27 replies to this topic

[BRG]

Can someone set me right about the various Pipers? It came up in a conversation at the pub last night and we all looked at each other and realised we didn’t know very much. I tried a search but couldn’t see the answer.

David Piper raced briefly in F1 before suffering injury during the filming of ‘Le Mans’. What, if any, is his connection to the Piper marque of car and to the Piper camshaft company? And is Richard Piper his son?

[fausto]

I never read about Richard Piper being the son of David, and Richard never raced historic Ferraris ;)

I possibly read somewhere that Piper Cars and Piper Cams where in some way related, but don't take this for granted...

[Peter Morley]

Originally posted by fausto
I never read about Richard Piper being the son of David, and Richard never raced historic Ferraris ;)

I possibly read somewhere that Piper Cars and Piper Cams where in some way related, but don't take this for granted...

Piper Cars & Piper Cams are definitely related - they started as a tuning company and making their own race cars (similar to Speedex/Marcos etc), this led to the road cars.
As the tuning business grew they seperated into two companies (With the road cars being fitted with engines from the tuning company).
The car business shrunk while the tuning business grew - taking over Dan Gurney's AAR workshops in Ashford, when they became Piper Cams and still going.

No Piper surname involved though:

George Henrotte was the founder
Bob Gayler was the technical side
Ken Packham supplied engineering facilities
Tony Hilder was an artist/stylist
Brian Sherwood came in as a customer and ended up running the car business which split from George who continued running the tuning business (e.g. Piper Cams)

I think Richard & David Piper are from different parts of the UK so most likely un-related.

[Patrick Fletcher]

David Piper was in New Zealand during 1960 ......... and because he never came back it does not really matter :

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by Patrick Fletcher
David Piper was in New Zealand during 1960

...and also in the 1940s

[Patrick Fletcher]

Originally posted by David McKinney

...and also in the 1940s

one has to have roots somewhere

[bill moffat]

Originally posted by Peter Morley


The car business shrunk while the tuning business grew - taking over Dan Gurney's AAR workshops in Ashford, when they became Piper Cams and still going.

.

Although Piper have now moved from the old factory in Bromley Green Rd and now work from one of those anonymous grey industrial units on the outskirts of Ashford.

Happily Bromley Green has maintained a motor sport connection in that Pete Alexander runs his Historic FF preparation business from a Unit down this leafy lane.

[bill moffat]

..and it's odd that so many of the surviving Piper (cars) have remained local to their birthplace. Only last week I tripped over (literally) a nice litttle Piper down on the Romney Marsh.

Having said that you will see colonies of Gilberns in Glamorgan, Morgans in Malvern and Caterhams in...Caterham.

[Mac Lark]

Originally posted by David McKinney

...and also in the 1940s

Where he went to school

[Bjorn Kjer]

Did someone look for Piper ?

[Paglesham]

Piper was the name of the garage where the business started.

I'm an ex Piper owner and I'm sorry to see that the Piper Sports and Racing Car Club has closed due to alleged lack of interest!
I knew Clive and Diane Davies very well. They WERE the club for years and did a great job. They also owned Piper Developments, a tiny restoration company specialising in Piper restorations and spares supply.
Both great characters, I recently learned that Diane died a year ago and Clive has nothing to do with cars any more.

But how do people with Pipers get spares any more?

Can anyone tell me?

The net is almost barren of information beyond sales of cars.

Martin

[SydFox1]

Hello,
I,ve just become involved and came across the Piper query,the answers suggested were incorrect.
I drove for George Henrotte in some F.Junior racing at the end of 1963,after that George opened up a
Garage,developed the site and moved on.he then changed directions (he raced cars previously)
and decided to build his own cars.This new car was called a Piper of which I tried out the prototype.
Not only that but he went into Camshaft production with Bob Gaylor who had raced but he was a
wizard with the computor when most people didnt know the simplest things.Things were building up
nicely and they opened up a new factory on the expectations of a large Pinto engine contract.But
memory tells me that there was a turnaround by Ford and this possibly causes the business great
harm which possibly caused their downfall.The Piper car was great looking and could have possibly
developed into the future.Thats life !
Syd Fox.

[SydFox1]

I never read about Richard Piper being the son of David, and Richard never raced historic Ferraris ;)

I possibly read somewhere that Piper Cars and Piper Cams where in some way related, but don't take this for granted...

[SydFox1]

I never read about Richard Piper being the son of David, and Richard never raced historic Ferraris ;)

I possibly read somewhere that Piper Cars and Piper Cams where in some way related, but don't take this for granted...

This is a message for Peter Morley.
Sorry Peter,when I wrote the piece about Piper Cars I did not see your entry which was 100% correct,
my apologies for butting in.
Syd Fox.

[SydFox1]

Piper Cars & Piper Cams are definitely related - they started as a tuning company and making their own race cars (similar to Speedex/Marcos etc), this led to the road cars.
As the tuning business grew they seperated into two companies (With the road cars being fitted with engines from the tuning company).
The car business shrunk while the tuning business grew - taking over Dan Gurney's AAR workshops in Ashford, when they became Piper Cams and still going.

No Piper surname involved though:

George Henrotte was the founder
Bob Gayler was the technical side
Ken Packham supplied engineering facilities
Tony Hilder was an artist/stylist
Brian Sherwood came in as a customer and ended up running the car business which split from George who continued running the tuning business (e.g. Piper Cams)

I think Richard & David Piper are from different parts of the UK so most likely un-related.

[SydFox1]

Being new to this online stuff I keep entering in the wrong area. this is for
Peter Morley. When I entered my piece about Piper I did not see your item
which appeared further on which was more accurate than mine.Sorry for
butting in
Syd Fox.

[Tim Murray]

Welcome, Syd, great to have you here. I saw you race many times, and look forward to hearing some of your reminiscences.

I drove for George Henrotte in some F.Junior racing at the end of 1963 ...

Would that have been in the Gemini?

Edited by Tim Murray, 13 February 2011 - 14:45.

[eurocardoc]

Good to see Syd here. I remember that he was very much a 'Piper' engine man in the FF days. I ran Russell Wood in a Merlyn 11A with Piper power, seems we always got new exhausts that Syd had helped develop! A tough competitor on track but a nice bloke off it. Oh, for those days.......

[paulsenna1]

Wonderful to see that Fox called Syd here! Great memories!

[grd]

Good to see Syd on here. I have his 1970 Macon MR8 that I have returned to period "D.J. Bond" livery, along with the Piper engine logo on the side. It is raced regulary in the HSCC championship and is maintained by Pete Alexander of P A Motorsport and has spent many a day in the Bromley Green Road workshop. If there is any interest I will post a picture of Syd racing it in period, and one of it currently.

[SydFox1]

Good to see Syd on here. I have his 1970 Macon MR8 that I have returned to period "D.J. Bond" livery, along with the Piper engine logo on the side. It is raced regulary in the HSCC championship and is maintained by Pete Alexander of P A Motorsport and has spent many a day in the Bromley Green Road workshop. If there is any interest I will post a picture of Syd racing it in period, and one of it currently.

Hi GRD,
And thank you all for the very warm welcome.The Macon was the best F.Ford I drove and would have won a FF Festival
in that trim.Unfortunately I fell out with D.J.Bond bigtime (I wont go into details)and as I could earn well from developing
other cars,not necessarily F.Fords,I moved on.I will try not to bore you but if you want any info which I may have,feel
free to contact me.
Syd Fox.

[SydFox1]

Hi GRD,
And thank you all for the very warm welcome.The Macon was the best F.Ford I drove and would have won a FF Festival
in that trim.Unfortunately I fell out with D.J.Bond bigtime (I wont go into details)and as I could earn well from developing
other cars,not necessarily F.Fords,I moved on.I will try not to bore you but if you want any info which I may have,feel
free to contact me.
Syd Fox.

I forgot (my age showing)I would like to see a picture,old and new of the Macon.
Syd Fox.

[SydFox1]

Welcome, Syd, great to have you here. I saw you race many times, and look forward to hearing some of your reminiscences.


Would that have been in the Gemini?

Hi Tim,
Yes,it was the Gemini,a quite advanced car for that period
Syd

[grd]

Here are some shots of Syd in period in the Macon Mr8 that I now own.

Crystal Palace


Crystal Palace


Thruxton


Brands Hatch


Brands Hatch


This is a shot when it had just been returned to it's 1970 livery by P.A. Motorsport


And one of me in it at Brands last year taken by Jon of Snappyracers


Here is a shot of me in my F3 at Monaco earlier this year, you might recognise the helmet design


I will be running the Macon in the HSCC championship this year so if you are at any of the meetings it would be fantastic to meet up.

[Paglesham]

I have recently been asked by a couple of Piper car owners if there is any chance of a a bit of action again in the Piper world.
I would like to see something happening again. The club has been arbitrarily closed down by it's current "secretary" and I would like to hear from any owner, past or present, of Piper road or racing cars of all periods.
Please PM with your contact details and we'll see what can be done for this much under-rated and under publicised marque.

Regards,
Martin

[BT 35-8]

Martin,
Could you reply via my email as per the PM sent.
Bryan.

[SydFox1]

Here are some shots of Syd in period in the Macon Mr8 that I now own.

Crystal Palace


Crystal Palace


Thruxton


Brands Hatch


Brands Hatch


This is a shot when it had just been returned to it's 1970 livery by P.A. Motorsport


And one of me in it at Brands last year taken by Jon of Snappyracers


Here is a shot of me in my F3 at Monaco earlier this year, you might recognise the helmet design


I will be running the Macon in the HSCC championship this year so if you are at any of the meetings it would be fantastic to meet up.

[SydFox1]

Hi GRD,
Good photos of the Macon,I will download the lot.Syd.