Tag Archives: Association

Autumn BRMs – Castle Combe

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The recent Autumn Classic at Castle Combe saw a fabulous collection of vehicles being displayed and demonstrated alongside the racing action, today’s blog looks at the BRM’s present.

BRM Type 15, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

Unfortunately neither the National Motor Museum’s BRM Type 15 in the background not the Donington Park Grand Prix Collections P18 Mk2 in the foreground were able to run during the event which marked the 60th Anniversary of the last works appearance of the P18 Mk2 and end of the BRM V16 project, at Castle Combe.

BRM P48, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

I believe Stuart Hall was demonstrating the 1960 BRM P48, which he restored in 2006, the first model BRM built with the motor behind the driver.

BRM P261, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

The BRM P261 was the first monocoque BRM, and unlike the Lotus 25 which had a bathtub shaped monocoque the P261 had a tube shaped monocoque, I believe Andrew Waring is seen at the wheel of chassis #2615 here.

BRM P167, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

Stephen Hepworth really got the audiences attention with his Dad David’s Can Am BRM P167 by not holding back on the throttle of the unsilenced 8 litre / Chevrolet V8 motor.

BRM P160, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

Music to the ears award however was shared by the likewise unsilenced pair of BRM P160’s, seen with circa 1972 B bodywork specification above, is 1973 chassis #P160/8 used by Niki Lauda until he crashed it at the Nurburgring, with John Burt at the wheel…

BRM P160, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe

and 1973 E specifcation, driven by Simon Burt both members of the BRM Association.

My thanks to Castle Combe historian Pete Stowe for helping to identify the drivers of the P160’s.

Thanks for joining me on this “Autumn BRMs” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a vehicle that competed in the Carrera Panamerica. Don’t forget to come back now !

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The Mud Plugger And Speedway Rider – Alexis Mk 1 #HF101

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In 1953 Alex Francis set about buiding Trials car, mud plugger, to replace his Flathead Mercury V8 powered HRG, over the following years he built two more such cars before meeting Australian former speedway rider Bill Harris, in 1959, who had designed and been driving the 2nd Flather 500 Formula 3 car for Sheffield steel merchant and founder member of BRM Dennis Flather since 1954.

Alexis Mk 1, Silverstone Classic, Press Day,

Alex, a building contractor by day, and Bill set about building the Mk 1 Alexis to meet the new Formula Junior regulations from a premises in Birmingham.

Alexis Mk 1, Duncan Rabagliati, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

The Mk 1 features a space frame and somewhat behind the curve front mounted 1 litre / 61 cui BMC A series engine and Austin A35 rear axle with a Triumph Herald based independent front suspension.

Alexis Mk 1, Silverstone Classic, Press Day,

The body for the car was in polished aluminium and the plan was that Alex and Bill would share the driving. I believe the car was raced just once by Alex and at Oulton Park, and I have seen a photo of it apparently competing on the short hill at Prescott, before it was bought by an American customer.

Alexis Mk 1, Silverstone Classic, Press Day,

Over 20 years ago chairman of the Formula Junior Historic Racing Association Duncan Rabagliati bought the Mk 1 which had returned to the UK, there is only one chassis #HF101, and has been regularly racing it ever since.

Alexis Mk 1, Silverstone Classic, Press Day,

Duncan, seen at the wheel above at last years Castle Combe Autumn Classic meeting, and the Alexis hold the distinction of being the only driver and car combination to have competed in all previous editions of the Silverstone Classic meeting.

Thanks for joining me on this “The Mud Plugger And Speedway Rider” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a US Formula One car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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