3/4/2004

Austin 7 Racing Stable

The second bi-annual Open Day was held at the new factory in Greenwich on the 29th February 2004. It was attended by over 60 enthusiasts from the 750 Motor Club and the Forest Hill & District Motor Club. This informal event allows visitors to study the cars at leisure and ask questions. Continuing research on the "Rubber Duck" racer has produced documents and film from its competition history in Germany in the early 1930's. This is dealt with in a further article on Motorsnippets. The Maclachlan Special is being prepared for the 2004 season of Sprints and Hillclimbs it having been out of action for two years on the discovery of serious cracks in the cylinder block. A new cylinder block has been cast and is already fitted to the crankcase by Paul Bonewell to whom this extensive task has been entrusted. In addition it has been decided that the original "Brooklands" camshaft was unsuitable for the engine speed and is being replaced by a reprofiled "Nippy" type which should allow the engine to rev up to 7,500 without valve bounce using standard Austin cam followers. As these supercharged engines produce about 10 hp per 1000 revs there should be a significant increase in the available power over a much wider range. The outcome of these developments is awaited with considerable anticipation. Once the "Mac" is finished work can then be started on the Gordon Brettell Special to overcome the teething problems that have become evident from the 6 races completed so far. Further reports on progress will be reported in Motorsnippets. The thorny question of wheel and tyre sizes and compliance with the VSCC regulations and the risks of competing with such a powerful car will ultimately determine the events to be entered.

23 Feb 2005

Amazing Barn Finds

In deepest rural England we have discovered a very interesting collection of Vintage Austin Sevens. It is quite extraordinary how cars continue to turn up after years of being hidden away. This hoard consists of the following collectable cars.



A 1929 Austin Boyd Carpenter Special. An Austin “Ulster” from about1931. A Two Seater Flat Radiator Austin from 1935. A Pearl Cabriolet of 1935. An Austin Seven Box saloon ....to see the rest click here!