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McCandless race car at Goodwood

Submitted by paul_standeven on Sat, 11/11/2017
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Rex McCandless was the engineer who developed the Norton 500T and also the featherbed frame. He later worked with Harry Ferguson and Freddie Dixon developing a 4wd off-road vehicle powered by an early Dominator engine, and also made a pair of Manx-powered 4wd race cars. One of the race cars, owned by the Ulster Folk Museum, has been restored and taken to Goodwood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jskQQDaOb0

Paul

Submitted by paul_standeven on Wed, 03/01/2018

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The video shows various footage of The Mule, a 4wd off-roader powered by an early Dominator engine + gearbox, and also R2, a 4wd race car powered by a Manx engine, at Goodwood. I have been trying to find out about Rex McCandless' other cars.

That pre-supposes that Rex McC made an earlier race car known as R1. I have failed to find any information about this. My internet searches yielded some information on a road sports car known as 'Dorothy's car', intended to be put into production. It was driven for many years by Dorothy McGladdery. Like The Mule and R2, this car is now owned by the Ulster Folk Museum:

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/w92me3g/

This page shows the car, but I have found no actual information about 'Dorothy's car', nor R1

Submitted by niels_svane on Thu, 04/01/2018

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Never knew of that. Thanks for the link on a dreary thursday. Should go polish the 7 after looking at this video.

Submitted by paul_standeven on Thu, 04/01/2018

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Latest is that Dorothy was Rex' ladyfriend, and he made the car for her. I spoke to the Chief Curator at the Ulster Folk Museum, who says she has driven Dorothy's car, but doesn't know anything about it technically.

Look at the centre picture here, she is in the car driving:

http://www.ulsterrileyclub.co.uk/cultra-hillclimb--vintage-fair-2013.html

The air intake for engine cooling is a shamrock, which Rex used as a symbol

Paul

Submitted by rod_thompson on Thu, 04/01/2018

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There is more information in Les Jennings' biography of Rex McCandless: "To make a better mousetrap" The book is in print and available direct from the author and is a very interesting read.

Submitted by rod_thompson on Fri, 05/01/2018

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www.jenningspublishing.co.uk

Les Jennings, the author, worked, as a draughtsman, with Rex McCandless in the early 1950s and they remained friends for the rest of Rex's life.

Hope that you enjoy it.

 


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