I have been doing some research into the supersports model at the moment and wondered if anyone has any period photographs they would care to share.
Below is a picture of J D Barnes after taking part in the 1928 TT in a supersports, to start the ball rolling.

Location: Deepest darkest Kent

Was Mr Barnes incredibly small or was the car scaled up in the picture. I look nothing like that small in my A7 and, I am not a big bloke.

Ian Mc.

Location: Shropshire

well spotted, and admitted ian

im wider than i am tall, but i dont sit that low in my supersports either.

is the picture one that austin have put out after the event. and done there own editing.

the car doesnt look as i would expect for racing the TT.

full hood, full lights, full screen, taxed ?, touring wings the car was advertised with for sales adverts, the car even still has its 2 1/2 nickle valve covers on the wheels.

it looks more like a marketing picture.

is it the actual car he had raced in, or is it suggesting this is the model of car he raced in. and not the actual car.

a good subject though robert.

tony

Location: huncote on the pig

There are a few here, a couple of which should be useful for you.

http://austinharris.co.uk/search/Super%20Sports?f =taxonomy_vocabulary_2%253Aparents_all%3A26

You will have to copy and paste the url, the forum doesn't like my search result links for some reason.

Location: Buxted

Tony - strong possibility it's not the same car. If the same, certainly photo not taken AFTER the race, as during the event Barnes crashed, badly damaged the front offside wing so that it was cocked in the air somewhat, damaged the radshell; bent back the tall radiator-cap fitment, etc. As for the "originality" bits :- the screen and hood were okay, as both had to be erected for the first lap only, (although for Barnes'one lap, hood held forward by straps, screen left folded down); wings okay; headlamps okay; maybe vale stem covers okay, as I think compulsory for safety; tax disc okay; but would suggest the race car also had a hand pump on the near side. All the above without viewing Austin H's photos - if someone could kindly put up a link we may know more. Cheers, Bill in Oz

Location: Victoria, AUS.

http://austinharris.co.uk/search/Super%20Sports?f%20=taxonomy_vocabulary_2%253Aparents_all%3A26

If you look closely at the tail of the car there appears to a white outline of a roundel for a competition number. All competing cars in 1928 had to carry full weather equipment and needed to be taxed if driven to and from the Ards circuit as most if not all were.
Simon Thomas
Comber
County Down

Location: Comber County Down

Mr Barnes was clearly a very small man but his riding mechanic was even smaller, he is not visible at all!

Nice one Malcolm!!!

Bill G

Location: HUNCOTE on the pig

Sadly I could see no assistance to the question in Austin's display of great photos.
Re Simon's suggestion about the number roundel - because the race car's was different in that it was mounted right near the end of the tail, the roundel came down further onto either side. And where is the roundel on the scuttle top and side? (It came down nearly to the top of the muffler). And where has the pump (or maybe it's a fire extinguisher?) gone? No, I'm inclined to think they selected a vaguely similar car for the publicity shot & possibly dubbed in another (slightly smaller) photo of Barnes, because in the race he sat quite higher in the car. And Tony - no, the car ran with full equipment and the rear roundel was well away from the wings. Cheers, Bill in Oz

Location: Victoria, AUS.

Looks like Mr Barnes was always pushing his luck

Location: The New Forest

Thanks for the responses so far midget driver included.
Note the fold flat windscreen and fuel filler underneath it high up on the scuttle indicating possibly a larger fuel tank.
I can't see any roundels or traces of on my picture. I am hoping someone who collects period postcards may have one of a supersports that they would be prepared to share.

Location: Deepest darkest Kent

Location: Comber County Down

Simon,
that is very interesting. Would you consider posting the pictures on the forum please.
Best regards,
Robert.

Location: Deepest darkest Kent

I just came across this in an old clipping.

"Mr. J. D. Barnes, whose Austin "Seven" did not finish the first lap, was also protested by other drivers, for being of small stature, as was his mechanic, which they claim resulted in an unfair advantage."

Just kidding. "although for Barnes'one lap, hood held forward by straps, screen left folded down". I noted that in a post several months ago, there was a discussion of a photograph of works cars with hoods but aero screens and a question of a fitting on the off side scuttle. The fitting may have been for straps to hold the hood down. Driving with the hood up and the screen down would seem to produce a lot of drag.

Best,

Erich in Sunny Seattle

Location: Seattle, Washington, USA

Erich - sorry if I confused you. Competitors had to do at least one lap with the hood erected and "for Barnes' one lap, hood held down with straps" etc I did not mean to imply he only did one lap, in fact he was flagged off after 23 laps. How he got that far with the damage sustained is surprising. Also, I hope you understand that the "hood" as in your part of the world was not the bonnet! (jesting). I'm sure you're right re the drag, but be assured the scuttle-side fitting was not for the hood straps - it's obviously a cylinder with a handle on top. As Robert suggested, the car would probably have had a larger tank, and there's good reason to believe it would be pressured. Another point - it has been suggested that Barnes used the upswept part from this car's damaged scuttle to add to his racing Chummy, the one later called "Earthquake" which later again ran at Le Mans. Cheers, Bill in Oz

Location: Victoria, AUS.

Hi Bill,

Thanks for clarifying. I had understood that the diminutive Mr. Barnes had only completed one lap, Judging from the damage he sustained, he was pretty game. With regards to the hood, I imagine straps angled forward and at each side, similar to really antique cars(Thomas Flyer) and it would seem to create a sort of sail(from a sailor). The speed in the first lap could not have been very fast. I've also heard that the requirements included starting by the starter, not hand crank. It would seem to be a race, but also a reliability trial,l as I have read.

Erich, in still sunny Seattle.

Location: Seattle, Washington, USA

Little wonder the driver looks a little furtive. Having swallowed a shrink potion he is probably apprehensive about the antidote. Or has someone removed the seat cushion?

Austins used the shrink trick for years . There are adverts for the A90 Atlantic convertible with pygmies aboard.

A different approach was adopted for the photo which appears in the Brookland Book..Austin Seven in the Thirties p57. It appears a jockey was used, so small he could not find a cap to fit.

Location: Auckland, NZ

Bob - Not sure anyone else but you would think that Barnes looks furtive. Re the Grasshopper photo, the answer was probably the seat removed only, if that, as the subject was not a jockey. Although thin, he was broad-shouldered and when he drove in the Grasshopper Trials team he looked considerably bigger because of the extra clothing and an overcoat. As usual, you should have done some homework before writing, as that style of baggy cap was the fashion of the day. The Trials team, including the Le Mans team, from Bill Sewell down mostly wore them and if you care to look at most photos of the spectators at Trials, many males wore one. Disappointing comments really, as what Robert requested was more Supersports photos. Cheers, Bill in Oz

Location: Victoria, AUS.

Here's a great photograph of Dr Bennett racing his supersports at Silverstone in the 1950's. I was fortunate to know Dr Bennett personally as he was my GP for a number of years. He said that the car when discovered was badged as a Rosengart. Also he could take on and beat a Bugatti Brescia.

Location: Out in the field.

A great shot, Robert. If it wasn't for the racing number and the position of the registration label (and the Doc's shirtsleeves), one would think at first that it's the same photo as in Bill Williams' book. For those not aware, this car was featured by Barrie Argent in an Association Grey Mag article. Hopefully more photos of this model will come to light eventually. Good Luck with your project. Cheers, Bill in Oz

Location: Euroa,Victoria

Just as an aside.

Last week Tom and I went to help with some sorting at the Fr*z*r N*sh Archives and as usual I was the first of us to use the toilet. The door of the Gents was indicated by a photo with "Archie's team" as the caption. It was of the TT Austin team members and was clear and sharp. It showed from left to right J.D. Barnes; Archie Frazer Nash, and Gunnar Poppe with Arthur Waite as team manager in a coat and trilby hat behind them.

Barnes was the same height as Archie, and not that much shorter than Poppe so this leads me to believe that the early photos were cut and pasted with a tiny Mr Barnes added to the cockpit on an empty car. Not the first time we have seen cut and paste Austin photos (e.g see the Mille Miglia photo thread).

Location: South-East Surrey