Shelsley Walsh Launches Search for 72 Specials Ahead of Summer Reunion
We're calling on the motorsport community to help reunite the ‘Shelsley Specials’ – unique cars created specifically to earn the best time of day on the venue’s challenging hill – in time for our Reg Phillips meeting in July.
The tradition of building Shelsley Specials began not long after the Midland Automobile Club (MAC) had moved to the Worcestershire hill climb course in 1905, with the most famous Special arguably being Spider I, created by Basil Davenport.
Davenport’s mismatched car helped him become the first driver to break the 50-second mark in 1926, beating a field of the best drivers of the day, including the legendary Raymond Mays. In total, Spider I broke the hill record four times between 1926 and 1928.
An important part of our history, the Shelsley Specials are testament to the ingenuity of hill climb competitors throughout the years. Each with their own unique look and with names such as Wasp, Bloody Mary and the Gnat, a number of the cars are still in action today and remain a force to be reckoned with on hill climbs and at sprints across the country.
While a register was originally kept of all the Shelsley Specials as and when they were certified, it needs to be updated as the whereabouts of around 72 cars are currently unknown. Can you help us find them?
Those who have a Shelsley Special or know the whereabouts of one of the cars are asked to contact Amanda Palmer at the Midland Automobile Club on 01886 812211 or by emailing amanda@mac1901.co.uk
The cars that we're keen to locate are listed below.
Austenity
BFM
Borborygmus Special
Buzzie
Caesar Special
Carlmark
Chatterbox
Chawner GN
Chitty Bang Bang
Cobweb
Cowlan
Delilah II
Djinn
Eldridge
Emeryson
EWS
Farley MKII
Felday Daimier
FHB 500
FMS
Gitane
Goldwell G 100
Grasshopper
Gryphon Mk.II
Hammond Special
Hardy Special II
Harker Special
Harrizes Rheigold
Hart JG 79
Horton Special
Hydrastumper Special
Jabberwock Mk.II
Killick Special
LG 92
March Austin Turbo
Megapin Honda
Meldrum Special
Mephistophelgatti
MG Bitza
Mini Buick Vita D
Monaco
Myers Special
Nitus Bedford
Old Gold
PR2
Project 2
RBS4C
Red Biddy Special
Rudeani
Salome (Joystick Special)
Smith Special
SPA 390-01
Spikins
SRC 88 01
Strang
Stromboli
Swift Ford
Takhas
TDP Williams Two
The Spook
The Terror
Tiger Cat/Kitten
TN Terror III
Trakstar
Triangle Flying Saucer
Viper
Walton Bristol
Walton Jakaranda
Ward Mk.8D
Wharton Special
Worsley Harris
Yamaharvey