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mini engined three wheeler
gezer - 26/11/07 at 11:58 AM

Hi All has anyone any info or pickys of the mini engined thre wheeler that was raced in the side car classes simetime in the sixties,
i think there is one photo on here but hav'nt been able to find it,
any info appreciated, thanks


Peteff - 26/11/07 at 02:20 PM

The only 3 wheeled mini engined car I can think of is the Stimson Scorcher but I don't think they were ever raced. There were several imp engined sidecar race units but they were forced out by class regulations.


Confused but excited. - 26/11/07 at 03:24 PM

I remember seeing it. Very quick in it's day.
They tried to ban it, but he argued that it met all the build criteria.
They didn't like him spanking all the conventional outfits, so they changed the rules and then banned it.
I can't for the life of me, remember the guy who built it. Sorry.


adampage - 26/11/07 at 03:32 PM

The R5 is described as a "Mini-based sidecar racing development".

Couldn't find pictures / details, but it's a start.

It's on:
http://www.pilbeamracing.co.uk/typenos.html

HTH,
Adam.


adampage - 26/11/07 at 03:36 PM

"Eric Zealand 498 Triumph of Rugby with his friend Owen Greenwood...
Alongside his famous Mini engined 3 wheeler that swept British Sidecar racing. I referred to it once as a Bubble car, then after its first outing with low placing felt justified. Owen practically locked its differential to a limited slip version, reducing ‘inside corner wheelspin, the rest is history. We did not really value what were witnessing. That same chariot he built for my passenger Ken Jones (Kenjo) and self was found at Aberporth some 10 years ago by restorer John Reeve who fell silent when I asked what sum he would accept for it. John grinned and told me "nothing, its yours" it now stands in my garage rebuilt into solo road race trim a la Domiracer. "

All from:
http://www.silverdragons.co.uk/1953/1953_Race_characters.htm

Adam.


adampage - 26/11/07 at 03:41 PM

From Autosport.


"Yes, that's the Owen Greenwood contrivance to which I referred earlier. I spent some time last night looking for a photo on the net with no success. It actually started off with four wheels, the back pair being close together, apparently making use of some rule book loop-hole. The "outfit" changed to a single rear wheel after much huffing and puffing by all. I'm struggling to remember the exact capacity limit Greenwood raced under: the world championships were for 500cc machines. Perhaps the British races which I watched allowed up to 1100cc, as I think the Cooper S engine used was a 1071. Greenwood successfully raced ordinary kneelers before this unpopular venture....the bikers in the crowd always saw it as a car, and his ability as a rider was forgotten. I don't remember the name of the passenger in the mini, but he didn't have to do too much and was basically just there for the ride"


adampage - 26/11/07 at 03:45 PM

2 photos (one close up, one in the distance at Mallory, but you can just spot it...)

http://www.sandspeedwales.co.uk/index2.html

Then, if you google "owen greenwood" you get a few more hits with pics, etc.

Phew, I can go back to work now....



[Edited on 26/11/07 by adampage]


gezer - 26/11/07 at 04:19 PM

Thanks for the info,
i'm not sure if the photo on the welsh site one is what i'm looking for,
the picky i had seen was in a magazine years ago taken from the front as it went round a tight right hander,

the photo i thought i had seen on the locost site was a 3/4 rear view, on the line waiting to start and shows the driver? sat in the centre, with his passenger kneeling behind him, this might be the other one refered to,
as i'm sure it was banned, and no bodywork,
and was mini powered,

[Edited on 26/11/07 by gezer]

[Edited on 26/11/07 by gezer]


Confused but excited. - 26/11/07 at 09:12 PM

Owen Greenwood. Dat's da bunny!
adampage you are a star!
I don't know about gezer, but at least I will sleep tonight. It has been doing my head in all day.


pathfinder - 26/11/07 at 10:18 PM

is this the one?
think i found it on one of the hilclimb websites but dunno which one


FUORISERIE - 29/11/07 at 01:14 PM

is this the one ?


gezer - 2/12/07 at 12:40 PM

Hi All, Many thanks to everyone for their help,
pathfinders photo was the one i had seen before, so its a hillclimb and not a circuit racer,
Cheers guys

[Edited on 2/12/07 by gezer]


gezer - 3/12/07 at 12:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Confused but excited.
Owen Greenwood. Dat's da bunny!
adampage you are a star!
I don't know about gezer, but at least I will sleep tonight. It has been doing my head in all day.


yes it was doing mine in as well,


ragworm - 30/12/07 at 10:36 PM

Hello,

I have stumbled onto this forum whilst looking for information about Owen Greenwoods three wheel Mini racer. Strange coincidence really as I am building my own, hopefully, road going version based using the Locost builders book as a basis for the chassis, modifying it for just one wheel at the back, it is still very much 'work in progress' but it is on it's wheels, just.

I remember watching this race in the 60's and it started my interest in Mini's with I still have (five in the back garden), I have fitted a 1385cc mini engine from my old grass track racer (90bhp at the wheels) which should prove interesting.

Mike Pilbeam was involved at the start of the project and I have spoken to him by email to confirm this.

I will try and attach some photo's.

If you do a google search 'itn archive' put Owen Greenwood in the search box, look at probably the third article called 'car or sidecar' (click on the orange cockerel) then click on any picture, turn your sound on and enjoy some classic footage, you can purchase a copy of this from the web site.

Hope this has been of help. Rescued attachment PCDV0015.JPG
Rescued attachment PCDV0015.JPG


ragworm - 31/12/07 at 10:13 AM

Hello,

By the way, the seat and steering wheel are there just for fun, honest guv.