11 replies to this topic

[vintagetriumph]

I have assembled sufficient original parts to assemble a replica of Vic Horsman's Triumph Super Seven racing car, which he campaigned successfully in the early 30's - notably at Brooklands. Vic was apparently an even more successful motorcycle racer in the late 1920's.
I have just two photographs of the car, both taken from the nearside, one of which was published in Langworth & Robson's History of Triumph Cars. I would be very grateful for any offside or frontal photographs of the car, and information as to its successes or failures, and what colour was it painted?

[Tim Murray]

I'm not sure this will be any help, but a Brooklands photo which includes Horsman was posted in this thread;

More Brooklands photos for identification

The photo itself is no longer there, but if you contact TNFer Dolomite, who posted it, he could probably either repost it or send you a copy.

Horsman also gets a mention here:

http://forums.autosp...w...t&p=2175944

[Vitesse2]

Horsman merits several mentions in Boddy's Brooklands tome. WB also says there were actually two cars, although the second was not successful. No mention of colour, although probably not blue - WB seems to have a soft spot for blue cars!

Best result seems to have been a first place in its first race: the 46th 75mph Handicap on April 1st 1929 when it won by half a mile according to The Times. Presumably Ebby promptly upped its handicap speed and on a quick scan through the only other decent finish I could find was second in the Somerset Junior Long Handicap on May 25th 1931.

[Steve O'Brien]

There was a motorcycle shop in Liverpool for many years called Victor Horsmans any connection.

[vintagetriumph]

There was a motorcycle shop in Liverpool for many years called Victor Horsmans any connection.

Yes, this was the same chap - and incidentally, many thanks to your TNFers who have already responded with good info/links!

[vintagetriumph]

Horsman merits several mentions in Boddy's Brooklands tome. WB also says there were actually two cars, although the second was not successful. No mention of colour, although probably not blue - WB seems to have a soft spot for blue cars!

Best result seems to have been a first place in its first race: the 46th 75mph Handicap on April 1st 1929 when it won by half a mile according to The Times. Presumably Ebby promptly upped its handicap speed and on a quick scan through the only other decent finish I could find was second in the Somerset Junior Long Handicap on May 25th 1931.

I believe there may have been only one car, originally 832cc and unsupercharged, latterly sleeved down to 750cc and blown by Cozette supercharger (but prone to ingesting blower blades......)

[Jagjon]

Yes, this was the same chap - and incidentally, many thanks to your TNFers who have already responded with good info/links!

Victor Horsman retired to live in North Wales, and I think he lived and died locally in Deganwy, near Llandudno.
Liverpool and the NWest had many motor cycle shops, often owned or started by ex racers.

[humphries]

As Richard says there were at least two Triumphs raced by V.E.Horsman. At the 1929 event mentioned by Richard the car was light blue with black wheels. At the 1931 event there was Triumph I which was black and Triumph II which was grey, according to the programmes.

John

[vintagetriumph]

As Richard says there were at least two Triumphs raced by V.E.Horsman. At the 1929 event mentioned by Richard the car was light blue with black wheels. At the 1931 event there was Triumph I which was black and Triumph II which was grey, according to the programmes.

John

Brilliant - that's the info I was seeking, exactly, thanks. I have a photo (presumably of Triumph II) which I guess shows the car as grey- bodied. My plan is to build the body pretty much as a replica but to fit a 1500cc ohv Triumph engine (from a 1936 Gloria Speed tourer), with matching 4-speed gearbox. There is just about room for this in the chassis, with a shortened propshaft. The early original 832cc engine was fairly pedestrian and the 750cc sleeved-down engine when supercharged was apparently unreliable. Anyway, I had the 1500cc engine 'spare' and had been looking for something to do with it! If the car is uncompetitive with this engine, I may add a blower..........but then I would need to replace the back axle with one from a Triumph Dolomite (higher gearing, fewer broken halfshafts) - which would then look 'odd', so a Gloria front axle would balance it up - and then........the possibilities are endless.

[Alan Cox]

There was a motorcycle shop in Liverpool for many years called Victor Horsmans any connection.

I went to school with a chap whose father was Ted Lambert, who was a former rally driver and, for many years, ran the car sales division of Victor Horsman Ltd, on Renshaw Street, Liverpool. Vic Horsman was influential in the early history of Liverpool Motor Club which might have folded during the First World War if it hadn't been for his intervention. He also developed Triumph's Model ST in 1927, and had strong associations with the Triumph marque, as already noted.

I also note that Victor Horsman Ltd has an entry on the BFI database as a producer of films, these being a variety of road safety films which were made by Ted Lambert during the 1950s.

[Southern Cross]

I have been researching Horsman and have published a series of articles in the Pre-1940 Triumph Owners Club newsletter on the topic. Horsman campaigned the Triumph Super Seven as both a single seater and as a sports car. In the latter guise, Triumph and Horsman fielded a team of two blue cars at the Ulster TT in both 1929 and 1930. There's a nice photo of Horseman in the 1929 event posted at http://www.triumph-b...ars_br.php?id=1. I have many other photos of both the single seater and the sports car version- i can't seem to figure out how to post them here.. Email me at dalew@sopris.net and i can send them direct..

Interestingly, i recently heard a good rumor that the remains of the single seater, repleat with a bronze head, still exist. The single seater was campaigned from 1929 to 1932.
It had a 750cc engine, so using a 1500 cc Gloria motor will be something else.. I own a Gloria Southern Cross with the 1.8 litre OHV engine, and it is a fine motor indeed.

Regards

Dale

[vintagetriumph]

I have been researching Horsman and have published a series of articles in the Pre-1940 Triumph Owners Club newsletter on the topic. Horsman campaigned the Triumph Super Seven as both a single seater and as a sports car. In the latter guise, Triumph and Horsman fielded a team of two blue cars at the Ulster TT in both 1929 and 1930. There's a nice photo of Horseman in the 1929 event posted at http://www.triumph-b...ars_br.php?id=1. I have many other photos of both the single seater and the sports car version- i can't seem to figure out how to post them here.. Email me at dalew@sopris.net and i can send them direct..

Interestingly, i recently heard a good rumor that the remains of the single seater, repleat with a bronze head, still exist. The single seater was campaigned from 1929 to 1932.
It had a 750cc engine, so using a 1500 cc Gloria motor will be something else.. I own a Gloria Southern Cross with the 1.8 litre OHV engine, and it is a fine motor indeed.

Regards

Dale

Hi Dale - obviously you have not figured out who 'vintagetriumph' is! - Although if I tell you that my son Matthew also sends his regards to you and your daughter, you will realise who this is. I will email you directly.