Colchester Racing Developments

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Colchester Racing Developments
Company typeLtd.
IndustryAutomotive
FoundedColchester, 1960
FounderSelwyn Hayward
Headquarters
Manningtree, Essex
,
Great Britain
OwnerClive Hayward
DivisionsCRD Tool and Engineering Ltd.
WebsiteOfficial website

Colchester Racing Developments produced Merlyn racing cars from 1960 to 1979. The company was founded by Clive Maskrey,[1] Selwyn Hayward and continued by Hayward's brother, Clive. When the manufacture of Merlyn racing cars stopped, Clive Hayward continued to manufacture Merlyn parts as CRD Tool and Engineering Ltd. This company stopped trading in November 2015. Still, Clive Hayward continues to run Colchester Racing Developments, manufacturing Merlyn components and carrying out chassis repairs.

History

Founded1960
Team principal(s)Clive Hayward
Founder(s)Selwyn Hayward
Former series
French Formula 3 (1964)
British Formula 2 (1964-1965)
Trophées de France (1964-1965)
British Sports Car Championship (1964)
European Formula 2 (1968-1969)
Noted driversUnited Kingdom Jonathan Williams (1962)
Belgium Teddy Pilette (1964)
United KingdomDavid Hobbs (1964-1966)
United Kingdom Chris Irwin (1964-1965)
Australia Dave Walker (1967)
United Kingdom Brian Hart (1968-1969)
United Kingdom Robin Widdows (1969)

1960s

The first Merlyn was the Mark 1, a

Monaco Formula 3 Grand Prix. The 1962 race was no success. Driver John Brown did not manage to qualify.[8] Factory driver Jonathan Williams achieved a fifth-place finish driving a prototype Mark 5.[9]

The company was sufficiently successful in developing a Mark 4 sports car, built to

SOHC Coventry Climax.[10] In Britain, these were mated to a four-speed gearbox, as the Mark 4T; in international racing, these cars were fitted with a Hewland/Volkswagen 5-speed.[11] A Mark 4A driven by Richard Redgrave finished second in the 1963 Copenhagen Cup at the Roskilde Ring.[12] By then, Merlyns had coil springs and dampers horizontally mounted, operated by rods from the suspension.[13] Increasingly competitive Formula Junior racing kept works drivers Roy Pike and Jonathan Williams from dominating.[14]

In 1964, the Mark 6 sports car (an improved Mark 4) and

Monaco Formula 3 Grand Prix. Three of the cars, including Iriwn's, made it to the final race. The British works driver started fifth and ended up on the podium in second place. Vincent Palmaro finished as last running driver, in 17th. The third Merlyn, driven by Roger Brash, did not finish.[21] Irwin and Roger Mac were entered by Merlyn in the Trophées de France. The pair achieved no major results. Eleven Mark 7s were built in both F2 and F3 guise.[22]
The car's successor, the Mark 9, had some improvements increasing the fuel capacity.

The Mark 8 sports car debuted in 1965, but proved unsuccessful; only a small number were built.[23] The Formula Three Mark 9s and 9As also suffered.[24]

For 1967, Formula 2 engine capacity was increased to 1.6-litre. The Merlyn Formula 2 cars were uncompetitive with the downsized Formula 1 cars. The production Mark 10 cost only £950, compared to £1450 for a Brabham. The Formula 3 Mark 10 achieved some good results with Tony Lanfranchi: The British driver achieved four podium finishes and one win in the British championship.[25][26][27][28] The factory team had a good run at the Grand Prix Adriatique at the Opatija Circuit in former Yugoslavia. Dave Walker finished first and other factory driver Martin Stephani finished third. The whole top five drove Merlyn cars.[29]

The Mark 11, which debuted that year, was highly popular in the newly-introduced

Cosworth FVA, was chosen by Bob Gerard's F2 team.[33] The Mark 12 scored one point in the European championship with Brian Hart in 1968
. The following season brought even less success, with the class dominated by Formula 1 constructors.

The Mark 14 was very successful in 1969 and 1970, ranking near the top in both F3 and FF.[34] This was aided by having one in the hands of future Formula One World Champion Fittipaldi.[35] Colin Vandervell drove the ex-Fittipaldi car to 29 Formula Ford wins, and the championship, in 1970.[36]

1970s

For 1970, two totally new cars were introduced: the Mark 15, for Formula B in the U.S., and the inexpensive Mark 16 sports car,[37] for the short-lived Formula F100 championship. The Mark 16 was powered by a 1.3-litre Ford Escort engine. This class had to become the sports car racing equivalent of Formula Ford. However, the class folded after just a few seasons. Meanwhile, in Formula Ford Colin Vandervell drove the 'Magic Merlyn' to 29 wins,[38] and victory in the BRSCC Formula Ford championship.[39]

The Merlyn Mark 11 chassis was highly popular in Brazil. Many drivers drove the cars in the Brazilian championship among them Vern Schuppan.[40] In Canada a Merlyn MK 17 won the CASC Quebec Region Formula Ford 1600 championship.[41] The 'Magic Merlyn' returned to the track in 1971 with Jody Scheckter. Scheckter ended up fourth in the European Formula Ford Championship. The BRSCC championship was won by Bernard Vermilio in a MK 20.[42] Scheckter would also compete in a Merlyn in Formula 3. The South African driver won one race running a half season in the BRSCC F3.[43] This was the only Merlyn car scoring points in the BRSCC championship.

The

Formula B cars also made their way to the United States. Gordon Smiley entered a Merlyn MK 21 in the SCCA Continental Championship for Formula B/C. The American driver won the race at Road Atlanta.[48] He finished fifth in the standings.[49]

By 1972 Merlyn was no longer competitive in Formula 3. The best result was achieved by Swede

Coupe d'Europe at Magny-Cours where he finished sixth.[50] In Formula Ford Merlyn was highly competitive. Three Merlyn chassis finished in the top ten of the 1972 Formula Ford Festival. Dave Loring finished fourth, Patrick Nève sixth and Hans Binder ninth.[51] The following year Robert Arnott finished third at the festival. Merlyn chassis finished one-two in the Formula Ford Euroseries in 1973. Bengt Gilhorn finished first followed by Hans Binder.[52]

Many Formula Ford cars, Marlyn's primary focus in the 1970s, were exported to the US to race in the club racing scene; a typical car, the Mark 23, cost £2200, complete with engine and transmission (or £1600 as a bare chassis) in 1974.

Royale, Van Diemen and many others prevented Merlyn from winning any major championships. Due to a combination of factors like the loss of a major client and the unfavorable dollar-Pound exchange rate, Colchester Racing Developments ended the production of racecars in 1979.[57]

Current status

Clive Hayward continues to run Colchester Racing Developments Ltd manufacturing Merlyn parts and carrying out Merlyn chassis repairs.[58]

Racing cars

Year Model Racing series Note
1960 Merlyn MK 1 Formula Junior Front engined car
1961 Merlyn MK 2 Formula Junior Updated version of the MK 1
1962 Merlyn MK 3 Formula Junior First rear-engined car
1962 Merlyn MK 4 Sports car racing Also a road version produced
1963 Merlyn MK 5 Formula Junior
1964 Merlyn MK 6
Group 7
1964 Merlyn MK 7
Formula 2
Formula 3
1965 Merlyn MK 8 Sports car racing V8 engined sports car
1965 Merlyn MK 9
Formula 2
Formula 3
1967 Merlyn MK 10
Formula 3
Formula Libre
1968 Merlyn MK 11 Formula Ford
1968 Merlyn MK 12
Formula 2
 Powered by Ford-Cosworth FVA engine
1968 Merlyn MK 14
Formula 3
1969 Merlyn MK 15
Formula B
 Formula B version of the MK 12
1970 Merlyn MK 16 Formula F100
1970 Merlyn MK 17 Formula Ford Intermediary model between the MK 11A and the MK 20
1970 Merlyn MK 19 Grand tourer Prototype only
1971 Merlyn MK 20 Formula Ford
1971 Merlyn MK 21
Formula 3
Formula B
1972 Merlyn MK 22 Midget Car made for midget racing in the U.S.A.
1973 Merlyn MK 24 Formula Ford
1974 Merlyn MK 25 Formula Ford
1974 Merlyn MK 26 Sports car racing
1975 Merlyn MK 27
Formula 3
 Never made
1975 Merlyn MK 26
Formula Ford 2000
1975 Merlyn MK 27 Formula Ford
1977 Merlyn MK 30 Formula Ford
1978 Merlyn MK 31 Formula Ford

References

  1. ^ Twite, Mike, "Merlyn: Wizards of the Race Track", in Ward, Ian, executive editor. World of Automobiles (London: Orbis, 1974) Volume 12, p.1326.
  2. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  3. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  4. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  5. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  6. ^ "B.R.S.C.C. John Davy Championship, Rd 8". Formula 2 Register. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  7. ^ "BRSCC Championship, Rd 7". Formula 2 Register. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  8. ^ "IV Grand Prix de Monaco - Formule Junior 1962". Formula 2 Register. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  9. ^ "B.R.S.C.C. Championship, Rd 18". Formula 2 Register. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  10. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  11. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  12. ^ "Non Championship Races 1963". World Sports Racing Prototypes. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  13. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  14. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  15. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  16. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  17. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  18. ^ "Chris Irwin career". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  19. ^ "Guards Sports Car Championship 1964". World Sports Racing Prototypes. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  20. ^ "Runoffs Driver Histories A-E" (PDF). SCCA. Retrieved 21 January 2014.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "Grand Prix de Monaco F3 1965" (PDF). Formel 3 Guide. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  22. ^ "Merlyn". F3 History. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  23. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  24. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  25. ^ "II Les Leston Championship, Round 14, 1967". Formula 2 Register. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  26. ^ "II Les Leston Championship, Round 16, 1967". Formula 2 Register. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  27. ^ "II Les Leston Championship, Round 19, 1967". Formula 2 Register. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  28. ^ "II Les Leston Championship, Round 26, 1967". Formula 2 Register. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  29. ^ "Grand Prix Adriatique". Formula 2 Register. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  30. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  31. ^ "Formula Ford 1600 BRSCC 1968". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  32. ^ "Colchester Racing Developments and the Merlyn 11A Model". British Racecar. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  33. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  34. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  35. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  36. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  37. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  38. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  39. ^ "Formula Ford 1600 BRSCC 1970". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  40. ^ "Brazilian Formula Ford 1600 - BUA Trophy 1970". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  41. ^ "Championnat Molson du Quebec". Autocourse.ca. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  42. ^ "British Oxygen Formula Ford Championship 1971". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  43. ^ "Shell Super Oil British F3 Championship 1971". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  44. ^ "Yellow Pages Championship Round, Castle Combe, 9 Oct 1971". Old Racing Cars. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  45. ^ "Yellow Pages Championship Round, Brands Hatch, 31 Oct 1971". Old Racing Cars. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  46. ^ "Players (Canadian) Formula Atlantic Series Race, Westwood, 26 May 1974". Old Racing Cars. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  47. ^ "British Formula Atlantic 1972". Old Racing Cars. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  48. ^ "SCCA Continental Championship for Formula B/C Race, Road Atlanta, 8 Jul 1972". Old Racing Cars. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  49. ^ "US Formula B 1972". Old Racing Cars. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  50. ^ "Coupe d'Europe 1972". Formula 2 Register. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  51. ^ "Formula Ford Festival 1972". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  52. ^ "EFDA Formula Ford Euroseries 1973". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  53. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  54. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  55. ^ Twite, p.1326.
  56. ^ "Players (Canadian) Formula Atlantic Series Race, Westwood, 26 May 1974". Old Racing Cars. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  57. ^ "Company". Colchester Racing Developments Ltd. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  58. ^ "Merlyn". Colchester Racing Developments. Retrieved 15 December 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colchester_Racing_Developments&oldid=1167511216"