| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
boltonmg
USA
24 Posts |
 Posted - 08/02/2019 : 21:36:32
|
Finding all eight J2s which were raced in America in the 1930s would be a tall order but my ambition to identify the chassis numbers might be possible.
A new clue has been found by Chris Nowlan going through some ARCA archives. We now know the engine number of the J2 which was pictured on the front cover of the 2014 Year Book which contains an article I wrote on the topic.
The first photo here shows the ARCA registration plates for that car issued in 1936 and 1937.
I only have the build sheet page for our J2 (J2594). Could someone please tell me what chassis number originally had engine number 831-AJ. From the printed Register it might be in the region of J2274.
With the chassis number, somebody with access to the chassis files might be able to reveal the original owner in England. Mike Hawke's books, which I have, might reveal any history.
I do know the car was blue. It was first raced here on Oct 28 1934 so any entry in "How they Ran" after that date would invalidate it.
I have attached a high resolution copy of the photo used on the cover of the Year Book in which you can see the plate mounted to the left of the instrument cluster. But the photo also shows a heavily modified dashboard with a large tachometer mounted behind the steering wheel alongside the speedo. Another photo (Year Book page 9) shows a grab handle on the tub behind the drivers right shoulder. I might be tempted to call this a "bouncer's handle" indicating this car might have had a serious English trials history.
I have speculated it might have been Toulmin's blue 1933 trials car, upon which Jonathon could not add any more info. Can someone please tell me what engine number J2653 had. It might have been in the region of 1318-AJ. If so, where do I also see three of those digits, maybe in a different order, but on the pictured plate.
Thanks for any help,
Peter
Peter Ross
PA0251, PA0255, J2594 |
|
|
Cathelijne
Netherlands
744 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2019 : 22:01:18
|
Hi Peter,
What a brilliant find, these registration plates!
According to the database, 831 AJ was originally fitted (not to a car in the region of, but actually) to J2274, newly delivered to E. Dane of Massachussetts on 19 October 1932. This car was blue & blue. The database holds no further information whatsoever.
The engine originally fitted to J2653 was 1309 AJ. This car was also blue & blue and was newly supplied to J.M. Toulmin on 28 November 1932.
‘Hope this helps!
Cat
|
 |
|
|
John James
United Kingdom
959 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2019 : 22:14:31
|
Peter,
Engine number 831AJ was fitted to J2274. Sold to Edward Dane on 19th October 1932 and exported to USA by M.G. Car Co. Export.
Engine number 1309AJ was fitted to J2653.
Regards, JOHN JAMES |
|
|
|
boltonmg
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2019 : 00:53:43
|
Hello Cat and John. Thank you for your rapid response.
Ned Dane was the son of the owner of the Brookline National Bank, which still exists today in Boston.
He was actually the first person in the US to acquire a J2, directly from MG, and being a buddy of the crew who started ARCA, I wondered if his car inspired the Colliers to acquire a further 8 of which 7 were used, obsolete J2s in a period after the PA became available. But he never drove it in a race himself. However he did create the ENAD special (Dane backwards!) which John Marshall attempted to race. As you say, he bought the car new. I would be surprised if he did all those modifications to the dash if he never used it in competition.
Our records show that Hugh Bancroft's blue J2 was brought in as a used car by Sam Collier in his first batch of six as MG distributor for America. Maybe he really took on Ned Dane's car which Ned had owned for nearly 2 years by Oct 34. I have found several errors in Joel Finn's otherwise superb tome on racing in that era.
I have just read a short biography of Frank Alden who was the driver in the 1937 picture on the Year Book cover. He was a good mechanic and it is recorded he constructed an oval track race car using an MG engine. So they had some spare engines from presumably, demised cars.
Now I am challenged to learn how Ned Dane used his J2.
Thanks again,
Peter
Peter Ross
PA0251, PA0255, J2594 |
|
|
|
LewPalmer
USA
3208 Posts |
Posted - 19/03/2019 : 14:55:07
|
Peter,
At the Chicago Swap Meet this weekend, I found and bought a book about ARCA in the 1930s by John Rueter. Looks like a good read. If you don't have it, I'll bring my copy to Bowling Green in June.
Lew Palmer
PA1169, PB0560 |
|
|
|
Vitesse
United Kingdom
234 Posts |
Posted - 26/04/2022 : 19:48:11
|
This seems as good a place as any to put this. Out-takes from a newsreel report of the ARCA race at Wayland, October 1934. Four MGs in the entry list.
https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/collection/MVTN/id/1404/rec/35
This news report gives a slightly different result to the one in Rueter's book though!
|
|
|
|
Bruce Sutherland
United Kingdom
1543 Posts |
Posted - 26/04/2022 : 20:12:06
|
Peter (boltonmg),
What was the reason/predilection for white-wall tyres (tires) in the USA?
Bruce. (PB0564) |
|
|
|
LewPalmer
USA
3208 Posts |
Posted - 26/04/2022 : 22:52:17
|
Haven't seen Peter on here in quite a while, so I'll jump in.
White walls were commonly available in the US and many felt they add a bit of style and panache'.
Lew Palmer
PA1169, 2M1281, NA0651 |
|
|
|
Vitesse
United Kingdom
234 Posts |
Posted - 30/04/2022 : 00:04:17
|
| O/T - I have some 1950s US newsreel video of Fay Taylour when she was racing Stateside. A wonderfully kitsch bit of puffery in which we see her doing some cooking, followed by film of a supposed race in which she's driving a Jaguar XK120 or XK150 on a dirt oval. It's pretty obviously straight off a dealer's forecourt, complete with whitewalls! |
|
|
|
Hawkes
United Kingdom
63 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2022 : 08:19:26
|
quote:
Originally posted by Vitesse
This seems as good a place as any to put this. Out-takes from a newsreel report of the ARCA race at Wayland, October 1934. Four MGs in the entry list.
https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/collection/MVTN/id/1404/rec/35
This news report gives a slightly different result to the one in Rueter's book though!
What a brilliant bit of film. Thanks for posting. |
|
|
|
Cooperman
United Kingdom
752 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2022 : 15:37:08
|
Gosh not a lot of room for overtaking!!
John Cooper M 628 |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
ARCA J2 research - new data spawns question
Forum Locked
