65 replies to this topic

[Rupertlt1]

Red #60 Cooper Mk IX-Norton 500 c.c., driver Rowland Keith, Mount Equinox Hill Climb, 17 June 1956:

 

https://library.revs...ll-climb/480774

 

https://library.revs...ll-climb/271246

 

https://library.revs...ll-climb/479975

 

Looking for his earlier Cooper from 1951 onward? Thought to be a Mk IV with J.A.P. engine? Possibly more than one?

 

Watkins Glen, Seneca Cup, 19 September 1953

Rowland Keith of Ashland, N. H., 1st F3, 12th O/A in #78 Cooper.

 

Mt. Equinox Hill Climb, Vermont, 20 June 1954, 5.2-miles

Two Coopers, driven by Alexis du Pont and Rowland Keith, headed an

Effyh, in the Formula 3 class, du Pont's

climb in 5 mins. 30.2 secs. gaining him sixth place overall.

Autosport, 16 July 1954, Page 69

 

Giants' Despair, Pennsylvania, 23 July 1954

500 c.c, Class: 1. R. D. H. Keith (Cooper), 74.11; 2. Phil Cade (Cooper), 90.49; 3. C. F. Irish (Kieft), 94.87.

 

BRYNFAN TYDDYN ROAD RACES, Pennsylvania, 24 July 1954

TROPHY WINNER: (Left) Rowland Keith (Cooper) who won the 500 c.c. road race, and was awarded a challenge trophy for the fastest average speed of the day. [Picture shows Cooper Mk V, side tank(s).]

1. #34 Rowland Keith (Cooper-J.A.P.), 33 mins. 51.2 secs.— red

2. #20 George C. Perrington (Cooper), 35 mins. 8 secs.

3. #75 Alexis I. du Pont (Cooper-Triumph), 35 mins. 31.2 secs.— yellow

Autosport, 13 August 1954, Pages 212-214.

 

Is this Rowland Keith at Thompson, Connecticut, 10 October 1954?

https://library.revs...on-races/167550

 

Rowland Keith at Thompson, Connecticut, 31 May 1955: #110 Cooper Mk V:

https://library.revs...on-races/134772

 

Recent 'barn finds' re Milo Kibbe in Massachusetts here: https://loosefilling...ir-cooled-cars/

Kibbe is listed #53 Cooper Mk IV, at Lime Rock Park, 13 June 1959. Note New England connection.

At Thompson Raceway, Connecticut, 1961: https://www.barcboys...2eazgchcg00da0r

See here also: https://forums.autos...n/#entry6068970

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 28 March 2022 - 04:12.

[Rupertlt1]

Russ Moodie, #96 Cooper, at Watkins Glen, 20 September 1952:

 

https://library.revs...and-prix/211214

 

This is the ex-David Knight 'green' Cooper Mk V. We now have good photographs of the 'blue' car and the 'green' car. When was the last known competition appearance of the 'blue' Cooper — Dillnutt at Bridgehampton, 24 May 1952, Hayground Cup Race, #79 DNF?

 

Official Programme: The Sports Car Club, Sports Car Trophy Races, Edenvale,

August 2nd, 1952:
"Peter Dillnutt—Peter is usually seen driving Trident Motors 500 c.c. Cooper in
which he won the Formula III at Palm Beach in Florida last December. There is
some doubt whether front end parts will come from England in time but Peter will
be driving something perchance even his 1931 Stutz.

Peter Dillnutt finished 3rd in Event No. 1 driving a Morris Minor.

 

Still blue in early 1953:

First Annual Canadian International Hobby and Homecraft Show,

Coliseum at the Exhibition grounds, Toronto, Feb 6-14, 1953.
The British Empire Motor Club had a booth:
"In the far corner was a blue Cooper-J.A.P., a 500 c.c., 14 to 1 compression ratio, Formula 3 Grand Prix Race Car. We certainly would like to have seen it in action."

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 31 March 2022 - 07:25.

[Rupertlt1]

1951 fragments:

Edenvale Sprints, British Empire Motor Club, Sunday 22 July 1951

FTD (cars) Peter Dillnutt, Cooper, .293 min

Dillnutt was outpaced by 14 motorbikes, headed by George Rampling, Vincent Rapide, .231 min.

BEMC Bulletin, Aug-Sept 1951, Pages 1-2

For more on Rampling and the Vincent see (Pages 80-83):

https://issuu.com/vi...ocs/summer_2020

 

Watkins Glen, Seneca Cup, 15 September 1951

#75 Cooper in the programme, listed as "P. W. A. BILLNUTT"

"Peter Dillnutt did not finish the race and we wish him better luck next time."

BEMC Bulletin, Oct-Nov 1951, Page 3

 

With thanks to Duke Argetsinger, Josh Ashby, IMRRC, Watkins Glen, New York.

 

Still looking for evidence on Edenvale races, September 1951?

 

Globe and Mail, Toronto, Wednesday, September 19, 1951, Page 10

Plans are already afoot for a

really sizable event similar to the

Watkins Glen meet, with the

Sports Car Club of Canada as

sponsors, at Edenville (sic) (near Bar-

rie) next year, when it is hoped

to give the U.S. entries a run for

their money. A small meet was

held this year at the old airdrome

there.

 

Official Programme: The Sports Car Club, Sports Car Trophy Races, Edenvale, August 2nd, 1952:

E. J. "Tobey" TOBIN—Tobey came from Buffalo last year

with his 328 B.M.W. which, though a bit sick, gave

Tommy Hoan an exciting 25-lap duel. The B.M.W. is

now rebuilt and very healthy with a new Fiberglass

body, and Tobey is bringing it all the way from

Yonkers, N.Y., to this meet.

 

The Toronto Star, Tuesday, August 5, 1952, Page 10 

HAMILTONIAN SCORES

AT SPORTS CAR MEET

Barrie, Aug, 5—Roaring close to

100 mph on the short straightaways

Hamilton's Tommy Hoan won the

Purilator (sic) trophy in the one-hour

handicap at the Sports Car Club

races Saturday at Edenvale airport.

It was Hoan's second straight win

in the annual event and he aver-

aged 62 miles an hour.

 

1951:

"The next year, Brad

Richardson rolled his M.G. TD

in the very same spot but was

more fortunate."

"The year 1951 saw a big entry

in the formula race including a

J2 Allard (Elizabethan Hot-Rod)

a B.M.W. numerous M.G. both

T.C. and T.D. two Morris Minors

and Fiat 500.

That year saw Pat Sword rac-

ing her yellow and black Riley

and we shall not forget the sight

of Pat leaving the car in a dead

run when she thought it had

caught fire. Everyone else thought

so too, but actually the dip stick

had broken and it was too full of

oil. The cloud of smoke was indeed

impressive."

Alice Fergusson, Canadian Speed Special, Friday 14 August 1953, Page 6

 

Update: Donald B. Clark, sometime Cooper driver, was announced as a new member of the B.E.M.C. in the Monthly Bulletin, June-July 1951.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 01 April 2022 - 09:08.

[Rupertlt1]

A Cooper FIII with B.S.A. motor was entered as #10 by Donald R. Smith of Calgary, Alberta, at Fort Macleod, AB, 11 October 1964.

He was a member of the Calgary Sports Car Club.

 

See also: https://forums.autos...dpost&p=6715660

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 31 March 2024 - 11:03.

[Rupertlt1]

A film has turned up at IMRRC showing Burke Mountain Hill Climb, Vermont, 5 July 1952

It shows three FIII Coopers:

unpainted alloy Cooper FIII, possibly silver, red wheels, single exhaust, saddle tank

#73 Cooper FIII, red, single exhaust, saddle tank

#75 yellow FIII Cooper-Triumph, twin carbs, twin exhaust, saddle tank, Alexis duPont

(equal second — 3 mins, 9 seconds — St. Johnsbury Republican, Fri, 11 Jul 1952, Page 1. But is this correct?)

Can we identify the two unknown cars? Maurice 'Bud' Hoopes, Glen Falls, New York? Could he be #73?

Could the silver car be Gordon Lipe?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 August 2024 - 04:57.

[Rupertlt1]

Here is #277 Rowland Keith at Thompson, Connecticut, 2 September 1956:

https://library.revs...thompson/459446

 

See also ref Russ Moodie at Watkins Glen, 1952, note saddle tank:

https://library.revs...and-prix/211214

This is the ex-David Knight car imported into Canada in 1951 via Trident Motors.

Lap record at Edenvale, 4 July 1953 (jointly with Vern Jeffries, Jaguar), 1min 31secs.

 

Russ Moodie, #63 Cooper, was the FIII class winner at S.C.C.A. Thompson, Connecticut, 17-18 August 1952.

Sometimes John Moodie.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 28 August 2024 - 09:46.

[Rupertlt1]

At the Hamilton Sports Car Club sprints, 8 July 1956

Kohler Airport, Cayuga, Ontario

"Our largest event to date with 54 entrants. F.T.D.:

Sadler Special at 16.8 for the standing quarter."

Don Clarke, Sports Car Club (Toronto), 8th, is listed:

COOPER MARK IV, Formula 3

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Harewood Acres, Sports Car Trophy Races, Sports Car Club (Toronto), Saturday 17 August 1957

#106 Joseph R. Blaser, South Euclid, Ohio, SCCA, Cooper F3

 

COOPER MARK IV FORMULA 3. Car fitted with 4 stud

J A P engine, tires excellent, photo available.

Joseph R. Blaser, 1109 Argonne Rd., South Euclid 21, Ohio.

Road & Track, January 1958, Page 64

 

DISMANTLING the following cars, all parts

available: 1948 Ford Prefect 4-door, 1949 Ford

Prefect 4-door, Renault 4CV. Write me your

needs. Joseph R. Blaser, 1459 Warrensville

Center Rd., Cleveland Heights 21, Ohio.

Road & Track, June 1958, Page 65

 

He was Joseph Robert Blaser.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 24 August 2024 - 07:11.

[lcbulldog]

My dad was active in the SCCA beginning in the early 1950s.  We were at a SCCA race in Tucson, AZ sometime around 1960 looking at a JAP powered FIII and Dad said that some of the JAP engines had been destroyed because of the animosity towards Japan post-WWII. 

 

Mark

[Rupertlt1]

Harewood Acres, Sports Car Trophy Races, Sports Car Club (Toronto), Saturday 17 August 1957

#97 Don Black, Oak Park, Michigan, Cooper Mark VI

 

COOPER-JAP, 500cc. Excellent specimen complete with

lightweight trailer. Spares include engine, gearbox,

many new engine parts, special tools, fuel. Photos

available. D. Black, 24101 Beverly, Oak Park, Michigan,

LI 5-5735.

Road & Track, November 1957, Page 63

 

Also #69 Bill Brunt, Toronto, Ecurie Volante, Cooper-Norton FIII

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 25 August 2024 - 06:30.

[Rupertlt1]

Two further sightings of what we now know is a historic Cooper MkIV:

2nd Annual O'Keefe Sundown Grand Prix, Sept 30-Oct 1, 1960
#94 Cooper Panhard MkIV, Class 6, Auto France Ltee, J. Mitchell/N. Shier, Montreal, Quebec
GVCC Mosport Park, Aug 5, 1961 Canada Class
#100 Mitchell-Shier Racing, Norm Shier, Montreal, Cooper Panhard
RGDS RLT

--- In CMSHG@yahoogroups.com, "hockleyvalley" wrote:
>
> St. Eugene, 9.7.1961, #27 J. A. Jack Mitchell (CDN), Valois, Cooper-Panhard 850 c.c.

Can anybody shed more light on this driver and car? RGDS RLT
>

 

This car turns up in a film at the Canadian Motorsport Historical Society from Harewood Acres, 1960 (Peter Bone Fond, 3mins 48sec), being unloaded from a trailer.

It is painted light blue with red upholstery. It also has, unusually, headlights and a single central tail-light.

It has lost its elegant louvered rear bodywork and is fitted with a crude home-made engine cover.

Also white rollover bar. Who is the man unloading the car?

At St. Eugene car variously described as a Mark 7, Mark 6, but neither of those things.

RGDS RLT   

Edited by Rupertlt1, 27 August 2024 - 07:05.

[Rupertlt1]

#69 Bill Brunt, Toronto, Ecurie Volante, Cooper-Norton FIII turns up at Giants Despair, Pennsylvania, here:

https://www.barcboys...rynfan-19521957

I think this is 1957, car looks BRG.

GD was a magnet for Canadian racers.

A full days drive from Hogtown.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 29 August 2024 - 04:28.

[Rupertlt1]

A Cooper FIII car turns up in Texas and Oklahoma in 1952:

Another entrant in the race is

the Cooper, a bantam sized auto-

motive giant that carries an engine

about the size of a powerplant that

pushes along the little motor scoot-

ers which put-put along the streets.

The Cooper, a British product,

sports a 30-cubic inch engine—

about the same as one cylinder of

an average American car.

But don't sneer. The little four

wheeler atom bomb can accelerate

to 60 miles per hour in five sec-

onds, zoom to 100 miles per hour

in eight seconds, and keep going

to 125 miles an hour.

The Cooper is powered with a

one-cylinder British motorcycle

engine. It is chain driven and has

a rear mounted engine.

The fabulous little Cooper will

be making its first Oklahoma ap-

pearance in today's races. It will

be piloted by N. J. Scott jr., Hous-

ton, southwest distributor for the

car.

Okmulgee Daily Times, Sun, 31 Aug 1952 Page 8

 

Okmulgee Airport, Oklahoma, Sunday 31 August 1952

"Mechanical difficulties took a

heavy toll of cars. Two British

Allards were laid up, as was a

German Porche (sic), a Jowett Jupiter,

a Cooper and a number of MGs."

Okmulgee Daily Times, Wed, 3 Sept 1952, Page 5

 

Norman J. Scott Junior, Continental Motors in Houston, played a part in early Lotus history.

 

https://www.racingsp...-Scott-USA.html

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 02 September 2024 - 07:53.

[Rupertlt1]

The Cooper in Texas (see previous post) is here at Caddo Mills, 23 November 1952:

https://forums.autos...s/#entry9037806

What type is it? A Mark V?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 04 September 2024 - 14:06.

[Rupertlt1]

  Most of my books are packed away in boxes right now, including my copy of Doug Nye's Cooper Cars. In the edition I have (Osprey, 1999), one of the appendices gives chassis numbers, first owners, etc. for Cooper's 500cc F3 cars. IIRC, one or two of those cars went to Canada. I'd be grateful if someone could provide me with the details.

Everything goes back to the beginning...

The blue Canadian Cooper Mark IV-J.A.P., Trident Motors:

(twin fillers; straight swept back exhaust, exiting through rear suspension.)

Edenvale, 3 Sept 1950, Paul White, demo #45

Giants Despair, 11-12 May 1951, Charles Wheaton, #51, (having an Alfin cylinder)

Rattlesnake Point Hill Climb, 1951, date unknown:  Peter Dillnutt, Cooper, record

Edenvale Sprints, British Empire Motor Club, Sunday 22 July 1951

FTD (cars) Peter Dillnutt, Cooper, .293 min

Edenvale, ? Sep 1951, Peter Dillnutt, #2, "new lap record"

Watkins Glen, Seneca Cup, 15 September 1951

#75 Cooper in the programme, listed as "P. W. A. BILLNUTT"

"Peter Dillnutt did not finish the race and we wish him better luck next time."

BEMC Bulletin, Oct-Nov 1951, Page 3

Palm Beach Shores, 8-9 December 1951, Peter Dillnutt, #102, winner

Bridgehampton, Hayground Cup Race, 24 May 1952, Peter Dillnutt, #79

Edenvale, 2 August 1952, DNS?

Last sighting, still blue in early 1953:

First Annual Canadian International Hobby and Homecraft Show,

Coliseum at the Exhibition grounds, Toronto, Feb 6-14, 1953.

The British Empire Motor Club had a booth:

"In the far corner was a blue Cooper-J.A.P., a 500 c.c., 14 to 1 compression ratio, Formula 3 Grand Prix Race Car. We certainly would like to have seen it in action."
RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 10 September 2024 - 08:14.

[Rupertlt1]

News from Collier Miller, of Penn-

sylvania, is that he has acquired a

Mark V Cooper F3 Car.

B.A.R.C. Gazette, October 1960, Page 193

He was from Newtown Square, PA.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 26 September 2024 - 17:30.