Daimler double
Ralph Watson’s Lycoming Special, owned by Ralph Smith since 1983, is just one example of many of those specials still competing in classic motor racing events at tracks around the country, reliving a great period in motor racing.
Some of the builders of those early specials have passed on but the cars survive, still driven with considerable verve by their enthusiast owners.
Leather ‘pudding basin’ racing helmets and bare-armed drivers clad in polo shirts may be a thing of the ’50s era, but there is still the vivid sight of drivers leaning outside the cockpit into corners with arms sawing frantically at the steering wheel manage the grip from the period skinny tyres, which adds considerably to the fun. There seems to be no shortage of people still prepared to sketch out a design and build a special, and in recent years there has been a steady growth in the number of cars joining the ranks, such as Paul Coghill’s Jaguar Special, the Bennetts’ brace of Lotus 23s, and others. On the day, when the rates of attrition are not too high, there is still some entertaining old-style motor racing to be enjoyed by all.
PEN TO PAPER
A case in point is Don Ammon — a name similar to a past famous New Zealand motorsport great, although, as Don says, his name is spelt with two ‘m’s. Don
