Sabakat

The pearl necklace thing. I have seen quite a few usually more mature women at motorsport events in pearls. I suggest probably uppercrust women though at times wheeling battery trolleys or even loading tearoffs on helmets.  Or often  part [ often important] of organising committees.

And quite a few as parts of the pit population.

And this at circuit racing, hillclimbs and speedway

What do we know about some of these people?

The first one on the list I know is Fred Pearse, MG etc racer of the fifties, thoroughly involved with organisation with the ARDC (etc?) through the eighties.
 

Ray, over on Bob Williamson facebook site, Peter Reynell has been putting some wonderful Fred Pearse photos up over the last couple of weeks.There's also a large number of autograph's and accompanying driver photos that Fred's daughter Lee got in period.

The following link's page is constantly evolving,  but probably the quickest way to find them. The George Murray Austin Special mounted photo and autograph appears to be the most recent. Scroll past there to see a Fred Pearse portrait (that gives me the feeling is from an order of service) and then further back to see various other circuit photos of his. Patience will reward.

https://www.facebook...8334658/photos/

This is one of a number of Fred's 1960 AGP meeting grid photos.

https://www.facebook...1&theater&ifg=1

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 30 March 2018 - 04:27.

Great article! Thanks, Stephen - yet again.

And it's correct about the chill of Lowood in winter with a westerly blowing across the open plains. Especially in the late afternoon. The clothing that people are wearing in the pit shot of the Sabakat is a giveaway - and that looks like it was taken in the late morning or the middle of the day!

The only error I could spot was the inclusion of the mis-captioned photo of Ernie in his Porsche Special at Phillip Island. 

Don't recollect ever seeing that car - at least I now know what it looked like.

Does it still exist? Dick? Anyone?

The pearl necklace thing. I have seen quite a few usually more mature women at motorsport events in pearls. I suggest probably uppercrust women though at times wheeling battery trolleys or even loading tearoffs on helmets.  Or often  part [ often important] of organising committees.

And quite a few as parts of the pit population.

And this at circuit racing, hillclimbs and speedway

Lee - Major Queensland events, in that era, often featured a trophy presentation by the Governor of Qld, with accompanying hospitality arrangements.

Perhaps they'd been invited, as committee members' wives, or as other VIP's, to the Vice-Regal Lunch table?

Can't remember where those would have been held at Lowood - but hopefully not on the top deck of that semi-derelict double-decker bus that doubled as Race HQ.

Great article! Thanks, Stephen - yet again.

And it's correct about the chill of Lowood in winter with a westerly blowing across the open plains. Especially in the late afternoon. The clothing that people are wearing in the pit shot of the Sabakat is a giveaway - and that looks like it was taken in the late morning or the middle of the day!

The only error I could spot was the inclusion of the mis-captioned photo of Ernie in his Porsche Special at Phillip Island. 

Don't recollect ever seeing that car - at least I now know what it looked like.

Does it still exist? Dick? Anyone?

There was a nicely built replica of the Tadgell Porsche special during the rounds of Queensland events about a decade ago, Leyburn sprints etc, I think I have a pic of it somewhere

I think John Hazelden might have the Tadgell Porsche special.   He's probably better known for being custodian of the Chamberlain special at one stage.(and writing a book about it)   I believe he's recently downsized to a place at Phillip Island.

All that was left of the Sabakat, which had been largely magnesium alloy, were the steel wheels and hubs.

Edited by Kenzclass, 30 March 2018 - 03:03.

It's not easy finding a photo of Ern Tadgell. We need a decent one here, so if you have one, or know where to look to find one please let it be known.

As it stands this driver page from the 1960 Lowood AGP will have to suffice. Not such a bad thing because it shows several of the lesser known players of the sport. I'm reluctant to mention those that are still with us, in case I put the mockers on them. But just 2 survive that I'm aware.

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 18 April 2018 - 09:41.

Dick has sent through his photo of the Tadgell Porsche Spl replica he mentions in post 55

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 18 April 2018 - 09:40.

Originally posted by cooper997
Ray, over on Bob Williamson facebook site, Peter Reynell has been putting some wonderful Fred Pearse photos up over the last couple of weeks.There's also a large number of autograph's and accompanying driver photos that Fred's daughter Lee got in period.
 
The following link's page is constantly evolving,  but probably the quickest way to find them. The George Murray Austin Special mounted photo and autograph appears to be the most recent. Scroll past there to see a Fred Pearse portrait (that gives me the feeling is from an order of service) and then further back to see various other circuit photos of his. Patience will reward.
https://www.facebook...1&theater&ifg=1
 
This is one of a number of Fred's 1960 AGP meeting grid photos.
https://www.facebook...1&theater&ifg=1

Try this one, Ray.

I can see everything via this, and I'm not a member.

https://m.facebook.c...90760908334658/

Edited by Kenzclass, 30 March 2018 - 04:23.

Ray, I messed up creating what was meant to the first link in post 52. I had actually saved the second link first and then made a mess saving the other. In the end I just posted the same link twice.

I often find it easier to go to the thumbnail photos page, because they stay in order of being posted to Bob's site. The other way tends to show things with a most recent comment to a particular photo. So things can get quite muddled trying to find a particular photo again.

I've edited post 52 with this link https://www.facebook...8334658/photos/

Thanks Ken regarding the driver photo page, I wasn't sure on Tony Basile, may he get well.

Stephen

Edited by Ray Bell, 30 March 2018 - 11:15.

When I last looked it was the Jim Clark Lotus and a Lotus Elan engine bay the most recent photos posted. The link in post 64 should take you straight to the (thumbanil) photos page of Bob's site.

I counted 18 rows down to see the most recent photo Reter Reynell posted from the Fred Pearse collection on March 25. That being the #1 Alfa Romeo P3 (with a race programme entry list next to it). Click on it and it will load in larger format then just tap or click the right side of the photo to scroll to the next Pearse photo, there's at least 17 Pearse photos in that group. Then there's more from around when the autopics advert is slotted in with around 36 photos/autographs Lee Pearse got.

Continuing further back to March 20 they start after the 141 FJ Holden. There's more after those being the 1960 AGP grid photos. I simply depends who else has been loading photos that spread them all out.

As I wrote earlier, patience will reward.

Of course now that I've tapped all that more photos have been added... but hopefully you get the process.

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 30 March 2018 - 11:47.

Where's Ernie's black Lynx FJ now?

Graham Brown in Qld raced it for many years here in Historics and sold it to the UK maybe 10-15 years ago, It has been raced there very successfully by 3 owners and is now for sale again if you want to re-import it back to Australia.

I have joined Fecesbook years ago but I don't use it, I get e.mails from them every day...

But I can't seem to find the keys to navigate their site at all.

You said you can see everything by that link you posted. I have now waited long enough (about five minutes) for the page to populate and I'm slowly able to scroll to the stuff in the order it's on the page.

I will try searching for Fred Pearse shortly.


How do you comment on the pics? There's some there going notably uncommented and they're easily identified.

You and me both. The most unuser friendly site known to man. I signed up to get the links which still do not work often and as a potential advertising site. Which it seems you have to go to the section 'administrator' for approval. The administrator is in direct competition with me in business so really not ok.

And yes I get dozens of emails a week for nonexistent 'messages' and a quite a few suggested friends which now do seem to target more my 'style' as they are motorsport people and families. Though the only ever one I answered never replied.

Edit,, and with Bookface and Twatters info leaks I will be removing myself anyway. IF I can work out how!

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 30 March 2018 - 23:24.

Hi Guys, thanks for all the input on the ex- Graham Howard  Sabakat. I am the very privileged owner of this fantastic car, when I look at it I wonder why Graham wanted to recreate such a complicated car !!!!!!!! but I am glad he did. Thanks to Dick Willis who has provided many spares to both the Climax motor & the C series diff, as well as a selection of period photo's & information on it's early history.

Mike Gosbell

Welcome Mike. You might like to tell us about how long you've had the car and events you've run with it.

Stumbled upon this brief Tadgell profile today in the March 1960 Phillip Island Trophy Meeting programme - that one being the big Brabham meeting. Sabakat is listed for several events at this meeting. but given it blew up at Longford the weekend before,  it's a bit superfluous

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 18 April 2018 - 09:43.

What an extraordinary picture of Sabakat at Lowood. and in colour too! It is wonderful when such pictures suddenly appear and add to what we know about these early Lotus cars. I have been unable to access the print from Quentin Miles' Facebook page. I have left a FB message for him, can anyone help with further contact details for him? 

         It is of course a great pity that this car did not survive as it was the first Lotus single seat racer to turn a wheel. Wonderful material for the next Historic Lotus Magazine subject to Quenitin giving me approval to use his image. 

         Regards  Mike B               HLR           Lotus 12 registrar           Adelaide  

Hi Stephen,

I purchased the Sabakat back in October 2016 & spent the next 4 months rebuilding the hydraulics - brakes & clutch etc etc. First event was a GEAR shakedown at Wakefield Park all went well, then to Winton in May 2017 where I set my personal best lap time in 34 years of racing Historics. Next was Morgan Park in July finished the weekend's racing but had many dramas, no brakes interesting !!!!!!!!!

broken cir-clip that retains the drive shafts inside the diff. The end result of that was 2 new drive shafts, as the old ones were twisted. Next was back to Wakefield Park in September were we had 4 races

one of we put the Sabakat first past the post !!!!!!!!!!!! great fun. Now set for the same events this year.

Mike

Hi Stephen,

I purchased the Sabakat back in October 2016 & spent the next 4 months rebuilding the hydraulics - brakes & clutch etc etc. First event was a GEAR shakedown at Wakefield Park all went well, then to Winton in May 2017 where I set my personal best lap time in 34 years of racing Historics. Next was Morgan Park in July finished the weekend's racing but had many dramas, no brakes interesting !!!!!!!!!

broken cir-clip that retains the drive shafts inside the diff. The end result of that was 2 new drive shafts, as the old ones were twisted. Next was back to Wakefield Park in September were we had 4 races

one of we put the Sabakat first past the post !!!!!!!!!!!! great fun. Now set for the same events this year.

Mike

Thanks for your response Mike. Sounds like the Nota has been pushed back into the shed (or sold)? I dare say Sabakat has a bit more power than the Nota.

Keep enjoying.

Stephen

Hi Stephen,

The NOTA now lives in the village of Silverstone UK, that is how I could afford to purchase the Sabakat !

Mike

Mike, So it was clearly a one way trip for the car when you ran at 2016 Goodwood Revival.

Here's the entry list for Sabakat (and a few interesting others) heat at the 1958 Bathurst AGP meeting.

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 18 April 2018 - 09:44.

This Motor Manual Motor Racing annual covers a few details on the Tadgell Porsche special already mentioned in this thread.

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 18 April 2018 - 09:47.

Thanks for posting this, Stephen.

Interesting to note, from the article, that the engine was the Fuhrman 547 four-cam unit.

I'd always assumed that the engine was the much more common pushrod unit.

Now I'm curious as to the origins of Ernie's 547 unit, which would have been very rare, not to mention expensive, in that era, especially in Australia.

Wondering if it also arrived here as "cropduster parts".

Edited by Kenzclass, 05 April 2018 - 00:39.

Thanks for posting this, Stephen.

Interesting to note, from the article, that the engine was the Fuhrman 547 four-cam unit.

I'd always assumed that the engine was the much more common pushrod unit.

Now I'm curious as to the origins of Ernie's 547 unit, which would have been very rare, not to mention expensive, in that era, especially in Australia.

Wondering if it also arrived here as "cropduster parts".

Probably better than a cropduster engine!

Graham Howard contacted me in period to have body panels fashioned for his rebuild. I put him in contact with John Cole who was Tom Wheatcroft's contemporary in-house panel basher for the Donington Collection, working in a well-equipped shop at Tom's building company yard in Wigston, Leicester.  

Graham asked that the individual panels should be shipped oversize, to allow for final trimming once offered up to the Caldersmith chassis in Australia. It all took too long for the customer's liking, of course, and cost more than expected and predicted, and partly due to my own inefficiencies and contemporary naivety it didn't really end that happily for (and with) John Cole either.  

In essence the experience taught me one hell of a lot - not least don't get involved in commercial transactions when a) one doesn't yet have a clue about how commerce really works...and b) one hasn't really been around long enough to recognise what makes some people really tick...  

Older & Wiser of Farnham

The body was going to be a headache, and very early in the project I approached Stan Brown, the legendary aluminium panel-beater who had emigrated to Australia after working for Lotus' London panel-shop. Stan quoted $3000 so I had to find another way.

In 1973 I scored another junket to Europe and got to meet Doug Nye and out of this came the idea that I would research some Australian history for Doug, and Doug would see if John Cole, the Donington Museum's panel man, would rough me a set of panels while he was making the panels for Donington's replica 12.

Well, that duly came to pass, with Barry Garner's Johnfletcher company handling the Customs of course. The red tape was unbelievable, but finally Customs was prepared to let me open the crate. There was my long-awaited bodywork, freight paid, cartage paid, duty paid, tax paid, stamp duty paid... packed in still-green, germ laden, English straw! It was going to have to be sealed up again and sent away for fumigation, but they relented on condition I personally, under Customs supervision, took every piece of straw to the Customs incinerator. I ripped an unmentionable hole in my special lightweight summer suit climbing in and out of that bloody crate.

And by the time I was allowed to take the raw body home, it had cost altogether about five dollars less than Stan's quote for a complete fitted body.

Edited by Ray Bell, 05 April 2018 - 23:06.

I think this story means buy local. A lot easier and generally quicker to control than sending stuff overseas.

$3000 does not sound much now but it would have bought a new Holden in 73.

This story and the chap in the US with the 5000 tub on here a few years back does tell a story.

And Doug, you were the mug in the middle! Trying to help.

Sticker shock can lead to hasty decisions that often come back to bite one on the bum.  Been there, done that, got the scars.

The chap who ran the Vehicle Restoration course at my local TAFE (pre Mike Baird's destruction) knocked up a Cooper body for Scotty Taylor.

http://natolipanelcr...per-climax-t45/

Edited by Wirra, 07 April 2018 - 01:50.

Edited by Ray Bell, 23 May 2018 - 22:48.

always wondered what 'knocked up'  actually meant.

Artistic !

macoran

It is far too pretty to drive! Even without bumping anything the stones and rubber on the track will mar the finish.

I would take a mould off of that and run fibreglass replicas!

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 07 April 2018 - 11:36.

Edited by bradbury west, 07 April 2018 - 11:09.

What follows is from the 1979 version of John Blanden's 'Historic Racing Cars in Australia'. Scanned the best I could without damaging this now expensive book's binding.

I can't compare whether the Mk2 version of the Blanden book supercedes information written here. But Graham's SCWQ feature posted earlier on this thread does.

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 18 April 2018 - 09:45.

That description mentions the Champ gearbox and the VW gears...

Those 5 forward speeds, all synchro'd would've been the nicest part of the driving experience, however brief it was.

No reverse, as that was in the transfer case integral with the diff in the Champ.

There was a lot of Champ fun to be had, trying to going up and down through the gears while driving at speed in reverse, when I drove them in the CMF in the late sixties.