Racing smart Cars...How Cool Would That Be?

It's a unclear how much these little cars "caught on" here in the States -- but the idea of a racing series with smart cars sounds like a great idea. (They are kind of built like a big crash helmet anyway. So...why not?)

I ran across this ad in the March 3rd issue of AUTOSPORT magazine. It really makes you wish you were in the UK. They have lots of fun with little cars over there.

Check out the 4two cup action.

The Mystery of the Missing Fairthorpe Atomota

Fairthorpe Ltd. was founded by Air Vice Marshall Donald Bennett in 1954. One of his first cars, but certainly not one of his most successful, was the Fairthorpe Atomota. The Atomota was powered by a 650 cc BSA in-line twin.

Well...rumors have it that an Atomota made its way to the US -- ultimately to have its frame and engine replaced by a Subaru (probably a 360). But the car (if it ever existed) has disappeared. (Cue the spooky music.)

Have you ever heard of -- or seen -- the mustery US Atomota? Better yet...do you know where it is today? (And we certainly hope that changing automotive styles haven't led to the amputation of those wonderful wings.)

Another H-Mod Spotted

You've got to love YouTube. You can find anything there. (Yes...it's a little addictive.)

Found this little H-Mod on a trailer in the middle of a video of SCCA racing at Vacavalley in the 1960's.

Anybody know what it is?

Does this look like a Jabro Mk. III to you?

An interesting YouTube clip is making the rounds of racing groups. It's from 8mm footage shot by the late Richard C. White, longtime editor of the Record Herald in Indianola, Iowa.

It shows what appears to be a series of 1964 SCCA club races held at Greenwood Roadway, about 30 miles south of Des Moines, IA.

It's a little tough to identify the makes of the various cars, but the Bugeye Sprites are easy to see in the small bore race about a minute into the clip. And...I can't tell for sure, but there might be some H-Mods in the pack, including a Jabro Mk. III.

Any assistance is welcome.

Crosley Racing at Bridgehampton

Digging through a pile of magazines, we came across another shot of Steve Lansing, driving his Crosley to a 14th place finish at Bridgehampton in 1951.

The posting in May of 2010 linked to a video that seems to show Lansing's car spinning into the haybales -- but he must have jumped right back in the fray.

Very Light Car

We found this ad in the August 1956 issue of "The Light Car". The image is a direct pick-up from the Bond brochure of the time. (An article about the Bond appeared in MINUTIA 17-4.)

It looks like fun -- but we hope they don't plan on buying too much at the store. With four people in the car, there's not much room for anything else.

Fairthorpe Atom Newsreel

NEW "ATOM" LIGHTWEIGHT CAR

This British Pathé newsreel is posted on the blog, Fairthorpe Restoration. I wish it had sound, because I'd love to hear that little BSA 250cc engine pulling the car with three people and luggage in it. (I'm guessing the suitcases are empty.)

New "Atom" Lightweight Car 1954

The unusual headlights identify this is the original Mk 1 car from 1954. Subsequent bodies had the lights faired into the body. Check out our earlier look at the Atom.