26 replies to this topic

[Richard Line]

Having read the thread on John Pertwee and racing ( on this forum) I was reminded of Waddy,s Fuzzy the hill climb and sprint car, any idea what happend to it after it was rebuilt with the V8 engine. Anyone know where it is now???.

[Dutchy]

According to DSJ's "Racing Car Pocketbook" it proved unsatisfactory in V8 form and Waddy broke it up

[Richard Line]

Yes I have found a page on it in the Bastford Guide to Racing Cars, written by DJ. In the passage he describes producing updated suspension and a new system of drive shafts and linkages on the lengthened chassis. The passage also states that the car never reached fruition. The work described suggests it must have got close enough to decide the new concept was not going to work. I cant find anything about it being broken up and sold for scrap, or used in another car. Have also found a description in Motor racing Mavericks by a chap called Doug Nye, still nothing about it being broken up or sold off.

[Steve L]

I heard that Fuzzi was meant to have been for sale in the Nottingham area in the 1970s, but it hasn't been seen since.

[Richard Line]

Well that's good to hear. If it survived to the 70,s then it's around somewhere.
Cheers Richard

Now in Oz.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Richard Line
Well that's good to hear. If it survived to the 70,s then it's around somewhere.

You have a tremendous amount of optimism, Richard...

It only takes one break in the chain for these things to be consigned to Simsmetal (with which you would now have some familiarity, I'm sure). An owner dies, everything in the shed is thrown away so the place can be sold... that's a typical result these days.

Mind you, I share the trait with you. Hope you're right.

[Richard Line]

Well yes I think you may be rite, but my reasoning is that if it were sold in the 70' it would have been held for 5-10 years even if the new owner did nothing with it. When you get into the 80's in the UK people were generally aware that old racers in whatever state were worth something, or maybe that's just my optimism leaking out onto these pages.

[Ray Bell]

You're right, as long as it looked like a racing car...

If, however, its component parts were on benches, under piles of junk and stashed in different stables/garages/sheds, then the prospects diminish.

[Richard Line]

Humm, Thats just the way I have always liked to find them.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Richard Line
Humm, Thats just the way I have always liked to find them.

Don't we all...

But executors of estates, wives and many children have no understanding of these things, nor do they desire to understand them. They just want to 'clean up the mess' and get the best price they can for the scrap and then sell the real estate for top dollar.

[john medley]

Didnt Lance Macklin have something to do with Fuzzi in its V8 engined form?

Certainly Rollo (surname escapes me) who came to Australia, lived in Newcastle NSW,not only was a good friend of Robert Waddy's but worked from time to time on the car, and gave Jeff Newey some lovely pics of an emaciated and drawn looking Waddy in Fuzzi -- probably after one of his customary allnighters trying to solve the 2 gear box 2 engine problem. Rollo was a naturalized Australian, but Joan Richmond (both now deceased) was from Victoria and drove Fuzzi several times, to a Ladies' record at I think Shelsley. She had difficulty understanding the "push down the front of the loud pedal for more front engine, push down the back of the pedal for more from the rear engine' instuctions, so just slammed down the whole pedal --- hey Presto! Ladies' Record.

[Richard Line]

Well yes I think you may be rite, but my reasoning is that if it were sold in the 70' it would have been held for 5-10 years even if the new owner did nothing with it. When you get into the 80's in the UK people were generally aware that old racers in whatever state were worth something, or maybe that's just my optimism leaking out onto these pages.

[Richard Line]

Well it sounds like fun was had by all, and what a way to get the ladies record. Mastering the loud pedal must have been half the fun
The name of Lance Macklin cropped up when I was trying to find out how the Dommartin managed to get from France to Ireland some time between 1948 and the early 90s. Interesting chap, I tried to trace him in Spain and Monaco

[Sampaul]

Almost 10 years later, for those still interested the rumours are true. The Fuzzi was bought by my father in the early 70s, in Nottingham, and it has remained in his garage since. We have always known it was something abit special but it's only now we have decided to bring it to life. Any information / input would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks, Sam

[bradbury west]

Welcome, Sam. We look forward to news of the venture

Roger Lund

[Tim Murray]

Amanda Palmer at Shelsley Walsh is trying to track down the current owner of Fuzzi, as a reunion of Shelsley specials is planned for next year. If Sampaul is reading this, or if anyone else has any more info on Fuzzi’s current owner or whereabouts, please chip in.

[Doug Nye]

Here's the man himself - Robert Waddy in 1939, at work on 'Fuzzy' in his lock-up, western end of the Jackson Shed at Brooklands, according to Jenks who I believe took the photo...

 

DCN

 

[Sterzo]

Fuzzi features, of course, in DSJ's Racing Car Pocketbook. (Which was my essential reading during school speech days). As well as telling us that "announcers often had trouble with the entry of Waddy's Fuzzi, referring to Wuddy's Fizzi, or Fuddy's Wazzi, etc.", he devotes two pages to it - more than allocated to Benz or Renault, for example.

[pandaspecial401]

Thank you, yes I work at Shelsley Walsh and I would be delighted to locate the 'Fuzzi' after all these years....what a find it would be, So if anyone can help in locating the owner, it would be much appreciated by all at Shelsley 

[Doug Nye]

Brooklands sheds photo dated March 1938...

 

'Fuzzi' - here's der liddle rascal...

 

 

Photo From: GPL 

 

DCN

[Steve L]

Super photos Doug, thanks.

Would love to see any more please, especially under-the-skin shots.

[Doug Nye]

Me too...

 

DCN

[omobob]

From Motor Sport, August 1946:

"A hive of activity in one corner turned out to be the famous four-wheel-drive “Fuzzi,” purchased by Lance Macklin, son of the Director of Railton’s and being rebuilt and serviced for him by Cowell, Whittet & Co. The steel-tube chassis has been lengthened 22 in. to enable a V8 Mercury engine to be installed, and this will drive, via a Ford V8 “22” gearbox, by chain to a shaft running along the near side of the chassis, which will, in turn, pick up with the front and rear axles. Whittet, who is distinctly a welding wizard, is in his element on this job and is pre-fabricating the engine mountings and such-like from welded-up steel sheeting. Suspension is on the Porsche torsion-bar system at the front and by transverse leaf spring at the rear, and an entirely new, very Mercédès-like body will be made up for the lengthened chassis."

 

At the time this was written, Lance Macklin's race career was yet to take off, hence being introduced here as Noel's son. The Cowell referred to here is WWII Spitfire pilot, racer and first gender reassignment subject, Roberta (née Robert) Cowell.

 

[Eric Dunsdon]

I once saw Lance Macklin and Fuzzzi listed in a sprint meeting results from the lat 1940's or very early fifties, blowed if I can  remember wich one it was though sorry.

[Eric Dunsdon]

I once saw Lance Macklin and Fuzzzi listed in a sprint meeting results from the lat 1940's or very early fifties, blowed if I can  remember wich one it was though sorry.

 

Remembered. It was Brighton Hill Climb, Stanmer Park 1948.

[rogerh]

To "Sampaul". Any news on the parts in your fathers' shed please?

Roger, Ulverston, Cumbria (other chain driven devices - Morgans and Nashes)

[Dutchy]

I noticed today, on the ERA -only race thread, a reference to Fuzzi being entered for a race at Castle Coombe on 28 August 1954 by one P.B. Shortt. It was a non-starter but I wonder if that was the last time Fuzzi was entered for an event.

Edited by Dutchy, 15 August 2024 - 13:59.