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Nodiff
04-07-2013, 07:23 AM
Thanks to all those comments and photos of the car in the Roycroft thread.

As a bit of background the car was originally built in 1950 by Hec Green and his partner Jack Brewer who together ran an engineering business in Christchurch. They had both been aircraft mechanics during the war and had a keen interest in motor racing with Hec having raced very successfully his Wolseley special and Jack having a background on two wheels.

At the culmination of the War, as part of war reparations, specialists in their fields were sent into the various industries of the axis powers to learn their industrial secrets. One such expert was a young British engineer named Cameron Earl who was sent by British Intelligence into occupied Germany to investigate the development of the all conquering (prewar) Auto Union and Mercedes racing cars. His findings were published in 1948 by the HMSO (His Majesty's Stationery Office) Hec purchased for 30 shillings, a copy of this publication and this greatly influenced his design of the RA Vanguard. Hence its resemblance to a miniature Auto Union is not altogether accidental.

The car was built at a time when they were trying to run a business and had little in the way of resources or finance to develop a racing car. They frequented the War Surplus asset sales and bought up anything that they could recycle into their business or car development. As Jack Brewer told me one of their favorite purchases were old aluminium propellers from which they had a source of high quality material for fabrication of components.

The RA Vanguard first saw the light of day at the 1950 (or 51?) Wigram meeting where it was displayed unfinished with a wet paint sign beside it. It was originally painted in a bright orange colour which Jack Brewer recalled was paint given to theM by George Begg (Who apparently had a supply for painting tractors)

The design was considered to by quite revolutionary with a rear (Mid) engine configuration, which at that time was only seen in the little air cooled formula three cars, The front suspension was a parallel trailing link arrangement as used by Auto Union, but the springing medium chosen was rubber shock cords (Bungee) a medium that the two builders were familiar with, as at the time, it was extensively used in aircraft landing gear. The rear suspension was an unusual low pivot swing axle arrangement where the swing arm inner anchors were directly below the centre of the rear axle. Springing medium was Air over Hydraulic oleo struts from the tail wheels of a couple of P40 Kittyhawks.

The engine was a standard vanguard wet linered engine with a few minor modifications, larger head studs, cross drilled crankshaft, and a Hec Green designed and ground cam shaft. Fed by a pair of SU carburetors through an aircraft cabin blower chain driven from the front of the crankshaft to provide 14 pounds of boost. Fuel was an methanol blend. Transmission was originally Citroen, but this caused repeated problems with the horsepower and torque of the blown engine and was eventually replaced by a 3 speed transaxle of their own design and manufacture. This proved well up to the task and is still in the car today.

The car was raced in the South Island and performed well (despite lack of development) it had numerous problems with both the original transmission and the wheels that were originally fitted. These consisted of brake drums and rims with steel spokes attached between the two, Initially only six spokes per wheel, then increased to 12 spokes, but they continued to be a problem until eventually replaced (in about 1957) by wire 16" spoked wheels.

Hec won the 1953 South Island beach racing championship in it, held the NZ class D km speed record at 188.89 kph and was reportedly timed over the standing quarter mile at 13.8 seconds.
Hecs interest moved on to the build and development of his next project the "Vanguard Special" for which he built a complete DOHC engine. Jack Brewer raced the car followed by Geoff Mardon and then Les Moore who tragically crashed at Timaru in 1961.

The car then lay outside for many years behind a factory in Christchurch, the remains eventually being purchased by Grant Cowie and offered for sale. They then moved to Auckland where a recreation was undertaken which while not accurately recreating the car at least served to keep all of the remaining components together. It appeared at the Hamilton street races where it ended up on the footpath with broken rear suspension (either as a result or as the cause of its excursion) The rear end was repaired and the car again offered for sale, by the then owner Mike Courteney.

I purchased the car in November 1995 and ran it for a few years in HRSCC events, hillclimbs and circuit till stripping it down for a total rebuild.............
But that's another story to follow

Powder
04-07-2013, 08:19 AM
The RA Vanguard first saw the light of day at the 1950 (or 51?) Wigram meeting where it was displayed unfinished with a wet paint sign beside it.

I have a copy of the 1950 Wigram programme, and can’t find any mention of the R.A. Vanguard in it.

The 3 Feb 1951 Mairehau programme mentions that Hec Green’s Wolseley Special is “… bristling with many clever innovations, these are nothing compared with the revolutionary new Special he is building. Unfortunately it was not completed in time for to-day’s race,”

The 31 Mar 1951 Wigram Programme has the R.A. Vanguard entered for J.Brewer and mentions “This is the first public appearance of the car”.
The Chch press report on 2 Apr 1951 says “Perhaps the most interesting car entered, H. Green’s new Standard Vanguard Special, did not start because a hole suddenly appeared in the top of one piston during the practice laps”. J. Brewer finished 7th in the Wolseley Special which Hec Green was entered in.

Nodiff
04-07-2013, 09:31 AM
Thanks for that, so its first appearance was 51 Wigram I have a photo of the car at the Wigram pits displayed unfinished with the wet paint sign alongside, and always thought that to be 1950. That may still be the case as the photo indicated that it was certainly not race ready. perhaps on display only ???????

Nodiff
04-08-2013, 01:03 AM
I have a photo of the car at the Wigram pits displayed unfinished with the wet paint sign alongside, and always thought that to be 1950.

17626

Anyone know what year this is?, obviously Wigram,

Nodiff
04-08-2013, 01:05 AM
Another shot probably the same year as the "wet paint"17627 photo

nigel watts
04-08-2013, 05:20 AM
17629

17628

17630

17631

Powder
04-08-2013, 05:38 AM
Anyone know what year this is?, obviously Wigram,

In the programme for Wigram 1950, Car No.12 was the De Soto Special of F.Zambuka.

The entry list for the 1951 Wigram race has the R.A. Vanguard as No.12. (and the same for 1952 & 53)
Also in 1951 Car No.13 was the Wolseley Special, 1604cc, which might match the pit banner to the left of the photo.

The 1953 programme and press report both refer to the car as being red, instead of orange (1951 & 52 programmes) so perhaps George Begg gave them a new tin of paint.

In 1954 Hec Green was entered in a car just called the R.A. which I think was a different car to the R.A. Vanguard, right? Apparently it caught fire.

I'm happy to scan everything I have relating to your car and email it to you if you like. Send me a PM.

David McKinney
04-08-2013, 08:21 AM
Which seems to indicate the "wet paint" photo was early in practice - or maybe they did a bit a touching up for some reason

Re the wheels: photos of Geoff Mardon racing the car in 1958 show it still on original (or at least original-type) wheels. First racing appearance of wires seems to have been with Les Moore in 1960

Moore's fatal accident in the car was at the Saltwater Creek track, Timaru, on Labour Weekend the same year

stubuchanan
04-08-2013, 08:30 AM
17626

Anyone know what year this is?, obviously Wigram,

Not really any help, but it can't be any later than 1951 - number plate on the trailer in the background is from the 1946-1951 series, dark numbers on a light background (a sort of putty colour if memory from primary school days is correct). Plates changed in June or Sept 1951.

Another point re RA Vanguard : story, or just urban legend, that Les Moore altered the rear suspension in some way which could have been a factor in his fatal crash at Saltwater Creek, Timaru. Was this a grass, sand, or loose surfaced track? I also believe there used to be an airfield at Saltwater Creek in the '50's.

Stu Buchanan

Nodiff
04-08-2013, 05:10 PM
To add even further confusion the "Wet Paint" photo shows totally different wheel type, certainly not the fabricated spoke type that gave so much trouble first with 6 spokes and later with 12.

Thanks Stu for your input.....Can we assume that in those days unlike today, all trailers were legal?..... And yes Jack Brewer told me that Les Moore had the rear suspension changed in some way, just what those changes were I dont know.

Nodiff
04-08-2013, 05:31 PM
Thanks Nigel for the great pics from Roycroft.

Here is another Wigram photo, which shows the car on 6 spoke wheels, plus windscreen and radiator grill. I have always thought that this was 1952, though I would love to have someone confirm, or correct me.17632

Nodiff
04-08-2013, 05:42 PM
[QUOTE=Powder;27042In 1954 Hec Green was entered in a car just called the R.A. which I think was a different car to the R.A. Vanguard, right? Apparently it caught fire..[/QUOTE]

I believe that was probably the "transitional" for want of a better name car that was built after mine to develop the "Vanguard Special" twin cam car. IT had genuine rubber band suspension (stationers rubber bands) The final car (owned by Errol Norris in Christchurch) has the VW front end.

Steve Holmes
04-08-2013, 09:51 PM
What an amazing thread this is! Thanks Richard for starting this. That first photo with the wet paint sign is priceless!

David McKinney
04-09-2013, 07:26 AM
Here is another Wigram photo, which shows the car on 6 spoke wheels, plus windscreen and radiator grill. I have always thought that this was 1952, though I would love to have someone confirm, or correct me.17632
The RA Vanguard was No.12 at Wigram in 1952 but also 1953. However, photos from the latter year's race show it with the 12-spoke wheels, so I can't see it not being 1952

And no doubt about it being Wigram, on the right-hand kink after the Hairpin. In 1954 the Hairpin was omitted, and the faster corner seen in the background used instead

Powder
04-09-2013, 07:41 AM
The RA Vanguard was No.12 at Wigram in 1952 but also 1953. However, photos from the latter year's race show it with the 12-spoke wheels, so I can't see it not being 1952


Also, the Chch Press report on the 1952 Wigram race says "In the fourteenth lap Green had the misfortune of losing four of the six spokes of his left-hand rear wheel, and he withdrew from the race".

Steve Holmes
04-16-2013, 08:22 PM
I found this over in another thread:

17737

Nodiff
04-17-2013, 02:02 AM
I found this over in another thread:

17737

Thanks Steve, an excellent photo, I do have a copy ion my collection, it would have been in the Les Moore days, but I don't know the identity of the 4 people. Wouldn't I just love that Bedford truck in the background, make a great tow wagon

stubuchanan
04-17-2013, 09:51 AM
Thanks Steve, an excellent photo, I do have a copy ion my collection, it would have been in the Les Moore days, but I don't know the identity of the 4 people. Wouldn't I just love that Bedford truck in the background, make a great tow wagon

Don't know who the 2 "suits" are on the right of the picture, but the 2 on the left could well be Brewer and Hec Green(who went in for very severe 'short back' and sides haircuts). Green built his own wire wheels for the later RA Special/RA 5/twincam whatever, perhaps he made these too.

I presume you have read the story of Hec Green's cars in NZ Classic Car magazine by Penn McKay (Sept-Oct-Nov1998). He had the advantage of talking to Hec Green and also Brewer, who commented that Les Moore had altered the rear suspension to a more conventional system. "He (Moore) was a speedway man and his idea of getting around bends was about hanging it out on the corners, whereas Hec's suspension wouldn't do that.... so it tucked a wheel under and somersaulted, killing Les.

For those interested in the RA cars, there is also a Scott Thompson article in "Beaded Wheels" April/May 1998, and Ralph Watson's comments in "Ralph Watson - Special Engineer" which also appeared earlier in "Sports Car Talk - Special Edition #2 .

Stu

David McKinney
04-17-2013, 11:22 AM
I think the two guys on the right are probably just spectators. The guy next to them is how I remember Jack Brewer, and it may be Les Moore on the far left

Nodiff
04-18-2013, 02:30 AM
I think the two guys on the right are probably just spectators. The guy next to them is how I remember Jack Brewer, and it may be Les Moore on the far left

Thanks David, good that we have access to your "memory banks"

Steve Holmes
04-18-2013, 03:53 AM
I think the two guys on the right are probably just spectators. The guy next to them is how I remember Jack Brewer, and it may be Les Moore on the far left

Amazing!

David McKinney
04-18-2013, 10:43 AM
Even if there's no guarantee of their reliability;)

Carlo
04-18-2013, 07:16 PM
Another point re RA Vanguard : story, or just urban legend, that Les Moore altered the rear suspension in some way which could have been a factor in his fatal crash at Saltwater Creek, Timaru. Was this a grass, sand, or loose surfaced track? I also believe there used to be an airfield at Saltwater Creek in the '50's.

Stu Buchanan

As an aside to the RA story, Saltwater Creek at the southern end of Timaru was the origonal airport and was used for racing once the new airport at levels was constructed. The origonal airport building upon whos steps Sir kingsford Smith was welcolmed when he first flew into the district then became the South Canterbury Car Clubs clubrooms and subsequently was transported out to Timaru Motor Raceway in 1967 when the race circuit was becoming established where it served for many years as the clubrooms and race control building only recently being demolished to make way for the current control tower block. During the process of transportation I was just one of the many who walked most of the route armed with very long Manuka stakes that were used to lift power and telephone lines above the roof height of the building along the way.

Nodiff
04-19-2013, 06:33 AM
"He (Moore) was a speedway man and his idea of getting around bends was about hanging it out on the corners, whereas Hec's suspension wouldn't do that.... so it tucked a wheel under and somersaulted, killing Les.
Stu

Thanks for you input Stu, I too had heard Jacks theory about the suspension mods, however the low pivot configuration that Hec employed doesn't lend itself to "Tucking a wheel under" The car has that same arrangement now and that characteristic is not evident. It does however have a decided tendency to rear wheel bump steer. Hard rear suspension does tend to overcome this but with the rear end softened up I hazard to guess just where the steering may tend to go. In long discussions with Ralph Watson, while I was rebuilding the rear end, I mentioned to him the potential to bump steer, he believed that the car always had this tendency, given the suspension pick-up points (of what is effectively a wishbone), being on different planes. I have letter from him with typical Ralph Watson diagrams and calculations attesting to this tendency. His suggestion was to keep it hard with minimum deflection. What Les Moore may have done to change the arrangement can only be guessed at. Certainly the wheel tucking effect would have involved serious re-engineering

stubuchanan
04-19-2013, 10:32 AM
Thanks for the Saltwater Creek info, Carlo. Several years ago I read in a book about the Aerial Topdressing industry in NZ that there had been an airfield at Saltwater Ck - closed about 1960 or so. I wondered if this might have been the motor racing venue but drew a blank on all inquiries. Nice to know I guessed right after all! One of quite a few grass-track airfield venues up and down the country at the time.

Nodiff - In the same NZ Classic Car story that mentioned the Les Moore modifications there is a post-accident photo of the rear of the car which doesn't look significantly different to a Ralph Watson photo from 1953. The R.H. trailing link or wishbone may have been damaged, and the tubular frame the shocks are attached to is different but looks as if they would have had exactly the same geometry. Fascinating stuff!

Stu

Roger Dowding
04-25-2019, 10:48 PM
A lot of the RA Vanguard History is here on thread #1038.

Steve Holmes - should the two threads be merged ??.

Nordiff
Stu Buchanan
David McKinney [ RIP David ]
all contributed to the thread.

As mentioned there is an extensive article on RA cars in the booklet ;
" New Zealand Classic Car - Limited Edition Collector' series #5 ".

Worth a read.