1950s Erskine Staride Found

[Clive Cooper]

Hi All,
I have been searching for a 1940s / 1950s 500cc F3 single seater car project to resurrect and save one of these great little cars that use the motorcycle drive system.

Having recently found a Erskine Staride 500 near Morpeth, north of Newcastle that has stood for approx 50 years in the last two owners sheds and not used. But has had parts, including engine, gearbox, nose, steering wheel, etc sold off.

I have started to strip / recondition parts, but need to TRACE ITS HISTORY so here is what I currently know:-
Built / sold by Mike Erskine in 1953.
Owned / raced by Peter Howarth of Ellison Cars Newcastle (member of N&DMC) who died 14 years ago.
Peter owned the car from early 1959, first race #14 28-3-59 Rufforth. He sold the car in late 1960 after what may have been his last race in it at Cadwell Park on 6-6-1960 entered as #14.

Peter / his father Hugh Howarth may have purchased the car in need of work from either Dave Muter, Alan Tobias or Andy Barton of Newburn.

I also do not know to whom Peter sold it in late 1960.

Can anyone help please..........thanks.......Clive.

[morninggents]

This post may have more chance of success in the Chassis Archive section of Historic Racing part of this forum.


I often went to Rufforth in the late 50s/early 60s when my dad raced a Ford Zephyr Mk 2. I could have been at the meeting in March 1959 when the Staride was there.


Peter Wray

[Clive Cooper]

Thanks Peter,
I will try to move it to the area you think more appropriate, but this the first post I have ever made anywhere and at 80 it maybe unsuccessful !! .......Clive.

[andrewc]

Have you seen this?

https://500race.org/marques/staride/

It would also appear that there was a successful speedway bike with the same name.

[Clive Cooper]

Hi Andrew,
Yes you are right. Mike Erskine was an unusual combination of an ex Eton turned speedway champion !! After he became a member of the Wembly Speedway team and achieved major success up to national level.
He had a radiator factory in Southampton in the 1940s repairing and new build so he had the facilities. When he felt that the standard speedway bikes didn't suit him he designed his own to suit his build. This was when he started to win regularly up to national level.
Other riders noticed his 'bespoke' bike and started to ask if he would build one to suit them - and made a killing using brazed Renold 531 tube in his Southampton workshops.
In about 1951 he had a couple of bad speedway accidents and retired to build more bikes, but wanted to keep in a competitive sport and found the 500 cc F3 cars.
Here again he felt the cars he tried out could be bettered so with the help of the designer from Keift Cars who had just redesigned a car for Sterling Moss that had been very successful, they came up with the Staride Car....he built about 10.....Clive.

[Clive Cooper]

Hi All,
I have had this rusty rolling chassis for some ten months and have stripped everything off and am now starting on the chassis. I have also obtained a JAP 500 motor and have suitable Norton boxes / clutches on the shelf.
I have certainly spent as much time on the 'phone & computer as I have in the workshop trying to find its history.
It could well be the ex Alex McGlashan or Rob Anderson car as it has offside (right) front / rear significant 'in-period' repairs. The original colour was certainly 'Flag Blue'.
The likely owners / drivers were:- 1953 - McGlashan / Anderson, Swan, Goff Burnard / Horseman, Peter Simpson, Peter Howarth. c1960/62 - Howarth was probably the last to use the car competitively......So is there anyone out there that has access to any information that could help with this cars history?.......Clive
PS; when I work out how to add pictures I will do so as I will be 82 soon!