Post by steve650d on Mar 26, 2015 16:15:05 GMT 1
Hi All.
Just came across this site whilst having a quiet browse on the net., and was generally replying to your administrators request for a post to keep the site alive.
Firstly if I could introduce my self. My name is Steve Robinson and I suppose my claim to fame is my granddad Bill or Billy Robinson fixed rebuilt and raced Skirrows in the early days along side Dave Hughes at Brafield Stadium. In fact if any one who has a copy of the first ever Brafield Race Programme involving Skirrows will see my grandad listed in the very first race.
Like most kids of a young age at the time I saw my grandad as a slow doddery old driver who came to visit us at weekends. However years after his passing my Dad used to say that your grandad was bit of a speed junkie in his youth and raced skirrows. Skirrow I thought , I am sure I have seen that name somewhere. Sure enough going through the drawers in our garage I found it. One number Skirrow metal bonnet badge.
I kept it safe for many years , and heard stories from my father and auntie about his racing days, and eventually some photos were given to me. That set me starting to look into the history of the Skirrow and other drivers who my grandad raced with, realising that this would lead me into a really large time consuming interest.
Being busy at work and bringing up family I couldn't devote as much time into it as I would have liked. Now being the ripe old age of 58 and after reading previous posts including Ivan Duttons car. If anybody would be interested I could share some piccys on this forum. My father also sadly passed knew Dave Hughes well and used to go with him to race meetings and also to Cogenhoe (pronounced cook-no. ) to Dave Hughes Bakery company. I have some early promotional photos of Dave Hughes. my granddad. Arch Hanscombe and Les Hill in their cars in a field at a place called Whiston nr Brafield . Apparently they could not use Brafield Stadium as the back drop as it was still being built. To identify the Ivan Dutton car as being the ex Dave Hughes car would be the colours Blue and maroon from memory as this was the colour of Northampton Grammar Schools uniform of which Dave Hughes attended. The photos I have were not in colour as it was too expensive in the day so they were tinted by Dave. ( just thought he probably used food colouring from his bakery.lol.
I thought it would be nice to be able to share some images as time rolls on and it would be a shame to lose the history of what i now know as the Crazy men driving the Skirrows.
Sorry if ive ambled along. Will try and post some images as soon as i have found how to post pics
Steve