11 replies to this topic

[EJI]

I am doing some research into Harry Ratcliffe and in particular the MG1100 he raced. Registration 4216DK. I have looked at the Mountgreen website which is very informative.

In particular I was trying to find out the colour of the car as it my intention to build a 1/32 model.

I believe the car has been restored and is now green over ivory but as raced by Harry was all over one dark colour which I am guessing would be Connaught Green?

Any information or help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[RTH]

Yes in period many MG 1100 were Connaught Green ( which is a very dark green) also just possible it could have been spruce green which is nearly as dark,  over Old English White -  split at the waist line. You could also spec the car in a mono colour from the colour card offered.

 

Have a look here

 

http://www.mgexp.com.../bmc-paint.html

[EJI]

Richard

 

Thank you for the info and the link.

 

If anyone has any recollections of Harry racing I would be very interested to hear them.

 

thanks

[Sharman]

I assume you have talked with Geoff Goodliff

[Paul Hurdsfield]

DK was the identification letters for Rochdale registration numbers, which fits in with BVRT at Littleborough.

I only know that cos' my first Lambretta was 622DK and I bought it from a guy in Rochdale.

[cooper997]

EJI,

 

You could try asking the same question over on specialist BMC/Mini forum http://mk1-forum.net/viewforum.php?f=5

 

Stephen

[Morris S]

I don't think the MG1100 race car that you've probably seen pictured wearing that number plate is Harry's old car, I think it was done more in tribute. Vita D's official colour was Opalescent Dark Green according to the Motor Racing Team Colours book, though having seen the surviving Buick Mini up close it's original paint isn't very opalsecent at all (currently being restored by Jonathan Buncombe). Geoff Goodliff died over two years ago and Harry's health problems have meant that he is no longer able to expand on his racing past sadly. I am in touch with Brenda Ratcliffe on a regular basis and am happy to ask about the MG1100, she did accompany Harry to many of his races! I also hear that Harry's Minor racer car is to be reborn some time soon and back on the track. In actual fact you'd be surprised how many of Vita D's /BVRT's race cars still survive!

 

Pete

[bradbury west]

Pete, we have spoken of this before, but please keep me abreast of any developments with Harry, a long time hero from my formative years. I will pm my e mail address if you want it.
Roger Lund

[Morris S]

Please do Roger.  It's also sad to note that Vita engineer Jim Barham and driver  (Team Red Rose) Neville Hodkin also passed away around the time Geoff did. As far as I know manager Brian Gillibrand is still around as is big Ron Whitham but with most of the rest of the team gone (Rupert Jones, 'Nobby' , John Handley, Tony Fall,etc) it's still amazing to see Harry's old friend Brian Redman still doing his bit at Goodwood , with Whizzo now retired.

[elansprint72]

Pete,

Can you point me towards any reports on progress with the Buick? I was following it with interest when it came out from "behind the wall" but I've not been able to find any recent news.

[bradbury west]

OT a bit, but as part of my own research ages ago I was talking to a chap up in Cumberland who ran the Mini Buick as a road car for a while. I suspect I still have his number here somewhere on file, Pete.

 

Roger Lund

[Morris S]

I had my first proper look around the Buick at JD Classics a couple of years ago and though having amazing patina and being relatively untouched it was in a worse state than I first thought. The original Buick engine and drive train was missing and it needed the full hit body wise, in fact Harry had told me the mechanicals were missing when he went to see it many years ago after seeing it advertised for sale. I did confirm with Paul (owner of the Mountgreen website and Harry's first race Mini) that the Buick had been built from Rupert Jones' July '63 1071 'S' race car. Yes it was once owned by a chap in the North East. I'll try and get a progress report on the car.

 

I did organise a reunion of Geoff Goodliff and his Minisprint at Shelsley Nostalgia in 2013 but alas he was too ill at that point to attend, though son Simon did (and grandson!) and there's footage of the car at the event on Youtube.