1951 AEC Mammoth Major

This is a photograph that I took in Heaton Park, Manchester at the Greater Manchester Transport Society's Trans Lancs Historic vehicle Rally in September 1988.

It's a 1951 AEC Mammoth Major and this is what the programme of the event said about it:

SL 9724 AEC MAMMOTH MAJOR MK3. 1951. Entered by R.C.Cresswell, Hilderstone, Staffordshire. Initially owned by the Air Ministry, this vehicle later passed to a contractor from whom the present owner bought it in 1976. During the following three years it was restored to the condition seen today.

1952 Allard J2X Le Mans

This car competed in the Hawthorn International Trophy race at the Vintage Sports Car Club meeting at Oulton Park in June 2005.

It's the1952 Allard J2X Le Mans of Tom Walker. The Allard J2 had motor cycle style mudguards and the J2X was introduced to comply with 1952 FIA regulations which said that cars must have all-enveloping bodywork.

1936 ERA R9B

This is a photograph that I took in the paddock at the Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 2000.

It’s the 1936 ERA R9B of Peter Mann that was driven in the race by John Ure and it has the 6-cylinder inline supercharged 1,488cc ERA engine.

1993 Volvo 480 ES

This is a photograph that I took at the Footman James Classic Car Show Manchester at EventCity in September 2018.

It's a 1993 Volvo 480 ES, a car that was produced from 1986 to 1995 and has a 4-cylinder inline 1,998cc engine. It is the first Volvo to have front-wheel drive and the only one to have pop-up headlights.

European Formula 2 racing at Oulton Park

I took this photograph at Foulstons chicane during the European Formula 2 race at the Gold Cup meeting at Oulton Park in August 2004.

Disappearing on the left is the 1971 March 712M of Dieter Streve-Mühlens and the following car is probably the 1971 March 712 of Walter Nef. The yellow and blue car is the 1973 Surtees TS15 of John Elliott and behind him is the 1977 March 772P of John Holmes.

Starkeys Bridge, Donington Park

I took these photographs at the SeeRed meeting at Donington Park in May 2011.

What are apparently the remains of what was once a bridge always intrigued me. It’s called ‘Starkeys Bridge’ and apparently that is the way it was originally built in 1834 as a ‘Garden Feature’ for Donington Hall which is over to the right in my first photograph and outside the circuit.

I remember seeing photographs taken at pre-war meetings at Donington Park where the circuit actually passed through one of the arches of the bridge. The large spark plug in my second photograph was a commentary tower.

Friday's Ferrari

Ferrari uses the Corse Clienti Ferrari Racing Days meetings at various circuits to allow a group of specially selected customers to test limited edition cars developed exclusively for the track and to race the latest of the Challenge series of cars providing feedback on the performance of the cars to Corse Clienti engineers, thus helping Ferrari to develop its cars for the future. This is a photograph that I took at the Ferrari Racing Days meeting at Silverstone in September 2017 where various of the Challenge cars were on display in the paddock.

It's a  Ferrari F430 Challenge, which has a 4,308cc V8 engine and was produced from 2007 to 2010. It replaced the 360 Challenge and was succeeded by the 458 Challenge.

1933 Talbot 65

This was one of the cars that took part in the Concours d'Elegance at the Vintage Sports Car Club's meeting at Oulton Park in August 1996.

It's a 1933 Talbot 65, chassis 32704, which has a 1,665cc 6-cylinder inline engine and is the only Talbot 65 to be fitted from new with a Vanden Plas Alpine Tourer body.

1904 Quadrant Tri-Car

This is a photograph that I took on the Crescent, part of the A6 in Salford, during the Lancashire Automobile Club’s Manchester to Blackpool Veteran and Vintage Car Run in June 1973. Not really the most photogenic place to pick in view of the road works that were in place!

It’s the 1904 Quadrant Tri-car of Dr C J Brooks and the programme of the event had this information about the car4:

 

11.   Dr. C. J. Brooks, Newthorpe, Nottinghamshire,

          1904 Quadrant Tri-Car “Carette”, 5 h.p.

Built at the Quadrant cycle manufacturing works in Birmingham, the “Carette” model has two completely separate single cylinder engines (left hand 400 c.c. and right hand 450 c.c.) with drive to a common countershaft. This shaft has a cone leather clutch at either end so that two speeds can be selected to drive the single rear wheel. Speed is controlled by advancing or retarding the ignition once the mixture of throttle and air has been set. It is one of only three Quadrants still in existence.

1957 Maserati 250S

I took this photograph just before Lodge Corner during the 1950's Sports Car Race at the VSCC's Richard Seaman Memorial Trophies Meeting at Oulton Park in June 1993.

It's Robin Lodge's 1957 Maserati 250S and was driven in the race by Nigel Corner. A note in the programme of the event reads as follows:

 

'Robin Lodge has entered Nigel Corner to drive his 1957 250S Maserati. 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, 1957-1959 having a 196 bhp 4 cylinder engine in a shorter wheelbase chassis resulting in a lighter car. Robin Lodge's car has this later chassis (#2432) with the 4 cylinder engine.'

1934 MG K3 Magnette

This was one of the competitors in the Pre-War Sports Car Race at the Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 1999.

It's the 1934 MG K3 Magnette of Philippe Douchet de Rouere, who shared the driving with Bob Jones. The original K type Magnette, the K1, had a 6-cylinder inline 1,087cc engine and was available as a 4-seat open tourer or a 4-door saloon. The K2 was an open 2-seater with a shorter chassis, and could have the same engine as the K1 or a larger 1,271cc version of that engine. The K3 was a racing variant using the shorter chassis and a supercharged 1,087cc engine. Only 33 of the K3 model were made, many of which have not survived, and a number of replicas have been made using the K1 or K2 cars. This car is Chassis #3026 and was one of George Eyston's team cars in 1934.

Locomotive 1505 Ariadne

This is a photograph that I took at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester in August 1990.

It is one of the British Rail Class 77 Co-Co electric locomotives built at the British Rail Gorton Locomotive Works in the early 1950s for use over the Woodhead Line between Manchester and Sheffield. In 1969 all the Class 77 locomotives were sold to the Dutch national railway operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen, where they became NS 1500 Class and renumbered as such. They were withdrawn in 1985 and 1505, originally 27001 and named Ariadne, was preserved at the Manchester Science and Industry Museum.

1933/35 Riley Special

This car competed in the Richard Seaman Memorial Trophy Race for Historic Racing Cars at the Vintage Sports Car Club's meeting at Oulton Park in August 1992.

It's the 1933/35 Riley Special of I.A.Rowe and the only other information in the programme of the event is that it had a 1,498cc engine. It's a distinctive looking car, but despite a lengthy online search I've not been able to find a another photograph of it.

Friday's Ferrari

I took this photograph at the Ferrari Racing Days meeting at Silverstone in September 2017.

It's a Ferrari F355 Berlinetta, one of 4,871 cars produced between 1994 and 1999. It has a 3,496cc V8 engine with twin overhead camshafts on each bank of cylinders and 5 valves per cylinder. The F355 replaced the Ferrari 348 and was itself replaced by the Ferrari 360. From 1997 the F355 became the first-ever road car to have the paddle operated F1 style gearbox transmission system.

1950 Leyland Titan PD2/1

I took this photograph at the Greater Manchester Transport Society's Trans Lancs Historic Vehicle Rally at Heaton Park, Manchester in September 1993.

It’s  a 1950 Leyland Titan PD2/1, new to Leicester City Transport, and the programme of the event  said this about it:

Leyland PD2/1, Leyland H30/59R, 1950                                                                                     FJF 193

Leicester City Transport 154

Entered by 154 Preservation Society, Leicester

Following a service life of twenty years, this vehicle passed through the hands of a strawberry picking farmer and was left for three years in a field before being rescued by Leicester City Transport and restored.

1949 Talbot Lago T26C

This was one of the competitors in the Cheshire Building Society's Allcomers Race at the Vintage Sports Car Club's Richard Seaman Memorial Trophies meeting at Oulton Park in July 1987.

It's the 1949 Talbot Lago 26C of Colin Crabbe, chassis 110008. The Grand Prix regulations for 1946 to 1949, and for 1950 and 1951 after the World Drivers' Championship was introduced, stipulated a maximum capacity of 4½ litres for unsupercharged engine and 1½ litres for those with superchargers.

1961 Lotus Elite

This was one of the competitors in the Coys of Kensington Pre-1964 GT Car Race at the Coys International Historic Festival meeting  at Silverstone in July 1998.

It’s the 1961 Lotus Elite of Robin Longden which he and Roger Fountain drove in the race and the 'DAD10' number plate is a nod to Leston’s nickname ‘Daddio’ as a jazz musician

1968 Volvo 131 Amazon

This is one of the photographs that I took at the Footman James Classic Car Show Manchester at EventCity in September 2018.

It’s a 1968 Volvo Amazon, a car that was produced from 1956 to 1970 with a choice of 3 different sized 4-cylinder inline engines and this one has the 1,778cc unit – though the DVLA say that it’s 1,780cc. The Amazon was apparently the world’s first car to have front seat belts fitted as standard.

1987 Maserati Biturbo

This is a car that I photographed in the paddock at the Historic Sports Car Club’s Spring Historic Race Meeting at Oulton Park in May 1987.

It’s a 1987 Maserati Biturbo, a car that was produced between 1981 and 1994, but the early cars had a reputation for poor quality and reliability. There were three different sized twin-turbocharged V6 engines offered at 2.2, 2.5 and 2.8 litres, and this car had the 2,491cc unit. The DVLA record says it has been untaxed since December 1994.

1961 Vanwall VW14

This is a photograph I took at the Donington Park Museum in October 1989.

It's the last car built by Vanwall, the rear engined 1961 Vanwall VW14, which was built when the old 2½ litre limit for Formula 1 cars was reduced to 1½ litres starting with the 1961 season, and VW14 was built to contest the 3 litre Intercontinental Formula. The car originally had a 2½ litre Vanwall engine bored out to 2,605cc and only contested a handful of races before development was stopped when the Intercontinental Formula didn't catch on in Europe. Behind the Vanwall is  the 1959 Scarab F1 car built by American Lance Reventlow.

Friday's Ferrari

This is one of the F1 Ferraris that were part of the Corse Clienti demonstration at the Ferrari Racing Days event at Silverstone in September 2017. I took the photograph at Club Corner from the F1 International paddock.

It's a Ferrari 150° Italia as raced by Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa in the 2011 season and is powered by the Ferrari 056 2,398cc V8 engine. The car only managed to finish in first place on one occasion, Alonso winning the British Grand Prix. He finished in fourth place in the Drivers' Championship and Massa sixth with the Championship being won by Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull RB7. Ferrari took third place in the Constructors' Championship behind Red Bull and McLaren.

 

1962 Aston Martin DB4

This is a photograph that I took at the Historic Sports Car Club’s Spring meeting at Oulton Park in May 1986.

It’s a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 and has a 6-cylinder inline 3,670cc engine. The DB4 was in production from 1958 to 1963 and 1,110 examples of the basic DB4 were built together with 75 DB4 GTs and 19 DB4 GT Zagatos.

Car Badges

Here are photographs I took of the badges of 6 of the cars at the Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in August 1996.

1932 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza

1925 Bugatti T35T

1948 Talbot Lago T26

1936 ERA R12B

1959 Ferrari 246 Dino

1938 Maserati 4CM

1930 Aero Morgan

When I went to the Lancashire Automobile Club's Manchester to Blackpool Veteran and Vintage Car Run in June 1966 I walked from the start point to the roundabout that at one time stood at the junction of the A6 and Cross Lane in Pendleton and when most of the cars had come past I walked back along the A6 towards the start point in Albert Square. On the way I came across this car stopped at the side of the road, presumably with some mechanical problem.

It's a three-wheel Aero Morgan, the only one in the Run and the only information in the programme of the event is this:

 

'158. Mr S.D. Wright, Manchester.

          1930 Aero  Morgan, 1100 c.c.'

 

The first three-wheel Morgan was built in 1911 and they were produced until 1952 with constant improvements being made. A three-wheel Morgan was also produced from 2012 till 2021.

1903 Mercedes 60hp

This is a car that competed in the Vintage Trophy race at the Vintage Sports Car Club's Richard Seaman Memorial Trophies meeting at Oulton Park in June 1985.

It's The 1903 Mercedes 60hp of Roger Collings which has a 4-cylinder inline 9,236cc engine. It doesn't get a specific mention in the programme of the event, but when it competed in 1987 the programme said this about it:

'The oldest car at the meeting, Roger Collings' 1903 Mercedes, is well worth inspecting, although it really needs a contemporary car of another make alongside it to show off its advanced features. The use Roger Collings makes of his car today is quite amazing, the car is very successful in climbing muddy hills in trials, and is used a lot on the road. It has even been used as normal (if that is the right word) transport in London, utilising the M4 to get there and back. He has also driven it on the continent.'

1957 Aston Martin DBR1

This is Roy Salvadori in an Aston Martin DBR1, chassis DBR1/2, at Luffield Corner during a track demonstration at the Coys International Historic Festival meeting at Silverstone in July 1994 where it also formed part of a display in the paddock.

The DBR1 replaced the DB3S and was designed by Ted Cutting to compete in the World Sportscar Championship, and specifically the Le Mans 24 Hour Race. In 1957 DBR1/2 won the Nürburgring 1000km race driven by Tony Brooks and Noel Cunningham-Reid, and in 1958 won the RAC Tourist Trophy race at Goodwood with Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks. In 1959 Aston Martin finally managed to win the World Sportscar Championship, this car winning the Le Mans 24 Hour race driven by Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby whilst Carroll Shelby, Jack Fairman and Stirling Moss took it to victory in the RAC Tourist Trophy race. The Nürburgring 1000km race was won by DBR1/1 driven by Stirling Moss and Jack Fairman.

2001 Rover 75

This is one of the vehicles that took part in a classic car show on the market square in Hyde in September 2021.

It’s a Rover 75, a model which was produced from 1998 to 2005 with various engine sizes ranging from a 4-cylinder inline 1.8 litre to a 4.6 litre V8.

According to the DVLA record  this one is a 2001 model with a 1,997cc V8 engine and currently has a SORN, the last MoT certificate having expired in September 2023.

Friday's Ferrari

I took this photograph at Druids Corner during  the Aston Martin GT Challenge race at the Aston Martin Owners Club's meeting at Oulton Park in May 2017.

It's the 2000 Ferrari 360 driven in the 50 minute race by Matthew Wilton and John Cowen. There were two versions of the Ferrari 360, the Modena and the Challenge, as well as a Spider version, each with a 3,586cc V8 engine. It doesn't say in the programme of the event which version this is, but presumably it's the Challenge.

1953 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT

This was one of the competitors in the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars race at the Silverstone Classic meeting in July 2010.

It’s a 1953 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT which was driven in the race by Jason and Louise Kennedy. The B20 Series I car was introduced in 1951 with a 1,991cc V6 engine, followed by the Series II car, which were produced between 1952 and 1953 and which had a more powerful version of the same engine. The series III car was introduced in 1954 with a 2,451cc V6 engine but the programme of the event says that this car has a 2,541cc unit, possibly a misprint as the DVLA record for 609 UPH says the engine capacity is 2,451cc.

1964 AEC Regent V

This was one of the many buses on show at the Greater Manchester Transport Society's Trans Lancs Historic Vehicle Rally at Heaton Park, Manchester in September 1990.

It's a 1964 AEC Regent V and the programme of the event had this to say about it:

AEC Regent 5, East Lancs, H73R, 1964                                                          8860 VR

A Mayne and Son

Entered by B Lomas, Droylsden

Part of the collection of vehicles at the Museum of Transport, Manchester. This was one of the last AEC double deckers purchased by Mayne's and was finally sold in 1980 by them. Purchased the following year for preservation.

1958 Lotus 16

This is a photograph that I took in the paddock at the Vintage Sports Car Club's Richard Seaman Memorial Trophies meeting in June 1984.

It's the 1958 Lotus 16 of Simon Phillips which the programme of the event says has a 2,180cc engine , presumably the 4-cylinder inline Coventry Climax unit. The Lotus 16 was raced by Team Lotus, and private entrants, from 1958 to 1960 with little success in World Championship races. Colin Chapman had to wait until the Monaco Grand Prix of 1960 for his first Lotus victory, achieved by Stirling Moss in Rob Walker's Lotus 18.