20 replies to this topic

[Terry Walker]

Am I right in assuming that FAV's Slough premises became Lola's, at 829 and/or 836 Yeovil Road, in due course? Or were they different? If differernt, what was FAV's full address?

(Part of the ongoing TNF Historic Racing Guide to UK ...)

(Which is getting bigger than Ben Hur...)

[Geoff.Harrison]

As an apprentice on the Slough Trading Estate I remember the FAV units - low key by the today's standards . I dont ever recall seeing the name LOLA anywhere .

[kayemod]

Originally posted by Geoff.Harrison
As an apprentice on the Slough Trading Estate I remember the FAV units - low key by the today's standards . I dont ever recall seeing the name LOLA anywhere .

Lola were there somewhere, but there's probably more than one trading estate in Slough. I dimly remember the Lola place as being quite small and dingy, low key doesn't do it justice, it was even less flashy than that. They were probably quite close to Wernham Hogg the paper supplier.

[MCS]

Always thought Lola were somewhere on the Slough Trading Estate, the main trading estate (and the only, initially).

Yes, there are certainly other trading estates nowadays, but then, only one as far as I know...

[Gerr]

Dunno if this may help or not. I have a reprint of a GT40 parts book. On the cover it has:

J.W.Automotive
714-715 Banbury Ave,
Trading Estate, Slough, Bucks
Tel: SLOUGH 27227

[se7en_24]

Originally posted by kayemod


Lola were there somewhere, but there's probably more than one trading estate in Slough. I dimly remember the Lola place as being quite small and dingy, low key doesn't do it justice, it was even less flashy than that. They were probably quite close to Wernham Hogg the paper supplier.

There is really only one Slough trading estate (I work there now unfortunately), it is huge and runs from the Bath road on both sides from Slough to Burnham pretty much. Banbury Avenue is quite near to Mars which is the heart of the original estate.

[Terry Walker]

H'mm. Surtees' address was 709 Banbury. FAV was 714-19 Banbury. Possibly the same unit, after FAV moved on; at the least, next-door neighbours. I'll be there in June, clutching my digital camera and A-Z. Come July I'll be able to post the first TNF Tourist Guide entries.

Reason I tried to connect Lola and FAV was that Broadley moved from his Bromley Lola works to set up the Ford GT40 project at FAV in Slough, and then located Lola itself in Slough. I half-assumed that when FAV moved out Lola moved in. But Lola was actually in Yeovil St, around the corner from Surtees and FAV.

Thanks for that!

[Terry Walker]

Slough Trading Estate. Over to the left it Yeovil, home of Lola. In the middle is Banbury, home of FAV and Surtees (at different times, I suspect).

[Geoff.Harrison]

As an apprentice I worked in Buckingham Avenue at a company called Light Production who made BHB pistons and piston rings - Citroen still had an assembly plant on the estate at the time.
Having now seen the map - I'm not 100% sure but I think that JW Automotive were on Yeovil Road site in units even more low key than FAV. This back end of the estate was always a
bit tatty . I don't recall seeing any reference to Lola any where .

[RDV]

Gerr - J.W.Automotive 714-715 Banbury Ave, Trading Estate, Slough, Bucks

...is correct... premises later occupied by Fittipaldi Automotive before they moved to the ex-Walther Wolff unit in Reading road, Reading

[kayemod]

Originally posted by Geoff.Harrison
As an apprentice I worked in Buckingham Avenue at a company called Light Production who made BHB pistons and piston rings - Citroen still had an assembly plant on the estate at the time.
Having now seen the map - I'm not 100% sure but I think that JW Automotive were on Yeovil Road site in units even more low key than FAV. This back end of the estate was always a
bit tatty . I don't recall seeing any reference to Lola any where .

"A bit tatty" certainly described the old Lola place, and Yeovil Road sounds familiar. Weren't those buildings all redbrick with corrugated asbestos roofing? Quite a contrast with the present Lola place in Huntingdon, which must be well over ten times the size.

[Geoff.Harrison]

Rondel Racing in Old Windsor was even more low key - a converted laundry !

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by kayemod


"A bit tatty" certainly described the old Lola place, and Yeovil Road sounds familiar. Weren't those buildings all redbrick with corrugated asbestos roofing?

"Come friendly bombs and rain on Slough
It isn't fit for humans now ...."

;)

[ian senior]

Originally posted by Vitesse2


"Come friendly bombs and rain on Slough
It isn't fit for humans now ...."

;)

And it hasn't got any better since JB wrote it all those years ago. Sorry to any Sluff-dwellers out there, but I have a complete downer on the place.

[MCS]

Lyncar were on Aberdeen Avenue and I think their main backers - Pinch Plant - were on the Bath Road.

[Geoff.Harrison]

Yes - had completely forgotten them - I used to spend more time with Alan Rees and co underneath the bowling alley !

[Mallory Dan]

Originally posted by Terry Walker
Slough Trading Estate. Over to the left it Yeovil, home of Lola. In the middle is Banbury, home of FAV and Surtees (at different times, I suspect).

Where are Wenham Hogg on this map, does anyone know ??

[MCS]

I reckon they'd be in one of those tacky offices on the High Street above one of the shops!

[Terry Walker]

Don't be hard on Slough. It brought you The Office and the Citroen Bijou...

And you can pronounce it about 5 different ways, probably a record for a one-syllable word.

[Vitesse2]

Originally posted by Terry Walker
Don't be hard on Slough.

You might change your opinion once you've been there!

Slough of Despond ....

[GT40]

From a knowledgable friend Lola (Eric Broadley) was next door to the FAV in Yeovil Road. FAV number was 827 Yeovil Road. Banbury was JWA. (J.W.Automotive
714-715 Banbury Ave,
Trading Estate, Slough, Bucks
Tel: SLOUGH 27227 )