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

Location: HUNCOTE on the pig

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