Main Menu
Car List
Driver List
Sports & GT List
Back
Next

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Condor F750
Engine: Reliant 750cc
Configuration: front engine, rear-wheel drive
Driver: Jeremy Snook
Class: Formula 750
Date taken: June 1977, main straight, Croft
A small version of Clubman cars; this closely resembles the Mallocks of the time. The four-into-one exhaust (header) can be seen clearly as can the down draught carb (the only type permitted)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Cowley MkIV
Engine: Reliant 750cc
Configuration: rear engine, rear-wheel drive
Driver: Trevor Hegarth
Class: Formula 750
Date taken: June 1977 at Chicane, Croft
Built in the early seventies by the initiative designer Bill Cowely, who’s earlier cars had include elastic band suspension, this car had many well thought out design features - not least its mid-engined layout. In a class noted for small, lightweight cars, this one stood out by being of go-cart proportions. Not withstanding the fact it was the only car with a roof! it still managed to be one of the lowest F750s racing at the time. (most of the drivers in clubman style cars in this racecould see over the white hardboard behind the car.) A very low frontal area was achieved by placing the engine and gearbox behind the driver. To achieve a mid-engine layout and still retain the beam axel, the gearbox, which was situated just behind the driver’s left shoulder, was attached by means of a short propshaft to the diff. The engine was turned through 180 degrees and placed alongside the gearbox facing backwards, the two being clamped to an aluminium adaptor plate. To provide drive, a toothed belt joined the output shaft of the engine to the input shaft of the gearbox. (see diagram) Other design feature worth noting were the fabric hinges for the gull-wing doors and the clear roof panels so the driver could see the externally mounted rear-view mirror. Nigel, Bill Cowely’s son, found his father's car many years after this photo was taken and restored it to its original condition. Nigel was still competing in this car in 750 races during 2002.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~