John and Mike Young

[RAP]

In the early '60s I was a great fan of John and Mike Young who raced maroon Ford Anglias entered by Superspeed Conversions. Can anyone provide background on these guys? I assume they were brothers. In particular, are they the same chaps as the J and M Young that raced A type Connaughts in the mid '50s. Heck of a coincidence if not.

[gfm]

They had a Ford Dealership in Essex didn't they. Beautiful cars. There were a few 'specialists' from that neck of the woods. We could just imagine interesting 'conversions' done round the back of the Dagenham plant.
The one I remember the best was Brian Peacock who was a Brands specialist, with a Twink Anglia, who was a Ford development engineer. Very quick club car around 1968.

[Andrew Kitson]

I think Mike Young's original superspeed Anglia is still raced in historic saloons by Glen Maskell.

[mickj]

Was Colin Hawker of 'DFVW' and the Tolman Capri fame a mechanic at the Youngs dealership?.

[JTL392]

Originally Posted by mickj

Was Colin Hawker of 'DFVW' and the Tolman Capri fame a mechanic at the Youngs dealership?.

I'm sure I saw Colin racing a dark red 1300? Anglia at Crystal Palace also later the V6 Escort at Brands,I guess these were maybe Superspeed cars

[boyzee]

My old mk2 3 litre superspeed mk2 cortina.Back in the 60,s i lived a few miles from superspeed who had the garage in ley st ilford,i used to go past the garage most days seeing their modded anglia,s outside.I think they built Nick Brittons "green bean" 1 litre anglia back in the 60,s.This cortina is now being restored by its new owner.

[Dan Rear]

Is this Mike Young the same one who raced the Supervee Modus in 75, then F3 the next year ??

[David McKinney]

Wasn't he a furriner?
Or am I thinking of someone else?

[Steve Wood]

John and Mike Young were favourites of mine too, in the sixties. They ran a garage, and I think, Superspeed, in Ilford, Essex. Mike was in his early twenties in the mid-sixties, so I very much doubt if they were the Connaught pair. From the notes in a Crystal Palace programme at the time, I got the impression he hadn't been racing long.

I believe John, until recently, and maybe still, raced either a Mustang or Camaro in historic events.

[RAP]

Thanks to all for contributions. John Y started with a 100E Anglia but I recall that Mike did not seem to appear until about 1962 so it figures that he was the younger. I have dug out a photo in Autosport 5/8/55 of Michael F Young alongside his Connaught. Its difficult to tell but he doesn't look in his 'teens which would be the case if he was the Anglia Mike as Steve says.

[David McKinney]

I've been hoping someone might come up with a definitive answer to the original question.
I'm fairly sure the Connaught John and Mike were not related to each other. Equally, if one of them had been a teenager I'm sure the magazines would have mentioned it

[Steve Wood]

Just looking at the programme for Crystal Palace,31/7/65, which features a profile of Mike Young. I'll mention the salient points.

Aged 21........began career in March 1962 in 997 Anglia....
..won class at Crystal Palace in September 1962......now driving 1650 Anglia in Spring Grove championship. The rest is just how he likes the circuit, and some of his 1964 Crystal Palace results.

The back cover of the 18/5/64 programme features an advert for Small Car magazine, and is a very stylish profile of another Anglia ace, Chris Craft.

[RAP]

Steve. Thanks, that's certainly conclusive on Mike. Can anyone nail John ?? Chris Craft's "Orange Peel " Anglia brings back the memories too, plus Alan Peer's dark green one.
Richard

[ianselva]

I think you'll find Chris called his Anglia - Orange Box.

[Slowcoach]

re Steve Wood's comment about John racing until recently a Camaro or Mustang. I think he shares both of the aforementioned with Alec Hammond although I think the Mustang was advertised for sale recently in Autosport - theres a phone number there so you might be able to call and speak to the man himself......I think they did some of the top hat stuff this year and have certainly raced extensively in the Camaro over the last 3 or 4 years.

[Bob Westwood]

Hi, I am new to this forum, there was a posting about Superspeed anglias and the Young brothers(a while ago) , I worked for John Young during these heady day at Superspeeds building and preparing the Anglias and Escorts etc for group 2 and Group 5
Regs, I may be able to help with info on these time if still interested. Regards
Bob Westwood

[sterling49]

Originally Posted by Bob Westwood

Hi, I am new to this forum, there was a posting about Superspeed anglias and the Young brothers(a while ago) , I worked for John Young during these heady day at Superspeeds building and preparing the Anglias and Escorts etc for group 2 and Group 5
Regs, I may be able to help with info on these time if still interested. Regards
Bob Westwood

1st post here guys, so hi to fellow enthusiasts. I grew up just the 4 miles from Brands and went to most meeting fron 1962 onwards. The Young brothers, Mike and John prepared great cars under the "Superspeed" banner in Ley Street,Ilford and they were alway a lighter shade of maroon than there arch rivals, Broadspeed. Chris Craft and Mick used to race the 1300 Anglias ( I saw the original 1200 also in the '64 Motor 6 hour race, won by car 19, Whitmore and Sears,Lotus Cortina) but never recall that Superspeed ever ran Escorts. The "official" supported cars of the time were East Anglian Racing Cars (Roger Taylor and Alan Peer) who ran silver and red Anglias ( 1 litre and 1650 pushrod IIRC) and then Taylor had a metallic blue Twin Cam Escort, I think that Taylor's father was an exec at Dagenham. The other team of course was Broadspeed in the beautiful Rolls Royce maroon and grey Escort 1300 GTs, driven by Craft and Fitzpatrick.This was in the BSC ( group 2 or 5, I cannot remember which) and I believe Superspeed dissapeared from the track at the end of 1967, I could be wrong here though. IIRC the Young brothers then produced some superb roadcars, either Escort or the then new Mark 11 Coritna fitted with the essex 3 litre V-6 engine, for 1968, these were amazingly fast, and relatively inexpensive road cars.Remember that back then most family cars could just break 75 mph at a push ,I even wrote off (and was supplied) brochures for these cars, thinking that when my father's Mark 1 G.T. came up for replacement, he might have placed an order.......

They were great days, nicely prepared cars, raced hard and fair, unlike the grudge matches seen today in stock, sorry, touring cars

[SidewaysFeltham]

Originally Posted by sterling49

(Roger Taylor and Alan Peer) who ran silver and red Anglias ( 1 litre and 1650 pushrod IIRC) and then Taylor had a metallic blue Twin Cam Escort, I think that Taylor's father was an exec at Dagenham.

Quite correct. Roger's father was at the time Director of Production.

[superspeed3065]

I used to own a Superspeed special v6 Mk 1 Escort, I was the second owner after Thomas Motors Blackpool. It was red, had been made from a white Mk 1 1600 twin cam shell. It had unusual small rear flared arches, a cut down crossmember, chrome rocker covers with "Superspeed" blue stickers on them, a "special v6" badge on the boot lid etc etc. For its day it was absolutely brilliant. Reg number was NFV 100 G (1969) . Miles better fitted and balanced than ropey Crayfords and savage machines. Unfortunately I had the rallying bug and converted it into a 1600 crossflow rally car about 1982 or 3 and it was a total loss on its first event! The engine was fitted into a relatives Gilbern and left to rot. Such a shame. It could blow rs2000's and the like into the roadsides, no problem. I would like to find the MOTOR MAGAZINE of circa Oct 1969 that had an article in about that very car and pitted its performance against some 911 or other.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by superspeed3065

I used to own a Superspeed special v6 Mk 1 Escort, I was the second owner after Thomas Motors Blackpool. It was red, had been made from a white Mk 1 1600 twin cam shell. It had unusual small rear flared arches, a cut down crossmember, chrome rocker covers with "Superspeed" blue stickers on them, a "special v6" badge on the boot lid etc etc. For its day it was absolutely brilliant. Reg number was NFV 100 G (1969) . Miles better fitted and balanced than ropey Crayfords and savage machines. Unfortunately I had the rallying bug and converted it into a 1600 crossflow rally car about 1982 or 3 and it was a total loss on its first event! The engine was fitted into a relatives Gilbern and left to rot. Such a shame. It could blow rs2000's and the like into the roadsides, no problem. I would like to find the MOTOR MAGAZINE of circa Oct 1969 that had an article in about that very car and pitted its performance against some 911 or other.

Great info superspeed, welcome to the section and the forum in general!

[Haydn]

Bob, I remember your name through I think an article or a forum to do with Holbay. Also from memory you were/are an Aussie. Amazing how people actively involved with motorsport from 40+ years ago pop up in forums.

You would possibly remember the immaculate presentation of the Superspeed cars. I am fortunate to be "the custodian" of the "Superspeed Lola" F.J. owned by John Young and driven by Peter Ashdown during 1962 (Mk.5). This car appeared on the grid in as new condition at every meeting in the U.K. and also when raced in Australia in the mid 60's.

I believe there may have been a connection between John Young and Lola Cars in the early 60's as many Lola openwheelers of this era were fitted with Superspeed engines.

Would welcome further info re the Young brothers history.

Cheers

HaydnM

[GeeRam]

Would this be the same Mike Young that had a RS Ford specialist garage out Ilford way back in the mid to late '80's...?

[Gerry Taylor]

Ian, yes, I had some great times at Brands, although It was never my best racing circuit. In those (our) days, Paddock was to be well respected, no wide run-offs then, just a bloody big hard earth bank, and believe me it came up fast. I also raced the Anglias there, but that was well after the Young lads had left the scene (Thank God! Ha,ha) But I could still never win there? I guess it was me, as I had wins at all the other circuits, but then again I think all race rs have a gremlin track....don't they? Gerry.

[Bob Westwood]

Hi,
Yes John and Mike were brothers, John being the older and also the mechanical brains, thier father owned The Ford dealership in Ilford.
John started racing with a 100E anglia with overhead inlet and side exhaust
engine!and when from there. He would be 65-70ish now? The colour the Superspeed anglias were Crimson Lake a BMC colour of the time! Some inquired about and A40 at Brands, that was most likely Chis Arey (spelling ??) Unfortunatly
he died coming out of bottom bend at brands, his metal seat deformed
around him and made his seat belt come loose and his head came out of the
car hit the roof gutter. We had great races against Chris, it was a sad day.

Regards Bob Westwood

[Gerry Taylor]

Hi Bob, yes, Chris Arey. It was me that said I recall the car in one of the races I was in at Brands, Sad loss indeed. Gerry Taylor SWISH Anglia.