6 replies to this topic

[Doug Nye]

Can anyone here enlighten me about a McLaren sports car which competed in the 1970 Speed Trials at Elvington Aerodrome?  I believe Tony Densham in his dragster set FTD there with a speed of just over 207mph.  

 

DCN

[Rupertlt1]

Could it be Patsy Burt?

4 October 1970.

https://www.motorspo...ce_type_id=6176

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 08 July 2022 - 11:24.

[Tim Murray]

The Autosport report (8-Oct-70) has this:

With taped-up air intakes and all-enveloping cockpit cover, leaving just a slot for the driver’s head, Tony Harrison’s ex-Scragg MGB-bodied (sic) McLaren M12 provided Miss Burt’s weapon, but by Saturday lunchtime there were long faces round the white car. A preliminary run indicated clutch trouble; a strip-down indicated an incorrect component and after a new clutch was flown in to the Leeds/Bradford airport, and fitted in time for Sunday’s runs, Patsy at least had the consolation of a new national 500 metres flying start class B record at 154.91 mph.

No other McLarens mentioned. ‘MGB-bodied’ must obviously be a typo. In the results the car is listed as ‘7.0 McLaren-Chevrolet M12/6B’, so someone must have misread ‘6’ as ‘G’ when drafting the report.

[Doug Nye]

Superb!  Many thanks.  Question answered in 26mins.  What a wonderful place this can be...

 

DCN

[john aston]

I was there ! Or at least I think I  was - I do recall going to a mist shrouded event at Elvington with sundry dragsters , drag bikes and racing cars sponsored by Bass Charrington. Arnold Sunquist , was it , and a jet car ?  

[Tim Murray]

According to a post in the thread below, from a drag racing forum, Arnold Sundqvist and his jet car were there in 1971, but had an off-course excursion when he lost control.

http://www.ukdrn.co....opic.php?t=1925

[john aston]

Tim - that's the one - I recognise the programme which I still have somewhere . Refreshingly, drag racing still goes on at Melbourne , another former WW2 aerodrome about 6miles SE of Elvington.