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Post by thirdturn on Nov 8, 2009 22:48:42 GMT 1
Some years ago I found a site giving information about USAF men based at Lakenheath (?) in the 1950s and 1960s. It mentioned that one of them actually raced a Skirrow in his off duty time, and also appeared in a meeting at Coventry. He later moved into stock cars. Anyone refresh my memory about who he was - and where the website cane be found because it had some photos of him with the Skirrow. I know that the guy has now passed away.
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Post by haflinger121 on Nov 9, 2009 10:16:42 GMT 1
I reckon the man you are thinking of thirdturn, is Clayton Sampson. You can see the pix and read more about him and find the pix I think you're talking about at this excellent Canadian based website, but I've added one here as a taster. www.oldstox.com/TheEarlyDays.htmI wasn't aware that he ever drove stock cars but you might well be right. I have, for example, no programmes from Connington (if such things even exist) and he would have been an ideal candidate to have taken part in the meetings there. Attachments:
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Post by tobyhalter on Nov 9, 2009 19:21:06 GMT 1
I really enjoyed the midget car part of the site you refer to. Is this the American who the query was about. Those two photos shown on the stock car site of the midget cars (from the Hulton archives) - can they be original 1930s Skirrows. A really excellent answer by haflinger.
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Post by haflinger121 on Nov 9, 2009 19:55:29 GMT 1
Thanks Toby, we aim to please! Those Hulton archive shots are not Skirrows, but Gnats. Indeed, they may well be the same car in slightly different guises. I am almost certain the picture "Midget1" shows Jean Reville working on his car. It is so immaculate, it must surely have been brand new at the time. I think it's the same man and car in "Midget2", but at a later time. That object sticking out of the bonnet looks like it might be a radiator expansion tank - maybe he discovered the cooling wasn't sufficient on the prototype? I also have no real idea where that track is that he's driving. I suppose it's just possible it's in Australia, although there are any number of 1930's tracks I wouldn't necessarily recognise. This is all just speculation however - maybe another member knows more...?
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Post by thirdturn on Nov 10, 2009 10:05:23 GMT 1
Yes it was Clayton Sampson but what I originally found about him was on a different website but your help in rekindling my memories are much appreciated.
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derek
Junior Member
Posts: 82
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Post by derek on Nov 10, 2009 11:33:22 GMT 1
The photo from the Hulton picture library is of Jean Reville driving one of his Palmer Specials. The photo was taken on April 10th 1935 at Lea Bridge. The caption with the photo says that it was taken whilst he was breaking the four lap track record! Reville always seems to be breaking one record or another! I believe the engine is a V-twin JAP.
Derek Bridgett Newcastle-under-Lyme
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Post by haflinger121 on Nov 10, 2009 23:20:34 GMT 1
Thanks Derek, I know we can always rely on you for a goodly bit of info! Tell me: are a Palmer Special and a Gnat technically the same thing or not? The Hulton picture with Reville laying down alongside the car is taken from above, and the signwriting definitely says Palmer Special on the front, and The Gnat on the bonnet. Or am I simply wrong to talk about "Gnats" at all - maybe, strictly speaking, they were all Palmer Specials, with one particular car (Reville's) having the nick name, The Gnat?
If you'd asked me to take a £1 bet on where that other picture was, Lea Bridge is where I would have plumped for! But the only pics I have of Lea Bridge not only don't show the corners, the surroundings don't look anything like that either. I wonder what Reville's time was. We have a programme here from Whit Monday, June 10th '35, by which time the lap record is attributed to Vic Gillow in 23 seconds dead.
It's interesting that you think the engine is a V-twin JAP, which to my way of thinking, would make it the same 998cc motor used in Skirrows. It would also mean that it was air cooled, which would make a nonsense of my suggestion that one of these cars was later fitted with an expansion tank. But it certainly looks like The Gnat has a very neat radiator (complete with rad cap), meaning it would be water cooled. Confused.com!
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Post by administrator on Nov 11, 2009 9:53:25 GMT 1
moderator's message:
Any further comments on the Palmer Special, Gnat, please Post in
GENERAL BOARD CARS AND ENGINES Palmer Special and The Gnat.
Thanks, admin, Midget Car Panorama.
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