100 Years

[Bob Bull]

It is probably not suprising that the 'On Track' section has gone a little quiet considering the time of year and the weather, so I thought I might try and stimulate discussion, by posing a question or two. The Morgan marque celebrates it's 100th anniversary this year and much will be made of the cars produced over the period, and great exploits recalled, so;

Who owns the oldest example of the marque?

Which is the oldest model still racing?

Who is the oldest driver still active, on road and on track?

Which car has the longest continous racing history?

No doubt to many this is common knowledge, but to some, such as myself, it would be nice to hear the answers to these and other 'Morgan Statistics'.

Hopefully this will prove a non-contentious subject and we can all live in peace and harmony. In this thread at least.

any answers?

[Leigh Sebba]

1 Who owns the oldest example of the marque?

2 Which is the oldest model still racing?

3 Who is the oldest driver still active, on road and on track?

4 Which car has the longest continous racing history?

Bob – I think this forum should concentrate on the race aspects.

1 I saw that Chris Booth has built a recreation of the original 1909 3 wheeler. The oldest original car around is I think a 1912 3 wheeler

2 Again it must be a 3 wheeler. Otherwise the pre war 4-4s raced by Adrian vd K and John Clark (although very rebuilt)

3 On road – who knows ? On track – well I’m sure Kate has the info from the Morgan series but would be far too diplomatic to disclose. The last contender I asked claimed to be in his (or her) late 60s.

4 Define ‘continuous’. Off my head Mary’s +8 must be in the running. Since early 1970s – a couple of years off for accident rebuild, a couple of weeks off for having a baby…….

[Bob Bull]

couple of years off for accident rebuild, a couple of weeks off for having a baby…….

Leigh,
Are we talking about Mary or the car? Did Mary suffer accident damage, or, intriguingly, did the car have a baby?

I fully expected this whole thing to wander 'off piste' but not quite so soon and certainly not into such a bizarre area!!

Stick to track issues by all means, my only desire was for Tony L to know I was still alive.

OK; Which is the oldest four wheel Morgan still racing?

Probably 'Mark Plant' knows the answer.

[RICHARD PLANT]

I would think that Leigh is correct and either Adrian’s or John Clarkes series ones would be the oldest four wheel Morgan’s still racing as to the
the oldest car with continuous racing history to date XOV, TOK

The driver with the longest Morgan racing history must be Bruce Stapleton who was racing Morgan’s back in the 1960’s and is still campaigning
his 69 Plus 8, AGF 989G in the HSCC Historic Road Sports series.

The driver with the most Morgan racing miles under their belts Mary or Keith

Richard.

[Jim Mountain]

The driver with the most Morgan racing miles under their belts Mary or Keith

How about Rob Wells ?

[Bob Bull]

I had rather hoped that this thread would precipitate a blizzard of replies, full of claim and counter claim, but it is turning out to somewhat prosaic.
While not intending to stir up resentment and envy, I anticipated at least a heated discussion, but it looks like the answers to my questions are straight forward and not open to much disagreement -shame!

Let me try again;

Who is the most successful Morgan driver of all time?

Who was the first pre and post war winner in a Mog?

Did any Mog ever do well in a major rally?

Who was the most 'famous' driver to compete in a Morgan?

What could be considered the apex of Morgan success?

Who is the prettiest person to compete in a Morgan?

Which lady has been most successful in a Morgan?

Get those memories dusted off, and start making your claim to fame, the season is still a few weeks off so you must have time on your hands.

[Mark Shears]

Ignoring Bobs latest posting completely I forward VON 777 as the oldest Morgan with continuous competition history.

It was built for Alan Belcher in Febuary 1958 with competition, particularly racing, in mind and is still doing so in the hands of father and son Doug and Matt Taylerson.

Cheers

Mark

[Bob Bull]

Ignoring Bobs latest posting completely

Tut, tut, Mark! Just because you don't know the answers ......................

[Charles Neal]

[quote="Bob Bull"]Who is the most successful Morgan driver of all time?
That is distinctly arguable!!
Who was the first pre and post war winner in a Mog?
Which war and how many wheels? HFS Morgan, Exeter Trial 1910, 1936; Jim Goodall, Sunbac Evening Trial, September 1946 (I had help with that one, honest) - as for 1919 I've no idea!
Did any Mog ever do well in a major rally?
In the late 30s and early 50s Morgans were very successful in the RAC Rally, as well as various others, Roy Clarkson's VNO600 was rebodied for rallying
Who was the most 'famous' driver to compete in a Morgan?
Jack Bellinger, obviously, although Gordon Spice, Harvey Postlethwaite might also be contenders
What could be considered the apex of Morgan success?
Barry Sumner's start in the Morgan TT at Silverstone last August... other than the obvious
Who is the prettiest person to compete in a Morgan?
Prudence Fawcett (sorry Mary but she was quite something...)
Which lady has been most successful in a Morgan?
Arguable, but either Gwenda Stewart or a certain Mary Lindsay

[Leigh Sebba]

Prettiest ? Obviously Jack is too modest to amswer this himself.

Rallies ? Let's not forget the several London - Sydney, the recent Peking - Paris, Rick Bourne who I recall did Carrera Panamericana as well as sucess in the early Monte Carlo challenges.

No doubt Keith and Adrian should feature somewhere.

Perhaps the more interesting argument would be the 'biggest name' to compete in a Morgan ?

HFS, Peter, and Charles Morgan.
Has Moss driven a Mog, say at Goodwood ? Nick Mason, Rowan Atkinson......I can't recall .
Who is it that drives the factory Aero 8 ?
And the Danish ex F1 Jac Nellerman shared Peter Horsman's car at Spa.

[peter rafter]

'biggest name'

not forgetting the GT3 team/ and a certain french pilote

[TonyLees]

I think this is the "biggest name" but not sure of there was room on the event programme.

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Senior.

[peter rafter]

tony , i fear you missed the odd umlaut!

[TonyLees]

gesundheit!

[peter rafter]

gesundheit?

i dont recall sneezing

p.s. a german joke is no laughing matter!