18 replies to this topic

[Gary C]

Any ideas anyone?

[Doug Nye]

Early to mid '60s - age or era?

 

DCN

[john winfield]

I can think of some A40 drivers from the early 1960s, but the only racing Channel Islander I know from that era is Bo (Boley) Pittard. Tim might know more, and might even have driven an A40 himself. 

[Doug Nye]

I recall Bo in a Ford Anglia, maybe an A40 preceded that?  Frank Williams famously rolled his A40 at Cadwell Park.  Chris Airey was virtual king of Brands Hatch in his A40 until he rolled it on the Bottom Straight and - so tragically - sustained fatal injuries.

 

DCN

[Tim Murray]

Tim might know more, and might even have driven an A40 himself.

I competed in an A40 several times but only in minor autotests, so suspect I’m not the person Gary’s after. Like Doug I remember Boley Pittard racing an Anglia, but don’t know if he ever raced an A40. Another Jerseyman, Mac Daghorn, was racing at the time, but again, did he ever race an A40?

[john winfield]

Why isn't Gary at his keyboard ready to tell us what he's on about? 

 

As Doug asked, '..early to mid 60s...'   age or era?

 

A40.  In competition, or someone originally from Guernsey just popping down to the off-licence?  Or are we talking about the road, having a thrash on the dual-carriageway to Oxford?

 

Only joking Gary.  Just being Sarky.

 

But why do you ask, and what info., photos or clues do you have that might help?

Edited by john winfield, 27 April 2022 - 19:10.

[Gary C]

....this all stems from me posting some update pictures on Facebook of work that is currently being done on my race A40. A friend posted that he remembered a guy from the Channel Islands racing one in the early/mid 60s, but he couldn't remember his name.....

[Gary C]

...of course, if I could post pictures on here, I would!

[Charlieman]

...of course, if I could post pictures on here, I would!

You could create a new public directory on your website and use it to host any pics.

[Gary C]

I can't be bothered with all that, why we can't do it like we used to, I don't know....

[Vitesse2]

Gary, the process essentially hasn't changed since the early Atlas days - apart from the fact that for security reasons any linked images must now be on a secure (ie https-enabled) server. Your Shutter and Speed site doesn't have https encryption.

[Gary C]

Nope, and I don't run the site either.

[bradbury west]

Coming in a bit late…

I did not think Boley Pittard raced  anything here before the Willment Anglia. A40 drivers, outside Doc Shepherd, who spring to mind are Harry Digby and Mick Cave who raced the famous Lorraine Eng  machine up to the Goodwood closure. I think Pat Mannion raced one 1962 ish, and Peter Bevan raced the one which Rod Bloor and his pal used to race against Harry Ratcliffe ( admits to bias…) in his  legendary Minor 1000 in 59,60, 61, from memory 4901 FN, I  need to check that. ISTR that Brian Cutting and Brian Tarrant had a Martin engined device and a Chevrolet  powered one mid sixties, and there were several who ran an A40 with a Ford 1500/1650 motor in them, names escape me. 
Short of looking through dozens of programmes and Autosports that is all I can offer at present. Obviously there were always regional/circuit  specialists , and I know that. One of my DRW drivers at one stage raced his uncle’s MGB engined  variant on a couple of Northern circuits  occasionally in 67/68. Apologies for not coming up with more as it is my period and from what passed for my formative youth.

As an aside, I would be surprised if Harry Epps did not  turn out in one at some stage as his garage seemed to have something of everything over the years, a true Brands hero.

Nothing rings a bell about being a Channel  Islander with any of them.

Roger Lund

 

edit. If anyone has the inclination, a good look through period  For Sale ads in Autosport  may find more information for Gary and his pal

Edited by bradbury west, 28 April 2022 - 10:32.

[Bloggsworth]

Wasn't Geoff Williamson a sparring partner of Doc Sheppherd? No idea where he was from.

[john wood]

Further to bradbury west’s mention of the MGB engined A40, the driver/owner was John Blanckley of Rockside Garage, New Penshaw.

[BRG]

Further to bradbury west’s mention of the MGB engined A40, the driver/owner was John Blanckley of Rockside Garage, New Penshaw.

So when such perversions modifications surface at modern day Goodwood, perhaps it isn't as anachronistic as some like to claim.

[Dick Dastardly]

So when such perversions modifications surface at modern day Goodwood, perhaps it isn't as anachronistic as some like to claim.

Maybe someone should recreate Harry Ratcliffe's 3.5 litre Buick-engined Mini for Goodwood....

[Michael Ferner]

And here I was thinking, what on earth does a Channel Islander in his sixties do on the motorway between Duisburg and Dortmund, and why is it of interest to TNF? 

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Gary C
Nope, and I don't run the site either.

No problem, Gary...

Postimage.org and imgbb.com seem to be doing a good job, not losing pics etc. Both are free unless you want extra services.