24 replies to this topic

[Repco22]

The late Ray Barfield's ownership of the Aston Martin DB3S has been written about but here's a little more; Ray had initially bought a TR3 for his son who was tragically killed in a tractor roll-over. Left with the sportscar, Ray later decided to give it a run or two at Caversham. He must have enjoyed the experience because, around 1959-60, he bought the Aston from a disillusioned Stan Jones.


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David McKay at Bathurst in 1958 before selling the car to Stan Jones. Pic by David Van Dal.


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Ray Barfield lines up with Lionel Beattie, Repco-Holden and Derek Jolly, Lotus 15, for the WA State Championship, 1960. Pic David Van Dal.

The lovely car got a bit shabby during Ray's ownership and there were reports of it sharing a farm shed with free-range chickens and rats. As mentioned in the 'Ascari Ferrari 500/625' thread, Bob Weaver was very attracted to the DB3S, often drooling over it in the Caversham pits. On one memorable occasion he watched as Mrs Barfield went about the business of changing the plugs. As she removed them one by one, Bob noted with great interest, sand, chicken and rat droppings falling into the cylinders. "An experience not to be missed!" he thought and hurriedly positioned his bare legs by the side exhausts. As Ray climbed behind the wheel he could be forgiven for thinking; "Why is this young bloke crowding me and why the stupid grin?" With a press of the starter button and a roar, assorted cr*p passed through the mighty thoroughbred motor, peppering the legs of a very happy bloke!


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Edited by Repco22, 07 February 2012 - 06:23.

[Barry Boor]

One is forced to inquire, why would anyone WANT to have his legs peppered by assorted farmyard c**p?

[ken devine]

Thanks for starting this thread Rod the Aston was one of my favorite cars. The photo shows it after winning the 1961 6hr.









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[Repco22]

One is forced to inquire, why would anyone WANT to have his legs peppered by assorted farmyard c**p?

You're obviously not a REAL enthusiast Barry! Call it Aston Masochism.

[Ray Bell]

Barry, you must understand something about this car...

The mechanicals spent over 30 years immersed in a 44-gallon drum of diesel fuel.

[D-Type]

I vaguely remember reading about David McKay setting an Australian land speed record in an Aston Martin. Was it this one?

Ray, what's the story behind putting the oily bits in a drum of diesel for 30 years?

[Repco22]

I vaguely remember reading about David McKay setting an Australian land speed record in an Aston Martin. Was it this one?

Ray, what's the story behind putting the oily bits in a drum of diesel for 30 years?

No Duncan, the record was set with David's earlier DB3S which he had campaigned in Europe with the Kangaroo Team. He fitted an aircraft-style canopy over the cockpit.

[Dutchy]

I vaguely remember reading about David McKay setting an Australian land speed record in an Aston Martin. Was it this one?

Ray, what's the story behind putting the oily bits in a drum of diesel for 30 years?

No it wasn't that particular Aston DB3S

The McKay car was one of the Kangaroo Stable cars and was an earlier "production " DB3S, chassis DB3S/102. I believe is the car now owned by Hubert Fabri.

[Ray Bell]

When Ray Barfield crashed the Aston (there's a photo at Terry's place, is there not?) he dismantled it...

Then he became somewhat disturbed at the amount of chicken and rat excrement covering the finer corners of the engine, gearbox and so on. To protect it from further deterioration, he put it into the drum and filled it with diesel.

It was all still there when David (once again) approached him with a view to repurchasing the car during my trip to Perth in 1979. But I have to admit, I never saw it.

[bradbury west]

Is that the CeeEssEss between the DB3S and the 15?
Roger Lund

[Ray Bell]

The red car behind them is the Clem Dwyer Plymouth Special... I trust that's the car you mean?

This was in its Syd Negus days. Before he became a Senator, of course.

[ken devine]

What a difference a year makes the 1962 6hr









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[Repco22]

The red car behind them is the Clem Dwyer Plymouth Special... I trust that's the car you mean?

This was in its Syd Negus days. Before he became a Senator, of course.

Note the broad 'kidney belt' that Negus always wore. The blue car to the left of the Plymouth is the HRG which I think Thompson and Gillespie ran--and rolled-- in the '53 AGP at Albert Park. Kevin Lang is driving it here and maybe still owns it. He replaced the motor with a Peugeot unit. The DB3S conceals the late Bob Annear in his Lister-inspired, supercharged Holden Sports.

Edited by Repco22, 08 February 2012 - 05:52.

[ken devine]

Kevin Lang still owns the HRG.

[bradbury west]

The red car behind them is the Clem Dwyer Plymouth Special... I trust that's the car you mean?
This was in its Syd Negus days. Before he became a Senator, of course.

Many thanks, Ray, it saves me having to trawl through lots of archive shots, as I had several options which came to mind. As you know, there are lots of us over here who love the old shots from down your way
Roger

Edited by bradbury west, 08 February 2012 - 08:01.

[Repco22]

As mentioned in the 'Ascari Ferrari 500/625' thread, Bob Weaver would have preferred a sports car and specifically the DB3S. Ray Barfield had grown tired of would-be Aston Martin owners venturing up to his hills property and pestering him. There were tales of Ray being less than welcoming. There was talk of a shotgun being brandished. Whether it called for courage or stupidity, Bob and a pal decided to 'bite the bullet' so to speak and pay Ray a visit. They tapped gingerly on the flyscreen door and stepped back. To their amazement and relief they had picked the lucky day. Ray was not only affable but actually agreed to sell Bob the car. Three thousand, five hundred pounds was a lot more than the thousand for the Ferrari so the offer was declined. And Ray's mood reverted to 'not for sale' for many years.

This pic from a Caversham footbridge shows Ray in the Aston and Doug Green in his Cooper JAP 1100 not long before Doug bought the Ferrari.


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Pic R Waller

[Repco22]

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Pic by D Waller.

This must have been c1963. Ray had forsaken his 'Lambretta helmet' for a jet-style one. #6 is Vin Smith in the Cooper Brothers' Renault special, posing as a Rob Walker entry, Repco 22 in Repco 22!, Harold Davies from South Africa in the smokey Cooper JAP 500, believed to have been bought from the factory by Bob Gerard [as a Cooper-Norton], Dave Sullivan, Sharknose Ferr... sorry, make that Holden special with body by Cliff Byfield. Mike O'Rourke's 100S Healey, resplendent in undercoat, at the rear. I only came up against Ray a couple of times, the last being at a hillclimb at Lesmurdie. He beat me by point something of a second, as I recall, on the first run. When I asked if he was going again he replied, "Only if you beat my time." So he was obviously winding down by then.
Years later he was out in rough seas near Coral Bay, fishing with a group. A boy fell from the boat and was caught up in the anchor rope. Ray bravely dived in to save him but sadly, both were drowned.

Edited by Repco22, 09 February 2012 - 07:00.

[Barry Boor]

What a wonderful motley collection of machinery. Lovely photo, Eod. How did you fare in this race?

[Repco22]

What a wonderful motley collection of machinery. Lovely photo, Eod. How did you fare in this race?

Thanks Barry! Next question? Well, head on the block; I was 21, greener than the car and I blew it. The clutch to be precise. First race in a car that was beyond my experience.

[Wilyman]

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Pic by D Waller.

This must have been c1963. Ray had forsaken his 'Lambretta helmet' for a jet-style one. #6 is Vin Smith in the Cooper Brothers' Renault special, posing as a Rob Walker entry, Repco 22 in Repco 22!, Harold Davies from South Africa in the smokey Cooper JAP 500, believed to have been bought from the factory by Bob Gerard [as a Cooper-Norton], Dave Sullivan, Sharknose Ferr... sorry, make that Holden special with body by Cliff Byfield. Mike O'Rourke's 100S Healey, resplendent in undercoat, at the rear. I only came up against Ray a couple of times, the last being at a hillclimb at Lesmurdie. He beat me by point something of a second, as I recall, on the first run. When I asked if he was going again he replied, "Only if you beat my time." So he was obviously winding down by then.
Years later he was out in rough seas near Coral Bay, fishing with a group. A boy fell from the boat and was caught up in the anchor rope. Ray bravely dived in to save him but sadly, both were drowned.

Rod,
A great and clear picture. Allow me to tidy up the Cooper 500 detail. It was brought to Australia from Northern Rhodesia by Howard Davies. The car had a choice of JAP and Norton Manx engines. Howard told me that he raced it in Rhodesia on oiled dirt circuits.
The Norton engine had a sheared cam bevel gear. Ralph King an apprentice fitter in Kalgoorlie remade the pinion for Howie.
The Cooper was running the JAP engine emitting the smoke. I was helping on the day and during practice I was going to change the plug but Howard said no, leave it. As a result a holed piston the cause of the smoke!
After Howard passed away the car changed hands eventually going to Don Hall. Then sold on to the Easten States.
Don researched the cars history and as Rod posted it originally belonged to Bob Gerard.

PS. The silly thoughts we have. I've often wondered what became of Howie's Herbie Johnson helmet and visor ? A hanging flower pot maybe?

[Repco22]

Rod,
A great and clear picture. Allow me to tidy up the Cooper 500 detail. It was brought to Australia from Northern Rhodesia by Howard Davies. The car had a choice of JAP and Norton Manx engines. Howard told me that he raced it in Rhodesia on oiled dirt circuits.
The Norton engine had a sheared cam bevel gear. Ralph King an apprentice fitter in Kalgoorlie remade the pinion for Howie.
The Cooper was running the JAP engine emitting the smoke. I was helping on the day and during practice I was going to change the plug but Howard said no, leave it. As a result a holed piston the cause of the smoke!
After Howard passed away the car changed hands eventually going to Don Hall. Then sold on to the Easten States.
Don researched the cars history and as Rod posted it originally belonged to Bob Gerard.

PS. The silly thoughts we have. I've often wondered what became of Howie's Herbie Johnson helmet and visor ? A hanging flower pot maybe?

Not so silly John. Those old lids are worth big quids. Bill Downey donated his HJ to the WASCC. I believe they are not remotely interested in history. Probably have enough on their plate.

[Lee Nicolle]

Rod,
A great and clear picture. Allow me to tidy up the Cooper 500 detail. It was brought to Australia from Northern Rhodesia by Howard Davies. The car had a choice of JAP and Norton Manx engines. Howard told me that he raced it in Rhodesia on oiled dirt circuits.
The Norton engine had a sheared cam bevel gear. Ralph King an apprentice fitter in Kalgoorlie remade the pinion for Howie.
The Cooper was running the JAP engine emitting the smoke. I was helping on the day and during practice I was going to change the plug but Howard said no, leave it. As a result a holed piston the cause of the smoke!
After Howard passed away the car changed hands eventually going to Don Hall. Then sold on to the Easten States.
Don researched the cars history and as Rod posted it originally belonged to Bob Gerard.

PS. The silly thoughts we have. I've often wondered what became of Howie's Herbie Johnson helmet and visor ? A hanging flower pot maybe?

My first visual response to that pic was a giggle hat and short sleeves. On closer inspection it is a crash helmet,, sort of.
Interesting field of cars and an excellent photo.

[David Birchall]

I would like more details on the "Repco22". Possibly on it's own thread.

[David McKinney]

There's now a dedicated Byfield thread in the Historical Research sub-forum

[Repco22]

There's no a dedicated Byfield thread in the Historical Research sub-forum

Thanks for that David. And for helping me to expand my consciousness. Good housekeeping! I have a job on at the mo' but will make a start on Cliff Byfield's work in the next couple of days.

Edited by Repco22, 11 February 2012 - 12:19.