1904 Darracq

[Andy8421]

I attended the Goodwood member's meeting yesterday. There was a 1905 Darracq racing - nearly 120 years old. I have seen cars a third of that age in museums.

If you have a couple of minutes, the youtube link (below) follows the Darracq from 2:47 onward, car number 200. My initial reaction was that the bodywork hadn't survived, but apparently that is how it was designed. The driver is to be commended for his bravery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaJ2tojumug

Edit: The driver was Mark Walker, and I have fixed the date (It is actually from 1905, not 1904)

[rgh0]

Thats what i call a true open wheeler and open cockpit. No Halo for those guys . Loved how he pumps up pressure in the fuel tank

cheers
Rohan

[USA64]

Those guys should think about motorcycle leathers (inflating)!

[cliveyboy]

That was beautiful to watch.
It got me thinking, just strap a seat to your Elan chassis and away you go.
Ultimate lightness

[jono]

I've witnessed this amazing machine going up the hill before at Goodwood and what a sight and sound to behold. The driver has balls of steel.

[Donels]

I can thoroughly recommend the VSCC meeting at Mallory Park, usually late summer. This car and driver are regular competitors, excellent.

[Sadbrewer]

I attended the Goodwood member's meeting yesterday. There was a 1905 Darracq racing - nearly 120 years old. I have seen cars a third of that age in museums.

If you have a couple of minutes, the youtube link (below) follows the Darracq from 2:47 onward, car number 200. My initial reaction was that the bodywork hadn't survived, but apparently that is how it was designed. The driver is to be commended for his bravery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaJ2tojumug

Edit: The driver was Mark Walker, and I have fixed the date (It is actually from 1905, not 1904)

Interestingly ( to me at least)...doing the family history I've found that in the family tree I have Charles Connah & his son, Charles Harold Connah from Rhyl. They were manufacturing cars and motorcycles in Wales before that Darracq was built. They called their vehicles 'Royal Welsh'...they were quite a big cycle firm with several branches but advertising motor vehicles from the late 1890's. Charles Harold was used as a motor expert in court cases in the early 1900's, sadly things went pear shaped around 1906. Charles Snr buggered off to Canada after a fraud case, Charles Harold went to Indianapolis where he married in 1908. He then worked as a ''motor racer and demonstrator' for a Cincinnati motor company called Parkes. He returned to the UK in 1914 to volunteer for the Army, he later transferred to The Royal Flying Corps ...his racing career was curtailed due to injuries following an air crash in late 1918.
He died in 1950, I have his photo, unfortunately I've never seen a photo of a Royal Welsh vehicle.
Just thought this might be interesting.

[baileyman]

Wow.

I like a harness, but it does seem that in this kind of vehicle I might rather be thrown off!

John

[reb53]

The driver has balls of steel.

Not all of them !
A 1906 Darracq was rebuilt here in NZ by Wallace McNair and was driven extensively by his partner, Anne Thompson.
And having seen her hammer it up a local hill climb she didn't mess around !

https://www.facebook.com/leadfootfestiv ... 686268374/

Ralph.
N.Z.