17 replies to this topic

[Gary C]

hi all, I've been going through my collection of 'stills' and came across this snap of a burn out transporter. The location, to me, looks like Silverstone, but I'm not sure.  The registration number, 938 BXR, may help, but I'm at a loss. Can anyone help?

 

 

  Thanks indeed and Merry Christmas!

[Cirrus]

It looks like the J A Pearce transporter at Silverstone. Time we had a beer Gary!

 

From memory, the transporter was parked at the circuit a few days before a race meeting, well away from anything else in the paddock. It caught fire during the night and, due to the huge amount of fuel on board, could not be saved. Luckily it was insured...

Edited by Cirrus, 21 December 2013 - 10:00.

[Gary C]

Thanks indeed, Alan, do we have a race meeting and date at all?

[Cirrus]

It was the 1967 International Trophy meeting I think, so April/May time.

[Vitesse2]

International Trophy, 1967, Gary. Both Pearce-Martins and the Cooper-Ferrari went up in that ...

[Tim Murray]

As Alan and Richard say, International Trophy, Silverstone. The race was held on Saturday 29th April 1967. I understand that the fire occurred on the previous Wednesday, which would make it 26th April.

Have a look at this earlier thread:
 
The Pearce-Martin F1 car
 
which includes this post featuring some photos of the burnt-out transporter. Sadly, two of them have vanished, but it's quite clear from the one that's left that it's the same incident as in Gary's photo. Note the photographer on the left; is he perhaps taking Gary's photo?
 

Thanks for advice on adding images. I have attached the Pearce ones. These came from the archives of LAT. If there is any objection to them being shared then I will remove them. Farcinating stuff.

Will post the Shannon ones seperately.

Mike

Edited by Tim Murray, 21 December 2013 - 10:30.

[Gary C]

excellent, great info lads! Thanks.

[Bjorn Kjer]

It was one of the 2 Bedford transporters of BRP from 1962 of which 1 was sold to Mecom of USA , the other then went to Pearce.

[AAGR]

My memory has gone, but did the police later suspect someone of arson ?

[Tim Murray]

I'm not sure if the police were involved, but the incident has always aroused suspicion. Here's an interesting post from the earlier thread I linked to above:
 

When I arrived in the Silverstone paddock the following morning, mechanics from various other teams were all discussing the fact that although plenty of badly burned and even partially melted parts and spares were visible in the wreckage - there was not a single spanner or other tool to be seen. The conclusion that most people had come to was that the Pearce mechanics had removed their toolboxes from the transporter before the fire.

The inference they drew from that conclusion was that the fire was premeditated..

[Philbel]

938 BXR, was the former UDT Laystall race truck sold to J A Pearce

A tansformed Bedford SP duple bus into race truck

 

http://www.flickr.co...men/3087579354/

[Tony Robinson]

To my friend Bjorn and Philbel.

 

Not Bedford, but Commer Avenger chassis,body by, Wm and Thos Robson Ltd designed to carry three cars.

 

Merry Xmas

 

Tony

[Bjorn Kjer]

Hi Tony , and a Merry X-mas and thanks to you. I of course knew from you it was Commer cars........ think I am getting old !

[Philbel]

Thanks Tony,

 

some doesn't know that it was a Commer.

 

if some of you wish to see more about the Commer, have a look here:

 

http://www.britishpa...glory-reels-1-2

 

Merry X-mas to all

[Macca]

 

 

 

Another of the transporter, also the 3 cars that were in it, and the Pearce-Martin V8 at a Brands test not long before the Silverstone fire.

 

 

and a previous fire at the British GP at Brands in 1966 which the transporter survived with just a big scorchmark.

 

Paul M

[Gary C]

nice work, Macca!

[ensign14]

It caught fire twice?  Hm.

[BRG]

It caught fire twice?  Hm.

Now, now, no inflammatory remarks please!