Argo - Page 4

Dan Rear · 26 Apr 2006, 12:43 (Ref:1595403)

The -034 JM4 looks OK to me Chris, as Alan says he saw it on Venn's 79 car, which makes sense. That year at least 3 F3 JM3s were out, the Guerrero works car, and the 2 RTH/Marlboro ones. I suspect Guerrero may have had a spare, or a 'works development' one too.

The ex-Gorne JM1X, did it go climbing afterwards in Scotland, rings a very vague bell with me ?? Steve help me here !

Steve Wilkinson · 26 Apr 2006, 14:40 (Ref:1595494)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Rear

The ex-Gorne JM1X, did it go climbing afterwards in Scotland, rings a very vague bell with me ?? Steve help me here !

In 1980 Brian Fraser ran in the Scottish Hillclimb Championship sponsored by Express Surefreight in the ARGO ATLANTIC (aka JM1X)
In 1981 Fraser was again running in the Scottish Hillclimb Championship this time sponsored by Netherton & Worth in the ARGO JM1X

Steve Wilkinson · 26 Apr 2006, 15:28 (Ref:1595526)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Wilkinson

In 1980 Brian Fraser ran in the Scottish Hillclimb Championship sponsored by Express Surefreight in the ARGO ATLANTIC (aka JM1X)
In 1981 Fraser was again running in the Scottish Hillclimb Championship this time sponsored by Netherton & Worth in the ARGO JM1X

Further details from events I attended:

(a) Fraser ran at Barbon in May 1980 (race number 66)
(b) Fraser was also at Barbon in May 1981 (race number 62)
(c) He also ran at the first Shelsley Walsh of 1981 (race number 103)
(d) finally he was at Harewood in July 1981 where the Argo was entered as follows: Boss Hog Argo JM1X Smith

Unfortunately I didn't take any photos of Fraser in the Argo - must not have impressed me!

Dan Rear · 27 Apr 2006, 11:18 (Ref:1596152)

Was Daisy Duke there with him Steve, well worth a look at her chassis no...

Steve Wilkinson · 27 Apr 2006, 14:16 (Ref:1596271)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Rear

Was Daisy Duke there with him Steve, well worth a look at her chassis no...

If memory serves it was 38D-24-36.

**John Turner** · 27 Apr 2006, 18:20 (Ref:1596424)

but, Ahem!

6) Keep pleasantries and banter to an absolute minimum

Gentlemen, this is like the Library - serious business, the archive!

Steve Wilkinson · 27 Apr 2006, 21:03 (Ref:1596540)

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Turner

but, Ahem!

6) Keep pleasantries and banter to an absolute minimum

Gentlemen, this is like the Library - serious business, the archive!

Sorry headmaster, it won't happen again!

allenbrown · 9 May 2006, 11:16 (Ref:1604134)

Anyone know anything about the Argo (JM6?) owned by Bob Geeson and used by Ilias Efessios to win a libre at Brands Hatch in November 1981?

Allen

Dan Rear · 9 May 2006, 13:01 (Ref:1604234)

Quote:

Originally Posted by allenbrown

Anyone know anything about the Argo (JM6?) owned by Bob Geeson and used by Ilias Efessios to win a libre at Brands Hatch in November 1981?

Allen

Allen, twas the ex-Guerrero/Scott car from 80-81. No idea where it went after.

Steve Wilkinson · 15 May 2006, 08:17 (Ref:1610261)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Wilkinson

Argo JM9-057-FA was initially run but Neil White in Northern Ireland in 1987/88 it was then sold to Barry Goode who ran it from 1989 until selling it on to Simon Frost. The car is still taking to the hills in the hands of Laurie Ritchie.

Further conversation with Laurie Ritchie (see above) solicited that the car was the ex-Colin Lees 'works' FAtlantic chassis.

Dan Rear · 15 May 2006, 09:35 (Ref:1610336)

Makes sense Steve, run by Goodwin Raciung here in 1981, as a 'works assisted' car IIRC. Lees had it initially, then ran out of cash, Desire Wilson had at least one run in it, others too maybe??

Chris Townsend · 15 May 2006, 13:54 (Ref:1610593)

John Lewis had a couple of late season outings in it.

Chris

Alan Brown · 2 Jun 2006, 07:54 (Ref:1625188)

Eddie Wilkins was out at Brands Hatch (May 27/28) in his JM14, now fitted with original side pods rather than the narrow ones of last year. The chassis plate appears to be stamped 12822 with what could be a scratched prefix of JM. The plate was on the car when he bought it. Any explanation?

Could it be a JM12 frame converted (at the time) to an early JM14. Did the JM14 not appear in 1983?

Alan Brown

(See also here:- http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....5&postcount=23 -JT)

StephenRae · 2 Jun 2006, 10:01 (Ref:1625299)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Wilkinson

Further conversation with Laurie Ritchie (see above) solicited that the car was the ex-Colin Lees 'works' FAtlantic chassis.

My first visit to 'notalgia corner'...I worked for Ivor Goodwin and 'built' this car at the Argo factory, it was really a hastily lashed up JM8, we did a press launch in Ireland with a thinly disguised JM8. I don't think either ever worked very well but they did look fabulous. Has anyone got any pictures?

allenbrown · 2 Jun 2006, 10:12 (Ref:1625309)

Welcome Stephen. There may be many other Argo production mysteries that you can solve for us. How long did you work at Argo?

Allen

Dan Rear · 2 Jun 2006, 12:54 (Ref:1625431)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brown

Eddie Wilkins was out at Brands Hatch (May 27/28) in his JM14, now fitted with original side pods rather than the narrow ones of last year. The chassis plate appears to be stamped 12822 with what could be a scratched prefix of JM. The plate was on the car when he bought it. Any explanation?

Could it be a JM12 frame converted (at the time) to an early JM14. Did the JM14 not appear in 1983?

Alan Brown

Alan, JM12 was the '82 FSV car, and JM14 the 83-84 FF2000. They looked v different. My techy knowledge is zero, but I'd have thought a 12 couldn't have been made into a 14. Chassis no. 128 may fir the bill for a 14 tho'.

StephenRae · 2 Jun 2006, 12:59 (Ref:1625438)

Quote:

Originally Posted by allenbrown

Welcome Stephen. There may be many other Argo production mysteries that you can solve for us. How long did you work at Argo?

Allen

Hello Allen..I actually worked for Ivor Goodwyn and as is common practice went Argo to assemble the car and I found it was to be the first Atlantic derivative of the JM8, I think it was the first year of the JM8 and the design of that was not really finalised. I was at Argo for about 6 weeks all three principals were very likeable guys and they and the staff really knew the job. I was most impressed by their standards of workmanship but I think they got this one wrong! It was difficult to mate the Ford engine to the rear bulkhead and the rear lower suspension was a little odd.
Colin Lees was our driver sponsored by a used car warranty company. I left before season end, I don't know what became of Ivor Goodwyn but Lees was later to have an interest in Mondiale.
Nick Jordan is still about, I saw him as the 'expert' on Scrapheap challenge a while ago...there will be nothing he doesn't know about Argo Cars.

Dan Rear · 2 Jun 2006, 14:15 (Ref:1625485)

Stephen, any idea why Goodwin chose to buy the Argo, and not a Ralt or March. Did he get a good deal on it, or was he a mate of Marquart/Jordans from prior days? Or perhaps, like a few F3 teams, he'd thought the excellent performance of the 1980 F3 cars meant the 81 range were going to be good...

StephenRae · 2 Jun 2006, 14:59 (Ref:1625517)

Allen..Up to then I don't think Jo Marquat had designed a 'bad' car..the JM8 was meant to run without a front wing a la F1 practice of the day, it was a step forward, Tassin via the Team Holland connection was the 81 driver and it looked a good bet. Ivor Goodwin was not the easiest guy to get on with and could never be described as a friend of Argo but I guess was offered a deal to move the Atlantic programme along. Argo were flat out building F3 cars presumeably as were their competitors.
Between Argo having too much on their plate and me helping them out with their workload, I don't think Ivor got a very good deal. Add to that the poor performance of the car, we could never get any temperature into the oversize control tyres and the precarious nature of the sponsor the project had little chance of success.
Fond memories for me though, there were a few other customers assembling cars and we all had a fine time enjoying Norfolk hospitality..Steve

Alan Brown · 5 Jun 2006, 18:41 (Ref:1627812)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Rear

Alan, JM12 was the '82 FSV car, and JM14 the 83-84 FF2000. They looked v different. My techy knowledge is zero, but I'd have thought a 12 couldn't have been made into a 14. Chassis no. 128 may fir the bill for a 14 tho'.

128 was about the end of the Argo run with a Group C/GTP car. I was trying to interpret the numbers on the chassis plate. One of my earlier posts pointed out the different numbering system used on the JM14s.

Alan Brown

Charles Warner · 23 Jul 2006, 18:40 (Ref:1662846)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Rear

Did any FAt Argos ever go to the States I wonder, given the reasonable results of the FSVs over there, I'd have thought there may have been some interest in the FAt versions.

Dan,

Yes, at least one JM9 did get to the US and I raced it for a while. Can't even remember if it had a chassis tag - I believe it did. I sold it in the late 80's to a chap in New Jersey. I'll try to find some records when I get home.

Dan Rear · 24 Jul 2006, 12:41 (Ref:1663353)

Charles, I presume this was -056, the ex Arnold Irish car, then to the US for Blackwell, Knoll, Edwards ?? How was the car, and where did you race it?

Charles Warner · 24 Jul 2006, 12:51 (Ref:1663358)

Dan, It was my first atlantic car and first ground effects model so the learning curves were high. Car ran well in mid-div US SCCA races (Memphis, St Louis, etc.). In thinking the time line I probably bought it was around 1989 or even 90 and held it for a couple of years. I sold it to a vintage racer in the northeast US. I'll try to get some more accurate input when I get back to the colonies. Cheers

Steve Wilkinson · 9 Oct 2006, 09:40 (Ref:1732711)

Curently undergoing a much needed refurbish is Argo JM8-053-F3. This car was run by Mark Lawrence in sprints and hillclimbs with a Toyota engine fitted. The Toyota was then replaced with a Rover V8 and John Fellows joined Mark behind the wheel. The car passed through several hands (including Mike Morgan) before Keith Harris acquired it. As Harris is having difficulties squeezing into the cockpit once the work is completed the car will be back up for sale.

Dan Rear · 9 Oct 2006, 16:31 (Ref:1733169)

Steve, do any of your contacts know who had the car in its 'heyday', ie F3 1981??

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Argo JM19	cybersdorf	Motorsport History	7	17 Jun 2016 13:17
argo jm14 help	fast.eddie	Racers Forum	7	29 Apr 2012 17:03
Argo/Formula Asia/Monoposti	MikeBz	Club Level Single Seaters	21	22 Nov 2005 09:26