63 replies to this topic

[DUFFY]

I run the Rochdale Olympic History Archive for the Rochdale Owners Club and I am researching the racing history of the Rochdale Olympic.
Which is turning out to be a lot more racing than we thought in the past.

I believe a Rochdale Olympic ran at Aintree on the 28th September 1963, driven by D C Alderson.

Can anyone please help me with a results sheet and an entry list?
As I would like to know if it was in a Championship round, did the car have an Entrant and what was the cars racing number?

Regards
Tony

Also if anyone has photos, results sheets and entry lists of Rochdale Olympics racing in the 1960s and 1970s please contact me.

Edited by DUFFY, 08 July 2013 - 13:15.

[Tim Murray]

Tony, I know you know about this earlier thread, because you contributed to it, but for the possible benefit of others:

Rochdale Olympic

[d j fox]

Autosport (Oct 11th 1963) has a report of the 15th BARC Aintree Members' Meeting, held on the Club circuit.
"Event six , a 10 lap scratch race for GT cars, saw Derek Alderson take the lead by a bit of rather naughty pushing in his Rochdale Olympic, only to "lose it " in both senses in Country Corner. Derek Bennet (Lotus Elite) then took over a lead which he never lost, leaving Alderson to repent his sins as he worked his way back through the field to an excellent second place"
According to the excellent Heath/ Lawson Aintree results book Alderson raced No.61

Edited by d j fox, 09 July 2013 - 15:34.

[DUFFY]

Thanks David for the above, it’s a bonus having a race report for the archive with a Rochdale Olympic playing a major role.
Now I know the race number here is a photo of the car from the archives.



But I would still like a scan of the entry list for the archive if anyone has the race programme.

Regards
Tony

[DUFFY]

With the success of the above question I will try another.

I believe a Rochdale Olympic 1475cc ran at Brands Hatch on Boxing Day, December the 26th 1963, driven by Barry Wood.

Can anyone please help me with a results sheet and an entry list?

It is not the Barry Wood who raced Ginetta,s as when I spoke to Barry he never raced a Rochdale Olympic and also did not race on Boxing Day 1963.

Regards
Tony

[Sharman]

With the success of the above question I will try another.

I believe a Rochdale Olympic 1475cc ran at Brands Hatch on Boxing Day, December the 26th 1963, driven by Barry Wood.

Can anyone please help me with a results sheet and an entry list?

It is not the Barry Wood who raced Ginetta,s as when I spoke to Barry he never raced a Rochdale Olympic and also did not race on Boxing Day 1963.

Regards
Tony

Was that the Barry Wood who worked with Paddy Gaston?

[Sharman]

To try and progress this a little further, did the Ginetta Barry Wood drive a Shapecraft Elan?

typo edit

Edited by Sharman, 23 July 2013 - 08:34.

[DUFFY]

I would please like to keep this topic to Rochdale Olympics.

To answer the above 2 posts I think Ginetta Barry Wood designed and raced the Shapecraft Elan when he owned Surbiton Motors and before that he worked for Paddy Gaston?

So can anyone please help me with a results sheet and an entry list for Brands Hatch on Boxing Day, December the 26th 1963,
so I can see if a Rochdale Olympic was racing that day.

Regards
Tony

[Sharman]

I would please like to keep this topic to Rochdale Olympics.

To answer the above 2 posts I think Ginetta Barry Wood designed and raced the Shapecraft Elan when he owned Surbiton Motors and before that he worked for Paddy Gaston?

So can anyone please help me with a results sheet and an entry list for Brands Hatch on Boxing Day, December the 26th 1963,
so I can see if a Rochdale Olympic was racing that day.

Regards
Tony

I'm so sorry to have digressed, all I was trying to establish was "Which Barry Wood?".

[Rupertlt1]

Please do not roast me if this is slightly off topic:

 

Motor Sport, May 1960, Page 398:

ROCHDALE with a difference. Modelled

mechanically on Alfa Guilietta. Healey-Sprite

engine, box, fullest mods, coils all round, hydraulics

15-in. wheels, full matching instruments, wood/

alloy wheel, Le Mans lights, 12 volts. £450 o.n.o.

Details: Staniforth, 7, Featherbank Mount,

Horsforth, Leeds.

 

This car was second in Class 5, Sports Cars up to 950 c.c., at the Burton Sprint, Leeds, 3 May 1959.

 

This would seem to be the second Rochdale raced by Allan Staniforth.

(The earlier Rochdale-Buckler was offered for sale in Motor Sport, February 1956.)

RGDS RLT

[Flathead]

Yes Allan Staniforth, sadly no longer with us, did build and race an 1172 Formula Buckler Mk5 or 6 with Rochdale bodyshell. The car, built in 1954, still survives in the UK and has been awaiting restoration for some years.

 

Edited by Flathead, 22 January 2014 - 08:27.

[bradbury west]

O/T a little, I was quite taken by the Rochdale Climax GT at the Revival last year, to that spec from new, apparently. A brave effort although its narrow track  was probably a limiting factor, I suspect.

Roger Lund

[DUFFY]

Hi Rupert,

 

Thanks for the reply. Definably no roasting from me as its all about racing Rochdale’s, it all helps with the past history.

When Allan Staniforth wrote a letter to the Rochdale Owners Club in the early 1980,s giving us details of his two Rochdales he said he always yearned for an Olympic.

 

Allan’s first Rochdale as the picture in the reply from Flathead was a Rochdale MKVI body.

 

The Rochdale for sale in MotorSport, May 1960 was a Rochdale GT, registration VWR 555.

 

 

This GT was built during the winter of 1957 and raced during 1958 and 1959, and then it was sold in November 1960 to a 'friend of a friend'.

When so much thought and hard work had gone into building this car, it's a great shame that it has since been lost without trace.

So if anyone can help with information on this GT,s whereabouts since 1960 we would be grateful.

 

Allan also wrote a book called “Building a Gran Turismo Special” detailing the build of this GT. The book was advertised in MotorSport March 1960 page 212.

 

 

 

If anyone would like more technical information on the Rochdale Climax GT at the Revival last year, below is a link.

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ29sNwN-zI

 

I thought it was going very well, I think the main limiting factor was the flat tyre.

 

At this time I still have no joy with my request for help with a results sheet and an entry list for the GT race at Brands Hatch on Boxing Day,

December the 26th 1963,
so I can see if a Rochdale Olympic was racing that day. Can anyone please help?

 

Ps) Rupert I have sent you a PM.

 

Regards Tony Stanton, Compiler of the Rochdale Olympic History Archives

[Morris S]

Spent a happy couple of hours chatting with Nev Hodkin this week, he does have some old shots of his racing Rochdale and of course repeated a story I've heard a few times from the horses mouth about Harry Ratcliffe's short lived experience with one !

[Jake Alderson]

Did you ever find an entry list for the 1963 Brands Hatch Boxing Day meeting?

I am also looking for one for the Gordon Spice Morgan entry.

Jake Alderson

[Doug Nye]

What is the background story of the Rochdale GT which showed well before, sadly, rolling at Goodwood last weekend?

DCN

[Mistron]

I think this is the same Rochdale as took a tumble at the weekend: http://fortyonesix.c...ved-for-revival

 

Al

[Jake Alderson]

I now have a copy of the 1963 Brands Hatch Boxing Day meeting programme.

There was one Rochdale Olympic entered for Event 6, The John Davy Trophy Race 'A' for GT cars below 1600cc.

The driver was given as B A Wood and the engine capacity as 1475cc, and his race number was 44.

My programme is well annotated and there is a biro line through this entry suggesting Mr Wood withdrew

Hope this helps

Jake Alderson

 

[DUFFY]

Hi Jake,

 

Thanks for the above information, at least I now have confirmation of the entry. No good me looking for photos if it did not run, unless it ran in practice?

But I still cannot identify the Rochdale Olympic or Mr B A Wood. I do have a race report which of course does not mention the Olympic,

but does report on a Morgan +4 driven by Mr Arnold.

 

On seeing you name, Jake are you related to Derek C Alderson as mentioned in post 1 in this topic. Below is a little about him from the history of RMP.

 

Yet another milestone in the history of Rochdale Motor panels was Derek Alderson, a likeable and flamboyant character who always had a

host of interesting stories to tell. We first met him in the early Fifties when he brought cars in for repairs; he was then in business

repairing beer crates and forklift pallets. As time passed and our long-time friendship continued, he later opened a caravan site in Castleton, Rochdale.

Derek Alderson was the proprietor of the Rochdale firm, Vale Caravan Services, which grew into the largest caravan business in the area and

he competed in club racing in Lotus Elites during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

 

Ps) Jake I have sent you a PM.

 

Regards Tony Stanton, Compiler of the Rochdale Olympic History Archives.

[Jake Alderson]

Tony,

Sadly for you I am not related to the Rochdale Alderson, pity really as he sounds like fun!

Jake

[DUFFY]

Following on with the success I received with the last 2 enquiries on racing Rochdale Olympics (thank you the people who helped)

I thought I would try this more tenuous lead.

I was recently sent these 2 sets of photographs, found in a drawer of the same Olympic in crash mode. I believe they are from a film of the 1960s.

If anyone knows the name of the film we can give them the credit?

 

 

 

I know it would help if I had the day and month, but the first photo is Oulton Park 1963, the car is no 131 and on the back is writtern C.P.Dobbs.

The second photo is Cadwell Park 1964, the no may be 39 and on the back is writtern T Stamp.

The Reg No I think is TVL 146 which is Lincoln from 1962. 

 

I also have the following dates where I think the same Olympic was entered?

 

1963 April ?? Snetterton

1963 Oct 12th Mallory Park   

1963 Dec 26th Mallory Park  

 

Can anyone please help me with an entry list, race report or a results sheet for any of the 5 dates?
 

Regards Tony Stanton, Compiler of the Rochdale Olympic History Archives

 

 

[Sharman]

Tony

that same car appeared at Snet 05/05/63 P Dobbs, BUT showing as 948cc which is BMC A series, I was looking for Elva Courier details when I found it having Googled Malcolm Wayne whom I did not find but there was a full entry list. Sorry haven't  got the link.

[DUFFY]

I have just received a race report for a B.R.S.C.C. meeting at Rufforth on September 14th 1963.

The 1st race was for GT cars up to 2000cc, at the end of the race report it says.

 

‘This event saw the only bad crash of the day when P Dobbs lost his Rochdale Olympic at Boundary Curve, to roll end over end.

The car was damaged, but luckily not so the driver’.

 

So the 3 races I have a little knowledge of this car it has crashed, does the driver do this at every race?

If anyone has a programme for this race at Rufforth, I would please love a scan of the entry list page for this race for the history records.

 

Regards Tony Stanton, Compiler of the Rochdale Olympic History Archives.

[DUFFY]

I was recently sent this photograph of a White Rochdale Olympic. I believe the date to be the late May or early June 1961 at Oulton Park,

the race run by the Lancs and Cheshire Car Club.

 

 

Can anyone please help me with a entry list and a results sheet so I may know who is the driver, the engine size and the race number.

 

Regards Tony Stanton, Compiler of the Rochdale Olympic History Archives.

 

ps update)

Now I know where the photo came from I can give  “The Revs Institute for Automotive Research” the credit, what a fantastic website.

Thank you Rupertlt1.

Edited by DUFFY, 21 January 2015 - 09:49.

[Rupertlt1]

Tony,

 

https://revslib.stan...log/bz553rs7251

 

27 May 1961, #40

 

Updated link: https://library.revs...ion=p17257coll1

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 June 2021 - 06:27.

[Rupertlt1]

Brands Hatch, 4 October 1964

The Redex Trophy (unlimited GT cars)

#134 A.G. Florio Rochdale Olympic 1498

 

I have an Armando G. Florio in the Camberwell/Dulwich area about the time of the race.

 

NAME: Mr Armando G Florio RESIDENCE DATE: 2003-2005 ADDRESS: Penlan, Cadmore Lane, Cheshunt, EN8 9JG RESIDENCE PLACE: Waltham Cross Hertfordshire England

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 27 October 2018 - 03:28.

[Rupertlt1]

Film at Oulton Park here:

 

 

RGDS RLT

[DUFFY]

Thank you Rupert for this film clip to go with my stills in post 21 above, but I have still not identified this Olympic in the Rochdale factory ledger

or any more of its past history

or of the drivers C.P.Dodds or T Stamp?

 

Regards Tony Stanton

[Rupertlt1]

Liverpool M.C. Sprint, Oulton Park, 29 July 1961

Class winner:

Production sports cars up to 1,500 c.c.: A. Arnold (Rochdale Olympic), 1 minute 30.2 seconds.

 

RGDS RLT

[DUFFY]

Thank you Rupert, this is a new event for the records of this lost Olympic.

 

This was a new White Rochdale Olympic phase 1 fitted with a Coventry Climax FWA 1098cc engine.

Supplied on 27th January 1961 to A Arnold of Union St Garage, Ardwick, Manchester and registered 9735 NC.

I now have a record of 6 Racing events in 1961 and then the Olympic was for sale in Autosport on the 6th Oct 1961 and has not been seen since.

 

  1961 Oct 6th. Autosport.

  Olympic, white. 1100 Climax, BMC 'A' box, 4.5, Durabands, with or without engine.

  Ring Ardwick 3439 (business hours)

 

 

 

If anyone knows of this Olympic, or A Arnold, or Union St Garage, Ardwick, Manchester please reply.

 

Regards,  Tony.

Edited by DUFFY, 08 December 2018 - 04:41.

[Rupertlt1]

Sandtoft Sprint (near Doncaster), Sunday 20 October 1963

"P. Dobbs and K. Pashley shared

a Rochdale Olympic with a blown 948 c.c.

B.M.C. engine which sounded great."

Autosport, 1 November 1963, Page 622.

 

Are Dobbs and Dodds the same person?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 25 January 2019 - 20:16.

[Rupertlt1]

Aintree 5 August 1963, preview Aintree Trophy meeting (seven races):

"Derek Alderson whose Rochdale Olympic has a 1,600 c.c. Ford engine."

Liverpool Echo, Monday 5 August 1963, Page 10.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 26 January 2019 - 14:07.

[RobMk2a]

Sandtoft Sprint (near Doncaster), Sunday 20 October 1963

"P. Dobbs and K. Pashley shared

a Rochdale Olympic with a blown 948 c.c.

B.M.C. engine which sounded great."

Autosport, 1 November 1963, Page 622.

 

Are Dobbs and Dodds the same person?

 

RGDS RLT

7th Sept 1963 Oulton Park BRSCC 

 

Event 5 

132 CP Dobbs Rochdale Olympic 948cc 

148 JW Anstice Brown Rochdale Olympic 997cc 3rd class A behind GW John's Marcos and  Cole's AH Sprite. 

[Rupertlt1]

B.A.R.C. Mallory Park, 17 August 1963

An accident occurred on the first lap of the GT race,

involving Norman Surtees (Lotus Elite), D.C. Alderson

(Rochdale Olympic Ford), Roger Nathan (Lotus Elite),

and Adrian Chambers (Lotus Elite).

"All the cars finished

damaged off the road, one

impaled on the crash barrier."

[The car of Chambers; the four drivers escaped with only minor injuries.]

Results:

Grand Touring cars over 1,600 c.c.

1. P. Brayshaw (Marcos Ford), 80.69 m.p.h.

2. A. J. Lambert (Jaguar)

3. T. Entwistle (T.V.R. Grantura)

1,151 c.c. to 1,600 c.c

1. R. Rose (Lotus Elite), 76.93 m.p.h.

2. S. Taylor (Lotus Elite)

3. J. Edmonds (T.V.R. Grantura)

Up to 1,150 c.c.

1. D. Mockford (Diva Ford) 79.67 m.p.h.

2. W. Banks (Turner Climax)

3. J.F. Dickinson (Lotus Climax)

Source: Birmingham Daily Post, Monday 19 August, Page 7

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 27 January 2019 - 01:14.

[Rupertlt1]

Lichfield Mercury, Friday 11 June 1965

Baswich Autocross, 8 June 1965 (restricted, B.T.R.D.A. qualifying round)

Sports cars over 1,200 c.c.

W.G. Thornton (Rochdale Olympic)

 

Lichfield Mercury, Friday 30 August 1968

Eccleshall Autocross, 24 August 1968

"the Rochdale Olympic

of Geoff Thornton (Stafford and

District C.C.) powered by a super-

charged 1498 c.c. Ford engine,..."

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 27 January 2019 - 15:02.

[DUFFY]

Sandtoft Sprint (near Doncaster), Sunday 20 October 1963

"P. Dobbs and K. Pashley shared

a Rochdale Olympic with a blown 948 c.c.

B.M.C. engine which sounded great."

Autosport, 1 November 1963, Page 622.

 

Are Dobbs and Dodds the same person?

 

RGDS RLT

 

Thank you Rupert, this is a new event for the records of this Red Olympic, the one that keeps crashing in post 21 above.

The first time I have seen a report of the car having a Super-charger. Yes the same person, should be C.P.Dobbs.

I think this is one of the few Lightweight Olympics and supplied by George Dixon of Kirks Motors, Lincoln and owner of the Lincoln Racing Team as mentioned in this Topic below.

 

https://forums.autosport.com/topic/200950-looking-for-a-lotus-11/?hl=%20george%20%20dixon

 

Regards, Tony.

[DUFFY]

Aintree 5 August 1963, preview Aintree Trophy meeting (seven races):

"Derek Alderson whose Rochdale Olympic has a 1,600 c.c. Ford engine."

Liverpool Echo, Monday 5 August 1963, Page 10.

 

RGDS RLT

 

I think this is the 1st race for this new built car, the only known lightweight Olympic Phase II.

Derek Alderson only kept the car till March 1964, sold to Jerry Jackson who Sprinted and Drag raced the Olympic till March 1967.

 

Regards, Tony.

 

 

1965 June 20th Long Marston Sprint. Jerry Jackson.

Edited by DUFFY, 20 April 2019 - 10:39.

[DUFFY]

Lichfield Mercury, Friday 11 June 1965

Baswich Autocross, 8 June 1965 (restricted, B.T.R.D.A. qualifying round)

Sports cars over 1,200 c.c.

W.G. Thornton (Rochdale Olympic)

 

Lichfield Mercury, Friday 30 August 1968

Eccleshall Autocross, 24 August 1968

"the Rochdale Olympic

of Geoff Thornton (Stafford and

District C.C.) powered by a super-

charged 1498 c.c. Ford engine,..."

 

RGDS RLT 

 

Thank you Rupert, these are 2 new events for this Olympic and driver. I now have 6 events for this Olympic and W G Thornton, but I do not have a photo or a registration number of the Olympic.

2 of the events are Road Rallying so the Olympic must be road registered. Maybe one day I will see a photo from a Autocross?

Again, the first time I have seen a report of the car having a Super-charger.

 

Regards, Tony.

[Rupertlt1]

Brighton Speed Trials, 12th September 1964

Class 6-Sports Cars and Grand Touring cars 1101 to 1600 c.c.

#82 Penelope S. Porter, Riley Rochdale, 1588

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Motoring News, Thursday, April 1, 1971

BROADSPEED ROCHDALE Olympic

Phase II; full-race 130 bhp Broad-

speed 1300 cc x-flow, c/r

Bullitt gearbox (magnesium housing)

Hewland lsd (alloy housing); com-

petition bodyshell (just resprayed);

CR65's; this successful and immacu-

late car has just received £120 rebuild;

£475. Ring and discuss, must be sold.

Radnage 3327 (Bucks)

 

Could this be FRU 12D?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 18 April 2019 - 13:20.

[Rupertlt1]

Fragments:

Motoring News, Thursday, May 15, 1969

Sussex Car Club PN6, Church Farm, 4 May 1969

"Keith Ross in the family Rochdale Olympic

powered by a Sigma prepared 1300 crossflow

Ford engine."

 

Motoring News, Thursday, May 7, 1970

Sevenoaks & DMC PN6 Autocross R1, Bredhurst, Kent

"Some old cars appeared in new

hands, among them,...the Ross Rochdale"

"In the run-off Derrick Bussey made a good

job of piloting the Rochdale..." 

 

Motoring News, Thursday, May 28, 1970

Chelmsford Motor Club PN6 Autocross R2

"...Derrick Bussey in

the ex-Ross Rochdale Olympic

got going well on the second

just failing to take the class."

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 18 April 2019 - 13:18.

[DUFFY]

Hi Rupert, Thank you for the last 2 posts, both posts are for Rochdale Olympic Phase II.  Reg No - FRU 12D.

Bought new, built and raced by Keith & Jean Ross, Bournmouth, Dorset. 1966 to 1970. ColourBlue. Engine Ford 1500 & Ford 1300. Raced it in the Players No6 series and many club events.

 

 

Derrick Bussey, Farnborough, Hants. 1970 to 1971.            Colour Red. Engine Ford 1300.

 

Derrick raced it in the 1970 Players No6 series and the 1970 Jet petroleum series although unfortunately, each series held its final on the same day.

He chose the Jet Petroleum final as he had already three wins, and he finished up Class 2 winner and fifth overall.

 

 

3) David Dawson, Stokenchurch, Bucks. early1971 to late1971. Colour Yellow. Ford 1300.

 

David drove a Sprite in Class 2 in the Players No6 series and the Jet petroleum series. usually beaten by the Olympic, so he bought it.

I do not think he raced the Olympic and sold it after a few months, less engine and gearbox for £250. (Advert in the post above).

 

The Olympic was been restored a few years by owner No 9, but I have had no news lately.

 

I am very grateful Rupert for all the information you send me on racing Rochdales, it seems Rochdale have a lot more racing history than we thought.

 

Regards, Tony.

 

[Rupertlt1]

AUTOCROSS Rochdale Olympic 1297

cc; Broadspeed engine, Bullet gear-

box, LSD, very competitive: £450  

Trailer £50. Farnborough, Hants.,

45689 (business)

Motoring News, 1 October 1970

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

11th Annual Bodiam Hill Climb, 16 October 1965

#89 R.T. Cox, 1964 Olympic, 1500cc

 

https://www.racingsp...R._-Cox-GB.html

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 13 July 2019 - 12:03.

[DUFFY]

Thank you Rupert, new event for the records.

 

Regards, Tony.

[Rupertlt1]

Oulton Park, M.G. Car Club, 29 August 1964

Grand Tourers to 1,000 c.c

1. J. W. Anstice-Brown, Rochdale Olympic, 21 mins 48 sec

 

RGDS RLT

[DUFFY]

Thank you, Rupert, new event for the records.

 

Regards, Tony.

[Rupertlt1]

WALSALL CAR CLUB AUTOCROSS at THE AIRPORT, WALSALL ROAD, ALDRIDGE SUNDAY MAY 16th. 1.00 p.m.

"AUTOCROSS AT AIRPORT There were 42 entries for the Walsall Car Club's restricted autocross at the old airport at Walsall.

Class Z: 1. G. Thornton (Rochdale Olympic), BARC, 1min. 23.4sec; 2. B. Pedley (Lotus Elan), Shenstone and District CC. 1min. 28.4 sec."

Birmingham Daily Post, Monday 17 May 1965

Edited by Rupertlt1, 27 April 2021 - 14:23.

[DUFFY]

Thank you, Rupert, new event, new driver and unknown new Olympic for the records.

 

and faster than a Lotus Elan.

 

Regards, Tony.

Edited by DUFFY, 29 April 2021 - 06:38.

[john winfield]

Tony, I can't remember if I gave you this, from the programme of a meeting I went to when very young.

 

May 16th 1964   750MC  Silverstone

 

Event 3  Heat 2  Sports & GT

Reserve  #83  JW Anstice Brown (Driver: Entrant or AB Wyatt)  Rochdale Olympic  997cc

 

Sorry, no idea if the car raced.

 

Event 7  Heat 2  Saloon Cars

#83   details as above

 

Anstice Brown was back at Silverstone on September 5th (SUNBAC), but with a Mk VI Rejo. No sign of the Rochdale.