Pictures of the week. Twin Cam Twosome.

This weeks pictures were taken in 1986 at the Silverstone 8 Cubs race meeting by a member of the Fairthorpe Sports Car Club. The light blue Mk1 EM is 2421DD and the unpainted Mk2 is 133 JGU, both cars have had their Triumph engines replaced with 1558cc Lotus Twin Cam engines. It was a rush to get both cars to the event and as usual we arrived late meaning that I had to do 2 laps behind the course car during a break to enable me to race the car having not practised in it. A leaky water pump meant the second car did not get a run.

2421 had a five speed box and a Ford back axle, the Twin Cam was race tuned and had come from the back of a Chevron sports racer, as you can imagine it went like the clappers! Unfortunately starting the 2nd lap of the race the oil pressure went and I had to pull off on the exit of Copse corner, but only after showing a clean pair of heels to a 2.8i Capri. An engine strip revealed a broken cam bucket that had distributed itself round the engine. Being short on money meant that the engine came out and was sold following an expensive rebuild, we then fitted a tuned 1600 Ford x flow with twin Webers and then sold the car on. 133 JGU had the Twin Cam removed and a strip revealed badly corroded water ways, probably as due to a lack of Anti freeze during it`s life so that too was sold on. A mildly tuned 1300 xf Ford engine was fitted and the following year it was taken back to the 8 Clubs and I took a 1st place in one of the handicap races, another Fairthorpe coming home in second. The car was later sold and raced by John Watson (not that one!) and it now resides in Japan, does anyone have any pictures of the car taken over there, it was royal blue with a white stripe when last seen over here.

Picture of the week..........Seeing Red!

This picture was taken in the mid 60`s, I think the venue is Snetterton race circuit though If anyone recognises it I would like confirmation. This very period shot shows three Fairthorpe Electron Minors book ended by an Electron at the far end and Willie Simpson`s Electrina nearest the camera. Amongst the Minors is John Allan`s much raced Ford engine car. Red was obviously THE colour to have if you owned a sportscar! Can anyone identify the Electron, either an owner or a registration number?

TX Tripper with 2.5i engine on ebay.

There is a smart looing TX Tripper on ebay at the moment, it is fitted with a TR6 fuel injected engine and has a nice set of Revolution wheels on it. Here is a link to the auction:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TX-TRIPPER-2-5PI-DELUX-TR6-based-kit-car-GT6-/111160873960

Fairthorpe Gathering 2013 report.

 

                                         

               General shot of this years line up of Fairthorpes (picture courtesy of Lauren Colling)

 

This years Fairthorpe Gathering was held at the Museum of Berkshire Aviation at Woodley near Reading on August the 4th and once again we were blessed with dry weather at the event though I gather a couple of the further travelled participants got caught in some heavy rain as they made their way home at the end of the day. A quick tot up before the event brought the prospect of 12 plus cars but on the day 8 Fairthorpes made the trip plus the very well presented Tornado Talisman of Tony Brooks.

                                                   Tornado Talisman of Tony Brooks

 

Although car numbers were down there were a lot of people in attendance, with other Fairthorpe owners past and present looking round the cars and renewing old acquaintances. My own EM 789 ERO finally has a coat of paint on it following several years of use in a combination of gelcoat/filler but it was decided to trail it down as we had a gazebo, Fairthorpe spares, photo albums as well as several platefulls of sandwiches and cakes for those who had talked up an appetite during the day!

                                                                   Gary Julian`s EM2

 

First to arrive was Gary Julian in his Mk2 EM which is hardly surprising as he lives less than 5 miles away, it was great to finally see the car as it has been off the road for several years. Steve and Lauren Colling were the next arrivals in their immaculate Mk2 complete with freshly painted wheels, the change of colour on them certainly suits the car Steve.

 

                                                                       Paul Well`s EM

 

A familiar car with an unfamiliar face was the next to pull in, Paul Wells turned up with his EM, this car was formally owned by Fairthorpe registrar Willie Simpson and was a regular at many club events in years gone by. 

 

                                        Brian Jackson`s Dolomite Sprint engined EM Mk2

 

Others arriving in Fairthorpes were Bob Balding, Brian Jackson and Jenny, Barry Stock in his rare Mk5 EM and final arrival was Richard Holden all the way from Leeds, a total of 201 miles one way! This meant that Barry Stock was denied the furthest travelled award despite having travelled 164 miles from Ammanford in Wales. 

 

Barry Stock`s rare EM5 with hood up in anticipation of the weather he was to go through on his way home to Wales!

 

This year the John Green trophy was being presented by John`s son David Green, himself a Fairthorpe owner he had also bought along his son who was celebrating his birthday and his mother Myrna which meant we had three generations of the Green family at the Fairthorpe event which was a good tribute to John who was works manager at Fairthorpe  and designed the Electron Minor.

 

                              Richard Holden`s very nice EM1, winner of the John Green trophy

 

The recipient of the other award which was for the Best Fairthorpe as voted by those there on the day was Steve Colling, his car looks better every year despite having to spend all it`s time out in the open with only it`s hood and sidescreens on it as there is no garage at Chez Colling.

 

      Steve Colling`s impressive Mk2 EM, winner of the Frank Collins Memorial Trophy

 

There were several very smart cars there on the day and it is getting harder every year to win this award. This year Sarah and I had donated a nice silver plated trophy in memory of my Father Frank Collins who passed away last September, Steve was the first recipient of the Frank Collins memorial Trophy which was presented by Frank`s wife Audrey Collins. Both these trophies will be presented each year at the Gathering and the winners received nice replica trophies which they get to keep. 

 

                                                  Interior detail shot of Bob Baldings EM1

 

Also present were Barry and Honor Gibbs, the club president nursing a bandaged head following a recent operation, former registrar Charles Armstrong Wilson and Des Emery, all former Fairthorpe owners. Also Dave Bumstead, Julian Armstrong, Marcus Bradbury, Alan Cooper, Brian Waters, Alan & Shirley Green and Carl Langridge (current Fairthorpe owners all). Other club members who joined in on the day were Derek Bentley, Anna Hill and Brian Shaw, if I have left anyone out I apologise as there were so many people I talked to on the day.

 

                                   My EM1, built from a kit in 1958 by my father Frank Collins

 

I would like to give special thanks to my wife Sarah for all the effort she put into providing the food consumed by everyone, it is very hard to spend the whole day chatting about cars on an empty stomach!

I hope you all enjoyed the day and that you will all be back for the event in 2014.............Martin