Yards And Yarns

[Trevor Sheffield]

Part 2. --- Vintage Fiat 509 Special

The design of the engine overall was quite interesting. The crankshaft included three bearings, but arranged in a quite novel way. The camshaft was driven from the rear via a chain drive which included an interim shaft and sprocket . This intermediate shaft drove a magneto which protruded into the cockpit, very Bugatti like and quite a feature. A crankshaft bearing was located on each sides of the crankshaft sprocket, with the third bearing at the front end. Not a bad set up when one takes into account the cantilevered stiffness this provides. The engine proved reliable when regularly run to 6,000 RPM.

The arrangement of the accessories provided torsional damping for the crankshaft, camshaft and the intermediate chain sprocket. Not silly for sure, given that no supple belts were included in the drives. The block and head were hand filed out behind the camshaft sprocket so as to provide mounting for a bearing assembly and flexible drive to a tachometer. This was made up by converting suitable discarded speedometer.

I had joined the Northern Sports Car club and made a few friends including Ralph Watson who was developing his renowned BSA Special. He knew all about Amal carburettors and they were available very cheaply so that the choice became obvious.

A wide ratio three speed gearbox presented a serious disadvantage. However in the back of my mind remained details of the first locally built Ford Ten special which incorporated a model T Ruxel two speed back axle, suitably modified. Again the choice became obvious. When in the presence of anyone not in the know, two reverse speeds provided entertainment. It also fun to become expert at handling two levers while double de clutching and blipping the throttle in neutral in order to make clean changes. There certainly was no synchromesh available in 1927.

I was lucky to be able to borrow for a short time, a gas welding set and constructed a body frame using electrical conduit taken from rewired houses. Everything was brazed rather than welded for good reason. Rounded sections on the basis of cost were beyond consideration and the frame was fitted with flat steel panels. Here is where the design fell somewhat outside of a modern clubman, as doors were included. The rear was finished off with a discarded tank of suitable shape, together with the spare wheel. All very pukka and in the British tradition, but also more importantly, a very cheap option. Painted with a brush in a light grey without any conception of a flash job, but never the less it was neat and tidy.

The radiator finished off the frontal aspect and was OK using the original radiator which was of a squared shape, off very much like a Rolls Royce. No problems with that! Simple thermo syphon cooling was retained but the header tank was extended using sheet brass and solder.

A set of side and headlamps was spotted advertised in the daily paper at a cheap price and these turned out to be from an classic early Vauxhall tourer, a sort of poor mans Bentley. These Lucas “King of the Road lights”, were quite outstanding in both performance, quality and appearance. I used the quite large matching side lamps as secondary lights, which meant that dipping headlights were not required.

Strangely a stock of new Morris Eight wheels appeared on the market at a very cheap price, therefore a set was purchased and the hubs altered to suit. ( I think these may have been war assets and a story within itself.) Good second hand tyres were fitted. The original car had four wheel internal expanding rod operated mechanical brakes and these had to be accepted in order to minimise costs.

The first event entered was a road race over partly unsealed roads which were closed due to the area being set aside for new housing. Dust was a problem. Run as a charity event the bureaucrats were somehow circumvented. Huge spectator interest but never to be repeated. Not surprisingly the untried car disappointed but completed several races without failing.

Next came a National, hill climb championship with several brand new cars competing. I won the 1,100 c.c. class with time to spare. Just a home-made roadster, but up against some brand new stuff, it performed quite well. The nice spread of gear ratios was a bonus.

I did not have the car for long. An early marriage and a baby daughter intervened. Arranging weather protection was out of the question. The subsequent owner became a car racing friend. Equally short of cash at the time, to my surprise he drove my little Fiat Special on a very long trip down country without any problems. Sadly a photo of the car does not exist.

A Singer Le Mans requiring a lot of restoration took the place of the Fiat Special and as our one and only car. My wife also drove the Singer in competitive events and as a tiny tot daughter Jennifer was transported to and from events in the extended space behind the seats. To this day I am unable to understand and how we all put up with the rock hard suspension.

Them certainly were the days. LOL

[bry3500]

That was a great read Trevor - cheers

[Roger Dowding]

As I was the one who mentioned a couple of typos, I must apologize that it has become such an issue, and it was not apostrophes (yes they do bug me but I don't bring it up). I loved the articles and all I commented was that it was such a set of great articles that corrected it would be even better.
As the topic has gone pretty much off topic, and my love is NZ specials, perhaps the few really neat posts relating to them could be moved? Steve?
I would love to know where Roger's special now is!

Oldfart, we meet again, the BSA Special, yes I would love to know, where it and the owner are - he may still have it. It was never mine but did drive it often, including at a Sprint meeting on the main Pukekohe circuit once as well as in Gymkhana's and on the road.
Here is a photo with Lyle Chambers driving and his best mate Richard Leaper [ Flying Officer J R Leaper as was in the RNZAF at one time ], the car is pulling into the driveway at my house in mid 1970's probably around 1976.

I have more of these small photo's, hopefully someone may recognise the car and the owner..

[Roger Dowding]

Oldfart, we meet again, the BSA Special, yes I would love to know, where it and the owner are - he may still have it. It was never mine but did drive it often, including at a Sprint meeting on the main Pukekohe circuit once as well as in Gymkhana's and on the road.
Here is a photo with Lyle Chambers driving and his best mate Richard Leaper [ Flying Officer J R Leaper as was in the RNZAF at one time ], the car is pulling into the driveway at my house in mid 1970's probably around 1976.

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I have more of these small photo's, hopefully someone may recognise the car and the owner..

Have found some more ; these taken in 1981 from memory, after an event.

[Roger Dowding]

And another, Note that the headlights get moved from the Grille to between the grille and the guards.
Getting ready for an event, [ think the VCC event mentioned below ] Lyle Chambers driving, myself as passenger, Richard Leapers Triumph 2500 behind.

this last photo was at a Vintage Car Club event about 1980.

[Malcolm McLeod]

Has the Northland Special changed hands?
A friend of mine spotted it roaring around a Maungakaramea back road recently....

[Oldfart]

Has the Northland Special changed hands?
A friend of mine spotted it roaring around a Maungakaramea back road recently....

Hasn't changed hands, Fred still has it.
It was used for a wedding car recently though. Groom went in it!

[Malcolm McLeod]

Thats ok then!
Wedding car....hmmmm.
My mate reported though that it was being driven like it was stolen, so that was ok!

Hasn't changed hands, Fred still has it.
It was used for a wedding car recently though. Groom went in it!

[Roger Dowding]

These are not worth a new thread - some interesting engines.

The RA Vanguard - RA4, when owned by Mike Courtney - see Historic Racing Saloons thread
Photo taken around 1990 ;

Dunedin Revival Street Races weekend January 1984 ; Sprints on one day at the wharves and Racing around the
" houses " on the Sunday

Single seater - details unknown

Riley - think the Ransley Riley Dunedin January 1984.

Doesn't need a title, but for all you non-kiwi's Ralph Watson's Lycoming Special a Lycomong 290 .
[4751 cc aircraft engine, mounted upside down. Dunedin January 1984.

[Shane Bowden]

The yellow single seater, details unknown looks the Wylie Javelin to me, but I have known to wrong before. The Aussie flag may confirm this.

regards Shane

[Jac Mac]

Lycomings are Lycomings, even upside down it does not spell Continental....!

[Oldfart]

How about this LYCOMING

I suppose some folks would think a Chev is a Ford

[GD66]

Wasn't Continental what powered Tyrell Turtill's weapon ?

[Roger Dowding]

Jac Mac GD66, Oldfart and any others " Mea Culpa " [ as Oldfart said over those Rob Williams tail-lights ], got all carried away, had mixed my Turtill with my Watson.. but do believe the engine was / is upside down compared to its aircraft position..
Got you all on the thread though.. good stuff.

BTW, go back to the pictures all fixed ########.

[Oldfart]

Yes Roger, the Watson Lycoming was inverted, check the RA engine I posted to compare. Ralph said there were a number of reasons, outlined in the very excellent (bad grammar but true) book called "Ralph Watson, Special Engineer", written by one of the contributors on here. Now who did I lend my copy to?

[Roger Dowding]

Yes Roger, the Watson Lycoming was inverted, check the RA engine I posted to compare. Ralph said there were a number of reasons, outlined in the very excellent (bad grammar but true) book called "Ralph Watson, Special Engineer", written by one of the contributors on here. Now who did I lend my copy to?

Have read some of the article as Trevor Sheffield posted the link. Ralph Watson used to visit my flatmate Lyle Chambers whose BSA special is in this thread, at my house in Herne Bay, we had a collection of cars in those days, Lyle the BSA and a mid 60's Sunbeam Rapier, I had the TR4A [ damaged at the time ] a Healey 100 and a 2.5 PI Triumph Saloon as a daily driver

[Roger Dowding]

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Early days of the Lycoming - Trevor Sheffield article

[Trevor Sheffield]

The complete book is available here with a simple click and it presents quite well in cyberspace. ----

http://ralphwatson.scienceontheweb.net/

[Roger Dowding]

On another thread is some mention of Frank Karl and the Purple Healey [ now green ], Frank competed at the 1981 Ohakea Reunion meeting, where Saturday was " Practice " at Manfield and the racing was Sunday at Ohakea. A group of Healey Club [ AHCCNZ ] members went to the meeting to support Frank and of course watch racing and socialise.
A couple of photos ;. have to find the racing ones buried somewhere !!
Frank talking to Nell and Mark Donaldson - Mark raced at Ardmore 1989 and in the Le Mans Relay Race in 1982 in his BN2 Austin-Healey 100/4

Working on Franks Car at the Motel before race day -after practice , Frank and Lyle Chambers, who had the BSA Special -mentioned in this thread #582/3 and 4.

[ERC]

Just to follow on from the above:

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Whenuapai 1987

Hampton Downs 2011 - Is this the same car? Definitely same driver....

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