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Post by rodpashley on Dec 31, 2009 18:02:25 GMT 1
I have heard the rumor about a Skirrow being used as a "modern era" Midget, but never seen, or heard of, any evidence of this happening
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Post by rodpashley on Dec 31, 2009 18:56:34 GMT 1
In recent times, I have seen pictures of three different Skirrows, all claiming to be theDave hughes car......
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Post by ezwalk43 on Dec 31, 2009 20:03:36 GMT 1
Article also said that Malcolm had a spare bodyshell so maybe that is what he based his Spedeworth midget on while selling the restored car elsewhere
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Post by haflinger121 on Dec 31, 2009 20:18:53 GMT 1
Now that sounds like reasonable explanation Ez. I wonder if anybody out there knows for sure what happened. You know, that #10 car could just be a modern chassis with a Skirrow body clagged on top...
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Post by dirtpilot on Jan 1, 2010 7:28:06 GMT 1
Malcolm White not only had a complete car but also a spare body,what is not clear is whether the restored car was fitted with a 1200cc Cortina motor or whether he built another using the spare body , i think probably it was the restored car.After racing the car for about 2 years it was eventually sold at a Norman Cole auction at Olympia (date unknown.)
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Post by administrator on Jan 1, 2010 8:40:45 GMT 1
Malcolm White not only had a complete car but also a spare body,what is not clear is whether the restored car was fitted with a 1200cc Cortina motor or whether he built another using the spare body , i think probably it was the restored car.After racing the car for about 2 years it was eventually sold at a Norman Cole auction at Olympia (date unknown.) As has been mentioned in this discussion before, wasn't the Malcolm White Skirrow sold on to Joey Gertler (he has a museum) in the USA, and more recently to Barry Brown in Canada? A link to the Joey Gertler Museum is - you'll need to scroll around to find midgets. I couldn't see a photo of a Skirrow however. www.memaerobilia.com
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Post by dirtpilot on Jan 1, 2010 10:34:21 GMT 1
Les White sold his complete original Skirrow to Joe Gertler after the war,the Malcolm White project was around 1968, do not confuse.
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Post by administrator on Jan 1, 2010 10:44:22 GMT 1
Les White sold his complete original Skirrow to Joe Gertler after the war,the Malcolm White project was around 1968, do not confuse. Thanks for this info dirtpilot. It does clarify a very old misconception - but what car was it that Les White on show at his Epsom business then? I once spoke to Les on the phone, probably early 1980s, and he told me about the display? Was it that Malcolm's car then?
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Post by haflinger121 on Jan 1, 2010 11:05:41 GMT 1
Malcolm White not only had a complete car but also a spare body,what is not clear is whether the restored car was fitted with a 1200cc Cortina motor or whether he built another using the spare body , i think probably it was the restored car.After racing the car for about 2 years it was eventually sold at a Norman Cole auction at Olympia (date unknown.) As has been mentioned in this discussion before, wasn't the Malcolm White Skirrow sold on to Joey Gertler (he has a museum) in the USA, and more recently to Barry Brown in Canada? A link to the Joey Gertler Museum is - you'll need to scroll around to find midgets. I couldn't see a photo of a Skirrow however. www.memaerobilia.comJohn, if you go to that website, onto the midget page and scroll right to the very bottom, you will find a sideways-on picture of the red & white # 7 car.
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Post by dirtpilot on Jan 1, 2010 13:04:39 GMT 1
We may all be guessing on this,looking at the Skirrow in USA & a photo in Derek's book pg #77 there are differences, but cars changed over time maybe our best chance at present is Barry Brown when he bought the car maybe Gertler gave him some history,i tried to contact the site several times but received no response & i believe others tried too. One curious thing with the USA car is the single racing number,i can only find these back in the Reville days & on the Eltos,maybe this is some sort of "ring-in." As far as i'm aware the number for Les White was #52.
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Post by administrator on Jan 1, 2010 13:15:33 GMT 1
We may all be guessing on this,looking at the Skirrow in USA & a photo in Derek's book pg #77 there are differences, but cars changed over time maybe our best chance at present is Barry Brown when he bought the car maybe Gertler gave him some history,i tried to contact the site several times but received no response & i believe others tried too. One curious thing with the USA car is the single racing number,i can only find these back in the Reville days & on the Eltos,maybe this is some sort of "ring-in." As far as i'm aware the number for Les White was #52. When I was first told that Joey Gertler may own a Skirrow, late 1980s or early 1990s, I also tried to contact him several times without any reply.
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Post by bruffsup on Jan 1, 2010 14:54:42 GMT 1
Hello and Happy New Year from Canada! I hope you are enjoying the snow and cold I sent you for Christmas! I can chime in here with a little bit of info. First off I can not see any evidence my Skirrow has ever had anything but it's JAP 8/80 engine which I am now rebuilding. Also of possible interest , I received a mysterious email from the UK after I sucessfully bought my car . The gentleman told me he had a Skirrow that he and his dad were restoring , or at least planning to restore. After a few more emails i deduced it was none other than Andy Abrahams the then president of the Brough Superior club who I had actually met the previous August when I attended the 50th annual Brough Superior rally. Just another example of what a small world we fanatics travel in. The JAP engine in my Skirrow is in very good condition and is quite unusual in that it has unstamped magnesium crankcases. I have not been able to confirm whether these are pre war or not. JAP expert Ewan Cameron has an identical unstamped 8/80 as well. I know for a fact magnesium or more correctly "elektron" was used in many engines pre war so I suppose there is no reason an illustrious firm such as JAP's would not use it as well if commissioned to do so. I also found it interesting to see the top view of Ivan Dutton's Skirrow engine as this appears to be an 8/80 and not the earlier KTOR which has been mentioned on one of the web pages devoted to these matters. This would make sense as the KTOR was a mid twenties engine and although lovely in a Brough would not have the torque of an 8/80. Attachments:
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Post by haflinger121 on Jan 1, 2010 15:41:53 GMT 1
Thanks for that info, bruffsup - or should that be Barry? It sounds as though you've nailed the mystery of the Abrahams machine and its whereabouts today - it sounds like they (John and his son (?) Andy) have still got it and plan on a restoration, which is good news. Mark you, from the look of the photo we've seen of this machine, they might have quite a job on their hands, not least finding the right motor by the look of it. That's not to say that they haven't got that as well somewhere, of course...
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Post by tobyhalter on Jan 1, 2010 17:38:11 GMT 1
Thanks for that info, bruffsup - or should that be Barry? It sounds as though you've nailed the mystery of the Abrahams machine and its whereabouts today - it sounds like they (John and his son (?) Andy) have still got it and plan on a restoration, which is good news. Mark you, from the look of the photo we've seen of this machine, they might have quite a job on their hands, not least finding the right motor by the look of it. That's not to say that they haven't got that as well somewhere, of course... Is there a way to contact John and Andy Abrahams about the Skirrow...or do we know to send for Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson (joke).
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Post by bruffsup on Jan 2, 2010 19:15:48 GMT 1
you could post a notice on the Brough Superior Club web page. You do not have to be a member to do so, just be tactfull and respectfull as all postings are screened for relevance etc. That is in fact where Joe Gertler initially advertised my Skirrow. I don't feel it would be appropriate to give out contact info here not knowing the Abraham's intentions.
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