Senior - BHPian
Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Kolkata/Delhi
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| re: Nostalgic automotive pictures including our family's cars Quote:
Originally Posted by harit Hi Rehaan, thanks for the link. I had heard about it, somehow not managed to visit. Had a quick glance, will go through in detail soon.
BUT, the period Niaz basically focuses on is the Amby and Fiat era, about 1970 onwards. The picture I put up is from before. I believe that Calcuta racing scene started sometime in 1949 or so. They started with sports cars. There were Lagonda, Bentley, Allard, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, SS100 etc. As years went by, such cars were first modified, then came home built creations with names I have mentioned in my post, and then there was hardly any choice but use Ambys and Fiats because of stupid Government import regulations. My pictures come from the home built specials era, and am looking to some info here, on the cars and drivers. I was expecting some feedback from Kolkata guys, but apparently not much history is available. This thread should also run with feedback and more contributions. Cameras were not so rare that more photos cannot come up.
BTW, our racing scene was quite sad. In Juhu I saw one of the last races, the high light was a race between Maserati, Fiat 125, Gondal special and some more. Completely unmatched cars, yet excitement was there.
Over to Kolkata, please add here.
Cheers harit |
This is what Mr. Niaz Ali has to say about this page - Quote:
Mmm very interesting I know a driver who actually raced at this track , in fact the car with which I won in sholavarm started life here in the hands of Peter Adams.... How's that for history I've been to these meets myself. My pic of the jag is from before this track .... At the moment I'm in the middle of nowhere reading this on my fone going wow wow
| Quote:
Originally Posted by mbz180 Hello Harit,
I'm quite certain the venue is the famous "Barrackpore" racing grounds in Kolkata. Though I haven't heard of any of the car's or driver's you have mentioned, I would like to share some other stories that I know. The lovely Citroen 15-6 which was restored by Bumpu couple of years back and won a few trophies at the Statesman, was earlier owned by a Chinese lady, Mini Pan, who used to race the car on these grounds extensively. Also, there is a home built car, called the "Delila" a very famous car in those days, with a Riley twin cam engine in it, that is lying unused with Saloo Chaudhri. It's a pity that this particular car got into an accident or caught fire or some thing like that and is missing most of it's body work. It's chassis is very advanced, and is a tubular space frame construction, similar to 300SL Gullwing Mercs. I have seen this car, and am told that Saloo and his son's are trying to get the car back into shape again. In the 70s, when the Barrackpore circuit was hugely popular especially on Sundays, Mithil Chatterjee, Niaz Ali, Vijay Mallya etc, all raced on this track. The pic is probably from the mid-70s.
Regards
Prithvi |
This is a reply that is for you - Quote:
also someone says the "Delilah" has a twin cam motor.... just to get the facts right....its a 1.5 riley, with a twin over head rockers, dome pistons with a centeral sparkplug, it had 4 Amal carbies, and a 3 speed 'crash" gearb...ox (non syncro), fiat diff, morris minor front suspension, and bias braking, and a chrono tach...it also had a magnito, ive actually raced 3 cars from this era.. the Delilah, the Chervon (lying at adams motorworks), and the qmarri... when i raced the chervon, i got hit by the 'Godfather'..gondals old car, with the Jag engine, and spun backwords over the Haybales in Barrackpore...great memories, great racing |
Last edited by Rehaan : 15th February 2011 at 14:18.
Reason: Removing word from quoted post.
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