109 replies to this topic

[SJ Lambert]

Plug change!



Photo courtesy of Nathan Tasca.

[MarkBisset]

For those with an interest in Australian hillclimbing, Leon Sims is posting some stunning shots on his ‘Rob Roy Hill Climb History’ Facebook page/site.

 

He was donated vast numbers of happy-snaps, hundreds of which didn't make his book, which I must buy.

 

 

Reg Nutt, Cisitalia D46 Fiat, May 4, 1958 (Reg Nutt Collection)

 

https://primotipo.co.../cisitalia-d46/

Edited by MarkBisset, 08 September 2023 - 05:10.

[MarkBisset]

 

Take 2 sans ad https://primotipo.co.../cisitalia-d46/

Edited by MarkBisset, 08 September 2023 - 03:03.

[bradbury west]

 

 

 

Love this machine!!           

 

 

 

 

 

Is this powered by a Vincent V twin?  Any info on spec is welcome.

Many thanks

Roger Lund

[Ray Bell]

That's the Cooper-Irving, Roger...

 

There's a photo of it here at Collingrove Hillclimb with Lex Davison and Phil Irving. Undoubtedly it's a Vincent and someone here will have more details on it. It certainly gives the impression that it's an explosive car for tight hillclimbs.

[MarkBisset]

Roger,

 

As Ray said, the Cooper Irving - Cooper MkV Vincent-Irving S/c - away from home, perhaps Stephen can help with chassis number and any errors in this post.

 

free url upload

 

Lex Davison in a couple of meetings at Rob Roy - no idea of dates or times. (Leon Sims Collection)

 

 

 

And a couple of shots of Phil, fettling

 

 

Longford (G Noonan)

 

 

(L Sims Collection)

Edited by MarkBisset, 10 September 2023 - 06:33.

[GregThomas]

There's a picture and description of the power unit in Irving's book Automobile Engine Tuning published like most of his by Temple Press.

Visibly, the modern pics show an uprated clutch which I believe is from a UK firm who make them for Vincents from Suzuki components.

The original Vin clutch is a known weak point and the common in period swap for a Norton one would be stretched on a blown 1100.

The blower appears to be the original Merlin cabin blower.

[Ray Bell]

I wonder if that's a couple of Davison boys there, Mark...

 

Checking back through AMS I find a singular lack of technical information. What I did find is that Davison first ran it late in 1954 and his second (?) outing in the car at Rob Roy's November 2 meeting saw it sporting a supercharger for the first time. The report notes that the engine's capacity had been altered to put it into the 1,101-1,500cc class, but it's not until an issue some years further on I established that the capacity was 1,115cc. One report mentions it breaking its crankcase, I think that was at Collingrove.

 

It's obvious from the photos that at least a couple of different carburettor types were used and also different routing for the exhaust pipes.

 

My quest for AMS information, by the way, was limited to hillclimb reports and looking for a stand-alone story about the car, but I didn't go beyond December, 1958. There is a photo which I'm sure is this car on the cover of the January, 1956, issue at what appears to be the Wangaratta airfield circuit. And while there's an entry in the magazine's contents list of 'Wangaratta Results' I cannot find them in the magazine.

[bradbury west]

My thanks for the extra photographs and information. As a known non engineer I always enjoy seeing  devices created by the intuition and imagination of those who are. Talking of motor bike clutches reminds me that, IRRC, when he raced his original Bristol powered RedeX Special Jack Brabham  used a ‘bike flywheel and clutch to reduce reciprocating mass as the old Bristol items were a bit on the chunky side. I understand it helped the engine to rev more readily and possibly helped with more revs, although valves touching pistons was a high revolution issue, I believe, with that engine.

Rogr Lund

[SJ Lambert]

Highlight package from this year’s Rob Roy Revival

https://youtu.be/hNj...FmvHgP00f6z420I


I think an extended video with much more footage will be made available within the next few days.