6 replies to this topic

[eeyore48]

Hi,readers. An old friend of mine has the Centaur that finished runner-up in the 1973 F1300 championship. He thinks it was built up in 1972 by the owner/driver but over the years it may have been modified. Does anyone recall the owner/driver or have any pictures of this or similar Centaur cars in original state?

Regards, eeyore48

[Tim Murray]

According to the Autosport 1973 Seasonal Survey, the runner-up in the 1973 F1200 championship was Tim Gath driving a Mallock Mk11B. The winner was Mike Taylor driving Tetranychus Telarius, and the championship didn't become F1300 until the following year.

[The Chasm]

If you are talking about one of the eleven Centaur Racing Cars built in Australia - there is a very good book written by John Campbell.

[Stephen W]

Does he know the full history of ownership? Or at least the last couple of owners?

[Tim Murray]

Centaur Cars were built by Richard Scott, who ran Centaur Engineering, originally based in Halesworth, Suffolk, and later in Sheffield. The Mk 1 appeared in 1962 and many cars were built in the ensuing years, mainly for F750/F1200/F1300/Clubmans formulae. There was also a F3 car (the Mk 2), a couple of FFs and even a Spedeworth Midget racer, which was claimed (in 1973) to have been the most successful Centaur ever, having achieved numerous wins in the hands of Mick Miller. Later Centaurs (Mk 12 onward) were usually a collaborative design by Richard Scott and David Childs. Other projects included the Apogee for Richard de la Rue and a kart (which had identical wheelbase and track dimensions) for Scott's local butcher.

(Source: article by Jeff Ward on Centaur in the Oct 1973 edition of the 750MC bulletin.)

If Eeyore's friend hasn't already contacted them, the 750MC might be able to help. Here's a discussion on Centaurs on their forum:

http://www.750formul....php?f=15&t=616

Edited by Tim Murray, 31 January 2016 - 13:09.

[John Saunders]

The driver you are looking for is John Tasker who finished second in the 1972 F1200 championship in a Centaur Mk 12.

 

I have checked all the 750MC Yearbooks from 1972 to 1978, there is no sign of John Tasker or the Mk12 Centaur racing in F1200/F1300 after 1972.

 

The Centaur's were sold in kit form & made by Richard Scott, Centaur Engineering Halesworth Suffolk.

 

Mike Brett & myself raced a Centaur Mk14 in F1300 in 1974/5.

Our old  car is now owned my David Childs (designer of the Mk14) & raced by Mark Hughes in Classic Clubmans. 

[Keith Rolleston]

Hi,readers. An old friend of mine has the Centaur that finished runner-up in the 1973 F1300 championship. He thinks it was built up in 1972 by the owner/driver but over the years it may have been modified. Does anyone recall the owner/driver or have any pictures of this or similar Centaur cars in original state?

Regards, eeyore48

4 years late, but this is Richard Hood's "Antares" - a Richard Scott Centaur circa 1973.