[eclectic]

Here is the car's history, pity about the end of Joe Quinn's career.

Special Austin Mercury
Race History.

(1) May 16th 1953
RAC International Ulster Trophy Race
Joseph Quinn, Londonderry
S.A. M. 4200cc. Number 50
Autosport “Plugs were in great demand at the end of the
second lap for Joe Quinn’s S.A.M. and Lovell-Butts blown K3 among others….”

Result: Retired.

(2) May 30th 1953
Syonfin, Fintona hill climb
J. Quinn, Derry. Number 43

Not in results

(3) June 6th 1953
The Irish Motor Racing Club, Phoenix Park, Dublin.
J. Quinn, Derry
S.A.M. 4,250cc 1 ¼ mins handicap. Number 26
Autosport “Joe Quinn, in the 4 ¼ - litre S.A.M., came into
Mountjoy on the second lap with wheels locked and tyres
smoking furiously, mounted the grass and rejoined the course travelling backwards.”

Not in results

(4) July 11th 1953
The Leinster Motor Club ltd,
Leinster Trophy, International Car Race
J. Quinn, Derry
S.A.M. 4,250cc handicap speed 76.9mph. Number 15
Autosport “Joe Quinn, of Londonderry, with a one-lap allowance on handicap kept his V8 engined S.A.M. among the faster cars for a surprising length of time….”
NB, Ecurie Ecosse were there with the Cooper Bristol and two ‘C’ Type Jaguars, and R. Baird was driving a 4,100cc Ferrari.

Result: Retired.


(5) August 14th 1953
Craigauntlet Hill Climb
No programme details
Number 15

Autocar “Then came Joe Quinn of Londonderry in his
4,250cc Mercury-engined S.A.M. a rather scrappy looking
car that had shocked some of the ‘C’ type Jaguars in th
Leinster Trophy Race. His time of 83.6 seconds was rather
disappointing, but his time of 81.8 on the second run was
third best of the day.”

Results;
1st Ken Wharton, Cooper 996cc 70.60 seconds
2nd J. D. Titterington, Allard 3,917cc 80.60 seconds
3rd J. Quinn, S.A.M. 4,250cc 81.81 seconds
4th I. H. Titterington, Allard 3,917cc 83.00 seconds
5th C. S. Porter, Invicta 4,467cc 84.40 seconds
6th C. W. Leeper, MG 1,250cc 85.60 seconds

Result: Third overall.

(6) September 12th 1953
The Irish Motor Racing Club ltd,
Curragh International Motor Race.
Wakefield Trophy Race
Joe Quinn, Derry. Number 25
S.A.M. 4,250cc Handicap, 2 laps, 2 mins, 75.9 mph
No mention in results or reports.

(7) June 5th 1954
Syonfin, Fintona hill climb
No programme details

Autosport June 11th 1954 “Syd Durbidge (Maserati-Griffin)
and Joe Quinn (Mercury-engined S.A.M.) were the “stars”
of the Omagh Motor Club’s hill climb at Syonfin, Co.
Tyrone, on Saturday 5th June, each making a climb in 63.2
secs.”

Result: First Equal.



(8) July 10th 1954
The Leinster Motor Club ltd,
Leinster Trophy, International Car Race
J. Quinn, Number 5,
4,250cc S.A.M. Entered by J. H. W. Thompson, Belfast
Handicap 77.8 mph

Autosport July 16th 1954 “Friday’s practise time produced
foul weather and consequently lower lap speeds. Freddie
Smith looked happy … that man loves rain! His little Ford Special (1172cc) was resplendent in a new, offset single-
seater body which looked anything but conventional. Flynn (1,250cc MG s/c) had cured his problems of the previous evening and proceeded to lap at 69.7mph in the downpour. J. Quinn got his unhandsome Mercury-engined device around in the same time. None of the others could get within 13 secs of these two drivers.”

Not mentioned in the results.


(9) August 28th 1954
Irish Motor Racing Club Ltd
Curragh International Motor Race.
Wakefield Trophy
J. Quinn, Number 17
Entered by J. H. W. Thompson, Belfast

The Autocar, September 3rd 1954 “The event was marred
by an unfortunate accident when J. Quinn of
Londonderry, driving a 4,250cc Mercury-engined
S.A.M., touched wheels with another car and shot off the
course. A soldier-marshal and a spectator were killed
instantly. Quinn himself was fatally injured and 15
people were hurt, two requiring hospital treatment.”