27 replies to this topic

[Rob]

I live maybe 1-2 miles from a place called Carver Barracks, which is home to RAF Debden. Upon reading Motor Racing Circuits in England: Then and Now, I was amazed to see that this airfield was used for circuit racing in the 1960s, particularly by the 750 Motor Club.

I was wondering if anyone knew any more or could provide any information?

Thanks in advance.

[RS2000]

Still used for sprints.

[Bloggsworth]

In 1964 Tim Moore won a Formula Libre race in a front engined Elva DKW at Debden - That's all folks........

[Gary Davies]

http://www.silhouet....cks/debden.html

[f1steveuk]

It was at Debden that Peter Bolton crashed Donald Campbell's Bluebird CN7, during an exhibition held during a race meeting. Campbell had a cold, and Bolton substituted, he then managed to drive with his feet on both throttle and brake pedals, the throttle cancelling out the effect of the brakes! He c;eared the road at the end of the runway by a good 10 feet....................

[h4887]

Originally posted by Bloggsworth
In 1964 Tim Moore won a Formula Libre race in a front engined Elva DKW at Debden - That's all folks........

Not the same Tim Moore who was driving a Ginetta G4 at Debden two or three weeks ago, unless he's aged very well!

[RAP]

Meetings in June & Sept 62 organised by 750MC
In 1963 there were 3 750MC meetings, the last co-promoted with Austin Healey Club.
1964 saw 2 750/AHC meetings and one by West Essex CC
1965 there was a final 750/AHC event, in conjunction with RAFMSA in JUne.

From memory some of the meetings, although low key in terms of racing, were promoted as "gala" days with side attractions such as autotests. Probably to raise money for RAF charities.
RAP

[Allan Lupton]

This is the Club that uses Debden for sprints these days

[Andrew Kitson]

I remember going there for a sprint in the '60s, my Dad was spannering a car there but cant remember which one.
We also went for some airshow/car event around this time, it was supposed to have some drag racing
which was new to the UK. I remember seeing Tony Densham's Commuter rail there, but it was raining so no
dragsters. I also remember a Tiger Moth landing, hitting a bump and ending up on its nose!

[hipperson]

I live in Thaxted..3 miles away.
I often see 'MOTORWISE' signs up. I think it maybe under 17s driver training.

[Dutchy]

Dedben was also used for bike racing in the 1970s by the Bantam RC. I went to a few of the meetings and they were very enjoyable. The circuit layout was very different from that shown earlier in the thread and must have measured about 2 miles round.

[Bloggsworth]

Originally posted by h4887


Not the same Tim Moore who was driving a Ginetta G4 at Debden two or three weeks ago, unless he's aged very well!

I doubt it - Tim "Elva" Moore, to distinguish him from the Lotus 23 pilot of the same name, was a painful person to be with, in the nicest possible way - Remember Bob Monkhouse had a famous Joke Book, well Tim didn't need one, he is an excellent corenist and could tell jokes for hours until we had to stop him as our aching ribs became unbearable; but his most famous invention was the "Tim Moore Supper", Fulham's answer to the old Confucian saying "To travel hopefully is better than to arrive".

Tim was round at the flat I and others shared with Paul Rendle, the Cooper F3 driver, and after we had eaten, Tim invited us to go round to his place in Fulham for supper the following Tuesday.

At the appointed hour, Paul and I duly rang his doorbell and were invited in; from the kitchen wafted smells both spicy and intriguing, so, grabbing drinks we settled down for the usual pre-prandial joke-fest and a bout of corenism; every now and then, Tim disappeared into the kitchen. After about an hour, in he went and re-appeared with one plate of food, which he put on the table and proceeded to eat. Paul and I looked at each other, thinking his joking had taken on a more practical nature; when he was about half finished we casually introduced the possibility of receiving our plates of steaming curry - we were greeted with a blank stare.

"You asked us round for supper, where's ours?"

"No I didn't"

"Yes you did, when you were at our place last week"

"Nah, I never did"

So there you have it, a Tim Moore Supper - when you go somewhere in the expectation of an event, and it doesn't happen...............

[bradbury west]

A couple of items from the Sept 22 1962 programme





The organisers apparently found they were able to refund 10/-, 50p, against the entry fee to all competitors who signed on, but that this should not be taken for granted
The lap record after that meeting stood at 1min.04.0secs. at a lap speed given as 84.4mph

Roger Lund.

[Rob]

This is really interesting stuff, thanks everyone. If there's any more to tell then I'd be really interested in hearing it!

[renzo]

is this it?,typed in *saffron walden and had a look around,look a bit like the drawing.

http://www.flasheart...5.4&r=0&src=ggl

[Dutchy]

Yes it is, and the bike circuit turned right at the intersection of the runways and went off to the left of the picture to a hairpin and then back along the peri track to the northern point of the central runway

[Allan Lupton]

In the days that Carver Barracks housed a cavalry regiment, the green patch at bottom left of N/S runway was their polo field! Adjutant and his son joined in on the HCAAeC Sprint (Porsche Carrera), CO (ex-TR2 racer) spectated whilst the others played polo.

[Bloggsworth]

I see in the top loop someone has laid out a Kart track.

Easy to see that it's a military installation, just look at the resolution, you can see the adjutant's wife's knickers hanging on the washing line........................

I could always get some decent jam in Elsenham on my way home to Stanstead.

[Allan Lupton]

Originally posted by Bloggsworth
I see in the top loop someone has laid out a Kart track.

Yes and it has to be rearranged by hand before the sprint course can go through it, and put back afterwards. Herd work, that.

[Andrew Kitson]

If you scroll just to the left and find the M11, then follow this north for a few miles you will find Duxford just to the left of the motorway.
Note the 'Sally B' B-17 sitting there on the grass and also the Blenheim.
Duxford was discussed within the thread on the Vulcan. Someone asked if the runway was long enough for the Vulcan to fly into. In this image you can see how it was shortened to make way for the motorway, note the marks in the fields to the south of the runway showing the old taxiways on both sides of the motorway.

[Rupertlt1]

R.A.F. Debden, Saturday, 9 June 1962, 750 M.C., 1½ mile-course

Results

750 Formula—Heat One (5 laps):

1. B. A. M. Small (Austin Spl.), 6 min 44.6. sec, 66.6 m.p.h.;

2. R. Eade (Austin Spl.);

3. D. Townsend (Molina Austin).

1172 Formula—Heat One (5 laps):

1. G. J. Rae (Rae "A"), 5 min. 55.8 sec., 75.6 m.p.h.:

2. S. R. Godwin (Terrier Mk. 2);

3. J. Corfield (Terrier Mk. 2).

750 Formula—Heat Two (5 laps):

1. M. R. Langton (Worden-Austin), 6 min. 48 secs, 66.2 m.p.h.

2. M. Thompson (Rasdan-Austin);

3. D. H. Beale (Austin Spl.).

1172 Formula—Heat Two (5 laps):

1. C. B. Garnham (Terrier Mk. 2) 6 min. 0.2 secs, 74.9 m.p.h. 

2. A. R. Wershat (Lolita):

3. D. Goodwin (Lotus 7).

750 Formula—Heat Three (5 laps):

1. R. Wheeler (Austin Spl.), 7 min. 18.8 secs, 61.5 m.p.h.

2. J. Pitchers (L.R.M. 3);

3. J. G. Ward (Ward-Austin).

1172 Formula—Heat Three (5 laps):

1. R. Inglis (Rejo Mk 2), 5 mins. 58.2 secs, 75.5 m.p.h.

2. R. E. Easterling (Rejo Mk. 3);

3. G. Whitehead (W.R.A.).

Monoposto Formula (10 laps):

1. G.J. Rae (Rae "A"), 11 mins. 26 secs., 78.4 m.p.h.

2, A. R. Wershat (Lolita);

3. P. Philips (Terrier Mk.2).

Unlimited Sports Cars (10 laps):

1. T. P. Hart (Lola-Climax). 11 min. 8.6 sec., 80.7 m.p.h.

2. R. S. Deverall (Lotus-Ford 7);

3. K. D. Laverton (Turner-Climax).

750 Formula—Final (7 laps):

1. M. R. Langton (Worden-Austin), 9 min. 14 sec., 68.6 m.p.h.

2. B. A. M. Small (Austin Spl.);

3. M. Thompson (Rasdan-Austin).

1172 Fomula—Final (7 laps):

1. G. J. Rae (Rae "A"), 8 mins. l.4 sec., 78.5 m.p.h.;

2. R. Inglis (Rejo Mk. 2):

3. R. E. Easterling (Rejo Mk. 3).

 

Autosport, 15 June 1962, Page 853

 

Brian Small, Richard Eade, Gordon Rae, Mike Langton, Michael Thompson, Alan Wershat, Clive Garnham, Jeff Ward, John Pitchers, Rod Easterling, Tom Hart, Bob Deverall, Ken Laverton, George Whitehead.

 

Photo captions:

"The start of the first-ever race meeting at Debden—Heat One for 750s."

"Mike Eyre opened the course driving the famous "Blood Orange" Ulster." Reg: GW 82.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 06 May 2021 - 04:07.

[DogEarred]

I did a kart race there, must have been circa 1972/3.

I arrived about 7.00 am and there was nobody there - just an empty airfield.

By 9.00 am, there was an enormously long and wide track laid out with cones. Two long straights and two wide hairpins more or less.

The gearing was as high as you could possibly get.

The big problem for us 100cc boys was seizing the engines on the long straights. People were seizing and spinning off on the straights everywhere.
I richened the mixture a bit, losing speed, but eventually seized too.

[Rupertlt1]

R.A.F. Debden, Circuit Sprint (one-mile circuit), 22 March 1964, West Essex C.C.

Results:

B.T.D.: Tony Marsh (2.0 Marsh Climax) 2mins 3.0secs

Class winners:

Ron Bambury (Mini-Cooper) 2mins 44.8

Maurice Winch (Ford Anglia 1200) 2mins 31.2

Bill Camp (1,650 c.c. Ford Anglia) 2mins 32.2

Mike Garton (1961 Le Mans Sprite) 2mins 26.4

Bill Camp (1,650 c.c. Ford Anglia) 2mins 32.0

Peter Butt (Jaguar XK120) 2mins 38.6

Clive Garnham (Terrier-Ford Mk 2) 2mins 27.2

Roy Millbank (Lola-Climax) 2mins 16.6

Ken Wilson (3.8 Lister-Jaguar) 2mins 34.6

John Horrex (Cooper-Norton) 2mins 27.4

A. E. Marsh (2.0 Marsh-Climax) 2mins 3.0secs

 

"The 750 and 1172 classes were combined through lack of entries of the former.

After a close fight it fell to Clive Garnham (Terrier) to the similar car of John Corfield, Garnham recording 2min. 27.2secs and Corfield 2min. 28.8sec.

Bergonzi's well driven D.R.W. was third, a mere 1.25sec behind."

 

Source: Autosport

 

Lou Bergonzi

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 07 May 2021 - 06:10.

[Rupertlt1]

I did a kart race there, must have been circa 1972/3.

I arrived about 7.00 am and there was nobody there - just an empty airfield.

By 9.00 am, there was an enormously long and wide track laid out with cones. Two long straights and two wide hairpins more or less.

The gearing was as high as you could possibly get.

The big problem for us 100cc boys was seizing the engines on the long straights. People were seizing and spinning off on the straights everywhere.
I richened the mixture a bit, losing speed, but eventually seized too.

 

There are some kart racing pictures here:

 

https://library.revs...search/Debden/1

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Debden Gala Motoring Day, Saturday 14 September 1963

Results:

Allcomers sports and saloons:

1. J. Anstice Brown (Olympic 997)*

2. M. J. Howe (Anglia 1500)

3. R. Brains (Sprite 948)

Sprites and Midgets:

1. M. White (WSM Sprite 1100)

2. P. Cole (Sprite)

3. R. Braine (Sprite)

Monoposto Formula:

1. C. J. Featherstone (Bond FJ)

2. H. W. Cooper (Lolita)

3. C. Nicholson (Embryo)

Sports and Saloons:

1. R. P. Mitchell (Apex)

2. A. Baillie (Pegasus III)

3. K. C. Williams (Lotus Super 7)

 

1172 Formula:

1. A. Wershat (Lolita)

 

The formula motor racing was

organised by the 750 Motor

Club, the R.A.F. M.S.A., and the

Austin Healey Club.

 

Herts and Essex Observer, Friday 20 September 1963

 

*Rochdale Olympic

 

See also: Autosport, 4 October 1963

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 June 2021 - 06:40.

[DUFFY]

Debden Gala Motoring Day, Saturday 14 September 1963

 

Allcomers sports and saloons:

 

Edited by DUFFY, 09 May 2021 - 05:32.

[VWV]

Am I in the wrong forum when the first thing to come to mind when I see RAF Debden  is the 4th fighter group. I will get my coat...

 

[Rupertlt1]

Debden, 750 Motor Club, Saturday 22 September 1962, 1½ mile circuit

Results

1172 Formula—Heat 1 (5 laps):

1. M. R. Paris (U2) 5 min 49.6 sec, 77.2 m.p.h.

2. H. W. Cooper (Terrier Mk. 2)

3. H. J. Milborrow (Milmor Mk. 3)

750 Fomula-Heat 1 (5 laps):

1. R. Wheeler (Austin Spl.) 6 min 24 sec, 70.3 m.p.h.

2. T. H. Hesketh (Finesse)

3. H. L. Bloor (Lewis)

1172 Fomula—Heat 2 (5 laps):

1, R. Inglis (Rejo Mk.2) 5 min 37.2 sec, 80.1 m.p.h.

2. G. Whitehead (W.R.A.)

3. A. R. Wershat (Lolita)

750 Fomula—Heat 2 (5 laps):

1. B. A. M. Small (Austin Spl.) 6 min 21.6 sec, 70.8 m.p.h.;

2. D. A. White (Impala)

3. J. M. Cotton (Finesse)

1172 Fomula—Heat 3 (5 laps):

1. R. L. Hay (Lotus 7). 6 min 11 sec, 75.5 m.p.h. 

2. J. H. P. Rope (Claydoc)*

3. D. K. Mean (Milmor Mk. 4)

750 Fomula—Heat 3 (5 laps):

1. D. H. Abbott (Jerboa) 6 min 50.8 sec, 65.7 m.p.h.

2. D. Hollister (Austin Spl.)

3. D. H. Beale (Austin Spl.)

Monoposto Fomula (10 laps): 

1. J. B. Moore (Warwick-Ford Mk. 2) 11 min 30.6 sec, 78.2 m.p.h.

2. A. R. Wershat (Lolita-Ford)

3. C. R. Miller (Goodwin-Ford)

Unlimited Sports Car (10 laps):

1. R. F. G. Wrottesley (Lister-Jaguar) 10 min 59 sec, 83.5 m.p.h.

2. J. A. Murrell (D.R.W.-Ford)

3. J. S. Patterson (Lola-Climax)

750 Formula—Final (7 laps): 

1. A. R. Wontner (A.R.W.) 9 min., 70 m.p.h.;

2. D. A. White (Impala)

3. B. A. M. Small (Austin Spl.)

1172 Formula—Final (7 laps):

1. R. Inglis (Rejo Mk.2), 7 min 53.2 sec, 79.9 m.p.h.

2. A. R. Wershat (Lolita)

3. J. B. Moore (Warwick Mk.2)

 

Mike Paris "driving Arthur Mallock's U2", Bill Cooper, Bryan Small, Humphrey Bloor.

Dennis Beale, John Moore, Chris Nicholson, Richard Wrottesley, Jack Murrell, Bill Needham.

 

"The second heat for 1172s contained

all the fast boys: Arthur Mallock, John

Moore, Alan Wershat, Ron Inglis, Tony

Youlten, Gordon Rae, Rod Easterling,

John Corfield, George Whitehead, Arthur

Cook and Co."

 

"Bryan Small led the 750 final until

the fifth of the seven laps when he

stopped briefly as all was not well in the

transmission department. He resumed to

finish third behind Adrian Wontner's

A.R.W. and Derrick White's lmpala.

D. H. Abbott's well driven Jerboa

was fourth."

 

"The 1172 final, delayed for some 

minutes while timekeeping errors were 

sorted out, was easily the best race of the

day. George Whitehead driving his

W.R.A. on the limit, kept Ron Inglis's

Rejo at bay until the fourth lap when 

he went grass-cutting in a big way at

Hadley Bend. This left lnglis with a

comfortable lead which he maintained

until the end.  Alan Wershat became

second practically on the line, relegating

John Moore's Warwick Mk. 2 to third 

position. and then followed Tony Youl-

ten (Terrier), Clive Garnham (Terrier),

Rod Easterling (Rejo) and John Lan-

caster's very well-conducted Special."

 

Autosport, 28 September 1962. Report by Michael Kettlewell.

 

*Claydon elsewhere.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 16 May 2021 - 11:50.