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Post by memaerobilia on Dec 31, 2012 4:45:03 GMT 1
And from what I can see, he's doing a superb restoration job in all ways; I can't wait to see it finished. I completely agree. Marvelous work and VERY exciting. As to the engine that was in the car, It was my understanding that the car was re-sold to Terry with option of including the engine or not. and taken with engine removed, for understandable reasons of keeping costs in line? I have not heard if it had moved on, again, and I never knew (nor was it MY business to know) the price/cost, at that point. I only wish I knew more about its prior history, so I could be more useful to Terry. I learned more about its history, on this website, than in the previous 35 years!
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Post by haflinger121 on Dec 31, 2012 13:55:37 GMT 1
Ah, my apologies Joe - I was forgetting the car did not go directly from you to Terry. I too wish I knew more about the car's previous history. I think Terry said in an earlier post that the gas cap was both distinctive and non-original, so at some point I'm going to see if I can spot the difference and then look to see if I have any old photos of a car featuring that filler cap. A long shot I know, but worth a look in the archive!
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Post by tsrwright on Jan 2, 2013 2:46:36 GMT 1
Of course I don't have to justify the motor situation but for the record: Probably the engine was as raced post-war but there was no knowing its ex -Dave Hughes origins at the time and what was in it was a mixture of prewar and postwar stuff of uncertain quality. The engine that was in the car was too wide to the chain for the chassis and with this and the wrong clutches pieces had been carved out of the chassis rail. I already had a surplus of cracked postwar stuff (the magnesium cases are a problem fatigue-wise and cannot be reliably repaired to use seriously) and the all-up price was seriously too high. So a deal less engine by which I could put the right engine in it was attractive. When I found out that the car probably had been raced with this engine (by making contact with Malcolm White) I did try to buy the engine after all but silly money was being asked for what wasn't better than basket-case. Eventually I was given all but the cylinder barrels of a 1949 8/80 of the correct dimensions and now I can fit this engine with its original recirculating oil pump OR use the total loss arrangement the car had originally with the re-war engine. If I had an extra year to spare I could, and yet might, make exact original crankcases so that everything will be back to 1938/9 spec with the right clutches and no pieces missing from the chassis rails
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Post by tsrwright on Jan 2, 2013 3:01:57 GMT 1
It may not be clear: Malcolm White and/or his father Les White bought the car from Dave Hughes for old times sake in the 'sixties (I'll have to check dates). Malcolm did a light restoration and ran it a few times at a South Coast speedway until they got anxious about insurance or something like that. When Les packed up his garage business the car was sold to who knows where and then ended up in the US. Malcolm doesn't know the detail because he played no part in the winding-up. Malcolm has no photos of the car in his hands although there is plenty from Les' pre-war days. I have been to see Malcolm and it is definitely the car he had. I'll post a few pics of key features. Attachments:
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Post by tsrwright on Jan 2, 2013 3:14:26 GMT 1
Carved up chassis rail with wrong clutch Attachments:
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Post by tobyhalter on Jan 2, 2013 10:31:01 GMT 1
Of course I don't have to justify the motor situation but for the record: Probably the engine was as raced post-war but there was no knowing its ex -Dave Hughes origins at the time and what was in it was a mixture of prewar and postwar stuff of uncertain quality. The engine that was in the car was too wide to the chain for the chassis and with this and the wrong clutches pieces had been carved out of the chassis rail. I already had a surplus of cracked postwar stuff (the magnesium cases are a problem fatigue-wise and cannot be reliably repaired to use seriously) and the all-up price was seriously too high. So a deal less engine by which I could put the right engine in it was attractive. When I found out that the car probably had been raced with this engine (by making contact with Malcolm White) I did try to buy the engine after all but silly money was being asked for what wasn't better than basket-case. Eventually I was given all but the cylinder barrels of a 1949 8/80 of the correct dimensions and now I can fit this engine with its original recirculating oil pump OR use the total loss arrangement the car had originally with the re-war engine. If I had an extra year to spare I could, and yet might, make exact original crankcases so that everything will be back to 1938/9 spec with the right clutches and no pieces missing from the chassis rails Let's remember that Dave Hughes bought 12 Skirrows for his racing group in 1949. It's generally accepted that as time passed by cars were cannibalised to keep other cars running. It would also have meant some home-based repair work was doen by by Hughes & Co with their own improvisations. That's probably what has been done with the Skirrow now under construction. By the late end of the 1950s I think - and I am not positive - that Hughes only had three Skirrows left.
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Post by tsrwright on Jan 4, 2013 6:03:14 GMT 1
That's useful to know and confirms what I thought was the case. I think there a three Skirrows surviving now - mine, Ivan Dutton and I believe Andy Abraham has one that had a rear engine installed but I have never been able to get hold of him despite being given his mobile number.
When I visited the scrap yard in Towcester that had restored the car that Ivan has now (1978 - I am sure it was the year we sold our house in Stony Stratford) , and I somehow got a guided tour of the place, there were several other cars that may once have been Skirrows converted to rear engine on scrap piles.
My most vivid memory is of a row of garden sheds. One was filled with little Fisher Price toy people. Another was full of black painted plaster Chjnamen like I remember in my grandparent' house.
We may have been over this before but what else is known about this place and how it came it came to have these speedway remnants?
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Post by rodpashley on Jan 4, 2013 12:03:25 GMT 1
I visited that scrapyard around 1977 or so......the owner (I forget his name now...) He told me he had bought several of them, but the rest had already gone to the great scrapyard in the sky.... He told me that he had bought them thinking that they were some kind of fairground ride for the kids.....and had the remaining car rebuilt for his (seven year old) son to play on. Fortunately he found out what it really was before letting the seven year old loose on it. And no, he wouldn't sell it....The restoration included the motor, which he had never run. The barn it was in at that time was packed out with vehicles that he had bought as scrap, but felt were to nice to break up, I assume he had bought theSkirrows off Dave Hughes.....
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Post by tsrwright on Jan 4, 2013 13:33:49 GMT 1
When he showed it to me it was in the garage of the house next to a rather nice old(er) Rolls Royce. The contrast was incongruous of course.
Yes, you would think the car(s) came from Dave Hughes.
T
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Post by tsrwright on Jan 5, 2013 11:22:40 GMT 1
I finally found a picture of the car as a whole as it was when I got it. Note the filler cap and the magneto retard lever position. Attachments:
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Post by memaerobilia on Jan 10, 2013 19:58:15 GMT 1
Hi Terry; RE: "Of course I don't have to justify the motor situation but for the record:"
Of COURSE! you do not have to justify. I was just wondering the reason for your decisions on various aspects of restoring the car, and the motor issue? You have certainly made it clear and understandable, and Interesting. :)Obviously you are a DOER, and are making Wonderful progress on getting one of these extremely rare race cars, back into public viewing, and recording its rare history.
Your LAST post indicates a possible frustration with obtaining photos of it , in the condition you purchased it, or shortly before. Does that mean you do NOT have my numerous photos of it from various angles, and with detail photos of engine and rear end, etc, for ALL the (35 Plus) we had it, without changing anything? I THOUGHT I had sent you those iphotos in earlier correspondence? If not, let me know..and send me an email.
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Post by tsrwright on Jan 12, 2013 3:46:53 GMT 1
Joe, photo-wise I am not frustrated but would like to find photos of the car when it was in the UK. I have photos from your goodself as you said and plenty I took myself when it got here although for a while I couldn't find them on my computer(s). Thanks for asking.
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Post by itsthekiwikid34 on Jun 6, 2013 9:09:58 GMT 1
Here's an outline diagram of a 'stripped' Skirrow from a 1938 magazine - I think it was 'The Auto' but obviously stand to be corrected.Attachments:
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Post by administrator on Mar 24, 2018 10:45:31 GMT 1
I visited that scrapyard around 1977 or so......the owner (I forget his name now...) He told me he had bought several of them, but the rest had already gone to the great scrapyard in the sky.... He told me that he had bought them thinking that they were some kind of fairground ride for the kids.....and had the remaining car rebuilt for his (seven year old) son to play on. Fortunately he found out what it really was before letting the seven year old loose on it. And no, he wouldn't sell it....The restoration included the motor, which he had never run. The barn it was in at that time was packed out with vehicles that he had bought as scrap, but felt were to nice to break up, I assume he had bought theSkirrows off Dave Hughes..... Time has moved on. Is there any current update in regard to the "scrapyard Skirrow"? Timr
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Post by administrator on Mar 24, 2018 10:50:34 GMT 1
You probably know this link already but there's some stuff and photos about Skirrows on it with some references to the legendary Dave Hughes as well. www.bsafwdc.co.uk/page21.php I have just tried the LINK. It is no longer active. I wonder what it was all about? Presumably, now we will never know.
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