Morgan Series 1 at Goodwood

[John Clarke]

Some Series 1 stuff strayed into the +4 section so it is repeated here

Opening Meeting 18th Sept 1948
Event 2 Open Sportscar race 3 laps
Car no 14 Driver Peter Morgan Morgan 4/4 Posn 2nd
Car no 17 Driver David Render Morgan 4/4 (MPH750)
Car no 24 Driver Mike Anthony Morgan 4/4

I came across a book in Waterstone's "100 Years of Motoring in Pictures" (Associated Press) where there was a nice picture of the paddock at this first Goodwood race. In the foreground was Morgan 4-4 number 17 with Reg H(?)PH 750. A perfectly standard looking car with the double curvature back panel.

There was another racing Morgan in the background which I believe was 'Dick' Anthony - not sure if the listing of 'Mike' Anthony is correct? More about Dick Anthony here http://www.mogsport.net/LeMans/Anthony.html

Dick would have been in HPC 13, the blue car rebodied by the factory for Dick which was then used by him in various trials. Oh, and Peter Morgan would have been in CAB 652.

Regards

john

[John Clarke]

1st Members Meeting 13th August 1949
Event 2 3 Lap handicap (B)
Car no 26 Driver M Turner-Bridger Morgan (1276cc)
Event 3 3 Lap Handicap (C)
Car no 33 Driver G Murray Symons Morgan 4/4 (1098cc) Posn 9th
Event 5 5 Lap Handicap (B)
Car no 33 Driver G Murray Symons Morgan 4/4 (1098cc) Posn 6th
Event 6 5 Lap Handicap (C)
Car no 74 Driver A B Napper Morgan 4/4 Posn 4th

Car no 33 was reg JTT 703 (Chassis 1097) . This was one of the bona fide Le Mans Replicas built by the factory. Reg Hellier of Central Garages (Barnstaple) bought the car from the factory in June '46 on behalf of Murray Symons. Murray used the car in trials as well as the odd race. The car was sold to Aileen Jervis for £520 in April 1950. The car then found its way to the USA via Ali Lugo to Tom Hooker (New York) during the 1970's. It was sold by Tom to Dave Bondon who then sold it to a museum in Florida. Which museum, I do not know but perhaps someone else does - I will try and find out!

Regards

john

[John Clarke]

More Series 1's appearing at Goodwood. Supplied by Tim Hill quoting from "From A Record of Motor Racing at Goodwood Vol 1 by Robert Barker"

2nd Members Meeting 6th May 1950
Event 1 Scratch Race (A) 3 laps
Car no 65 Driver E W Filer Morgan 4/4 (1122cc) dns
Event 10 Handicap (C) 3 laps
Car no 78 Driver Jeff Sparrowe Morgan 4/4 (JUO177) Posn 4th

3rd Members Meeting 17th June 1950
Event 2 Scratch Race 5 laps
Car no 34 Driver W S Wallace Morgan (1267cc) dns

4th Members Meeting 12th August 1950
Event 1 Scratch Race 5 laps
Car no 8 Driver Jeff Sparrowe Morgan 4/4 (JUO177) Posn 4th

JUO 177 is a well documented car and is now owned by Jeff's grandson, John Sparrowe. John uses the car for historic runs - I have met up with him at the the Silverstone Classic a few times where JUO had completed the BRDC retro road run.

[John Clarke]

Hi Tim

Some time ago, John Sparrowe sent me some photos of his grandfather, Jeff, racing at Goodwood. On the Morgan, the various photos have the race numbers 4, 6, and 93. Please could you check in your Goodwood book whether these numbers cross reference.

In Morgan '6', Jeff is being chased by Stirling Moss in a Cooper MG, Car no 12...which might help. I was led to believe the date was 17th June 1950

In Morgan '4', Jeff is lined up with Greenwood in a Riley, Metcalf in a FIAT and what Jeff called a Watford Special. Again, the date was given as 17th May 1952

In Morgan '93', I think was 2nd June 1952 - a 7 lapper handicap where the Morgan was reported as "ran doggedly on 3 cylinders" by The Motor

Thanks
john

[John Clarke]

George Murray Symons was my father and I have many photos of him in the Morgan mentioned as well as several cups he won. I remember him talking about his days at Brooklands and on trials and we also had a picture of the car - as I recall it was red! He died in August 1985. I would be interested to know which museum in Florida has the car, if anyone knows. Angela Cooper

Hi Angela

If you are able to post any of the photos here that would great. Here's a photo I picked up in the USA from Ali Lugo's estate



Angela reckons this photo was taken at her parents home Devon Lodge near Iddesleigh in Devon about 1948/49.

Regards

john

[angela-cooper]

Many thanks John for the photos of JTT 703. I will sort through them and once I have worked out the way to do it, (!) will get them to you. There are also some I'm not sure about so you may recognise what they are? Regards Angela

[John Clarke]

Angela sent me this photo of JTT 703 - I reckon this was taken on the MCC Edinbugh Trial climbing Park Rash on 9th June 1949. There is a similar photo in Jake and Chris's excellent book - Morgan Sports Cars The Early Years.



Jake and Chris mention that JTT 703 was supercharged by this time and with the other 4 Morgans doing the trial, went on to achieve a 1st Class award. Angela mentions that the photo appeared in The Motor, so if anyone has a copy, they should be able to confirm the event.

[John Clarke]

Angela also sent me this photo of JTT 703 in racing guise. She thinks it maybe Brooklands - the date on the back of the photo states "19th Aug 1949".



Consulting Jake and Chris's book though it looks like it was taken at Goodwood at the BARC meeting on 13th August 1949. I quote "Murrays blown Morgan JTT 703 being notable for carrying its race number on a large vertical disc on the tail, reminiscent of the JCC 200 mile Brooklands races of the 1920s".

You can see the number and vertical disk in the photo - the number ties in with Tims Goodwood lists.

Great photos Angela, thank you for sharing them.

[mike anthony]

Hi,

The reference to Mike Anthony in Morgan no 24 is incorrect. How do I know... Well it was not I .
Mike Anthony