18 replies to this topic

[Pete Stowe]

Piers Courage’s first season was in 1962 with his 1-litre (994cc ?) BMC-engined Lotus 7, OO 9149.

In Adam Cooper’s excellent biography of Courage he notes that Piers recorded that he competed in 20 events that season, but as he was rarely mentioned in the motoring press, Cooper wasn’t able to produce a definitive list.

The known events were:
8 April Brands Hatch sprint (first event)
9 June Castle Combe
1 July Brands Hatch
7 July Goodwood
8 July Snetterton
22 July Brands Hatch
8 September Aintree (accident, and last event in that car).

That leaves 13 events which are still unknown.

Cooper’s book was published in 2003, so, nearly ten years on, does anyone have any programmes or results from 1962 that identify any of the other events he ran in?

Edited by Pete Stowe, 27 April 2012 - 11:33.

[Garsted]

Piers Courage’s first season was in 1962 with his 994cc BMC-engined Lotus 7, OO 9149.

In Adam Cooper’s excellent biography of Courage he notes that Piers recorded that he competed in 20 events that season, but as he was rarely mentioned in the motoring press, Cooper wasn’t able to produce a definitive list.

The known events were:
8 April Brands Hatch sprint (first event)
9 June Castle Combe
1 July Brands Hatch
7 July Goodwood
8 July Snetterton
22 July Brands Hatch
8 September Aintree (accident, and last event in that car).

That leaves 13 events which are still unknown.

Cooper’s book was published in 2003, so, nearly ten years on, does anyone have any programmes or results from 1962 that identify any of the other events he ran in?

I know there were events for 1000cc sports cars that year on
Easter Monday March 31st Brands Hatch
Sat August 16th Castle Combe, and
Sat Sept 1st Silverstone SUNBAC meeting

because the Lotus BMC 7 that I presently own took part in them. In the reports I have (all Autosport) there is no mention of Piers Courage unfortunately.
There were loads of club races back then, and some even managed to pay prize money!

Steve

[Mistron]

what configuration of BMC engine would give 994cc? I ask as I'm building a '60s clubmans car with an A Series, and planning to overbore the 948 engine out to take Cooper pistons which will give 998, as the 948 and the 998 Cooper share the same stroke.

I'm interested if there is another configuration which would be period correct for 1000cc racing

[Stephen W]

Autosport 06/07/62 Page 15 - Brands Hatch 01/07/62 Courage finishes 3rd in the race for Lotus 6 and Lotus 7 only

Autosport 13/07/62 Page 57 - Snetterton 08/07/62 Ht 2 Jack Fairman Trophy & Courage finishes third in class. There is also a photo of the start of the final with Courage prominantly featured.

Autosport 27/07/62 Pages 117 & 136 - Brands Hatch 22/07/62 in the report it says that after a "coming together" with R. Payne Courage continued half a lap in arrears.

In my limited collection of 1962 Autosports I couldn't find any other references to Piers Courage.

[David McKinney]

Autosport 06/07/62 Page 15 - Brands Hatch 01/07/62 Courage finishes 3rd in the race for Lotus 6 and Lotus 7 only

Autosport 13/07/62 Page 57 - Snetterton 08/07/62 Ht 2 Jack Fairman Trophy & Courage finishes third in class. There is also a photo of the start of the final with Courage prominantly featured.

Autosport 27/07/62 Pages 117 & 136 - Brands Hatch 22/07/62 in the report it says that after a "coming together" with R. Payne Courage continued half a lap in arrears.

In my limited collection of 1962 Autosports I couldn't find any other references to Piers Courage.

You seem to be telling Pete what he already knows, Steve

[Pete Stowe]

what configuration of BMC engine would give 994cc? I ask as I'm building a '60s clubmans car with an A Series, and planning to overbore the 948 engine out to take Cooper pistons which will give 998, as the 948 and the 998 Cooper share the same stroke.

I'm interested if there is another configuration which would be period correct for 1000cc racing

The 994 cc came from the Castle Combe 9-6-62 programme, which also listed 994cc for an Elva-BMC, and for the Sprites in the GT race and the A40s in the saloon race.

For the two other Combe race meetings that year most of the above appear as 948 or 997, although 978 and 994cc also crop up.

So perhaps more likely typos and transcription errors than a demon engine configuration

[Pete Stowe]

I know there were events for 1000cc sports cars that year on
Easter Monday March 31st Brands Hatch
Sat August 16th Castle Combe, and
Sat Sept 1st Silverstone SUNBAC meeting

because the Lotus BMC 7 that I presently own took part in them. In the reports I have (all Autosport) there is no mention of Piers Courage unfortunately.
There were loads of club races back then, and some even managed to pay prize money!

Steve

The Dursley Sprint at Castle Combe was on Saturday August 18th.

With 20 events between April and September Courage must have been running somewhere almost every weekend. Adam Cooper’s text implies that he’s trawled through the motorsport press, although he’s not specific, so I think old programmes will be the most likely source of any new information, but thanks (to Steve & Steve) for checking.

[bradbury west]

I always understood that 996 or 994cc was the normal maximum 60thou overbore to take it to the 1 litre maximum. Sharman is your man for that stuff ISTR. ISTR that the Jacobs MG Midgets had that size. Refs are still in boxes so cannot check track test from High Performance Cars booklet but it should be in Autosport so bore/stroke would be given, as with BMC eng FJ cars details in period.
Roger Lund

[Mistron]

I must have a look in 'Vizard' later as it has the various overbores on each size of A-series.
but the as the 998 Cooper wasn't out in '62, and the elf / hornet Mk2 998s didn't come out 'till later, maybe there wouldn't be 998 pistons available as early as '62.

sorry for the OT excursion.

[Tim Murray]

According to my calculator a 60 thou rebore on the 948 cc engine (bore 2.477" or 62.92 mm) gives 994 (and a bit) cc.

[RAP]

I can add the following

May 5 Silverstone AMOC
May 6 Brands BRSCC - 12th
May 19 Aintree ACC
May 26 Snetterton Jag DC - Handicap race + Scratch race
June 2 Silverstone 8 Clubs - 3 event - Speed Trial, H'cap, Scr
June 11 Snetterton Racing CC - Sports 8th; F Libre
June 16 Silverstone Notts SCC
July 28 Oulton Park BRSCC 7th?
Aug 27 Brands BRSCC 4th

At Snetterton 2 July he was entered in the Speed Trial, and the Fairman Trophy, as he was 3rd in class in the heat presumably he qualified for the final hence 3 races?

I'm curious about Aintree 8 Sept as he does not appear to be in the programme (unless I can't see for looking) - is this correct ?
Richard

[Sharman]

I always understood that 996 or 994cc was the normal maximum 60thou overbore to take it to the 1 litre maximum. Sharman is your man for that stuff ISTR. ISTR that the Jacobs MG Midgets had that size. Refs are still in boxes so cannot check track test from High Performance Cars booklet but it should be in Autosport so bore/stroke would be given, as with BMC eng FJ cars details in period.
Roger Lund

995 on the under 1000cc XSP engines 76.2 mm bore (which if I am right is 2537 inches, in the 1960 engines
995 " " " giving 995 1961
995 standard Sebring engine as per Mk 1 Sprinzel Sprites at +60 overbore was 2.543 inches ( which is 76.2mm)

[Sharman]

I always understood that 996 or 994cc was the normal maximum 60thou overbore to take it to the 1 litre maximum. Sharman is your man for that stuff ISTR. ISTR that the Jacobs MG Midgets had that size. Refs are still in boxes so cannot check track test from High Performance Cars booklet but it should be in Autosport so bore/stroke would be given, as with BMC eng FJ cars details in period.
Roger Lund

" "
995 standard Sebring engine as per Mk 1 Sprinzel Sprites at +60 overbore was 2.543 inches ( which is 76.2mm I theeenk)

The XSP engines were a different kettle of fish and one or two found their way in 7s but I can;t remember whose. Natalie's ?

Edited by Sharman, 29 April 2012 - 14:02.

[bradbury west]

Thinking back to the articles in boxes I recall the Jacobs cars having an odd size, 972cc, and googling confirms this as the max allowance of +40thou, presumably for Intl Regs. or whatever group pertained. Presumably for club racing a simple maximum class capacity overbore was the order of the day. Whilst not an expert in A series motors, as with many other things, going back to Alastair's note about 998cc pistons, I understood that the 998cc Cooper/Hornet etc engines had a different crank and rods as well as bores, as well as?? heads and stud numbers, and I alwys understood that the 970S was something very special.
Then again I could be wrong
http://www.jacobsmid...ghtyMidgets.pdf
Roger Lund

John, I have not checked programmes for her entries, but if Natalie or Dave Rees et al at the Ashley Smithy had XSPs, would they have highlighted them?
Roger

Edited by bradbury west, 29 April 2012 - 14:26.

[Sharman]

John, I have not checked programmes for her entries, but if Natalie or Dave Rees et al at the Ashley Smithy had XSPs, would they have highlighted them?
Roger

Dave would not have needed a trick engine, but Nat's car was a pretty special car, independent rear etc. maybe I am wrong there and it was a special Cosworth unit. But there were A series engunes which "escaped" and there were lifted eyebrows at unexplained improvements in grid position.

I can sort out the various PUBLISHED permutations of the A series if anybody is interested but that does not really mean a great deal.
For example Geoff Healey in More Healeys describes a particular XSP as 1293 cc, that engine was installed in the Le Mans entry and declared there as 1100

[Tim Murray]

995 on the under 1000cc XSP engines 76.2 mm bore (which if I am right is 2537 inches, in the 1960 engines

995 standard Sebring engine as per Mk 1 Sprinzel Sprites at +60 overbore was 2.543 inches ( which is 76.2mm I theeenk)

76.2 mm is exactly 3", which is the stroke of the standard 948cc engine. 2.537" is the standard 948cc with a 60 thou rebore (as I posted earlier) and equates to 64.44mm. 2.543" equates to 64.59mm.

[Pete Stowe]

I can add the following

May 5 Silverstone AMOC
May 6 Brands BRSCC - 12th
May 19 Aintree ACC
May 26 Snetterton Jag DC - Handicap race + Scratch race
June 2 Silverstone 8 Clubs - 3 event - Speed Trial, H'cap, Scr
June 11 Snetterton Racing CC - Sports 8th; F Libre
June 16 Silverstone Notts SCC
July 28 Oulton Park BRSCC 7th?
Aug 27 Brands BRSCC 4th

At Snetterton 2 July he was entered in the Speed Trial, and the Fairman Trophy, as he was 3rd in class in the heat presumably he qualified for the final hence 3 races?

I'm curious about Aintree 8 Sept as he does not appear to be in the programme (unless I can't see for looking) - is this correct ?
Richard

Thanks very much Richard, that’s excellent.

According to Adam Cooper he took the Seven to Aintree in September (8/9/62) - in company with Jonathan Williams & his A40 - and in the race “the gearbox jammed and he careered into a sturdy Grand National fence”. The car was too battered to be driveable, and that ended his season. A late entry perhaps?

[Sharman]

76.2 mm is exactly 3", which is the stroke of the standard 948cc engine. 2.537" is the standard 948cc with a 60 thou rebore (as I posted earlier) and equates to 64.44mm. 2.543" equates to 64.59mm.

Tim
It is senility, I pressed convert bore and my tired old brain converted stroke. After all it is nearly 50 years since I built an A series racing engine. In reality it is 22 years since I last built any racing engine
John

[Pete Stowe]

Putting together the various events now gives the following list:

Piers Courage, Lotus 7-BMC, 1962

April 8 Brands Hatch sprint. Competition debut, 3rd in class
May 5 Silverstone AMOC
May 6 Brands BRSCC - 12th
May 19 Aintree ACC
May 26 Snetterton Jag DC - Handicap race + Scratch race
June 2 Silverstone 8 Clubs - 3 events - Speed Trial, Handicap, Scratch
June 9 Castle Combe BRSCC
June 11 Snetterton Racing CC - Sports 8th; F Libre.
June 16 Silverstone Notts SCC
July 1 Brands Hatch (3rd in Lotus 6 & 7 event)
July 7 Goodwood 13th
July 8 Snetterton London MC Speed Trial; Jack Fairman Trophy F Libre Heat 2 (3rd in class), Final ?
July 22 Brands Hatch
July 28 Oulton Park BRSCC - 7th?
Aug 27 Brands BRSCC - 4th
September 8 Aintree - retired, accident (Last race in car)

That gives a total of 22 events of which 19 were races.

(In ‘Piers Courage – Last of the Gentlemen Racers’ Adam Cooper refers in the text to Courage recalling that he had done 20 races in 1962; in the Statistics Appendix though Cooper says Courage noted that he competed in 20 events.)

Thanks to all who have assisted.