@Straightspeedphoto

Saturday, 24 January 2026

1905 Darracq 200hp

Built in 1905, using 2 Darracq four cylinder engines on a common crank, giving a capacity of 25.4 litres, this is Mark Walker's Darracq 200hp, originally made to (successfully) capture the land speed record.

The name has no resemblance to the power and immense torque, 300ps and 1000lb ft, and when built had to weigh under 1000kg to qualify for any records set.

No gearbox, just a two speed back axle, and very difficult to get of the line (release the clutch on tickover being the best method) you've probably seen it get swallowed by the pack at Goodwood during the S.F. Edge Trophy and then tear back through the field.

Shot by me at Mallory Park in August 2024 at the annual VSCC meeting. (Obviously not the final few)

#darracq #darracq200hp #vscc #vintagesportscarclub #edwardianracecar #edwardiancar

Single Shot #7

Honda RC174 Beale Replica

Mecum Auctions are offering one of 10, sanctioned by Honda, replica Honda RC174 Grand Prix bikes at their Las Vegas auction on January 31st.

297cc, 6 cylinder, 24 valves, 6 carburetors and an 18000 rpm red line and built using the original blue prints by George Beale.

Once you've heard one, which I have a few times, there's not another bike like it, other than Honda's 247cc RC166 6 cylinder machine.

The first two short videos are of the original bikes, the second maybe an RC166. The constant revving? It won't idle due to the lightweight flywheel.

GQ's 2021 article quotes Beale “We put cameras into the fuel tank to see how it had been welded together. We had the frame tubing made because standard tubing was 0.5mm too wide and on the original some was tapered. You can’t buy it. Harris Performance made the tubing and frames for us – a fantastic job. They recognised the importance of detail.

“What we did learn was it was a truly amazing bike. When I received the original RC174 and removed the engine, it was so light we thought it had no insides. But not only was it complete, it had been rebuilt for Mike to race in 1968 but was never fired up.

“There was so much finesse in it. The RC174 was way ahead of its time. One hundred and eighteen kilos, 66bhp, 297cc, around 223bhp per litre – that’s more per litre than some recent Moto GP bikes. I once asked Hailwood what was the best bike he’d ever ridden, he said without doubt the RC174.”

#honda #hondarc174 #rc174 #georgebeale #hondarc166 #sixcylinderhonda

Friday, 23 January 2026

MGC GTS Sebring

A simple question was asked on a Facebook page, under a photograph of a restomod style MGB GT "Sebring", was the Sebring the greatest MG. I answered no, arguing in favour of the much earlier M Type, but thats another story.

The same page then popped up a photo of this car, one of 4 made by John Chatham from the correct shells supplied by BMC Competitions Department.

Only two GTS coupes were made by BMC before the programme got cancelled, Chatham was due to drive one of them on the 1970 Targa Florio. BMC offered him the remaining 4 shells to build continuation model GTS Sebring's.

Sothbys sold this particular car in 2016, a car John Chatham kept and raced until 2004.

They wrote "When John Chatham prepared this particular GTS for competition use, he used the very latest BMC components from the race programme, including an aluminium engine block, which this car retains, and which was mounted further back in the engine bay. Magnesium alloy wheels were also fitted, effectively creating a “super-lightweight”. It is believed that this is the only surviving original aluminium block.

Thanks to its lightweight aluminium construction, the car has a dry weight of only around 900 kilograms"

Back to the original question. Had the photo been of one of the 6 GTS models built from the lightweight BMC Competitions Departments shell, I'd have answered differently.

I've a copy of Bill Price's superb BMC Competitions Department book (remember them) tucked away, I may just read it again now, the full story of the GTS is well documented within.