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Old 22 Mar 2018, 08:17 (Ref:3809814)   #1
doubleg
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AG Dean/Brian Robinson BSCC Cortinas and Escorts

Hi all, fairly new sign up and my first post. Mainly lured in by the History and Chassis number threads after being pointed in this direction by Frank De Jong some time ago. I'm mainly a rally guy, but love the older circuit stuff from the early saloon days through to the end of the group A era.

I am trying to find some pictures of the AG Dean cars mostly driven by Tony Dean himself and Brian Robinson as a neighbour of mine was involved in preparing/looking after them. The Escort Twin Cam they ran was the first car he ever built up, he then left and went to work for someone else for more money and regretted it ever since as he could have stayed involved in racing instead.

I'd love to find some pictures of the cars for him if I can.

From Franks site I've been collecting the events, I can find that they entered cars for.

1967

Brian Robinson:
  • Oulton Gold Cup - Lotus Cortina
  • Guards Motorshow 200 at Brands - Mk2 Lotus Cortina

Tony Dean:
  • Oulton Gold Cup - Lotus Cortina
  • Gaurds 200 at Brands - Lotus Cortina

1968

Brian Robinson, did every round in Cortinas (Thruxton being a Mk2) apart from the finale which he did in the Twin Cam.

Tony Dean, did every round in Cortinas.

Barry Pearson, did most of the rounds, always using Cortinas.

1969

Brian Robinson, using the Escort Twin Cam did every round. Started the year as AG Dean Racing but then ran as Byker Hill Garage.

Tony Dean, only did the first round in the Lotus Cortina then vanished.

Last edited by doubleg; 22 Mar 2018 at 08:41.
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Old 22 Mar 2018, 08:55 (Ref:3809820)   #2
doubleg
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I probably should have checked with my neighbour first so that I have the history right on it.

But it's something we spoke about ages ago and I just hadn't gotten around to posting on here to ask about the pics.



My understanding of the AG Dean / Byker Hill Garage setup is that either Tony Dean or the guy who setup Byker Hill Garage when Tony Dean moved on was an ex Lotus guy.

If I remember rightly, the head mechanic was ex Lotus and worked for Tony Dean, then Tony Dean moved on and the mechanic took over which is when it became Byker Hill Garage.

It only came up because my neighbour was going through a load of my stuff at the farm I use for storage (I sell old Ford bits) and found a load of old signs and stuff that I had which then triggered him to talk about the Cortinas and Escorts because I have the old hand painted signage from the local Ford dealer where he used to go and collect parts for the cars he built.
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Old 22 Mar 2018, 11:27 (Ref:3809852)   #3
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Brian Robinson's family owned Byker Hill garage in Byker, Newcastle. They bought the ex-works (Team Lotus) Cortinas from Lotus and ran them under the Byker Hill name with Brian and Tony Dean driving. I don't know how the connection between the two arose as Brian was a Geordie and Tony a Yorkshire man from the Castleford areas. Tony was a well known driver in many formulae whereas Brian was, as far as I remember, not well known and my first notice of him was racing one of the Cortinas at Rufforth on 25th March, 1967 and again at Croft on 27th March. Tony Dean didn't race a saloon on those dates.
Byker Hill later bought the ex-works 1968 Mk 2 Cortina FVAs. I'm not sure where the Escort came from.
Tony continued in high profile racing and scored a CanAm win in, I think, a Porsche 908 in wet weather before a liking for cigars blighted his career. Brian Robinson later raced GT cars including Porsche 911 variants.
Tony's partner, Kathy, has previously posted on tentenths and may have more information.
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Old 22 Mar 2018, 11:42 (Ref:3809861)   #4
doubleg
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Thanks for the reply.

As far as I am aware the Twin Cam Escort was built by my neighbour and someone else who worked at Byker Hill, who may be the ex-Lotus guy I am thinking of.

When I catch my neighbour next I'll try and get a better idea of dates from him. He's retired now and rebuilding a Lotus 7 but spends a fair amount of time helping me out with Escort stuff as well.

I know if I could find some pictures of the cars he would be absolutely thrilled. He was blown away simply by the stuff on Franks site even.
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Old 22 Mar 2018, 14:15 (Ref:3809903)   #5
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Who is your neighbour and where in the country was he based?
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Old 22 Mar 2018, 14:17 (Ref:3809905)   #6
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We live near Whitley Bay.

Alan Wilkinson is my neighbour. He wasn't involved in motorsport extensively, just at that stage, he'll have been more or less fresh out of his apprenticeship at that point. So I'd be very surprised if any people knew Alan.

Like I say, it just came up because he found the signs I had from one of the old Ford dealers in the West End of Newcastle, mainly the old parts department sign which was hand painted.

He worked at Byker Hill but then shifted elsewhere (the name of which escapes me right now). Oddly enough the guy who owns/owned that site which became an MOT station after that (Eric Christers) was one of my dads best mates and my mother worked there.
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Old 20 Nov 2019, 16:26 (Ref:3941786)   #7
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Hi doubleg
I've just seen this thread a bit late, but if you are still looking for photos of Brian Robinson I took quite a few back in the '60s and can look them out to post. Just let me know.
Cheers
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Old 20 Nov 2019, 16:39 (Ref:3941788)   #8
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Hi Dave

Anything you have would be greatly appreciated, I talk with Alan quite a lot about those days and it's obviously a big thing that he remembers very fondly, certainly it wasn't a bad way for him to spend his early days in the trade!
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Old 22 Nov 2019, 08:41 (Ref:3942097)   #9
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Found this https://www.racingsportscars.com/dri...binson-GB.html
Hope that it's of interest.
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Old 22 Nov 2019, 18:05 (Ref:3942206)   #10
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Hi doubleg
I have found several Brian Robinson photos from '67 and '68 in MkI and MkII. Although I took quite a few photos of Tony Dean the only one in a Cortina (or more accurately not in it) is at the Oulton Gold Cup meeting after he had stuffed it into the barrier at the entrance to Old Hall.
However, after I started this reply I find that I don't know how to post them. I used to post photos a few years ago, but it seems the rules have changed and they have to be on a website, which they aren't. Sorry!
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Old 23 Nov 2019, 09:11 (Ref:3942285)   #11
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DaveM. It is possible to post photos that are saved on your computer too. If you go into 'Post Reply', click the paperclip in the top row of the box to 'Manage Attachments' etc you can search for images on your PC and then add them to the post (maximum image sizes allowed are shown).
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Old 23 Nov 2019, 09:23 (Ref:3942287)   #12
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No pics but lots of memories of both -

Brian's FVA engined Cortina screaming down the back straight at Rufforth

Tony's 908 taking on and annihilating U2s and the like in Formula Libre at Rufforth

Tony's gorgeous Dino 206 SP at Oulton Tourist Trophy '68

Brian's various recent Porsches, including a 935 I saw at Croft I think ?

Tony's lovely F5000 Chevron at Brands , Mallory etc
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Old 23 Nov 2019, 10:36 (Ref:3942302)   #13
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Thank you for the tip VIVA GT.

Here are the first two to see if I've got it right. These are of Brian at Cadwell's Hall Bends on 1st October 1967
Attached Thumbnails
1967-10-01 Robinson.jpg   1967-10-01 Cadwell Robinson.jpg  
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Old 23 Nov 2019, 10:48 (Ref:3942303)   #14
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That seemed to work ok. These are from the Race of Champions meeting at Brands Hatch on 17th March 1968 in the MkII.

1. On the first lap coming into Clearways leading Fitzpatrick, Ewer, Lague, Lanfranchi, Spice, Kaye, Wayne, Janzen and Pierpoint

2. Following Elford and Gardner. They finished in this order behind winner Brian Muir

3. Also at Clearways
Attached Thumbnails
1968-03-17RoC RobinsonFitzpatrickEwerLagueLanfranchiSpiceKayeWayneJanzenPierpoint.jpg   1968-03-17RoC Elford2ndGardner3rdRobinson4th.jpg   1968-03-17RoC Robinson.jpg  

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Old 23 Nov 2019, 10:55 (Ref:3942304)   #15
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This is the International Trophy meeting at Silverstone on 27th April 1968 - how good was it to have two F1 meetings so early in the season, and still the GP to look forward to!

1. Brian Robinson hustles Elford round Copse

2. Barrie Pearson in the old MkI leads Fitzpatrick and Rhodes
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1968-04-27 IntTrophy RobinsonElford.jpg   1968-04-27 IntTrophy BarriePearsonFitzpatrickRhodes.jpg  
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Old 23 Nov 2019, 11:01 (Ref:3942306)   #16
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Finally, one rounding the Mallory Park hairpin 23rd June 1968, and back in the MkI at Cadwell on 15th September 1968 leading Harry Ratcliffe and John Handley
Attached Thumbnails
1968-06-23 Mallory Robinson.jpg   1968-09-15CadwellRobinsonRatcliffeHandley.jpg  
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Old 23 Nov 2019, 19:39 (Ref:3942402)   #17
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Hi Dave, sorry I didn't email you last night, I am currently studying full time as well as being self employed and was working on an assignment until about 10:30pm and then have been working all day.

Those are all absolutely fantastic, really appreciate you taking the time out to scan them.
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Old 11 Feb 2023, 08:47 (Ref:4143436)   #18
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Hope it's okay to connect to this thread. I believe Brian Robinson or a family member may have raced a newish Porsche 911S in the Four Hour Relay Race. Would anyone have any recollection of that or any further info? Would be interested to hear. Many thanks, Robert
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Old 11 Feb 2023, 09:46 (Ref:4143439)   #19
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Originally Posted by one-two View Post
Hope it's okay to connect to this thread. I believe Brian Robinson or a family member may have raced a newish Porsche 911S in the Four Hour Relay Race. Would anyone have any recollection of that or any further info? Would be interested to hear. Many thanks, Robert

Roughly when would that have been and which circuit?
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Old 11 Feb 2023, 11:55 (Ref:4143453)   #20
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Originally Posted by one-two View Post
Hope it's okay to connect to this thread. I believe Brian Robinson or a family member may have raced a newish Porsche 911S in the Four Hour Relay Race. Would anyone have any recollection of that or any further info? Would be interested to hear. Many thanks, Robert

When I was trying to find pics/info about the Cortina's I seem to recall finding something about him doing British GT events in a 911 in the early 90's but I can't remember the specifics.
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Old 11 Feb 2023, 13:09 (Ref:4143458)   #21
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Roughly when would that have been and which circuit?
Apologies - I should have said! B Robinson - and J Robinson - took part in a 4 Hour Relay Race at Croft in June 1967. B Robinson was in a Lotus Cortina and J Robinson a Porsche 911. I assume B Robinson was Brian, hence the connection with this thread. Many thanks, Robert
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Old 11 Feb 2023, 13:50 (Ref:4143459)   #22
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Apologies - I should have said! B Robinson - and J Robinson - took part in a 4 Hour Relay Race at Croft in June 1967. B Robinson was in a Lotus Cortina and J Robinson a Porsche 911. I assume B Robinson was Brian, hence the connection with this thread. Many thanks, Robert

Croft and Rufforth were my local circuits when I started racing in 1966 and raced against Brian Robinson several times but I don't recall a 4 hour relay race there. I don't recall any reference to a relay race there subsequently.
I know the local Darlinton paper covered Croft dairly well so I will contact them to see if they have an archive dept. with any further info.
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Old 11 Feb 2023, 13:59 (Ref:4143461)   #23
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Croft and Rufforth were my local circuits when I started racing in 1966 and raced against Brian Robinson several times but I don't recall a 4 hour relay race there. I don't recall any reference to a relay race there subsequently.
I know the local Darlinton paper covered Croft dairly well so I will contact them to see if they have an archive dept. with any further info.
Interesting. I believe it was an annual event, with four or five cars in a team. In 1967, I think the two Robinsons were in the winning Yorkshire team. Would be interested if you are able to find out more. Best, Robert
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