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24 Nov 2003, 18:58 (Ref:793181) | #1 | ||
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Davrians
I have a particular fondness for Davrians. In the mid-seventies I used to work for Gordon Spice, and I remember well a guy from Croydon Race and Rally Centre turning up in a green Davrian. I had a sit in it, and it felt like a mini GT40 - wide sills, reclining seat, general claustrophobia.
When I started racing, those little devils turned in times uncomfortably close to the ones we were doing in single seaters with similar power, and all they had was the Imp trailing arm setup, and no wings. Undoubtedly they had some very good drivers, Bob Jarvis, the late Pat Longhurst and Jim Adamson spring to mind, but best of all, they frequently humbled much more powerful opposition. Does anyone have any memories to share?...... (and if Dan Rear takes more than 30 minutes to respond, he's not the man I think he is!) |
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24 Nov 2003, 19:23 (Ref:793195) | #2 | ||
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24 Nov 2003, 19:41 (Ref:793205) | #3 | ||
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24 Nov 2003, 21:13 (Ref:793294) | #4 | |||
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24 Nov 2003, 21:29 (Ref:793309) | #5 | ||
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Well, maybe I exaggerated, but at least two wheels should be off the ground as a minimum.
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24 Nov 2003, 21:36 (Ref:793314) | #6 | ||
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still loads rallying
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Chase the horizon |
24 Nov 2003, 21:40 (Ref:793318) | #7 | ||
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But not necessarily always on the same side of the car.....
These pictures appeared in Martyn Morgan Jones' book "Davrian to Darrian" - Highly recommended to those who appreciate a spirit of adventure. |
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24 Nov 2003, 21:43 (Ref:793323) | #8 | ||
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Yes, indeed, but that nearside front wheel should be at least 24" further off the ground
He was playing games with me |
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25 Nov 2003, 13:32 (Ref:793970) | #9 | ||
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Alan/Cirrus
Sorry for the delay!! They were brilliant you're right, wasn't Jarvis sponsored by a certain " O Magazine" for a time, I wonder what that could have been about ? Modsports in the mid-late 70s was great, the smaller cars always seemed to beat the larger ones, ie 1800 Elans beating 3litre + Porsches/E-Types etc. Tony Wingrove had a fantastic looking 911, very slow though. The Davrians quicker than the 1300 Midgets, it all seemed odd to me, but I suppose, as they say, 'size isn't everything'. John Pugsley also went very well in one, Anyone remember Harry Phillips Stingray, lovely looking but not at all quick. Or a certain Mr Palmer starting out in that lovely big Marcos. Or in earlier days still, the Cobras of Shaun Jackson and Richard Taft, and John Pearsons XK 120. I remember aswell a big MG with 'Vote Conservative' on the back, just before the 79 election, which struck a chord with me, Richard Skentlebury from memory. Finally, before I even bore you Alan, does anyone else remember the Nicky Ellis Cowgate Elan in 1980, it went round Mallory quicker than any saloon, even the Skoda clones. That was a very quick car/driver, don't know what happened to him in later years. Anyone ??? |
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29 Nov 2003, 13:27 (Ref:798221) | #10 | ||
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The Davrian's (one so far) are still doing some giant killing, in the SR> series, (http://www.srgtc.org.uk/), especially as that series does not have any minimum weight limits only a class structure on BHP/Tonne.
One of the reasons that they have done so well over the years is the fact that with 110bhp+ (from the 998cc Imp engine) and weighing as little as 550/600kg, they go some, especially with 10" wide slicks on the rear, when they touch the ground anyway!!! btw, as far as I know not many of them are still rallying SS Collins, I think you mean the Darrien not Davrian. I would love to find one of the Mk8's with the Ford CVH in and then fit a more modern engine. It could upset some modern sports car |
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29 Nov 2003, 21:36 (Ref:798445) | #11 | ||
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The Davrian shown with two wheels in the air is the one that was raced by Jim Adamson. It has changed hands a few times in the past couple of years and is now in a good home being stripped down and restored.
The Davrian's were particularly succesful in Scotland. My one was raced by John Kirk and in his final season with it it won it's class in every race it entered including taking on Jim Adamson's one! One that is still doing well is an ex-Agra Engineering car. Now raced by Ken Banks for the occasional sprint and hillclimb. That one with imp engine in weighs in at about 450kg including driver! My dad drove the very first prototype Davrian but decided that it was too flexible and weak. When we picked my one up (mines a Mk5) he commented that if that first one had been anything like it he would have bought it! When I have a spare minute I'll post a couple of photos. |
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12 Aug 2008, 20:56 (Ref:2268069) | #12 | |
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Well i'm only 5 years too late !! I use to go around with Bob Jarvis and Pat Longhurst when I was a lad. Also Julie Thwaites was racing a Davrian along with Steve Roberts, Steve Radcliffe, later on Ron Greenfield, etc, loads of Davrian racers. Even owned a road going Mk8 myself for some time. I'll try and post a picture up later.
That Davrian website is one that I created a few years back !! |
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3 Jan 2010, 12:44 (Ref:2607625) | #13 | |
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well done with posting,have you any old pictures of david halls imp or perhaps do you know were it currently is,any help would be great
Keith |
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3 Jan 2010, 13:00 (Ref:2607628) | #14 | |
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Sorry don't remember David Halls Imp - what colour/spec was it ?
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3 Jan 2010, 14:36 (Ref:2607652) | #15 | ||
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Quote:
Leo's a regular contributor here and an authority on Irish modsaloons/modsports/GTs. I'll get him to post some more info on the car. |
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3 Jan 2010, 16:47 (Ref:2607683) | #16 | ||
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Quote:
col Last edited by chunterer; 4 Jan 2010 at 19:23. |
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3 Jan 2010, 18:27 (Ref:2607717) | #17 | ||
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Quote:
Ignore my earlier post. |
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3 Jan 2010, 21:42 (Ref:2607762) | #18 | |
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I only know because the diagonal in leo's car is the wrong way around to hall's old car
col |
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5 Jan 2010, 17:43 (Ref:2608506) | #19 | |||
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Quote:
Memories and pretty good ones, my marra Eddy Jukes [used to lay up glass fibre] at a Streatham Baths Jazz dance, chat up lines in a false but plausable Aussi tone 'heh Pete come over n' meet the sheilas' and the reply in an un-mistakable South Lambeth accent 'woduwant' in reply. Happy days. |
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18 Jan 2010, 11:55 (Ref:2615063) | #20 | |||
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I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now. |
23 Jan 2010, 14:45 (Ref:2618083) | #21 | |
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Davrian also built 3 or 4 Imps for special saloons with Davrian floor pan imp shell on top
1st car was John Homewood in 77 then david hall ordered a car im sure Jim McGaughy had 1 in scotland however the imp shell was used on 2 or 3 space frame cars so its easy to get confused looking at a photo The Homewood car was written off by Terry at Lydden in 79 or 80 backwards across the line dicing with my father- i think it was 1 of the races my fathers wife filmed on video- I will investigate further |
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24 Jan 2010, 21:48 (Ref:2618799) | #22 | |
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I think there was more than 4 davrian imps made nearly sure i had a list from the davrian register years ago and it said around 15 full glass davrian imps were built ,i will check to see if i still have it
col |
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27 Jan 2010, 23:59 (Ref:2620690) | #23 | |
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NO WAY 15 davrian Imps built more like 4
cars where heavy Maguire came along and built a better car |
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29 Jan 2010, 18:42 (Ref:2621883) | #24 | |
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The Davrian register shows that there was 12 cars made 2 of which had bda engines fitted plus then there is quiet a few full spaceframe davrian saloons were built,i dont ever recall a maguire beating david halls davrian in mondello
col |
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29 Jan 2010, 20:42 (Ref:2621951) | #25 | |
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Mondello is NOT the centr eof teh universe try brands donington silverstioen snetteron oulton once the Maguire came along no other Imp got a look in until teh Bery Ray bilt Imps in 86 ish
I certainly do not recal mor ethan 3 or 4 Davrian floor pan Imps teh space frames where NEVER davrina built cars they where only utilising the boxy body shape John Homewood had the first imp davrian floor pan car 1 litre motor then David Hall 1220 motor Im sure Jim McGaughy had 1 in scotland Brian Davis had davrian body Imp BDA at Lydden cannot recall what chassis poss space frame] fred hendy had space frame Imp 850 motor spaceframe chassis ( i think this car went to Steve Holland to race at Lydden) now i am struggling to think of any other cars/ drivers with the davrian body i may need to dig out my old fotos |
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