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TomDrewett
United Kingdom
293 Posts |
 Posted - 22/08/2012 : 21:31:13
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See below a couple of pics from the same gentleman enquiring after his former NB, of J4 OJ9483. These were taken he believes 1966, he recalls the car being used at club meetings and was always immaculately prepared, the driver was a Geoff somebody, doesn't recall the surname now. Is it a survivor?
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DickMorbey
United Kingdom
3693 Posts |
Posted - 22/08/2012 : 22:17:53
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Looks very much like the ex-Geoff Coles J4
Dick Morbey
PA/PB 0743
Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, UK |
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John Reid
United Kingdom
707 Posts |
Posted - 22/08/2012 : 22:26:14
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Yes it is Geoff Coles' car and I was at many of those 1960s Silverstone meetings - he set the engineering standards for Triple-M cars in the 60s.
At the time it was called a J4, but I believe subsequent research has shown otherwise - over to our Registrar!
John R |
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Peter Green
United Kingdom
1682 Posts |
Posted - 22/08/2012 : 22:52:14
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Tom,
The car is a survivor and resides in Germany. Its chassis number is unknown.
Peter.
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Colin Butchers
United Kingdom
1487 Posts |
Posted - 23/08/2012 : 11:54:19
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It is a bit sad that the passage of time tends to diminish past deeds, because Geoff Coles was the ultimate MMMer of his day, long before the Register was created. His first J2 was J2749 (OD4638) and with this car he commenced a remarkable competition career starting in 1939 and continuing until the early 50s. He was active most week-ends - sometimes competing at two separate meetings, and the car was progressively improved, with a number of genuine J4 parts, and resulted in many successes including Class wins. By the end of the 50s, J2749 was put up for sale, when his J Special (OJ 9483) was introduced using a fabricated chassis. As John says, this car set the standard for Triple M restorations of the day and continued to give Geoff many successes until his untimely death in an accident at Snetterton in 1974 whilst at the wheel of another of his cars, based on J4006. Geoff was a lovely man, with a vast knowledge of MMM matters which he was happy to share with anyone interested in the subject. In the early years of the Register, he was an active Committee Member as Technical Representative, and he contributed a number of articles to our early Yearbooks, which are still worth reading now.
Colin B. |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6556 Posts |
Posted - 23/08/2012 : 12:19:30
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| Well said, Colin. I still have a long and detailed letter that Geoff wrote to me in the early 70s in which he went to great lengths to explain various aspects of running a J2. I never met him, but always thought kindly of him for the time and trouble he took to write at such length to a complete stranger. |
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Dolts
United Kingdom
1129 Posts |
Posted - 23/08/2012 : 12:51:16
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Sparked me into life looking at Photos,
stumbled on this one....
Mark Dolton
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JMH
United Kingdom
935 Posts |
Posted - 23/08/2012 : 13:33:54
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Colin,
The car with the fabricated chassis that suceeeded J2749 was "MBK" was it not, this predated "the red J4".
JH |
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Gerhard Maier
Germany
907 Posts |
Posted - 23/08/2012 : 14:11:51
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And Mark,
the green one behind Geoff Coles car on your photo is AML 103, when John Cramer raced K3013 probably in 1963.
Gerhard
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JMH
United Kingdom
935 Posts |
Posted - 23/08/2012 : 17:29:24
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The first 2 photos were taken at the 21/05/1966 MGCC Silverstone meeting, where Geoff entered the 5 lap MMM Handicap Race (7th) & the 10 lap Championship Handicap Race for open & closed saloons (12th).
JH |
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Peter Green
United Kingdom
1682 Posts |
Posted - 23/08/2012 : 17:58:37
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What is an open saloon?
Peter. |
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JMH
United Kingdom
935 Posts |
Posted - 23/08/2012 : 18:12:08
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Whoops, slip of the fingers - "Cars"
JH |
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George Eagle
United Kingdom
3300 Posts |
Posted - 23/08/2012 : 20:39:34
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I remember seeing this car being raced to great effect, it always looked immaculate, sounded magnificent and was very reliable. There is a superb picture of the car in "The Great Cars" by Ralph Stein. The book cost me 39/6d and was first published in 1967.
Geoff Coles certainly set the standard and so did Colin Tieche in the ex Hamilton J4002.
Happy days!
George
L2023 and NA0960
Nr Buckingham, UK
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