SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

[khyndart in CA]

Paul,
The jury has finally gone to bed. Before today I hardly knew what a Fairthorpe Electron was, now I will see them in my dreams.
Will the jury have a final decision in the morning ?






" Donald Bennett, CB, CBE, DSO (14 September 1910 – 15 September 1986) was an Australian aviation pioneer and bomber pilot who rose to be the youngest Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Air Force and is probably best know these days for leading the 'Pathfinder Force' (No.8 Group, RAF) from 1942 to the end of the Second World War in 1945. He has been described as "One of the most brilliant technical airmen of his generation: an outstanding pilot, a superb navigator who was also capable of stripping a wireless set or overhauling an engine".
Those legendary mechanical skills were put to good use in the 1950s when he formed Fairthorpe Cars in Chalfont St. Peter planning to build lightweight sporting cars that could achieve 60mph and 60 mpg. Success came quite quickly with the Fairthorpe Atom, a little coupé that featured one of the earliest applications of glass-fibre and a twin-cylinder motorcycle engine In 1957, this was replaced by the front-engined Atomata, however, both these cars sold in low numbers. But Don Bennett was also working on a more sophisticated car built around a Coventry-Climax 1098cc engine, a new chassis and a Microplas Mistral body that was sourced externally. This car was the 1956 Fairthorpe Electron which did well in motor racing but was too expensive to sell in numbers. In 1957, Fairthorpe launched a cheaper version; the Electron Minor; which saved money by using a tuned Standard Ten engine and transmission. The 'Electron Minor' was good enough to stay in production until 1973 with upgrades in engines, brakes and chassis from the Triumph Spitfire and GT6. Because of their light weight and nimble handling, they were very successful at club level, but for more serious racing something else was needed. To address this, Don used the suspension, brakes and axle from the Triumph TR3 and the legendary FWA Coventry Climax engine, which had been very successful in international competition. He dropped the 'Minor' from the name and it became, simply, the 'Electron', however, only 21 or 22 cars were built, and with only seven believed left in existence, they are now very rare cars."


As per Silverstone Auctions.

(Ken H )