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Canadian drivers in the U.K.


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#51 Michael Oliver

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Posted 24 February 2015 - 22:59

Two Canadian drivers - Alan Finney and Alex James - from Victoria, British Columbia, raced in England in 1959.

They campaigned an MGA Twin-Cam in club events for Team Beaver, including entry in the Autosport Championship.

Reference: Canada Track & Traffic, September 1960, Pages 17, 38.

(This article makes no mention of Murray Shill from Toronto, and his Lotus Eleven, an exact contemporary.) 

 

See #2: https://revslib.stan...log/pt276xt8117

 

Also #3: https://revslib.stan...log/yy074fp3601

 

Does anybody have entry list for Silverstone MGCC, 16 May 1959.

Puzzling why same car has two different race numbers?

 

RGDS RLT

 

Rupert

 

The only explanation I can think of is that they entered the car for two different races - typically a sports car race and a handicap race or a sports and GT cars race etc. Looks maybe like different drivers (although they are sharing the same helmet) too...

 

Sorry, have nine programmes for 1959 but don't have the one for that particular event.

 

Michael



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#52 Rupertlt1

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Posted 26 February 2015 - 14:50

I spotted the relevant programme on the internet yesterday and closed the deal with a BIN (Buy-It-Now). Can make available in due course.

I can confirm that Alan Finney was #2 (I expect Alex James is #3).

Mike Tanney points out that Wilson Southam from Ontario was also competing in the UK in an MGA about this time:

 

http://www.autotrade...ns-220282.xhtml

 

(He may turn up in this programme also.)

 

RGDS RLT



#53 Rupertlt1

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Posted 24 March 2015 - 16:45

Programme arrived: I have the first three drivers listed as from M.G. Centre "Van" which I take to be Vancouver:

 

Silverstone MGCC, 16 May 1959

#1 Wells, D.F., M.G.A. Twin Cam

#2 Finney, A., M.G.A. Twin Cam

#3 Foord, M.W., M.G.A. Twin Cam

 

(The same car entered in different events.)

 

They are Don Wells, Alan Finney, and Maurice Foord.  

 

No sign of Murray Shill or Wilson Southam at this event.

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 25 March 2015 - 11:11.


#54 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 03 July 2015 - 05:30

I had a nice chat on the phone Monday night with Maurice Foord here in the Victoria area.  The team consisted of Al Finney, Maurice Foord, Alex James, and Don Wells.  The main drivers were Finney and James, Foord the mechanic, and Wells the administrator.  They all had shares in the car.  Foord did mention spinning the car at Silverstone.  Finney and Wells are no longer with us.  I got Alex James' number from Maurice and will call him.  More to come.

 

Vince H.



#55 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 04 October 2015 - 05:56

I called Alex James back in July.  A friend and I will be getting together with him on Monday here in Victoria, BC.

 

Vince H.



#56 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 13 October 2015 - 05:53

Had a nice visit with Alex James.  He has two photo albums (including several nice shots of the MGA twin cam) and a diary of racing tours that I hope to borrow.  The photos go back to Boreham in 1952.  He was born in England in 1931 and lived near Brands Hatch.  He left for Canada in 1952.  He was a member of the 750 club in England, but didn't build a car till he came to Canada. The British license plate on the MGA twin cam was WGW 910.

 

Vince H.



#57 Rupertlt1

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Posted 07 February 2016 - 14:14

See also: http://forums.autosp...jaguar-fifties/

 

Whether Paul Lee was an expat or a native Canadian is not known.

 

RGDS RLT



#58 Rupertlt1

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Posted 18 December 2016 - 14:45

More Murray Shill:

 

Goodwood 11 March 1961

Event 1-Five-lap Scratch Race for non-

supercharged Sports Cars up to 1100 c.c.

1st-P. Boshier-Jones (Lola-Climax) 8min 30.6 sec, 84.60 m.p.h.

2nd-L.W. Keens (Lola-Climax) 8min 33.4 sec

3rd-M.R. Shill (Lotus-Climax) 8min 36 sec

4th-M.G. Beckwith (Lotus-Climax) 8min 43.4 sec

Fastest lap-L.W. Keens (Lola-Climax) 1 min 38.8 sec., 87.45 m.p.h.

 

Oulton Park 18 March 1961

Event 7-Seven-lap Scratch Race for non-

supercharged Sports Cars up to 1100 c.c.

and Unlimited engine capacity:

1st-D.G. Addicott (Lotus-Climax) 13 min 53.4 sec, 83.48 m.p.h. 

2nd-S.J. Diggory (Cooper Monaco)

3rd-G.R. Baird (Lister Jaguar)

4th-B.D. Hetreed (Aston Martin DB3S)

Fastest lap-R.C. Kerrison (Lola-Climax) 1 min 57.2 sec, 84.81 m.p.h.

Up to 1100 c.c. Class

1st-M.R. Shill (Lotus-Climax), 14 min 18 sec, 81.09 m.p.h.

2nd-M. Beckwith (Lotus-Climax)

3rd-J. Mackay (Lotus-Climax)

4th-P.D. Ivey (Lotus-Climax)

Fastest lap-P. Boshier-Jones, 2 min 0.2 sec, 82.69 m.p.h

 

"Dizzy" Addicott had no chal-

lengers in the unlimited capacity

sports car race, his 1,220 c.c.

Lotus Eleven running away from

the rest, with S.J. Diggory, not

altogether happy in a 2-litre Cooper

Monaco, just failing to hold off

1,100 c.c. class winner Murray

Shill's Climax-engined Lotus Eleven

for second-place at the finish.

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 18 December 2016 - 14:46.


#59 oldtransamdriver

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Posted 11 March 2018 - 05:31

Found this google thread recently - "Rod Bremner takes another turn...." - by Toronto Star automotive

writer Norris McDonald May 2017 - an interesting perspective by Rod on his time racing FF in England.

 

Rod also had some good results with his C sedan mini cooper in the U2 litre Trans-Am races 

in the early 70's.

 

Robert Barg


Edited by oldtransamdriver, 11 March 2018 - 05:49.


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#60 Tim Murray

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Posted 11 March 2018 - 05:43

Found this google thread recently - "Rod Bremner takes another turn...." - by Toronto Star automotive
writer Norris McDonald May 2017 ...


Here's the link:

https://www.thestar....-the-track.html

#61 Dave Ware

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Posted 12 March 2018 - 00:20

A bit off-topic, but since we're talking about the Bulova FF series, here is an interview with Luke De Sadeleer:

 

https://www.wheels.c...-racing-career/



#62 Rupertlt1

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Posted 12 October 2018 - 16:52

Yet more more Murray Shill:

 

Autosport, March 17, 1961:

The first race of the day was a five-lap

scratch race for non-supercharged sports

cars up to 1,100 c.c. This was won

by Peter Boshier-Jones (Lola) after a

terrific dice with M.R. Shill (Lotus) who

had led for the first four laps and spun

at Woodcote whilst trying to keep ahead

of Boshier-Jones. However, despite

having spun Shill crossed the line behind

L.W. Keens (Lola) to take third spot.

 

Goodwood 11 March 1961

Event 1-Five-lap Scratch Race for non-

supercharged Sports Cars up to 1100 c.c.

1st-P. Boshier-Jones (Lola-Climax) 8min 30.6 sec, 84.60 m.p.h. (#2, green)

2nd-L.W. Keens (Lola-Climax) 8min 33.4 sec (#3, green)

3rd-M.R. Shill (Lotus-Climax) 8min 36 sec (#15, green/white)

4th-M.G. Beckwith (Lotus-Climax) 8min 43.4 sec (#7, blue)

 

Fastest lap-L.W. Keens (Lola-Climax) 1 min 38.8 sec., 87.45 m.p.h.

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 12 October 2018 - 16:54.


#63 Rupertlt1

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Posted 19 December 2018 - 01:54

Daily Colonist, 29 March 1962

[Previewing the Mount Douglas Hill Climb, Victoria, B.C.]

A prospective entry was un-

fortunately washed out during

a race in England. Jerry Bar-

bour of Vancouver had gone

overseas to pick up a Lotus

20 Formula Junior, intending

to be back in time for the

event.

However, he entered a few

races over there, and about

the third time out he came to

grief. He's all right but the

word is that the Lotus was a

dead loss.

 

I think he was Jerry Barber. What races were they?

 

Jerry Barber was 29 in 1962.

Born Morocco. Described as a

Vancouver restaurant owner,

car a Lotus 20B:

"He purchased the early-1962

model junior in March from

Pete Arundell, England's

top formula junior driver

last year.

Along with the car came

some valuable tips from

Arundell and a chance to

drive in three of England's

biggest meets this spring.

Barber's first outing in

the junior (it was his first

race in a non-production

car) was at Goodwood...

 

"Barber himself spun out

at Goodwood, but in two

later races at famed Silver-

stone and Oulton Park, he

placed ninth and eighth in

fields stacked with two

dozen of the latest English

racers."

Source: Vancouver Sun, 23 Jun 1962.

 

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 December 2018 - 05:04.


#64 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 19 December 2018 - 06:46

My understanding is that it was just the three races in England, Goodwood, Silverstone, and Oulton Park.  Here is a link to an earlier thread...unfortunately, the photos don't show up any more:

 

https://forums.autos...tos/?hl=+barber

 

Jerry and Bob Constabaris started Mr Mikes restaurants.

 

IMG-0046-1.jpg

 

Jerry Barber, Andy Pearson, and Frankie Juhan at the Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers Society inductions in September.  Frankie's dad, Franta (brother of Jaroslav), and Sid Fowlds had the Lotus circa 1966.  Frankie said he used to drive it around their property without bodywork like a go kart.

 

Rupert and I talked to Jerry at the Old Racers lunch last week in Coquitlam (near Vancouver).

 

Vince H.


Edited by raceannouncer2003, 19 December 2018 - 06:46.


#65 Rupertlt1

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Posted 22 April 2019 - 18:24

Motoring News, Thursday September 21, 1972.

*Canadian Formula Ford star

David Loring is currently nego-

tiating to do some F3 races in

England for the remainder of

this season. He hopes to hire

the Brabham BT28 regularly used

by Ed Patrick, the latter

cutting down owing to business

commitments.

 

Loring entered in Merlyn FF at BRSCC, BOC FF, at Oulton Park, 13 May 1972.

But it seems he was from the USA:

 

https://www.gordonki...t_is_no353.html

 

RGDS RLT



#66 Rupertlt1

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Posted 27 April 2019 - 03:41

"Chris O'Brien, a young Canadian who raced in several public meetings with a Jim Russell Lotus 51, has purchased a brand new Brabham BT35 for a season of Formula 3. His mechanic will be Alistair Dimmock, former ace wrench for Carlos Pace." Motoring News, 28 Jan 1971.
Chris O'Brien born Ottawa.

 

RGDS RLT 


Edited by Rupertlt1, 27 April 2019 - 03:42.


#67 PCC

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Posted 27 April 2019 - 17:58

 

But it seems he was from the USA:

 

https://www.gordonki...t_is_no353.html

Yes, David Loring was American. He came up to Canada to race Formula Fords in the Bulova series at Mosport, and immediately proved very quick - and a bit cocky for some people's liking. He waged a season-long battle in 1971 with Canadian veteran Wayne Kelly for the championship. Kelly was much more experienced, but Loring had exceptional pace and seemed to have the upper hand. As it happened, their championship battle came to a premature end when Wayne was killed in a support race for the Canadian Grand Prix. Loring went off to Europe and I never heard about him again until coming across his obituary a few years ago.



#68 Rupertlt1

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Posted 16 May 2019 - 04:34

Canadian F3

newcomer

ALTHOUGH his first outing in

F3 was clouded  when he seriously

damaged his Brabham BT35 in a

practice shunt, 24-year-old Can-

adian Chris O'Brien will be con-

testing a full season of races both

in Britain and on the continent.

After a few events in Canada,

O'Brien came to this country at

the start of 1969 and worked for

Alfa Romeo. He attended the Jim

Russell school at Snetterton and

for two seasons drove school cars

before the finance became avail-

able for him to contemplate a

move into F3.

The Brabham will use a Holbay

motor and it's planned to base

the car in Norfolk where Alister

Dimmock is employed as Chris'

full-time mechanic. Entries and

promotion are being handled by

Gordon Palmer who has arranged

trade support from some of the

accessory firms.

Motoring News, 15 April 1971

 

RGDS RLT 



#69 Rupertlt1

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Posted 09 June 2019 - 18:49

Robbie Leeson, who won

twice and crashed twice in four

appearances last year with his ex-

Redman Brabham BT16 t/c, is

going great guns with his car

back home in his native Van-

couver. He won a Formula B

event at Westwood circuit, near

Vancouver on May 4, adding to

an ever-growing list of Canadian

home wins. If he wins the

Canadian FB Championship there

is a good chance that Leeson,

who worked as a F3 mechanic in

Britain, will return.

Motoring News, 29 May 1969

 

RGDS RLT



#70 Rupertlt1

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Posted 20 July 2019 - 03:06

Ref Alex James, Team Beaver, see Snetterton, 26 July 1959:

 

http://www.monza.org... Snetterton.jpg

 

RGDS RLT 



#71 Rupertlt1

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Posted 18 May 2021 - 08:56

Miss Rosemary Massey:

Disembarked: R.M.S. IVERNIA, Cunard Steamship Company Ltd., 1st Class, Southampton (from Montreal), 2 August 1957: 

Massey, Rosemary, Female, Single, address Stafford Hotel, S.W.1., intended duration of stay 8 months. 

 

Chateau Impney Hill Climb, Hagley & District L.C.C., Sunday 29 September 1957

Sports cars over 2,700 c.c.

1. L. J. Tracey (Jaguar) 29.21sec

2. V. C. Leedam (Jaguar)

3. Miss R. Massey (Jaguar)

Birmingham Daily Post, Monday 30 September 1957

 

Mallory Park, B.A.R.C., Saturday 29 March 1958

"The event was a disappointment for Canadian-born Miss Rosemary Massey, who was having her first circuit race.

Leaving Gerards bend on the second lap her Jaguar spun round and shot off the track."

Sports cars over 1100 c.c.: 1. M. G. F. Dickens (Lotus Climax), 7 mins. 28.2 secs., 75.90 m.p.h.; 2. E. R. Protheroe (Austin Healey).

Leicester Evening Mail, Monday 31 March 1958

 

https://www.racingsp...-Massey-GB.html

 

Shelsley Walsh, Midland A.C., Saturday 7 June 1958

Miss R. Massey (Jaguar) turned completely

round in an alarming manner,

crashing into the bank, yet

survived undamaged.

Birmingham Daily Post, Monday 9 June 1958

 

Goodwood, B.A.R.C., Saturday 23 August 1958

"Before this the women had shown

their paces. Miss Rosemary Massey,

of London, another promising new-

comer to motor racing this season,

won the first handicap race, hotly

pursued by the leading woman driver,

Mrs. Jean Bloxam, who drove magni-

ficently.

Five-lap handicap race.

1. Miss Rosemary Massey (Jaguar XK 150) 10min. 4.6sec. speed 69.57 m.p.h.,

2. Mrs. Jean Bloxham (Aston Martin DB3S) 10-46-2

3. J. B. L. Jacobs (Jaguar) 10-52-8.

Bognor Regis Observer, Friday 29 August 1958

 

Mallory Park, B.A.R.C., Saturday 4 April 1959

Handicap (E) for closed cars: Miss Rosemary Massey (Jaguar XK150).

Leicester Evening Mail, Monday 6 April 1959

 

Silverstone, Bentley Drivers' Club & Jaguar D.C., Saturday 1 August 1959 

"On August 1st, the Bentley and Jaguar Drivers Clubs combined to organise a race meeting on the club circuit at Silverstone."

"Event Six found the C- and D-type Jaguars up against impossible handicaps, and two 120s (Berwick and Clairmonte) led home Rosemary Massey’s XK150."

Motor Sport, September 1959, Page 686

 

Subsequently married to Dick Protheroe in 1959:

 

http://www.stoxnet.c...Iu4MIfgOvGcVImA

 

RGDS RLT 


Edited by Rupertlt1, 18 May 2021 - 13:33.