Topic: Solved - MJW #030 - Stirling Moss's beefburger bar in central London

[woodinsight]

....and now for something different.
I've put this straight into the Experts section (Rookies can obviously still have a go).

I hope the image is going to be clear enough for you to guess who these people are and what this is all about?
It doesn't look motoring related but I can reveal it is associated with a very famous motor racing personality.

The puzzle is worth two points - one for the name of the people in the image and another for what they are doing, where and when.

[woodinsight]

For some reason the image wasn't uploaded

Another try...

[woodinsight]

I'm moving this one up to the pros to mull over.
Don't forget a well-known motor racing personality is involved here........

[Aaron65]

Is the pro Pat Moss?

[woodinsight]

You are on the right track there Aaron65.
Moss is the name (including Pat) that connects the event in the illustration.
One point is on offer if you can name the people in the image (Pat Moss is there) but what are they doing and why? - for another point.
Apologies but no more clues at present but well spotted Aaron 65!

[woodinsight]

This one stands a good chance of being overlooked as there is no thumbnail of the puzzle (my fault).

Anyhow, Pat Moss is on the left together with ? and ?

A small clue - the owner of this establishment is not shown in the photo.

[Allan L]

Well the other two look like her parents, Aileen and Alfred Moss.

[woodinsight]

Quite correct Allan.

The Moss family less one member.

I have awarded a point to Aaron 65 for Pat Moss and another to Allan L for identifying Aileen and Alfred Moss.
I hope you both find this fair.

So the first part of my question is solved but what is the story behind this rather bizarre scene in the 1950s.
A point awaits an explanation!

[Allan L]

An early barbecue perhaps? From the age and attire of the people I'd put it around the early-1950s so perhaps they were having a party for a significant event.
Perhaps it was 17 September 1950 when the brother/son was 21?

[woodinsight]

Not really that Allan.
I was surprised when I came across this item - I never knew anything about this before.
I believe the date is 1956/57 and a clue - they are in central London.
They are actually carrying out timing at this establishment!

[Allan L]

Well 1956 was the time of Suez and we had the petrol rationing into 1957 so road motor sport (rallies) was more or less on hold.
Neil Freedman solved the problem for the UHULMC by inventing the "Miglia Quadrato" which was a night navigation event held in the City of London (known to its friends as "the square mile", hence the name of the event) working from the 6" to the mile (1:10,000) map with competitors covering about 6 miles.
Won't be that event as the photo looks like daylight, but perhaps it is on a similar fuel-crisis event.

[woodinsight]

It's not that either and it's difficult to provide too many clues without giving the answer away.

However, I can state that the puzzle is related directly to the Moss family and what they are doing is nothing to do with cars or events.

[woodinsight]

I can see this will go down the dreaded BH without a few more comments from myself.

The venue is central London and the Moss family are testing/timing a new venture on behalf of the missing member of the family.
My final question is what they are doing and why?

[Allan L]

I really think I should be able to crack this one!
However the only non-motor sport thing I can think of that SCM put his name to around then was a car quick respray system - and that's cars so not that, you'd say.

[woodinsight]

Not that I'm afraid but it was another business (non-car related) that he was involved with in the 1950s

[woodinsight]

I'm moving this to the BH as it appears that it's a difficult one to solve.
Perhaps if someone has access to the Stirling Moss Scrapbooks series it may be mentioned there?
I don't have these so I don't know.
My source is much older

[woodinsight]

I think I'm going to call this one solved now as I've already given out points and virtually revealed the answer in my clues.

In 1957, Stirling Moss invested in a "beefburger bar" (I don't know its actual name) in central London.
The photo shows his sister Pat Moss and his parents, Aileen & Alfred Moss, undergoing a test run/timing of cooking the afore-mentioned beefburgers.
How long the venture lasted or whether it was a success is unknown.

[woodinsight]

Just to add a little more information - Stirling Moss's Beefburger Bar was apparently located at William IV Street, near Trafalgar Square, London. It was opened in early 1957.