|
The World War 2 Japanese Prison Diaries of
Alexander John James
Appendix - Notes
Story behind the race car picture
Between 1935 and 1939 a group of motoring enthusiasts organized an off-road racing circuit on the estate of Joe Fry (of Fry’s Chocolates) at Lulsgete Bottom, Somerset, a few miles south west of Bristol.
The cars were do-it-yourself adaptations created in our own garages, and were subject to some limitations. Overall weight could not exceed 1000 lbs.; fuel tank capacity was limited to one gallon; brakes were required and at least four wheels, though these were not required to be in contact with the ground all the time, especially on corners; seat belts were not required.
Vehicle #11 and #7 are both adaptations of the basic Austin Seven of that era, with flattened rear springs, modified steering and central seating position, modified exhaust system for keeping the left knee warm on cold days, oversized rear tires, and as much reduction of weight as possible.
#11 was owned and operated by Alex James and his brother Oliver. Alex is driving in these pictures. #7 trying to overtake (he never did) was driven by Tony ?. The spectators were not usually as bored as they appear to be in the photograph, they are displaying normal English “reserve”! And when it was all over for that weekend we had our regular licensed road vehicles to go to work in on Monday morning. During the 1939-1945 war a number of participants were killed and those who were not had grown older, if not wiser, for these or other reasons we never really got going again after the war. The group was known as CAPA for the last names of four founder members, Caesar, Adrian, Price and Aldridge.
Goto
|
