Racing A40's?

A Tait · 20 May 2003, 18:28 (Ref:605138)

Does anybody know of any competition A40's that are still about? I remember seeing a red c/w white roof one at Brands in 97'ish, but that seems to of disappeared.

Shame theres not more of them out on the circuits, after all it's A-series! Not knackered for tuning bits!

Adam.

zefarelly · 21 May 2003, 13:21 (Ref:605877)

Rae Davis has a speedwell replica in his fleet, a sky blue one, theres a maroon one out and about at top hat events too.

Andrew Kitson · 21 May 2003, 18:25 (Ref:606145)

ianselva, yes of course, Thruxton.
He tended to race mainly there and at Combe I recall, but I do remember him coming to Silverstone and Snetterton with the car.

andy wilson · 21 May 2003, 22:22 (Ref:606348)

andrew anyone puting a v8 in a a40 wants a check up mate

Slowcoach · 22 May 2003, 20:23 (Ref:607188)

According to the CTCRC website an A40 (Martin Elson)competed in the classic and historic touring car race at Rockingham in April (also an A50 and two A35's) - sadly I didn't see the race as I was sawing down my new wheel arches for the CT race as my tyres were too big !

Yimkin · 23 May 2003, 19:49 (Ref:608243)

Pop along to Donington on Sunday for the Ferrari festival (bizarrely) and you'll see 2 A40's - Ivor Miller and Derek Harris in the Top Hat Oldies but Goldies race (along with our 100E)

Craner Curves · 28 May 2003, 23:16 (Ref:613005)

Peter Brock has a roadgoing V8 A40 according to Murray Walker's book!

2camman · 29 May 2003, 00:52 (Ref:613043)

Peter Brock raced a Holden 6 powered A30 early in his career.

http://www.autopics.com.au/cache/ite....html?cache=no

It was restored a couple of years ago by his son James and they still own it. However it isn’t road going and is only brought out occasionally to display.

glyn parham · 30 May 2003, 20:50 (Ref:615232)

Peter Bevan, son of George Bevan started his racing career in an Austin A40 and also fitted an aerodynamic? front end (well it was the swinging sixties) on it. It looked more like an early styling excercise for the droop snoot Escort of the seventies, but it was a fast car, ran in the 1000cc class if memory serves me well.

Junior Senior · 2 Jun 2003, 16:33 (Ref:617965)

I seem to recall a red & white A40 in the Sixties saloons series a few years ago, driven bloody quickly by David Lewis I think.

Old A40 Racer · 1 Mar 2011, 11:55 (Ref:2838381)

Junior Senior,
Following on from your thread of Feb 2003 re A40.I was that man! I am,however, currently researching all drivers of BMC produced cars for a forthcoming book and am keen to know details of the following A40 drivers who raced 'in period'.
P.C.Banks,Graham Birrell,(Grubby),Mick Cave,Dennis Clarke,Harry Digby,Mike Lawlor,Edward Lewis(Westover shoes),Phillip Middlehurst,Francis Pound,Geoff Williamson(Alexander)and Jonathan Williams.
In addition A35 racers of interest are Len Adams(Speedwell),Hubert Cutler,Bill Graham(Speedwell),Phil Shanks(Speedwell),Arthur Taylor(Cambridge University Auto Club Team) believed living somewhere in Glos,and Tony Todd.
A mix of Morris Minor,Riley 1.5,MG Magnette and A90 Westminster drivers include Fred Marriott,Capt Jim Mackreth,Roy North,Peter Pilsworth,Pearce Pope,Alan Hutcheson,believed died in Spain in 2008, Jonathan Wingfield and Alan Adler.
Whilst I appreciate some of the foregoing may no longer be with us any info or contact details including any descendents would be of help.

VIVA GT · 1 Mar 2011, 12:06 (Ref:2838387)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old A40 Racer

Junior Senior,
Following on from your thread of Feb 2003 re A40.I was that man! I am,however, currently researching all drivers of BMC produced cars for a forthcoming book and am keen to know details of the following A40 drivers who raced 'in period'.
P.C.Banks,Graham Birrell,(Grubby),Mick Cave,Dennis Clarke,Harry Digby,Mike Lawlor,Edward Lewis(Westover shoes),Phillip Middlehurst,Francis Pound,Geoff Williamson(Alexander)and Jonathan Williams.
In addition A35 racers of interest are Len Adams(Speedwell),Hubert Cutler,Bill Graham(Speedwell),Phil Shanks(Speedwell),Arthur Taylor(Cambridge University Auto Club Team) believed living somewhere in Glos,and Tony Todd.
A mix of Morris Minor,Riley 1.5,MG Magnette and A90 Westminster drivers include Fred Marriott,Capt Jim Mackreth,Roy North,Peter Pilsworth,Pearce Pope,Alan Hutcheson,believed died in Spain in 2008, Jonathan Wingfield and Alan Adler.
Whilst I appreciate some of the foregoing may no longer be with us any info or contact details including any descendents would be of help.

This is a total long-shot, but I believe Historic Lotus Racer Andy Middlehurst's dad's name is Philip and had some sort of motorsport background...

morninggents · 1 Mar 2011, 16:31 (Ref:2838509)

Yes Andy's dad is the Phil Middlehurst.

Oldtony · 2 Mar 2011, 07:03 (Ref:2838888)

Just had a scroll through this. Probably the best known A40 Farina raced in Australia was the Leeton Motors car driven by Brian Foley. Ran mostly in 948cc form as I recal and was quite competitve with the Morris minors of various ilks but was soon was rendered obsolescent by the advent of 1100 and 1275 minis.
Was a sort of buttercup cream cour with a black roof and a couple of black race stripes, the Leeton Motors colours.

WELLSEY A40 FAN · 7 Oct 2011, 22:22 (Ref:2967373)

Hi, I spectated a lot in the early sixties and can still recall some details, Francis Pound was the first I think to race a Mk2 A40 and stuck a streamlined? nose on his car. Somewhere I had a photo of it. There was another chap called Martin Mulcrone who raced a 1650 Ford engined car, bronze with a blue roof I think. Crashed it at Paddock and the remains were rebuilt by a guy, can't remember his name but it was painted green and I spoke to him at Silverstone and got the history.

**chunterer** · 8 Oct 2011, 13:46 (Ref:2967575)

The name Mulchrone rings a bell, i'm sure he had a big engined Capri at one point? Maybe late 70's or early 80's. I'm sure I saw his name in a Thruxton programme for one of those end of season tv races that used to be held in November?

welshchris · 17 Nov 2012, 15:37 (Ref:3167533)

Hi all. New on the forum. Re A40s. My brother bought a Blue Mk 1 A40 from a bloke call Bill Shear (I think) in about 1965. I was a track car, totally stripped out, viciously lowered, front wheels akimbo, hellish fast (120mph) and very noisy. We saw it run in a sprint at Debden Airfield one year (prob 63 or 4)- the year Allard run the first UK dragster. My brother used it for local rallies in Essex, and he even taught Barry Lee to rally navigate (he wasn't very good). Anybody know any more about it?

glyn parham · 2 Jun 2003, 17:08 (Ref:618033)

A Tait, I do remember the 850 class from the sixties and seventies, but I have no memrobilia from that time at all, as I was just getting into teens at the time and not all useful info was kept, especially with house moves, parents divorcing etc.
I suspect that I did see your Mini racing, but I also suspect that it was mainly seen on the Midlands circuits.
Good luck with the car, and if I do find any info I will pass it on.

Dan Rear · 24 Nov 2003, 16:10 (Ref:793049)

A chap called Peter Jurgens raced a very quick 1-litre A40 in Special saloons in the late 70s/early 80s. Sometimes entered as the 'Hiorns A40', I suppose they were his sponsors. It used to go very well against the Imps/Stillettos of the period.

Dave Brand · 24 Nov 2003, 17:00 (Ref:793082)

Martin Elson's A40 at the Mallory Top Hat meeting:

ian.stewart · 30 Mar 2008, 19:37 (Ref:2165431)

Well heres a few pics of some A40 racers,
http://www.austinworks.com/gas-west.html
http://www.austinworks.com/gas-east.html

D-Type · 11 Nov 2009, 20:31 (Ref:2580342)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian.stewart

Well heres a few pics of some A40 racers,
http://www.austinworks.com/gas-west.html
http://www.austinworks.com/gas-east.html

I wonder .....
In Australia and New Zealand they seemed to race anything! did anybody there race a Devon or Somerset?

Warwick Robinson · 15 Nov 2009, 21:53 (Ref:2582469)

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Type

I wonder .....
In Australia and New Zealand they seemed to race anything! did anybody there race a Devon or Somerset?

I am sure they did get raced here in New Zealand. As you say most things did although I can't immediately find any photos. The "A40" in this photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/warwick...7609140652794/ is a replica of a very successful car from the 60s and 70s.

Good Times · 26 Nov 2009, 17:16 (Ref:2589773)

And there was the 1960 BTCC Championship winner & 2nd the year before.
Doc Shepard, Don Moore 1000 c.c car.

John Searby, brg 1000 c.c car won the I.C.S championship in the early 90's.
David Lewis, red/white 1275 c.c fast car also ran in that series

Ginger Payne raced a 1000 c.c car.

Mike Cave/ Harry Digby, 1275 c.c car entered by Richard Miles ( Downton ) London.
This car ran mainly down south, Combe,Brands,Crystal Palace & Goodwood.
It was & farina grey mk1 with a different grille area, it ran a Downton dry sump motor & held many track class lap records & won the Goodwood Members Championship for many years.
I think this car was later raced by Gordon Spice in Guyana.
Steven Miles ( Richards son ) runs a replica in the Masters series.

GORDON STREETER · 27 Nov 2009, 00:04 (Ref:2589960)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Good Times

John Searby, brg 1000 c.c car won the I.C.S championship in the early 90's.

John never ran in the ICS but in the HRSR.
Pete Bevan (George's son) raced an A40 as well.

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