45 replies to this topic

[Gary C]

 Click on the link for a larger image.

Lads, I have 7 images like this, all from the same roll of film, so all taken at the same event. As part of some ongoing research, how on Earth can I find out which event it was and the drivers/cars? Now, to me, it looks like very early Silverstone, but back then, a lot of places looked like Silverstone!
 Any ideas anyone?

[Barry Boor]

Larger image doesn't load for me, Gary.

[D-Type]

Are there any features: buildings, fences, windsocks, hills, trees in the background of any of the photos?  Anything distinguishing at all?

[Rob G]

As shown in this photo, the front straight is wide enough to easily accommodate a 5-4-5 grid. Which tracks of the era could do that?

[Gary C]

Yes Duncan thete a few tents in a couple of pics, I'll check in the morning

[Vitesse2]

As shown in this photo, the front straight is wide enough to easily accommodate a 5-4-5 grid. Which tracks of the era could do that?

Plenty, Rob. Obviously an old airfield. Which doesn't narrow it down much. Boreham, Brough, Charterhall, Davidstow ... etc etc ...

[bradbury west]

Gary, perhaps ERIC DUNSDON of this parish might be your man, as he was about in the early days post war at various circuits and recalls all sorts of trivia etc, qv the odd tents in the photo and circuit width, or 500cc specialist Terry Wright.
Roger Lund

[Eric Dunsdon]

That does indeed look like early 1950's Silverstone. The open scenery in the background should rule out Goodwood as well as the straw bale and oil drum lined Boreham. Those small tents instead of the large catering jobs suggests that this was more of a National meeting, perhaps a BRSCC Commander York 100 miles Formula 3 race. It’s a fascinating picture but also annoying that I can’t be of more help as 500cc is normally right up my street having seen and enjoyed so much of it. I await further results with greater anticipation than I do with that strange business going on in Russia today.

[nicanary]

The painted numbers on the track could be a clue, but I can't find much. Castle Combe in April 1952 had such numbers - I found a photo of Ivor Bueb at the start. Peter Swinger's book shows a very bleak place in those days with marquees in the background for the race officials. So that's my call.

[Ray Bell]

I also thought Castle Combe without knowledge of the painted numbers...

It just looks like the place to me.

[Roger Clark]

Could it be Charterhall? The start was on the runway so very wide and the did paint numbers on the grid. They were still visible when Rob Nickson and I visited the place in April.

[Gary C]

For some reason it seems I can't access my gallery over at Postimage from my home computer. I'll try and get round that when I get to work in the morning, a few pics have more detail in them.

[cpbell]

I also thought Castle Combe without knowledge of the painted numbers...

It just looks like the place to me.

Same here.

[Gary C]

OK, here's three more images. Once again click on the pic for a larger image.

Do these help ?

 

 

 

 

   all the best.

[Barry Boor]

Images still don't load for me, Gary. Don't know why.

[Gary C]

very odd, Barry, I don't know about other people seeing them?

[Michael Ferner]

I can see them, but am unsure of what I'm seeing. 5-4-5 grid, yes, but that's not so unusual as already mentioned. Silverstone is an instant thought, but I think the pit stands were closer to the track, there. Perhaps, when I'm home I will be able to find a race with matching starting numbers, but I'm not too confident.

[cpbell]

I can see them, but am unsure of what I'm seeing. 5-4-5 grid, yes, but that's not so unusual as already mentioned. Silverstone is an instant thought, but I think the pit stands were closer to the track, there. Perhaps, when I'm home I will be able to find a race with matching starting numbers, but I'm not too confident.

I certainly wasn't around back then, but I've seen plenty of photos and archive footage of Silverstone from the days when the pits were on the straight between Abbey and Woodcote, and I agree with Michael Ferner that they were, as was usual then, contiguous with the track.  By contrast, the pits here seem to be separated by a strip of grass(?)  from the racing surface.  On the other hand, could the structures actually be stands rather than pits?

[Collombin]

By contrast, the pits here seem to be separated by a strip of grass(?) from the racing surface. On the other hand, could the structures actually be stands rather than pits?

Because of the first sentence, I think the answer to the second is yes. Did any track have pits separated from the racing track in those days? Indy in 1957 is the earliest I know of (but way before my time too!).

[ron54]

I know 500's are small but the painted grid looks runway size.   Combe was always a grass airfield,  racing then as now used the much narrower ( and bumpier) perimeter track.

[RogerFrench]

I cannot see larger images either!

[Vitesse2]

For those of you not seeing the larger versions it's probably a browser setting issue. Right click on the thumbnail and select 'open link in new tab' or 'open link in new window' (or the equivalent - message will differ depending on the browser).

[Glengavel]

The natty gent in the original picture with the shirt and tie and white overalls must be recognisable, surely?

[ChrisJson]

It seems to be an international event as I see what appears

to be a danish or swedish flag besides the Union Jack.

 

Christer

[Dutchy]

I think the driver of car number 30 is Peter Collins. The location of the BRDC badge on the cockpit side is a clue. The car, I believe, would be his Cooper Mk IV as his earlier Mk III ran unpainted.

I have some period 500 books so I will check later.

[Vitesse2]

It seems to be an international event as I see what appears

to be a danish or swedish flag besides the Union Jack.

 

Christer

Well, yes - in theory. Not saying you're wrong, but in practice clubs used to fly any old flags which came to hand! I've seen photos of pre-WW2 Donington club meetings with 'flags of all nations' flying above the pits, when the only 'foreigner' present was 'B Bira', who raced on a British licence before 1939.

[Eric Dunsdon]

If that is Peter Collins in the Cooper the only record that I have of him driving car number 30 was at a Blandford meeting in May 1949. Nobody has mentioned Blandford so far. Visually though it  still looks like Silverstone to me. Blandford was before my time even!.

[Vitesse2]

Blandford wasn't an airfield.

[Eric Dunsdon]

Of course, the Blandford circuit used the roads of an Army Camp. I just mentioned that it was the only record that I have of Peter's car carrying the number 30. I'm still sticking with Silverstone 1949 or 1950.

[Kvadrat]

 

 

 

Looks like Bob Gerard to me.

[Barry Boor]

No right click on an I-pad, Speedy.

[Roger Clark]

No right click on an I-pad, Speedy.

A “long tap” has the same effect. Just hold your finger on the image until the pop-up menu appears.

[Barry Boor]

Right. Cheers Roger.

[Rupertlt1]

For early Castle Combe pics go here:

 

http://library.revsi...ion=p17257coll1

 

RGDS RLT

[Tim Murray]

Thanks Rupert. This photo from that selection would seem to confirm my belief (and Ron54’s) that it isn’t Castle Combe, based on the background:

http://library.revsi...ion=p17257coll1

[Pete Stowe]

 Click on the link for a larger image.

Lads, I have 7 images like this, all from the same roll of film, so all taken at the same event. As part of some ongoing research, how on Earth can I find out which event it was and the drivers/cars? Now, to me, it looks like very early Silverstone, but back then, a lot of places looked like Silverstone!
 Any ideas anyone?

 

Gary, are you absolutely 100% sure that these photos are all from the same event, even if they are on the same roll of film?

 

They are not Castle Combe. The Millington pictures in Swinger’s book purporting to be Castle Combe are in fact of the race meeting at Lulsgate on 15^th April 1950.

 

Your first two photos correspond to other images I have of that Lulsgate meeting, with the cars being the 500cc Coopers of EM Martin (#12) and Jack Westcott (#44). The lack of spectators in the enclosures in the background suggests your pictures would have been taken during practice.

 

Your other two photos don’t correspond to that meeting though, either the car numbers (#1 being an Aston Martin & #30 an MG) or the background structures.

 

I also think that Cooper #30 is Peter Collins, and that this could well be Blandford on 29^th May 1950, with Cooper #1 being Ron ‘Curly’ Dryden, although I don’t have an entry list for this event to confirm race numbers.

 

(Eric, Collins isn’t in the 1949 Blandford entry list & it’s not mentioned in the McDonough biography…….. he was 2^nd at Blandford in 1950 though)

[Eric Dunsdon]

Great stuff Pete, thank you for the information. Yes it was the 1950 Blandford race in which Peter was number 30.

[Dutchy]

A very interesting conclusion and quite surprising when you consider that the track at Blandford was no more than 20 feet wide at any point.

[bradbury west]

I still subscribe to Roger Clark's notion, and if not that circuit, certainly an old bomber base, to have such a wide piece of metalled surface.
In those days the perimeter roads would stil have been concrete based, surely, and not so smooth. Perhaps Graham Gauld might have some inkling.
Roger Lund

[Eric Dunsdon]

Charterhall, Turnberry, Winfield?.

[DanTra2858]

Images still don't load for me, Gary. Don't know why.

Barry
I have the same problem as you, I am using an Apple I Pad, could this be a language problem. 🤔

[Steve123]

I cannot be absolutely sure, but I think that the first of the three pictures is from Ibsley. Ibsley was very flat, the track was very wide, and I think that they used to paint starting positions. I am fairly sure that the other two pictures are NOT from Ibsley.

Although the old black and white photo could be misleading, the background does suggest very dark grass or heathland, which would be typical of land at the edge of the new Forest. West Hants and Dorset Car Club used to put up one or two marquees (as did most other airfield race promoters at that time!).

It is definitely not Castle Combe (the original start and paddock were on the far side of the circuit) and it is not Blandford.

So my guess is Ibsley.

[Eric Dunsdon]

Ibsley sounds good to me Steve. Again thank you for posting the photos

[Roger Clark]

Was the start/finish at Ibsley on the runway?

[Tim Murray]

Pete Stowe has positively identified Lulsgate as the venue for the first two photos, and has named both drivers shown in these two photos. I’m not sure why people are still putting forward alternative suggestions.

[Gary C]

Lads,  thank you all for your efforts in identifying my photos.  Excellent sleuthing from everyone!