Tuesday 10 September 2013

Midas Bronze hillclimb car

Here's my picture of a Midas Bronze hillclimb car, owned and raced I think by Stuart Skeldon (update 2019, surname I think is Skeldon not 'Wooler' as previously posted). Taken at Doune hillclimb, Stirlingshire, Scotland in the mid 1990s at a September British Hillclimb meeting (the car competed in the Scottish championship).

Note the removable front panel - a development, as earlier it had competed with a standard complete body. The car is a GRP monocoque, using an A Series engine and gearbox, front wheel drive and transverse engined.

The car was towed by a matching coloured Maestro van.

Anyone know where the car is now?


Austin 7 special pictures

Some pictures of racing Austin 7 specials. Taken by me at Mallory Park race circuit, Leicestershire, late 1980s (or maybe 1991 or 1992) at a 750 Motor Club race meeting. This was the days of Austin Sevens having their own race series, before becoming a 750 Trophy (not full championship) and amalgamation with similar cars (e.g. Ford 1172 specials). Happy days!

Picture captions updated Feb 2022 with driver’s names. Many thanks to Alan Fairless and Steve Jones for the info, via AustinSevenFriends Forum. Apparently car 31, No5 and 38 are still around, the latter still with the same owner (Alan Fairless). Simplicity is also still around.

No31 - an Ulster replica (Reg Nice's car).

An Austin 7 special, raced by Charlie Marriott


Another Austin 7 special, raced by Andrew Spence


Austin 7 specials ready to go home. The first two look like close to Ulster replicas, 
but with taller radiator shells? No23 looks a lower slung Ulster replica

No5 raced by John Skeavington, No38 by Alan Fairless and red car behind No38 by Jean Rees. Alan Fairless still owns this red car (No38).


Race action - poor pictures! I think the car with the low red cowl is maybe that of Nigel Cowley (built by his father?)

'Simplicity' Austin Seven special (built by Jack French 1949 onwards), seen at 750 Motor Club's 60th Anniversary, Silverstone, July 1999. 

Wiring - slow progress

Been rewiring the car. Slow progress as little time available. Should complete rewire by end Sept, and then start the car again! Getting closer to back on the road.

Meanwhile been looking out old car pictures.