14 replies to this topic

[JohnPearson]

I used to mechanic for Darlington driver John Simpson who raced the most successful Nike ever !
These were great looking cars, as built, but needed development as works driver, Doug Basset, threw in the towel.
We were left to our own devices as Ken Nichols was overstretched.
Can anyone post any photos as all I can find on the worldwideinterweb are of Paul Gardner at Longridge in our old car and a very heavily modded French exanple.
Simon Davey had one and there was a quick one that raced at Brands. Also I think Anthony Reid bought our car, he certainly came to look at it.
Many thanks, John Pearson.

[hansfohr]

Hallo John,

This is John Simpson's FF Nike MK10, pictured on Croft's mainstraight, 1975.


EDIT: last april Raoul Scultore ran a Nike MK10 at Paul Ricard in a historique FF event.

The F3 Nike MK11 was apparently only used in hillclimbs and sprints, all I found is a drawing of the Mark Erwood/Ken Nicholls penned car.


I was surprised to learn that Nike even built a F5000 chassis, the MK5. Reg Gubbings entered the car for selected rounds of the 1970 Guards F5000 championship. He once made it to the start at Brands (3. May) but retired before it had completed one lap.

Edited by hansfohr, 20 May 2010 - 07:13.

[JohnPearson]

Hallo John,

This is John Simpson's FF Nike MK10, pictured on Croft's mainstraight, 1975.


EDIT: last april Raoul Scultore ran a Nike MK10 at Paul Ricard in a historique FF event.
, ,
The F3 Nike MK11 was apparently only used in hillclimbs and sprints, all I found is a drawing of the Mark Erwood/Ken Nicholls penned car.


I was surprised to learn that Nike even built a F5000 chassis, the MK5. Reg Gubbings entered the car for selected rounds of the 1970 Guards F5000 championship. He once made it to the start at Brands (3. May) but retired before it had completed one lap.

Hi, Hans,
Thanks for the info, John's car was realy quite good looking. We built it up from a kit supplied by Ken Nichols and the colour photo shows it as new, in 1973 not 1975.
If you Google "nike formula ford" - images, and are very patient there are loads of photos of the French car, at Pau, Nogaro, Charade and maybe Paul Ricard.
This car is very heavily modified, with a front radiator etc.
I remember seeing the sketch of the F3 all those years ago. Also there are some pics from Longridge of John Simpson's car after he sold it.
You must now be aware there is very little published about Ken and his cars, what a pity.
Thanks again and bye-for-now.

[Gary C]

I own and race a mk 4/6.

[JohnPearson]

Hi, Hans,
Thanks for the info, John's car was realy quite good looking. We built it up from a kit supplied by Ken Nichols and the colour photo shows it as new, in 1973 not 1975.
If you Google "nike formula ford" - images, and are very patient there are loads of photos of the French car, at Pau, Nogaro, Charade and maybe Paul Ricard.
This car is very heavily modified, with a front radiator etc.
I remember seeing the sketch of the F3 all those years ago. Also there are some pics from Longridge of John Simpson's car after he sold it.
You must now be aware there is very little published about Ken and his cars, what a pity.
Thanks again and bye-for-now.

Hi, Gary C,
I have read about your restoration and seen the photos of your car many times on the net, do you still race ?
I remember seeing it at Race Retro, I think, 2004.

[Gary C]

hi John, yes, I still have the car, but haven't raced it since 2008 - it's the money, y'know!




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[neotrack]

Sorry to pop-up again a topic of 2010, but I was wondering to found a topic discussing about Nike cars. :-)

 

I own the car driven by Doug Basset that won at Mallory Park in 1972.

 

It's a Mk6 of 1970 with a well documented history. The car is still runing today and will be visible during next SpeedThrophy in Mettet (BE) on April 26-27 / 2014

 

Last time it showed up was at Silverstone in 2001 and the car was driven by Peter Clanford (GB)

[Gary C]

Indeed, there's a photo (and a little bit of a race report) on my old website at  http://www.users.glo...nikes/index.htm

[neotrack]

Indeed, there's a photo (and a little bit of a race report) on my old website at  http://www.users.glo...nikes/index.htm

 

Hi Gary, indeed I already googled your website, as there is not extended information regarding the Nike cars on the web and like you, I'm also searching for additional information.

So, if you have some information to share, it is hardly welcome

[CAROLE1]

Sorry to pop-up again a topic of 2010, but I was wondering to found a topic discussing about Nike cars. :-)

 

I own the car driven by Doug Basset that won at Mallory Park in 1972.

 

It's a Mk6 of 1970 with a well documented history. The car is still runing today and will be visible during next SpeedThrophy in Mettet (BE) on April 26-27 / 2014

 

Last time it showed up was at Silverstone in 2001 and the car was driven by Peter Clanford (GB)

I have uncovered all (or most) of customers for your car- I know we have communicated on Nike FF Thread but thought I would post here as it may provoke more info on Mark 10 as Doug raced Mark 6 (1970) & then Mark 10 which was the car which took the lap record at Mallory in 1972. I can send you photos direct but not sure how to upload them here..

Time line is: Doug Basset raced as works car then had Mark 10 but gave up after an accident-  Mark 6 rebuilt for Brian Knight 74, Jim Bennett racing (hillclimbs) from 77 with Rover V8 fitted then I have gap-  (pos still owned by JB still in contact so can check info) but then Peter Clanford raced from circa 1996 (Jim had traded up to a Mark 10 then). Hope that helps- I have pics of Jim racing your car..

Back to Mark 10/11 any info out there would be gratefully recieved circa 16 Mark 10 & 2x Mark 11 (F3) to establish details on for completion of Dad's Nike register following his death- I have some details on 10s but none on 11 if anyone can help?

Regards

[Egeferguson]

Hello subscribers. For some time I have been trying to find out what happened to my formula ford Nike mark 10. I raced it in 1974/5 and sold it when I became too busy to continue racing. It was yellow in colour and I did a few mods to things like the nose and side pods. The wedge shaped nose was shortened in an attempt to reduce downforce which couldn't be balanced with a rear wing. I raced on circuits in the north of England mainly Aintree. I never won but was moving towards the front of the grid and got a fastest lap. With so little experience, I should have bought a more developed car but I thought the Nike was nicely designed and built and I was wary of buying someone else's problems. I would be really pleased to find more about the fate of my car. I cannot remember the name of the purchaser and my records of the deal are long gone! Since only a very few mark 10s were built may be someone will be able to suggest a line of enquiry. Ege Ferguson.

[Gary C]

Ege, any idea of your chassis number?

[Egeferguson]

No , i'm afraid I don't know. I think it may have been the fifth Ken Nichols built. I remember talking to John Simpson about the car. He gave me some hints about set up and had made a shortened nose for his car. I seem to remember that ours were the only ones about! I did have a shunt at Aintree and had to buy a new chassis. I ordered a spare chassis from Ken but it was never delivered andI had no need for it, once I had sold the car. Ken eventually reimbursed me for it. I have a few photos of the car, and would be happy to post them when I can get one of my sons to show me how it is done!!.

[CAROLE1]

Ege,

Great to hear from you- I'm Ken's daughter & am gathering info to produce a register of NIKE Cars (following Dad's death last November) which I want to get published in his memory..

Mark 10 cars I have found evidence of maybe as many as 16 (this includes the latterly built Hermes of which I must confirm with Tony Clarke who has been in contact- there were between 3-6 of these I think- Mark 10C with chassis built to his spec & raced with his own bodywork)

I'm interested to note you think you may have owned -5 did you buy in 73?

I've got 28 potential owners of Mark 10A/B models with some cars with more complete histories than others- these compiled from Dad's notes & also with info supplied by Peter Stowe (archivist @ Castle Combe)- some guess work has attributed various cars to various owners but these names may ring bells with you: Paul Gardiner racing in 1970's mentioned on this forum somewhere could he have bought from you- Preston based? Also Vince Horseley racing @ CC 1985, Steve Coen @ CC 1981 (Both Swindon based), Andrew Gurnham (Solihull) @ CC in 1982 or later names John Leacher (Plymouth) & Simon Davey (Cambs) noted on file as owning 2000..

If you can post photos that would be fab- I have found 2 of you in Dad's archive- sitting in car- not racing..

Hope these may jog your memory? Probably need to contact Northern circuits to see if they have archived programmes which may help to link people with cars!

Obviously know of John Simpson & Doug Bassett & as far as I'm aware Classic Racing are still competing in the original prototype model

Hope we may be able to help each other with info

Regards

[JohnPearson]

CAROLE1 I have some photos of the prototype Nike Mark 10 and also John Simpson's car. Knowing that you are trying to complete a Nike register I wondered if you would be interested, I can't guarantee how long I might take to sort them out!!