25 replies to this topic

[Doug Nye]

I am trying to trace either David Beckett - I should, sadly, add "if he is still with us" - or a member perhaps of his family - or perhaps someone who worked with him concerning his ex-Ray Brightman Costin-bodied Lister.  It was originally a Chevrolet V8-powered car, but David Beckett fitted what proved to be a very good Jaguar XK 6-cylinder unit, and then proceeded to star in all manner of British club races over several hectic years.

 

Thus far through my normal connections - yes, OK, as opposed to my abnormal ones - I have come up against a blank wall.  

 

Could anyone here possibly help, please?

 

DCN

[Doug Nye]

No takers then apart from one who has written to me privately...  I now understand that Mr Beckett passed away in 2019 but am still keen to hear from anyone who knew or recalls him and especially his Lister-Jaguar.  I am told that he worked in Kenya for a while and during that period contested an East African Safari Rally - possibly the 1962 event - and possibly in a Fiat of some description?

 

DCN 

[Belmondo]

Doug, David Beckett did indeed die in 2019. I didn't know him beyond the odd chat in the paddock, but I believe he had a wife and daughter. The Costin Lister I remember him racing was Chevrolet powered and dark green. He raced this from 1988 for a few seasons only. I believe (could be wrong) he brought this car back from South Africa in bits. He also raced a red Nerus Silhouette in historics around the same time. I suspect he also raced a Lister many years earlier but don't know whether this is the same car as the one I remember circa 1988. I probably have photos if that's of any help. Phil

[Rupertlt1]

David Beckett won a Historic Sports Car race at Crystal Palace, 26 May 1969, 10-laps in #201 Lister-Jaguar, Costin bodied RB 25.

Bodiam Hill Climb, 17 Oct 1964: FTD David Beckett, Lister Jaguar, 27.04 sec, Record

Firle Hill Climb, 12 July 1964, M.G. Car Club (S.E.): FTD Beckett, Lister-Jaguar 3.8-litre, 27.89 sec

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 12 August 2024 - 16:33.

[Doug Nye]

Thanks Phil and Rupert,

 

Interesting that David Beckett raced the car in dark BRG, not the red and black in which I recall it, perhaps in Brightman's ownership.  But I believe that Mr Beckett sold the car and then bought it back some years later to resume racing - two stints in Lister competition, and I thought having replaced the original Chevrolet engine with a Jaguar D-Type-spec XK in-line six...

 

DCN

[Rupertlt1]

Without wishing to muddy the water, a dark-coloured Lister Costin turns up at Firle registered YCD 422.

The Costin-bodied car of Mike Anthony was sold, and the Chevrolet motor ditched?

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 12 August 2024 - 16:55.

[68targa]

David Beckett  is listed in the programme for the President's Trophy Meeting, Crystal Palace, 3 July 1965 -  #68 Lister-Jaguar (Red/Black)

 

He also had another win at Crystal palace 23 Sept 1972 but this in a Lola  Mk1.

[D-Type]

In Kenya he raced a Triumph TR3 in the late fifties and early sixties.  He even entered it in the 1960 Safari when they had a class for GT cars.  The suspension succumbed to the rough roads.

In 1961 he did better co-driving a Mercedes 220Se with Kenya champion John Manussis and Bill Coleridge.  The trio finished first narrowly beating 1959 and 1960 winner Bill Fritschy who was also in a 220SE.  I don't recall him entering the Safari again.

[Belmondo]

1988:

 

[Dutchy]

I remember David Beckett winning the John Holland Trophy for Griffiths Formula cars at the AMOC St John Horsfall meeting twice in his red Costin Lister Jaguar 'RB 25' - if memory serves me correctly it would have been 1969 and 1970. The Trophy was put up by my father in memory of his brother who was killed in his Victor II at a Ministry air display.
He also raced bikes and I recall him at Snetterton and Brands Hatch riding a very neat Triton in the early 1980s.
Years later I met David Beckett at an auction at Brooklands. He was assisting a friend who was selling an Ariel Red Hunter and he bought a Triumph GT6 for himself.

[Gregor Marshall]

Without wishing to muddy the water, a dark-coloured Lister Costin turns up at Firle registered YCD 422.

The Costin-bodied car of Mike Anthony was sold, and the Chevrolet motor ditched?

RGDS RLT 

 

That's the ex Dick Tindall car that my late father bought, raced, sold to Geoffrey Marsh and then raced again. From memory it went to David Shead, Alan Minshaw and last I knew Chris Milner, but has been for sale recently.
My late Dad upset my late Mum by keepiing it at our home garage, that he had double-glazed and centrally heated - the house we lived in had neither at the time!!
Dad always said it was the only Costin Lister that raced in period with a Chevrolet V8 and Jaguar 6.

[Rupertlt1]

16 Oct 1965, Bodiam Hill Climb: David Beckett, 1959 Lister Jaguar, class winner

21 Oct 1967, Bodiam Hill Climb: David Beckett, Class 7, Lister Jaguar, 29.83 sec, class winner

6 Sept 1980, Bodiam Hill Climb: Class 13 David Beckett, Costin-Nathan 1,594 c.c., Historic Sportscar Club

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 06 October 2024 - 08:42.

[Doug Nye]

I am seeking some info about the appearance of 'RB25' during Ray Brightman's original ownership of the car.  It was liveried in red with a dark central stripe which flared out around the nose.  That band was either black or a dark blue - it's difficult to tell from contemporary colour photos due to gloss finish and often bright sunny weather providing reflections of a blue sky...

 

There was also a large badge or insignia on both doors .  It had a chequered-flag background with some kind of central red design or device which - on photographs I have seen so far - is unfortunately indistinguishable.

 

 

Some race programmes of the period 1959-61 carry an indication of overall car colour - e.g. "red/black" or "green/yellow" - but I haven't yet found such an entry recorded for Ray Brightman and the car.

 

Any help gratefully accepted... 

 

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 21 October 2024 - 20:04.

[Belmondo]

Doug, a bit of digging led to the auction listing below, which states that the stripe was black.  Ron (rather than Ray) Brightman.

 

https://cars.bonhams...umbered/#photos

[GTMRacer]

Doug, a bit of digging led to the auction listing below, which states that the stripe was black.  Ron (rather than Ray) Brightman.

 

https://cars.bonhams...umbered/#photos

 

Umm...

 

Bonhams is grateful to Doug Nye, author of Power by Jaguar for his assistance in the research of this car

[Rupertlt1]

Brightman raced a Lister-Corvette in 1959 — are we talking about this car?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 22 October 2024 - 13:29.

[68targa]

A couple of programmes from 1959 show the colour as Red and Green (#18).  Here is the 18 April 1959 Aintree  programme. 

 

The logo on the side could be the insignia of  Brightman's entrant - Mayfair Autos Racing .

Edited by 68targa, 22 October 2024 - 15:48.

[Rupertlt1]

Snetterton, Spring Race Meeting, 22 March 1959

#22 Equipe Londres 

Silverstone, Maidstone and Mid-Kent "National", Saturday 9th May 1959

DNF

Snetterton, Stanley Sears Trophy Meeting, 10 May 1959

#17 Mayfair Autos Racing Equipe 

Snetterton, West Essex C.C. "Double Twelve" Trophy meeting, 24th May 1959

"Ron Brightman's Lister-

Corvette was in fourth place, making its

usual agricultural noises, but nevertheless

going very quickly. On the fourth lap

Peter Mould displaced Brightman, his

3-litre Lister-Jaguar being just too rapid

for Brightman's five and three quarter

litres of Chevrolet engine."

Snetterton, Eastern Counties '100' Trophy Meeting, 14 June 1959

#82 R/G 

Brighton Speed trials, 5 September 1959, Mayfair Autos Racing Equipe, #227 Lister, 5732 c.c.

Entered Rufforth, B.R.S.C.C. Northern Centre, 26 September 1959

 

https://www.racingsp...ightman-GB.html

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 23 October 2024 - 04:27.

[RAP]

West Essex CC Snetterton 24 May 59 says R/G

code in prog R=red; G=green

Richard Page

Formula One Register

[Doug Nye]

Thanks everyone - Mr Brightman - Ron v. Ray - when researching 'Powered by Jaguar' I was told his first name was 'Ray' - at the time of the Bonhams Sale I'd clearly forgotten that or had been assured I had got it wrong in the book and it should be 'Ron'.  My instinctive memory remains 'Ray', but hey - Mr Brightman, adoptive owner of registration 'RB25' either way, from AC to Lizzie...

 

So, Red livery with dark British Racing Green centreline stripe?  It's just so difficult to resolve black or dark blue or indeed dark BRG in contemporary colour photography...

 

 

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 23 October 2024 - 14:13.

[68targa]

Interesting that the Champion van behind also appears red over dark blue when Champion colours were/are Red/Black.  I played around on Adobe and changing the blue hue a small amount resulted in green showing through on the Lister and black came through on the Champion van.  

 

[bradbury west]

Something of an intriguing photograph, hard to assess a possible date. Late sixties possibly 1970 ish as the newest car in the shot would seem to be the Daimler Majestic (Major) along with the four door Consul  Classic.  The A55 Champion van could have still been quite new. It would be interesting to identify the venue, which looks too relaxed for a race circuit, so possibly a hillclimb, possibly that one on the coast in S Devon.

Roger Lund.

Edited by bradbury west, 23 October 2024 - 16:01.

[Doug Nye]

Wiscombe Park?

 

DCN

[Rupertlt1]

I am suspecting Firle? Chalky? (It packed up end 1967.)

But did the car run there in this trim? This is with the Chev?

(No flat paddock like this at Wiscombe.)

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 23 October 2024 - 18:32.

[RAP]

It could be Firle 25 May 63.

Beckett was no. 103 and that could be the very feint number on the car.

In the background is a Lotus 7 #94 which fits with K C Williams Lotus 7 1340cc

 

However I'm stumped by #3. At Firle the saloons were always the lowest numbers so at almost any meeting #3 would be a Mini of some sort.

 

Just about visible in the background is 54 which was an MGA which, although fuzzy, could be right.

Also an AC which could be Munro's 

 

The general layout looks right for Firle which a flat chalky paddock which was where some of the chalk had been quarried at some time and a Very steep hill to the top corner behind the paddock, It was always a hard choice - slog up the long steadily climbing path that followed the line of the course or go "mountaineering" up the shorter very very steep hill.

Richard Page

[Rupertlt1]

North Weald Aerodrome, West Essex Car Club sprint, 5 April 1959

FTD: R. Brightman, (Lister-Corvette) 20.87 sec

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 17 November 2024 - 12:32.