Air Race Photos (warning possible MMMMiles Content!)

Just to put matters in context – and not wanting to be so rude as to enquire as to your age, Keith – Geoffrey Marler did not die until September 1962.

I was not really old enough I suppose to be able to know him, & had by that time other things to worry/occupy myself, so sorry I cannot really help.
Keith

I don’t suppose, Dev One, that, umpteen years ago, you came across Geoffrey Marler? If you did, I’d be very grateful to hear from you.

Ooooooh – I know this thread is umpteen years old by now, but have only just read it>
I was in the RH seat of -AHNA when -AOGE went over onto its prop & I took a photo ( now sadly lost) – the pilot was apparently a Comet captain who was trying to ‘stream’ the tail up in order to get a faster take off – he overcooked it as you can see!
THe Arrow Active Mk II did the same one year also – lost those negs too!!!
Looking at those photos of the Jackaroos – I was in one of those too – with I think FitzMaurice up front – that was a hairy low level flight!
Those were the days………
Keith

Cor, BR you dont ‘alf know how to offend a chap, I mean…. ! 😀

G-ORDY, you’re a def. Grade A star, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say I want your children 😀

Got it!

Kings Cup Air Race – July 8/9 1960.

All the aircraft shown in the shots took part that year – the Garland Bianchi Linnet (G-APNS) flown by Capt D.W.Phillips was the clincher.

1st … Turbulent G-APNZ, Sqdn Ldr John de Milt Severne, 109 mph
2nd .. Turbulent G-APZZ, C.P.Francis, 97.5 mph
3rd … Hawk Trainer III G-AIUA, W.H.Bailey, 133 mph

Proctor 3, G-AOGE, flown by K.B.Neely, is listed as “retired” – I think we know why!

Percy Blamire won the SBAC Challenge Trophy in his Bronze coloured Miles Gemini, G-ALZG at 170.25mph.

(Data from Peter Lewis’ “British Racing and Record-Breaking Aircraft”)

As an aside, Percy used two different types of propeller on the Gemini, he used to switch between the qualifying rounds and the Kings Cup in an effort to beat the handicappers!

Coming back into Baginton?

Yep, thats the sewage works in the near background (and the AWA works beyond that).

Incidentally, going off topic, the replacement for this sewage works (Baginton had large, above ground sewage holding tanks on the north side as well) were ginormous underground pipes to nearby Finham. These had just been installed and were used in the making of the (original) “Italian Job” film driving the Mini Coopers through them.

Roger Smith.

Just had a butchas at the plates. They are indeed labelled “Coventry” so you’re right. I’ll have a look at the originals to see if I can see the Red Lion at Hunningham.

Ahhh sigh, the Red Lion at Hunningham. Took a young lady on a first date there many years ago – and she lived right next to the airport!

Roger Smith.

Oh by the way, this box contains a period photo of Baginton as was at the time (sort of a low aspect shot). This must be pretty difficult to get a hold of. I reckon we should see a preview, don’t you agree? 😉

I had a look through both air race boxes last night and felt like I was a kid in a sweet shop! Now I know the buzz archivists must get from their work. Damn fine t’ing this Flight collection (sorry, they made me say it 😉 )

I have some air-to-air shots. Proves I bet you can do such things with plate cameras. Are you listening, you digi lot? 😀

Tiger ANZZ and Linnet APNS

Agan smae aicraft rounding a marker at an unknown airfield. Any idea where?

Coming back into Baginton?

Just had a butchas at the plates. They are indeed labelled “Coventry” so you’re right. I’ll have a look at the originals to see if I can see the Red Lion at Hunningham.

Did the Spillers ever have a Proctor, Tomcat? There’s a slide marked as such.

Johnny Spiller’s Proctor was G-AHFK – Race Number 64 – Silver with red stripe – ex Smiths Instruments – Johnny won the Kings Cup in it in 1959….another ‘Sywell’ racing Proctor (Race 65) was G-AHNA – all red with white lightning stripe – owned by A.S.K. ‘Buster’ Paine -Buster was an ex-Brooklands (Sywell) engineer….

Just as an aside Arthur Bage, the Chief designer for Percivals from 1934-1952 retired to Sywell village.

Copy article en route to you BR

All the best and great thread

TT

The first one was the Bishop, named after “Bish” and i guess the rest just followed the trend!

It is. Amazing how many of these old hacks are still flying 50 years on.

Some of the G-ANZZ plates state that is the “Archbishop Tiger Moth”. Was the owner a man of the cloth?

As previously mentioned, there were four Tigers and the only C.F.I. at The Tiger Club at Redhill was C.A. Nepean ‘Bish’ Bishop, so presumably the naming of the aircraft were routine (?) (Unless you know better! 😀 )

There was infact, “The Bishop”, “The Archbishop”, “The Cannon”, and “The Deacon”. All Modified DH82a Super Tigers.

Some of the G-ANZZ plates state that is the “Archbishop Tiger Moth”. Was the owner a man of the cloth?

Two Tiger Club DH82s were named “Bishop” and “Archbishop” Regret I haven’t got the books on the Tiger Club or would have told more!

Roger Smith.

I went to many of the Coventry Air Pageants (I paid to get in Gordon) which hosted the Kings Cup from 1954 to 1966 inclusive (the race briefly returned to Baginton in 1975 & 1977).
Those were the days when Coventry City Council was proud to own/operate an airport run by Mr. Batho. Each year the programme had details of Coventry Airport becoming an international terminal with large hotel, etc. – it never happened!.
Ah ‘LZG Percy Blamire’s Gemini – pale brown(?) with race number 80. A local garage owner (with one leg missing) he kept trying to win the King’s Cup. Never knew him but loved that aeroplane.

Roger Smith.

It is. Amazing how many of these old hacks are still flying 50 years on.

Some of the G-ANZZ plates state that is the “Archbishop Tiger Moth”. Was the owner a man of the cloth?

Tiger Moth G-APAM was first registered according to G-INFO in 1957. For the time bing, I’m still witholding a few photos for the above event (and one Argosy shot too). I have a Linnet formatting on G-ANZZ and this was registered in 1958. So it would be reasonable to assume that ’58 is the earliest date the air race took place.

Just thought people might find it of intrest.

BTW – next years Kings Cup is at Sywell (hurrah!) 22/23 July with the British Aerobatic Champs 27/30 July (am glad they moved it from September)

TT