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sam christie
United Kingdom
3114 Posts |
 Posted - 23/03/2015 : 13:03:30
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I spotted this picture in a Magnette Manual -
The same gentleman (surely?) appears in the image below taken at the Ards TT. Is he Hugh P McConnell 'Pit Manager' as the scribbled note on the image says? Can anyone tell me any more about him?
Sam |
Edited by - sam christie on 23/03/2015 13:05:30 |
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Malcolm Eades
United Kingdom
380 Posts |
Posted - 23/03/2015 : 16:24:50
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There is a reference to him in the Wickipedia entry for the BRDC. He is listed as one of the members who "died or were killed during World War Two", though the list also includes Kimber, so it does not necessarily imply he died in action. His obituary appears in Motor Sport March 1943 p58 if anyone has a copy to hand (I don't). This might fill in some blanks about the MG connection.
Malcolm
M Type
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Edited by - Malcolm Eades on 23/03/2015 16:25:24 |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6172 Posts |
Posted - 23/03/2015 : 17:36:49
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In his series of articles about the reminiscences of Jacko Jackson, Mike Allison quotes Jacko as saying that Hugh McConnell was the scrutineer at the TT. While that may or may not be true (he's not listed as such in the programme), Jacko went on to say that Hugh McConnell spoke Italian and acted as interpreter for Nuvolari and the M.G. team. No doubt Graeme Cocks's book will reveal more.
Simon J
J3437 |
Edited by - Simon Johnston on 23/03/2015 17:57:35 |
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sam christie
United Kingdom
3114 Posts |
Posted - 23/03/2015 : 18:45:31
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Is it possible Hugh was a Brooklands scrutineer? He really seems to be at the centre of things in the Ards TT picture looking like a leading member of the MG crew. Or is it possible he acted as a scrutineer in the Ards TT in other years?
Sam |
Edited by - sam christie on 23/03/2015 18:47:33 |
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Vitesse
United Kingdom
234 Posts |
Posted - 23/03/2015 : 18:47:23
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| As a scrutineer, McConnell was a prominent figure at Brooklands in the interwar years and was Chief Scrutineer for most of the 1930s - he had actually raced there as early as 1907. Bill Boddy records that he was "Hugh P McConnell, MSAE, AMIAE, FIMT". He died of natural causes on January 18th 1943 and is buried in Putney Vale Cemetery - also the last resting place of both Dick Seaman and Kenelm Lee Guinness (he of KLG plugs). |
Edited by - Vitesse on 23/03/2015 18:50:08 |
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sam christie
United Kingdom
3114 Posts |
Posted - 23/03/2015 : 18:51:40
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I have just found this quote in Motor Sport Page 23 October 1933 -
Pit-work of course decided the winner of the race, and Hamilton's delay of over seven minutes was a handicap which the most inspired driving could not overcome. Hugh McConnell, better known as a Brooklands scrutineer, was Nuvolari's chef d'equipe, and maintained an efficient Eason between the driver, who spoke Italian, and everyone else, who didn't.
Sam |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6172 Posts |
Posted - 23/03/2015 : 19:12:45
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As can be seen in the picture (courtesy of Oliver R) Hugh McConnell was indeed a Brooklands scrutineer.
The TT programmes (available in the documents online section of the site) show that he was a 'depot marshal' in 1931 and 1932.
Simon J
J3437 |
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Vitesse
United Kingdom
234 Posts |
Posted - 23/03/2015 : 19:43:04
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quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm Eades
There is a reference to him in the Wickipedia entry for the BRDC. He is listed as one of the members who "died or were killed during World War Two", though the list also includes Kimber, so it does not necessarily imply he died in action. His obituary appears in Motor Sport March 1943 p58 if anyone has a copy to hand (I don't). This might fill in some blanks about the MG connection.
Malcolm
M Type
Who needs a copy, when the entire archive is now available online? Here's the page with McConnell's obituary: http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/page/march-1943/16 |
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sam christie
United Kingdom
3114 Posts |
Posted - 23/03/2015 : 22:17:51
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Clearly Hugh Patrick McConnell was a scrutineer and also a team leader for Nuvolari. One wonders why he appears in the MG Magnette Manual adjusting rockers. Was he briefly employed by MG?
Sam |
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Orstin
United Kingdom
639 Posts |
Posted - 24/03/2015 : 15:32:23
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Clearly he was free with his affections - here he is fettling a Riley 9
Up until today, I always thought it was Arthur Lowe...
So many dynamos |
Edited by - Orstin on 24/03/2015 15:34:56 |
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Hugh P McConnell
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