Martin Squires Automotive Illustration: Race Retro 2014

Wednesday, 26 February 2014

Race Retro 2014

The Yellow Peril

(ink and watercolour)

This eye catching machine had to be sketched. Bill Bragg originally campaigned tho bike and it's siblings the Blue and Scarlet Perils in the 60's. Bill was famed for turning up to sprint meets towing a huge trailer behind a motorcycle combination, Initially an AJS 650 and then a Triumph 650. The bikes were discovered in a shed in 1999 and have been slowly resorted since. In 2010 the three bikes were raced at various events for the first time since 1966. At North Weald Martin Newton recorded a 13.7 sec quarter mile, it's previous best was 13.39. Martin said that the clutch was slipping a bit and so he shut if off before the finish. I hope to bump into the other perils in the future.

Gentleman John

(watercolour and ink)

Two years ago at Race Retro I sketched a Heritage Stock Car, I resisted last year, but as soon as I saw this 6 wheeler I couldn't let it go. Gentleman John was originally created in 1976 by John Stirk who was inspired by the Tyrell 6 wheeled GP Car and Chinese 6 trucks which John used to drive. The original car was raced for 2 years before John was unable to continue developing it due to lack of time. BriSCA passed a rule shortly after the cars retirement stating that all stock cars must have 4 wheels. John said that the car actually goes round the oval better than a 4 wheel car as the four steering wheels at the front stop it from drifting out on the corners and so it can keep tight into the corner.

The car seen here is a replica of the original built entirely based on photos that John had. It runs a Dodge 440ci v8, and the back wheels are held down by a tractor top link to give it traction!