Ashley Cleave Morris Special

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Topic URL: https://www.triple-mregister.org/forums//topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13540
Printed on: 10/05/2024

Topic:

Topic author: Ashleycleave
Subject: Ashley Cleave Morris Special
Posted on: 27/12/2017 23:03:18
Message:

Not quite Triple M material, but an interesting part of Morris Garages competition history...

I have recently acquired this great little car which was built in 1936 and then run in sprints, races, hill climbs, speed trials, and mud plugging trials by Ashley Cleave until 1974. I hope to use it on the road and in light competition once restored.

I would be very grateful to hear anything anyone may know about the car, to hear memories or see any photos.

Thanks!

Replies:

Reply author: colintf
Replied on: 28/12/2017 06:54:25
Message:

I know nothing of its history but recall an interesting past from some recent adverts. Please keep us posted! Hi and welcome to.

Colin Murrell
D0285
Photographer for MGCC (LeMans Classic, Oldtimer Grand Prix etc) & MG Motor (BTCC 2012-5)
http://www.triple-mracing.com/

Reply author: Ray Masters
Replied on: 28/12/2017 09:02:14
Message:

Steven . Back in the 50s & 60s l had copies of the magazine called , l think , Motoring .
If l remember correctly there was often mention of Ashley Cleeve & his exploits so if you can get hold of any copies it will give some history of the car etc for you.
It was , l think , a Nuffield Group magazine & covered MG, Wolseley , Morris , Riley cars. Dad had a Morris 10 in those days .

Reply author: George Eagle
Replied on: 28/12/2017 09:22:39
Message:

Hello Steven

Welcome to our Forum.

You have certainly acquired a very well known car! I am sure some of our members will be able to help you with information, there must be many pictures etc in some of the magazines such as Motor Sport and Autosport.

George
Secretary

Reply author: Ashleycleave
Replied on: 28/12/2017 10:14:40
Message:

Thank you all for your very kind replies which are much appreciated.

Bill Boddy wrote an article about Ashley and his Morris in a 1973 edition of Motor Sport. There was also a similar write up in Autosport in 1969.

Pre war the car ran at Brooklands in September 1938 and at Poole Speed Trials and Backwell Hill Climb in 1939. There were also entries in the Lands End Trials from 1937-1939.

Post war Ashley ran at race and speed events at Shelsley Walsh, Prescott, Trengwainton, Brunton, Castle Combe, Davidstow, Brighton. Plus Gloucester and Fedden Trials.

I am sure there are many other entries I have yet to discover.

I would love to find more early photos of the car outside what is already on the internet.

Reply author: Peter Croft
Replied on: 06/01/2018 08:04:49
Message:

Hello Steve,

You have a great car with lots of history. Finding written reports should be quite easy if you simply read the motoring magazines of the time, if you haven't already, Attached (sideways)is something I copied, I think from Autosport , as the Mrs Osborn was at the time, thrashing my HRG.





Her husband also made it work for its keep.[



I suggest you try Ted Walker of Ferret Fotos and even the Revs Institute You will not be disappointed ( well maybe slightly )

Peter and J 3096

Reply author: Ashleycleave
Replied on: 06/01/2018 09:35:04
Message:

Hi Peter, many thanks for your reply.
Yes, I will have to check through all the copies of Autosport and Motor Sport sometime. Unfortunately I do not have sets myself (and to build runs up these days costs many £££!). I will need to visit somewhere like our National Motor Museum library.
Thanks also for your suggestion to speak to Ted Walker. I bought some nice photos from his stall at Beaulieu Autojumble last year and he is sure he has more. There are a couple of pics on the Revs site too.

Reply author: O.Thomas
Replied on: 06/01/2018 10:22:43
Message:

Any chance of posting a photo so we know what we're looking for in case it turns up in any photos?

Reply author: colintf
Replied on: 06/01/2018 14:04:28
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by ollirichardson

Any chance of posting a photo so we know what we're looking for in case it turns up in any photos?

---

Reply author: Brian Kelly
Replied on: 06/01/2018 18:36:01
Message:

Steven.

Are you aware of the photos on MPL ?

http://motoringpicturelibrary.com/Images?location_id=5&filter=ccv952

Brian.

Reply author: Ashleycleave
Replied on: 06/01/2018 20:24:40
Message:

Colin,
Thanks for the link which leads to some excellent photos.

Brian,
Thanks also for this lead which I had seen. It is a very good one.
It shows the car in its first pre-war form on a Lands End Trial. Although the front of the car always remained the same, c1951 the rear was changed to a sloping tail. Smaller diameter (13") wheels were also fitted when the Morris was used only for speed events rather than mud plugging trials. It now has 16" rims which I think is a good more usable size for the road.

Reply author: Ashleycleave
Replied on: 06/01/2018 20:28:26
Message:

This is a picture showing Ashley Cleave in the Morris in the early 1970s at Shelsley Walsh (courtesy of Morris Register Collection).

Reply author: colintf
Replied on: 06/01/2018 20:48:51
Message:

I'm really pleased this car has found a good new home and would love to see it competing again :)

Colin Murrell
D0285
Photographer for MGCC (LeMans Classic, Oldtimer Grand Prix etc) & MG Motor (BTCC 2012-5)
http://www.triple-mracing.com/

Reply author: Ashleycleave
Replied on: 06/01/2018 21:14:36
Message:

Thanks Colin, I appreciate it.
It will take a while to screw it back together again but the aim is to use it on the road and in some speed events.

Reply author: colintf
Replied on: 06/01/2018 21:16:08
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ashleycleave

Thanks Colin, I appreciate it.
It will take a while to screw it back together again but the aim is to use it on the road and in some speed events.

---

Reply author: Ashleycleave
Replied on: 06/01/2018 21:48:20
Message:

It first had a Centric supercharged side valve Morris engine of around 850cc. The supercharger then got swapped to a Morris Series E engine. In 1939 Ashley started building up an unsupercharged Morris 10 XPJM engine linered down to compete in the 1100cc classes. The XPJM was/is the same basic unit as the later XPAG, but with a slightly smaller capacity and more spindly crank and con rods. The rebuilt car will use the same type of engine with the beefier (safer!) internals, and with twin SU's like Ashley ran.

Reply author: colintf
Replied on: 06/01/2018 22:04:36
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ashleycleave

It first had a Centric supercharged side valve Morris engine of around 850cc. The supercharger then got swapped to a Morris Series E engine. In 1939 Ashley started building up an unsupercharged Morris 10 XPJM engine linered down to compete in the 1100cc classes. The XPJM was/is the same basic unit as the later XPAG, but with a slightly smaller capacity and more spindly crank and con rods. The rebuilt car will use the same type of engine with the beefier (safer!) internals, and with twin SU's like Ashley ran.

---

Reply author: Ashleycleave
Replied on: 07/01/2018 11:44:38
Message:

Here is a photo of the Morris at the 1939 Backwell Hill Climb.

Reply author: Cymber
Replied on: 07/01/2018 21:11:26
Message:

A slight correction to Ashleycleave's post about the XPJM crank. It's crank is dimensionally identical to the XPAG one, only the material is different.

Maurice.

Reply author: Ashleycleave
Replied on: 08/01/2018 15:01:16
Message:

Thanks for adding the extra detail Maurice.

Here is another photo of the Morris in one of its immediate post war outings.

Reply author: Cooperman
Replied on: 08/01/2018 15:11:41
Message:

The third one in which he was runner up, must have been a handicap class, because if he had Best Time of Day, nobody could have beaten him. OR I am missing something!!

John Cooper M 628

Reply author: Mike the M
Replied on: 10/01/2018 14:28:46
Message:

He also raced at Davidstow in the 1950s. Will publish pictures and results in due course.

Mike Dalby

Reply author: Mike the M
Replied on: 11/01/2018 14:58:50
Message:

As promised the racing results from Davidstow, Cornwall, from Peter Tutthill's book.
9 August 1952
Event 1 20 minute speed event
Class 4 1. W. A. Cleave (Callington)
2. R. G. Hughes (Truro)
3. J. D. Bryant (Watford)
Event 3 Team event 9 laps
1. W.A.Cleave (Morris) S.D.Gutteridge (Lancia) R.G.Hughes (MG)

25 May 1953
Event 2 sports cars unlimited 5 laps
1. R.Carnegie jaguar XK 120
2. P. Jackson Lester MG
3. W.A.Cleave Morris Special
4. R.C.G. Marsh Alvis
Event 4 Sports cars up to 1500c.c.
1. W.A.Cleave Morris Special
2 P. Jackson Lester MG
3. M. R. G. Llewellyn MG
Event 5 Sports cars unlimited 10 laps
1. K. Watkins Cadillac Allard
2. J. S. Hubbard Jaguar XK 120
3. Lt. Col. O'Hare Moore Frazer Nash
4. D. Watts Allard
5. T. T. Kyffin Jaguar XK 120
6. G. S. Scali BMW 328
7. W. A. Cleave Morris Special
8. E. D. scobey Healey Silverstone

1 August 1953
Event 7 sports cars upto 1500 c.c.
5. W. A. Cleave Morris Special
6. s. Broad MG

7 June 1954
Event 1 sports cars upto 1500 c.c.
4. W. A. Cleave Morris Special

2 August 1954 sports cars up to 1300 c.c.
1. W. A. Cleave Morris Special
2. S. J. Broad Lotus
3. Sir T. Beevor MG TC




8.








Mike Dalby

Reply author: colintf
Replied on: 11/01/2018 16:35:47
Message:

Fabulous Mike. Many must drive past Davidstow totally unaware that it hosted Grand Prix there!!!

Colin Murrell
D0285
Photographer for MGCC (LeMans Classic, Oldtimer Grand Prix etc) & MG Motor (BTCC 2012-5)
http://www.triple-mracing.com/

Reply author: Ashleycleave
Replied on: 11/01/2018 16:51:36
Message:

This is all great stuff - thanks very much!

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