28 replies to this topic

[Philippe Giron]

I'm trying to find out about a gentleman named H. S. Howlett and his Cooper Mark XI. He raced other Cooper 500's in the UK during the mid 1950's and took delivery of a Mark XI Cooper Norton from the factory on Valentines Day 1957. The car is chassis number 3-57 from the Cooper car records (pg 347, Doug Nye's - Cooper Cars). Listed below are the results from 1957 season, thanks to Richard Neale of The Cooper Car Club.

Snetterton MRC 10 Laps 31/3/57. #10 Finished 4th. J.Russell 1st.

Earl of March Trophy Goodwood 10laps 22/4/57. #57 Finished 6th. Pop Lewis Evans 1st.

Maidstone & Mid Kent MC Silverstone 10 laps 18/5/57. #27 ? J.Russell 1st.

Snetterton MRC 10 Laps 19/5/57. #4 Finished 4th. J.Russell 1st.

Nottingham SCC Mallory Park 10 Laps 10/6/57. #13 Finished 3rd. P.R.Proctor 1st.

Commander York Trophy Silverstone Two Heats and a Final 100 Miles 27/7/57.
#25 in 1st Heat ~ No other details. J.Russell 1st.

Vanwall Trophy Race Snetterton 10 Laps 28/7/57. #4 No other details.

International Trophy Meeting Silverstone 15 Laps 14/9/57. #5 No other details.

BARC Goodwood 10 Laps 28/9/57. #86 No other details.

International Gold Cup Meeting Oulton Park 15 Laps 5/10/57. #50 First lap crash took out Ivor Bueb, Boshier-Jones, Philip Robinson and Howlett.

'This seems to be the inauspicious end on his racing career as I can find no more entries for him in F3. If we knew the name of the next owner we could trace and entries through to 1960.' Richard Neale

If anyone knows of the man or has any information on his Cooper 500 Mark XI car number 3-57, it would be very helpful. The car went to the States sometime after 1957, but as of yet, we don't know when.

Thanks in anticipation

[raceannouncer2003]

Very interesting indeed! I wonder if he is related!

Are you buying/have you bought the car?

http://www.race-cars...175356441ss.htm

I found these, some of which you may already have:

http://www.500race.o.....h Results.htm

http://www.dofmc.org...wlett _pics.htm

I will email you.

Vince Howlett, Victoria, B.C., Canada

[RAP]

I think H S Howlett was Harry. He raced 500cc cars 1955-57 inclusive. I can add the following to his 1957 record -

Mallory Park Sunbac 22-6-57 #14 result unknown 1st Trevor Taylor
Silverstone MMEC 29-6-57 #25 result unknown 1st G Symonds
Mallory BRSCC 6-7-57 #19 result unknown 1st Trevor Taylor
Mallory NSCC 6-8-57 #2 result unknown 1st Henry Taylor
Mallory BARC 17-8-57 #17 placed 5th 1st D Parker
Silverstone 14-9-57 retired on 1st lap
Mallory 22-9-57 #1 result unknown 1st Peter Procter
Goodwood 29-9-57 placed 9th
SOURCES - Formula One Register Fact Book plus some additional information from my records.

The winner of Goodwood 22-4-57 was Stuart Lewis Evans, not "Pop"
I don't think Howlett won a heat at Silverstone 27-7-57. According to Autosport the heat winners were Jim Russell and Derek Strange. The 2nd Final went to W Ford.

RAP

[rbm]

we could do with HiRich to chime in now as he is a mine of 500 info.

and Duncan Rabagliati would be worth contacting (via the 500 O/A www.500race.org as he is there historian)

so Philippe, are you going F3 500 racing? from the link above I see that our Cooper 500 is still listed for sale on race-cars.com as the other Cooper project and we only bought it 3 years ago!

[Philippe Giron]

Originally posted by raceannouncer2003
Very interesting indeed! I wonder if he is related!

Are you buying/have you bought the car?

http://www.race-cars...175356441ss.htm

I found these, some of which you may already have:

http://www.500race.o.....h Results.htm

http://www.dofmc.org...wlett _pics.htm

I will email you.

Vince Howlett, Victoria, B.C., Canada

Thanks Vince

Have emailed you. Hopefully Warwick Howlett will be able to shed light on his father's Cooper 500 ownership and when and to whom he sold his car(s).

I've joined the 500OA and will be racing/hillclimbing in the not too distant future.

PLJG

[HiRich]

I can add nothing about the man, and very little about the car. My race records in the later years are patchy to say the least - most dates, but very few entrants. But I've been doing some detective work from all the information so far, and would add/suggest the following.
Pre-1956
I have no records for HS Howlett. One of the images in the DOFMC link (provided by Vince) is a mid-period Cooper (Car 32, with very young pilot). It looks to me like a Cooper Mk V. Presuming this is his car, it logically suggests he had started racing before 1956.

1956:
The first and only record I have is Mallory Park, 6/08/56, Nottingham SCC. Howlett finished second in the Consolation Final (two heats, consolation final, then overall final) to Dick Hett, both in Cooper Nortons.
Studying the photos, I believe this is the light-coloured late-model Cooper. For some reason I have a yellowy cream colour in mind.
Patently, this can't be the Mk XI. The engine cover looks like an early, unmodified Cooper Mk VIII

1957
Silverstone 14/09/57: Car was No. 5
This would be the brand new Mk XI, and would be the dark coloured car in the photos.

Post-1957
No information

The Photo Links
Best Guess:
Row 1:
L: The start of the Earl Of March Trophy, Goodwood, 2/04/56. Front row includes (from right): Ken Tyrrell (34), Don Parker (Parker-Kieft, 42), C Norton (30) and Ivor Bueb (29, winner). 2nd row includes Alan Cowley (Petty, 45), Cliff Allison (32) and Reg Bicknell (Revis, 41). Howlett would appear to be the pale Cooper under the Ensign hoarding.
R: Unknown, but my logic says Cooper Mk VIII, 1956
Row 2:
L: Howlett's Mk XI ready for the start, Goodwood, 28/09/1957
R: Unknown, perhaps a Cooper Mk V
Row 3:
L: Goodwood, logically Mk VIII, 1956. Not April (livery doesn't match up), so either 21/05 or 8/09
R: Unknown (Mk VIII, 1956)
Row 4:
L: Unknown (Mk VIII, 1956). Surely that's the Hall Bends, Cadwell Park, so perhaps 06/08 (the only Cadwell race I have for 1956)?
R: Unknown (Mk VIII, 1956). That wall is memorable - Crystal Palace? Can someone confirm?
Row 5:
L: Unknown (Mk XI, 1957). Race number would suggest Snetterton, 19/05 or 28/07. But surely the houses say something different? I've seen something similar for Brands Hatch, but can anyone place this?
R: Unknown (Mk VIII, 1956). I'm guessing the Hairpin at Oulton Park, for which there could be at least three dates.
Row 6:
L: No idea. I couldn't even tell you which one's Harry. But the chap leaning over looks familiar.
R: Well I'm a 500 man, so all I can say is that's no Norton motor! Perhaps a clue to his later endeavours?

[rbm]

R 2 R agree mk5 or poss mk6?

R 3 R Holland or Denmark? sure the truck features in the back ground of some other 500 photos

[RAP]

":[B]: Row 4 Unknown (Mk VIII, 1956). That wall is memorable - Crystal Palace? Can someone confirm?

"

I think this is Aintree 23-6-56 (placed 13th) Source "A Record of Motor Racing at Aintree" by Graham Heath.

The only time Howlett raced at Crystal Palace was 30-7-55 - 10th in Junior race in Cooper JAP. (Source A Record of Motor Racing at Crystal Palace by me)

RAP

[raceannouncer2003]

Found this in Martin Krejci's old website:

National Oulton Park [Racing Handicap]
Lanc & Cheshire CC (Racing Handicap), Oulton Park Date: 25.5.1957

Winner's average speed: 129,729 km/h

Pos. No. Driver / Nationality Car Laps
1. - Derek Strange (GB) Cooper 500 10
2. - Harry Howlett (GB) Cooper 500
3. - Peter Blond (GB) HWM Jaguar
4. - Bob Berry (GB) Jaguar D type

Vince H.

[Philippe Giron]

Thanks for all your help
I've recently spoken with Warwick Howlett. He has two photograph albums that cover his father's exploits during the 1956/57 seasons.

Warwick recounted, that his father ended up a tree at Aintree, relatively unscathed, after a wheel touching incident in an earlier 500 season. Obviously, he wasn't put off easily, but after '57, it seems that his racing activities had to cease due to work commitments.

PLJG

[Sharman]

I wonder where he found a tree at Aintree?

[Philippe Giron]

I'm sure someone has the results and track news from whatever circuit/hillclimb it was.

PLJG

[Philippe Giron]

Warwick Howlett has very kindly lent me his father's 1956 and '57 motor racing photo albums. So thanks again for all your help on the THF. I will post some of them in due course as long as copyrights aren't infringed.

The Cooper is arriving back in the UK on Friday.

As to where the shunt was where Harry ended up in a tree. Any takers?

PLJG

[rbm]

Silverstone entries havn't closed yet ;)

[Philippe Giron]

The first page of Harry Howlett's 1957 album.

[HiRich]

Well it's taken a year, but I think I've confirmed this shot:

This is actually the hairpin at Mallory Park. The meeting is 7th July 1956, though it's not yet clear which race. Howlett is leading (Cooper Mk VIII), Henry Taylor (Cooper Mk X) in pursuit.

[Philippe Giron]

Thanks Richard,

Wondered if you or anyone knew much history on a Cooper 500 MK IX, No 22, 1955? We think it had a Manx Norton engine from new; later substituted for a Triumph 650 by James Dale (USA).

Again, this car spent most of later life in USA, but unsure when it got there. Any leads for earlier owners both 'this side and that side of the Pond', would be useful.

[Jonas]

Hi!

Nice to hear about and to see photos of your Cooper. I hope you don't mind too much for a quick reference to this old thread of mine
My father has the 557 MkXI Cooper that was bought new by Curt Lincoln.

[HiRich]

Phillipe,
The only info I have on the Jimmy Dale chassis is the stuff that came up on the ebay auction (ie Jimmy Dale's own records). As you know, we have no chassis records for the Mk IX. Period Mk IXs I have records of are:
- Donald Baker, 1960 (East Coast)
- Leon Becker, 1956 (West Coast)
- John Field, 1962 (East Coast) although I think this is a typo and is the ex-Pupulidy Mk XI now owned by Nigel Ashman
- John Fox jnr, 1955 (West Coast), once borrowed by Leon Becker
- Tom Fox, 1956 (West Coast), not a typo, but perhaps a son?
- Rowland Keith, 1957 (East Coast)
- Bruce Kessler, 1955-6 (West Coast), sold to and used by Harry Morrow
- Bob Korst, 1961 (West Coast), although he is also reported with a Mk X in the same year
- Harry Morrow, 1958-63 (West Coast), Harry owned at least two Mk IXs, one being the Kessler car.
- Paul Richards, 1962 (East Coast)
- Ralph Ormsbee, 1957 (West Coast), although I have a memory that this might be one of the Morrow cars on loan.

Undoubtedly, some of these are the same cars, loaned or sold on. Equally, there are many late-model Coopers (Mk VIII-XIII) where I have a photo, but nothing to define which exact model or chassis (and I've not had the time to cross-reference all the photo's to ID each one that specifically. And records are desperately poor, so there may be many more chassis. From the few chassis numbers I have (mainly export cars), it's perfectly reasonable that the Jimmy Dale car was exported new rather than being a secondhand UK car.

Jonas,
Sorry, but the only information I have on Curt's Mk XI is the same six races that which Seppo provides (albeit with correlating sources in a few cases). I haven't found an image, or any indication of what happened to the car, although that could be because I still have a long way to go with cross-referencing everything - in context I have so far recorded some 12,000 appearances, by 1,800 drivers at 1,500 events over the years, and I have some 2,500 images I'm trying to reference back - a near-impossibility without a complete list of races, entries and race numbers...

I am keeping an eye open, and will shout if I turn something up.

[Philippe Giron]

Originally posted by Jonas
Hi!

Nice to hear about and to see photos of your Cooper. I hope you don't mind too much for a quick reference to this old thread of mine
My father has the 557 MkXI Cooper that was bought new by Curt Lincoln.

Richard is immersed in F3 500 archive materail more than most, but if I find anything relevant during my research, I'll let you know. Have you any current pictures of the car?

[raceannouncer2003]

Originally posted by HiRich
Period Mk IXs I have records of are:
- Donald Baker, 1960 (East Coast)
- Leon Becker, 1956 (West Coast)
- John Field, 1962 (East Coast) although I think this is a typo and is the ex-Pupulidy Mk XI now owned by Nigel Ashman
- John Fox jnr, 1955 (West Coast), once borrowed by Leon Becker
- Tom Fox, 1956 (West Coast), not a typo, but perhaps a son?
- Rowland Keith, 1957 (East Coast)
- Bruce Kessler, 1955-6 (West Coast), sold to and used by Harry Morrow
- Bob Korst, 1961 (West Coast), although he is also reported with a Mk X in the same year
- Harry Morrow, 1958-63 (West Coast), Harry owned at least two Mk IXs, one being the Kessler car.
- Paul Richards, 1962 (East Coast)
- Ralph Ormsbee, 1957 (West Coast), although I have a memory that this might be one of the Morrow cars on loan.

Undoubtedly, some of these are the same cars, loaned or sold on. Equally, there are many late-model Coopers (Mk VIII-XIII) where I have a photo, but nothing to define which exact model or chassis (and I've not had the time to cross-reference all the photo's to ID each one that specifically. And records are desperately poor, so there may be many more chassis.

I emailed George Keck, who was a teammate of Ralph Ormsbee, and here is his response:

"...As I recall, Tommy (Meehan) had a MK V JAP obtained from Harry Morrow then Single Cam
Norton power, later sold in Ca. to buy the Pooper... Ralph (Ormsbee) a MK VI JAP
obtained from John Fox , later traded to John Fox for a Cooper 1100cc
Monaco... Al Kleinberg a MK V JAP, later sold to Bill Toews... and I a MK IX
roller purchased from John Fox trading him my JBS less engine and G-box,
later trading the IX to John Hudson for his Porsche 550. Tom Fox (no
relation to "Foxy John") fielded the MK IX for John Hudson. I do not know
where the MK IX went from there... possibly Johnny Hudson may recall (I
believe he currently resides in Portland Or.). John Fox was Cooper dealer
in San Anselmo Ca. at the time. Of course, Robbie Tucker had a Kieft (out
of Texas) and Lew Florence an Effyh rounding out the field of once Pacific
NW campaigned Formula III vehicles.

Hope this provides insight and connects some dots regarding the Pacific NW
F-III era ('54-'57)..."

Here are a couple of photos of George and his Mk IX...





Vince H.

[HiRich]

Vince,
Whilst not sure what to do with that yet, it will prove invaluable one day! Many Thanks.

Rich

[Rupertlt1]

HALF-LITRE DAY

AT CADWELL PARK

Heat 3 saw I. E. Raby take the lead

from Don Parker and J. B. Welton, but

coming down the straight at the start

of the second lap the little man shot

past into the lead, there to stay

unchallenged to the end. J. B. Welton,

lying third, must have overdone matters

in the woods, for he reappeared in

seventh place after an appreciable

interval. H. S. Howlett was now in third

place from W. E. Ford, the latter being

caught on the final lap by R. H. R.

Hett.

Result:

1. D. Parker (Kieft), 7 mins. 37.8 secs.

2. I. E. Raby (Cooper), 7 mins. 40.8 secs.

3. H. S. Howlett (Cooper), 8 mins. 9.6 sec.

4. R. H. R. Hett (Cooper);

5. W. E. Ford (Cooper).

Autosport, 7 October 1955, Page 434

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 18 August 2024 - 07:36.

[Rupertlt1]

H. S. Howlett was from Newcastle.

Ran Brough, 25 March 1956, 500 c.c. cars:

Cooper/Norton, 3rd Heat One, 2nd in final

Handicap: 2nd Heat Two

Brough, 25 September 1955, 500 c.c. cars:

Winner handicap

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 18 August 2024 - 08:56.

[Rupertlt1]

James Haynes

"His tiny car, a Cooper, Mark

XI Formula III, capable of

travelling 120 miles an hour, is

powered by a motorcycle en-

gine which burns alcohol."

For full feature see Sports Car, Feb 1959, includes nine photographs.

 

Howlett is here at Mallory Park, 7 July 1956, #14 on the second row:

https://library.revs...rk-brscc/410734

Autosport caption:

GRID START of first race with (l. to r.)

on front row, Russell, Parker, Lewis-

Evans, Hett (Coopers), and behind,

Strange, Truman and Howlett (Coopers).

https://library.revs...rk-brscc/419027

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 21 August 2024 - 07:05.

[Rupertlt1]

Goodwood Easter Monday, Earl of March Trophy, 10-laps 22/4/57. #57 Finished 6th.

1st Lewis Evans 2nd Hall 3rd Strange 4th Parker

https://library.revs...h-trophy/394303

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 21 August 2024 - 16:56.

[Rupertlt1]

In 1957 Harry Whitney, from Philadelphia, PA., had a new Cooper Mark XI

"which he expected from England in March, did not arrive until June."

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Mike Wood, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, #177 Cooper Mark XI-Norton, was entered in the FIII race at Cumberland, Maryland, 18 May 1958. Watkins Glen 19-20 September 1958, DNF, possibly DNS. Placed at Marlboro, 16 November 1958.

How many Cooper Mark XIs were built?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 24 August 2024 - 03:06.

[Rupertlt1]

1957 COOPER-NORTON FORMULA III. Car

and trailer 6 months old. $2800, cost over

$4000. Short stroke Norton, spares. E.

Pupulidy, 127 Lillian Ave., Freeport, New York

Pioneer 6-2690.

Road & Track, December 1957, Page 64

RGDS RLT