Historic Racing Pictures by Bob

I knew it wasn't a Cooper-Alta, really didn't have a clue.

As far as the Derby, it wasn't my alleged encyclopedic knowledge, but a fluke as just yesterday the Esher public library was offering few books for sale and there was an old general motorsport book which on opening it I saw a picture of that car. Didn't even know there was a French marque called Derby. Looking at the picture above however I thought it could have been French as the light grey looked like their national colour.

Regazzoni wrote:I knew it wasn't a Cooper-Alta, really didn't have a clue.

As far as the Derby, it wasn't my alleged encyclopedic knowledge, but a fluke as just yesterday the Esher public library was offering few books for sale and there was an old general motorsport book which on opening it I saw a picture of that car. Didn't even know there was a French marque called Derby. Looking at the picture above however I thought it could have been French as the light grey looked like their national colour.

A bit of Googling brought up this;

1934 Derby Maserati, 125 bhp 1½-litre supercharged engine and front-wheel drive.

The sole survivor of the Derby factory cars and is the holder of many speed records in the hands of Mrs. Gwenda Stewart.

And this from an auction catalogue

1935 Derby Maserati

Built by the French Derby company, with an Italian Maserati 4CM engine, and prompted by a British engineer for an English woman driver: this is the lineage of the unusual Derby-Maserati which appeared in voiturette road-racing and at Brooklands in the mid-1930s.

The French Derby concern built front-wheel drive cars and won a considerable sporting reputation with an ex-Indianapolis Miller 91 front-drive, originally brought to France by Douglas Hawkes. This car became progressively 'Derbytised' between 1930 and 1934, during which period Mrs Gwenda Stewart smashed many world records with it, most notably at the Monthlery Autodrome just outside of Paris.

In 1935 the car was built up for road-racing powered by a 1,500cc supercharged four cylinder Maserati engine turned 'about-face' and driving Derby transmission to the front wheels. Mrs Stewart ran the car at Dieppe, Brooklands and Berne but despite all independent suspension and other sophisticated features it was woefully unsuccessful. The Derby-Miller was broken up after World War Two to form the basis of an Irish racing special (which has since been restored and has even appeared at the Goodwood Festival of Speed alongside this car for the first time in over 70 years), and the Derby-Maserati now survives as a unique single seater.

Mrs Stewart was the daughter of the Glubb Pasha, and became Mrs Douglas Hawkes in 1937. She had earlier raced Morgans to great effect, particularly at Brooklands. The car was raced in VSCC events post-World War Two until purchased by Tom Weatcroft in the 1960s, where it remained in his Donington Park collection until 2004.

Engine: four cylinder in line, two valves per cylinder, twin overhead camshafts, 69mm bore by 100mm stroke, 1,496cc capacity, power approx. 125bhp @ 6,000rpm.

Gearbox: four speed manual with reverse.

Chassis: channel frame, fully independent suspension with solid beam rear axle, front wheel drive, cable-operated drum brakes.

Re-commissioned by Sean Danaher for its current owner following its long 'holiday' at Donington Park, the Derby-Maserati drives rather like a go-kart - point and squirt, while the unusual gear change takes some getting used to, being rather Citroen 2CV-like with its 'umbrella handle' projecting from the left side of the cockpit.

I have started a new, supposedly commercial, web site and would value the considered opinions of my peers on this forum. I am no web designer, but went for plain and simple.

Do take a look and let me have any suggestions (OK! Criticism) I will not take offence if you think it rubbish, I live to learn.

www.rbma.me.uk

Thanks fellas.

Damned 1

Hi Bob
Long time no see... Hope you're well.
I've had a quick look at your new website and like its clean design. I do find it a little confusing with some events/series on the menu along the top as well as the large 'clickable' image links on the page that take you to other photo galleries. Perhaps use the top menu for all the info/commercial bits and have all of the photos linked from the photo menu? But hey - what do I know about selling images?
  

Percy,
I see what you mean, however, the pictures on the Home page are just that - pictures, and can not link to a gallery. Well not at my level of expertise or understanding. I would like to have a heading that simply said 'Galleries', and it may be possible, but I have not figured out if I can do that. I stick to what I can do mostly.

I have tried several site providers, but this is the easiest to use that provides all of the features I wanted.

Perhaps I will get on to the providers help line and check out if I can follow your suggestion, as it is confusing for people logging on to the site (if any ever do).

Thanks for your imput, it is appreciated.

I am not sure about my next outing but I have applied for accreditation to the Kop Hill event on Sept 20/21.

Trust you are enjoying the summer holidays.

Cheers,

Damned 1