Author Topic: Solved-PJ344- Ben Harris driving an MG at Watkins Glen Grand Prix Queen Catherine Cup in 1952  (Read 2200 times)

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Offline Paul Jaray

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Here you are another WWWW puzzle.
The car is quite easy.
I'd like to know the event, the year and the driver...I'll add some interesting details later.
1 point for the complete answer.

Offline Allan L

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Re: PJ - 344 - Who? What? Where? When?
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2010, 10:24:50 AM »
Well I felt sure it would be someone famous like Phil Hill or Ken Miles but perhaps it's
Watkins Glen Grand Prix - Queen Catherine Cup
held on 15/9/1951
An MG TD driven by Chester C. Hawley was comp. no. 51 and finished 13th
Opinionated but sometimes wrong

Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: PJ - 344 - Who? What? Where? When?
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2010, 10:31:17 AM »
The event is right (and it was the hardest part!).
The driver\year is not the one pictured here.
Locked for you till your next reply.

Offline Allan L

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Re: PJ - 344 - Who? What? Where? When?
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2010, 10:54:03 AM »
1952, Ben Harris then
Opinionated but sometimes wrong

Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: PJ - 344 - Who? What? Where? When?
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2010, 11:09:29 AM »
...and guess who gave me this pic?  ;D
Yes, this is Ben Harris at Watkins Glen Grand Prix - Queen Catherine Cup...
Here the additional info I've been sent:

Ben raced at Watkins Glen, started on pole and the race was not ran with a LeMans start but with cars side by side on the track.
A picture was taken of the Start of the Queen Catherine Cup Race in 1952 because it was a first.
Reason being the race schedule was delayed, 3 laps of practice, Ben turned best time, beating Fangio, Shelby, Hill, Spear and all..
The picture was turned into a art painting, alas, here is Ben as pole position at the Glen in the beautiful painting.


In the article about Ben's car I'll post the whole picture.

Well done, Alan, I really don't know how did you find the right track with such a small pic!
« Last Edit: September 24, 2010, 11:14:07 AM by Paul Jaray »

Offline motorcar1

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Alan L,

As a sidenote here,

The National Queen Catherine Cup race in 1952 at watkins Glen was the last national street race held.

The race would have been started in a Lemans style start, BUT, due to delays, it was started in a 2 by style on the track.

The Gentleman that took this original picture>>> Mr Bill Green from the Watkins Glen archives, he attended the race and took this picture. I think Bill was a mere 8 years old at the time?

Because of the significant oddities of the race noted above, a painting was done by Robert Gillespie, a known artist in early racing paintings, from the original picture taken by Bill Green.

Bill said that Ben was passed in the second corner by Spear, oh well, bet Ben was grinning from ear to ear, irregardless>>>>>
Spear is in the red Osca behind Ben in the painting.

I had seen this painting before, MG racing sites, but never realized it was Ben, Bet the MG group will be surprised !!!!

Ironically, Ben later officiated the great drivers you mentioned in this post in his SCCA position.
Refer to the Golden Gate picture and many others that will be posted.

Mr Bill Green has what he called>> a care package he is sending me>>> we are excited, as Bill actually remembered Ben and his SCCA years, much more to come.

Great job with the puzzle,
John

In closing

« Last Edit: September 24, 2010, 11:44:11 AM by motorcar1 »

Offline Paul Jaray

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Here's the full painting:
You can read Ben's story here:
http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=11958.0
« Last Edit: October 30, 2010, 03:50:52 AM by Paul Jaray »