Snettertons odd balls

Over the years from 1969 to 1980 there have been a few odd ball racing cars seen at Snetterton in perticular as well as other circuits.

During the period from 1969 to 1980 which i am most interested in i am looking for information on these cars, are they still in existance, did you know the drivers or team involved, do you know any details of the car etc.

Trevor Davies BMC Mini B ( Mini with a B series engine).

Jack Smith Brabham BT?, 2600 CC engine, i beleive a Canadian,

Donald Duplas Daisy 504 Maroon, one of sports car an American

Les Aylott Ardua GT ( Entered by the RAFMSA probably an airman).

Denis Knott Ford Escort fitted with a BRM engine.


I am sure you can come up with more but these are the ones i need for now.


Pete :cool:

Jack Smith's car was a Brabham BT23B. It's been discussed on the Brabham BT23 thread (http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=80452).

Hi Denis should be contactable at his Melton Mowbray Garage. Gerry.

Thanks for the replies,

Jack Smiths car does seem to have various attributions on the BT23 thread as some say he was killed in it in 1969 , which is incorrect as a regular race goer to Snetterton i know it was still racing with Jack driving into 1972.

I also know that he collided with the pit wall at Snetterton which was were he was killed in 1972.

I will try and contact Denis Nott now correct spelling i believe.


Pete

Well, that's what a discussion in the Chassi Archive is often like. If we were right all the time, we wouldn't ever need to ask anyone else's opinion. :)

He definitely wasn't killed in it in 1969 and I'm sure you're right about it being 1972. The car went to Canada late in the 1969 season and was raced by John Cordts in the Canadian GP. It then apparantly returned to Britain but I know nothing about what happened to it in 1970, 1971 and 1972. Can you fill any of that gap?

Allen

The car was a regular Libre racer at Snetterton during 1969 then dissapeared for a while so thats when it must have gone to Canada.

Unfortunately when i moved to a smaller house my collection of programmes had to go so i cant be sure when it re-appeared.

If i find any more info i will post it here .

Pete

Pete

Now you've raised this, I'm beginning to wonder if it did actually race in 1970 and 1971. Which in turn makes me want to check that the car he crashed when he died was actually the same car. Maybe we've just been assuming this for all this time.

Allen

My memory cant remember if the car was exactly the same colour in 72 as it was in 69 , it certainley had the same size engine but as you say may not have been the same chassis.


Pete

Relying entirely on memory from 35 years ago - ISTR the car went to Canada, then returned to the UK with (or at least for) Smith.

Les Aylott was indead in the airforce, but not a pilot. The Ardua GT was a home built car, he wanted to call it an Astra GT but was beaten to it. (ardua ad astra-the RAF's motto)

Les Aylott was indead in the airforce, but not a pilot. The Ardua GT was a home built car, he wanted to call it an Astra GT but was beaten to it. (ardua ad astra-the RAF's motto)


Many thanks after all these years i never knew where the name Ardua came from till now.

This car was an ever present vehicle in the GT championships of the era, and at Snetterton was a very regular car.


Pete

Many thanks after all these years i never knew where the name Ardua came from till now.

This car was an ever present vehicle in the GT championships of the era, and at Snetterton was a very regular car.


Pete

My Latin is very rusty, but I think "Ardua" means "hardship", so perhaps Les had a lot of trouble building the car, or it cost him lots of money. He may not have been a pilot, but he was certainly a Flight Lieutenant on entry lists when I saw him race.

Pete,
Some info on the Ardua here: http://www.racing70s.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/racing70s/GTCars/gt_01.htm

Thanks for the link Geoff, the car is just as i remember it, allthough it was an unusal looking car it was very effective and was allways competative.


Pete