16 replies to this topic

[Lola5000]

I've often read about Mr Shepherd and his ex Phil Scragg 4.2l E.

 

What do we know about him and the car?

 

Any photos?

 

Is the car competing today?

[backfire]

Herbert was a dentist from Stafford and was well into his sixties when he got the car in the late sixties. The car was deceptively rapid and Herbert was a swift driver, despite the standard look of the car and age of the driver. It was a roadster Immaculate in Primrose Yellow with black hardtop, wore all it's bumpers and trim and was road registered. The only visual clues were the discreet black roll over bar and silver Minilites shod with Dunlop racing tyres (probably R7s) although later on he ran it on road tyres to suit class changes at Curborough. It had full worked suspension and brakes, aluminium bonnet (and maybe boot lid). The 4.2 engine was a Warren Pearce unit. Herbert won probably more class wins at Curborough than any other driver (certainly in that period). I'm sure I've got a photograph somewhere, but I'll have to dig it out at a later date. I've no clue where the car is now, I remember him telling me he would accept £1200 for it, how I wish I could have afforded it.   

[john ruston]

His son Harry was allowed to use the car occasionally.The family were total petrol heads.

Harry was in a member of our Castrol Quiz Team that reached the national final in 74.

[Lola5000]

Thank you guys,often wondered about him over the years and down in Australia,being so far away,limited details ect.

 

 

I do remember years ago,there was a magazine story on the car,but never read it ...pity.

 

Down here,few "Es" were raced and most have gone ie the Jane cars.

 

I have a good friend who sprinted and hill climbed a rapid 4.2 coupe,all the goods bits webers,mag wheels,brakes ect and drove it everyday for decade,it in fact by the 1st owner had been taken to New Zealand on a honeymoon and done some races when new.

 

My friend bought it of him in the late 60s and ran it,then sold it back to the guy who raced it in "Club Cars" and then restored it back to stock standard,still had it from memory.

[terry mcgrath]

Interested in comment re E type taken to NZ when new and raced whilst on his honeymoon which car is this one.

I heard the other day that 860166 has just been purchased by someone in Victoria

terry

Thank you guys,often wondered about him over the years and down in Australia,being so far away,limited details ect.

 

 

I do remember years ago,there was a magazine story on the car,but never read it ...pity.

 

Down here,few "Es" were raced and most have gone ie the Jane cars.

 

I have a good friend who sprinted and hill climbed a rapid 4.2 coupe,all the goods bits webers,mag wheels,brakes ect and drove it everyday for decade,it in fact by the 1st owner had been taken to New Zealand on a honeymoon and done some races when new.

 

My friend bought it of him in the late 60s and ran it,then sold it back to the guy who raced it in "Club Cars" and then restored it back to stock standard,still had it from memory.

Edited by terry mcgrath, 26 January 2014 - 05:45.

[Lola5000]

Interested in comment re E type taken to NZ when new and raced whilst on his honeymoon which car is this one.

I heard the other day that 860166 has kust been purchased by someone in Victoria

terry

Hi Terry ,told just sold for 175k?

 

Car I'm talking about is Bill Alexander's old FHC 4.2.

[andyrp26]

The still immaculate car is owned these day's by Ex Hillclimb and Sprinter Dave Render. He uses in Classic events all over the place. It can be seen in this link at the Shenstone and District 50th anniversary sprint in July 2013.

http://www.flickr.co...nds/9337717056/

[Lola5000]

The still immaculate car is owned these day's by Ex Hillclimb and Sprinter Dave Render. He uses in Classic events all over the place. It can be seen in this link at the Shenstone and District 50th anniversary sprint in July 2013.

http://www.flickr.co...nds/9337717056/

thank you for this....just what I'm looking for.

[john ruston]

Small world!

David Render deserves a thread on his own.Sponsored race cars for up and comming drivers and a tank commander in Normandy.Not many of those remaining with us.

[Giraffe]

Strangely, David does not appear to have his own thread, though he features in several. I recall David's pal, Colin Chapman loaning him a JPS Lotus 76 to run at Brighton! That sort of thing should be compulsory today!

[Tim Murray]

David is an amazing bloke. He gave our club an excellent talk a couple of years ago in which he revealed that the only way he could get the Lotus 76 to handle was to fit a large lump of lead, taken from one of his trials cars, into the Lotus's nose. He was very keen to keep news of this mod from getting back to Chapman as he knew he'd be in serious trouble if it did. Later on he was also loaned a 77.

David is coming back in March - at the age of 89 - to give us a talk on his wartime experiences. He definitely deserves his own thread.

[Lola5000]

David is an amazing bloke. He gave our club an excellent talk a couple of years ago in which he revealed that the only way he could get the Lotus 76 to handle was to fit a large lump of lead, taken from one of his trials cars, into the Lotus's nose. He was very keen to keep news of this mod from getting back to Chapman as he knew he'd be in serious trouble if it did. Later on he was also loaned a 77.

David is coming back in March - at the age of 89 - to give us a talk on his wartime experiences. He definitely deserves his own thread.

Did David buy the car of Mr Shepherd?

[Tim Murray]

I don't know, Rob, but if I get the chance I'll ask him when he comes to us in March.

[backfire]

That picture of David in the E Type shows it just as it ran in the sixties - perfect. Another memorable Curborough moment was when David turned up for a sprint and unloaded one of the works JPS/Lotus 76's loaned to him for the weekend by his friend, Colin Chapman. 

[Lola5000]

That picture of David in the E Type shows it just as it ran in the sixties - perfect. Another memorable Curborough moment was when David turned up for a sprint and unloaded one of the works JPS/Lotus 76's loaned to him for the weekend by his friend, Colin Chapman. 

wheels look about 6 inch?

 

Nice touch is leaving her on the 3x SU's.

 

Exhaust headers over the frame,.

 

And the lack of the rear exhaust silencers as per period.

 

We have a similar 4.2 coupe in Australia,that was fitted out for the late H.Bryson by the factory for series production racing,as most would know that family were the distributor's of Jaguar in Australia for decades.

[Tim Murray]

Did David buy the car of Mr Shepherd?

 

I don't know, Rob, but if I get the chance I'll ask him when he comes to us in March.

Sorry, I know it's now April, but I got it wrong - David didn't actually come to us until last night. I asked him about the E-Type, and he confirmed that he bought it from Herbert Shepherd, and still owns it.

[Lola5000]

Thank you Tim,be one nice E to own.