20 replies to this topic

[platesboy]

During a routine trawl for links back to my site, I came a cross my name (also that of my father) in a thread on the autosport forum. The post was from Simon Arron and mentioned "...the same allure as Roy Yates's Zodiac v Andrew Talbot's Triumph Herald v Robin Farquhar's Paradise Garage of Knutsford Mini v Tony Sugden's Brook Hire Ford Escort..."

I spent a lot of time at Oulton Park growing up (and I suspect elsewhere), but sadly have no pictures of my father racing (such is the lot of many separated families) so I was wondering if anyone out there had my dad on celluloid. I remember the mini in orange with white arches, but also in black(?) with multi-colour stripes which matched a Clubman version that a friend of his raced. Having had a look through the Nostalgia Forum the name Derek Walker also rings a bell (did he drive a bright yellow Skoda that lapped everyone else?). The timing would be throughout the 70s, probably not into the 80s.

Any images would be gratefully received - I'd love to show them to my daughter to explain why her dad is such a car nut.

Many thanks,
Robin

[Phil Rainford]

I spent many hours along with Mr Arron watching your father race in Special Saloons at Oulton.

However unlike Mr Arron who emigrated South I still live in the North West

When the M6 is busy ( when is it ever not ) I drive home via Knutsford passing Paradise Garage on my way.

It still looks as it did in the 1970s.

Probably stating the obvious ............but does the garage not own any pictures of your father racing?

PAR

[platesboy]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the response - I've not seen Paradise Garage for a little while as I'm afraid I too now live in The South, but no, unfortunately they don't have any pictures - the garage changed owners 20-odd years ago when my father left so if there were any then, they've long since been "archived".

I have a really vague recollection (I was only in single figures at the time) of a photographer chap that was around these meetings - I'm not sure whether he was there to photograph my father specifically or the races in general, but he seemed to be a friend. The name Barry comes to mind and I'm pretty sure he was bearded (that'll narrow it down in the 70s!)

Thanks again,

R

[Alan Cox]

It migt be worth trying Peter McFadyen, who covered Oulton for Autosport in the 1970s. He is a TNF member but hasn't posted for a while. He does have an excellent website. http://www.petermcfa...ulton-1970s-35/

You could also try Paul Boothroyd, who was also an Autosport reporter and photographer. http://www.autosport...p;lngIcatid=129

[Giraffe]

Robin, as a marshal I saw your father race at Oulton on many occasions in the late sixties in his green 1293 Morris Cooper and even remember him entering a red 998 Austin Cooper for a chap named Sutherland. I remember him in a white Mini in the early 1970s, and later a red & black version.
On another project I am currently trawling through the photo-collection of the late Frank Hall who will inevitably have captured you dad on film as they were both Oulton ever-presents in period, & I shall keep an eye out & let you know if I come up with anything.

[platesboy]

Thanks Alan, I've dropped them both a line.

Fingers crossed.

[platesboy]

Hi Giraffe (tall then?)

That's super - it's great to hear from people who actually saw him on the move. Those early liveries predate me (1972) so it would be fantastic if any of them came up in your search.

Many thanks,

Robin

[elansprint72]

I think Giraffe was probably taller in the 70s than he is now.

I remember your Dad with the red/black Mini, I also remember lots of laughter from that part of the paddock whenever I dropped in.

Looks like I need to get the scanner out again and see if I have anything.

[platesboy]

Thanks Pete - that'd be super. There are one or two pictures on your site already that might have caught him - not sure.

Also, in the Life on Mars section, where is (or more likely was) that awesome curved facade brutalist housing block? Would be a good subject for our next set of drawings (that's what I do now since I failed in my childhood dream to be a F1/Touring Cars/Rally champion).

Thanks lots,

Robin

[elansprint72]

Thanks Pete - that'd be super. There are one or two pictures on your site already that might have caught him - not sure.

Also, in the Life on Mars section, where is (or more likely was) that awesome curved facade brutalist housing block? Would be a good subject for our next set of drawings (that's what I do now since I failed in my childhood dream to be a F1/Touring Cars/Rally champion).

Thanks lots,

Robin

Robin,
The block was John Nash Crescent (can you believe that they dared to name it after one of our finest architects!!!?), it and others stood in Hulme, Manchester until common sense returned. I started my Life on Mars series when the BBC asked me to source some cars for the second TV series and I realised that I had photographed the areas in period for the local rag. It is still work in progress but has been overtaken by Life on Mars 2010 as I try to shoot what is left before it is all swept away!

I've got zillions of Oulton negatives; this could take some time.

[platesboy]

Robin,
The block was John Nash Crescent (can you believe that they dared to name it after one of our finest architects!!!?), it and others stood in Hulme, Manchester until common sense returned.

Of course, they that towered over the Russell Club. Thanks. R

[platesboy]

Quick Update - my mum has trawled the memory banks and come up with the name Eric Yuill as a photographer that was around at the time.

[MCS]

Quick Update - my mum has trawled the memory banks and come up with the name Eric Yuill as a photographer that was around at the time.

Yes, Eric did the pictures for Motoring News for a number of years - I've never been sure what became of him. A nice chap and a good photographer, I have a feeling he was based south Manchester way somewhere - Didsbury perhaps?

[platesboy]

update 2 - one photo has been unearthed by my younger brother - a super shot of the car in red (not orange) with white arches. Apparently from Aintree in 76 - the stamp on the back says.... Frank Hall. So hopefully Giraffe might be able to find some more in Frank's archive. Would love to post the one we've found but not sure about the copyright issue since Frank is no longer around.

Also, Peter McFadyen is very kindly searching his archive (with very little information to go on regarding meetings, car numbers that kind of thing).

Much obliged to you all - fingers crossed.

[elansprint72]

Yes, Eric did the pictures for Motoring News for a number of years - I've never been sure what became of him. A nice chap and a good photographer, I have a feeling he was based south Manchester way somewhere - Didsbury perhaps?

I was a very good friend of Eric, usually we travelled to Oulton together. He lived on Kingsway, in Didsbury, about six houses down from The Gateway pub. Unfortunately we have lost touch since I "moved South". In addition to Motoring News, he also provided photos for the Manchester Evening News.

Edited by elansprint72, 07 November 2013 - 22:58.

[mikewaring]

Hi There Robin,

My names Mike Waring. I used to race with your dad in the early 70s', mainly Oulton Park which was our local circuit. He had the service station on the A6 in Irlams o'the Heights and raced as R&R Developments. Brian Taylor was his mechanic in those days and he was the one who did most of the initial work on my car.
I lost contact with Robin when he moved from the garage in Knutsford. I heard from a friend that he had moved to Haverfordwest.
I have, somewhere, a couple of photographs, which I will endeavour to dig out and post.
It would be nice to know how your dad is after all these years.
Don't know if you're interested, but I posted some of my pictures on YouTube.

regards

Mike Waring

[platesboy]

Hi Mike,

Great to hear from you - I had a look at your youtube montage and I think you may have my dad in amongst them. Anything you could dig out would be really gratefully received, thanks.

Also, my brother has been researching and has found a photographer's archive that might yield some images, but they need race details, results, car numbers and so on to search with, so any information you might have like that would be really useful too.

I'm afraid I can't be much help in updating you on his being as I lost contact with him not long after you did - I believe Haverfordwest is the right neck of the woods, but beyond that I don't know much...

Many thanks for posting.

R

[john winfield]

Robin,
I was reading your thread and found a photo of your Dad's Mini on Mike Hayward's site; perhaps you have it already.

http://www.mikehaywa...in-farquhar.htm

John

[platesboy]

Hi John,

I'd actually seen that picture before but without the caption and had wondered if it was my father in the background, now I know it is. Thanks very much indeed - we've managed to unearth about half a dozen images so far which is great.

Thanks again,
R

[M1kewaring]

Hi Robin, I have found two pictures of your dads car but for whatever reason, Autosport forums doesn't seem to allow pictures to be posted. If you would like me to send them, I could email or Facebook. I'm Mike Waring on Facebook, my picture is me with a black beret on.   Cheers Mike Waring

[Tim Murray]

Mike, the photos need to be uploaded to a website, yours if you have one or one of the image-hosting sites - Postimage is very straightforward to use. Alternatively I’d be happy to post them for you. If interested, let me know and I’ll PM you an email address.