MY OTHER CAR

[Jim Shade]

Just exchanged emails with a member regarding interesting cars we once owned.

Here's mine

Now let's see yours.

[John Youens]

Jim,

Following your hot rod lead, here is the '29 Model A that I used to own. It had a full-house '53 Ford flathead with 3 Stromberg 97's, and a T-10 close ratio 4-speed. Totally old-school with all original Ford parts. Lots of torque, lots of fun!

John

[Steve Simmons]

Closest thing to those cars that I own is my '39 Ford V8 pickup. Someone in it's distant past replaced the '39 engine with a '53 Merc which upped the HP from 85 to 125. I plan to leave it there because it's a truck and the added power will be useful. Otherwise it's pretty much stock but hasn't run since the late 60's.

Here's a photo, also showing my '25 Model T pickup.

[Malcolm Scanlan]

My 1976 Austin Mini on a wet horrible day in Minter Gardens, but it still came in first in class.
Malcolm

[Jim Shade]

Posted for T-ABC member Kerrigan, who wrote:

This slightly modified 1931 Model A Ford was my first car. It was also my older brother Bill's first car.
The photo was taken in 1941 in Oakland, California.

[John Youens]

Closest thing to those cars that I own is my '39 Ford V8 pickup. Someone in it's distant past replaced the '39 engine with a '53 Merc which upped the HP from 85 to 125. I plan to leave it there because it's a truck and the added power will be useful. Otherwise it's pretty much stock but hasn't run since the late 60's.

Here's a photo, also showing my '25 Model T pickup.

My dad had a '25 and a '27 Model T Roadster. I was the only kid in my high school who could drive a T.

[John Youens]

Posted for T-ABC member Kerrigan, who wrote:

This slightly modified 1931 Model A Ford was my first car. It was also my older brother Bill's first car.
The photo was taken in 1941 in Oakland, California.

Would that be Spence Kerrigan? Very cool mild hot rod with the '32 shell (and hood?) with the bobbed rear fenders.
'John

[Graeme Louk]

Hi All
I recently became the custodian of the Cooper MG, she is a beautiful old racing car that has a rich competition history established by skilled drivers in period and modern historics.
The Cooper MG is a single seat circuit car based on a much modified Cooper Type 9. She was the first Cooper to race in Australia winning the 1950 Australian Hillclimb Championship in the hands of Kieth Martin. She has competed in Australian GP's and at just about every circuit on the East Coast of Australia and was continually modified up to the end of 1959.
After a major engine blowup at the 1953 AGP she was converted to front engine rear drive layout by then owner, Queensland racer, George Pearse using an MG TC engine XPAG 5287 with a Marshall 75 blower on 14 psi boost, MGTC gearbox and MGTC diff housing shortened to allow retention of the independent Cooper T9 suspension. George Pearse enjoyed great results in this configuration until a major at the 1955 Australian Grand Prix when the front wheels lifted at speed and he and another competitor tangled. George never raced again.
The Cooper MG as the car had become known was snapped up by speedway ace, Ray Revell. Ray Revell is recorded as winning the 1948 Speedway World Championship, but given that promoters in Australia made grandiose claims how much of the world was involved would bare scrutiny. Regardless Ray Revell was also 4 time Australian Speedway Champion and 3 time New South Wales Speedcar Champion and a household name. Ray Revell rebuilt the Cooper MG and competed in it for the next two years hoping to eminate Jack Brabham who had also started in speedway. Probably Ray Revell's biggest change was a sloping nose to keep it on the ground. Ray Revell didn't achieve the results he envisioned so returned to oval racing where he continued his successful career.
Next owner of the Cooper MG was a rising star from Queensland named Lionel Ayres. Lionel Ayres had become the leading MG T Type proponent following George Pearses retirement. Lionel Ayres rebuilt the Cooper MG extensively, building an advanced spaceframe chassis and fitted a quick change rear end, while retaining the independent suspension. He enlarged the MG TC engine to 1500cc and fitted a larger Marshall 100 blower running at 22 psi boost drawing through a 2 inch SU carburettor with dual fuel bowls running methanol mixed with nitromethane and acetone. Lionel is still with us and in his own words it either finished on the podium or the end of a tow rope. In this guise the Cooper MG proved fast if fragile. Lionel Ayres went on to become a very successful driver firstly in a lotus 22 and then racer and builder of race cars bearing the name MRC. In the various MRC's he was able to best the name drivers in factory cars regularly including lapping the entire field in one big banger sports car race. MRC's are still at the pointy end in historic racing. His giant beating performances started in the Cooper MG, at times leading and beating Maserati 250f, Jaguar D Type, Recently crowned Formula 1 World Champion, Jack Brabham, in his Cooper Bobtail as well as numerous other quick cars and drivers. Lionel Ayres found that the brakes were the other limitation in the Cooper MG but he overcame this by fitting 1956 Fiat 1400, 10 x 2 1/4 inch Alfin Drums and the Cooper Bristol magnesium wheels off the prototype Cooper Bristol that Jack Myres had rebuilt into the WM Holden. In his day Lionel fitted a new Crankshaft regularly and used Nardi forged conrods with bigger Gudgeon Pins but still suffered Piston failures.
The Cooper MG continued to race after Lionel sold it but slipped into the lower ranks as the factory cars of the early 60's appeared in greater numbers. Eventually the Cooper MG was obsolete and was largely unused for ten years but returned with a vengeance when all historic racing started in Australia. In modern historic racing the Cooper MG has proved an effective device in the hands of Greg Smith, Ross Hodgson, Brian Gerrard and Australia's first National Drag Champion and circuit racing legend, Ray Wamsley.
Today the Cooper MG specification is as raced in late 1959. 1500cc, 10:1 compression, Laystall Head, steel internals, Marshall 100 blower overdriven to give up to 26 psi boost, 2 inch dual fuel bowl SU carb, 3 mpg, MGTC close ratio straight cut gearbox, Halibrand quick Change H-201 V8 diff housing with a Limited Slip fitted, independent suspension by transverse leaf spring.
So to me it's one with the lot - Has the MG T Type connection, has rich history and is damn pretty.
Regards, Graeme Louk Sydney Australia

[Steve Simmons]

Gorgeous car with an interesting history! I knew of the Liquid Suspension MG Indy car but had only heard rumor of this one until now. I'd love to see more photos and info!

[Graeme Louk]

Jim,

Following your hot rod lead, here is the '29 Model A that I used to own. It had a full-house '53 Ford flathead with 3 Stromberg 97's, and a T-10 close ratio 4-speed. Totally old-school with all original Ford parts. Lots of torque, lots of fun!

John

That is one very sweet machine

[John Youens]

Graeme, that Cooper MG is amazing! What a great history, and a beautiful car too.

John