20 replies to this topic

[geflackt]

Last year we were able to acquire a 1935(actually built in '34) MG P-type that was one of Harry Lester's first race cars and has the registration GUR963. Our car was campaigned by Harry Lester, Donald Pitt, and other drivers, at events such as Gransden Lodge, Prescott, Brighton, Luton Hoo, and Silverstone. The car won the 1947 Ulster Trophy Handicap race and placed in the top 3 in quite a few other races.

I'm currently working on getting more history together about the car. There were a bunch of race programs, magazines, and some pictures with the file that was included with the car, but there is still quite a lot of info out there. I'm working on compiling a list of events and so far going through this forum I have found listings of British events.

If anyone has materials such as programs, notes, pictures, or anything else race related from the UK from the mid-to-late 40's that includes Lester, Pitt, or even GUR963, please post it. There is a lot to search through and I'm having a bit of trouble getting started!! I'd rather be running the car and it's just about ready for the current season.

To try to jog some memories, here is the car at Prescott:


And here is the car now:



Thanks!

[Red Socks]

What a pity that the car on the bottom looks so unlike the car at the top

[David McKinney]

I'm sure the biggest problem you'll find is that, while Lester-MG, Leonard MGs and the like were described as such a few years later, in the 1940s they were inevitably listed simply as "MG"

[CoulthardD]

Odd...

American History?

DC

[geflackt]

Odd...

American History?

DC

Yes - that is now our car. This message you've found was written by the owner two-back from us!

The car was restored in the UK in the early 70's, then back to the US in the early 80's, back to the UK at some point, then back to the US around '99. It made another trip or two back to the UK around '99 for an engine rebuild. I now do all the maintenance and work on it, keeping the patina best I can.

Supposedly the body was in bad shape from about the late 50's 'til it was restored in the 70's. Some extra bits have been put on the body, but comparing to old pictures, it is still very close to the original. The front cowl is probably the biggest difference, but the pics I have from the 40's show various configurations.

Typically, it has shown up as an MG in the race programs. It wasn't quite a "Lester-MG" at the time, but I have a list of the owners, so I can at least compare the owner with the entry. The engine is 939cc, so that also provides a clue.

Hopefully in a day or two I'll post the event listing I've collected.

[CoulthardD]

I take it you've triedthe MGCC's Triple M Register?

DC

[fivestar]

There is an article on the car in AutoCar March 4, 1949: Talking of Sports Cars No321, also an interesting article by the US MG Car Club "The Lester MG', both with some good photos of GRU963

[David McKinney]

It wasn't quite a "Lester-MG" at the time, but I have a list of the owners, so I can at least compare the owner with the entry.

That was the second part of the difficulty I alluded to. Donald Pitt, for example, raced other MGs, so unless you find a reference that lists the engine size, you won't be sure

[geflackt]

There is an article on the car in AutoCar March 4, 1949: Talking of Sports Cars No321, also an interesting article by the US MG Car Club "The Lester MG', both with some good photos of GRU963

Yep, I have both of those articles. Thanks! That's the type of info I'm trying to find, though!!

[geflackt]

Does anyone know of these clubs or events?...
- Hants and Berks MC. - around 1946
- Midlands Motoring Enthusiast Club(speed trial at Cofton Hackett) - around 1946
- Southseas MC (at Windmill Hill) - Oct 1946
- West Court Speed Trials
- What was/is Luton Hoo?

Thanks!

[geflackt]

I take it you've triedthe MGCC's Triple M Register?

DC

Yes, I'm on the Register. I'm trying to keep the technical and mechanical questions on that list!

[CoulthardD]

Try this thread

DC

[RAP]

Does anyone know of these clubs or events?...
- Hants and Berks MC. - around 1946
- Midlands Motoring Enthusiast Club(speed trial at Cofton Hackett) - around 1946
- Southseas MC (at Windmill Hill) - Oct 1946
- West Court Speed Trials
- What was/is Luton Hoo?

Thanks!

Southsea Motor Club Speed hill climb, 13 October 46, Windmill Hill, Horndean. #22 H Lester MG 939 1st Open Cars up to 1100cc

Hants & Berks MC would most likely be their event at Fordingbridge 14 Sept 46 where Lester was a class winner


RAP

[ecpitt]

Re Donald Pitt: I would be very interested to know a little more about your car and in particular, the man driving it in the black and white photgraph. It looks very much like my great uncle Donald Charles Pitt. I know very little about him but I can tell from photographs I have of him driving a Frazer Nash that it is him. Regards, Edward (UK)

Last year we were able to acquire a 1935(actually built in '34) MG P-type that was one of Harry Lester's first race cars and has the registration GUR963. Our car was campaigned by Harry Lester, Donald Pitt, and other drivers, at events such as Gransden Lodge, Prescott, Brighton, Luton Hoo, and Silverstone. The car won the 1947 Ulster Trophy Handicap race and placed in the top 3 in quite a few other races.

I'm currently working on getting more history together about the car. There were a bunch of race programs, magazines, and some pictures with the file that was included with the car, but there is still quite a lot of info out there. I'm working on compiling a list of events and so far going through this forum I have found listings of British events.

If anyone has materials such as programs, notes, pictures, or anything else race related from the UK from the mid-to-late 40's that includes Lester, Pitt, or even GUR963, please post it. There is a lot to search through and I'm having a bit of trouble getting started!! I'd rather be running the car and it's just about ready for the current season.

To try to jog some memories, here is the car at Prescott:


And here is the car now:



Thanks!

Edited by ecpitt, 17 July 2009 - 17:04.

[Robin Fairservice]

Does anyone know of these clubs or events?...
- Hants and Berks MC. - around 1946
- Midlands Motoring Enthusiast Club(speed trial at Cofton Hackett) - around 1946
- Southseas MC (at Windmill Hill) - Oct 1946
- West Court Speed Trials
- What was/is Luton Hoo?

Thanks!

I think that Luton Hoo is at Chatham. Kent.

[RogerFrench]

Luton Hoo is today a Hotel cum Golf Course, and it's just southwest of Luton Airport, known by all old Lorraine Chase fans. It's an old and quite splendid country house.
The grounds were used for sprinting back in the 40s.

[fuzzi]

Does anyone know of these clubs or events?...
- Hants and Berks MC. - around 1946
- Midlands Motoring Enthusiast Club(speed trial at Cofton Hackett) - around 1946
- Southseas MC (at Windmill Hill) - Oct 1946
- West Court Speed Trials
- What was/is Luton Hoo?

Thanks!

The Hants & Berks MC organised the one-off West Court Speed Trials on the drive of West Court House near Finchampsted, Berkshire in September 1946. Roy Salvadori was fastest in the ex-Hector Dobbs Riley

The MMEC combined with the Sutton Coldfield and North Birmingham AC (SUNBAC) to run the Cofton Hackett Speed Trials on the old airfield owned by and close to the Austin Motor Works at Longbridge in October 1946. Bob Gerard set Best time of day in ERA R4A.

I believe Windmill Hill is near Horndean and Sydney Allard set Btd at the meeting in October 46.

Luton Hoo is, as Roger French says, in Bedfordshire was privately owned until the 1980s and was used for speed events over a long period from 1908 through the 20s. It hosted an event in August 1948 which attracted a top class field, and went ahead despite severe petrol rationing when all private motoring had been suspended. So people hired lorries, which were not banned, and loaded up their friends along with their racing car. Others were not so lucky - a large squad of police took notes of the registration numbers of all cars attending and a lot of the owners received hefty fines. Bob Gerard was fastest in his ERA R4A

Edited by fuzzi, 11 July 2009 - 06:12.

[david venables]

Harry Lester built two MGs in 1946. The P-type based car GUR 963 and a second car HRO 33. The second car was based on an L-type Magna. Lester raced this at Grandsen in 1947. He won the 1100cc class at Gransden in 1947. He also drove it at the first Goodwood in Sept 1948 and won the 1100cc sports car race by miles. If I remember right it was painted black.

He didn't race HRO 33 in 1949 as he was developing the Lester-MG which made its debut as an 1100 at the August 49 BARC Goodwood Members meeting.

[Dutchy]

I recall the L Type based car appeared in VSCC events some years ago.

[Gregor Marshall]

I think Luton Hoo was used until the 1960s according to friends of my late Dad - funnily enough I was there a week ago and it's a fantastic setting.

[David Birchall]

Was the most recent N.American owner Laurie Fraser? He is a friend and I can put you in touch if req.