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Holland Birkett - car 44724 ? http://www.bugattibuilder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=493 |
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Author: | Hunter [ Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:55 pm ] |
Post subject: | Holland Birkett - car 44724 ? |
Would I be correct to think that the recent picture of the above driver at the English event called Great Auclum shows car 44724 recently owned by M. Richard Gabriel in England ? |
Author: | Legaleagle [ Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:18 pm ] |
Post subject: | Birkett, Holland. |
The caption to your picture incorrectly refers to Mr. BIRKELT BIRKETT, Holland (Holly). A vetinary surgeon who was influential in the development of post-war motor sport in the UK. Born on the 9th April 1916, he lived for many years at 3, Pondtail Road, Fleet, Hants. The 1957 Motor Racing Directory lists him as a “club official, team organiser, designer, rally-driver”. He is perhaps most remembered for his involvement with the 750 Motor Club which was established to encourage low-cost racing of Austin Seven-based specials. He was also interested in much larger cars and around the end of WW2 he purchased, from Anthony Brooke, an engineless type 54 which was later sold to John Willment. He drove at Prescott twice in 1946 with a type 44 achieving a best time of 60.55 at his second meeting on the 22nd September (competitor no. 26). It is assumed that this was car 44724 which he later sold to N. Sharp and is best known in the UK for its ownership, from 1978 by Richard Gabriel of Dunstable. Birkett acquired the car with no body and no licence so its previous history remains uncertain. He fitted a Grand Sport-style body incorporating a type 40 tail. He also used the car for VSCC driving tests up to at least 1950. He later owned a type 46 which had been used for fire-fighting duties during WW2 .The car was subsequently acquired by Hurrell who sold it to Peter Bailey and engineer Bill Bloomfield who rebuilt the car and fitted it with a 2-seater sports body. The car was well known at Prescott between 1959 and 1982 carrying UK reg. no. GP 46 and is now owned by Bill Bloomfield’s son, Simon. |
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