More BritCar Trivia.....

X

Xracer

Jedi Trainee

Offline

• Jul 27, 2004

• #1

1. What was an HRG....and what did the letters stand for?

2. Sir Alec Issigonnis, the eccentric genius that designed the Mini, was a British citizen, but was born elsewhere. Where was he born?

3. Bentley won LeMans last year. Prior to WWII, they won a number of times. How many LeMans races did those wonderful old blower Bentleys win?

4. What did the "AC" in AC cars stand for?

5. What did the "4" in Morgan "+4" stand for.

No Google, please. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonono.gif

Winner gets a copy of "British Owned Car Makers -- 2004"....all one page of it.

 

Don Lattimer

Jedi Hopeful

Offline

• Jul 27, 2004

• #2

In what British Car did Jackie Stewart win his first race?

 

B

Bugeye58

Yoda

Offline

• Jul 27, 2004

• #3

That one is too easy. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jeff

 

Steve

Moderator

Staff member

Platinum

Offline

• Jul 27, 2004

• #4

[ QUOTE ]
1. What was an HRG....and what did the letters stand for?

2. Sir Alec Issigonnis, the eccentric genius that designed the Mini, was a British citizen, but was born elsewhere. Where was he born?

3. Bentley won LeMans last year. Prior to WWII, they won a number of times. How many LeMans races did those wonderful old blower Bentleys win?

4. What did the "AC" in AC cars stand for?

5. What did the "4" in Morgan "+4" stand for.

No Google, please. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonono.gif

Winner gets a copy of "British Owned Car Makers -- 2004"....all one page of it.

[/ QUOTE ]

1. Halford, Robbins and Godfrey, the founders of the company.

2. He was Greek by birth.

3. Trick question I think.......the blowers never won LeMans, they were all naturally aspirated. Am I right?

4. AC is short for Autocarriers Ltd. ?

5. +4 stands for the number of seats.

How'd I do, huh? Huh?

Oh, and Bentleys had won LeMans five times prior to last year.

 

aeronca65t

Great Pumpkin

Offline

• Jul 27, 2004

• #5

Great questions! I know I have a picture of an HRG here somewhere....
Since Jeff has left it open, I'll jump in: Marcos.

Here's a Bentley LeMans "spare car". It never competed, so I'm not sure if any blown ones actually won.
It was one of two Blower Bentleys at the New Hampshire Vintage event last year. The same family owned both! Nice "front bumper".

 

Steve

Moderator

Staff member

Platinum

Offline

• Jul 28, 2004

• #6

Okay, I have one. In fact, they have been posted before but most will not have seen it.

In which British cars did the following famous people die. Make and model please:-

1. Princess Grace of Monaco

2. Marc Bolan (T-Rex)

3. Mike Hailwood

4. Mike Hawthorn

 

OP

X

Xracer

Jedi Trainee

Offline

• Jul 28, 2004

• #7

Steve....right on 1,3, and 4. Wrong on 2 and 5.

On your #4...."Mustard Mike" Hawthorne died in a Jag XK-150 on a rainy road.

I remember Grace Kelly (Princess Grace of Monaco) driving a Sunbeam Alpine in Alfred Hitchcock's "To Catch A Thief" (with Cary Grant)....but not the car she drove at the time of her death.

 

8

80spitlizzy

Senior Member

Offline

• Jul 28, 2004

• #8

I'm fairly sure T-Rex died in a purple Mini 1275. Can't help with the others.

 

W

William

Darth Vader

Offline

• Jul 28, 2004

• #9

Marc Bolan died in a Mini. Hawthorn died in a Jaguar Mk.2 (a 3.4 litre model, but I could be wrong, also possibly fitted with a hand throttle). Mike The Bike was driving a Ford Cortina, I believe. And I didn't know princess Grace drove after she became a princess. Didn't know driving was actually allowed, just the purchase of cars.

Who was Hawthorn racing when he crashed?

What was Prince Charles' first car?

What car was Paul McCartney driving when he died?
(semi trick question, but what was he allegedly in?)

And what decidedly non-English person arranged all the stunt driving in that decidedly British film The Italian Job? (the proper one with Michael Caine)

-William

 

aeronca65t

Great Pumpkin

Offline

• Jul 28, 2004

• #10

And what decidedly non-English person arranged all the stunt driving in that decidedly British film The Italian Job? (the proper one with Michael Caine)

Ooh, Ooh! I know! [raising hand]

Remy Julienne' (I *did* have to check the spelling)

I think, technically, a walrus stood in for McCartney at his "demise".

 

B

Bugeye58

Yoda

Offline

• Jul 28, 2004

• #11

[ QUOTE ]
Who was Hawthorn racing when he crashed?

[/ QUOTE ]

Rob Walker, and yes, Princess Grace was driving on the day of her accident. She actually died the following day.

Jeff

 

PC

Obi Wan

Offline

• Jul 28, 2004

• #12

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Who was Hawthorn racing when he crashed?

[/ QUOTE ]

Rob Walker...

[/ QUOTE ]
Bonus question: what was Walker driving?

.

 

Steve

Moderator

Staff member

Platinum

Offline

• Jul 28, 2004

• #13

Yes, Mike Hawthorn was racing against Rob Walker on (I believe) the Guildford by-pass in Surrey. Hawthorn was driving a dark blue Jaguar Mk1 (not a MkII). That car was indeed fitted with a hand throttle. I think that Walker was driving a Ferrari? Marc Bolan was indeed killed in a Mini Clubman when he hit a tree, but it was yellow in colour. Princess Grace was driving a P6 Rover 3500, and Mike (The Bike) Hailwood was in fact driving an SD1 Rover 3500 on his way home with his daughter after buying fish and chips for the family supper, when an articulated truck did a U-turn across the road in front of him.

 

B

Bugeye58

Yoda

Offline

• Jul 28, 2004

• #14

Rob Walker was in a 300SL.
Jeff

 

Steve

Moderator

Staff member

Platinum

Offline

• Jul 28, 2004

• #15

[ QUOTE ]
Rob Walker was in a 300SL.
Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes you are right.....I knew that it was something tasty, but could not for the life of me remember what.....good call!!

 

78Z

Darth Vader

Offline

• Jul 28, 2004

• #16

[ QUOTE ]
2. Sir Alec Issigonnis, the eccentric genius that designed the Mini, was a British citizen, but was born elsewhere. Where was he born?
5. What did the "4" in Morgan "+4" stand for.


[/ QUOTE ]

its was Cyprus was it not?

and 4 was the number of cylinders I believe

 

W

William

Darth Vader

Offline

• Jul 28, 2004

• #17

That's Right, aeronca! According to the rumours, Paul McCartney died while driving his Aston Martin, having stormed out of the studio after an argument. Naturally, that Aston Martin still exists.....

Having said that, it seems that the ones I tried to answer I pretty much got wrong across the board!

-William

 

Steve

Moderator

Staff member

Platinum

Offline

• Jul 29, 2004

• #18

Classic Cars magazine did a test on that Aston Martin a year or so ago. I was going to answer that one as well, but I forgot!

 

OP

X

Xracer

Jedi Trainee

Offline

• Aug 2, 2004

• #19

78Z....its was Cyprus was it not? And 4 was the number of cylinders I believe.

Nope and nope......Sir Alec was born in Turkey, and the 4 in Morgan +4 was the number of wheels! Previous Morgans were all three wheelers.

 

Simon TR4a

Jedi Knight

Offline

• Aug 18, 2004

• #20

I think the Plus4 is 4 inches wider than the earlier Morgan, but then I also thought Issigonis was Greek by birth.
On the later questions, Princess Grace was in a Rover 3500, a car well regarded for the dual diagonal braking system which was an important safety innovation.
The first car I remember Prince Charles driving was an MGC, though he is more famous for owning an Aston Martin. Astons with specs similar to his are referred to as "Prince of Wales spec". Incidentally Prince Phillip is also of Greek descent, as his name would imply, and was also a car enthusiast, liked Alvis I think.
Congratulations to Steve, esp. on the Herg answer!
Simon.