The Golden Age of British Stock Cars
Way back in history:
Some 1950's shots
In this section you can see the cars of Aubrey Leighton, Wilf Davis, Jimmy Wright, Reg Walker, Ron Rogers, Pete Tucker, Darkie Wright, Billy Barber, Doug Warner,Alan Gateley, Allen Briggs, Johnny Brise, Lofty West, Royce Garton, Johnny Fry, Fred Mitchell, Doug Wardropper, Dirty Dennis, George Ansell, Clayton Sampson, Harry Prigmore, Cliff Tindall, Willie Harrison, and Tony Allen.
APRIL 2008: Sid Farnsworth, shown on the cover of a 1959 Brafield programme, and then an enlargement showing his rollover in front of "Fred's Hot Dog Stand".
APRIL / MARCH 2008 UPDATE: Aubrey Leighton #42: Winner of the 1957 World Championship, and here are some snapshots taken at Aubrey's garage in Earls Barton, courtesy of ex-racer Steve Gateley, whose father Alan Gateley also raced and knew Aubrey. First, that famous grin and moustache. (2) and (3) show the Leighton Chrysler. Next is Aubrey's family: wife 'Effie', daughter Carol and son Keith. Next, perched proudly on dad's car is Aubrey's son Keith, who went on to a stellar international career in race engineering. Aubrey is arguably the first person in Britain to build a go-kart (sorry, "kart"), and his design was, I believe adopted, by AERO KARTS for production. The second kart AL built was bought by stock-car racing Ralph Tennant in 1960. Here is a high-res photo of that first kart (may look fuzzy but you can download and see better). Caution: the reference to "bomb trailer wheels" may be an error by the original reporter. Bomb-trailer wheels were 13" items that happened to fit the bolt pattern on Ford axles, and so nicely replaced the more fragile 15" Ford wheel; Steve Gateley gave me this info. Aubrey also adapted a Ford fire engine that could hit 70mph, as his 'ambulance'. Here is his Auburn based 42 ready for the first ITV televised race at Brafield in Feb 1959.
Priceless family photos showing Aubrey Leighton's legendary and infamous 1950's Packard V-12 engined "destroyer": One shows the car by itself in the weeds beside Aubrey's garage (Wellingborough road A45 in Earls Barton), and the second shows young Steve Gateley [left] sitting with Aubrey's son Keith on its roof. Steve estimates the date at 1960, but says the car sat there for years even after it was banned; Aubrey always refused offers for it. Thanks a lot to Steve for this treasure. I recall Aubrey's final 42 "pink un" also rusting by the garage until it went on to other drivers and eventually to Keith Barber. Keith Leighton went on to a stellar career, from Cosworth engines to Formula 1 GP teams [eg World Champ Ronnie Peterson's engineer], to Indy cars and more --- see what a good background does for you.
![Steve Gateley [left] sitting with Aubrey's son](images/LeightonOldKids.jpg){kind=link}
This is a notorious photo, originally printed in Stock Car Racing News in Feb 1965, and reprinted in Keith Barber's Stock Car Magazine in the last three or four years but the crash happened in September 29th 1956 at Brandon (Coventry). Car #35 is Wilf Davis, Aubrey Leighton's "team-mate" --- officially no teams were allowed --- in one of Leighton's big Packards. A Wilf DAVIES (with the 'e') ran breakdown services for the Brafield track in the 1950's, along with Aubrey, and Wanklyn Auto Repairs. Was it the same Wilf? Did the Brafield programme misspell him? Steve Gateley points out that the numbers visible here were assigned only for this meeting: #37 is Vic Ferriday, and #12 is "Killer" Sayers.
The Leighton Packard #42 on its lorry in the Brafield pits in 1956. [Steve Gateley source for photo] [Next photos all courtesy of Aubrey's daughter Carol:] As always, Aubrey is grinning broadly, even though his 42 car has a major "bend" in it. The mechanic's last name was Anderson --- any memories? [Photo from Carol Cockings]. Here is the tidy looking #42, fresh before any damage, a lovely car. --- and here's the same #42 getting into some bumper-busting action in 1960. [Programme from Andy Lively]
The 1957 Champ and his son; notice "free air" being advertised; also, that's an old Armstrong-Siddeley hood mascot. Next, Aubrey outside Earls Barton Motors with his towing ambulance; notice the sign for "Chassis and body straightening" --- very appropriate for Aubrey! THE CHAMP admires his 1957 World Championship trophy. The garage front has hardly changed as of 2003. Frank Williams [Williams Grand Prix, right?] had his very first formula car fabricated there.
March 2008: Bill Morris's Meadway Atom, in 1954, with a young Steve Gateley in charge.
DECEMBER 2007: from time to time people have told me about 1950's movies in which stock-car racing featured. One that is available in videotape and DVD is an early Benny Hill comedy-cops-spies-farce called Who Done It? Filmed in 1956, it has a short scene in which Benny somehow accidentally gets into a stock-car race at White City stadium. (The one in New Cross, SE London: Rotherhithe and Charlton in the days you did not take a casual night-time stroll in those streets. Remember coshes and bike chains?!) Pete Marsh's website lists it as being West Ham, and I won't argue!) I have not seen the film, but its cast includes substantial actors like David Kossof, Charles Hawtrey ('Carry-On' films veteran), Arthur Lowe, "Fabian" the crooner, early-career policemen Stratford Johns (Softly Softly) and Arthur Rigby, the Dagenham Girl Pipers (I'd always thought that name was a made-up joke ---), and Ernest Thesiger. He was brother to explorer Wilfred Thesiger, from an aristocratic family. Ernest had a brief Hollywood career playing English toffs.
NOVEMBER
2007: a UNIQUE
BOOK HAS BEEN PUBLISHED RECENTLY in France, by pioneer racer Guy Curval, on the
history of stock-car racing in France 1953-1970. Guy Curval regularly
raced in England, in Senior F1's and in Junior F2's, including several World
Finals. Guy was a close buddy of Jock Lloyd, who often helped arrange
Guy's trips. French stock-car racing never developed the oval-dedicated
"specials" that appeared in the UK in the mid-sixties onwards. French cars
were always large American and French saloons, and the tracks were mostly larger
dirt ovals on temporary sites. Guy Curval last raced in 1969, and his
medical advisors told him never to race again after years of injuries.
Guy is still to be seen around the sport in France, and has a
classically-restored stock-car in his garage.
The book is a high quality hard-back,
"coffee-table" size, over 140 pages, with scores of fascinating photos,
including some of English tracks, and of Fred Mitchell's union-jack-wearing car
on a French visit. It is expensive, and you have to read French. You
can ask about it or buy it from a specialist car book shop in Paris:
"PASSION AUTOMOBILE", and their e-mail address is
passionautomobile@etai.fr
NOVEMBER 2007: Unknown cars, track and newspaper, but here is a 1954 photo of early stock car racing, showing one car with a soft canvas top --- health and safety? Alan Humphrey sent the photo.
In 1948 film-star Lana Turner, with her millionaire husband, helped ship 20 (twenty!) midget racers from the States for an English tour. Among the tracks they visited were Charlton Athletic's Valley ground, Walthamstow Stadium, and Stamford Bridge. The whole story is told and illustrated on the following website: http://www.speedcarworld.com.au/default.asp?Page=Release&Id=8958is
I have found a press photograph of Lana Turner on a parade lap of Stamford Bridge stadium (Chelsea FC's home). The arrival of the midget racers (with V8-60 motors) brought in 50,000 fans on the day! One of the directors of this tour was listed as Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, a name we all remember popping up as producer on the early James Bond films! The midget tour brought with it 8,000 gallons of methanol and 500 tyres!
Pathe Newsreel film of Tanya Crouch racing at Harringay in the 1950's:
Pathe Newsreel film of the tiny "Atom" single-seater racer for dirt tracks.
In 1959 the Brafield track had only just been concreted. Here is Cliff Tindall (shown elsewhere on this site) in # 100 on the pits bend. Rick Thomas, who sent this, points out the famous tree that appears in just about everyone's Brafield photographs [and nearly always bare of leaves!].
Who sent me this historic Aycliffe programme cover? I can't remember, but will gladly give you credit if it was you!
Pioneer Doug Warner from Birmingham, in 1960. Doug raced under "The Saint", and his car runs a big old straight-8 Buick motor. [Photo from Steve Gateley]. Tough old engines: I remember drag-racer Alan "Bootsie" Herridge's first slingshot in about 1963/4, used a Buick straight-8.
Marty Page #333, but this photo was printed in an Ipswich newspaper in 2004, to celebrate stock-car racing's 50th anniversary.
2004 addition: Jimmy Wright from Oxford was a pal of Fred Mitchell's and also raced speedway. I cannot quite read the car number but it may end in 5 or 8, maybe 35? Any takers please help. Thanks to Pete Schafer, Fred's mechanic, for the photo. Classic 'flathead' engine and upright armour, and see those 'agricultural' tyres on the back.
Reg Walker today is, I'm told, a leading "Pig Roast" man. Over 40 years ago Reg, from Cheltenham, was racing # 320. First snapshot also shows "the usual suspects" who were the vital ingredient for any racer --- I wonder where they are today? Here's Reg nose-on-barrel and about to roll. Third, here's Reg's car posing in a field. Thanks to Reg Walker for the photos, which Andy Lively scanned for me.
I forget who sent me this old programme photograph of Ron Rogers, car #152 at Long Eaton, but it's a great shot.
Darkie's first car? Photo taken in 1955 or 1956 at Brafield; can this number 7 be an early appearance of the late great Darkie Wright from London? [Steve Gateley photo]
The illustrious, notorious, all-out good-times racer Pete Tucker, American car fanatic and "Thrill-of-the-Century" author, who has dated this photo as 1956, at Brafield, car #85. [Gateley, one more time, ta.] Pete's immaculate # 85 car. Another shot shows a very early Tucker car:--- 1954 at New Cross. [Gateley photo]
Billy Barber came from Hayes, Middlesex, to race this #23 car at Brafield; it's the then-popular 1935 Ford Pilot. What WAS it about Hayes Mddx? Scores of hot-rodders, drag-racers, and stock-car nuts seemed to "breed" in that town.
Many fans will already have spotted this press photograph in the wonderful Hulton Archive; Pete Tucker at the first (or one of the first) New Cross races: the very beginning of British stock-car racing.
On the wrecker at Hednesford Hills raceway back in 1955 [Steve Gateley photo]. Here's an unidentified racer #49 being towed at Hednesford; anyone have a file on this one?
Two famous names tangle: probably at the Eastbourne track, probably 1954, it's Allen Briggs 138 and Johnny Brise 103 getting down to business; thanks to Pete Schafer for passing on this photo.
The tidy kid here, Steve Gateley, would grow up to race F2 and F1 cars, but here in 1956 he is showing us the car of "Lofty" West, racer and one-time BSCDA treasurer, from Finchley. Here is Lofty West in the midst of some dusty action at Brafield in 1956 [Steve G. photos] .
Naughty, naughty -- in 1955 this car caused fits among the authorities at Brafield when it appeared decorated cheaply (in both senses of the word) with saucy pinups stuck on -- the driver had to remove them before being allowed on the track! [Steve Gateley photo]
A big thank-you to Russ "Rick" Thomas, the Brafield deejay for these: by photographer Rowland Holloway: first, on an August Bank Holiday 1956, is Royce Garton # 63, from Lutterworth, hopping out of his overturned car. Second is a 1958 photo of "The Cisco Kid", Johnny Fry # 94, from Barking, Essex. Russ recalls that The Kid would cheerfully stand around the pits in full cowboy regalia!
Four more 1950's treasures from Steve Gateley, of his father Alan Gateley's stock car. Alan G. knew Bill Morris (the legend of Hednesford), and in 1954 got this ex-Canadian Embassy Ford Mercury from Bill's local Medway Spares yard. Here's the car in full body armour. Here in action pushing two more into the fence. Here's another of Alan's car, with its proud mechanics grinning. Post-race picnic for the Gateley family and their cars, outside Hednesford in 1955. "On the hook", Alan Gateley's car needed a tow here in 1955, again at Hednesford. [Thanks again to Steve for these great photos.]
Not sure of the track or year, but here is Fred Mitchell # 38 roaring past an overturned Tanya Crouch. Photo from Pete Schafer.
Here's a 1960 photo from a Brafield programme thanks to Ken Mason, showing Doug Wardropper #5, Ellis Ford as # 183 (before he switched to 3, and number 29 is American George Foulger.
Some faint half-tone photos that I scanned from 1959 Brafield programmes: Dennis is in there as #303 and [possibly] 304 (304 might be Willie Wanklyn):
Dennis #301: Thanks to Rick Young for this and the next scan from a 1950's programme: Beardy grin!
Another 50s shot, the elegant Alan England
Brafield crash, a 1958 photo of car # 475 in the fence by Clayton Sampson, USAF vet; any historian tell me name of the driver? Ho-ho, you can't beat Britain's stock-car detectives: Ian Snoad, the ex- 331 and 509 banger racer e-mailed to identify this as George Ansell. I should have recognized the number, as George still had 475 in 1964 (see the "Twenty-Six More Seniors" section). Thanks, Ian.
Midget racer, [more photos below] courtesy of Clayton Sampson, who raced this "Skirrow" car. The midget was built in the 1930's and was one of several midgets owned by a man named Hughes, a baker from Cogenhoe [Northants village, pronounced "cook-no" for you foreigners, arrh] . It had a JAP 1100cc air-cooled V-twin motor, giving four-wheel drive, no differentials, through TWO clutches -- one at each end -- (but only one pedal). The motor ran on alky fuels, with a wicked 15:1 compression ratio, which engine-braked the thing so fiercely with the gas off that no brakes were required. Some people may recall these motors needed careful "pull-it-back-off-compression" before attempting a hefty push-start. Clayton fondly remembers the very high performance (and the unforgettable din!) of these tiny cars, which he raced mostly on shale tracks (Coventry).
Sadly, we lost USAF veteran Clayton Sampson this year, but his wife Margaret has been kind enough to pass on these three snapshots from those days. First, Clayton in the Skirrow: Second, Clayton "needing a shoe-horn to get in" as he used to tell Margaret. For any USAF viewers, here's Clayton in uniform with wife Margaret and baby daughter Marie.
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December 2007 update: Just for a comparison, fifty years later, here are two Grand Prix Midgets at Buxton raceway in 2007, courteasy of Rogers Oval Racing Home Page.
Here's an early shot of Doug Wardropper in approx 1956, at Brafield, with wire-spoked wheels and a flathead engine: Wardropper # 5. This photo is copied from the original copyright print owned by Simon Lewis of "Transport Bookshop" in England.
A Keith Barber photo, from his super STOCK CAR MAGAZINE: a 1958 shot of Doug Wardropper and Fred Mitchell 38 side by side.
Here is Harry Prigmore in action in cars #4 and #70, both built with the help of and sponsored by Aubrey Leighton, in the days even before Aubrey himself started racing. Harry was apprentice at Aubrey's, and it was thanks to a trial race in Harry's car that Aubrey Leighton "got the bug" and went on to fame. Harry 1. Harry 2. Harry 3. Harry 4. Harry 5.
"The Stranger" helps someone into the fence in 1959: #100 is who? Thanks to Stan and Diane Hollingdale for identifying Cliff Tindale (or Tyndale) as the driver. Stan and brother Ken raced in the golden era, Ken in Seniors/F1's from 1958, and Stan in Spedeworth from 1963. Anyone know more about Cliff? Russ Thomas confirms the name as Cliff Tindall.
Below: an early photo of Willie Harrison, that determined man who fought for 20 years to win the World Championship.
Tony Allen leaps over some barrels: #145. Tony, a teenager when this photo was taken, hailed from Luton (Beds.), and enjoyed a long long career. In the 1960's he earned a red top in Juniors as # 766, then moved up to Seniors, moving through blue to another red top in # 348, around 1972. He toured New Zealand, and eventually emigrated there, taking a super-lightweight Jaguar special, and STILL went on racing stock-cars. Tony's son Mike also raced sprints there. In the 1950's, Tony's mother too raced stock-cars (pioneer Tanya Crouch inspired a lot of people). (Programmes courtesy of Keith Barber)
