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Gavin Youl


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#51 MarkBisset

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Posted 18 January 2023 - 05:28

91-DA34-D7-B9-A7-401-F-92-DD-A799449-C97

 

Thanks for all that Stephen,

 

McKay was such a great writer apart from all of his other entrepreneurial attributes.

 

Above Gavin running in the MRD in SV colours at Longford in 1962. (HRCCTas I think...)

 

 

E382-CAF8-F65-D-4-E93-83-CD-42-F20-A7-E1

 

 

GY, Rouen GP July 8 1962. Ninth in his heat and DNF final - BT2 Ford-Holbay. Peter Arundell won in a works Lotus 22 (MotorSport)

 

 

D7-D38823-596-B-4-B7-B-BF1-A-EA791883-B2

 

Youl on the grid, date and place unknown despite 30 mins of F2Index work last nite... Brabham BT2 Ford 1962 (Nat Auto Museum Tas)


Edited by MarkBisset, 18 January 2023 - 05:56.


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#52 cooper997

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Posted 18 January 2023 - 05:53

Didn't find it on TNF, but this is the Ron Lambert Longford photo

 

https://www.facebook...697325711011506

 

 

Stephen



#53 cooper997

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Posted 18 January 2023 - 06:19

Mark, I suspect that 47 photo is 19/8/61 Goodwood meeting with MRD, rather than BT2. Wheels don't appear 'wobbly' type of BT2. Someone with a programme might identify the other background cars to confirm. 

 

 

Stephen



#54 Ray Bell

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Posted 18 January 2023 - 11:48

So with the MRD in Australia, Gavin was seen at:

 

February 4 - Warwick Farm

February 10 - Lakeside

February 18 - Baskerville
February 25 - Calder

March 3 - 5 - Longford

March 11 - Catalina Park (in SV trim)

 

So there's an earlier Catalina date, presumably the January long weekend, when it ran in blue?

 

And later meetings elsewhere? Sandown International?

 

It seems to me that Jack was pushing to get it seen everywhere so he could fill order books...



#55 MarkBisset

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Posted 18 January 2023 - 12:26

Mark, I suspect that 47 photo is 19/8/61 Goodwood meeting with MRD, rather than BT2. Wheels don't appear 'wobbly' type of BT2. Someone with a programme might identify the other background cars to confirm. 

 

 

Stephen

 
Happy days Stephen,

 

As you say!  All I needed to do was read my own article…

 

m

 

FDDF26-A0-961-F-4-C21-A073-1-F510-C127-E[url=https://poemsonly.com/poem/1279]

 

 

Aust FJ Championship, October 28, 1962.  (John Ellacott)

 

Clive Nolan, Lotus 20 Ford, Gavin Youl, Brabham BT2 Ford, Frank Matich, Elfin Catalina (sic) Ford


Edited by MarkBisset, 18 January 2023 - 12:35.


#56 GazChed

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Posted 18 January 2023 - 13:31

Thanks to Formula 2.net it does appear to be the first heat of the the Formula Junior race at Goodwood on the 19.8.61, part of the Formula Junior event (two heats and a final) which supported that years Goodwood TT. In numerical order the competitors pictured are :-
11 Brian Whitehouse Lotus 20
15 Ken Lyon Lotus 20
29 Bill Moss Gemini Mk3A
31 Mike Spence Emeryson Mk2
33 Chris Meek Elva 300
47 Gavin Youl MRD
Also, alongside Youl is John Rhodes Cooper T56 and at the top of the picture is John Hine in the dart like Lola Mk3. The race was won by Frank Gardner in a Lotus 20. The grid appears to still to be sorted out with many cars out of position.

Edited by GazChed, 18 January 2023 - 13:53.


#57 Porsche718

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Posted 18 January 2023 - 23:26

So with the MRD in Australia, Gavin was seen at:

 

February 4 - Warwick Farm

February 10 - Lakeside

February 18 - Baskerville
February 25 - Calder

March 3 - 5 - Longford

March 11 - Catalina Park (in SV trim)

 

We now know the MRD ran in SV red (thanks Stephen) at Longford. When was it painted? As it received some nose damage at Baskerville, I'm guessing it was repaired and repainted in Tasmania. However, the team may have already had a spare body which was painted in Sydney and brought down with the rest of the team and fitted at Longford (the bodywork looks immaculate in that Ron Lambert photo). What colour was it at Calder?

 

 

So there's an earlier Catalina date, presumably the January long weekend, when it ran in blue?

 

I made that same mistake. The blue "Brabham" pictured at Catalina was later in the year when Gavin ran the BT2. October IIRC.

 

 

 

And later meetings elsewhere? Sandown International?

 

 

 

The MRD did not run at Sandown as there was no stand alone FJ race. Only two heats for the International. No mention in the race reports. It may have been entered but I don't have that programme.

 

Yes, it was a very busy period, but I think it had less to do with Brabham desiring the car to run as much as possible, and more to do with the fact that the whole Scuderia Veloce team was running everywhere during this International series of meetings. It could well be that the journey to Baskerville separate from SV was at the Youl family expense, but every other meeting would have been covered by Mckay.

 

I'm sure, however, "Black Jack" did not mind at all the fact that the MRD was showing it's speed at so many meetings. It's win in the NSW FJ Championship at Catalina and elsewhere would have helped convince customers considering the purchasing of a BT2. 



#58 cooper997

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Posted 19 January 2023 - 09:13

Finding a Calder MRD photo is the current challenge. Of the 3 reports I can locate, all are of no use for that.

 

As for Sandown International, it (mostly) clashed with the Catalina FJ meeting. John Youl went to the Vic circuit, Gavin to NSW. The later having a better weekend than his brother who had a big crash in the Cooper.

 

Also, the 21/1/62 Catalina entry list doesn't show MRD amongst the small field of Juniors (5 Lotus, plus 1ea Jolus, Lynx & Lola).

 

 

Stephen



#59 cooper997

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Posted 21 January 2023 - 03:03

I assume the reference of "sensational debut" relative to Goodwood has more to do with the earlier Mallory Park meeting being a 'clubbie' rather than open meeting.

 

1961-Autosport-Sept-1-MRD-TNF.jpg

 

 

Stephen



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#60 MarkBisset

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Posted 21 January 2023 - 03:28

Stephen,

 

Yes, the 23 July BRSCC Mallory meeting had no 'subsequent heroes' in it, whereas the 19 August BARC FJ Championship at Goodwood had a fullish deck; Alan Rees (who won) Mike Spence, Richard Attwood, David Piper, Frank Gardner. Plus Peter Warr, John Hine, John Rhodes, Hugh Dibley, Peter Ashdown, Ian Raby, Chris Meek, David Prophet and Bill McGovern. And Steve Ouvaroff and Jon Leighton.

 

So, at that stage Gavin really looked the goods...as did the MRD!

 

m


Edited by MarkBisset, 21 January 2023 - 03:48.


#61 cooper997

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Posted 21 January 2023 - 04:45

Thanks Mark.

 

 

I should have mentioned post 59 is from 1/9/61 Autosport, this is from the following week.

1961-Autosport-Sept-8-MRD-TNf.jpg

 

 

Stephen



#62 Porsche718

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Posted 21 January 2023 - 08:15

I'm currently putting an article together on the Rev. John Youl (1773-1827). An intriguing man with a wonderful life story.

 

In tracing the family forward from Rev. John and his sons, and back from Gavin and John's father Boyce, there is a marriage of a Youl to a daughter from the "Archer" family.

 

Do we know if there was a family connection between the Youl brothers and Lyn Archer?


Edited by Porsche718, 21 January 2023 - 08:18.


#63 cooper997

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Posted 21 January 2023 - 21:09

Steve, that's something Andrew Lamont may have an answer for.

 

 

Here's how RCN covered Gavin's passing in the 11/82 issue.

1982-RCN-Nov-Youl-vale-TNF.jpg

 

 

Stephen



#64 cooper997

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 02:40

David Phipps photo borrowed from 'When the flag drops'

 

1971-Brabham-Flag-drops-book-MRD-TNF.jpg

 

 

Stephen



#65 MarkBisset

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 03:22

I'm currently putting an article together on the Rev. John Youl (1773-1827). An intriguing man with a wonderful life story.

 

In tracing the family forward from Rev. John and his sons, and back from Gavin and John's father Boyce, there is a marriage of a Youl to a daughter from the "Archer" family.

 

Do we know if there was a family connection between the Youl brothers and Lyn Archer?

 

Steve,

 

Asked Geoff Harris, his brief response is "No. He (Lynn) married a woman who had been a bit of a star in Britain. Think she was in an early episode of The Avengers."

Intriguing, shall ask him more!

 

Mark



#66 Porsche718

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 03:52

Yes, her name was Pamela Ann Davy.

 

She played in two episodes of the 60's UK show the Avengers and had a few "B" movies out of England. She was also in a couple of Dr Who episodes including "Power of the Daleks".

 

They were married from 1971 until Lyn's death in 2014.She died in 2018 in Hobart..

 

 

 

 

 

Edit: Dr Who info


Edited by Porsche718, 22 January 2023 - 03:56.


#67 cooper997

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 06:01

Nearly 32 years ago 'Thoroughbred & Classic Cars' ran this piece on Buckler making the early MRD/Brabham chassis

1991-TCC-Buckler-Brabhams-TNF.jpg

 

 

Stephen



#68 Porsche718

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Posted 25 January 2023 - 06:08

I just had an interesting chat with the Reverend Canon David Elliott Courthope Lewis who is/was 2nd cousin of Gavin and John Youl.

 

BTW: His grandmother was Lina Henrietta Youl who became Lady Lewis, the virtual matriach of Hobart for many decades. (Phew let me catch my breath!)

 

Rev. David was close to the boy's father Boyce as Rev. Lewis was based at Launceston at the time, and he told me the story of what prompted the family to build the Symmons Plains racetrack.

 

Apparently the family had leased out the edges of the property along the main roads for billboard advertising (such as "Try XYZ jam - it's the best!") as many pastoral landholders did. Not only did they receive revenue from the company, but they also received incentive payments from the government to assist in the growth of Tasmanian businesses.

 

Now with a property that had grown in access of 2,000 acres at one time, with many main roads interweaving the "Symmons Plains" holdings, that came to quite a nice static income. 

 

Then in the late 50's the Tasmanian government decided to not only stop the incentive payments, but put in an overall ban on advertising billboards (except those involved in specific locational tourism activities).

 

This was a loss of a sizeable income, and apparently Boyce, Jack Brabham and the boys were together at some stage and Boyce was bemoaning his loss, and together they came up with the idea of laying out a racing circuit in a suitable part of the property. So it happened.

 

There may also have been some recognition that Longford's life was certainly limited with the speed of race cars increasing.

 

Now I may expect some response such as "nah - that's not what happened!" but it may well be an interesting part of the process of the establishment of "the Plains".

 

Cheers all.



#69 Ray Bell

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Posted 25 January 2023 - 08:12

Makes sense to me...

 

The Tasmanian Government's ban on roadside advertising was a significant part of the financial difficulties which ultimately assisted the demise of Longford.

 

And I've often wondered why there are some photos of the Viaduct with a sign painted on the brickwork, bearing the ban in mind.



#70 MarkBisset

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Posted 27 January 2023 - 03:35

Steve,

 

An interesting perspective, it would be intriguing to know how much income was lost as a consequence of the changed state government policy.

 

Neil Kearney's best-seller quotes heavily from the last LMRC Committee Meeting - which determined there would be no more Longford meetings - in 1968 the reasons why they pulled the pin, shall suss it and summarise the reasons when I am home and near the book.

 

Interesting, perhaps, is that in a conversation with Rob Knott last week - one of the Longford Motorama supremos, and present joint-saviour of the Longford Grand Prix Expo clusterf@ck - he pointed out just how important the use of some of the Big Properties were to motor racing being established/thriving in Tasmania, quoting Quorn Hall and Valleyfield, post-war, in addition to Mountford/Newry and Symmons later of course.

 

m


Edited by MarkBisset, 27 January 2023 - 03:35.