1953 Connaught A-Type

This car took part in the Richard Seaman Historic Trophy race at the Vintage Sports Car Club's meeting at Oulton Park in June 1963 at a time when cars designed 12 years or more earlier were designated as Historic Cars.

It's the 1953 Connaught A-Type of John Horton, chassis AL10, which has a 4-cylinder inline engine based on the 1,767cc Lea Francis engine with the capacity increased to 1,960cc in line with the then current Formula 2 regulations.

1948 Fordson 7V Tipper Truck

This was one of the vehicles that turned up at a small motoring meet at the top of Werneth Low in Hyde in July 1991.

It's a 1948 Fordson 7V Tipper Truck, a model that was produced from 1937 to 1949. Originally powered by a Ford V8 engine but a 6-cylinder inline Perkins diesel engine was available as an option from 1948. The DVLA record shown that this vehicle is currently taxed up to the end of January 2024.

Friday's Ferrari

This car took part in the Maserati UK Race for Pre-1961 Grand Prix Cars at the Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 1999.

It's the 1952 Ferrari 625 of David Vine, a car that was originally a Formula Two Ferrari 500 with a 4-cylinder inline 1,984cc engine designed by Aurelio Lampredi, and competed in World Championship races in 1952 and 1953 when they were run to Formula 2 regulations. It was an Ecurie Francorchamps car, chassis 0208F, and after being in an accident at the end of 1953 it was rebuilt as a 625 with a lengthened chassis and a 2,498cc version of the Lampredi engine to contest the 2½ litre Formula One starting in 1954. At the same time it was given a new chassis number, 0540. In 1955 it was acquired by Alfonso de Portago who competed in a couple of non-World Championship Grands Prix then was injured in a crash during practice for the International Trophy Race at Silverstone and then sold the car. It then passed through various hands before ending up with David Vine in 1998.

1929 Bentley Speed Six

This is a photograph I took in the paddock at the Vintage Sports Car Club's Richard Seaman Memorial Trophies meeting at Oulton Park in June 1961.

It's a 1929 Bentley Speed Six with a 6-cylinder inline 6½ litre engine. 544 of these vehicles were produced between 1926 and 1930 and this one is chassis number BA2584, engine number BA2581 and is fitted with four-seated touring body by Hunt.

1950 MG TD

I took this photograph at the Northern Classic Car Show at Belle Vue, Manchester in September 1983.

It's a 1950 MG TD and has the 4-cylinder inline 1,250cc XPAG engine. The MG T-Type started with the TA in 1936 and ended with the TF which was produced from 1953 to 1955. The T-Type was superseded by the MGA.

1954 Maserati 250F

This was one if the competitors in the HGPCA Pre '61 Grand Prix Car Race at the Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 1995.

It’s the 1955 Maserati 250F of Jeffrey Pattinson and has a 6-cylinder inline 2,490cc engine. The chassis number is 2508 and it was originally owned and raced by Stirling Moss.

Mike Hawthorn

This is a photo my brother took in the paddock at the Gold Cup meeting at Oulton Park in September 1955.

It's Mike Hawthorn who drove one of Ferrari's recently acquired Lancia D50s in the Gold Cup race, finishing in second place to Stirling Moss in his Maserati 250F. Mike Hawthorn had won the Le Mans 24 Hour race earlier that year following the dreadful accident when Pierre Levegh and 83 spectators were killed when his Mercedes Benz 300SLR crashed into the crowd in the grandstand opposite the pits after colliding with Lance Macklin's Austin Healey 100S. In 1958 Mike Hawthorn won the World Drivers' Championship despite only winning one race out of the 10 contested but finished in second place in 5 races, whilst Stirling Moss won 4 races but only finished in second place in the Championship - the only other points he won were for a solitary second place. At this Gold Cup meeting Mike Hawthorn's team mate Eugenio Castellotti finished in seventh place and my brother took a photo of his car returning to the paddock after the race with the nose of Mike Hawthorn's car showing just behind it.

2006 McLaren MP4-21

This is a photograph I took of one of the many McLaren F1 cars displayed at the Donington Park Museum in September 2014.

Its a 2006 McLaren MP4-21, a car designed by a team led by Adrian Newey and powered by a 2,398cc V8 Mercedes Benz FO108S engine. Three drivers were used that season, Kimi Räikkönen, who drove in all 18 races, Juan Pablo Montoya, who drove the car in the first 10, and Pedro de la Rosa who took over for the final 8 races of the season. Kimi Räikkönen managed two second place finishes, in Australia and Italy, and the other two driver took a second place each, Juan Pablo Montoya in Monaco and Pedro de la Rosa in Hungary. Kimi Räikkönen scored 65 points to finish in fifth place in the World Drivers' Championship whilst Juan Pablo Montoya was eighth with 26 points and Pedro de la Rosa was eleventh with 19 points, Fernando Alonso was World Champion in his Renault with 134 points. McLaren was third in the World Constructors' Championship behind Renault and Ferrari.

1925 AC/GN Cognac

This car competed in the Boulogne Trophy Race for Vintage Cars at the Vintage Sports Car Club's meeting at Oulton Park in May 2019.

It's the 1925 AC/GN Cognac  of Tony Lees which is one of several Specials that were constructed in the 1920s and 30s using the chassis of a GN Cyclecar and either an AC or a Frazer Nash engine. The car was built by a Mr S.A.Cohen and 'Cognac' is an acronym composed from the maker’s name –  Cohen, the fact that it had a GN chassis and an AC engine that gives CO-GN-AC. One long time owner was Ron Footitt and the subsequent owner was a good friend of his, Freddy Giles, who told this story of 'Ron's last race' in the programme of the 2005 VSCC meeting at Oulton Park:

Ron’s Last Race…….

‘Ron Footitt of Cognac Special fame, winner of umpteen trophies and five times winner of the Vintage Seaman Trophy Race at Oulton Park, died in November 1990 and wanted his ashes spread at the Cheshire circuit. Ron wanted me to own the Cognac, and when I bought it from him we had quite a conversation about scattering him on the circuit from the back of his car. I could not carry out his wishes last year – the VSCC didn’t go to Oulton and anyway I had broken his favourite toy. This year was different – the car was going well and we were at Oulton. At what point of the weekend, and where on the circuit and how was I to release the ashes? Testing on Friday? Practice session? NO – let Ron do his last Vintage Seaman. Going by the practice times on Saturday, then it seemed quite possible that the Combination of Cognac, self and Ron in a small leather bound box could win the race. It was not to be – young Majzub in a type 35B (breathed on, it is said by Ivan Dutton) who didn’t practice until Sunday morning, had beaten our best practice times of Saturday. Never mind – let’s not give up before we start! The Sunday weather didn’t start too well and soon we were into rain. The expert opinion of Martin Stretton was called for – how to drive Oulton in the wet. It was fast, it was slippery, Old Hall got more and more slippery as the race went on. Ron and I couldn’t live with Julian, but we were well ahead of Alex Boswell in the Bequet-Delage and then in the mirrors appeared the great giant-killer, Stu Harper in the Morgan. At one time I’m sure that we were welded together and then he made his move, that I couldn’t stop and he was past, only to lose it at Old Hall! I didn’t get past him and I’m sure Ron was kicking me! Anyhow we finished a creditable third and on the slowing down lap I let Ron out as we came up Deer’s Leap under the Dunlop Bridge and just after Knickerbrook. It had been arranged with the photographers for that to be Where, and How was from the box that had been with me for the race. Sorry Ron, we weren’t first home, but we all three enjoyed it nonetheless.’

Friday's Ferrari

The Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 1997 featured a tribute to Ferrari's 50th anniversary with a large display of cars.

This is one of the cars shown in a special display in the paddock, and it's a 1955 Ferrari 555 Super Squalo. After an unsuccessful season as a Ferrari team car it was fitted with a 3½ litre 860 Monza engine and used for Formula Libre racing in Australia and New Zealand, at which time the serial number, originally 555/1, was changed to FL/9001. Some years later a Chevrolet V8 engine was fitted, together with a Morris Minor body. Much more recently it was restored back to its original 1955 Super Squalo configuration and reunited with its original engine. The car to the left is a 1962 Ferrari 196 SP and to the right is a 1962 Ferrari 250GTO.

1958 Plymouth Savoy

This was one of the cars I photographed at a car show in Hyde in June 2016.

It's a 1958 Third Generation Plymouth Savoy

The DVLA record says that it has a 5,000cc engine - presumably the 301 cu in V8

This is a note displayed in the windscreen of the car

1955 Atkinson L744LE

This was one of the vehicles taking part in the Greater Manchester Transport Society's Trans Lancs Historic Vehicle Rally in Heaton Park, Manchester in September 1990.

It's a 1955 Atkinson L744LE which the DVLA record says has been untaxed since May 1992. The programme of the event has this note about it:

Atkinson L744LE 1955                                                                                     OWY 271

Entered by T Fryars, Singleton, Nr Blackpool

New to J Smiths of Tadcaster this lorry was purchased for preservation in 1981.

1929 Frazer Nash Super Sports

I took this photograph at Druids corner during the 45th Bill Phillips Race for Standard & Modified Pre-war Sports Cars at the Vintage Sports Car Club's meeting at Oulton Park in May 2019.

It's Mrs Jo Blakeney-Edwards in a 1929 Frazer Nash Super Sports which has 4-cylinder inline 1,496cc engine. About 165 of these chain drive cars were built between 1925 and 1930, mainly with Anzani engines.

1957 Maserati 250F

I took this photograph at the Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 1994 and it's the 1957 Maserati 250F #2529 with which Juan Manuel Fangio won the 1957 German Grand Prix.

It was featured at the meeting in a tribute to Juan Manuel Fangio and the programme of the event had this to say about the tribute:

'The five times World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio is to be honoured by the British Racing Drivers' Club this weekend. Now aged 83, Fangio is no longer able to travel long distances, so he will be represented by his nephew, the 1992 & 1993 ISMA GTP Champion Juan Manuel Fangio II. On his uncle's behalf, he will receive one of the BRDC's prestigious Gold Stars for lifelong achievement. This will be presented on Sunday by Lord Hesketh, President of the BRDC, on the grid. Juan Manuel Fangio II will also be seen in action on the track when he takes to the wheel of the Maserati 250F that his uncle used to win the 1957 German Grand Prix  and thereby clinch his fifth and final World Championship. The younger Fangio will lead the demonstration of famous racing cars, together with Stirling Moss who will drive a 1955 Mercedes Benz W196, the type that both he and Fangio raced so successfully. For the rest of the weekend these two cars will form part of a special feature display of Fangio's cars which can be found next to the main paddock scoring tower. The display will also include a 1948 1.5 litre Formula 1 Ferrari 166, thought to have been raced by Fangio in Argentina, and which has just been restored by Tony Merrick. The quartet of Formula 1 cars will be completed by an Alfa Romeo 158 driven by Fangio in 1950.'

Here's Juan Manuel Fangio II in the Maserati at Luffield corner during one of the demonstration runs.

1900 Georges Richard Dogcart 9hp

This is a photograph I took at the Broad Street/Cross Lane roundabout in Salford of one of the cars that took part in the Lancashire Automobile Club's Manchester to Blackpool Veteran and Vintage Car Run in June 1966.

It's the 1900 Georges Richard Dogcart 9hp of  Mr J. E. Crossman of Whiston, Lancs and the programme of the event had this to say about the car:

'Found in a field in Shropshire about 19 years ago by the present owner. Regularly completes the London/Brighton run. Has a transverse engine (like a Mini) in principle, drives with a flat belt to the 4-speed and reverse Gearbox and by Chains to rear wheels. Wheels are wooden, solid tyres on rear and pneumatic on front.'

On 14 December 2021 I showed a photograph of the same Georges Richard Dogcart that I had taken at Oulton Park in May 2019.

1960 North Star Mk1

This car took part in the HSCC/FJHRA Silverline Historic Formula Junior Rear Engine race at the Gold Cup meeting at Oulton Park in August 2018.

It's the 1960 North Star Mk1 of Martin McHugh and has a 4-cylinder inline 1,098cc Ford engine. Formula Junior racing was initiated in 1958 by Giovanni Lurani as an affordable introduction to single seater racing and was initially dominated by the Fiat-engined Italian cars, particularly Stanguellini. British interest remained for some time with the 500cc Formula 3 class of racing, but when they turned their attention to Formula Junior cars such as Elva and Lola started to make an impression, and when Cooper and Lotus introduced their mid-engined cars they became the ones to beat. The North Star cars apparently had some success in club and national events.

Here's the car at Druids Corner during the Saturday practice session.

Friday's Ferrari

This car took part in the Shell Ferrari Historical Challenge race at the Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 1997.

It's Peter Glaesel's 1953 Ferrari 375MM Spider and was driven in the race by Christian Glaesel. This car is chassis #0370AM and has the Aurelio Lampredi designed 4,494cc V12 engine. Its first race was for the Scuderia Ferrari at the 1954 Buenos Aires 1000km race which it won, driven by Giuseppe Farina and Umberto Maglioli. After that race it was acquired by Masten Gregory who had the car painted in the white and black colours seen above but then crashed the car in practice at Pebble Beach on his first appearance with it. When it had been rebuilt he raced it for the rest of the 1954 season, after which it went to his then brother-in-law Dale Duncan for the 1955 and 1956 seasons. It then had a series of different owners in the USA and after passing through the hands of Anthony Bamford and Nigel Moores in the UK in the 1970s it went to Gavin Bain in New Zealand before ending up with Peter Glaesel in 1994.

1955 Ford Zephyr Zodiac

This is one of the cars that were on display at the Footman James Classic Car Show Manchester at EventCity in September 2018.

It's a 1955 Ford Zephyr Zodiac that was an upmarket version of the Ford Zephyr and has the same 6-cylinder inline 2,262cc engine, but with a higher compression ratio. Also known as the Ford Zodiac Mark I it was in production from 1954 to 1956 and superseded by the Ford Zodiac Mark II.

1954 Austin Healey 100/4

This car competed in the Equipe Pre '63 race at the Aston Martin Owners Club's meeting at Oulton Park in May 2018.

It's the 1954 Austin Healey 100/4 of Jim Campbell with a 4-cylinder inline 2,660cc engine. The Austin Healey 100 was designed by Donald Healey based on the 4 cylinder inline 2,330cc engine from an Austin A90 Atlantic. The single car Healey made was spotted at the 1952 London Motor Show by Leonard Lord, managing director of Austin, who reached an agreement with Donald Healey for the cars to be made by Austin with the bodies provided by Jensen Motors. The cars were produced from 1953 to 1956.

Here's the car at Druids Corner during the early morning practice session.

Osca MT4

This car was on display (I think by the Maserati Club) in the paddock at The Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 1998.

It's an Osca MT4 2AD and behind it is a Maserati motorcycle. When the Maserati brothers Ernesto, Ettore and Bindo sold their shares in the Maserati company to Adolfo Orsi in 1937 they agreed a contract to stay with the company for 10 years, and in 1947 when the contract terminated they formed a new company, Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobile (O.S.C.A.) - more usually known as Osca. Their initial aim was to build a car for the 1100cc class of sports car racing, and their first car was the 1,092cc MT4 with the engine based on a 4-cylinder Fiat unit. The MT4 was produced until 1953 with the engine being enlarged to 1,453 cc for the later cars.

2019 Mercedes Benz Actros 1820

This is a photograph I took at the back of the Lowry Theatre at Salford Quays in April 2022.

It's the 2019 Mercedes Benz Actros 1820 used by the Orchestra of Opera North for its engagements up and down the county.

70s Road Sports

I took this photograph during the 70s Road Sports race at the Gold Cup meeting at Oulton Park in August 2017.

Leading is Neil Brown in a 1977 Lotus Eclat followed by Mark Oldfield in a 1978 Lancia Monte Carlo. The third car is Richard Attwood's 1978 Porsche 928 then the 1967 MGB Roadster of Peter Bowyer.

1973 Tyrrell 006

I took this photograph on a visit to the Donington Park Museum in March 1996.

It's the Tyrrell 006 that took Jackie Stewart to his third and last World Drivers' Championship title in 1973 and has a 2,993cc V8 Ford Cosworth DFV engine. After driving the Tyrrell 005 for the first two races of the 1973 season in Argentina and Brazil, and finishing in third and second places respectively, Jackie Stewart drove the Tyrrell 006/2 for the rest of the season, winning five of the races and the World Drivers' Championship before the final race of the season in the USA at Watkins Glen. He had already made his mind up to retire after that race, but after team mate François Cevert was killed in an accident during practice for that race he walked away and announced his retirement.

Friday's Ferrari

This was one of the many Ferraris that I photographed at the Ferrari Racing Days meeting at Silverstone in September 2017.

It's a 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS and has the F105CB 3,186cc 32 valve V8 engine with twin overhead camshafts per bank. The Ferrari 328 was produced between 1985 and 1989, 5,526 left-hand drive and 542 right-hand drive, replacing the 308 model and was superseded by the Ferrari 348.

1963 Alvis TD21

I took this photograph in one of the car parks at the Vintage Sports Car Club's meeting at Oulton Park in June 2006.

It's a 1963 Alvis TD21 Series II with the 6-cylinder inline 2,993cc engine. The TD21 was produced from 1958 to 1963 with the Series II introduced in 1962. A total of 784 Series I cars were built and 285 of the Series II model. The Alvis Archive Trust Register gives this information about the above car:

Model:             TD21

Type:                SII

Coachbuilder: Mulliner Park Ward

Body no:          9001

Body style:      Saloon

Chassis:           26994

Registration:   CML 444A

Despatched:   10 9 1963

1960 AEC Regent V

This was one of the participants in the Greater Manchester Transports Society's Trans Lancs Historic Vehicle Rally at Heaton Park, Manchester in September 1988.

It's an AEC Regent V (LJX 215) and was provided new to Halifax JOC in 1960. The programme of the event has the following note about the vehicle (with an incorrect registration number):

'LUX 215 AEC Regent 5 M.C.W. 1960. Entered by A. Blackman, Halifax, West Yorkshire. This vehicle was the last AEC Regent bought by Halifax J.O.C. to operate.'

1957 Maserati 250S

I took this photograph at the Christie's International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 1992.

It's Robin Lodge's 1957 Maserati 250S which he drove in the Historic Grand Prix Cars Association Sports Car Race. The Prototype of the 250S sports cars of 1954-56 used the earlier sports A6GCS chassis fitted with a 6 cylinder 250F 2.5 litre engine giving 230 bhp instead of the 240-270 bhp of the Grand Prix 250F engines as it ran on petrol instead of alcohol. The developed 250S cars were converted from the left hand drive of the A6GCS to right hand drive and these, in turn, were developed into the 300S Maseratis by an increase in stroke, giving 245 bhp. There was a second coming of the 250S in the period 1957-1959, having a 196 bhp 4 cylinder engine in a shorter wheelbase chassis resulting in a lighter car. Only two cars were originally built with a 2½ litre engine, Robin Lodge's car (chassis #2432) and chassis #2431.

Close Racing

This is a photograph I took on the first lap of a scratch race at the Vintage Sports Car Club's meeting at Oulton Park in June 2006.

The red car in the lead is David Fletcher-Jones in his 1934/35 Lagonda Rapier followed by Thomas Hardman in a 1929/27 Austin 7 B&Q Special. I'm not sure about the following car, but it may be the 1935 Lagonda Rapier of John Boyes. The next two cars are the 1936 Frazer Nash of Geraint Lewis and the 1924/27 Invicta 3/4.5 litre of Trevor Swete.

1897 Daimler

I've taken quite a lot of photographs over the years at the Lancashire Automobile Club's annual Manchester to Blackpool Veteran and Vintage Car Runs, and this is the first photograph that I took at the very first Run in 1963 which I watched at the Broad Street/Cross Lane roundabout in Salford.

It's the 1897 Daimler of Denis G. Flather and the programme of the event says that he gave this information about the car:

'1 1897 Daimler

This is the oldest British car registered with the V.C.C. and in running order. She competed in the first R.A.C. Anniversary run to Brighton in 1897 and got there. At Royal request in 1897 she was sent to Warwick Castle for a demonstration before H.R.H. The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII). So successful was this that The P.O.W. ordered one which was delivered into the Royal household in 1898. From this the Daimler became known as the Royal Car and gave the fillip that was required to horseless carriage production. She is rated as 4½ h.p., develops 6 b.h.p. at 700 revs., 2 cylinders with atmospheric Inlet Valves.

In 1900 Daimlers converted her from hot tube ignition to trembler coil which she wears today and from tiller steering to wheel. Five years ago I converted her back to tiller steering from original drawings. Four speeds forward and reverse! Maximum speed 24 m.p.h. (world speed record in 1897, 39 m.p.h.) maximum in first 2 m.p.h., 17 m.p.g. and weighs 21 cwt empty! Built originally for Col. Mulliner of Northampton (she has the first Mulliner body ever built).

I have owned her for 11 years. She has run in the last 11 London - Brightons and arrived each year on time. We toured Scotland 4 years ago and during the World Fair at Brussels I drove her there, some 240 miles with 4 up and out of 6 competing nations and 183 Competitors she won the award for the oldest car arriving on time.'

1948 Talbot Lago T26C

This was one of the competitors in the HGPCA Pre-61 Front Engine Grand Prix Cars race at the Silverstone Classic meeting in July 2010.

It's the 1948 Talbot Lago T26C of Klaus Lehr, chassis 110004, which has a 6-cylinder inline 4,482cc unsupercharged engine. The Talbot Lagos took part in the 1949 (pre-World Championship) Grand Prix races but were generally outnumbered and outclassed by the Ferraris and Maseratis, although Louis Rosier won the Belgian Grand Prix and Louis Chiron the French Grand Prix in one of these cars.

Friday's Ferrari

This car took part in the Aston Martin GT Challenge race at the Aston Martin Owners Club's meeting at Oulton Park in May 2017.

It's a 2009 Ferrari F430 Challenge and was driven in the 50 minute long race by Richard Cook and Harvey Stanley. The Ferrari F430 Challenge, which has a 4,308cc V8 engine, replaced the 360 Challenge and was produced from 2007 to 2001, being succeeded by the 458 Challenge.