69 replies to this topic

[limjamrace]

Thought i would mention that the copies i ordered of the book An Adventurous life by Roger Nathan have been sent in the post by Mr Roger's missus and i should get them tomorrow...Could the total of 10 people who were interested please contact me via pm so i can dispatch and of course receive payment for your order..
Thank you for youer patience btw!

Yours David Llewellyn (limjamrace)

[limjamrace]

Thought i would mention that the copies i ordered of the book An Adventurous life by Roger Nathan have been sent in the post by Mr Roger's missus and i should get them tomorrow...Could the total of 10 people who were interested please contact me via pm so i can dispatch and of course receive payment for your order..
Thank you for youer patience btw!

Yours David Llewellyn (limjamrace)

Thank you to the personal who have forwarded their details and important for me the cheques!
Everyone who was interested in ordering a copy from this site now has theirs!!

To anyone new on this site i still have a number of copies left...Price is £28.00inc of postage. This is a slight reduction of the rrp + postage due to me lashing money out of my own funds for a bulk buy of this hard to come by book!

Please forward your details via the pm section and i will give notification of my address!

Lastly ...Thanks again to Barry Boor for contacting Mr Nathan to making this transaction possible

[Gregor Marshall]

Thanks David - started reading mine last night.

[double4trouble]

Thanks David - started reading mine last night.

I Was lucky to get a copy last year off Roger himself, when he came over to Manchester to be reunited with his 1966 prototpye Costin-Nathan and he signed it aswell. very nice and interesting bloke.


Mike

[limjamrace]

I Was lucky to get a copy last year off Roger himself, when he came over to Manchester to be reunited with his 1966 prototpye Costin-Nathan and he signed it aswell. very nice and interesting bloke.


Mike

Hello Mike ,
Can anyone else see your very interesting prototype...Like me?

David L

[Giraffe]

Hello Mike ,
Can anyone else see your very interesting prototype...Like me?

David L

Probably developed with the help of a very young Marcus Pye?

[simon drabble]

Probably developed with the help of a very young Marcus Pye?

its a great book as Roger can tell a story like no other! And just to add that although his book is a little "with one bound he was free" it is pretty true to life - I have in a professional capacity had dealings with him regarding Sierra Leone and it was as per the book - actually the full story is even more extraordinary. If ever you have the chance to have lunch with him he will keep you amused for hours.

Edited by simon drabble, 18 March 2010 - 09:33.

[double4trouble]

Hello Mike ,
Can anyone else see your very interesting prototype...Like me?

David L

Hi dave
If you are interested in seeing the C-N, I will ask my friend the owner. I don’t think there would be a problem.

Mike

[limjamrace]

Hi dave
If you are interested in seeing the C-N, I will ask my friend the owner. I don’t think there would be a problem.

Mike

That would be so good Mike..Trying to pm you ,but cannot find your details!
David L

[Giraffe]

An appropriate cross-reference....

http://forums.autosp...w...t&p=4229380

[double4trouble]

its a great book as Roger can tell a story like no other! And just to add that although his book is a little "with one bound he was free" it is pretty true to life - I have in a professional capacity had dealings with him regarding Sierra Leone and it was as per the book - actually the full story is even more extraordinary. If ever you have the chance to have lunch with him he will keep you amused for hours.

hi Simon

I had the privilege of going for a meal with Roger, unfortunately nowhere was open; we ended up in Morison’s. We had a laugh and a joke about it, flying all the way from South Africa to London, train to Manchester and ending up in Morison’s.
He’s gentleman and very interesting bloke, told me some fascinating stories of his life, and what a life he’s had.
I hope I get the chance again, but I will deffo take him somewhere nice next time round.

Mike

<a href="http://s703.photobuc...age075-001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i703.photobuc...age075-001.jpg" border="0" alt="Roger's Reunion after 47 years with the first prototype"></a>

[double4trouble]

That would be so good Mike..Trying to pm you ,but cannot find your details!
David L

i dont think i have been kickd off lol

m2fla@blueyonder.co.uk

[limjamrace]

i dont think i have been kickd off lol

m2fla@blueyonder.co.uk

Thank you all who are making comments about this book!
My recent education about Costin-Nathan & Nathan Astras has been complimented by emailing and contacting some pretty interesting people!
I'm sending copies as far afield as Canada and nearer to home Germany! Even Wales!!
How i wished that i had taken the Sports GT route instead of the normal Imp scene.
Still even 40 years too late doesn't mean its all over yet and i'm game to build my own racer along the same lines from scratch within the next 2 years!
Knowledge of MSA or FIA regulations would be a help..I see from my Blue book 2010 there is a seperate category for regs on construction of Sports GT racers..Am i heading in the right direction?
I don't want to head on with things like Radicals,but club racing..Maybe the 750 Motor Club still does things for innovative race enthusiasts!

Any comments welcome!

Yours David L

p.s Still a few copies of the book left up for grabs £28.00 inc postage UK

[simon drabble]

Thank you all who are making comments about this book!
My recent education about Costin-Nathan & Nathan Astras has been complimented by emailing and contacting some pretty interesting people!
I'm sending copies as far afield as Canada and nearer to home Germany! Even Wales!!
How i wished that i had taken the Sports GT route instead of the normal Imp scene.
Still even 40 years too late doesn't mean its all over yet and i'm game to build my own racer along the same lines from scratch within the next 2 years!
Knowledge of MSA or FIA regulations would be a help..I see from my Blue book 2010 there is a seperate category for regs on construction of Sports GT racers..Am i heading in the right direction?
I don't want to head on with things like Radicals,but club racing..Maybe the 750 Motor Club still does things for innovative race enthusiasts!

Any comments welcome!

Yours David L

p.s Still a few copies of the book left up for grabs £28.00 inc postage UK

If you are serioius about going down the sports racer rout buy my Merlyn Mk6a - its for sale.

[limjamrace]

If you are serioius about going down the sports racer rout buy my Merlyn Mk6a - its for sale

Sorry Simon..Should have written "Design & Build", my own Sports Racer"!

Having been introduced to the Costin forum index and what is all on here,it has inspired me to do one of my lasting ambitions in life!
Construct my own racing car!
I just adore aluminium,but having an idea for competiting in Historic racing rather than coming up against things like Radicals it has to be low key and clubby
Funding is another thing..Makes sense in doing my own thing as in an Imp engine(forced induction)and innoventive rolling gear!

Making a replica plywood type Costin or Nathan Astra chassis..Not quite the same as to market it and upset the peple with the build rights(?),but compete in the www.hundredthousandsociety.co.uk race series of proposed 2011 kick off!

Now being fully blown into enthusiasm..Due to the availablity of the ..An Adventurous Life by Roger Nathan & Stephane Gutzwiller book(obtainable from me at £28.00 inc UK) it looks like evening classes for me in carpentry during the autumn.

Mentioning about alloy in chassis construction..I've been having orgasms looking at Joe Tavani's website...No it's not one of those types of websites,but his own one the replica Lola T70 Sports GT.. It says for sale but it definitely isnt!!
I found out the link from the last post about the Costin-Nathan GT prototype thread somewhere else on this site(?).. He asks is this car being restored!! This being Mike Flannigans mates car..
Underneath it says in small print My Lola T70 whatsit for sale..Click on and- wow!!

Anyhow ,all the same Simon an invited by me photo and details of your Merlyn to me would be appreciated!!
Is it a Sports 2000?

Yours David Llewellyn (Llewellyn Imp Motorsport)

Edited by limjamrace, 23 March 2010 - 21:11.

[simon drabble]

That is very kind of you - sadly I do not know how to publish a photo but I am very happy to tell you about it. It is a 1963 Sports racer, mid engined Lotus twin cam with 5 speed Hewland box. Looks very similar to a Lotus 23b and was a sparring partner in period. I have owned the car since 2004 and in that time come 4th in the Spa 6 Hour (with Brendan Roberts and James Shead as my co drivers) and competed in 2 British Grand Prix support races and 2 Goodwood Revivals. I now have a Turner 1650 which I plan to run in Guards Trophy so the Merlyn will start gathering dust. I have put it on racecarsdirect.com and will probably put an advert in Motorsport.
However tempting fae I am having one last go in it this Sunday at HSCC race as the co owner of the Turner has bagged it and I did not want to spectate!!

Edited by simon drabble, 25 March 2010 - 08:27.

[limjamrace]

[quote name='simon drabble' date='Mar 25 2010, 08:26' post='4236947']
That is very kind of you - sadly I do not know how to publish a photo but I am very happy to tell you about it. It is a 1963 Sports racer, mid engined Lotus twin cam with 5 speed Hewland box.



I was thinking of visiting Silverstone this Sunday and you mentioning this makes it a bit more likely!
I know someone who has been looking for a Costin-Nathan Gt with Imp power,but the cars are very rare !
He wants to do the HundredThousandSociety series due in 2011..ie engines on 1000cc..
Perhaps that you could sell it as a going concern less engine and transmission!
He has mentioned that he will be at the HTSS opener looking at the Imps!
I'll email him to see if he is interested.


By the way...Have you read the book...An Adventurous Life by Roger Nathan & Stephane Gutzwiller!
Obtainable from me at £28.00inc postage.

[simon drabble]

I have indeed read it - Roger very kindly gave a copy to me - however given it was a very long luch at a Michelin starred restaurant and I was paying it might have been cheaper to have bought it!
There is no such thing as a free book!!!

[limjamrace]

I have indeed read it - Roger very kindly gave a copy to me - however given it was a very long luch at a Michelin starred restaurant and I was paying it might have been cheaper to have bought it!
There is no such thing as a free book!!!

I'll have to make a note of that...If i ever meet Roger Nathan for lunch...Make sure it is in Manchester where everwhere is closed except Morrisons!
Or better still take loads of banana sandwiches.

[simon drabble]

seriously he is one of lifes great characters and if i do half of what he has in my life I will consider it a full one...

[limjamrace]

seriously he is one of lifes great characters and if i do half of what he has in my life I will consider it a full one...

Been thinking along the same lines myself for a while now!!
If i hadn't ended up as a £6.10s a week office junior in 1967 and perservered with school work i would have had the edge on my Motor Vehicle employment competition ,and would have been a Motorsport race engineer..Oh yes!
Probably had dated either Judy or Sally Geeson and at weekends given our mate Roger a good seeing to in another sense at the circuit!!
All i can say is that i have had a mention in (one sentance)Autosport back in 1980 and footage on BBC grandstand Nov 1980 at Thruxton!!
Got married ,been divorced had a talented Kartist son who has given me a great decade of pride in his success..Now i'm a poor as a church mouse!

Oh well i ain't finished yet!!

Can you confirm we are talking about the HSCC Silverstone season kick off this weekend..
Are you there on Saturday or Sunday...I have made this mistake before...Wanting to see a Costin-Nathan GT some many years ago and turned up on the wrong day at Brands!
Wonders of wonders there maybe a C/N in your race!

May even bring a few RN books along to sell!

[Giraffe]

Can you confirm we are talking about the HSCC Silverstone season kick off this weekend..
Are you there on Saturday or Sunday...

It's Sunday only, mate. I hope to get down there.

[limjamrace]

It's Sunday only, mate. I hope to get down there.

Thanks for that i was just going on the HSCC site to see the entry list...Not that it ever seems to work for me!

Sunday ay...That the weather forecast at 7 degs and rain...Or am i being pesimestic
Still cannot be as bad as my last spectate at Ty-Croes!

[simon drabble]

to be honest if the weather is too awful I might park the Merlyn up in the garage ... it seems rather foolish to take a car you are trying to sell out in a wet race!

[Giraffe]

to be honest if the weather is too awful I might park the Merlyn up in the garage ... it seems rather foolish to take a car you are trying to sell out in a wet race!

Sunday, 11C, sunny intervals.

[limjamrace]

Sunday, 11C, sunny intervals.

Yep ..I've just rechecked and all seems fine!

Sorry for being so Doom & Gloom!

[simon drabble]

that is very bad news - I will not wont to sell the car after racing it again....

[limjamrace]

that is very bad news - I will not wont to sell the car after racing it again....

Gaw'd Make your mind up Chief!

I've booked a continuous stream of viewers with appointments every 30 mins..Even Richard Branson is turning up...Not sure about Rosie Webster though!

[limjamrace]

Well i've just got back home from Silverstone and i was so busy catching up with my competition Hillman Imp friends in the paddock i didn't see the Guards trophy race!
Had a little wander looking for a Merlyn but no luck there. Did look at a few Sports GT racers though and it was helpful in my research.
There was a rumour of a BMW engined Costin-Nathan Spyder in attendance. If there was one in the competition and i missed it then it will be a tradegy for me.
All the same i had the experience of touching a Lotus 23 which had been fire marshalled and i helped push the car back to his paddock place!

For now i will have to be content in looking at pictures that are in the book ,Roger Nathan,"An Adventurous Life" which as you all know by now is obtainable from me at £28.00 inc postage uk

David L

Edited by limjamrace, 28 March 2010 - 18:38.

[Giraffe]

Well i've just got back home from Silverstone and i was so busy catching up with my competition Hillman Imp friends in the paddock i didn't see the Guards trophy race!
Had a little wander looking for a Merlyn but no luck there.

By giraffe138, shot with EX-M2 at 2010-03-28

Quick Simon, push it away! That Dave limjamrace is coming!

[limjamrace]

By giraffe138, shot with EX-M2 at 2010-03-28

Quick Simon, push it away! That Dave limjamrace is coming!

You rotters!

[simon drabble]

haha - good to see you again Giraffe... we were lucky it was a cold but dry day. I got a class win in the Merlyn and my mate's 17 yr old son stalled the Turner so started last in the HRS race and finished 8th overall and class winner so good day for all.

[limjamrace]

So are you having second thoughts about selling the Merlyn now?
It looks divine. Looks different from the photos on racecarsdirect!


Pleased for you by the way!

Was the 17 year old young chappie a previous Karting competitor by any chance?

On a different matter i met a known by me previously Hillman Imp enthusiast who owns a Fraser Sports GT( like a Costin-Nathan or Emery) car ..It's called a K9!
No doubt there is some information about it on the young talented Dutch birds website Imps4ever, but i'm just curious if anyone else can add to it as you lot have a lot in common with Historic Sports racers, and i'm a novice student!


Yours the guy who is flogging Roger Nathan's book!

[Giraffe]

There was a rumour of a BMW engined Costin-Nathan Spyder in attendance.

The HSCC News says that Historic Formula Junior racers father & son Mark & Jack Woodhouse are going to race their Costin-Nathan, chassis number one that was used as a demonstrator before being shipped to Japan. & life in a museum before it's return to the UK as part of a private collection.

[limjamrace]

The HSCC News says that Historic Formula Junior racers father & son Mark & Jack Woodhouse are going to race their Costin-Nathan, chassis number one that was used as a demonstrator before being shipped to Japan. & life in a museum before it's return to the UK as part of a private collection.

Thats marvellous news!!

Although that means that i will probably have to spectate at every round of the HSCC in case i miss it.
The entry lists are not that accurate come race day(?)! Didn't see Simon on the web!

Thanks very much for that information!

[Tim Murray]

On a different matter i met a known by me previously Hillman Imp enthusiast who owns a Fraser Sports GT( like a Costin-Nathan or Emery) car ..It's called a K9!
No doubt there is some information about it on the young talented Dutch birds website Imps4ever, but i'm just curious if anyone else can add to it as you lot have a lot in common with Historic Sports racers, and i'm a novice student!

David, have you come across this excellent site featuring the works of Tom Killeen, including the Fraser GT?

http://tardis.dl.ac....ook/node14.html

[simon drabble]

The HSCC News says that Historic Formula Junior racers father & son Mark & Jack Woodhouse are going to race their Costin-Nathan, chassis number one that was used as a demonstrator before being shipped to Japan. & life in a museum before it's return to the UK as part of a private collection.

was this the twn cam engined car that was for sale for a long time with a dealer up north? Do we know what engine they will run it with - good to see it out again though....

[limjamrace]

David, have you come across this excellent site featuring the works of Tom Killeen, including the Fraser GT?

http://tardis.dl.ac....ook/node14.html

I did actually ,but it always came up default/error and all the other mysteries of the internet..I tried your link and am pleased to log on thanks to you..
Yes it made good reading!
Think that the guy who owns the K9 or maybe the custodian of wrote the website!
He told me that he is stuck regarding the rear deDion suspension . I told him Joe Tavani's modern day Costin sportscar ulterlises the same and may be a link for him!
Interesting post this morning regarding Klaus Tweddle on the Costinindex forum in that he has achive footage of the Emery GT (look like a Ford engine) racing at the Ring..Log on to the site and he has the You-Tube link on his post...Beware of the mass application of Brylcream on footage(?)!

[Barry Boor]

A part of Roger's life that was far too recent to be included in the book is both funny and sad at the same time. I'm sure he won't mind if I recount the story here.

When I first met Roger he was operating a 4 x 4 sales establishment on the old A.5 road near Gaerwen on Anglesey. Then, they built the A.55 road across the island, which by-passed his premises; so he moved.

He went over to the mainland and sold basically the same thing in the village of Pen-y-Groes, (where the current Mrs. Boor was born, incidentally) but then they built the by-pass and took away all passing trade; so he moved.

His next operation was on the old A.55 road near Old Colwyn, but the new dual carraigeway A.55 had already been built and again, passing trade was minimal; so he moved.

He started up in the village of Glan Conwy, on the A.470 south of Llandudno, but there really isn't a great deal of passing business there either; so he moved....

to Africa!

[limjamrace]

[quote name='Barry Boor' date='Mar 31 2010, 21:49' post='4258127']
A part of Roger's life that was far too recent to be included in the book is both funny and sad at the same time. I'm sure he won't mind if I recount the story here.

Maybe he should have set up business near an Essex school run!!

I remember that you said you did the proof on the book and in the acknowledgements spelt your name wrong Mr Bloor!
Also there is another common error in that the standard capacity of an Imp is 875cc not 850 ...A lot of people in the Imp world get the hump about that(?),as along with the "put a bag of cement in the front boot and it will handle better " !
If there was ever a Family Fortunes category on Hillman Imps...The top 10 answer would be..."I used to have an Imp...Always blowing a head gasket"!

Anyhow for people who have the book...An Adventurous Life !!! Your occupation is really interesting...Have you a book published about it?

Had a nice letter from Peter Macdonald this morning..He ran a C/N in the 1980's...Has anyone any achive photos or info of his what seems success. Hopefully he will be writing to us ,but has no pictures. He has purchased a copy of the book to jog his memory of his own exploits.
Sounds like something tolook forward too!

[limjamrace]

Thought i would keep the thread going by saying i still have copies left of the book...An Adventurous Life by Roger Nathan & Stephane Gutzwiller. The Costin-Nathan Story.
Price £28.00 inc postage in UK . Pay-pal payment taken from overseas sales!

[Giraffe]

I spotted this in a trailer at Silverstone today......

By giraffe138, shot with EX-M2 at 2010-04-24

By giraffe138, shot with EX-M2 at 2010-04-24
No clues and nobody around to ask for info about it......

[limjamrace]

Must be the one that has returned from Japan...Think that somewhere else there is a photo of it in the Museum!
Think that if it were mine i would be telling the world about it.
Well done for spotting it. Brave of you to venture inside the canopy of the trailer. Just imagine if they turned up ...What the **^^")) are you doing chum!

Reckon the next HSCC round at Silverstone in May will see it in action.

[Giraffe]

Brave of you to venture inside the canopy of the trailer.

By giraffe138, shot with EX-M2 at 2010-04-24
There was a side door in the canopy and I just stuck my arm through the cut-out hole in the car's window!

[Barry Boor]

Giraffe's two images are on their way to Africa even as I type this post.

Hope you don't mind, Tony, I'm sure R.N. will like to see them; and I told him a Giraffe shot them. Very appropriate for Africa, ain't it?

[Giraffe]

Giraffe's two images are on their way to Africa even as I type this post.

Hope you don't mind, Tony, I'm sure R.N. will like to see them; and I told him a Giraffe shot them. Very appropriate for Africa, ain't it?

A pleasure, Barry!

[limjamrace]

By giraffe138, shot with EX-M2 at 2010-04-24
There was a side door in the canopy and I just stuck my arm through the cut-out hole in the car's window!

Well from what i can make out this car may ...just may be at Silverstone entered in the Guards race...Saturday 15 th May!
There is no entry list published to confirm yet ,but i will be making moments to spectate anyway!

Providing i can sell a couple more copies of the book an Adventurous life ,which can be brought along to purchase at ex works price of £26.00 if anyone wants!
Otherwise i can still send copies through the post for £28.00 inc postage UK.
Payment can be made from overseas via my pay-pal account...ie example £34.00 to Canada/USA/New Zealand inc pay-pal fee.
Thanks to be mentioned to the Barrow on Soar village post office for getting a copy to Miami in 5 days...Volcanic ash or not!!

Thanks also to the interesting people i have communicated with so far over this saga.It has been a pleasure!

David L

[chris sharples]

Guards Trophy at the International Trophy meeting on Silverstone GP circuit May 15.

Provisonal entry list has car no.40, Mark Woodhouse in a Costin Nathan.

Chris Sharples

[limjamrace]

Well thanks for that Chris!

Are you a competitor also,as i could not see any entry list on the HSCC site.

[Giraffe]

Well thanks for that Chris!

Are you a competitor also,as i could not see any entry list on the HSCC site.

Chris is the Chairman of the HSCC and is currently racing a Palliser WDF1 in the Historic Formula Ford Championship.