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Peter Seager-Thomas
United Kingdom
15 Posts |
 Posted - 03/10/2012 : 19:11:17
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A couple more pictures, again courtesy of Motor Sport, this time from the Mannin Beg in 1934.
This one had/has me concerned since it showed Dodson in what appears to be a car coloured brown and cream, neatly matching Eystons Humbug. In the book 'ELC2', Dog Nye suggests Wal Handley drove a car in these colours at this race. Is one of them in error, or were there two brown/cream K3s racing that day?
The other picture shows Eyson and Hamilton in the same race.
Peter. |
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MaGic_GV
United Kingdom
868 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2012 : 09:14:08
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I believe Eyston had entered a team of three cars, including his own 'Humbug'...
Graham
"I'd rather be happy than right anyday" Slartybartfast, Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy |
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JMH
United Kingdom
911 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2012 : 10:06:30
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And here Peter, are the 3 Eyston "Team" cars wearing their Mannin Beg numbers:
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It will be the weekend before I have a chance to look for photos from the International Trophy.
JH |
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Enfield Allday
United Kingdom
47 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2012 : 19:16:15
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| The K3 Dossier (M B Hawke 1992) gives Dodson as driving K3020,K3021, K3022 in various events. The only time he drove in Internatioal Trophy was for K Don team,1934 in either K3021 or K3022, both cars were black. Did he ever drive a K3 painted dark green? Were any K3's delivered ex-works in dark BRG? I believe the works 1933 team K3001,2,3 were grass green like K3752.What colour were 1934 team cars? I assume K3020 driven by Dodson, 6-10-34 Nuffield Trophy, Donington was cream/brown. |
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Peter Seager-Thomas
United Kingdom
15 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 20:16:17
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Below is the picture from Lindon's 'Grand Prix'.
I have read of two K3 teams running in the International Trophy race, those of Kaye Don and George Eyston, the former consisting of K3021, K3022 and K3024, Eystons of K3020, K3023 (Magic Magnette) and K3026.
'ELC2'states that Black drove 3024 in this race, his number 12 being confirmed in several sources.
Number 12, with number 14 and 23 all have what appear to be blanking plates on the lower radiator, which suggests they may be from the same team, that is, Kaye Don's. These cars are grouped half way down, 1/4 way in from the right, apologies for the low resolution picture. The wheels appear to be body colour.
Number 15, Dodson, is back with the Humbug.
Cat, do you have Handleys race number please?
Another picture, of Black, K3024(?), Humbug and a '33 K3?
Peter. |
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Cathelijne
Netherlands
744 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2012 : 22:26:43
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Team Kaye Don
12 Black
14 Froy
15 Dodson
Team Eyston
16 Eyston
17 Handley
18 Penn Hughes
19 Hall
20 Hamilton
21 Manby Colegrave
22 Eccles
23 Martin
24 Donkin/Fronteras
25 Horton
Cheers,
Cat |
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Nick Feakes
USA
3377 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2012 : 13:35:21
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I have been sent the following information that might help:
Dodson was a “young up an coming professional driver” and was usually entered by a benefactor. In the thirties it was rare for a professional driver to have “their own car” until late on in their career if ever (even Nuvolari didn’t actually own a racing car).
Dodson had been a motorcycle racer (I think he worked and rode for Norton and BSA – might also have AJS in there too) but when he got married moved to cars via George Eyston. George Eyston was without doubt the most important of MG Car Company’s clients.
There was at the time no such thing as a “works entered car” – the works relied on selling the cars and supporting the entrant with staff from the development/experimental shop. George Eyston and E R Hall used to have the pick of the mechanics (Eyston always chose Reg Jackson and Sid Enever). The only exception was the 1933 TT when Nuvolari was entered by Lord Nuffield in the K3 at “Ards”. Then the mechanics were hand picked by his Lordship and Eyston entered a team of Riley’s instead. Nuvolari got Reg Jackson, Alec Hounslow and Hounslow rode with Nuvolari. ER Hall got Henry Stone and Fred Kindell – Hall had “A N Other” ride with him.
In 1934 Eyston & Don purchased several cars and all were painted at various times during 1934 in Eyston’s racing colours of cream and brown, but also Kay Dons racing colour of Black.
23 was the “Humbug” record car – it was always a single seater. Eyston or Don might have purchased 21 as well – but I think that car was always owned by Hamish Weir and later became the Monaco single seater now owned by Malcolm Beer.
20 and 22 were standard bodied cars but I don’t think that these were the Mannin Beg cars – ELC 2 was number 24 and I don’t think that this was an Eyston car either (but I may be wrong).
26 was Handleys Mannin Beg car – which he famously crashed.
This car also has chequered history built from the story of a “lightweight” car – but we won’t go there!
I think that the International Trophy and Mannin Beg cars were 20-23 & 26 – it is most likely that Dodson drove 20.
However the chassis files for racing cars are always cloudy. Parts were chopped and changed to suit the availability of car and driver.
For the International Trophy in spite of the race title this was a national event – but with an OPEN entry.
The cars might have been re-sprayed between the Mannin Beg and the International Trophy – if so it would probably have been Black.
Black was the colour of choice because it was easy – plus it was the undercoat finish of choice for all cars built at Abingdon.
Norman Black’s cars were always painted Black for national events – as were Witney Straight and Richard Seaman entered cars.
Kay Don also used to paint his cars black and it was not unknown for Eyston to run black painted cars either.
Penn Hughes’ car was painted black with a white blower cowl – but for international events was painted green with a white cowl.
For International events the cars would have needed to be painted in the driver’s national racing colour.
This was GREEN for Great Britain.
There was however no formal colour of “british racing green” until the BS paint codes after the war.
Even then there are about 20 shades of “British Racing Green” ranging from the very light colour used by ERA and BRM – through the colour used in the 33 and 34 Mille Miglia cars – to the conventional “British Racing Green” of the Lotus racing cars in the 1960’s (which is I think Brunswick Green – not British Racing Green at all).
K3 entries in the Ards TT – BRDC 500 – Le-Mans 24 Hours – would all have needed to be green.
Nuvolari’s entry for the 33 Ards TT was Green! They did enter a car in Nuvolari’s name for the 34 TT and an NE was painted in Italian RED (this is Pete Thelanders car) with a pre-selector gearbox.
However Nuvolari was injured and unable to take his seat and the car was driven by Everitt (a saltire painted on the radiator mesh).
Nick
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Peter Seager-Thomas
United Kingdom
15 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2012 : 23:25:05
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Thank you Cat for the addition International Trophy entries details.
Thank you Nick for the comprehensive information. Such details do not seem to appear in books, and is not generally available on the Internet, only in forums such as this where interested parties are happy to help those in search of knowledge.
My file on these cars grows. Unfortunately/fortunately for all models I build these days, I get carried away with the history of the real cars, which is why my bookcase is full.
Peter. |
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Nick Feakes
USA
3377 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2013 : 12:46:11
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I have been advised by Peter Hagarty of the MGCC Western Australia that the K3 driven by Nuvolari will be taking part in the Mille Miglia re-enactment on May 16th. If anyone is attending please take plenty of photos I am sure there would be many members interested in them.
Nick
Webmaster |
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Peter Green
United Kingdom
1682 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2013 : 19:27:21
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K3003 was driven by Eyston and Lurani in the 1933 Mille Miglia and won the 1100cc class.
Peter. |
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tholden
United Kingdom
1638 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2013 : 20:00:32
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And I believe coming on to the UK after that.
TH |
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JMH
United Kingdom
911 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2013 : 20:10:53
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K3**3, TM1, but the chassis driven by Nuvolari? Really?
JH |
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Paolo Bordini
Italy
44 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2013 : 04:02:59
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I will be attending the next Mille Miglia and will take as many pictures as possible of Nuvolari K3003. Hoping it will make the round trip, as I will follow the MM in Umbria/Tuscany. Of course pics will be available to the MMM environment.
Paolo |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6142 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2013 : 08:50:20
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Now, now, Jeremy, don't make waves  |
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Peter Green
United Kingdom
1682 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2013 : 12:54:46
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Paolo,
The car competing in the Mille Miglia does not have the Nuvolari body.
Peter. |
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