


#18 Unipower

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Posted 17 September 2014 - 10:13

In 1966/67, spured by Clive Trickey of C&CC, I visited Jan Odor a couple of times about building a Mini 7 engine.

 

In the center of his workshop was a Unipower and beside it an SCA grafted onto a mini drive train which so overhung the front of the gearbox that I think he had a problem with it interfearing with the suspension.

 

I had always assumed that he had managed to shoehorn it and that that was the combination that Mabbs drove.

 

I bought my Unipower in the early 70's and by chance was twice flagged down by Piers on his bike in the Brompton Road, who told me that mine was the last of the series one cars.  Incidentally, he offered to buy it, but I think he made the same offer to any owner he came across.

 

I once had a girlfriend who had something to do with driving the Targa car in Italy, and Len Brammer somehow acquired the Le Mans engine.

 

Despite all new suspension bushes, mine always 'bump-steared' and eventually it caught me out once too often.


Edited by Unipower, 17 September 2014 - 17:00.


#19 Morris S

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Posted 18 September 2014 - 12:54



In 1966/67, spured by Clive Trickey of C&CC, I visited Jan Odor a couple of times about building a Mini 7 engine.

 

In the center of his workshop was a Unipower and beside it an SCA grafted onto a mini drive train which so overhung the front of the gearbox that I think he had a problem with it interfearing with the suspension.

 

I had always assumed that he had managed to shoehorn it and that that was the combination that Mabbs drove.

 

I bought my Unipower in the early 70's and by chance was twice flagged down by Piers on his bike in the Brompton Road, who told me that mine was the last of the series one cars.  Incidentally, he offered to buy it, but I think he made the same offer to any owner he came across.

 

I once had a girlfriend who had something to do with driving the Targa car in Italy, and Len Brammer somehow acquired the Le Mans engine.

 

Despite all new suspension bushes, mine always 'bump-steared' and eventually it caught me out once too often.

 

Thanks for the interesting post! Sounds like Forester had a preoccupation with the cars, as far as I know the short loved Unipower Cars company was bought for him by his family. Mabbs was very successful in that SCA car but as with all their other racers (including the Mini Marcos, and mine) they never kept them long, Mabbs held a few lap records with that car. Was the Unipower still white when you saw it at Janspeed?

 

Here it is today , getting there but lots still to do...

 

CopyofSept182014_zpsa5728455.jpg



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#20 Unipower

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Posted 19 September 2014 - 10:30

You have a lot less to do than I have; there is no metal beneath my door sills!.

 

Yes, the car was white.  I can't tell you the date, but it was probably late April, but could have been May.

 

The radiator was out and two radiators were lying on the fuel tank.  On the roof were sketches and dimensions of a roll cage, but they could have been for any car.  The nearside rear suspension was dangling, the car being held up with a crudely hacked piece of pallet, wedged between the stearing arm and the spaceframe.  The SCA had no flywheel and the drop gears were visable and as I think about it, there was a modified clutch housing nearby, which held a starter.

 

The car must have been raced, or at least practiced, as the chat started about the driver being 'all arms and legs' because of the car's performance being too good for the 'dodgy' handling, which led to " what's to be done to cope with the narrow SCA powerband and gear ratios?" 

 

My suggestion that welding the hubs to make a De Dion axle might make the handling more predictable, led to pondering the possibility of making an adjustable De Dion, but the chat ended frostily when I mentioned an Imp engine!

 

I didn't realise it at the time and only put 2 & 2 together many years later after chatting on the phone to Gerry Hulford, that the Janspeed car was the one that was advertised just after Easter in Autosport that I thought I had agreed a cheeky offer of £750 cash;  but to tell how that came about would make a novel out of a paragraph.



#21 Morris S

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Posted 19 September 2014 - 14:04

 the Janspeed car was the one that was advertised just after Easter in Autosport that I thought I had agreed a cheeky offer of £750 cash;  but to tell how that came about would make a novel out of a paragraph.

 

Go on, give it a go!  Thanks for the info so far, I'm surprised Jan didn't try and shoehorn the SCA engine into the Unipower but I suspect it may not have fitted or hoped an overbored short stroke S lump would be enough (1143cc). Nathan's Costin proved the Imp engine was the class of the field in the sub 1150cc class  but fitted with the biggest S engine these cars couldn't keep up in the 1600 Special GT class. Mabbs did have some decent results in 1967 though with the 1275 engine.



#22 Unipower

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Posted 19 September 2014 - 20:29

I first met Piers Forester in Acton, when his bike went one way and he another, sliding into my mini pickup.  We picked his bike up, heaved it in the pick up and I took it them to an alcoholic friend of his (in Greenford), whose nerve had apparently been shattered, testing to destruction, the 'added lightness' in Chapman's cars.

 

I first met Alan McKechnie before he had polio, but became friends through Barrie Williams when I worked for Whizzo's father.

 

There were lots of impoverished club racers, pre advertising, in the 60's, and one was a fly chap called AJ Pearce who crept up the racing ladder by begging stuffed cars and straightening them, but as they usually came without an engine, he struggled;  that was, until he discovered that an ugly lump of metal could be 'turned' into a beautiful alloy wheel on a lathe.

 

With a bit of regular cash, he somehow got a complete car off Charlie Lucas that Piers Courage had bent, and set his eyes on F1, but 'turning' out wheels wasn't THAT profitable, and he approached Alan.

 

Rich and wealthy people are rich and wealthy because they look after their money, and Alan wanted to know a bit more about AJ Pearce, behind the ad in motoring news, but how and who to find out.

 

At the time, AJ had been running an advert for an engineer / fitter to turn out more wheels, and as I could work a 'mangle', we hatched a plan that I'd go for the job and find out all I could for Alan.

 

I had acquired an 1100 block and just built myself a 731 cammed towing engine to replace my over bored 997, 544 cammed engine, and in due course I set off (to run it in) along the A40 for interview on Maundy Thursday.  Ascending Stokenchurch it developed a knock, which got so bad that I had to abandon the car at HA Saunders in High Wycombe and call off the interview and hitch home.

 

Next to our Mini 7 at the Castle Coombe Easter meeting was a beautiful G4, and the following week in Autosport was an advert for a G4 rolling shell for an affordable £300-00.  Alan had a handy 25 foot trailer which I asked if I might borrow to collect my car and maybe, after inspection, collect the G4.

 

When I showed Alan the advert, his comment was "I thought you always wanted a Unipower" and sure enough, on the same page was a Unipower rolling shell that I had overlooked, probably because it was priced at over £1000-00, and when I pointed out this little obstacle, dear Alan said " I expect I could help a bit.  I'll get Fred to ring".   Fred was his engineer, who could haggle the crown off the Queen.

 

And so a deal was done, that if I took a set of wheels and £750-00 cash, it was mine!  A few days later I set off once again for interview, collected my car, wended my way through Southall, and after a quick test of my turning, was proudly shown the potential F1 and over a jar in the pub, was conveniently told what the new backer was expected to provide. 

 

Having seen and heard enough for Alan, I promised that as soon as I had found digs I'd knock on his door.  Alan had a couple of meetings with AJ, but declined to invest, and always maintained the fire that destroyed AJ's F1 team was suspiciously well away from prying eyes.

 

It was late Friday afternoon when I got to Perivale to be met with "We have been trying to phone you"  (McKechnie and crew had gone off to an F3 meeting)  It transpired that the person who had done the deal "wasn't authorised to do it", they'd had a better offer!

 

As I was disconsolately trying to turn the 25 foot trailer in a 25 foot space, someone came out to help and as I was at last pointing for home, he came to the window and offered his commiseration.

 

I think he must have felt even worse when I recognised him and reminded him of picking up his bike in my pick up.


Edited by Unipower, 21 September 2014 - 15:09.


#23 Unipower

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Posted 19 September 2014 - 21:24

Go on, give it a go!  Thanks for the info so far, I'm surprised Jan didn't try and shoehorn the SCA engine into the Unipower but I suspect it may not have fitted or hoped an overbored short stroke S lump would be enough (1143cc). Nathan's Costin proved the Imp engine was the class of the field in the sub 1150cc class  but fitted with the biggest S engine these cars couldn't keep up in the 1600 Special GT class. Mabbs did have some decent results in 1967 though with the 1275 engine.

I think he may well have shoehorned the SCA.  I was at school with Sir Jon Samuels, of Elva, and remember while chatting to him the following year at Silverstone about De Dion axles, telling him of seeing the potential Janspeed/SCA/Unipower, and he seemed to know about it.



#24 Morris S

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Posted 19 September 2014 - 21:45

Thanks for that, that's a great story. I still have that ad for my car as a rolling shell from the back of Autosport in the Spring of '67. Who knows what would have happened had you bought it? I still keep in touch with Whizzo who's McKechnie Mini also competed at the Jarama F2 GP in '67, Barrie remembers the trip down with Mabbs and my Unipower. That Mini was also had a Janspeed engine it and the eventful story of his race at Jarama is covered in his book as I'm sure you know.

 

Forester did buy my car from Triple C's Brian Harvey a year later in early June '68, but by July was sold on again. I wonder what he did with it in that time, he is on the entry list for Brands Mini Fest in June '68 in an 1140cc Unipower, not sure it's this one as he also bought another one (yellow with a green stripe) which I suspect may have been the ex Newman/Allen car that John Miles raced in '67?


Edited by Morris S, 19 September 2014 - 22:10.


#25 Morris S

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Posted 20 September 2014 - 00:01

Here's that ad from Autosport, published March 31st 1967 :

 

amarch_31st__67_autosport_for_sale_zpsaf



#26 Morris S

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Posted 28 September 2014 - 23:22

Thomas, you should have bought this one..

 

AutosportJan968_zpsea36b2df.jpg

 

That's the Em Newman/ Gordon Allen version, a comparitive bargain!



#27 Unipower

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Posted 29 September 2014 - 19:48

Thanks.

 

I have tried ringing, but the tin voice just says "Please check and try again"   LOL

 

Does any one know what happened to the aluminium bodyshell?


Edited by Unipower, 29 September 2014 - 19:57.


#28 Morris S

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Posted 29 September 2014 - 20:52

Yes I wonder, it was a Williams & Pritchard body,  here it is outside what I suspect is Roy Pierpoint's garage?

 

CopyofScan0034_zpsa2833f2d.jpg



#29 Morris S

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Posted 13 January 2015 - 18:49

Quick pic from the Autosport Show..

 

 

Copyofautosport043_zps16820519.jpg


Edited by Morris S, 13 January 2015 - 19:29.


#30 Morris S

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Posted 20 December 2015 - 01:57

As a matter of interest there is now a Facebook community page dedicated to the Unipower GT, which celebrates fifty years in 2016!

 

Facebook users just search 'Unipower GT'



#31 Rupertlt1

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 13:21

Hope this helps:

 

https://revslib.stan...tem/fp154gz7369

 

https://revslib.stan...log/hb897wv0524

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 28 December 2015 - 01:41.


#32 Morris S

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Posted 28 December 2015 - 11:07

Thanks for that, I'd seen the first pic of the ex works racer with John Blanckley / Stanley Robinson but not the 2nd one of the Harrison/Barell car. That car was an early racer like mine that was sent to the U.S from the factory in early '67, also raced at Watkins Glen..



#33 Rupertlt1

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Posted 28 December 2015 - 11:31

There is another at Lime Rock:

 

https://revslib.stan...tem/zr410vq7295

 

Also DNF at Watkins Glen:

 

https://news.google....6,2717614&hl=en

 

Kris Harrison and Bob Barrell of Montreal, Canada.

 

Also the car is here at Mont Tremblant-St. Jovite in 1969:

 

https://revslib.stan...log/ff564nm7641

 

[Note also a Landar in this picture, which is the car of Roger Peart.]

 

Update: https://library.revs....-jovite/337009

 

Results here:

 

http://www.autocours.../1969-canam.htm

 

Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant, 22 October 1967

Les 6 Heures U.S.A.M. du Circuit

3rd Overall:

Paul Richards, New York NY, Unipower, 160 laps

Allen Hickling, New York NY
 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 24 July 2022 - 05:50.


#34 Morris S

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Posted 30 December 2015 - 13:24

Interesting stuff Rupert thank you. The Harrison / Barrell car is still raced by Claude Houde in Canada as far as we know. There is however another early factory race car in the U.S!



#35 Rupertlt1

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Posted 30 December 2015 - 18:39

It seems that Allen Hickling came from Montreal, Québec? Also raced Lotus 7, Ginetta.

 

See: https://news.google....0,3638496&hl=en

 

For #84 Ginetta, Chassis no 0194,  see (check period photos):

 

https://racecarsdire...ginetta-g4-1964

 

Could this be the same Paul Richards?

 

http://www.racingspo...chards-USA.html

 

http://www.racingspo...chards-USA.html

 

RGDS RLT

 

PS: Allen Hickling of Westmount, Québec, rolled his #84 TVR at Harewood Acres, Ontario, 24 August 1963. He was uninjured. For TVR photo sequence see: Globe and Mail, 26 August 1963, Page 18. 


Edited by Rupertlt1, 30 December 2015 - 19:03.


#36 Morris S

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Posted 02 January 2016 - 18:43

Thanks again Rupert. That's certainly the same Paul Richards that Universal Power Drives flew a race car out to in 1967 to compete in Gp6 events and would have been identical to my Janspeed car and the other Mk1 race cars of Tom Zettinger and John Miles. As I previously mentioned there is another race car in the U.S which was mentioned in the same Autosport press release from 1967, both of which survive.

Anyone know if Paul Richards is still around?



#37 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 04 January 2016 - 07:01

Found this:

 

http://www.vscca.org/PRich.cfm

 

Vince H.



#38 Morris S

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Posted 05 January 2016 - 09:50

Very interesting indeed, thank you Vince.



#39 Morris S

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Posted 06 January 2016 - 20:18

Here's the link to my new Facebook page on Unipowers. Going quite well so far!

 

https://www.facebook...357/?fref=photo

 

Ta.

 

Pete



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#40 Rupertlt1

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Posted 06 March 2017 - 13:58

I have from results sheet: 7th June 1970, Brunton Hill Climb, Class 11, GT cars up to 1300 c.c. #72 P. Pickett, Unipower GT, 998 c.c., (only entrant) 1st run 29.93; 2nd run 28.93 sec.

 

Edit: Motor, 13 May 1967, Unipower road test, registration NGH 8D.

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 11 March 2017 - 12:59.


#41 Morris S

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Posted 15 January 2018 - 15:36

Missed your reply, thanks Rupert. That's another new name for my list!

 

I should update this thread by saying that I'm going to look at trying to sort the photobucket debacle out so that the images reappear!

 

I had my car at Shelsley Nostalgia last year, barely managed practice due to a cracked cylinder head. Now sorted, and a great event as ever.Attended the Oulton Park Gold Cup and also had it at the NEC in November. Great to have some members of staff along from the old Perivale factory plus Unipower salesman and colourful character Malcolm Clube.

 

Also found a missing piece of the history jigsaw of my car when a certain Ron Barnacle's nephew contacted me recently. Ron bough the car from Goodman/Lloyd in 1969 and I have found a reference to him in a  in race programme from '69. If anyone remembers Ron Barnacle please let me know, based in Stratford at the time. Paul Weldon bought the car from Ron later in the 70s.

 

Meanwhile we do have our Facebook page here :

 

https://www.facebook.com/unipowergt/

 

Website under construction here :

 

http://www.unipowergt.org.uk/



#42 Rupertlt1

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Posted 25 April 2019 - 16:37

See Ditcham here:  https://forums.autos...b/#entry8709718

 

RGDS RLT



#43 Rupertlt1

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Posted 06 May 2019 - 23:31

B.A.R.C. Croft, 17 August 1969

Event 1: GT AND CLUBMAN'S

Over 1150 c.c.

1. John Bridges, Chevron B8 FVA

2. R.A. Hurst, (1.3 Unipower GT)

Motoring News, Thursday, August 21, 1969

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 06 May 2019 - 23:36.


#44 Rupertlt1

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Posted 06 July 2019 - 00:43

Silverstone Club Circuit, Nottingham Sports Car Club, 3 August 1969

EVENT 6 Start 4.25 p.m. 10 laps

G.T. CARS & SPORTS/RACING CARS

#134 Robert Hurst, Unipower, Yellow, 1293

#135 Unipower Cars, Unipower, Yellow, 1300

(driver Piers Forester)

 

Source: Programme

No mention of a Unipower in the race report, Motoring News, 7 August 1969. 

 

RGDS RLT 


Edited by Rupertlt1, 06 July 2019 - 02:35.


#45 Rupertlt1

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Posted 07 July 2019 - 14:02

Castle Combe, BRSCC St John Trophy Meeting, 12 July 1969

SPORTS RACING AND GT CARS - 10 laps

Overall:

1. Roger Thomas (1.5 U2 Mk 6 Ford) 12m 07.2s. (91.09 mph)

2. Brian Martin (2.0 Martin GT BMW)

3. Gareth Jones (1.1 Lola Mk 1 Ford?) 

4. L. Aylott (1.6 Lotus 11 t/c)

Sports racing up to 1600 cc:

1. Thomas

2. Jones

3. Aylott

4. M. Moore (1.6 Witchcraft Ford)

Fastest lap: Thomas 1m 11.6 (92.51 mph)

GT cars over 1600 cc

1. Martin, no other finishers

GT cars up to 1600 cc:

1. R. Hurst (1.3 Unipower GT Ford?) 12m 44.4s (77.99 mph)

2. B. Baker (Ginetta G12)

Fastest lap: David Purley (1.6 Chevron B8 Ford t/c), 1m 20.6 (82.12 mph)

Motoring News, 17 July 1969

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 07 July 2019 - 14:06.


#46 Rupertlt1

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Posted 07 July 2019 - 17:59

Also found a missing piece of the history jigsaw of my car when a certain Ron Barnacle's nephew contacted me recently. Ron bough the car from Goodman/Lloyd in 1969 and I have found a reference to him in a  in race programme from '69. If anyone remembers Ron Barnacle please let me know, based in Stratford at the time. Paul Weldon bought the car from Ron later in the 70s.

 

Ron Barnacle had a garage at 29 Shottery Road, Stratford-on-Avon. A racing Unipower was successfully rescued from a fire there on Wednesday, 29 September 1976.

Coventry Evening Telegraph, Thursday 30 September 1976.

 

RGDS RLT



#47 Rupertlt1

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Posted 10 July 2019 - 01:12

B.A.R.C. Thruxton, Sunday 16 March 1969

SPECIAL GT CARS - 8 laps

Up to 1150 cc class:

1. Martin Warren (Lotus 23B Holbay) 13m 27.8s (84.00 mph)

2. B. Evans (1.1 Austin Healey Sprite) 7 laps

3. P. Bernett (1.1 Unipower GT) 6 laps

Motoring News, 20 March 1969

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 10 July 2019 - 01:13.


#48 Rupertlt1

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Posted 22 July 2019 - 13:11

B.R.S.C.C. Mallory Park, 28 August 1967

"The entry for the Motoring News GT championship race has been split into two events. Roger Nathan. with his Imp-engined Nathan GT should start favourite in the up to 1150c.c. section, but with a strong challenge likely from Paul Ridgway in his Ginetta G12, John Miles in his BMC-powered Unipower, and Mike Walton in his Italian Fiat-Abarth. John Lepp. currently leading in his Chevron GT heads the list for the over 1150c.c. race."

Birmingham Daily Post, Friday 25 August 1967

 

RGDS RLT 


Edited by Rupertlt1, 07 November 2019 - 12:07.