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Who is the bespectacled gent standing with Peter Collins ?


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#1 arttidesco

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Posted 11 June 2011 - 09:24

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A couple of weeks ago I got in touch with Colin Warnes at the Allard Register about the Farrallac that was at the Silverstone Classic Media day last month. Colin kindly sent me an article about the Farrallac from Classic and Sportscar in 1985.

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Colin also put me in touch with David Hooper who rose from apprentice to Chief Engineer during his time with Allard. David kindly sent me this photo of Peter Collins and JWP800 original parts of which I believe are to be found in The Farrallac. I woinder if anyone recognises the bespectacled gent in the photo standing next to Peter ?

Following on from who, does anyone recognnise where and or when the photo might have been taken in 1951 ?

My best wild guess would be that the numbers on sticks indicate Prescott where I have a recollection of seeing something similar last year ?

As ever all relevant answers will be credited in a forth coming blog :-)

Thanking you in anticipation of your answers.

Edited by arttidesco, 11 June 2011 - 09:27.


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#2 Stephen W

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Posted 11 June 2011 - 09:28

My best wild guess would be that the numbers on sticks indicate Prescott where I have a recollection of seeing something similar last year ?


Numbers on sticks have been used at many hillclimb venues not just Prescott.


#3 arttidesco

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Posted 11 June 2011 - 09:42

Thanks for shooting that idea down Stephen I did say it was a wild guess :-)

Prescott last year is certainly the first time I recall seeing numbers on sticks, I guess I have eiither lived a sheltered life or been walking around with my eyes closed heaven forbid maybe even both ! :blush:

#4 Stephen W

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Posted 11 June 2011 - 13:37

Thanks for shooting that idea down Stephen I did say it was a wild guess :-)


The wall in the background does look a tad on the high side and I don't think there was anything like that at Prescott in the Paddock area.

#5 Bauble

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Posted 11 June 2011 - 19:03

Ralph,
Just a guess, but the gent in specs. looks a little like Sydney Allard, so it might be brother Tom, if you don't get an answer from the massed brain power of TNF I know a man who is an Allard fanatic, and you could send him a copy of the picture.

Bob

#6 cdrewett

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Posted 11 June 2011 - 19:08



Following on from who, does anyone recognnise where and or when the photo might have been taken in 1951 ?

My best wild guess would be that the numbers on sticks indicate Prescott where I have a recollection of seeing something similar last year ?

As ever all relevant answers will be credited in a forth coming blog :-)

Thanking you in anticipation of your answers.
[/quote]


I think I'm right in saying that Peter only competed three times in the Allard. First at the British Empire Trophy on the IoM, where he just managed to avoid a multi-car pile up only to be sideswiped by Sydney Allard himself in a similar car.
Later in 1951 he took it to Shelsley Walsh and came 2nd in the sports car class, and the following day competed in the Westwood Park sprint in the grounds of that amazing stately home outside Droitwich. I think that's where the picture was taken. I've no idea about the bespectacled gent.
Chris

#7 Sharman

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Posted 11 June 2011 - 19:11

Funny, I was going to say there was a resemblance to Sidney Allard though he did not look solid enough. But I never thought of Tom, I think that might be a good guess

#8 fuzzi

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Posted 12 June 2011 - 05:30

Somewhere (and I can't find where) I read that when Peter Collins started out, a mechanic from his father's garage helped prepare his Cooper. If this is Westwood Park it was only just up the road from home and it maybe that he came along.

Is there something in Ed McDonough's book?

#9 arttidesco

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Posted 12 June 2011 - 10:45

Thanks for your answers so far, given that David Hooper who worked for Allard does not recognise the gent I think we can safely discount either Sydney or Tom Allard so a mechanic from Peter Collins fathers garage might be the more likely :up: