Edgware Racing Stable - Bob King & Bob Dewar

[Healey3000]

Hi all,

I am looking for some history and background to Edgware Racing Stable.

Its my understanding that Bob King, having come back from New Zealand was asked by Bob (Robert) Dewar, to help him with the preparation of some cars. Specifically an Austin Healey Sprite, HCC 600 (which was rallied in the 1961 RAC International Rally) before being converted to Sebring Specification and raced through '62. This laid the foundations for Edgware Racing Stable, which Bob King then transitioned into Racing Preparations Ltd (the foundations themselves of Royale). I know that Bob Dewar also had a Merlyn Mk6 with a 1500 Climax which Bob King raced for him and was sold in late 1962. They then moved to an Elite with a 1500 Climax.

Coventry Climax tuning was obviously Bob Kings real forte (and they bought the complete inventory when the commercials were sold to William Lyons) and he then established Racing Preparations Limited to focus on that, leaving Edgware Racing Stable with Bob Dewar. Under the ERS banner they continued to compete an Elite until about 1965 when my trail goes cold.

I have them based at 44 Glengall Road, Edgware in 1963 - but I think that might have been an address for a retail space rather than the workshop.

Does anyone recall them, the characters involved and the cars?

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Healey3000

Hi all,

I am looking for some history and background to Edgware Racing Stable.

Its my understanding that Bob King, having come back from New Zealand was asked by Bob (Robert) Dewar, to help him with the preparation of some cars. Specifically an Austin Healey Sprite, HCC 600 (which was rallied in the 1961 RAC International Rally) before being converted to Sebring Specification and raced through '62. This laid the foundations for Edgware Racing Stable, which Bob King then transitioned into Racing Preparations Ltd (the foundations themselves of Royale). I know that Bob Dewar also had a Merlyn Mk6 with a 1500 Climax which Bob King raced for him and was sold in late 1962. They then moved to an Elite with a 1500 Climax.

Coventry Climax tuning was obviously Bob Kings real forte (and they bought the complete inventory when the commercials were sold to William Lyons) and he then established Racing Preparations Limited to focus on that, leaving Edgware Racing Stable with Bob Dewar. Under the ERS banner they continued to compete an Elite until about 1965 when my trail goes cold.

I have them based at 44 Glengall Road, Edgware in 1963 - but I think that might have been an address for a retail space rather than the workshop.

Does anyone recall them, the characters involved and the cars?

Have you seen this ?https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...e-racing-cars/

[Healey3000]

Thanks Gordon - yes, its a great article, both about the foundations of ERS and Royale.

I think I'm going to have to pull a family tree and see if there were any connections between King and Dewar (or the other cars they ran). ERS continued for a few more years (seemingly until the end of '66) and mainly ran Climax engined cars.

Other names that come up are

- Makin (sometimes seemingly spelt Makein)
- W.H.Ramsden
- R.Richardson

Its a great shame that I'm probably asking this question 10 years too late to stand a chance of speaking to the people there at the time.

[garymakein]

Originally Posted by Healey3000

Thanks Gordon - yes, its a great article, both about the foundations of ERS and Royale.

I think I'm going to have to pull a family tree and see if there were any connections between King and Dewar (or the other cars they ran). ERS continued for a few more years (seemingly until the end of '66) and mainly ran Climax engined cars.

Other names that come up are

- Makin (sometimes seemingly spelt Makein)
- W.H.Ramsden
- R.Richardson

Its a great shame that I'm probably asking this question 10 years too late to stand a chance of speaking to the people there at the time.

Alfred Gerald Makein was my Father and yes he did race with Bob Dewar in a pair of sprites with Sebring bonnets, HCC 600 was Bobs and 7796 NX was my dads, bill Ramadan was also part of the team but mainly when they all went rallying, both in the sprites and also my dads Zephyr 2727 MV they did the monte and the tulip and the rat in 61& 62 I am trying to gather some photos from the rest of the family. Bob King was a bit part of their lives and when they moved on to a couple of elites Bob King prepped the engines, 44 Glendale Road was Bob Dewars sweet shop & post office with lock ups at the back.