16 replies to this topic

[Leigh Trevail]

Going through the Fersfield program for Sunday 17th June, 1951 there are a number of Ford powered cars mentioned, here is a list of them :-

12. W. J. Last E.C.M.C. Buckler 1172cc This was probably Bill’s first event, later he went on to manufacture Trident cars in Ipswich which was similar to a T.V.R. Bill’s family was not aware that he raced this car.

14. R.R. Rayner E.C.M.C. Rayner Special 1172cc Dick Rayner ran a garage at Woolpit , Suffolk. His special used a Buckler space frame, however the body was not ready in time so he hastily put one together for the event. I have been in touch with his family.

30. P. Rayner Green E.C.M.C. Ford drop head coupe 3750cc. Captain Percy Rayner Green raced his pre war DHC with success, again I have been in touch with his family.

32. J. Burling West Essex CC. J.B.M. 3971cc. James Boothby tried to get into Allard’s market with his cars but with little success.

37 J.K.W. Baines B.A.R.C. Allard 4225cc .

45 J.E.A. Rich E.C.M.C. Aurifo Special 1172cc. Was this Italian sounding special a combination of Austin and Ford parts.??

Also at the October meeting were two Dellow’s one driven by Reg Rivvett and the other by a chap called Moore, a special driven by Robin N. Richards and a Zephyr was that was driven by Geoff Hennessey (see separate threads for these two).

I would be most interested if any other members could add anything about the cars or drivers!

[Charles Helps]

There is a later connection between R.R. Rayner and M (Murray?) Rash who raced at Fersfield in an 847 cc MG (PB?) in that the MG engine from Rash's car was later used in a Lotus Mk 6 which both of them raced at Snetterton in 1954/5. I'm still not clear though how the capacity went up to 1057 cc.

The Lotus still exists with its MG P type gearbox but the engine has gone. I'm sure the current owner would be interested in getting in touch with the Rayner family.

[Leigh Trevail]

In reply to Charles Helps........

The car which provided the engine for the Lotus (GCF 567) did not race at Fersfield, Moray purchased the M.G. P.B.(JC 3269) just after the last race was held there, however you are right about the Moray Rash / Dick Rayner connection. Moray replaced the original green MG body with a s/h aluminium body that he purchased. After the MG engine went into the Lotus he sold off the engine less MG. The MG is still in the same family, the new owner replaced the ali body with a fibre glass body, his son has now replaced that with a replica 30's racing body, but surprisingly the old aluminium body survives, having been left in a shed.

I cannot remember the name of the current owner but he lives near Chelmsford, Essex,.
I am sure that he would be interested in what you said, if you send me a private email I will try to pass on this information.

[Dutchy]

You are referring to the Gunn family's Q Type Replica. It was the late Colvin Gunn who rebuilt the car into its current form and his son James is now the custodian.

[Leigh Trevail]

Thats the Chap!

[Charles Helps]

Thanks, Leigh

James Gunn has been in touch with me and also the current owner of the Lotus 6. Thanks for the offer.

I obviously jumped to the conclusion that it was the same MG that ran at Fersfield and provided the engine for the Lotus. OT What MG did Moray Rash have at Fersfield?

[Leigh Trevail]

At Fersfield Moray raced a M.G. J2 (RT 9232). I don't think that this car has survived, but two out of three is not bad!

[Leigh Trevail]

http://[IMG]http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/8929/57045119mv7.th.jpg[/IMG]

This seems to being going 'off thread', but never mind! Here is a photo of Moray Rash in his M.G. powered Lotus, as a coincedence the picture was taken by Dr. Ian Pearce, who was my doctor when I was a boy. He would do his rounds in an E-Type, in the 50's he rallied a Healey.

[Charles Helps]

Snetterton 5th June 1954?

Have you come across Dallas Smith in your researches? He was scrutineering at Silverstone one day a few years ago and told me that he was mechanic and co-builder of the Lotus with Dick Rayner. I did write to the former at a Lincolnshire address some time later but had no reply.

[Leigh Trevail]

Yes, I met Dallas earlier this year at Snetterton, he was Dick Rayner's mechanic at Fersfield. You could try to contact Dallas via one of the clubs or race organisers.

[Allan Lupton]

Dallas is in the RAC MSA Blue Book (D.F.D. Smith)
PM me if you haven't got one and I'll send details

[Leigh Trevail]

http://[IMG]http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2885/raynerspecialwc8.th.jpg[/IMG]

This unlikely looking special is Dick Rayner’s 1172 Buckler, he ran Woolpit Garage near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. The picture was taken at Fersfield in October 1951. He did not have time to make the body; so a temporary on was cobbled together for the June event. Looks can deceive as on the day he won the Mann Egerton Trophy, not bad for first time out! A young lad named Dallas Smith would help in the garage after school, he is now a Senior Scrutineer for the R.A.C.

[Rupertlt1]

Can anybody identify this car, GCF 567, from 1957:

 

https://revslib.stan...log/jn337hm5375

 

RGDS RLT

[nicanary]

Can anybody identify this car, GCF 567, from 1957:

 

https://revslib.stan...log/jn337hm5375

 

RGDS RLT

Falcon MkII bodyshell.

[bradbury west]

One of these bodies was suitably modified to fit a Sprite at le Mans ISTR, c/w headfairings......

Roger Lund

[Rupertlt1]

Can anybody identify this car, GCF 567, from 1957:

 

https://revslib.stan...log/jn337hm5375

 

RGDS RLT

 

Could this be GCF 567, Alastair Park, Tojeiro Aston Martin with fibreglass body?

 

http://www.motorspor...miniatures-news

 

RGDS RLT

[DUFFY]

Hi Rupert,

I have spoken with Rob Daniels ex Falcon registrar for the Fairthorpe Sports Car Club (nobody knows more about Falcons than Rob)

He has no record of GCF 567 the car in the picture, if it had an Aston Martin engine it would have some mods to the bonnet and it doesn't.

It looks like its running stock Ford wheels as well (rears look as if the rims have been reversed) and the hubcaps, which are unusual on a race car,

are also Ford which means properly Ford hubs and axles. Also we can't see that it has IFS either.

 

 

If you open this link.

 

https://revslib.stan...log/wc736hp5608

 

Look at the man with the moustache on the right walking towards the camera on the right of him there looks to be a car with a

Microplas Mistral body, maybe this is the Aston Martin engined car.

 

Tony Stanton, Compiler of the Rochdale Olympic History Archives.