59 replies to this topic

[Vitesse2]

My father was a mechanic (for Cyril Williams, Junior TT winner) in Wolverhampton, using petrol to clean engine parts on military vehicles. I believe from what he told me that some might have been left over on occasion... He also, incidentally, drove in the occasional convoy, trying to keep sight of the lorry ahead in unlit roads, with shielded headlamps, and no roadsigns. (Only the leader knew the way).

I assume the many garages which were engaged on war work of that sort were more generously supplied with fuel. So I'm sure there would have been some 'left over' - although if you were on the road in a private car once 'basic' had been withdrawn you needed a 100% cast-iron reason to be doing so, probably in triplicate, as you'd likely be stopped by Plod or the MPs.

 

Convoy work of that sort is depicted in the 1943 movie The Gentle Sex.

[Doug Nye]

Edited to add. I have been unobservant! That engine in photo 2 doesn't look very Alfa, not to mention the layshaft driven blower. I wonder if it could be the LMB V8?

 

S.

 

I believe that was indeed the LMB V8.  Leslie Ballamy is often mentioned in assorted DSJ references to the 750MC meetings and other motoring enthusiast 'gatherings' during wartime.  J.V. 'Joby' Bowles also features in some fresh negs I have just found, with Holly Birkett - the vet based at Pondtail Road, Fleet, on the Hampshire/Surrey border - not far from Blackbushe and the RAE at Farnborough who was, incidentally, the proud possessor of a petrol allowance "for his emergency work".   That of course extended to driving "the lads" many miles to revisit old pre-war haunts, like the scene of the Land's End Trials...  He did run a Bugatti Type 37. I will post more when an otherwise idle moment reappears.

 

DCN

[bradbury west]

Extending off topic slightly, but carrying on from Doug’s post above, I must say I have enjoyed Tony Russell’s “Out in front” , the Leslie Ballamy story, first published in 2004. I have always admired the LMB concept and his work since I was a youth, probably thanks to Bill Boddy, later topped up with chats with DSJ, and no doubt prompted by the fact I had a Ford Popular as my first car as a lad. To me LMB was a remarkable engineer at an interesting time with interesting people. The well illustrated hard back book is nicely written , with lots of nuts and bolts stuff written clearly so that a recognised non engineer such as myself can follow and understand just about all of the technical stuff. I found the narrative and information about his super charger most interesting. As a logical bonus at the back of the book there are numerous tech drawings and copies of Ballamy’s patent application documents.
I imagine copies are available for a modest price on t’internet. Mine cost very little and seemed new.
I feel it is well worth looking for, especially if you are of the “broad church” tendency.
Usual disclaimers, as they used to say…
Roger Lund.

[Vitesse2]

£20 seems to be the minimum going rate for it these days, Roger. I paid substantially less for my copy on eBay - second-hand, ex-library and apparently only loaned out a couple of times before being withdrawn! I can certainly endorse your opinion of it.

[bradbury west]

 He also, incidentally, drove in the occasional convoy, trying to keep sight of the lorry ahead in unlit roads, with shielded headlamps, and no roadsigns. (Only the leader knew the way).

I was told years ago by someone who drove on  convoys at night that the diff pan , the  diff rear cover, was painted white and there was a small white light  on a crossmember to the rear of this pointing forward into the white diff pan. It was a case of following the illuminated white diff cover. It was normal to keep the white  panel clean. This may have been only in the desert campaign.

Roger Lund

[BRG]

I was told years ago by someone who drove on  convoys at night that the diff pan , the  diff rear cover, was painted white and there was a small white light  on a crossmember to the rear of this pointing forward into the white diff pan. It was a case of following the illuminated white diff cover. It was normal to keep the white  panel clean. This may have been only in the desert campaign.

Roger Lund

No, the Army still use the same method to this day.  Why change it, if it works?  

[Doug Nye]

I have just read the Leslie Ballamy book.  Having grown up in Guildford where he based his LMB company into the '60s I vividly remember his HQ beside the river Wey at Woodbridge Meadows.  There was often something of interest parked in front of it as I huffed and puffed past on my push-bike.  Later the Brabham F1 team's workshop was nearby with even more exciting things to be seen.

 

The book is certainly worth reading.  Copies are relatively rare and quite expensive now. But I have to say it left me with a feeling of considerable sadness - like so many deeply committed British enthusiast engineers Ballamy expended tremendous faith and effort in projects which either fizzled, failed or reflected wild over-confidence misplaced.

 

DCN

[Vitesse2]

Autocar, June 27th 1941:

 

 

The Ely is a typical 1930s 'roadhouse' and that 'proprietor' (really a tenant, apparently) was then one Edward Alfred Montague Moore, known as Monty Moore. The above leads me to wonder if he was a Brighton Run participant?

 

http://yateleylocalh.../9286080/TheEly

 

It was one of my parents' favourite pubs in the 1960s and the wood-panelled bar area looks to still be much as I remember it - and as the 750MC members would have known it.

 

https://www.chefandb...shire/ely/hotel

[Vitesse2]

The Ely was also the venue for the first post-war gathering of the Veteran Car Club, on September 29th 1945.

[Doug Nye]

This Surrey/Hampshire border area along, or near to, the A30 road was a hotbed of dyed-in-the-wool car enthusiasts.  The two favoured pubs of the 750MC, the VSCC, the VCC (and others)  - the Ely and the Phoenix at Hartley Wintney - were (and are still) barely 4 1/2 miles apart.

 

Upon its amateur level the area has minor motoring significance but it is rather like the racing car manufacturing hot spot around Surbiton/Chessington/Kingston Bypass.  

 

DCN