Local Legends.

[seth]

I discovered not long ago that Archie Fraser-Nash was a local. The first GN cycle/light cars were built in his mum's shed and then I think the second 'factory' was the other end of the small road from the house where I was born/grew up.  The Speedwell tuning business was also a local firm in its original form, John Sprinzel, Graham HIll etc.

 

Similar to Datsucog, there was a little old lady piloting a nicely worn in Humber Imperial around here up until a few years ago.

[xtriple]

I don't know/can't remember names but... when I lived in Kineton (warwickshire)there was a bloke who had a motley selection of Ferraris and Bugattis! Lived in a big house which was very well walled off and he was a bit of a recluse. He had a Daytona that he used to thrash the bollox off all the way to Wellesbourne. Quite frequently heard his Bug start, the engine/exhaust noise was simply, epic!

 

Knew Freddie Frith back when I lived in Grimsby, he had a bike shop in the town but was bloody ancient then, still rode like he was winning the TT

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

I'm an ex Sunderland lad - so the handbraking, on 2 wheels stunt driver from the original adverts where he slots it into the parking spot is from around here. I'd look it up - but work busy and CBA mixture.......

[Datsuncog]

I'm an ex Sunderland lad - so the handbraking, on 2 wheels stunt driver from the original adverts where he slots it into the parking spot is from around here. I'd look it up - but work busy and CBA mixture.......

 

Sounds like Russ Swift?

 

I 'won' a session as a passenger with Russ at the local launch of the Mk6 Golf in 2009, while he put it through its paces - forwards, backwards and sideways. He's some driver, and a thoroughly nice bloke.

[Dick Longbridge]

^ That's the best thing I've seen all week. The ultimate greyhound/whippet transport. It actually looks quite straight and solid under all the shit. If I saw the photo elsewhere on the 'net, I'd assume it was circa 1972 tbh.

[dome]

I keep meaning to get pics of what remains if Alf Peatman's garage, I've passed it hundreds of times. I've been fascinated by that period of bike racing since I walked the course in Beveridge Park. That ended up the Bob McIntyre memorial event in its' latter days. Also the sand racing, I keep meaning to go and watch it too...

 

Neatly tying into those, Johnny Dumfries let my (then very young) eldest daughter sit in his Renault Sport Spider, while we had a good chinwag about it. That was in Beveridge Park too.

 

Going back further, I've valeted Rikki Fulton's car (Mk3 Cav GLS in Satin Red), and delivered Murdo McLeod's papers. Both lovely blokes, a pleasure to speak to. Dunno how relevant they are, but...!

 

 

I had no idea Beveridge Park was used for motorbike racing. Is there much left that you can see? Maybe it's worth visiting Kirkcaldy again after all.

[DVee8]

I'm an ex Sunderland lad - so the handbraking, on 2 wheels stunt driver from the original adverts where he slots it into the parking spot is from around here. I'd look it up - but work busy and CBA mixture.......

I'm a Sunderland lad as well.

[Christine]

Jeff Beck lives not too far away.  '32 Ford hot rod God . 

 

  plays a guitar for a job I heard  ? .......  

[spike60]

I'm an ex Sunderland lad - so the handbraking, on 2 wheels stunt driver from the original adverts where he slots it into the parking spot is from around here. I'd look it up - but work busy and CBA mixture.......

Russ Swift? Thought he and son Paul were Darlo lads.

[Guest]

I had no idea Beveridge Park was used for motorbike racing. Is there much left that you can see? Maybe it's worth visiting Kirkcaldy again after all.

There is a bike show every year there, and they do sometimes do a slow lap- the track was just the perimerter road that goes right around the park- all still there, it's narrow, with a few sharpish corners and has overhanging trees so really greasy. Never saw it myself as I'm too young, but it was a BIG thing, and the speeds were amazing.

 

https://scotlandonscreen.org.uk/browse-films/007-000-002-451-c

[privatewire]

Ewen Haldane, got to know him through my old dad, and used to pick up my mate from his shop whenever his bike was in for an mot or service, he was a complete and utter gentleman with a huge range of stories, I could and did listen to him for hours!

His stories about motorbike racing were thrilling. Terrifying, sad, and hilarious.

I never, ever heard anyone have a bad word to say about him.

 

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13628556.Ewen_Haldane/

 

http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/14020674.Hundreds_turn_out_to_pay_tribute_to_Ewen_Haldane/

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Eddie Irvine, ex-Jordan/Ferrari/Jaguar F1 driver, sold my dad a secondhand bootlid for his Marina estate.

 

Eddie_Irvine_after_the_1999_Australian_Grand_Prix.jpg

 

Context being that my dad's Marina had been reversed into by persons unknown in Stewarts car park, and Irvine senior ran a scrapyard in Conlig just up the road from us (which provided the then-teenage Eddie with parts for the Formula Ford cars he was racing in the mid-80s). Eddie worked in the yard and removed the bootlid for us - the replacement green bootlid was later painted with Leyland coachpaint to matching sandglow. I can remember us driving along the Green Road at night and seeing old Mk2 Escorts on their side in the illuminated workshop in front of the yard, with Irvine Jr busy pulling bits off.

 

Following his mid-90s success/notoriety, Irvine often appeared at civic events in some species of Ferrari (e.g. switching on the town's Christmas lights), and was pretty much as big a celebrity as Bangor could muster - when he wasn't away schmoozing in Monaco.

 

He still owns an indoor kart track/motorsport venue in a former carpet factory on the Balloo Rd.

 

P3230097 Toyota Celica & Driver, Ards.JPG

 

When I think of a local legend though, this old biddy who used to hoon around in her 3rd Gen Celica would get my nomination. I'd be sitting at 70 on the dual carriageway and she'd bomb past me like I was standing still. Fair play. No idea what happened to her or the car, mind; the Celica was really clean, though.

I grew up in Bangor in the 90s. Small world. Other side of the Lough now up toward Carrick....

 

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[bezzabsa]

another Local-ish legend, and all round Nutter..Nowt to do with 4 wheels,,,but scary all the same

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/cradley-heath-legend-lew-foley-10847713

[Felly Magic]

Rex Garrod, local eccentric/bloke from 'The Secret Life of/Robot Wars & builder of Brum from the kids tv show, sadly has dementia now I hear, he drove some really weird shite including a pickup truck made from stretching an old Celica that had a VW diesel engine, he would have fitted in well here, but I don't forgive him for destroying a Datsun 100A on telly

[M'coli]

Ewen Haldane, got to know him through my old dad, and used to pick up my mate from his shop whenever his bike was in for an mot or service, he was a complete and utter gentleman with a huge range of stories, I could and did listen to him for hours!

His stories about motorbike racing were thrilling. Terrifying, sad, and hilarious.

I never, ever heard anyone have a bad word to say about him.

 

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13628556.Ewen_Haldane/

 

http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/14020674.Hundreds_turn_out_to_pay_tribute_to_Ewen_Haldane/

Victor Devine's still alive!  My old man used to get bike bits out of his shops in the 60s and 70s!  I wonder if his shoulder joint's still in a jar?

[Felly Magic]

Not many people will have heard of Kevin Pease, but if you were in to British Rallycross, he was a mad bastard in a yellow group B Renault 5 Turbo2, every now and again, Whitstable Will Gallop would visit, and in his driveway would be the R5 & Will's 6R4 Metro, after rallycross, Kev started racing Westfields

[Datsuncog]

I grew up in Bangor in the 90s. Small world. Other side of the Lough now up toward Carrick....

Heh, ditto... if you ever remember seeing a gold Viva HC with a black vinyl roof blarting around the ringroad, parked outside Halfords (where I worked) or down at Queen's Parade c.1998/99, that would have been me... and equally, should you spot a green Phase 1 Laguna along the loughshore from Carrick these days, that'll probably be me too... so are there any vehicles I shoukd be keeping an eye out for? Haven't seen any XMs locally for a while...

[fiatdaft]

Just had lunch and a good blether with a local "legend", Bill Peatman. Motorcycle racer and garage owner. He and his brother Alf had petrol stations and a motorcycle dealership here and competed in races all over the country including the TT. More interesting here is that Alf, who sadly died a few years ago, was also a car nut and had a good few classy motors. His daily driver was an old Alfa, but he kept is Aston DBS and Ferrari Dino tucked away.. The Dino was sold at auction after he died and I was told today it's now in South Africa. He used it regularly for a while, then got chased by the police and parked it up...for 39 years!!

 

 

Here is a pic of the Dino.... Seemingly made well over 100 grand..

 

 

Any local heroes where you are?

Sorry bit late to the party on this ( new house etc)

 

But I know the guy that bought it new !

 

 

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[UltraWomble]

The ghost of 17th century saint and catholic martyr John Wall regularly appears at our local garage where his speciality is performing miracles on old giffers 1990's Nissans so that the tester wont see the rusty sills.

 

Actually cock all happens round these parts. And no bugger famous lives round here.